Member Review
The Union was begun because, in the early '70s, writers had no way of comparing experiences. But the results have been much greater than expected: Public Lending Right, benefits for the institutional copying of our work through Access Copyright, informed contract advice, a network to draw upon, and a collective voice. All writers in Canada have benefited — not only those who have joined the Union and pay their dues.
Member Profile
Judith Christine Mills
Judith Christine Mills is a sculptor, painter, illustrator, writer and artist-educator. Since 1980, her paintings and sculptures have been exhibited in galleries across North America, and can be found in many private and corporate collections, including those of Anne Murray, Reader's Digest, Esso Resources, Shell Oil Canada, The Edmonton Art Gallery, The Hospital for Sick Children, Kodak Canada, The Cornwall Centre (City of Regina), The City of Toronto Art Collection, The Toronto Board of Education and The Canada Council for the Arts. In 1995, she wrote and illustrated her first children's book, The Stonehook Schooner (Key Porter Books, Toronto). Her second illustrated book, The Painted Chest, was published by Key Porter Books in 2000. She is also the author of 5 novels for middle readers and young adults, including The Goodfellow Chronicles Trilogy ( The Sacred Seal, The Messengers and The Book Of The Sage ), The Strange Voyage Of The Raconteur, and Carew, all for Key Porter Books. She was the illustrator of 2 books for Stoddart Publishing in Toronto (Jim McGugan's Bridge 6, in 1999, and Maureen Hull'sWild Cameron Women, in 2000 ) and 2 for Barefoot Books in Bath, U.K. (Caitlin Matthew'sWhile the Bear Sleeps, in 1999, and Edith Tarbescu's The Boy Who Stuck Out His Tongue, in 2000). She is currently working on the manuscript and illustrations for a work of historical fiction about North West Company voyageurs as well as the manuscript for her first full length satirical novel, under a pseudonym.
From 2000 to the present, Mills has conducted readings, seminars and workshops for children in clay sculpture, illustration and creative writing through the Toronto and Mississauga library systems, The Toronto, Halton and Peel Boards of Education and several area private schools, and in 2009 was invited to participate in the annual 3 day 'MASC Young Author's and Illustrator's Conference' in Ottawa, offering seminars and mentorship to 250 students from Grades 4 to 8. Mills is currently completing her Artist-Educator training at The Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. She is also a member of CANSCAIP (The Canadian Society of Children's Authors, Illustrators and Performers), CCBC (The Canadian Children's Book Centre) and The Medallic Art Society of Canada.
Her books, illustration and artwork can be viewed at her website www.judithchristinemills.com
