by Karen Krossing | Feb 21, 2014 | Mentoring, On Writing, Presentation News
Do you know 
teen writers and artists who are looking for inspiration? Please spread the word about the Toronto Public Library’s Young Voices March Break Writing & Arts Festival. From March 8 to 14, teens aged 12 to 19 can attend any or all of these hands-on workshops, from “Colours You Could Eat: Toronto Mixed Media” with professional artist Michael Brown to “Make Your Own Short Comic Book Story” with author and illustrator Evan Munday. Check out all the workshops on this flyer.
Toronto teens can also submit their writing and visual art to the TPL’s annual Young Voices Magazine. Deadline is April 5. For more info and to submit, click here.
by Karen Krossing | Feb 21, 2014 | Book News, Presentation News
Amy Mathers honours her passion for reading and Canadian teen literature
Imagine reading ten pages every six minutes. Now imagine doing that every day for a year.
Terry Fox could run a kilometre in six minutes during his Marathon of Hope. Inspired by Terry Fox’s and Rick Hansen’s journeys, Amy Mathers will be reading teen fiction books from every province and territory, exploring Canada and promoting Canadian teen authors and books by finishing a book a day for each day of 2014. Not only that, she’ll also publish a review of each book she reads and encourage others to share their opinions, too.
What’s Amy’s goal?
Amy’s goal is to raise money for the Canadian Children’s Book Centre (CCBC), a non-profit organization that presents the yearly Canadian Children’s Literature Awards gala. This inspiring event includes esteemed awards such as the Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award and the Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People. Now, the CCBC hopes to add an award for Canadian books for teens. I’m thrilled that the funds raised by Amy’s Marathon of Books will go toward an endowment for a Canadian teen book award to be presented at the annual CCBC gala. As an author for teens, it’s important to me that their reading materials be honoured and appraised.
What can you do?
Click here to read Amy’s daily book reviews and leave your opinions about the books. Click here to donate to Amy’s Marathon.
Looking for great Canadian teen books to read? Check out Amy’s Reading List, which currently include my novel, Take the Stairs, as well as many other fine titles.
Who is Amy?
Amy Mathers is a passionate reader who hopes to inspires others to share her enthusiasm for funding a teen book award. Although she has faced physical and health challenges throughout her life, Amy has worked as a bibliotherapist, taken part in a high school reading selection committee and co-written and co-taught a college course called “Assisting Families Dealing with Chronic Illness & Disability.” I had the opportunity to meet Amy in January at the Ontario Library Association SuperConference, where she showed her appreciation for Canadian books and readers as well as her ability to inspire. I wish Amy luck on her journey, and hope people throughout Canada will support and encourage her. Best wishes, Amy!
by Karen Krossing | Nov 20, 2013 | Mentoring, Presentation News
Greeting conference attendees.
Last week, I retired as President of CANSCAIP – the Canadian Society of Children’s Authors, Illustrators and Performers. I’ve spent the last four years volunteering, first as Vice-President in charge of the annual Packaging Your Imagination Conference in Toronto, and then as President, overseeing all CANSCAIP programming.
I’m a born organizer, so I knew I could do some good for an organization that I value. But I also chose to volunteer for personal reasons: to get to know more people in my industry and to practise my public speaking, since I’m an introvert at heart.
I certainly achieved both my personal goals, and I hope that I left CANSCAIP better off. Here’s what I learned from my volunteering experiences:
- The more often I speak in front of a crowd, the easier it gets.
- Listen to people. Fresh ideas can be found through conversation.
- Filter ideas and opinions to figure out what’s next.
- Attend industry events – even ones that don’t seem immediately relevant. New connections and insights lurk there, waiting to be discovered.
- Efficiency is the key to getting it all done.
- Creativity can be stifled by too much efficiency.
- Ponder knotty problems for a few days to allow solutions to emerge.
- Trust that I’ll be able to find a solution, no matter how challenging the problem.
- Nurture the growth of others. Celebrate success everywhere.
- Acknowledge how high we’ve climbed, even if the journey is still in progress.
- Community feeds creativity and personal growth.
I’ll still be Past-President for two more years, mostly mentoring new volunteers. And I’ll try to approach it the same way I started – with a willingness to stretch and grow in new, exciting ways.
Hosting my final monthly meeting.
(Photo courtesy of Debbie Ohi.)
by Karen Krossing | Sep 10, 2013 | Mentoring, Presentation News
Teen writers who are looking for hands-on writing workshops should check out the Toronto Public Library’s Young Voices 2013 Writers Conference. This free one-day event is on October 26 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. How lucky are we to have the fabulous Toronto Public Library!
You can meet published authors and artists, improve your craft, get your work published in the Instant Anthology blog and magazine, and meet other Toronto teen writers.
Workshops include:
Plus you can hear Tavi Gevinson – teen editor and founder of ROOKIEMAG.com.
Registration is now open, and if you register before October 11, you can enter to win a Kobo e-reader on the day of the conference!
For full details and to register, click here. Hope to see you there!
by Karen Krossing | Jun 5, 2013 | Mentoring, Presentation News
I often get emails from teens and parents asking about upcoming writing workshops. This summer, Toronto teen writers can find inspiration and hone their craft with some cool local writers.
Open to teen writers ages 12 to 19. Submission to the Toronto Public Library’s 2014 Young Voices Magazine of teen writing and art is encouraged!
Who: Karen Krossing (me)
When: Thursday, July 11, 2:00 to 4:00 pm
Where: Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge Street
Network with a published author and with other teen writers; discover teen-friendly publishing opps. Do some writing, some reading, and have a bunch of fun. An informative and friendly workshop for teen creators.
To register, contact Ken Sparling at ksparling@torontopubliclibrary.ca.
Who: Karen Krossing (me)
When: Monday, July 22, 4:00 to 6:00 pm
Where: Agincourt Branch, Toronto Public Library, 155 Bonis Avenue
How can real life inspire story ideas? Explore how moments such as an early memory as a child, a conversation overheard on the bus or your family history can spark fictional or memoir writing. With fresh and inspiring story-starters, you’ll create captivating scenes, learn creative writing techniques and get constructive feedback on your writing.
To register, contact Margaret Godden at mgodden@torontopubliclibrary.ca.
Use Your Words: Summer Workshops for Emerging Writers
For young writers aged 16 to 30.
Who: Dalton Higgins (Vibe, The Source)
When: Saturday, July 13, 2:00 to 4:30 pm
Where: Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge Street
Dalton inhabits the worlds of digital culture, hip hop and popular culture – and combines them in a potent mix. One of Canada’s foremost experts on hip hop.
Who: Emily Pohl-Weary (Kiss Machine, Girls Who Bite Back)
When: Saturday July 20, 2:00 to 4:30 pm
Where: Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge Street
Executive Director of the innovative “open source” learning centre the Academy of the (Im)possible, Emily’s novel Not Your Ordinary Wolf Girl will be published this fall by Penguin.
Who: Sheila Heti (How Should a Person Be?, The Chairs are Where the People Go)
When: Saturday, July 27, 2:00 to 4:30 pm
Where: Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge Street
Sheila’s book How Should a Person Be? was chosen by The New York Times as one of the 100 Notable Books of 2012. Contemporary culture is her beat.
Spaces are limited. To register, email useyourwords@hotmail.ca.
by Karen Krossing | Oct 10, 2012 | Mentoring, Presentation News
Exciting news! Young Voices 2012 – the Toronto Public Library‘s annual magazine of teen writing and art is now available at your local Toronto library branch. As an editor of this magazine for six years, I’m particularly proud of the diverse talents of Toronto’s teens showcased within these pages.
Selecting contributors for the Young Voices magazine is great fun and hard work. I love digging into the pile of writing I receive, exploring the insights that these teens have put to paper. And I love hashing out who the finalists will be with the members of the Editorial Youth Advisory Group. Most of all, I love congratulating the contributors to the magazine at the Young Voices launch party – held this year at the North York Central Library on Thursday, October 11 at 7:00 p.m.
Thanks to my group of enthusiastic editors for an evening of friendly arguments, loud disagreements and finally mutual understanding as we came to terms over which pieces to select for the magazine. Thanks to the staff at the Toronto Public Library who give Toronto teens this fantastic opportunity.
I hope that acceptance in Young Voices makes the contributors stand a little taller and feel more confident about their unique voices and the insights they have to offer.
Don’t forget – it’s never too early to think about next year’s magazine! Check out the submission guidelines and deadline here.
