School Programs, Presentations and Workshops

I offer a variety of presentations, author in residence programs and conduct workshops for children at schools. 

I offer a variety of presentations for grades three to eight, but can work with grades one and two as well. I cover such topics as where ideas come from, story structure, editing and revision, character development, time travel stories, history and research, plus many other aspects of writing and publishing. 

I will present to around one hundred students at a time, although we can also look at workshops with smaller groups or individual classes. Each of my novels provide ideas for classroom projects and you may find some suggestions on the Study Guides page on my website. 

Contact me for details of fees and availability for school presentations.

Author in Residence

For my Author in Residence program, I can be at your school for a week or longer. This allows me to cover topics in much more depth than would be possible during a regular author visit. Each of my novels provide ideas for classroom projects and you may find some suggestions on the Study Guides page on my website. 

I have some suggestions for presentations and workshops, but am always pleased to work with teachers and librarians to build sessions best suited to your students. 

Contact me for details of fees and availability for my Author in Residence program.

Great Review of The Children's Writer's Guide

 

Check out this great review of The Children's Writer's Guide.

"I illustrate children’s books occasionally and I know many of you have ideas for children’s books or you may have written a few stories yourself (and a wonderful number of you have commissioned illustrations of your writing from me). Simon Rose’s The Children’s Writer’s Guide is the perfect handbook to take you from finding a unique, untold story of your own, to launching your published work in bookstores.



The author has taught classes at the local university and this book comes out of his experience teaching in person, making the benefits available to many more!

My first impression was of a very straightforward guide which covered each topic necessary to the author, without getting bogged down by in-depth over explaining. After all, the person most likely to pick up this book “knows” about books and topics, and simply needs the direction and clear path provided by this guide. 

This book is also an excellent resource for accomplished authors who wish to become more prolific, using a system of efficacy to create more books in a shorter amount of time."

Katana Leigh 

Artist and Illustrator

www.artlovelight.com 

The Children's Writer's Guide is available as a paperback and as an ebook at Amazon and Kobo.

PlayWriting Camp this July with the Calgary Arts Summer School Association

PlayWriting Camp will once again will take place this summer from July 14 to 18 with the Calgary Arts Summer School Association. 

This is a half-day camp (either morning or afternoon) for students ages 7 to 12. In a dramatic and fun-filled week, children will learn how to write, rehearse and perform their own unique play in just five days. Children will create the plot, craft the script, write dialogue and hone their acting skills for their very own dramatic production, which will then be performed at the end of the week. 

Further details and registration information for PlayWriting Camp can be found here.

Great Reviews of The Alchemist's Portrait

“The Alchemist’s Portrait is a delightful and charming read. The reader is not only quickly transported to the quiet echoing hall of the museum, but back in time to the height of the Northern European art scene of the 1600′s. I absolutely loved this book! It is a definite contender for one of my favourite reads for the 9 – 12 year old set!” 

Greenwoods’ Bookshoppe, Edmonton

“The Alchemist’s Portrait is guaranteed to keep junior readers in suspense. Its fast paced plot will keep them reading to the end. This is a good acquisition for any library or private collection and might well augment a classroom reading program. Those who study fantasy as a literary genre might well add The Alchemist’s Portrait to their teaching repertoire.” 

Resource Links

“Harry Potter fans will find the story a satisfying remedy to their post-Phoenix blues.” 

The Calgary Herald

“In this fast paced enactment of the classical theme of good vs. evil, the settings are vivid in detail. The characters are believable and diverse…” 

University of Manitoba CM Magazine

“Author Simon Rose combines time travel with an exciting twist, and the power of magic. Well written and fast-paced this novel will keep the reader spellbound.” 

The Bookmark

“Congratulations on a great read for kids.” 

CanLit For Kids Books Ltd.

“Complete with an evil villain, magic and suspense, Rose weaves a tale that will have young readers engaged right up until the very end.” 

BC Parent

Two more great reviews of The Children's Writer's Guide

“Writing for children is a marathon, not a sprint."

"Great quote from the book that is oh so true! The Children’s Writer’s Guide is written with every writer in mind. It won’t matter if you are beginning your career or if you have some years under your belt. Chapters will take you through the writing process and beyond. Great information and ideas throughout.”

Amazon

“Simon Rose’s Children’s Writer Guide takes you on a step-by-step journey through the exciting world of writing for children. From the opening, his message is clear – write, write and write some more! For many of us the first step is the hardest, and Simon provides us with simple examples of how to engage. He also runs through some of the most basic excuses that often get in the way of our dreams.

From there, Rose walks us through the critical steps of developing an interesting storyline, bringing our characters to life, and inviting our readers to feel the challenges of our protagonist. While it’s up to us to breathe life into the tale, Rose offers advice and a framework that makes it all so much easier. From idea generation, to overcoming writers block, to the editing process, Rose offers creative and easy to follow advice.

And finally, none of this will matter if you don’t know how to get your material to market after it is published. You will find advice on how to teach the public about you and your work and how to develop your marketing strategy.

Overall, the guide gives a realistic look into what is required to be a writer. It outlines the important steps required to succeed and includes meaningful examples. This is by far the best book I have picked up to help me kick start my writing!”

Amazon

The Children's Writer's Guide is available as a paperback and as an ebook at Amazon and Kobo.

Summer Camps in Calgary and area

I’m available to visit summer camps in the Calgary area each July and August. 

I can be a special guest or work as part of the programming. I have a number of presentations, workshops, and other programs that are suitable for summer camps, but am very flexible. I’m happy to discuss ways in which my programs can fit in with the general theme of your camp for a particular week.

I also offer my five day playwriting program for local community associations and other groups. This can be run as a morning or afternoon camp for small groups of children ages nine to twelve.

Contact me about rates and availability for summer camps this July and August. 

The Children's Writer's Guide - Available Online

The Children’s Writer’s Guide examines how you can get started as a writer, create time and space to pursue your craft and deal with lack of motivation and writers block. Topics covered include where ideas come from and how writers turn them into stories, choosing names for characters that are appropriate to the story, the importance of historical research if your novel is set in a different era, writing science fiction and fantasy, and the use of magic in stories for children.

The guide examines the role of editing and revision and how to deal with what is often the inevitable process of rejection, at least until good fortune comes your way. I also recount some of my experiences with marketing and promotion, such as book launches and in-store signings, websites, blogs, and social media, and discusses presentations, workshops and author-in-residence programs at schools and libraries.

Check out the video on YouTube, where I talk about some of the topics covered in the Guide.

Here are just a few places where you can buy The Children’s Writer’s Guide, which is available in ebook and print versions.

Amazon Canada               Amazon USA               Kobo               
Amazon UK                       Amazon Germany       Amazon France           
Amazon Japan                  Amazon USA (paperback)

You can also learn more about The Children’s Writer’s Guide, along with all my other books, on my website.

Great Reviews of The Sorcerer's Letterbox

“This is a great book for kids who like both fantasy and history … Rose includes terrific details from 1483 (all the while keeping the language accessible for young readers) that might just inspire kids to check out some history books from the library. An entertaining read, with a great feel-good twist at the end.” 

Cincinnati Family Magazine

“As with the best timeslip fantasy, the author’s obvious zest for interesting historical detail is transformed into both a compelling story and an exciting adventure … a delightful book, and one that has a rightful place in every library in the country.” 

University of Manitoba CM Magazine

“Simon Rose has managed to deliver another satisfying read with The Sorcerer’s Letterbox” 

The Calgary Herald

“Intended for children, this book will also be enjoyed by all grown up fans of Harry Potter.”

Avenue Magazine

“A well-written, suspenseful time travel story sure to keep readers engaged till its very clever ending.” 

BC Parent

“The Sorcerer’s Letterbox convinces readers they’ve actually lived and breathed in a historical time and place.” 

Alberta Views

The Children's Writer's Guide on Pinterest

Check out The Children's Writer's Guide on Pinterest. 

The Children’s Writer’s Guide examines how to get started as a writer. Topics covered include where ideas come from, editing and revision, choosing character names, the importance of research, magic in stories for children, marketing and promotion and more.

The Children's Writer's Guide is available as a paperback and as an ebook at Amazon and Kobo.

Copywriting Services for Business

The way in which you communicate with your customers is a vital component  of your business and well written content can be the difference between success and failure. 

I have extensive experience in writing for a wide range of industries and market segments and offer a variety of copywriting services including website content, blogs and newsletters, social media including Facebook and Twitter, brochures, direct mail, sales letters, press releases, newspaper and magazine advertising and more. 

Contact me for details regarding copywriting services and my portfolio of completed projects.

What is Substantive Editing?

You’ve finished your first novel after years of painstaking work. You’re sure it could be a best seller and everyone you know is very enthusiastic. Yet your manuscript is returned by publishers, with a form letter providing no clues as to why they didn’t like it. Having your work independently evaluated gives you an unbiased opinion, helping you to tighten your manuscript and fix problems you may have overlooked.

A substantive edit involves detailed content assessment. This may include comments on characterization, setting, dialogue, believability, structure, plot, language, research and references. It also includes a summary of the strengths and weaknesses (if any) of your writing, along with comments on writing technique, format, technical ability and market potential. 

A substantive edit is different to copy editing, which is performed by an experienced professional. Copy editing covers grammar, spelling, punctuation and many other details that writers are sometimes unaware of but publishers care deeply about. Substantive editing also differs from proof reading, which checks the final details before a book or article is printed or published. Following an in-depth substantive edit, both copy editing and proof reading are still needed before publication.

I offer substantive editing services for most genres. You can visit my website for further information or contact me directly for an estimate. 

Coaching and Workshops for Writers

I offer workshops and presentations for both adults and children for community associations,home schooled students and summer camps, as well as services for writers including coaching, manuscript editing and evaluation, plus online workshops for children and for adults. 

I conduct creative writing workshops with community associations and have run workshops and made presentations as part of summer camp programs in Calgary and the surrounding area. I also work as an instructor at the University of Calgary and at Mount Royal University, conducting one day classes and evening sessions for adults who are interested in writing for children and young adults. I’ve also conducted similar workshops for adults for community associations, professional writer’s groups, public libraries and am available as a speaker for keynote addresses, conferences and other events.

Contact me directly for further details about coaching and workshops.

School Programs, Presentations and Workshops

I offer a variety of presentations, author in residence programs and conduct workshops for children at schools. 

I offer a variety of presentations for grades three to eight, but can work with grades one and two as well. I cover such topics as where ideas come from, story structure, editing and revision, character development, time travel stories, history and research, plus many other aspects of writing and publishing. 

I will present to around one hundred students at a time, although we can also look at workshops with smaller groups or individual classes. Each of my novels provide ideas for classroom projects and you may find some suggestions on the Study Guides page on my website. 

Contact me for details of fees and availability for school presentations.

Hear Here - Author Readings Online

People are always interested in hearing an author read from their own work. Children in particular, especially those who have read and enjoyed the novels, are usually captivated when an author reads from their own book during a personal appearance at a school, library, literary festival or other event.

Here on my website, you can listen to interviews and readings from The Alchemist's Portrait, The Clone Conspiracy, The Emerald Curse and The Heretic's Tomb, recorded on Calgary's CKUA radio network, plus a reading from The Sorcerer's Letterbox, recorded during my appearance at the Winnipeg International Writers Festival.

Author in Residence

For my Author in Residence program, I can be at your school for a week or longer. This allows me to cover topics in much more depth than would be possible during a regular author visit. Each of my novels provide ideas for classroom projects and you may find some suggestions on the Study Guides page on my website. 

I have some suggestions for presentations and workshops, but am always pleased to work with teachers and librarians to build sessions best suited to your students. 

Contact me for details of fees and availability for my Author in Residence program.

PlayWriting Camp this July with the Calgary Arts Summer School Association

PlayWriting Camp will once again will take place this summer from July 14 to 18 with the Calgary Arts Summer School Association. 

This is a half-day camp (either morning or afternoon) for students ages 7 to 12. In a dramatic and fun-filled week, children will learn how to write, rehearse and perform their own unique play in just five days. Children will create the plot, craft the script, write dialogue and hone their acting skills for their very own dramatic production, which will then be performed at the end of the week. 

Further details and registration information for PlayWriting Camp can be found here.

Virtual Author Visits for Schools

Children are almost always inspired when they meet a real life author or illustrator, but it may not always be possible to have an author visit your school. However, why not put technology to work for you? Now you can arrange a virtual author visit via video using Skype. These can be conducted with large groups in a library or gym or with individual classes. You can get an idea of what a virtual visit looks like by viewing the videos on my website or on YouTube, in which I talk about my books, my workshops for adults and schools, plus my various services for writers.

Ideally, in preparation for a virtual author visit, students should have read at least one of my books prior to the visit, but can also familiarize themselves with my work by undertaking the Super Scavenger Search. You may also wish to download the word search puzzles related to each novel. Study Guides and Classroom Resources are also available for all my novels. Each book can provide teachers with a wide variety of ways to explore projects with their students and class sets of books are available.To host a virtual author visit, you will need to download Skype, which is available for both Windows and Mac, and have a webcam. 

You may contact me directly for details on technical requirements and all about exactly how a virtual author visit works. A technical run through a few days prior is also advisable, to ensure that everything runs smoothly on the day of the visit.

Summer Camps in Calgary and area

I’m available to visit summer camps in the Calgary area each July and August. 

I can be a special guest or work as part of the programming. I have a number of presentations, workshops, and other programs that are suitable for summer camps, but am very flexible. I’m happy to discuss ways in which my programs can fit in with the general theme of your camp for a particular week.

I also offer my five day playwriting program for local community associations and other groups. This can be run as a morning or afternoon camp for small groups of children ages nine to twelve.

Contact me about rates and availability for summer camps this July and August. 

Another Great Review of The Children's Writer's Guide

 

Here's another great review of The Children's Writer's Guide.

"Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Presented in an engaging manner, much like the author himself, this book is a straight forward manual that will encourage even the most timid writer to follow through on their creative dreams. The chapters are well laid out, filled with strategies, and delivered in a conversational tone that never overwhelms the reader. There is an implied message of confidence in this book that is very reassuring to a beginner writer. Highly recommend it."

The Children's Writer's Guide is available as a paperback and as an ebook at Amazon and Kobo.

Writing Services for Website Content

A good first impression is still very important and your website is often the first place people will encounter your company and it’s products and services.

Your on line copy reflects your professionalism or lack of it. You need to take pride in what you have on the web. If it appears you don’t really care what your site looks like, the customer will assume your products may be similarly slipshod. 

I offer both hourly rates and flat fees for website content writing, based on the requirements of the project. Please contact me directly for rates and fees for copywriting for website content.

Great Reviews of The Emerald Curse

“Calgary writer Simon Rose is back with The Emerald Curse, his strongest middle-grade novel yet … Fast-paced and well-plotted, elementary students are sure to love it.” 

The Calgary Herald

“This fourth book by Simon Rose is as good and fast paced a read as his first three. Page turning tension with a resourceful and intrepid hero … and sure to please any child who likes fantasy, science fiction and comics.” 

Smartwriters

“Rose has very carefully crafted his book to imitate the surrealist feel of comic books … With fantastic creatures, a damsel in distress and solid action, this book will especially appeal to young males.” 

University of Manitoba CM Magazine

“This fantasy adventure with its use of comic-book themes and characters will entice a reader who enjoys larger-than-life villains and mighty clashes between good and evil. There is plenty of tension and suspense in the plot as well as creative descriptions of the incredible characters that inhabit the fantasy world. The illustrations are dark and complement the sinister atmosphere of a world where evil forces have taken charge. The Emerald Curse is a very well written and appealing adventure book. Highly recommended.” 

Canadian Children’s Literature

Great Reviews of The Clone Conspiracy

“Smart kids outwit evil scientists in this mini-science fiction thriller dealing with clones, implanted embryos and personality downloads. As long as they realize this science IS fiction, kids can enjoy the fast-paced action – each little chapter a real cliff-hanger.” 

Victoria Times Colonist

“The Clone Conspiracy definitely finds its mark … Rose has done a magnificent job with this fast paced medical science mystery.” Manitoba Library Association read the full review

“This 88 page novel will appeal to boys who like a good mystery – with a twist!” 

CanLit for Kids

“… a must-read dedicated to unravelling the mystery surrounding human cloning, brain transplants and clandestine laboratories.” 

The Calgary Herald

“… an exciting story, especially for reluctant boy readers.” 

The Georgia Strait

“With all the news about genetic engineering currently in the media, this story will appeal to today’s young readers … The action is fast paced and scary enough to keep readers hanging on to every word.” 

Children’s Literature Review

Coaching and Workshops for Writers

I offer workshops and presentations for both adults and children for community associations,home schooled students and summer camps, as well as services for writers including coaching, manuscript editing and evaluation, plus online workshops for children and for adults. 

I conduct creative writing workshops with community associations and have run workshops and made presentations as part of summer camp programs in Calgary and the surrounding area. I also work as an instructor at the University of Calgary and at Mount Royal University, conducting one day classes and evening sessions for adults who are interested in writing for children and young adults. I’ve also conducted similar workshops for adults for community associations, professional writer’s groups, public libraries and am available as a speaker for keynote addresses, conferences and other events.

Contact me directly for further details about coaching and workshops.

Great Review of The Time Camera

“It’s a camera,” Lydia said.

“It’s not a type I’m familiar with,” Jake said.

Like any digital camera, it had a screen on the back, but there were more buttons than usual. The controls were unfamiliar to Jake. “I can’t even tell which of these buttons is supposed to turn it on.

But as Jake tried pressing different buttons, the screen suddenly activated. “Okay,” he said, “let’s see if it works.”

Lydia stood in front of the desk. Jake aimed the camera at her and took a picture. However, when he pressed what looked like the display button, a different image appeared on the screen. It was not Lydia. Eleanor was standing where Lydia should have been, working at her desk.

“That’s weird,” he murmured

Lydia Chamberlain’s mom was a scientist who died while trying to conceal a secret from her research partner. The explosion that took her life consumed her confidential paperwork, but her laptop and camera were protected. They were in a safe place. When Lydia and her friend Jake find these items years later, they discover the danger behind her research in time photography involved someone they trusted. The pair try to conceal their discovery from ‘Uncle’ Magnus, but it’s impossible to hide a secret from someone when that person can also manipulate time.

      With a turn of a camera knob, Albertan author Simon Rose (The Alchemist’s Portrait, The Doomsday Mask) takes readers back to the past and into the future. When Jake and Lydia have the camera in their possession, they see the impossible; Paris in the eighteenth century; a crime before it’s about to happen, and someone who’s already dead. There are no illustrations in this book, but the chapters containing excerpts from Eleanor Chamberlain’s research highlight the suspenseful moments. This story will have children thinking about the good, and bad things, that could happen in a world where time travel is possible.

Recommended.

Tanya Boudreau is a librarian at the Cold Lake Public Library in Cold Lake, AB.

This review appeared in CM Magazine published the Manitoba Library Association