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Joan Marie Galat

Photo: Rob Hislop Photography

Although she started making books at the age of nine, Joan Marie Galat wasn’t published until 12 years old, when she became a paid weekly newspaper columnist. Today she is the international award-winning author of more than 20 books. Recent titles include Solve This! Wild and Wacky Challenges for the Genius Engineer in You (National Geographic Kids, 2018), Dark Matters-Nature’s Reaction to Light Pollution (Red Deer Press, 2017), and Dot to Dot in the Sky -- Stories of the Aurora (Whitecap Books, 2016) and Stories in the Clouds (Whitecap Books 2018).

She shares her love of the stars in the Dot to Dot in the Sky series which combines the science of the night sky with the ancient myths that give constellations and planets their names. Her first title, Dot to Dot in the Sky, Stories in the Stars, became a best seller within six weeks of its release.

Joan’s books for children explore astronomy, ancient myths and legends, light pollution, engineering, history, and nature, and include both fiction and non-fiction. Her titles for adults include a travel guide and motivational title. A prolific writer for all ages and relentless promoter of reading and STEM and STEAM topics (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math), Joan loves to use storytelling to connect with audiences. Career highlights have encompassed international speaking engagements, including a United Nations Environment Programme event in Seoul, South Korea in 2016; the International Dark-Sky Association conference in the USA (2018), an international book fair, and touring at schools, libraries, and other events across Canada.

Joan operates MoonDot Media, a communications business offering writing and editing solutions in broadcast, print, and multi-media. Her freelance jobs have encompassed writing radio and video scripts, an Internet cartoon, magazine articles, exhibit text, speechwriting, anual reports, and other projects. She provides corporate training including plain language writing, email etiquette, writing for the web, and public speaking. Joan also provides consults for writers on query letters, manuscripts, and the submission process.

www.joangalat.com - books, school/family presentations, residencies
www.moondotmedia.com - corporate training, freelance writing and editing, adult writing workshops, query letter and publishing consulting 

E-mail: c/o Writers' Union of Canada
Phone number:
780-233-2925

Publications

Solve This! Wild and Wacky Challenges for the Genius Engineer in You. National Geographic Kids, 2018
Dot to Dot in the Sky, Stories in the Clouds. Whitecap Books, 2018
Dot to Dot in the Sky, Stories of the Aurora. Whitecap Books, 2016
Dark Matters - Nature's Reaction to Light Pollution. Red Deer Press, 2017
Dot to Dot in the Sky, Stories in the Stars. Whitecap Books, 2001
Branching Out: How Trees are part of Our World . Owlkids, 2014
Dot to Dot in the Sky, Stories of the Moon. Whitecap Books, 2004
Dot to Dot in the Sky, Stories of the Planets. Whitecap Books, 2003
Dot to Dot in the Sky, Stories of the Zodiac . Whitecap Books, 2007
Day Trips From Edmonton. Whitecap Books, 2009, Revised 2013
Give Yourself a Pep Talk. Pelican Publishing Company, 2013
The Discovery of Longitude. Pelican Publishing Company, 2012
Black Holes and Supernovas. Capstone Press, 2012
Erupt! 100 Fun Facts About Volcanoes. National Geographic Kids, 2017
Dr. Bufflehead Explores Energy . Scholastic Canada, 2007
Dr. Bufflehead Explores Dirt. Scholastic Canada, 2007
Cats. National Geographic Kids, 2017
Cultural Traditions in Ghana. Crabtree Publishing Company, 2017
Cultural Traditions in Turkey. Crabtree Publishing Company, 2017
Maker Projects For Kids Who Love Printmaking. Crabtree Publishing Company, 2016
Absolute Expert: Space. National Geographic Kids, 2020

Awards

Bronze Moonbeam Award - Nonfiction for Dark Matters - Nature's Reaction to Light Pollution, 2018
Santa Monica Public Library Green Prize for Sustainable Literature for Branching Out – How Trees are part of Our World , 2015
Honourable Mention – Shortlisted for the Canadian Authors Association Exporting Alberta Award for Branching Out – How Trees are part of Our World, 2014
Silver Moonbeam Award – Nonfiction Picture Book for The Discovery of Longitude , 2013
R. Ross Annett Award for Children’s Literature - Writers Guild of Alberta for The Discovery of Longitude , 2013
Edmonton Journal Bestseller List for Day Trips from Edmonton, 2009, 2013, 2014
Gold Moonbeam Award - Science/activity category for Dot to Dot in the Sky, Stories of the Zodiac , 2008
Canadian Authors Association Exporting Alberta Award for Dot to Dot in the Sky, Stories of the Zodiac , 2007
Nomination - Hackmatack Children’s Choice Book Award, 2010 for Dot to Dot in the Sky, Stories of the Zodiac
semi-finalist - Calgary Public Library Foundation Literary Award for Dot to Dot in the Sky, Stories of the Zodiac
R. Ross Annett Award for Children’s Literature - Writers Guild of Alberta, 2005 for Dot to Dot in the Sky, Stories of the Moon
Shortlisted - Rocky Mountain Book Award, 2004 for Dot to Dot in the Sky, Stories of the Planets
National Bestseller, 2001 for Dot to Dot in the Sky, Stories in the Stars
Crystal Kite Award - Canada for Dot to Dot in the Sky, Stories of the Aurora, 2017
Honourable Mention – Shortlisted for the Canadian Authors Association Exporting Alberta Award for Dot to Dot in the Sky, Stories of the Aurora, 2017
Skipping Stones Award for Dot to Dot in the Sky, Stories of the Aurora, 2017
Shortlisted - Hackmatack Book Award for Dot to Dot in the Sky, Stories of the Aurora, 2017-2018
Shortlisted - Red Cedar Book Award for Dot to Dot in the Sky, Stories of the Aurora, 2017-2018
Finalist - Canadian Authors Association Exporting Alberta Award for Dark Matters - Nature's Reaction to Light Pollution, 2018
Skipping Stones Award for Dot to Dot in the Sky, Stories in the Clouds, 2019
Eligible for National Public Readings Program :
Yes

WITS

Presentation Description

Presentations that build literacy through curriculum-based  science and storytelling.

When it comes to helping students find the joy in reading and writing, the sky’s the limit for astronomy author and freelance writer, Joan Marie Galat. In a lively presentation that blends facts, storytelling, and writing tips, Joan launches your reluctant-readers into books without leaving anyone behind. She takes advantage of the fact that many students are drawn to fact-based reading.

Students of all ages find it hard to resist the lure of astronaut food, exploding stars, and black holes—topics that fascinate kids. From myths of gods, goddesses, and creatures in the night sky to the marvels of space, Joan also intrigues young writers with her story of becoming a paid columnist at age 12. By the end of the presentation students will be heading to the library to take out books. They will enjoy a fresh outlook that builds literacy skills—writing can be fun.

Ask about virtual presentations via Skype.

Dot to Dot in the Sky

Joan Marie Galat introduces the wonders of the night sky using storytelling to share ancient myths, interspersed with astronomy facts. She shows the positions of celestial objects with magnetic stars on a whiteboard. Her enthusiasm for stargazing is contagious and leaves attendees interested in exploring the mysteries of the night sky on their own.

Visit www.joangalat.com for details on books, school/family presentations, residencies.

Presentation Length:
50 minutes
Genre:
Nonfiction, Fiction, Storytelling
Grades:
K-12
Audience size:
Up to 75/session
Workshop Description:

Visit www.joangalat.com for additional session descriptions.

Tell a True Story

Students learn how writing is fun with these tricks for telling a true story. They will discover how to generate ideas with ease, build scenes, and organize facts. The session begins with a creativity game that triggers thinking in new ways.

What’s the Big Idea?

How do you help students write a story when they don’t know how to begin? And once they start, how should they end the thing?

This workshop helps students think of ideas, overcome the first blocks to writing, and get thoughts organized. Students discover how to create an idea list, outline their choice, and get started with a powerful first sentence. The session begins with a fun creativity game that sets the mood for muse!

Stories in the Stars

If you get stuck at the idea stage of writing, this workshop is for you. You will enter the room with a blank piece of paper and leave it with a space-themed story that is out-of-this-world. Expect to discover useful self-editing tricks along the way.

Write a Newspaper Article

Reporters get to ask all the nosy questions! In Write a Newspaper Article, students learn how to ask the best questions, write headlines, sequence information, and hook readers with news that interests their audience.

This workshop provides participants with the opportunity to find out the answers to: Why isn’t recess longer? How can students organize a ski trip? Who decides what will be on the hot lunch menu?

Write an Alphabet Book

A good alphabet book is more than just a list of letters and words. Elementary students explore the A to Z of following a theme to write an alphabet book, as we create a fun alphabet-based story together. Dictionaries and imaginations required.

Create a Myth

Ancient myths were first told to explain things people did not understand. Students discover how to use their own curiosity to write a story that makes sense of a mysterious occurrence.

Storytelling Workshop – Kindergarten-Grade Two 

Oral storytelling is the first step to story writing. This workshop explores the differences between stories that are true and those that are make-believe. Every student is invited to tell a personal memory and participate as the class makes up a story together.

Northern OAC WITS:
Yes
Two sessions:
$$500
Four sessions:
$$1000
Two sessions:
$$400 Subsidized
Four sessions:
$$850 Subsidized
GST:
GST applicable