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Mike Deas
Julie Flett
Julie Lawson
Loris Lesynski
Martin Springett
Joan Betty Stuchner
Paul Yee
Werner Zimmermann

 

 

 

 

 

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Mike Deas

Illustrator

Mike Deas is an Illustrator living and working in Victoria, British Columbia. Currently he is illustrating the graphic novel series, Graphic Guide Adventures, by author Liam O’Donnell. His love for comics comes from an early age reading and drawing while growing up on Saltspring Island, British Columbia.

Capilano College’s Commercial Animation Program in Vancouver helped Mike fine tune his drawing skills and imagination. Work as a concept artist, texture artist and art director in the video game industry took Mike to England and California.

More information: Mike Deas' blog

Illustrator of:
Power Play - A Graphic Guide Adventure by Liam O’Donnell (Orca Book Publishers, 2011)
Camp Lots-o-fun by Marilyn Helmer (Orca Book Publishers, 2010)
Food Fight - A Graphic Guide Adventure by Liam O’Donnell (Orca Book Publishers, 2009)
Media Meltdown - A Graphic Guide Adventure by Liam O’Donnell (Orca Book Publishers, 2009)
Soccer Sabotage - A Graphic Guide Adventure by Liam O’Donnell (Orca Book Publishers, 2009)
Ramp Rats - A Graphic Guide Adventure by Liam O’Donnell (Orca Book Publishers, 2008)
Wild Ride - A Graphic Guide Adventure by Liam O’Donnell (Orca Book Publishers, 2007)

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Julie Flett

Author/Illustrator

Julie Flett is a Vancouver-based Métis artist and illustrator who incorporates photography, drawing, and painting into her practice. Born in Toronto, Julie has spent much of the last two decades in Western Canada.

She was the recipient of an award by the Canadian Native Arts Foundation Visual Arts Acquisition Program in 1993, and was a finalist twice in the Christie Harris Illustrated Children’s Literature Prize (one of the BC Book Prizes), for her illustrations in The Moccasins and Zoe and the Fawn.

Zoe and the Fawn was awarded a Medal in the category of Multicultural Picture Books in the 2007 Moonbeam Children’s Books Awards. Her book Lii Yiiboo Nayaapiwak lii Swer: l’alfabet di michif, Owls See Clearly at Night: A Michif alphabet, came out recently, published by Simply Read Books.

Author of:
Owls See Clearly at Night: A Michif Alphabet / Lii Yiiboo Nayaapiwak lii Swer: L’alfabet di Michif (Simply Read Books, 2011)

Illustrator of:
Zoe and the Fawn by Catherine Jameson (Theytus Books, 2006)
The Moccasins by Earl Einarson (Theytus Books, 2004)

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Julie Lawson

Author

Born and raised in Victoria, B.C., Julie Lawson spent 18 years as an elementary school teacher before becoming a full-time author in 1991. Since then, she has published over twenty books for young people.
The subjects of Julie's books range from cougars, ghosts and Chinese dragons, to fishing adventures and tongue-twisting pirates.

Julie divides her time between writing at home and visiting schools and libraries. She has spoken to Roundtable groups, toured for Canadian Children's Book Week, conducted writing workshops, taught university courses on writing children's literature, and been a presenter at conferences for adults and children across North America.

More information: Julie Lawson's website

Author of:
Where the River Takes Me: the Hudson's Bay Company Diary of Jenna Sinclair (Scholastic, Dear Canada series, 2008)
No Safe Harbour: The Halifax Explosion Diary of Charlotte Blackburn (Scholastic, Dear Canada series, 2006)
Arizona Charlie and the Klondike Kid (Orca, 2005)
Emily: Summer of Gold (Penguin, Our Canadian Girl series, 2004)
The Klondike Cat (Kids Can Press, 2002)
A Ribbon of Shining Steel: The Railway Diary of Kate Cameron (Scholastic, Dear Canada series, 2002)
Emily 2: Disaster at the Bridge (Penguin, Our Canadian Girl series, 2002)
Across the James Bay Bridge (Penguin, Our Canadian Girl series, 2001)
Destination Gold! (Orca, 2000)
The Ghost of Avalanche Mountain (Stoddart, 2000)
Bear on the Train (Kids Can, 1999).
Midnight in the Mountains (Orca, 1998).
In Like a Lion (Scholastic, 1998.)
Turns on a Dime (Stoddart, 1998)
Goldstone (Stoddart, 1997)
Emma and the Silk Train (Kids Can Press, 1997)
Whatever You Do, Don't Go Near That Canoe!Scholastic, 1996.)
Too Many Suns (Stoddart, 1996)
Cougar Cove (Orca, 1996)
Blown Away (Red Deer College Press, 1995)
Fires Burning (Stoddart, 1995)
White Jade Tiger (Beach Holme, 1993)
The Dragon's Pearl (Oxford University Press, 1992)
Kate's Castle (Oxford University Press, 1992)
My Grandfather Loved the Stars (Beach Holme, 1992)
A Morning to Polish and Keep (Red Deer College Press, 1992)
The Sand Sifter (Beach Holme, 1990)

Awards
2007 Hackmatack Award
1998 Regional Winner and Finalist, Silver Birch Award
1997 CNIB's Tiny Torgi Award
1997 Regional Winner and Finalist for the Ontario Silver Birch Award
1994 Sheila A. Egoff Award

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Loris Lesynski

Author/Illustrator

Loris Lesynski is an award-winning author and illustrator who has always loved writing and drawing. Born in Sweden, Lesynski turned to writing full-time after her first book, Boy Soup, was published in 1996.
Loris visits schools often, both elementary schools and teachers' colleges. The "echo reading" and recitation work just as well with kids and grownups, addressing our innate pleasure in singing or chanting together, and demonstrating a love of the rhythm of language for children. She has also been a speaker at many libraries, teacher's conferences, literary festivals, and writers' events across Canada.

Loris lives in Toronto.

More about Loris Lesynski: Loris Lesynski's website.

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Author/Illustrator of:
Zigzag: Zoems for Zindergarten (Annick Press, 2004)
Cabbagehead (Annick Press, 2003)
Nothing Beats A Pizza (Annick Press, 2002)
Dirty Dog Boogie (Annick Press, 1999)
Rocksy (Annick Press, 2002)
Night School (Annick Press, 2000)
Catmagic (Annick Press, 1998)
Ogre Fun (Annick Press, 1997)
Boy Soup (Annick Press, 1996)

Awards:
2010 Storytelling World Award, Honor Title
Mr. Christie Silver Medal

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Martin Springett

Author/Illustrator

Martin Springett was born in England. He studied art at the Brassey School of Art in Hastings, Sussex. He emigrated to the West Coast of Canada in 1965, but returned to the UK in 1973 to pursue music in various bands. He spent time in Germany, and toured through Europe.

In 1984 Martin was commissioned to illustrate the cover of "The Summer Tree" by Guy Gavriel Kay. This and the subsequent volumes of The Fionavar Tapestry Trilogy were published around the world along with Martin's covers.  In 1990, he illustrated his first children’s book.

Martin now lives in Ontario.

Website: Martin Springett's website

Author/Illustrator of:
Jousting with Jesters (Orca Book Publishers, 2006)

Illustrator of:
Night Walker by Richard Thompson (Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2002)
The Follower by Richard Thompson (Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2000)
Who by Richard Thompson (Orca, 1993)
Witch What & the Wye of Time by John Strachan Anderson (Napoleon Pub., 1992)
Mei Ming and the Dragon’s Daughter by Lydia Bailey (Scholastic Canada, 1990)

Awards:
2007 Aurora Award
2005 Aurora Award
2003 Ruth Schwartz Award for Illustration
2001 Our Choice Award from the Canadian Children's Book Centre
1996 Our Choice Award from the Canadian Children's Book Centre
1994 Our Choice Award from the Canadian Children's Book Centre
1992 Aurora Award

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Joan Betty Stuchner

Author

Joan Betty Stuchner loves stories. When she is not writing, she works in a library, teaches part-time and acts in community theater.
Joan loves ballet, theatre, art galleries and museums - and hot, strong sweet tea. She confesses that although her family has a big backyard, they don't keep chickens, or even a goat. Joan lives in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Website: Joan Betty Stuchner's blog

Author of:
Can Hens Give Milk? (Orca, 2011)
Josephine’s Dream (Silverleaf Press, 2008)
Harold the Hero (Silverleaf Press, 2008)
Honey Cake (Tradewind Books, 2007)
Sadie the Ballerina (North Winds Press, 2006)
Kugel Valley Klezmer Band (North Winds Press, 1998)

Awards:
2009 Won the Chocolate Lily Award
2009 Sydney Taylor Book Award - Notable Book of Jewish Content
2007 CCBC Our Choice 2007
Nominated for the Amelia Bloomer award for 2009
Nominated for the 2009 PNBA Award
Nominated for the 2008 Shining Willow Award

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Paul Yee

Author

Paul Yee was born in Spalding, Saskatchewan, but grew up in Vancouver. Yee obtained a Bachelor’s, and then a Master’s degree in Canadian History from UBC. He worked as an archivist in the City of Vancouver archives, and in his spare time, did research and volunteer work in Chinatown.
In 1988, Yee moved to Toronto, and worked first at the Archives of Ontario, then at the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship.
When Yee was growing up, he never found books about the world of immigrants in Canada. Yee has tried to fill that void with his writing.

Website: Paul Yee's website

Author of:
Shu-Li and Diego (Tradewind Books, 2009)
Learning to Fly (Orca, 2008)
Shu-Li and Tamara (Tradewind Books, 2007)
What Happened Last Summer (Tradewind Books, 2006)
Bamboo (Tradewind Books, 2005)
A Song for Ba (Groundwood, 2004)
The Bone Collector's Son (Tradewind Books, 2003)
The Jade Necklace (Tradewind Books, 2002)
Dead Man's Gold and Other Stories (Groundwood Books, 2002)
Boy in the Attic (Groundwood Books, 1998)
Ghost Train (Groundwood, 1996)
Struggle and Hope: The Story of Chinese Canadians (Umbrella Press, 1996)
Breakaway Toronto (Groundwood Books, 1994)
Roses Sing on New Snow: A Delicious Tale (Groundwood Books, 1991)
Tales from Gold Mountain: Stories of the Chinese in the New World (Groundwood Books, 1989)
Saltwater City: the Chinese in Vancouver (Douglas & McIntyre, 1988)
The Curses of Third Uncle (James Lorimer, 1986)
Teach Me to Fly, Skyfighter! and Other Stories (James Lorimer, 1983)
Awards: 1998 Prix Enfantasie (Switzerland) for Le Train fantome
1997 Ruth Schwartz Children's Book Award for Ghost Train
1996 Governor General's Award (Children's Literature- Text) for Ghost Train
1992 Ruth Schwartz Children's Book Award for Roses Sing on New Snow
1990 B.C. Book Prize (Sheila Egoff Award) for Tales from Gold Mountain
1990 National I.O.D.E. Award for Tales from Gold Mountain
1990 Parents Choice Honour for Tales from Gold Mountain
1989 Vancouver Book Award for Saltwater City: The Chinese in Vancouver

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Werner Zimmermann

Author/Illustrator

Werner Zimmermann is a resident of Guelph Ontario, but his true love is for the north, where he acted as printmaking advisor to the Inuit of Povungnituk and other Northern Quebec Inuit communities. No longer in the north, he still finds inspiration in winter and snow having written and illustrated the popular book 'Snow Day'.
Mr. Zimmermann divides his time between working on books, working on his art, and teaching life drawing to animation students. He has toured extensively across Canada, giving presentations in schools and libraries and speaking at conferences.

Website: Werner Zimmermann's website

Author/Illustrator of: Snow Day (North Winds Press, 1999)

Illustrator of:
Porcupine in a Pear Tree by Helaine Becker (North Winds Press, 2010)
Listen Said the Donkey by Jean Little (North Winds Press, 2006)
Pippin the Christmas Pig by Jean Little (North Winds Press, 2003)
Brave Highland Heart by Heather Kellerhals-Stewart (Stoddart Kids, 1999)
Whatever You Do, Don’t Go Near the Canoe! by Julie Lawson (Scholastic Canada, 1998)
Each One Special by Frieda Wishinsky (Orca Book Publishers, 1998)
Farmer Joe Babysits by Nancy Wilcox Richards (Scholastic Canada, 1997)
Farmer Joe Goes to the City by Nancy Wilcox Richards (North Winds Press, 1990)
Farmer Joe’s Hot Day by Nancy Wilcox Richards (North Winds Press, 1987)

Awards 2011 CBA Libris Award for A Porcupine in a Pine Tree
Mr. Christie Book Award (illustration) for Pippin the Christmas Pig, 2003
Twice Nominated, Governor General award (Children's Illustration)

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