K. L. Denman

Readings

Readings can be tailored to focus on a specific novel (upon request) or will include short readings from several novels. Kim will describe where her ideas for story originate, and will engage the group in discussion of key story elements. Students will understand that conflict is the basis for exciting stories, and that the heroic can be found in everyday life while the 'enemy' can be hunger, illness, the bully down the street or even the self. Time is allowed for questions.

Book Sales:

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

Workshops

Workshops are a series of short exercises with all students participating. Depending on the age of the group, the exercises can touch on many aspects of creative writing, including character development, plot, setting, dialogue, scenes, strong beginnings, showing instead of telling, metaphor and theme. The exercises are meant to spark the writing process, and students may carry on with completing them after the workshop is over. The importance of re-writing and editing will be discussed, as well as the process of publication.

Book Sales:

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

Biography

KL Denman was born in Calgary, Alberta and spent most of her childhood there in a house near the open prairie. She loved reading, writing, animals, being outdoors and music. She fiercely disliked canned peas. Her teen years passed in Delta, BC, although summers saw her back in Alberta, working on a ranch. She was disappointed to find she’d grown up too late to be a hippy and was puzzled over the decision of what to "be".

Early adult years were a time for working, traveling and studying favorite things like Literature, Fine Arts, Philosophy and Creative Writing. She married, had two wonderful children, and spent a respectable amount of time being practical. (Ex: She grew fond of fresh peas and got over the hippy miss.)

Her early loves persisted and eventually one dared to suggest she might take it seriously and be a Writer. She listened, and as life allowed (in the uneven way it tends to do), she wrote. Her books have been recognized for a number of awards: Me, Myself and Ike was a finalist for the 2010 Governor General's Literary Awards, a 2011 CCBC Best Book for Kids & Teens, and selected for the 2010 White Ravens List. Perfect Revenge was included in Resource Links 'The Year's Best' 2009. Rebel's Tag was a 2009 Chocolate Lily Book Award Finalist. Mirror Image was a CCBC Best Book for Kids & Teens and Resource Links 'The Year's Best'. Battle of the Bands was a YALSA Quick Picks nominee and a CCBC Our Choice book.

She can be contacted at: kldenman@live.ca. You can also visit her website or find her on Facebook.