Next Roundtable Presentation: September 28, 2009

with Hazel Hutchins

We are pleased to announce our first Victoria Children's Literature Roundtable meeting of the fall will take place on Monday, September 28, 2009 and will feature the very talented Hazel Hutchins.

Hazel is the author of over forty books for children spanning a kaleidoscope of age groups and interests. Most recent titles include the award-winning picture book Mattland, the fact-filled middle reader novel TJ and the Quiz Kids, and the more serious YA title After. Her lively presentations encourage young readers and writers across Canada to delight in the magic of story on all levels. Hazel makes her home in Canmore, Alberta.

You can learn more about Hazel on her website. See you at the meeting!

May 25, 2009: Chris Tougas

Our last meeting of the year is on Monday, May 25th at 7:30 pm, at the Nellie McClung Library at Cedar Hill Rd. & McKenzie Ave. (back entrance, library is closed). Chris Tougas, a writer-illustrator with nine children's books to his name, will be speaking.

For the last 10 years Chris has worked as both a concept developer and character designer for film, television and new media companies such as Disney, Warner Brothers, Universal, Sesame Workshop, Bardel Entertainment, Animation Lab, Nelvana, Fox and many others.

Chris's recent work with Canadian companies has received wide recognition. Concept and design direction for location-based game development company, Blister Entertainment's, Mobile Pooch helped earn the runner up spot for the Navtec Global Challenge. Design work and commercial direction for the Alberta Chiropractic Association's television campaign earned an Ace advertising award and most recently, designs for Hotrocket Studio's C.I.E. project contributed toward winning first place in the 2007 Kidscreen International Pitch-It competition in New York City. Chris brings highly valued expertise in character and concept development; skills that are acutely tuned to merchandising and other business development triggers.

Chris' recent book Mechanimals has been nominated for the BC Chocolate Lilly and the Saskatchewan Willow award. It was runner up for best illustrated book by the Canadian Library Association and won the Alcuin Award for excellence in book design and the City of Victoria's Bolen Book award.

Chris has several new picture books in development. You can check out his blog at http://christougas.blogspot.com/

Next Meeting: April 20, 2009

Our next meeting is fast approaching. On Monday, April 20, at 7:30 pm, at the Nellie McClung Library at Cedar Hill Rd. & McKenzie Ave. (back entrance, library is closed), we will hear Diane Swanson, a very prolific writer of children's non-fiction, speak.

Diane Swanson is a full-time author who gets her inspiration from the natural world. Swanson encourages young writers to "Write what really excites you. No matter what your subject is, if you let your excitement shine through your words, you'll grab your readers' interest." Creating engaging and factual books for children is definitely what excites Diane Swanson.

For more info about Diane and her books, please visit http://www.authorviews.com/authors/swanson.php


Our last meeting is Monday, May 25 and will be a presentation by Mark Tougas, author and illustrator of Mechanimals, winner of the first Bolen Book Prize last November, 2008. More information to follow.