mail	6637 Emerson Street Burnaby, BC V5E 1W
ph	604-435-3108
e	polestar@shaw.ca
web	www.ellenschwartz.net

Biography

Eight Facts about Ellen Schwartz

I was born in Washington, DC, grew up in New Jersey, and moved to British Columbia in the 1970s as a hippie back-to-the-lander.

I’ve published 12 books for children and one book for adults.

I love to write because it’s so much fun. I hate to write because it’s so hard. I avoid writing until a story forces me to write it.

In addition to writing books, I write material for companies and government agencies.

I’ve published about 100 magazine articles.

I teach creative writing classes at Simon Fraser University and Douglas College.

I love to dance, bake bread and hike.

I have two grown daughters and live with my husband in Burnaby, BC.

Book types: picture books, juvenile fiction, YA fiction, YA nonfiction, educational books

Guest speaker/presentation information

Presentations last from 40 minutes for primary grades to an hour for intermediate grades and older. I usually start with a short reading from one of my books to show a character grappling with a problem. Then I speak about my writing process, from the initial idea through the production of the book, emphasizing the pre-writing (getting to know the characters, imagining the setting, making notes about scenes, etc.) and the many drafts that I do. I show audiences my writing tools, early drafts, items related to the research, galleys and so on. I answer questions, then conclude with another short reading if there's time.

Presentation geographic range: Canada - beyond BC

Presentation audience age groups: grades K-3, grades 4-6, grades 7-8, high school, college/university/adult

Published work

Dusty, Solstice Books, 1983

Starshine!, Polestar/Raincoast, 1987, and Gimtasis Zodis (Lithuania), 2005

Born a Woman, Polestar/Raincoast, 1988

Starshine at Camp Crescent Moon, Polestar/Raincoast, 1994

Starshine on TV, Polestar/Raincoast, 1996

Mr. Belinsky’s Bagels, Tradewind Books (Canada and United Kingdom), 1997, and Charlesbridge Books (USA), 1998

Jesse’s Star, Orca Book Publishers, 2000

Starshine and the Fanged Vampire Spider, Polestar/Raincoast, 2000

I’m a Vegetarian, Tundra Books, 2002

I Love Yoga, Tundra Books, 2003

Stealing Home, Tundra Books, 2006

Abby’s Birds, Tradewind Books, 2006

Yossi’s Goal, Orca Book Publishers, 2006

Awards & recognition

Abby’s Birds: nominated for BC Book Prizes (Christie Harris Illustrated Book Award), Marilyn Baillie Children’s Book Award, Shining Willow Book Award (Saskatchewan Library Association), Chocolate Lily Award and Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Illustration Prize; chosen for Ontario Lieutenant-Governor’s Literacy Program

Stealing Home: 100 Book Challenge (American Reading Association), Sydney Taylor Book Award Notable Book for Older Readers, starred Our Choice by Canadian Children’s Book Centre, nominated for Manitoba Young Readers’ Award, Red Cedar Book Award and Chocolate Lily Award

Yossi’s Goal: nominated for Silver Birch Express Award (Ontario Library Association) and Chocolate Lily Award

I Love Yoga named a New York Public Library Best Books for Teens, 2004

I’m a Vegetarian named to State of Pennsylvania Recommended Reading List, 2003

Council for the Advancement and Support of Education Silver Award and Canadian Council for the Advancement Education Silver Award for “The Striptease Project,” an article in Trek (UBC alumni magazine), spring 2000

Jesse’s Star: BC 2000 Book Award, Silver Birch Award nomination, Red Cedar Award nomination and Chocolate Lily Award nomination

Starshine on TV: Canadian Library Association Notable Book and Silver Birch Award nomination

Canadian Children’s Book Centre Our Choice recognition for Mr. Belinsky’s Bagels, Starshine on TV, Starshine!, Jesse’s Star, Starshine and the Fanged Vampire Spider, I’m a Vegetarian, I Love Yoga, Stealing Home (starred recognition), Yossi's Goal, Abby's Birds

Canada Council “B” Grant (1989) and Non-fiction Writing Grant (1987)