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 About
Me
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I spent the summers of my youth in inflatable wading pools, cooling off
from the dry prairie heat.
Later, I lived in the subarctic, where it was so cold I could
make snow by throwing water out the front door.
I currently live in the middle of a forest on the side of a
mountain in rural Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada.
It rains—a lot—but so far I haven’t developed webbed feet! Pacific tree frogs serenade from my pond each spring,
raccoons steal my walnuts, and on a clear night I swear I can see a
gazillion stars from my porch. |
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I’ve
always enjoyed playing with words, but I was well into adulthood before
discovering my passion for science.
I studied business at university and completed a Commerce Degree
(University of British Columbia) before I realized I was far more
interested in why something is the way it is than managing the profits
from it. Science rocks! Off
I went for a dose of university science.
I was---pardon the pun---in my element.
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My goal is to inspire kids to ask questions about
their world, to have them make connections and
create their own Eureka! moments by ‘checking
stuff out’.
My writing is peppered with hands-on
activities and simulations to make complicated
concepts kid-friendly and easily understood. |
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I have fun with whatever I'm working on. |
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Amazing science is all around us. Every day, I
share the small part that appears in my
magnifying glass. |
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Awards
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Bubble
Homes and Fish Farts
- A Junior Library Guild Selection
- 2010
Christie Harris Illustrated Children's Literature Award (Honor
Book) - BC Book Prizes
- 2010-2011 Pennsylvania Keystone to Reading Book Award
(Intermediate, nominee) -
Keystone State Reading Association
- 2010-2011 Great Lakes Great Books Award (Grades 2-3, nominee)
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Michigan Reading Association.
- 2011
Chocolate Lily Award (picture book, nominee)
Martha Weston Award - Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators
(SCBWI) -
June
2004
Smartwriters.com Write It Now!
Children's Writing Competition - 3rd Place Nonfiction Category - April
2004
British Columbia Festival of the Arts - Literary Arts Section (Children's Writing) - Selected by jury -
May 2002
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Professional Affiliations
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CANSCAIP - Canadian Society of Children's Authors, Illustrators & Performers
CWILL-BC - Children's Writers and Illustrators of British Columbia
(Secretary)
SCBWI - Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators
Vancouver
Children's Literature Roundtable
Yellowknife Children's Literature Roundtable (past member)
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The Non-writing Me
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I live with my car-nut husband in a busy house full of teenagers ...lots of laughter and laundry. When I'm not
writing or spending time with family, I like to read (a lot) or
get involved in the local community theatre scene. I've
ushered, done box office, stage managed, been props mistress,
and, from time to time, stepped onto stage.
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Dogsledding in Alaska
(that's me in blue and one of my editors in red!))
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Here
I am (centre) as the Russian Grand Duchess, where
I got to use a really cool
accent. Da!...I knew that university Russian would come in
handy one day. |
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I try to get out
into the field as often as I can to see science in action
and try things for myself. These are some photos of a
hummingbird banding I helped with. Why are fewer hummingbirds
returning from their migration? Scientists hope these
bands will help them to find out. |
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I
attend and speak at
writer's conferences.
Children's writers are a
fun bunch! Here, Kelly Milner Halls (right) and I dance "The Swim" |
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Text
© Fiona Bayrock
Book Illustration ©
Carolyn Digby Conahan Cartoon Art © 2005
Ruth McNally Barshaw
All rights reserved.
Last Updated: July 10, 2010
fiona @ fionabayrock.com
...remove spaces
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