mail	Box 386 Tofino, BC V0R 2Z
e	ak_mason@telus.net
web	www.adriennemason.com www.toughcitywriter.blogspot.com

Biography

Adrienne works as a full-time writer and editor from her home on the west coast of Vancouver Island. She is the author of 20 books for children and 5 books for adults as well as numerous magazine articles in publications including National Geographic Kids, Canadian Geographic, The Georgia Straight, Beautiful British Columbia, WILD, Boys' Life, and others. Recently, Adrienne has helped launch KNOW: The Science Magazine for Curious Kids as managing editor.

Adrienne will be touring Ontario during Book Week 2006.

Book types: juvenile nonfiction, YA nonfiction, educational books

Guest speaker/presentation information

Presentations can be tailored to your specific needs.

The Science Around You: I will draw on my experience as an author of science books for young children (ages 5-12 primarily), editor of a science magazine, and years as an educator to deliver a presentation about writing and science. This is an interactive presentation -- we talk about the "science around you" and try some experiments too.

Writing the World: On my computer is a sticky note that says: "I'm only interested in everything." This describes the life of many non-fiction writers. We love what we do; we are inately curious and love to learn new things. In this talk, we'll look at the many ways in which information can be delivered in non-fiction books. I will use examples from my books and also from others, to explore the genre. We'll also work on ways to use techniques of fiction to write lively, interesting non-fiction.

All of Adrienne's presentations include readers as well as the "nuts and bolts" of writing. Using visuals (e.g., edited pages, illustration sketches, page proofs, etc.) Adrienne goes through the writing process she uses from idea to actual books and relates this in concrete ways to the writing process that children go through in school.

Adrienne is also available for workshops and conferences.

Presentation geographic range: Vancouver, Coast, Lower Mainland, Gulf and Vancouver Islands, Thompson Okanagan, Northern British Columbia, Cariboo Chilcotin Coast, Kootenay Rockies, The Territories, Canada - beyond BC, USA

Presentation audience age groups: primary school, grades K-3, grades 4-6, grades 7-8, high school

Published work

Secret Spies, 2008
Robots: From Everyday to Out of This World, 2008
Lost and Found, 2007
The Drop of Doom, 2007
Build It!: Structures, Systems and You, 2006
Change It!: Solids, Liquids, Gases and You, 2006
Skunks, 2006
All About Sharks: From Tooth to Tail, 2005
Go Fish! All About Fins, Gills, Scales and More, 2005
Undersea Explorer, 2005
Move It!: Motion, forces and you, 2005
Touch It!: Materials, matter and you, 2005
Snakes, 2005
Owls, 2004
Otters, 2003
Bats, 2003
Tales from the West Coast: Smugglers, Sea Monster and Other Stories, 2003
West Coast Adventures: Shipwrecks, Lighthouses, and Rescues Along Canada's West Coast, 2003
Lu and Clancy Sound Off, 2002
Lu and Clancy's Carnival Caper, 2002
Lu and Clancy's Spy Stuff, 2000
The World of Marine Mammals, 1999
Lu and Clancy's Secret Codes, 1999
Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises, 1999
The Nature of Spiders: Consummate Killers, 1999
Mealworms: Raise them, watch them, see them change, 1998
Living Things, 1997
Oceans, 1995
The Green Classroom, 1991

Awards & recognition

CHANGE IT!: Our Choice 2007 (starred designation), Canadian Childrens' Book Centre; 2007 Information Book Award (short list)

BUILD IT!: Our Choice 2007 (starred designation), Canadian Childrens' Book Centre

TOUCH IT!: "Best of 2005" selection, Resource Links

OWLS: 2005 short-list Christie Harris Illustrated Children's Literature Prize (BC Book Prizes), Our Choice 2005 Designation (Canadian Children's Book Centre)

SNAKES: 2005 Recommended list, National Science Teachers' Association

BATS: 2004 short-list Science in Society book award (Canadian Science Writers' Association)

OTTERS: 2003 short-list Science in Society book award (Canadian Science Writers' Association); Our Choice 2004 designation, Canadian Children's Book Centre; Best Bets for 2003, Ontario Library Association

THE WORLD OF MARINE MAMMALS: Our Choice, 2000 designation, Canadian Children's Book Centre; short-list, BC Red Cedar Awards

LIVING THINGS: 1997 short-list Science in Society book award (Canadian Science Writers' Association)l; 1998 Parents' Choice designation, Parents' Choice Foundation

MEALWORMS: RAISE THEM, WATCH THEM, SEE THEM CHANGE: Our Choice, 1999 designation (Canadian Children's BOok Centre), 1998 Parents' Choice designation, Parents' Choice Foundation

OCEANS: 1995 short-list Science in Society book award (Canadian Science Writer's Association), Our Choice 1996 designation, Canadian Children's Book Centre; Red Cedar book award; short-list Silver Birch award