Member Profile

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Karen Krossing

Karen Krossing wrote poetry and rants as a teen and dreamed of becoming a published writer. Today, she’s the author of seven successful novels for kids and teens, and she conducts writing workshops to empower emerging writers. Her recent titles include Punch Like a Girl, which was runner-up for the Kaywell Books Save Lives Award, Bog, which won the SCBWI Crystal Kite Award, and Cut the Lights, which received a starred review in ALA Booklist. She graduated with an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from the Vermont College of Fine Arts in 2020. Her debut picture book Sour Cakes, illustrated by Anna Kwan, will be published by Owlkids Books in Fall 2021. She has picture books forthcoming with Owlkids (Fall 2022) and Groundwood (Spring 2023) as well as a fantasy novel with Charlesbridge (Fall 2023). Karen lives with her family in Toronto on the traditional territory of the Huron-Wendat, Haudenosaunee, and Anishinabeg and the treaty lands and territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit.

E-mail: kekrossing@gmail.com
Phone number:
c/o Writers' Union of Canada

Publications

Sour Cakes. Owlkids Books, 2021
Punch Like a Girl. Orca Book Publishers, 2015
Bog. Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2014
Cut the Lights. Orca Book Publishers, 2013
The Yo-Yo Prophet. Orca Book Publishers, 2011
Pure. Toronto: Second Story Press, 2005
Take the Stairs. Toronto: Second Story Press, 2003
The Castle Key. Toronto: Napoleon Publishing, 2000
"Profanity," Cleavage: Breakaway Fiction for Real Girls. Toronto: Sumach Press, 2008
"Dragon's Breath," Opening Tricks. Saskatoon, SK: Thistledown Press, 1998

Awards

Joan F. Kaywell Books Save Lives Award, Runner-Up for Punch Like a Girl, 2017
Best Book for Teens selection, Canadian Children’s Book Centre for Punch Like a Girl, 2015
Best Book for Kids and Teens selection, Canadian Children’s Book Centre for Bog, 2015
SCBWI Crystal Kite Award for Canada for Bog, 2015
Ontario Library Association Best Bets selection for Bog, 2014
Best Book for Teens selection, Canadian Children’s Book Centre for The Yo-Yo Prophet, 2011
Ontario Library Association Best Bets Honourable Mention for The Yo-Yo Prophet, 2011
Best Book for Teens selection, Canadian Children’s Book Centre for Cleavage: Breakaway Fiction for Real Girls, 2009
Best of the Year selection by Resource Links for Cleavage: Breakaway Fiction for Real Girls, 2008
Best of the Year selection by Resource Links for Pure, 2006
Ontario Library Association White Pine Award nominee for Take the Stairs, 2005
Best of the Year selection by Resource Links for The Castle Key, 2000
Links:
Website
http://www.karenkrossing.com
Eligible for National Public Readings Program :
Yes

WITS

Presentation Description

The purpose of Karen’s book talks is to promote literacy. Her talks usually include how she evolved as a writer, the writing life, an introduction to the work, a short reading, a discussion of issues raised by the reading, an oral storywriting exercise involving the audience, and questions and answers. The ideal audience is not more than 100 students.

Presentation Length:
1 hour
Genre:
Fiction for kids and teens
Grades:
K-12
Audience size:
100
Workshop Description:

Customized writing workshops are available for children, teens, and adults. The ideal audience size is a maximum of 30 participants, although larger groups can be accommodated. For more information, go here.

Northern OAC WITS:
Yes
One session:
$200
Two sessions:
$400
GST:
GST applicable

Equity Initiative

As part of the Union’s Equity Implementation Plan, we are committed to increasing awareness of authors who are Black, Indigenous, racialized, LGBTQI2S, or living with a disability. This author identifies as:

  • LGBTQI2S