Liisa Kovala is a Finnish Canadian author and teacher. Her first book, Surviving Stutthof: My Father’s Memories Behind the Death Gate (Latitude 46, 2017), was shortlisted for a Northern Lit Award and published in Finland under the title Stutthofin selviytyjä (Docendo, 2020). Her work is inspired by her Finnish heritage and the northern landscape she calls home. Sisu’s Winter War (Latitude 46, 2022) is her debut novel. She lives in Sudbury, Ontario with her husband and two children.
Author talks and workshops can be tailored to the unique needs of the organization or individuals, including interactive creative writing workshops in fiction and memoir, as well author presentations about Surviving Stutthof and/or Sisu's Winter War, writing historical fiction, and creative non-fiction.
Creative writing workshops allow students to develop skills through guided writing prompts to develop a story. Workshops can be tailored to suit the age and level of the students in consultation with the classroom teacher.
Students will participate in a creative writing workshop involving quick writes and a mini-lesson on a particular topic. Goals can be established with the teacher in advance according to students' needs and experiences. The focus may include short stories, poetry, non-fiction, and/or use of writers' craft techniques (sensory details, dialogues, show don't tell, slowing down time, character development, etc.).
