APPLY TO HOST COLLEEN NELSON (IN PERSON)
BIOGRAPHY
Colleen Nelson is a teacher and author from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Many of her novels have made the Hackmatack shortlist, including The Undercover Book List, Harvey Comes Home and If You Can Dream It, You Can Do It. Her novel The Undercover Book List won the 2022 Silver Birch Fiction Award and her recent mystery series, Mystery at the Biltmore was listed as a CBC Books Most Anticipated title. Colleen writes in the early morning hours with her West Highland Terrier, Rosie, at her feet and a strong cup of coffee on her desk. An avid reader of middle grade and young adult books, Colleen loves the chance to chat with fellow book nerds and share some #booklove.
Home Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Creator Type: Author
Genres: Picture books, early-chapter books, middle-grade fiction, young-adult fiction, non-fiction
Website: www.colleennelsonauthor.com
Tour Region: Nova Scotia
Target Audience: Grades 3 - 8
Cost: For one 60-minute presentation: $300 plus 14% HST
NOTE: The fee of $300 (plus tax) will be paid to The Canadian Children's Book Centre (CCBC) upon receipt of an invoice from the CCBC. After Book Week, the CCBC will pay the author their presentation fee of $250 (plus taxes, if applicable).
PRESENTATION DESCRIPTIONS
Mystery at the Biltmore
Target Audience: Grades 3 - 6
Preferred group size: 25 -30 students
Maximum group size: 45 students
Using her early chapter novel as a framework, Colleen will show students what goes into making a mystery story. Suspects, red herrings and clues will all be discussed in this dynamic presentation. Colleen will explain how her fictional novel is inspired by a real New York City building and the research that went into creating the story and characters in all the Biltmore books. Discussions of other mystery novels will inspire students of all ages.
At the end of the presentation Colleen will give students a Mystery Road Map so they can outline a mystery story of their own. (Handout included.)
Required equipment: LCD projector, whiteboard or screen
Required materials: paper handout printed by me, pencils
Making a Splash: How Humans Consume, Control and Care for Water
Asking good questions
Target Audience: Grades 3 - 8
Preferred group size: 20 - 30 students
Maximum group size: 45 students
Writing good nonfiction means asking good questions. Colleen will take students through the process of creating their own nonfiction title. It all starts with a wondering! Using her experience as a middle-years teacher and librarian, Colleen will give students the information they need to create their own nonfiction title.
Using her nonfiction book as a framework, students are invited to brainstorm for a topic they’re excited about developing into a longer book by asking the right questions. Colleen will explain how research, images and writing style contribute to great nonfiction titles. She will bring handouts that focus on the elements of nonfiction (captions, headings, glossary, etc.) so that students can integrate them into their own books. By the end of the lesson, students will have a title, a question and an outline ready to be developed. (Handout included.)
Required equipment: LCD projector, whiteboard or screen
Required materials: paper handout printed by me, pencils
How to Save a Library
Make your own Kids Community Action Network (C.A.N.) Club
Target Audience: Grades 3 - 7
Preferred group size: 25 - 50 students
Maximum group size: 60 students
Colleen will take students through the fictional contest that was the seed for her middle grade novel, ‘How to Save a Library’. The contest, a Dragons Den/Shark Tank-style contest that invites students to pitch an idea to improve their community brings the main characters together as they try to save their neighborhood library.
Using her novel as a framework, students will generate ideas and make an action plan, then pitch the idea, just like in the book, to the ‘judges’ (Colleen and the teachers). The presentation will also explore the writing process and how an author creates dynamic characters that jump off the page. Finally, Colleen will ask students to create a map of their community. What’s there and what do they wish was there? Teachers may wish to use this as a jumping off point to write letters to their city or town councillors with the student’s ideas.
Required equipment: LCD projector, whiteboard or screen
Required materials: imagination, creativity and a desire to help your community
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Mystery at the Biltmore: A Recipe for Robbery. Pajama Press, 2025
How to Save a Library. Pajama Press, 2025
Making a Splash: How Humans Control, Care and Consume Water. Orca, 2025
Mystery at the Biltmore: The Classified Catnapping. Pajama Press, 2025
Mystery at the Biltmore: The Vanderhoff Heist. Pajama Press, 2024
See It, Dream It, Do It: How 25 people Just Like You Found Their Dream Jobs. Pajama Press, 2023
The Umbrella House. Pajama Press, 2023
If You Can Dream It, You Can Do It: How 25 Inspiring Individuals Found Their Dream Jobs. Pajama Press, 2022.
Harvey Takes the Lead. Pajama Press, 2022
The Undercover Booklist. Pajama Press, 2021
The Life and Deaths of Frankie D. Dundurn, 2021
Underland. Yellow Dog, 2020
Teaching Mrs. Muddle. Pajama Press, 2020
Harvey Holds His Own. Pajama Press, 2020
Harvey Comes Home. Pajama Press, 2019
Spin. Dundurn, 2019
Pulse Point. Yellow Dog, 2018
Sadia. Dundurn, 2018
Blood Brothers. Dundurn, 2017