David A. Poulsen

Readings

David's author visit is a high energy, funny, informative and entertaining look at the life of an author and how he came to be one. In it David shares with students his passion for reading and for writing and relates the sometimes hilarious, sometimes sad, sometimes downright frustrating and always engaging journey from ‘kid who loves books’ to Award winning Canadian writer. Approximately 45 to 60 minutes in duration, it also includes a reading from one of David's latest books (age appropriate) and wraps up with a Question and Answer session (David's favourite part). David has presented in more than 1700 schools in virtually every part of Canada. Here’s what one Ontario School librarian had to say about David’s reading/presentation.

"David Poulsen is a natural born speaker when it comes to interacting with kids and getting them 'hooked' on reading and writing. He frames his life's journey with a down-to-earth, comedic presentation style that focuses on the writing process and what being an author entails. The students were inspired by his message, motivated to read more, and sad to see him leave. He leaves an indelible mark on his audiences."

Book Sales:

Copies of books can be brought to be sold and autographed.

Workshops

MAKING THE LIE BELIEVABLE
Why Write Junk When Good is Just as Easy and Just as Much Fun

Remember those stories that pulled us right into them—so that we felt we were right there as the main character encountered the villain...or watched his bike sink slowly into the river...or had her first conversation with the werewolf who did standup comedy?? Those stories and the writers who created them were able to do that because the authors were very good at making the reader believe. In this workshop, award winning Canadian author David A. Poulsen shares with young writers the techniques successful authors use to create believable settings and characters…and stories so real, readers are pulled right into the pages. Best of all, by the end of the workshop, the young writers are using those techniques to write stories that are more than just special effects, blood and gore. "Beginning writers--especially young writers--are in such a hurry to get to the action-plot part of their story, they often forget they have to get readers ready for the action by first making them believe everything else about the story--notably the setting and characters," Poulsen points out. "I show them that making stories believable is not only important--it's fun. And the best part is watching kids who have never done this before suddenly taking these ideas and using them in ways I hadn't even considered."

Biography

David A. Poulsen’s writing career began in earnest in 1984 when his short story The Welcomin’ won the Alberta Culture Short Story Writing Competition. Since that time he has written 19 books, most of them for kids. 2004 saw the publication of his popular Young Adult novel Last Sam’s Cage--nominated for Children’s Choice Book Awards in Saskatchewan (the Snow Willow) and Manitoba (the MYRCA). 2006 marked the return of David’s super popular Middle Reader series The Salt and Pepper Chronicles. The comedy/mystery/adventure series features two globetrotting teenage girls (and one bratty little brother) who keep finding themselves thrown into circumstances involving time travel, vampires, robotic clones and other “out there” situations. Two titles in the series appeared in 2006—The Vampire’s Visit and The Hunk Machine with two more arriving in 2007—No Time Like the Past and The Book of Vampire. As well Key Porter Books also re-issued the first two books in the Hi-Lo Reluctant Reader series The Lawrence High School Yearbook Series. 2008 will see the arrival of the fifth book in the Salt And Pepper Chronicles; the next two titles in The Lawrence High School Yearbook Series and David’s newest Young Adult novel—the thriller Numbers.

David is equally well known for his second career as one of Canada’s best-known rodeo announcer/commentators. In he was awarded a Centennial Medal by his home province for his “contributions to Alberta and Albertans.”