Gayle Friesen

Authors’ Booking Service is pleased to announce that B.C. young adult author, Gayle Friesen, is now scheduling visits to Ontario schools the coming school year. 

Gayle’s schedule is flexible; please contact us about her availability for your event. She would love to visit your school or library. Her rate is $250.00 per session, plus local transportation. Accommodation costs are generally shared among hosting schools and libraries. 

Here’s what the National Library of Canada has to say about Gayle’s first novel, Janey’s Girl:

This is a thoroughly enjoyable novel. Complex issues are presented, but not without an ample dose of humour, resulting in a well-written and intelligent story. 

Maclean’s magazine says:

Friesen’s story is moving and well-paced – an inspiring coming-of-age story and a blubbery good read. 

PUBLISHED WORKS OF GAYLE FRIESEN

Young Adult Novels: (Publisher: Kids Can Press) 

Janey’s Girl, 1998

Men of Stone, 2000

Losing Forever, 2002

The Isabel Factor,2005

For Now, 2007

AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS

Janey’s Girl:

-- Canadian Libration Association, YA Book of the Year, 1998

-- Violet Downey Award ( IODE), 1998

-- Red Maple Award, 1999

-- Red Cedar Award

-- Governor General nomination, 1998

-- Junior Library Guild Selection, 1999 

Men of Stone: 

-- Nominated for BC Book Prize, 2000

-- Nominated for Manitoba Young Reader’s Award and Red Cedar Award

-- ALA (American Library Association) Best Books of 2000 list

-- New York Public Library list

Losing Forever: 

-- Red Maple Book Award, 2003

-- Nominated for BC Book Prize

-- ALA Best Books for Young Adults 

The Isabel Factor: 

-- Canadian Library Association Short list for Best Book 2006

-- Junior Library Guild (New York) Selection

-- VOYA Top Shelf Fiction 

For Now: 

ALA Best Books for 2007

GAYLE’S PRESENTATION DETAILS

I begin my presentation with a brief summary of how I came to be a writer, of how I thought it was much too big a dream and how, it turns out, dreams tend to require hard work.  

I then discuss the writing process, using my novels as a point of reference. My favorite part of the presentation is doing improvisational exercises with the kids. If we’re discussing character development, for instance, I have them (as a group) come up with interview questions, which they must also answer from the character’s point of view. (How old are you? What’s your name?) My favorite question came from a smirking lad who suggested: Have you ever killed someone? Ah ha, I said, now you might have yourself a plot to go along with your emerging character. It’s a lot of fun.  

I close with a reading if there’s time and interest. Sometimes I discuss the publishing process. (Kids are fascinated by the rejection element of writing.) Questions and answers, of course.  

I present to grades five and older.

Maximum size audience: 100 (less is preferable)

I require: water

Comfortable venues: classroom, library