Lambton County Library hosts award winning authors

Wyoming, ON – Lambton County Library will host award winning authors as part of its Winter Reading Program, which encourages local youth to continue practicing literacy skills throughout the winter months.
Three children’s authors will join the library virtually in February to speak about what it is like to be an author and why literacy is important, particularly for youth.

“These Author Talks are a fantastic opportunity for local youth to engage with published authors and learn about what it takes to write an award winning story,” says Vanitia Campbell, Lambton County Library’s Public Services Coordinator – Youth. “Hosting these talks virtually provides the ability for individuals and school classes alike to join the program from all over Lambton County and learn from exceptional authors.”

Authors include Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award winner Shauntay Grant, Brock Greenhalgh and Governor General Award winner Kenneth Oppel.

Author Talks

With Shauntay Grant

Wednesday, February 2, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. (Online Program)

Shauntay Grant is a writer and children’s author. Her picture book “Africville” won the Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award and was shortlisted for the Governor General’s Literary Awards. A descendant of Black Loyalists, Jamaican Maroons, and Black Refugees who came to Canada during the 18th and 19th centuries, her love of literature stretches back to her storytelling roots in Nova Scotia’s historic Black communities. A former poet laureate for the city of Halifax, she teaches creative writing at Dalhousie University.

With Brock Greenhalgh

Saturday, February 12, 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. (Online Program)

Brock Greenhalgh has been telling the story of the 1934 Chatham All-Stars baseball team in one form or another for the past 30 years. He was first introduced to the team in 1989 as a university undergrad during a summer stint at the Chatham-Kent Museum. He realized that the team’s story was something special. Thirty years later, as he approached his 50th birthday he set a goal of writing a children’s book about the Chatham All-Stars who broke baseball’s colour barrier over a decade before Jackie Robinson. Brock will be sharing his book and talking about the All-Stars from Chatham.

With Kenneth Oppel

Wednesday, February 16, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. (Online Program)

Kenneth Oppel is a Governor General Award winning author, will be discussing his novel “The Nest”. Using Powerpoint and short readings, Kenneth will introduce readers to the strange ingredients that inspired this novel that explores disability and diversity, fears and dreams, and what ultimately makes a family. He will also discuss his creative process, from brainstorming, outlining, and successive drafts to finished book. The first five registrants will be given a free copy of “The Nest”.

Registration for each of these Author Talks is open at libnet.lclibrary.ca/events. Books by each author are also available to borrow with a Lambton County Library card using the online catalogue or the Iguana Library App.

Learn more about the Winter Reading Program at lclibrary.ca/wrp.

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