Biography
Lorna Schultz Nicholson is full-time writer who divides her time between Edmonton, Alberta and Penticton, British Columbia. She has published children’s picture books, middle grade fiction, YA fiction and non-fiction sports books. Lorna’s books are about family, friendships, and, well, the ups and downs of life. We all have those, right? They are also diverse, featuring many different characters. Many of her books are about sports, (yes, hockey), so she can answer a lot of questions about that too. Of course, she loves talking about writing and her process, and she loves giving tips to students on how they can make their writing better. Lorna is a lively presenter and has been in schools across Canada. She loves instilling her love of reading and writing to any grade. Please, visit her website for information.
Lorna has some limited availability for school bookings from January-June 2025. Please contact the office for available dates and travel radius.
Division 1:
Grade 1-3 – WRITING ABOUT SUPERHEROES
Lorna’s picture book GOOD MORNING SUNSHINE: The Joey Moss Story (August 2022 Sleeping Bear Press) is about the legend, Joey Moss. Joey proved to the world that people born with Down syndrome can be active in their communities. His story is remarkable, and Lorna will talk about how everyone matters. Lorna also has her series of Puckster picture books that are about animals working together on a team. The team is diverse as it has all different players: big, small, female, disabled, French, black, white. All her picture books fit in perfectly with the Social Studies units about belonging and connecting and identity. Lorna ties in the ELA curriculum by talking about where she gets her ideas and how she organizes them into a book And, of course, she reads!!!
WHAT TO BRING
Lorna’s latest picture book WHAT TO BRING (March 2023 Owlkids) is a story about being evacuated during a forest fire. This is a story that can be used to talk about forest fires, floods, or even being evacuated because of war. It is about family and what is important in our lives. Lorna will make the students think about what they would bring in the event of an evacuation. This could also be linked to the forest fires in Alberta in the spring of 2023 or the flood in Calgary in 2013. With this story, she will explain about writing a picture book and how she took a real life experience and made it into a book.
Division 2: Grade 4-6
INSPIRATION: WHERE DOES IT COME FROM?
TAKING THE ICE (Scholastic, Sept 2021), is a hockey novel about leadership, dealing with anxiety, teamwork, being kind, and friendship. Lorna will answer the question: Where do you get your ideas from? All of her middle grade novels fit in well with the Health and Life Skills curriculum component because they deal with helping others, dealing with stress, and managing time. She ties in the ELA curriculum by talking about the writing process and the planning and plotting that goes into writing a story, as well as editing. Lorna also has a non-fiction series (AMAZING HOCKEY STORIES) and the newest book is on Leon Draisaitl (Scholastic, September 2023). How does she get information for a non-fiction story? What is important? What does she leave out? She will give info on research techniques for both fiction and non-fiction.
Division 3: Grades 7-9
FROM A TO B: HOW TO WRITE AND FINISH A STORY!
How to start a story? How to finish a story? Lorna will use her One-2-One series to discuss how she researches to develop characters, writes an outline to start and finish, and allows those on-the-spot ideas to find a place in the story. This series works well with the Health and Life Skills curriculum. How do her characters who have high functioning autism/Asperger’s, Down syndrome, a brain injury, and Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder understand people around them? How do the characters make choices that help them along the way? If requested, Lorna can talk about the difference between fiction and non-fiction. She goes into detail about the editing process, and this works with the ELA curriculum.
Grades 10-12
WRITING YOUR PASSION
Lorna’s young adult novel, WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT IT, (Red Deer Press, 2021), has a personal story behind it. This session will encourage students to pull stories from their lives, and write them into fiction, creating a story. Lorna will also talk about how she learned a new writing technique (verse) after fifty published books. And about why she wrote this book? And why she chose to write parts of it in verse? This will tie in with the ELA curriculum.
Lorna also writes non-fiction, (GRIT AND GLORY- Edmonton Oilers 40th anniversary book), so either/or both can be the topic of discussion, depending on the needs of the students. How does she research? How does she interview? What are some interesting interview techniques she’s used? How to compile the interviews to make a narrative story.
WRITING WORKSHOPS
Lorna loves working with students on their own writing. She has three writing workshops that she can do with grades 4 and up.
1) Non-Fiction
2) Fiction
3) Writing Graphics
Set-up Needs for In-Person Presentation
For all grades (except small kindergarten, grade 1 and 2 classes) Lorna needs access to technology to show a powerpoint presentation, and have her picture books on the screen. She will bring her computer and flash drive, plus dongles for attachments. She will also need a table to display books and a bottle or glass of water.
Lorna’s In-Person fees for Fall 2023:
$400.00 for half day – Includes two 45-60 minute sessions. If there are K’s this could include two 30 minutes sessions for K’s, and a 45-60 minute session for a total of three sessions. All sessions are flexible in length and can be adapted to fit the schedule of the school’s classes.
$700.00 for the full day – Includes four 45-60 minute sessions. If there are K’s involved this could include two 30 minutes sessions for K’s, and three 50-60 sessions for a total of five sessions. All sessions are flexible in length and can be adapted to fit the schedule of the school’s classes.
Lorna’s audience limit for in-person presentations is flexible and 30 students for workshops.
Pricing for virtual sessions:
$100 for 30 minutes.
$150 for 45 minutes.
$175 for 60 minutes.
There is no maximum on logins. Lorna is comfortable presenting via Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet.
Bibliography
Published Books: Fiction
What to Bring: Picture book – Owlkids Publishing – March 2023 (A story about evacuating from forest fires.)
Good Morning Sunshine: The story of Joey Moss: Picture Book biography – Sleeping Bear Press – September 2022
Behind the Label: Young Adult Novel – Red Deer Press – September 2022
When You Least Expect It: Young Adult Novel – Red Deer Press – November 2021
Taking the Ice: Middle grade fiction – Scholastic – September 2021
Just Three: Middle Grade fiction – Orca –August 2019.
A Time to Run: Young Adult Fiction – Clockwise Press – March 2018. Nominated OLA Red Maple Award; Best Book for Kids and Teens CCBC.
Bent Not Broken: Young Adult Fiction – Clockwise Press – March 2017. Nominated OLA Red Maple Award; R. Ross Annett Award – WGA; Best Book for Kids and Teens CCBC.
Superhero Ninja Wrestling Star: Middle grade fiction – James Lorimer and Co, January 2017.
Born With: Erika and Gianni: Young Adult Fiction – Clockwise Press – March 2016. Nominated OLA Red Maple Award; MYRCA Award; Best Book for Kids and Teens CCBC, Yoya Magazine Top Shelf Award; Best Book for Kids and Teens.
Fragile Bones: Harrison and Anna Young Adult Fiction – Clockwise Press –March 2015. Nominated OLA Red Maple Award; MYRCA Award; Willow Award; R. Ross Annett Award – WGA; Best Book for Kids and Teens CCBC.
Puckster Plays the Hockey Mascots: Children’s Picture Book – Tundra/Fenn, October 2014.
Puckster’s Christmas Hockey Tournament: Children’s Picture Book – Tundra/Fenn, October 2014.
Hoop Dreams: Young Adult – James Lorimer and Co., March 2014. Resource Links pick of the year; Best Books for Kids and Teens CCBC.
Puckster Goes to the Olympics: Children’s Picture Book – Tundra/Fenn, October 2013.
Puckster’s First Hockey Tryout: Children’s Picture Book – Tundra/Fenn, October 2013.
Big Air: Young Adult – James Lorimer and Co., September 2013. Resource Links pick; Best Books for Kids and Teens CCBC.
Forward Pass: Young Adult – James Lorimer and Co., March 2013. Best Book for Kids and Teens CCBC.
Puckster’s First Hockey Tournament: Children’s Picture Book- Tundra/Fenn, October 2012.
Puckster’s New Hockey Teammate: Children’s Picture Book – Tundra/Fenn, October 2012.
One Cycle: Young Adult – James Lorimer and Co., Canada September 2012. Best Books for Kids and Teens starred selection CCBC.
Rookie: Young Adult – James Lorimer and Co., March 2012. Best Books for Kids and Teens CCBC.
Vegas Tryout: Young Adult – James Lorimer and Co., Canada 2012.
Puckster’s First Game: Children’s Picture Book – Tundra/Fenn, Nov 2011.
Puckster’s First Sweater: Children’s Picture Book – Tundra/Fenn, Nov 2011.
Holding: Middle Grade – James Lorimer & Co., May 2008.
Cross-Check!: Middle Grade – James Lorimer & Co., May 2007. Best Books for Kids and Teens CCBC.
Too Many Men: Middle Grade – James Lorimer & Co., Nov 2006. Nominated Diamond Willow Award; Best Books for Kids and Teens CCBC.
Northern Star: Middle Grade – James Lorimer & Co., May 2006. Best Book for Kids and Teens CCBC.
Delaying the Game: Middle Grade – James Lorimer & Co., Nov 2005. Best Books for Kids and Teens CCBC.
Against the Boards: Middle Grade – James Lorimer & Co., May 2005. Best Book for Kids and Teens starred selection CCBC.
Roughing: Middle Grade – James Lorimer & Co., November 2004. Nominated Golden Eagle Award; Best Books for Kids and Teens CCBC.
Interference: Middle Grade – James Lorimer & Co., May 2004. Winner CCBC Our Choice Award.
Published Books: Non-fiction
Carey Price – Middle grade biography – Scholastic, September 2022
Alexander Ovechkin – Middle grade biography – Scholastic, September 2021
Mitch Marner – Middle grade biography – Scholastic, September 2020. Best Books for Kids and Teens CCBC.
PK Subban – Amazing Hockey Stories: Middle Grade non-fiction biography – Scholastic Canada, September 2019. Nominated Hackmatack Award.
Grit and Glory – Adult non-fiction – Penguin/Random House, October 30th.
Hayley Wickenheiser – Amazing Hockey Stories: Middle Grade non-fiction biography – Scholastic Canada September 2018. Nominated OLA Yellow Cedar Award; TD Summer Read; First Book Canada and Raptors 905 selection; Best Books for Kids and Teens CCBC.
Connor McDavid – Amazing Hockey Stories: Middle Grade non-fiction biography – Scholastic Canada September 2017. Nominated Hackmatack Award; Best Books for Kids and Teens CCBC.
The Next Ones: Biographical – Fenn Publishing, October 2011.
Home Ice: Biographical Olympic – Fenn Publishing, September 2009, *Globe and Mail Bestseller.
Winning Gold: Record Book – James Lorimer & Co., January 2010.
Fighting for Gold: Record Book – James Lorimer & Co., September 2009. Nominated Red Cedar Award.
Dominant Dany Heatley: Middle Grade biography – Fenn Publishing, November 2008
Pink Power: Record Book – James Lorimer & Co., Sept 2007.
H.E.A.R.T.: Middle Grade biography – Fenn Publishing, Sept 2007.
Reviews
Thank you so very much for the truly amazing visit today!!!!!! You rock!!!! Our best author visit ever!!!!!! 🙂
“This book (Through Indigo’s Eyes) is AMAZING! I love it! it would make a fantastic movie!!”
“The series is designed to connect with teens by dramatically leading them through the possibilities their choices create and offering wholesome suggestions for successful outcomes. Author Lorna Schultz Nicholson achieves this without ever appearing to be preaching to the reader. Big Air is highly recommended for any teens, and the series should be available in all middle years school libraries. Highly Recommended. 4/4”
“Exciting soccer action, hot-button issues (conservative Christian views, differing attitudes toward homosexuality, sexual abuse), and teen angst find balanced footing within Parmita’s experiences in a story that will leave readers with plenty of food for thought.”