Born in the UK, Lois Peterson was raised in England, at a Cornish boarding school, and in Iraq. She came to Vancouver in 1971 via Paris, London and New York. In BC she raised a daughter, Holly, and worked for 40 years in a public library.
Meanwhile, her short stories, articles and essays were published internationally in journals, newspapers and anthologies, and she taught writing to continuing education students, seniors, kids and prision inmates, out of which came her book 101-and more-Writing Exercises to get You Started & Keep You Going.
In 2007 she began writing for children, and her first young reader was published in October 2008. Since then she has published seven more books for readers between the ages of six and 14.
A popular workshop instructor, Lois Peterson is a regular presenter at the Surrey International Writers Conference and other events. She has served as Writer in Residence, teaching historical fiction to Grade 7 students at York House School in Vancouver, and to the youth Learning Programs in Surrey. She also conducts storytelling workshops for children and seniors.
After retiring from public library work, she worked as Executive Director of a homeless shelter in Nanaimo, BC, and subsequently wrote SHELTER- HOMELESSNESS IN OUR COMMUNITY - Oct. 2021, Orca Book Publishers.
Lois lives in Nanaimo, and travels, reads, paints and spends time with family.
My basic presentation 'To Begin at the Beginning' features information about my origins as a reader and a writer, and the origin of and background to some of my books - relevant to the age group to which I am presenting. I am always happy to adapt and adjust my presentations to reflect classroom and curriculum priorities. My style is informal, stand-up, with minimal technical and digital supports. Many presentations include interactive elements and in some groups in-session writing and/or brainstorming, Give me a mic, and I am usually good to go, with a few 'show and tell' items thrown in for good measure. Contact me for more information.
