I am happy to visit classes, libraries or clubs within reasonable travelling distance of the Orangeville-Brampton area.  Please email me at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it to discuss arrangements.  

What can I do with your group? 

Here are some suggestions.

• Readings from The Secret Shelter
• Discussions about life in wartime England
• Discussions about the writing craft--creating a plot, character development, getting published, etc.
• Working together to write their own historical story about any time period you choose  (Please let me know in advance if you have a specific era in mind!)

I can bring a selection of wartime artefacts to fire the group's imagination.

• Gas masks
• Air raid warden's helmet, lamp and whistle
• Wartime newspapers, comics, magazines and books
• English coinage in use during the war
• Ration books and identity cards
• Wartime recipes
• Wartime advertisements

I'm always glad to sign copies of The Secret Shelter, and can bring some copies along with me.

What do kids have to say about my presentation?

"It was a wonderful presentation.  We were really upset when she had to set the book down.  It was a very visual presentation.  She showed us real adult and child-sized gas masks.  Mrs. LeFaucheur even had sound effects.  It was an amazing experience."

"Your novel is very intriguing, and when we read it, it just comes to life in our minds."

What do the teachers say?

"...inspiring presentation."

"The children and staff all thoroughly enjoyed all that you had to say, not only about the war but also the writing process."

"(Pupil's name) is not a reader and is currently in the self-contained Special Education class, so to see her with her nose stuck in The Secret Shelter was very gratifying."