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Fiction (children's)

Jessica Joy Hiemstra

Jessica Joy Hiemstra is a visual artist, writer and designer living in Gunning Cove, Shelburne County, Mi’kma’ki.  When she’s not gardening or writing, she’s drawing. She especially loves to make hand-drawn animations.  At the moment she’s making drawings to accompany 41 short poems from writers across the country. These poems, edited by herself and Gillian Sze, will be published by Baseline Press in 2027. A book of essays, written in conversation with the art of Claire Wilks, is expected with Exile Editions in 2026. On the back of that book it says: don’t tell me I cannot love. 

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Katie Arthur

Katie Arthur is the author and illustrator of Our Woolly Bear (Owlkids Books, 2024) and What if Marty Doesn’t Like My Party? (Owlkids Books, 2025). Katie holds an MA in English Literature & Creative Writing from Concordia University and is also a graduate of the Humber School for Writers. Her work has received support from the Canada Council for the Arts and the Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council of Canada, and her adult fiction has been longlisted twice for the CBC Short Story Prize. Born and raised in the suburbs of Southern Ontario, Katie now lives with her family on the rocky shores of Northeastern Nova Scotia.

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Mireille Messier

Mireille Messier is a Montreal-born, Ottawa-raised and now Nova Scotia-based children’s author with a background in theatre and broadcasting. She has published over thirty picture books and chapter books, some in French, some in English. Some have even won awards!

When she is not writing books, Mireille works in children’s television as a scriptwriter for various programs. She also enjoys doing translation and corporate writing of youth-oriented material for such clients as the Dairy Farmers of Canada, General Mills, Scholastic Canada, TFO, Kraft Foods and Via Rail.

On average, Mireille gives one hundred in-person and virtual school presentations per year to French, French immersion and English groups across Canada.

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Vivian Zhou

Vivian Zhou is a Chinese-Canadian cartoonist and story artist. She is a graduate of Sheridan College’s Bachelor of Animation program. After working on a multitude of animated shows and award-winning short films as storyboard artist and occasionally director, she is now following her dream of making her own comics. Her debut graphic novel “Atana and the Firebird” released in 2023; book two of the Atana duology, “Atana and the Jade Mermaid”, is releasing in May 2025.

 

Visit her at https://vivianzhou.ca/

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Lindsey Harrington

Lindsey Harrington is a Nova Scotian writer with Newfoundland roots. Her fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry are deeply influenced by both places and her place within them. She’s a regular organizer and host of the dART Speak monthly writers’ open mic and other fun, local literary events. She’s also a professional facilitator, covering topics such as therapeutic writing, developing your personal writing strategy, performing your pieces, authors online, and ekphrasis, prompt, and response poetry.

In 2023, she was longlisted for the CBC Nonfiction Prize, shortlisted for the Fiddlehead Creative Nonfiction Prize, and received a Canada Council grant to work on her childfree memoir. She’s excited to see what 2024 brings.

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Heidi Tattrie Rushton

Heidi Tattrie Rushton has been a freelance reporter, event planner, international recruiter, and preschool teacher. Like her Pet Tales protagonist, she has experience working at an animal shelter, was a kid-activist through her writing, and rides the roller coaster of life with anxiety. She lives with her husband, two children, and a menagerie of tiny pets, including a cat-sized dog, two fish, and a snail.

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Tina Capalbo

As a teacher, writer, mom, and life-long creative, Tina Capalbo has written everything from lesson plans, blogs, stories, and plays, to volunteer manuals, educator packs, and architectural proposals.

Tina completed her Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education degrees at Western and her Master of Arts degree at Dalhousie. She has taught high school English and Drama in London and Halifax, English as an Additional Language in Tokyo, Toronto and Halifax, and thousands of writing classes online.

As a WITS author, Tina loves exploring stories with students and offers two workshops: (1) ‘Ari and the Very Loud Bird!’ is a workshop with early elementary students (grades P-3), featuring Ari, an upbeat, non-binary kiddo, who loves to sleep in. The workshop includes a lively reading, a visit with Ari the puppet, and a book chat. Students create a songbird, invent a bird call, and become a noisy chorus of birds. (2) ‘Main Character Energy’ is a creative nonfiction writing workshop for secondary students (grades 10-12). Students engage in life-writing, exploring elements of journaling, memoir, personal essay, personal monologue, and phase autobiography.

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Megan Coffin

Megan Coffin, a proud resident of Nova Scotia is an author known for her captivating children’s books. Born on May 22, 1986, Megan has faced and triumphed over numerous challenges, including her battle with breast cancer, which has further fueled her passion for storytelling.

Megan’s journey into the world of writing began at a young age, thanks to her father’s extraordinary gift for spinning tales. His captivating stories about Sneaky the Snake and friends left a lasting impression on Megan, and she soon discovered her own love for writing. In her teenage years, Megan started exploring poetry, enjoying the experience of putting her thoughts and emotions onto paper.

It was after her father’s passing that Megan decided to honor his memory by sharing their favorite stories with their loved ones. Inspired by his handwritten versions of Sneaky the Snake’s adventures, Megan took on the challenge of revising and expanding these tales, completing her highly admired series, “The Adventures of Sneaky the Snake.” These stories take readers on captivating journeys, filled with thrilling twists and heartwarming moments, all set against the backdrop of Megan’s childhood experiences in Nova Scotia.

Her dedication to preserving her father’s legacy and creating charming tales has earned her a growing readership. The illustrations in her books hold a special significance as they are all based on the cherished places, she grew up in. Each detail, from her grandmother’s fields and home to the family tractor and the local farm where she and her brothers played, adds an authentic and nostalgic touch to her stories.

As a Nova Scotia resident, Megan has an inherent understanding of the region’s natural beauty and rich landscapes. She weaves these elements seamlessly into the fabric of her stories, creating a sense of familiarity and fondness for readers of all ages.

Through her engaging storytelling and heartfelt narratives, Megan Coffin continues to enchant audiences young and old alike. Her ability to transport readers to a world of imagination, while honoring her father’s legacy, showcases her passion and talent as a writer. Megan’s books remind us of the power of cherished memories and the importance of preserving our roots for future generations.

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Experience Levels

The Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia (WFNS) uses the following terms to describe writers’ experience levels:

  • New writers: those with less than two years’ creative writing experience and/or no short-form publications (e.g., short stories, personal essays, or poems in literary magazines, journals, anthologies, or chapbooks).
  • Emerging writers: those with more than two years’ creative writing experience and/or numerous short-form publications.
  • Early-career authors: those with 1 or 2 book-length publications or the equivalent in book-length and short-form publications.
  • Established authors: those with 3 or 4 book-length publications.
  • Professional authors: those with 5 or more book-length publications.

Please keep in mind that each form of creative writing (fiction, nonfiction, poetry, writing for children, writing for young adults, and others) provides you with a unique set of experiences and skills, so you might consider yourself an ‘established author’ in one form but a ‘new writer’ in another.

Occasionally, WFNS uses the phrase “emerging and established writers/authors” to mean ‘writers and authors of all experience levels.’

The “Recommended experience level” section of each workshop description refers to the above definitions. A workshop’s participants should usually have similar levels of creative writing and / or publication experience. This ensures that each participant gets value from the workshop⁠ and is presented with info, strategies, and skills that suit their experience. 

For “intensive” and “masterclass” workshops, which provide more opportunities for peer-to-peer feedback, the recommended experience level should be followed closely.

For all other workshops, the recommended experience level is just that—a recommendation—and we encourage potential participants to follow their own judgment when registering.

If uncertain about your experience level with respect to any particular workshop, please feel free to contact us at communications@writers.ns.ca