“What a powerful book! I read it to her last night and we both had tears in our eyes. Wonderful book and message! I wish you success and continued healing.”
Chris Topper, Ottawa
With its beautiful full-paged coloured illustrations, SALLY is the heartwarming story of the friendship between a teenaged boy and a homeless woman showing the extreme necessity of compassion and acceptance for one another, especially in times of suffering or isolation. We are never truly alone. It demonstrates the strong connection between mental illness and homelessness. Sally was written for youth to adult in 2005 during my difficult battles with mental illness. It sells for exactly $20 and is appropriate for any age (parents should always read the story first to elicit discussion). It is now in Ottawa bookstores and can be purchased at amazon.ca and indigo.ca
PRESENTATIONS AND WORKSHOPS ARE NOW IN FULL FORCE!
Author presentations are currently being booked. I present on the strong connection between reading and writing to groups in PRIMARY, JUNIOR, INTERMEDIATE, and HIGH SCHOOL. I also conduct WORKSHOPS with individual classes, both READING and WRITING workshops. The reading workshop is a detailed reading and discussion of my new book, Sally. The response thus far has been phenomenal. The more we read, the better we write. The more we write, the better we read. Students will join me on a journey through The Colourful World Of Reading And Writing, as they learn tried and true techniques that will strengthen their skills in both reading and writing. Find a love of writing and reading through the adventures of an author who’s been there, done that, and will do more.
REFERENCES FOR PRESENTATIONS AND WORKSHOPS
MAY, 2016 – ST. ANTHONY – Paul McGuire (principal) – paul.mcguire@ocsb.ca
MAY, 2016 – HOLY FAMILY ELEMENTARY – Barry Oliver (principal) – barry.oliver@ocsb.ca
MAY, 2016 – ST. LUKE BARRHAVEN ELEMENTARY – Chris Risto (principal) – chris.risto@ocsb.ca (2 presentations and 4 reading workshops)
FEBRUARY, 2016 – MONSIGNOR PAUL BAXTER ELEMENTARY – RUTH E. DICKINSON LIBRARY – Sally book reading & mental health talk – 60 grade 2 students – Sean Haughian – sean.haughian@ocsb.ca (teacher) & Tina Sidoli – tina.sidoli@ocsb.ca (teacher)
JANUARY, 2016 – ST. ROSE OF LIMA (**NOTE: READING & WRITING WORKSHOP) – Joan Barry (principal) – joan.barry@ocsb.ca & Michael McIssac (grade 6 teacher) – michael.mcissac@ocsb.ca [22 COPIES OF SALLY SOLD!]
JANUARY, 2016 – GUARDIAN ANGELS ELEMENTARY – Chris Gauthier (teacher) – chris.gauthier@ocsb.ca
JANUARY, 2016 – ST. ROSE OF LIMA (**NOTE: READING & WRITING WORKSHOP) – Joan Barry (principal) – joan.barry@ocsb.ca & Alva Donaldson (grade 3/4 teacher) – alva.donaldson@ocsb.ca
DECEMBER, 2015 – ST. JAMES ELEMENTARY Elizabeth Dean (principal) – elizabeth.dean@ocsb.ca [13 COPIES OF SALLY SOLD!]
DECEMBER, 2015 – ST. MARGUERITE D’YOUVILLE – Kim Giles (principal) – kimberly.giles@ocsb.ca
DECEMBER, 2015 – ST. BERNARD ELEMENTARY – Richard Chaplinky (principal) – richard.chaplinsky@ocsb.ca
NOVEMBER, 2015 – ST. GEORGE ELEMENTARY – Tim Slack (principal) – tim.slack@ocsb.ca
NOVEMBER, 2015 – ST. CLARE – Lise Powell (principal) – lise.powell@ocsb.ca
OCTOBER, 2015 – ST. ROSE OF LIMA (**NOTE: READING & WRITING WORKSHOP) – Joan Barry (principal) – joan.barry@ocsb.ca & Shannon Watson (grade 4/5 teacher) – shannon.watson@ocsb.ca
OCTOBER, 2015 – ST. ROSE OF LIMA – Joan Barry (principal) – joan.barry@ocsb.ca
MAY, 2015 – ST. ANTHONY ELEMENTARY – Paul McGuire (principal) – paul.mcguire@ocsb.ca
MAY, 2015 – OUR LADY OF VICTORY – Elaine Phinney (principal) – elaine.phinney@ocsb.ca
MAY, 2015 – ST. GABRIEL ELEMENTARY – Jane Hill (principal) – jane.hill@ocsb.ca
APRIL, 2015 – ST. EMILY ELEMENTARY – Susan Greenman (teacher librarian) – susan.greenman@ocsb.ca
APRIL, 2015 – CORPUS CHRISTI ELEMENTARY (**NOTE: PRESENTATION TO PARENTS) – Joanne Kennedy (acting principal) – joanne.kennedy@ocsb.ca
APRIL, 2015 – CORPUS CHRISTI ELEMENTARY – Joanne Kennedy (acting principal) – joanne.kennedy@ocsb.ca
APRIL, 2015 – ST. LEONARD ELEMENTARY – Cathy Faux (principal) – cathy.faux@ocsb.ca
MARCH, 2015 – OUR LADY OF FATIMA – Mike Keeler (principal) – michael.keeler@ocsb.ca
MARCH, 2015 – McMASTER ELEMENTARY – Jennifer Grant (principal) – jennifer.grant@ocsb.ca
MARCH, 2015 – ST. MICHAEL FITZROY ELEMENTARY – Justin Nolan (Acting Principal) – justin.nolan@ocsb.ca
MARCH, 2015 – HOLY CROSS ELEMENTARY – Aileen Kromrey (Resource teacher) – aileen.kromrey@ocsb.ca
JANUARY, 2015 – DR. F.J. McDONALD ELEMENTARY – Mary Murphy-Semenchuk (principal) – mary.murphy-semenchuk@ocsb.ca & Line Joyal-Culbertson (Teacher) – line.joyal-culbertson@ocsb.ca & Julie Seguin (Teacher) – julie.seguin@ocsb.ca
JANUARY, 2015 – ST. JOHN PAUL II – Sean Crookshank (principal) – sean.crookshank@ocsb.ca
NOVEMBER, 2014 – GUARDIAN ANGELS ELEMENTARY – Chris Gauthier (teacher) – chris.gauthier@ocsb.ca
OCTOBER, 2014 – MONSIGNOR PAUL BAXTER ELEMENTARY – Ann Louise Revells (principal) – ann.louise.revells@ocsb.ca & Sean Haughian (teacher) – sean.haughian@ocsb.ca
MAY, 2014 – ST. PATRICK’S ELEMENTARY – Shannon Oxley (teacher) – shannon.oxley@ocsb.ca