APPLY TO HOST KRISTY JACKSON (IN PERSON)
BIOGRAPHY
Kristy Jackson is the author of Mortified (Harper Collins Canada, 2024), which was shortlisted for a Governor General’s Literary Award, a Forest of Reading Silver Birch Award, a Manitoba Young Readers Choice Award, and the Joan Betty Stuchner Oy Vey Awards. Her work draws inspiration from her Cree and German background and her long list of embarrassing moments. Kristy lives in Saskatoon and is a communications professional as well as the mother of two boys. Touching Grass (Harper Collins Canada, 2025) is her second novel.
Home Location: Corman Park, Saskatchewan
Creator Type: Author
Genres: Middle-grade fiction
Website: www.kristyjackson.ca
Tour Region: Saskatchewan
Target Audience: Grades 3 - 8
Cost: For one 60-minute presentation: $300 plus 5% GST
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
That's So Embarassing
Target Audience: Grades 3 - 8
Preferred group size: 7 - 50 students
Maximum group size: 150 students
Join author Kristy Jackson as she talks about her journey to publication, the importance of resilience, rejection letters, and how to turn an idea into a book. Kristy will read a chapter from her first book, Mortified, and will share some of her most embarrassing moments with participants. Participants will be invited to share their embarrassing moments too. Students will learn how everyone deals with embarrassing moments, and how important it is to never give up.
Required equipment: projector, whiteboard or screen; microphone for large groups
Required materials: bin and slips of paper with student names for prize draw; colouring sheets can be provided for each student
Mission Map: Making a Game Plan for Your Story
Target Audience: Grades 3 - 8
Preferred group size: 7 - 50 students
Maximum group size: 150 students
Join author Kristy Jackson as she talks about writing her second novel, Touching Grass, a hilarious video game enthusiast/camp disaster story set in a traditional Denesuline First Nation culture camp. She’ll talk about her inspiration for the novel, how to be inclusive and respectful when writing stories, and the steps she takes for how to turn an idea into a book. Kristy will read a chapter from her book and students will be invited to share any of their camping stories. Students will learn the role of prework (brainstorming and outlining), editing and the importance of balance between the real world and technology.
Required equipment: projector, whiteboard or screen; microphone for large groups
Required materials: bin and slips of paper with student names for prize draw; colouring sheets can be provided for each student
Practice Round: How to Create Your Story Pitch Like a Pro
Target Audience: Grades 5 and up
Preferred group size: 7 - 50 students
Maximum group size: 150 students
How do you turn an idea into a novel? Kristy shares her process of staring with the query letter to the agent BEFORE writing the book. But even before that, Kristy spends time brainstorming and writes a 1-2 sentence pitch to test her book ideas, and then outlines the book using a story structure. In this interactive session, students witll learn the parts of a pitch and will have a chance to practive writing pitches of their own, based on either popular movies or their own ideas (handout included).
Required equipment: projector, whiteboard or screen; microphone for large groups
Required materials: bin and slips of paper with student names for prize draw; colouring sheets can be provided for each student
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Mortified. Harper Collins Canada, 2024.
Touching Grass. Harper Collins Canada, 2025.