by Karen Krossing | Mar 11, 2009 | Presentation News
Last week, I visited a grade 12 English class at Vaughan Secondary School in Thornhill, near where I grew up and went to high school. Every school visit is unique, but what makes this one stand out for me is the interesting activities the class had done with my novel Take the Stairs. It’s the second time this year that a high school teacher has contacted me with innovative teaching ideas for this book. I’m thrilled to observe how people use the book, and how they react to it. I hope to post these activities on my website soon, including ideas about exploring the etymology of characters’ names, linking song lyrics to stories in the book, and illustrating the setting. (Below you can see the Vaughan students’ illustrations of The Building from Take the Stairs.) In the meantime, thanks to Diane Tursman and her students for sharing their insights.
by Karen Krossing | Feb 23, 2009 | Book News
Cleavage: Breakaway Fiction for Real Girls has been selected by Resource Links as Best of the Year 2008. It was also nominated for a Cybils Book Award, the children’s and young adult bloggers’ literary awards. A review in the School Library Journal called Cleavage edgy, charming, funny, and sweet. It’s “an aptly named collection of stories about body image and mothers and daughters coming together and growing apart. A fresh, honest, and entertaining anthology.”
by Karen Krossing | Jan 2, 2009 | Mentoring, Presentation News
Writers between the ages of 12 and 19 are invited to join me for a free writing workshop at the Toronto Public Library Brookbanks Branch (210 Brookbanks Drive) on January 31, 2009, from 1 to 3 pm. Come play with words, find inspiration for new stories, and polish your prose for submission to the 2009 Young Voices magazine, the library’s magazine for teen writing and art. The contest closes April 4, 2009, with contributors notified in June and the annual magazine released next October.
by Karen Krossing | Dec 5, 2008 | Book News
Cleavage: Breakaway Fiction for Real Girls, which includes my short story “Profanity,” received a highly-recommended rating from Canadian Review of Materials. The review, posted December 5th, says “the stories are very strong, with sympathetic girl protagonists, colourful purposeful mothers, realistic family situations and the gleaming knife of raw emotion. Highly Recommended.” You can read the full review here.
by Karen Krossing | Nov 3, 2008 | Book News
A ‘n’ E Vibe posted a great new review of Cleavage here. Monika Wierzbicki writes “When we get very lucky we come across a book that expands our minds, enlightens us, and miraculously is still entertaining enough to make us want read it again.” Cleavage is “written in a wonderfully direct and often hilariously offbeat way that will make you want to keep reading.” You can read more about Cleavage here.
by Karen Krossing | Sep 25, 2008 | Book News
A full crowd gathered at the Canadian Children’s Book Centre last night to celebrate the launch of Cleavage: Breakaway Fiction for Real Girls. We enjoyed mocktails and cool snacks before settling in for readings from five of the contributors to the book. Thanks to all for the enthusiastic response.
by Karen Krossing | Sep 25, 2008 | Mentoring, Presentation News
On October 16 at 7 pm, I’ll join the staff of the Toronto Public Library to celebrate the launch of Young Voices 2008, the library’s annual magazine for teen writing and art. As a guest editor of the magazine, I’m looking forward to congratulating the wonderful teen artists and writers whose work will appear in the magazine. Watch for the magazine to appear at your local TPL branch, or join us for the launch at the North York Central Library (5120 Yonge St.).
by Karen Krossing | Sep 24, 2008 | Mentoring, Presentation News
Teens are invited to a writing workshop on the theme of beauty and body image. Join myself and Patricia McCowan – authors from the short story collection Cleavage: Breakaway Fiction for Real Girls – at the Beaches branch of the Toronto Public Library on October 4 from 2 to 4 pm (2161 Queen St. East). Stories from the workshop can be submitted for posting at breakawayfiction.blogspot.com by emailing breakawayfiction@gmail.com.
by Karen Krossing | Sep 11, 2008 | Presentation News
I was invited to give a talk for CANSCAIP, the Canadian Society of Children’s Authors, Illustrators and Performers. On September 10, I spoke about my recent exploration into the art of screenwriting and how it applies to writing a novel. If you’re interested in screenwriting, two excellent books are Syd Field’s Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting and Robert McKee’s Story: Substance, Structure, Style, and the Principles of Screenwriting.
by Karen Krossing | Sep 1, 2008 | Mentoring, Presentation News
Do you want to write for children or teens? Join me for a writing workshop on September 25, 2008, at Centennial College to learn how to generate ideas, develop believable characters, understand genres, edit your writing, and market and promote your work.
