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Michelle Barker

Michelle Barker

Photo: Robin Susanto

Michelle Barker’s most recent novel My Long List of Impossible Things (2020) is published by Annick Press and is a Junior Library Guild gold standard selection. Her previous novel, The House of One Thousand Eyes (2018, Annick Press) won numerous awards, including the Amy Mathers Teen Book Award, and was named a Kirkus Best Book of the Year. She is also the author of A Year of Borrowed Men, finalist for the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award. Her poetry, short fiction and non-fiction have been published in literary reviews around the world.  Michelle is represented by Hilary McMahon (Westwood Creative Artists) and works as a senior editor with The Darling Axe. She holds an MFA in creative writing from UBC and has spoken and taught at schools and writing conferences in both Canada and the U.S.

Email:
mbarker.190@gmail.com
City:
Vancouver
Province:
BC
Genre:
Historical fiction, fantasy, YA, picture book, short fiction, non-fiction, poetry
I write professionally in the following language(s):
English

Publications

My Long List of Impossible Things. 2020, Annick Press
The House of One Thousand Eyes. 2018, Annick Press
A Year of Borrowed Men. 2015, Pajama Press
The Beggar King. 2013, Thistledown Press
Old Growth, Clear Cut: Poems of Haida Gwaii. 2012, Leaf Press

Awards

Finalist, Vine Awards for Canadian Jewish Literature for My Long List of Impossible Things, 2021
Finalist, Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Award for My Long List of Impossible Things, 2021
Ontario Library Association Best Bets for My Long List of Impossible Things, 2021
Junior Library Guild gold standard pick for My Long List of Impossible Things, 2020
Finalist, Millikin Medal for Excellence in Young Adult Literature for The House of One Thousand Eyes, 2020
Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards (YA Fiction: General) for The House of One Thousand Eyes, 2019
Amy Mathers Teen Book Award for The House of One Thousand Eyes, 2019
Finalist, Arthur Ellis Awards for Excellence in Canadian Crime Writing for The House of One Thousand Eyes, 2019
Foreword Indies Book Award YA for The House of One Thousand Eyes, 2019
Next Generation Indie Book Awards, young adult category for The House of One Thousand Eyes, 2019
Kirkus Best YA Historical Fiction of 2018 for The House of One Thousand Eyes, 2018
Kirkus Best Book of the Week for The House of One Thousand Eyes, 2018
Junior Library Guild gold standard pick for The House of One Thousand Eyes, 2018
Finalist, Ontario Library Association 2017 Forest of Reading Golden Oak Award for A Year of Borrowed Men, 2016
Finalist, TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award for A Year of Borrowed Men, 2016
Winner, Gold National Magazine Award in personal journalism for Event Magazine, "Blessings", 2002
Links:
Website
http://www.michellebarker.ca
,
Twitter
http://Twitter.com/MBarker_190
,
Author Facebook Page
https://www.facebook.com/MichelleBarkerAuthor/
,
Senior Editor
http://www.darlingaxe.com
,
Eligible for National Public Readings Program:
Yes

WITS

Are you available for public presentations and/or workshops:
Yes
Presentation Description

Assorted:

World War Two and the Pandemic

East Germany, a Real-Life Dystopia

A Year of Borrowed Men: my mother's experience growing up in Germany during WW2

Presentation Length:
One hour
Genre:
Historical fiction, picture book, poetry, short fiction, YA
Grades:
Historical fiction: grades 9-12 Picture book: grades 1-3 Short fiction and poetry: any age
Audience Size:
Any
Presenation:
TBD
Workshop Description:

Assorted:


  • What Teens Want From YA Literature…And How We Can Give it to Them (with David Brown)

  • Beyond Good Enough: Revising Scene by Scene (with David Brown)

  • Query Quest: The Hunt for Representation (with David Brown)

  • Setting the Stage (with David Brown)

  • Murder Your Darlings: A Webinar about Editing (with David Brown)

  • Using Short Forms to Learn How to Write a Novel

  • Rookie Mistakes

  • What She Said: Writing Effective Dialogue

  • Imagery: Where Poetry and Prose Intersect

  • From Research to Fiction

  • Beginnings, Middles, and Ends: The Elements of Structure

  • What If? A Workshop on Writing Fantasy

  • Poetry for the terrified

Workshop Length:
1-2 hours
Workshop Intended Audience:
Adult
Workshop Audience Size:
Any
Workshop Fee:
TBD
Are you available for school visits?:
Yes
School Presentation Description:

Assorted:

World War Two and the Pandemic

East Germany, a Real-Life Dystopia

A Year of Borrowed Men: my mother's experience growing up in Germany during WW2

School Presentation Length:
1 hour
School Intended Audience:
Historical fiction: grades 9-12 Picture book: grades 1-3
School Audience Size:
Any
Interested in participating in the Union’s Ontario Writers-in-the-Schools program:
Yes
Interested in participating in the Northern Ontario WITS program:
Yes