Larry Verstraete is a writer and educator, born and raised in Winnipeg where he still lives. Larry attended the University of Manitoba, obtained a Bachelor of Science degree, then Bachelor and Masters of Education degrees. He became a teacher, first in the public school system, and later at the Faculty of Education at the University of Manitoba. Partway into his teaching career, he discovered a magazine ad for a writing course while waiting for a haircut in a barber shop. The course led to Larry’s first published book for youngsters, The Serendipity Effect, a collection of stories about fruitful mishaps, blunders and coincidences in science. Since then Larry has published other books for young people, each one rooted in stories of discovery and adventure, several on the subject of science. In addition, he has written articles for textbooks, writing manuals and educational publications. Presently, Larry divides his time between writing and visiting schools and libraries around the country as a guest author and workshop facilitator.
PUBLICATIONS:
At the Edge: Daring Acts in Desperate Times. Scholastic Canada Ltd., 2009
G is for Golden Boy: A Manitoba Alphabet. Sleeping Bear Press, 2009
Lost Treasures: True Stories of Discovery. Toronto: Scholastic, 2006.
Survivors: True Stories of Death-Defying Escapes. Toronto: Scholastic, 2003.
Extreme Science. Toronto: Scholastic, 2000.
Accidental Discoveries: From Laughing Gas to Dynamite. Toronto: Scholastic, 1999.
Whose Bright Idea Was It?. Toronto: Scholastic, 1997.
AWARDS:
Silver Birch Award for Non-fiction for At the Edge, 2010
Shortlisted, McNally Robinson Book for Young People Award (younger division) for G is for Golden Boy, 2010
Shortlisted, McNally Robinson Book for Young People Award (older division) for At the Edge, 2010
Shortlisted, Rocky Mountain Children's Choice Award for Lost Treasures: True Stories of Discovery, 2008
Shortlisted, Hackmatack Children's Choice Award for Lost Treasures: True Stories of Discovery, 2007-08
McNally Robinson Book for Young People Award (older division) for Lost Treasures: True Stories of Discovery, 2007
Red Cedar Award (non-fiction) for Survivors: True Death-defying Escapes, 2006.
Silver Birch Award (non-fiction) for Survivors: True Death-defying Escapes, 2004.
Shortlisted, Norma Fleck Award for Non-Fiction for Accidental Discoveries: From Laughing Gas to Dynamite, 1999.
Writing non-fiction can be exacting at times, but also satisfying, challenging, and down-right exciting. That’s the message Larry shares with youngsters. His sessions incorporate drama, role play, demonstrations or other forms of audience interaction, and allow plenty of opportunity for questions and discussion. By combining information about writing with real-life stories from his books, he takes audiences deep into the heart of non-fiction, a world where facts reign supreme, and truth is often stranger - and sometimes more thrilling - than fiction.
Workshop Description:
In addition to author presentations for larger groups, Larry offers student workshops on non-fiction writing techniques such as research skills, interview methods, and narrative non-fiction story writing. He also offers a variety of professional development sessions for teachers and parents on subjects ranging from stories in science to writing strategies for classroom and home use.
