Sharon McKay

Readings

Grade 2: Book in progress
I read half the story and story-tell the second half. Discuss the difference. Change the story according to suggestions. We talk about building a story. (30 minutes)

Grades 3 to 5:
The Boy-Girl Challenge. Book: Terror in the Harbour and all the Our Canadian Girl series. State the question: Would a boy read a story meant for a girl? Take a vote. Read. Take another vote. Also discuss the Halifax explosion and research. Discuss primary and secondary sources. (30 – 45 minutes)

Grades 5 and up:
Charlie Wilcox – This is about getting kids to read (boys in particular.) Lots of historical information on WW1. Please provide a world map and black or white board. (1.5 hours)

Alternative for Grade 5 and up:
Whispers from the Ghettos, Camps, Hiding (Three books written with co-author Kathy Kacer.) Thirty-six true stories on the Holocaust. Basic history and introduction to the Holocaust with reference to Darfur and other genocides. This talk may include a visit from Holocaust Survivor. To be discussed. (1 hour)

Grades 7 to 12:
War Brothers. The story of child soldiers in Uganda. This talk discusses child soldiers in general, courage, loyalty. www.guluwalk.com. It is not an easy topic but in the end, it is empowering. This discussion may include videos and power point presentation. (1 hour)

Grades 8 to 12:
Esther, Life in New France and life as a Jewish girl in France/Europe circa 1700 – 1800’s. Canadian history. Touch on anti-Semitism and sexism. Also discussed – ‘assuming a voice’ and political correctness. (1 hour)

If I am at a school over the lunch period I host a brown-bag lunch with children, and their parents, called Making a Career out of Writing or Go to Dental School Instead. This presentation is free. Parents welcome.

Book Sales:

Copies of books can be brought to be sold and autographed, only on pre-approval and if requested.

Workshops

• I offer a template of a career in writing.
• I have experience in the book industry with 30 books to date in both fiction and non-fiction. I also have broad experience in magazine, television and newspaper fields.
• We discuss different mediums. This workshop is really about a freelance career.
• Who is who in the industry (editor, copy editor, etc..)
• Where and how to begin.
• How to create a portfolio, find an agent and submit work to a publisher.
• I review the material with the teacher in advance and together we plan the event
• Also discussed, research and writing outside of one’s culture.

Book Sales:

Copies of books can be brought to be sold and autographed, only on pre-approval and if requested.

Other Presentations

I give individually prepared presentations including hosting, keynotes, etc… When I am away from home, and in a hotel, I will speak at book clubs and service clubs (Rotary, Lions, etc…) in the evening.

Biography

I have been married for 35 years and have two sons. Sam, 26, and his partner Laurel, are parents to my grandson Kai. Joe, 19, is in university. David MacLeod is the poor, very poor, husband. And of interest to children in primary school, I live in a log house with a giant, standard poodle named Phoebe.

As a Canadian War Artist, the first children’s writer sent into a war zone under this program created in WW1, I will tour Afghanistan in March 2009. (Note, Heritage Canada has not asked me about my political views of Canada’s involvement in the war. I do not offer personal opinions in classroom discussion. Keep in mind it is entirely possible that there is a child in the room who has a family member deployed overseas.) I do discuss research in a war zone, life in the armed forces, children in war, writing outside of one’s culture.

The motivation for my writing is to bring difficult subjects from around the world home to Canada. I do not believe in writing what I know but in writing what I want to know. To that end all my research is done first hand and on the ground.

To write Charlie Wilcox, I spent months in Newfoundland and on the WW1 battlefields in northern France.

Esther, the story of the first Jew to live on French soil in New France, was written in Quebec City and France.

Research for War Brothers, the tale of five boys and a girl abducted by the Lord’s Resistance Army was done in Uganda. There I interviewed child soldiers including a lieutenant in the LRA.

My current story takes place in Afghanistan. My research will be done in Kandahar.

Awards and nominations include:

• Charlie Wilcox and Esther were both shortlisted for the Governor General’s Literary Award for Children’s literature.
• Sydney Taylor Book Award, U.S. Notable Children’s Book of Jewish Content. Association of Jewish Libraries. 2004. (Esther)
• Hamilton Literary Award. 2004. (Charlie Wilcox’s Great War)
• IBBY, International Board on Books for Young People, Honour List, 2002. Presented biennially in Switzerland. (Charlie Wilcox)
• Violet Downey Book Award, IODE National Chapter of Canada. 2001. (Charlie Wilcox)
• Geoffery Bilson Award for Historical Fiction. 2001. (Charlie Wilcox)
• UNESCO International Youth Library - White Raven Award, Europe. 2002 (Charlie Wilcox)
• Hackmatack Children’s Choice Book Awards, Atlantic Provinces. 2002. (Charlie Wilcox)
• Full list is available upon request.