Catherine Austen
Creative Writing
About Me
I’m an author of books for children and teens, short stories for adults, and reports for corporate clients. I’m also an avid reader, an animal-lover, a quilter, a flat-water kayaker, and a mother/ wife/ sister/ friend of many wonderful people. My favourite things in the world…
My Books
I’ve written two picture books, two middle-grade comedies, and two serious novels for children and teens. (Well, I’ve written many more books, but I’ve published just those six.) I also write short fiction for adults and hope to gather a collection one day. For…
Workshops
I’ve given presentations and writing workshops at schools and libraries across Canada, and at conferences and events including The Word on the Street, the SCBWI Canada East Regional Conference, MASC Young Authors’ and Illustrators’ Festival, the Blue Met Children’s Festival, TD Children’s Book Week,…
MYAIF: More Fun for Young Writers in Ottawa/Gatineau
[Updated March 18th 2022] Hey kids, I know you’re hustling to get your poems, stories, and graphic narratives finished in time to enter the Ottawa Public Library’s Awesome Authors Youth Writing contest. Some of you might even be prepping for tomorrow’s Awesome Author teen…
Launching Squirrels
November 17 Update: Thanks to everyone who attended the virtual launch of When the Squirrels Stole my Sister. I loved seeing all your faces and having your company to celebrate the book. (And I think we all drew some fabulous squirrels, thanks to Sean!)…
Halloween Student Stories
It’s almost Halloween. To build the spooky atmosphere — and also to encourage creative writing — I’m offering these nine read-alouds, spooky stories written by students aged 11-17, all featured on my Cabin Tales podcast last October. They range from silly fun to gory…
Catherine Austen 