Throughout the year, I am available for author visits in schools and libraries, as well as presentations and workshops at conferences and festivals. I find that talks work better than readings for non-fiction books and I like to bring visual aids that allow the audience to actually “touch” history.
Subjects:
Remembering On Juno Beach, At Vimy Ridge and Dieppe
These books are subjects of great interest since so many Canadians have a direct family connection with World War I and II. Talks about them are particularly in-demand in the weeks before Remembrance Day. I bring a laptop slideshow and photos and artifacts.
In schools I find Grades 4 and up most receptive. I also enjoy speaking to high schools, since the subjects are curriculum-related. I am happy to speak to large or small groups. My talks are also appreciated by adults and when I speak in libraries or to veterans or arts or civic groups I can tailor the talks to the audience.
For a video of me talking about my Dieppe book go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMIJRuXVKIY
Scholastic Canada has also prepared an excellent video about Prisoner of Dieppe on their site.
Carnation, Lily, Lily Rose
For this book I have a PowerPoint slideshow with music combined with paintings and photographs to evoke the world that John Singer Sargent painted. One unique feature is the parlor song that inspired the title of the painting. No recording exists of it so I have made one with a male trio. The talk can be tailored to adults or to children aged seven and up or to a mix of both. I also wear a Victorian gentleman’s outfit for this talk.
Canada’s Dinosaurs
Dinosaurs are an ever-popular subject for all ages. For Breakout Dinosaurs, I have a PowerPoint slideshow featuring some of the art from the book plus photos of dinosaur bones and fossils. I also have museum samples of dinosaur teeth, claws and skulls that the students can touch. In schools, this talk is popular with Grades 1-4.
To view a podcast of me talking about dinosaurs please go to:
http://www.rom.on.ca/media/podcasts/display.php?id=59
The Titanic:
I have a popular slideshow about the ever-popular story of the Titanic and the two books I’ve written about it. I have also edited and compiled many other Titanic books and talk about working with Robert Ballard, the man who discovered the Titanic in 1985. Remarkable paintings by Ken Marschall of the Titanic on the ocean floor and in it’s heyday are combined with artifacts and historical images.
Fees and Travel:
Schools can check with the Canada Council for possible assistance with fee and travel financial aid. I am a member of the The Writer’s Union of Canada which also provides support for talks. Check their website. My fee is $275 per talk plus ,42 km mileage. Two talks are $525.00. For more information, please contact me at: hbrewster@sympatico.ca
I live in Toronto but often tie in talks when I am in other cities.
TESTIMONIALS
“I have organized scores of author readings with three different library systems over my years as a librarian, and Hugh Brewster’s presentations are some of the best I have seen.” – April L. Cox, Manager, Fleetwood Public Library, Surrey, B.C.
“Hugh has the uncanny ability to make history come alive. His presentation is a strong blend of quality visuals and engaging storytelling. In the two talks that he gave here in Vancouver both audiences were captivated.” –Susan Redmond, Librarian, Cambie Library, Richmond, B.C.
“Thank you so much for the wonderful presentation at our library earlier this week! We received very positive feedback from the school as well I enjoyed your talk very much, too. I learned a lot about the war, the Chevalier de Saint-George and ankylosaurus gas, among other things!” –An Edmonton librarian
“The kids just loved listening to Mr. Brewster and I’m sure the books will be flying off my shelves. Nothing but positive praise for Hugh. The kids as well as the adults could have listened for hours. “ –A teacher-librarian, Durham Region
“We have particularly noisy classes this year so that you managed to hold their attention for that period of time really speaks to how interested the students were in what you had to say. It was very educational, fun to listen to and sometimes even a bit gory which really makes things gripping for grade 5 kids!’ — A Grade Five Teacher, Edmonton
SPEAKING SCHEDULE 2012
MARCH
March 24: 4:30 Titanic High Tea at the Creemore Train Station, Creemore ON, for the Purple Hills Arts & Heritage Society. Book talk and signing sponsored by Curiosity House Books.
March 29: 6:30 Titanic dinner and book launch at Grano Ristorante, 2035 Yonge St. Toronto. Sponsored by Ben McNally Books.
March 30: 7:15 Titanic talk and book signing, ‘Connecting’ event, Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queen’s Park Circle, Toronto.
APRIL
April 2: 9:00 Two talks at Country Day School, King, ON
April 3: 2:00 Titanic talk at Central Reference Library, 789 Yonge St, Toronto.
April 4: 7:00 Talk at Guelph Civic Museum 52 Norfolk, St., Guelph
April 5: 3:00 Talk at Sunnybrook Hospital to veterans
April 10: 7: 00 Titanic talk at Albert Campbell Library, 496 Birchmount Rd, Toronto
April 13: noon Titanic talk at First Canadian Place, Indigo Spirit bookseller
April 15: 4:00 Titanic Reception for Writer’s Trust
April 17: 7:00 pm Titanic Talk at Port Union Public Library, 5450 Lawrence Ave. East, Toronto
April 19: 6:00 pm Titanic talk at Boston Public Library, Copley Square, Boston
April 21: 9:00 pm Talk at gala dinner for Titanic Historical Society Memorial Convention, Springfield, Mass.
April 22: 2:30 Titanic talk at Spring Garden Library, Halifax, N.S.
April 23-24: Touring on Prince Edward Island for Hackmatack Award
April 25: 7:00 pm Talk at New Glasgow Library, Nova Scotia
April 27: Hackmatack Award Ceremony, Moncton,, N.B.
MAY
May 2: 7:00 pm Titanic talk at Danforth/Coxwell Library, 1675 Danforth Ave. Toronto
May 7: Talks in Shelburne ON at Hyland Heights and Centenial Hylands Schools
May 8: 7:00 pm Titanic Talk at Annette Street Public Library , 145 Annette St at Keele, Toronto
May 9: 7:00 pm Writer’s Café at Hillfield Strathallan College, Hamilton
May 10: Panelist at ‘From the Garden to the Trenches’ Conference on Children and WWI at Brock University.
May 15: Reading Conference for Niagara District Catholic School Board
May 16-17: Six talks in Innisfil , ON schools for Innisfil Public Library
JUNE
June: 2nd: 10:30 am Talk at Creemore Train Station, sponsored by library, Curiosity House will sell books.
June 5: noon: Luncheon talk at Arts & Letters Club
June 11: 7;00 Talk at Lifford Hall, Broadway, Worcs. UK
June 12: Introduce screening of ‘A Night to Remember’ Broadway, Worcs.
June 13: Luncheon talk at Willersley, Worcs
June 14: Talk in Fairford, Gloucestershire
June 18: Talk at Royal Overseas League, London
JULY
July 14: 2:00 and 4:00 “Unsinkable!: The Story of the Titanic in Words, Images and Song” concert, Elora Festival, St. John’s Church, Elora, ON
