Available for in-person visits: Vancouver Island
Craft: Author
Genre: Picture Books, Beginning Readers, Middle-Grade Fiction, Teen Fiction, Graphic Novels
Target Audience: Kindergarten to Grade 12
Cost for School and Public Presentation: $250.00, plus applicable taxes
Biography
Maureen Fergus has written dozens of books for kids of all ages. Her books have been translated into many languages, optioned for television and adapted for stage. Her novels include Exploits of a Reluctant (But Extremely Goodlooking) Hero and Ortega, which won the McNally Robinson Book for Young People Award. Mad About Meatloaf, the first book in her graphic novel series starring Weenie the wiener dog, won the Joan Betty Stuchner Funniest Children’s Book Award. Maureen’s picture books include the critically acclaimed Buddy and Earl series and The Day My Mom Came to Kindergarten, an Ontario Library Association Forest of Reading Blue Spruce Award winner. Maureen lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba with her family.
Presentation Information:
Reading Rocks (Kindergarten to Grade 3)
Duration: 30 minutes / Maximum group size: 30 students
When presenting to very young readers, I am all about having fun while reading. I have all my picture books and early graphic novels in Powerpoint so that the illustrations are easy for the kids to see and enjoy while I read the story to them. I focus on keeping kids engaged by asking short, simple questions that they can answer easily and on giving them an opportunity to put up their hands and ask/tell me something. Presentations are always lively with lots of laughs!
The ABCs of Writing (Grades 4 to 6)
Duration: 60 minutes / Maximum group size: 60 students
When presenting to Grades 4 to 6, after introducing myself and talking a bit about how I became a writer, I like to explore the writing process through the use of a fun Powerpoint presentation that explores the writing process from idea generation through to publication, with attention paid to the similarities and differences between writing picture books, graphic novels and novels. Time permitting, I will usually do two readings — one from my middle grade novel, Ortega and/or one from a picture book if the kids are keen on this (and in my experience, they always are!). I always leave plenty of time for questions along the way and encourage teachers to have the kids prepare questions ahead of time because the Q&A portion of the presentation is often a highlight.
Writing: The Bumpy, Twisty Journey Of A Thousand Miles
Grades 7 and up
Duration: 60 minutes / Maximum group size: 60 students
When presenting to Grade 7 and up, I spend a bit more time talking about my background, my journey to becoming a writer and the twists and bumps along the way because I think it is good for older kids to hear that I didn’t always know what I wanted to do and that I persevered in the face of big challenges and disappointments. I will do a reading from my upcoming young adult novel, which is a re-release from a trilogy that was first published more than a decade ago. As a part of this, I will discuss the kinds of edits that are being done to update the trilogy to reflect a greater awareness of and sensitivity to the use of certain terms and references - everything from eliminating certain words from the text and the title to reconsidering the names and backstories of particular characters. I leave plenty of time for questions along the way and encourage teachers to have the kids prepare questions ahead of time because the Q&A portion of the presentation is often a highlight. Finally, time permitting, I have a couple of fun group exercises that I can do, including one focused on brainstorming and one focused on exploring tips for spicing up your writing.
Book List
Princess Pru and the Switcheroo (Owlkids Books, Spring 2024)
Zander Stays (Pajama Press, 2023)
Princess Pru and the Ogre on the Hill (Owlkids Books, 2023)
The Pancake Problem (Tundra Books, 2023)
Petal, the Angry Cow (Tundra Books, 2022)
Mad About Meatloaf (Tundra Books, 2021)
Glory On Ice: A Vampire Hockey Story (Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2020)
You’re In Good Paws (Tundra Books, 2019)
The Reptile Club (Kids Can Press, 2018)
Buddy and Earl Meet the Neighbors (Groundwood Books, 2018)
The Day My Dad Joined My Soccer Team (Kids Can Press, 2018)
Buddy and Earl Go to School (Groundwood Books, 2017)
The Day Santa Stopped Believe in Harold (Tundra Books, 2016)
Buddy and Earl and the Great Big Baby (Groundwood Books, 2016)
A Dog Day for Susan (Owlkids Book, 2016)
Buddy and Earl Go Exploring (Groundwood Books, 2016)
Buddy and Earl (Groundwood Books, 2015)
InvisiBill (Tundra Books, 2015)
And What If I Won’t? (Owlkids Books, 2015)
Tomorrow’s Kingdom (Razorbill Canada, 2014)
A Fool’s Errand (Razorbill Canada, 2013)
The Day My Mom Came to Kindergarten (Kids Can Press, 2013)
The Gypsy King (Razorbill Canada, 2013)
Ortega (Kids Can Press, 2010)
Recipe for Disaster (Kids Can Press, 2009)
Exploits of a Reluctant (But Extremely Goodlooking) Hero (Kids Can Press, 2007)