Photo Credit:
Photo credit
Erik Hornung
Marty Chan
BIO
Biography

Marty Chan writes books for kids, stage plays for adults, and social media posts for fun. He's published over 24 books for kids including Dragon on the Loose, which was shortlisted for the Silver Birch Express Award, and The Mystery of the Graffiti Ghoul, which won the Diamond Willow Award. He's toured around the world virtually and in-person. He works and lives in Edmonton, Alberta, with his wife Michelle and their two cats.

ADDRESS
City: Edmonton, Province/Territory: Alberta
EMAIL
GENRE
Middle-grade fiction, YA fiction, hi-lo, comedy, mystery, thriller
LANGUAGES
English
PUBLICATIONS
Publications
Title
Curse of Heartwood Academy
Publisher
Orca
Year
2026
Title
Izzy Wong's Drama Disaster
Publisher
Orca
Year
2026
Title
Dragon on the Loose
Publisher
Orca
Year
2024
Title
Cosplay Crime
Publisher
Orca
Year
2024
Title
Izzy Wong's Nose for News
Publisher
Orca
Year
2024
Title
Willpower
Publisher
Orca
Year
2022
Title
Final Cut
Publisher
Orca
Year
2022
Title
Kylie the Magnificent
Publisher
Orca
Year
2021
Title
Haunted Hospital
Publisher
Orca
Year
2020
Title
Kung Fu Master
Publisher
Orca
Year
2019
Title
Ehrich Weisz Chronicles Trilogy (Demon Gate, Infinity Coil, Metamorphosis)
Publisher
Fitzhenry and Whiteside
Year
2019, 2015, 2013
Title
Keepers of the Vault Trilogy (Fire and Glass, Melody and Myth, Shadow and Spell)
Publisher
Clockwise Press
Year
2017, 2016, 2015
Title
Mystery of the Cyber Bully
Publisher
Thistledown Press
Year
2010
Title
Mystery of the Mad Science Teacher
Publisher
Thistledown Press
Year
2008
Title
Mystery of the Graffiti Ghoul
Publisher
Thistledown Press
Year
2006
Title
Mystery of the Frozen Brains
Publisher
Thistledown Press
Year
2004
Title
Mom, Dad, I'm Living with a White Girl
Publisher
Playwrights Canada Press
Year
2001
AWARDS
Awards
Name
Diamond Willow Award
Publication
Mystery of the Graffiti Ghoul
Year
2007
Name
BookPal Outstanding Works of Literature, Elementary Category
Publication
Dragon on the Loose
Year
2024
Name
Honour Book Silver Birch Express Award
Publication
Dragon on the Loose
Year
2025
PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS AND WORKSHOPS
Presentation details
Audience Size
Audience size
100
Presentation Genre
Mystery, Thriller, Comedy
Presentation Length
45 minutes
Presentation Description
Presentation description

Marty offers writing workshops and book talks for all ages, with a focus on inspiring kids to embrace writing and reading. For teachers, he presents professional development sessions on how to teach creative writing to kids. For adult learners, he has creative writing workshops that focus on middle-grade fiction, suspense, and theatre. 

Workshop details
Audience Size
50
Intended Audience
Adults
Workshop Length
60 minutes
Workshop Description
Workshop description

For adult learners, Marty offers virtual workshops and short courses on how to write middle-grade fiction, thrillers, and stage plays. 

School presentation details
Audience Size
100
Intended Audience
K - 12
Presentation Length
45 minutes
Presentation Description
Presentation description

Marty's virtual presentations combined humour, tech magic, and audience participation to inspire kids to read and write. In his book talks, he reveals the real-life inspirations of his stories to encourage kids to look at their lives for ideas. 

Marty's writing workshops demystify the writing process into actionable and accessible writing tips that kids can apply immediately to their drafts. His most popular writing workshops include the following.

Writing Prompts Made Easy: Students learn the techniques to break down text and picture prompts into story elements.

Cheat Code for Conflict: With Marty's cheat code, students will be able to inject drama into even the most mundane situation, turning their story from drab to dynamic.

EQUITY INITIATIVE
As part of the Union’s Equity Implementation Plan, we are committed to increasing awareness of authors who are Black, Indigenous, racialized, LGBTQI2S, or living with a disability. This author identifies as:
Members who identify as:
Black, Indigenous, and/or racialized
Programs & Interests
Interested in participating Union’s Ontario Writers-in-the-Schools program:
All members are eligible for the Union’s Ontario Writers-in-the-Schools program. Are you interested in participating in this pro
Yes
Interested in participating in the Northern Ontario WITS program:
The Union’s Northern Ontario Writers-in-the-Schools program funds in-person visits to northern Ontario schools when possible. Ar
No