Creator Profile: 
Lorna Schultz Nicholson

Available for in-person visits: Yukon

Craft: Author

Genre: Picture Books, Middle-Grade Fiction, Teen Fiction, Non-Fiction, Hi-Lo books for reluctant readers

Target Audience: Grades 1 to 12

Cost for School and Public Presentation: $250.00, plus applicable taxes

Biography

Lorna Schultz Nicholson is an award-winning author who has traditionally published 51 books, including children’s picture books, middle-grade fiction, YA fiction, and sports non-fiction books. Her books have been nominated for many awards across Canada and in the United States. She was a Forest of Reading nominee for five years in a row, and is often on the Best Books for Kids & Teens list in Canada. Before becoming a full-time writer, Lorna was a television reporter and co-host, radio talk show host, fitness coordinator, mystery theatre actor, and a rowing coach. Every job she has had to date has helped with her writing. Lorna divides her time between Edmonton, Alberta, and Penticton, British Columbia. She lives with her husband and quirky dog she brought home from Mexico.

Presentation Information:

Division 1: Grades 1-3

PICTURE BOOK FUN

All of Lorna's picture books fit in perfectly with the elementary Social Studies units about belonging, connecting and identity. Lorna ties in the ELA curriculum by talking about where she gets her ideas and how she organizes them into a book. And she shows how the illustrator takes her ideas and draws amazing pictures. She has fun worksheets and loves to get the kids drawing.

GOOD MORNING, SUNSHINE! THE JOEY MOSS STORY

Good Morning, Sunshine! (iIlustrated by Alice Carter) is about the legend Joey Moss. Joey proved to the world that people born with Down syndrome can be active in their communities. His story is remarkable, and Lorna will talk about how everyone matters. She will show real photos of Joey! She has fun worksheets for this presentation.

WHAT TO BRING

Lorna’s picture book What to Bring (illustrated by Ellen Rooney) is a story about being evacuated during a forest fire. It is about family and what is important in our lives. Lorna will make the students think about what they would bring in the event of an evacuation from a fire or flood, and even get them to draw pictures. With this story, she will explain about writing a picture book and how she took a real-life experience and made it into a book.

THE GIRL WHO LOVED POUTINE

This is a fun book about Zoey (illustrated by Rachel Qiuqi) who loves to have poutine on her birthday, which happens to be on July 1st. Her family brings poutine dishes to her birthday party, and they are from different parts of Canada, including as far east as Newfoundland, as far west as BC and even north to Yellowknife. The kids can have fun drawing their favourite birthday meal. 

Division 2:  Grades 4-6

INSPIRATION: WHERE DOES IT COME FROM?

Taking the Ice (Scholastic Canada, 2021), is a hockey novel about leadership, dealing with anxiety, teamwork, being kind, and friendship. Lorna will answer the question: Where do you get your ideas from? All of her middle-grade novels fit in well with the Health and Life Skills curriculum component because they deal with helping others, dealing with stress, and managing time. She ties in the ELA curriculum by talking about the writing process and the planning and plotting that goes into writing a story, as well as editing. Lorna also has a non-fiction series (Amazing Hockey Stories) and the newest book is on Leon Draisaitl (Scholastic Canada, 2023). How does she get information for a non-fiction story? What is important? What does she leave out? She will give info on research techniques for both fiction and non-fiction.

Division 3: Grades 7-9

FROM A TO B: HOW TO WRITE AND FINISH A STORY!

How to start a story? How to finish a story? Lorna will use her One-2-One series to discuss how she researches to develop characters, writes an outline to start and finish, and allows those on-the-spot ideas to find a place in the story. This series works well with the Health and Life Skills curriculum. How do her characters who have high-functioning autism/Asperger’s, Down syndrome, a brain injury, and Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder understand people around them? How do the characters make choices that help them along the way? If requested, Lorna can talk about the difference between fiction and non-fiction. She goes into detail about the editing process. And she loves to read to teens!

Division 4: Grades 10-12

WRITING YOUR PASSION

Lorna’s young adult novel, When You Least Expect It, (Red Deer Press, 2021), has a personal story behind it. This session will encourage students to pull stories from their lives, and write them into fiction, creating a story. Lorna will also talk about how she learned a new writing technique (verse) after fifty published books. And about why she wrote this book? And why she chose to write parts of it in verse? This will tie in with the ELA curriculum.

Lorna also writes non-fiction, (Grit and Glory - Edmonton Oilers 40th anniversary book), so either/or both can be the topic of discussion, depending on the needs of the students. How does she research? How does she interview? What are some interesting interview techniques she’s used? How to compile the interviews to make a narrative story.

WRITING WORKSHOPS

Lorna loves working with students on their own writing. She has three writing workshops that she can do with Grades 4 and up.

NON-FICTION: TELLING REAL TALES

Are you interested in true stories? Do you like reading about fascinating people?  

Do you like writing about amazing events? Writing non-fiction is just as creative as writing fiction. In this class you will learn how to interview, gather information, and put it all together so that your reader will keep turning the page. Be prepared to do a bit of creative non-fiction writing!

FICTION—PLAY A GAME: WRITE A STORY

Writing fiction is about characters and setting! Plus, every good fiction story has gripping conflict. In this workshop you will play a trade game (yes, a super fun game) to put people and places together to solve a problem. This workshop is lively, imaginative, and words will flow onto the page. Get ready to play! 

GRAPHIC FUN

Graphic stories start with writing! Learn how to write a graphic sequence using peppy dialogue and tons of action. Of course, you will get to also draw the story! No drawing skills required. Stick men are a-okay.

Set-up Needs for In-Person Presentations

For all grades (except small Kindergarten, Grade 1 and Grade 2 classes) Lorna needs access to technology to show a PowerPoint presentation and have her picture books on the screen. She will bring her computer and flash drive, plus dongles for attachments. She will also need a table to display books and a bottle or glass of water.

Book List

FICTION

Stopping the Shots (Scholastic Canada, 2024)

What to Bring (Owlkids Books, 2023)

Behind the Label: Gloria & Willa (Red Deer Press, 2022)

Taking the Ice (Scholastic Canada, 2021)

When You Least Expect It (Red Deer Press, 2021) 

Denial (Lorimer, 2022)

Just Three (Orca Book Publishers, 2019)

A Time to Run: Stuart & Sam (Clockwise Press, 2018)

Bent Not Broken: Madeline & Justin (Clockwise Press, 2017)

Superhero Ninja Wrestling Star (Lorimer, 2017) 

Born With: Erika & Gianni (Clockwise Press, 2016)

Fragile Bones: Harrison & Anna (Clockwise Press, 2015)

Puckster Plays the Hockey Mascots (Tundra/Fenn, 2014)

Puckster’s Christmas Hockey Tournament (Tundra/Fenn, 2014) 

Hoop Dreams (Lorimer, 2014)

Puckster Goes to the Olympics (Tundra/Fenn, 2013) 

Puckster’s First Hockey Tryout (Tundra/Fenn, 2013) 

Big Air (Lorimer, 2013). 

Forward Pass (Lorimer, 2013)

Puckster’s First Hockey Tournament (Tundra/Fenn, 2012)

Puckster’s New Hockey Teammate (Tundra/Fenn, 2012)

One Cycle (Lorimer, 2012)

Rookie (Lorimer, 2012)

Vegas Tryout (Lorimer, 2012)

Puckster’s First Game (Tundra/Fenn, 2011) 

Puckster’s First Sweater (Tundra/Fenn, 2011) 

Holding (Lorimer, 2008)

Cross-Check! (Lorimer, 2007)

Too Many Men (Lorimer, 2006)

Northern Star (Lorimer, 2006)

Delaying the Game (Lorimer, 2005)

Against the Boards (Lorimer, 2005)

Roughing (Lorimer, 2004)

Interference (Lorimer, 2004)

NON-FICTION

Sidney Crosby (Scholastic Canada) 

Leon Draisaitl (Scholastic Canada, 2023)

Good Morning, Sunshine! The Joey Moss Story (Sleeping Bear Press, 2022) 

Carey Price (Scholastic Canada, 2022)

Mitch Marner (Scholastic Canada, 2020)

P.K. Subban (Scholastic Canada, 2019)

Hayley Wickenheiser (Scholastic Canada, 2018)

Connor McDavid (Scholastic Canada, 2017)

Winning Gold (Lorimer, 2010)

Fighting for Gold (Lorimer, 2009)

Dominant Dany Heatley (Fenn Publishing, 2008)

Pink Power (Lorimer, 2007)

H.E.A.R.T. (Fenn Publishing, 2007)

ADULT NON-FICTION

The Next Ones (Fenn Publishing, 2011)

Home Ice (Fenn Publishing, 2009)

Grit and Glory (Penguin/Random House, 2018)