Kelley Armstrong

Biography:

I've been telling stories since before I could write. I didn't grow up planning to become a novelist--in my family, writing was a hobby, not a career – but I always hoped to someday publish a few books, maybe write part-time. After getting a psychology degree and preparing for grad school, I realized I was heading in a career direction that would leave little time for writing. So I made the difficult decision to switch gears. I went to college for computer programming and got a 9 to 5 corporate job that left me time to pursue my writing dream. I sold my first novel in 1999 and have had fourteen published so far. I now write full-time, and live with my husband and three kids in rural southwestern Ontario.

More information about Kelley Armstrong can be found at www.KelleyArmstrong.com.

Presentation Information:

I've formalized various talks I've given into two. The first is most suitable for Grades 6 to 8 and the latter for high school, though if a teacher feels the other would work better for his/her class, I'm always flexible! I just say the first is more for younger because, in my experience, by high school, students aren't doing as much creative writing.

Story Storming (intermediate to senior elementary grades)
The most common question every author is asked is: where do you get your ideas? While the central idea is important, a story is much more than that. In this interactive presentation, students are given an idea, then shown how to brainstorm it into a full story. They'll be asked to come up with "plot point" ideas for every step of the way. Students will learn how to pick the path of most resistence – choosing the plot points that will bring the most conflict and suspense to their story. The presentation will end with pointers for turning that outline into a complete and edited story.

No Book Snobs Allowed (high school)
Novels seek to educate, entertain and illuminate the human condition. Different types of novels, though, emphasize one aspect over another. This presentation will focus on books as entertainment, encouraging teens to read something, anything – whatever interests them, taking the position that all reading improves literacy. Once students learn to see reading as fun, they will move beyond their comfort zone, exploring other genres and forms. We need to hook them, though, and this presentation will attempt to do that, discussing genre fiction, graphic novels, TV/movie/game tie-ins. The presentation will begin with a brief reading from the author's young adult urban fantasy trilogy, and conclude with a Q&A session.

Book List / Discography:

The Awakening (Doubleday, 2009)

The Summoning (Doubleday, 2008)

Awards:

The Awakening
Debuted at #1 on the New York Times Bestselling List
Received starred reviews from Quill & Quire (Canada) and Kirkus Reviews (US)

Kelley is currently the top selling urban fantasy author in the UK.

Praise for Kelley Armstrong:

“As the teen librarian for the Hamilton Public Library, I have recently hosted two visits with Kelley Armstrong… Though none of the students had read Kelley’s young adult novel The Summoning, when she began the session with a reading, the class was utterly riveted. While Kelley read, you could hear a pin drop – a pretty astonishing feat in a Grade 7 classroom. Afterwards, the class was bursting with questions. Kelley was absolutely amazing with the teens, responding with patience and sincerity for each query and turning the questions back on them once the torrent eventually slowed… I am already fielding demands from staff and teens to have Kelley visit again and given that we already have over 70 requests for her next novel, The Awakening, I’m sure another visit would draw a substantial audience.”

Jennifer Gal
Youth Services Librarian, Teen Specialist
Hamilton Public Library
(Hamilton, Ontario)

Craft:

author

Genre:

teen fiction

Ideal Audience Size:

25 – 50

Maximum Audience Size:

150 (for groups over 50, a professional sound system is required)  

Grades:

6 – 12

Special Equipment:

flipboard, blackboard or whiteboard (anything I can write on)

Website:

Kelley Armstrong’s Site

School Reading Fee:

$157.50 per reading

Public Reading Fee:

$250.00 per reading (four readings covered by the Canada Council)

Book Week Tour Contact:

Carolyn Hart
Tel: 604.272.2482
bc@bookcentre.ca