Booking Author Visits for Summer & Fall 2021

I have always been an avid reader and from a young age I wanted to be a writer. The thing is, it took me until my 20s to realize that being a professional writer was a possibility. When I was in elementary and high school, the closest I got to meeting a writer was getting Blue Jays outfielder, George Bell, to sign a copy of his book at a mall. Writers always felt inaccessible or, in some ways, mythical. The schools I attended made me feel it was smarter to pursue a career in accounting (trust me, you don’t want me anywhere near numbers) than one in writing movies or novels or for TV.

Introducing preteens and young adults to reading and getting them excited about books can be challenging. One of the best things you can do is invite an author to visit your classroom, even virtually, to discuss their novel, the ins and outs of a writing career and to offer some writing tips or even run some useful and fun writing exercises. At the very least, it can convince them of the value of writing on any level.

I’m always looking for classrooms and book clubs to visit. I’m happy to tailor something for your students or young readers and to make sure that the time is engaging and informative.

To learn if my YA novel, The Book of Sam, is right for your class or book club, you can read the review in the Canadian Review of Materials. You can also learn more about my novel on the Dundurn Press website.

If you’re interested in learning more, all you have to do is reach out via my contact us form.

Recipient of an Ontario Arts Council Grant for Writers

I am honoured to announce that I have received an Ontario Arts Council Grant for Writers. This grant will help support the creation of my latest YA novel.

My current manuscript might still be in the early stages but these grants really help move it forward. Organizations like the Ontario Arts Council are imperative in supporting Ontario writers to create new works. I encourage other writers to look into literary grants and apply if you meet the eligibility criteria.

While I work on my latest manuscript, you can check out my first YA novel, The Book of Sam, which is available wherever books are sold.

If you’re in Toronto, here are a few of my favourite local bookstores.

Queen Books

Another Story

Book City

Canadian Review of Materials Recommends The Book of Sam

The Canadian Review of Materials recently reviewed The Book of Sam. If you’re unfamiliar with this website, its mission is to review books for kids and young adults by Canadian authors and/or Canadian publishing houses. It’s an amazing resource for educators and librarians.

Here’s a snippet of what they had to say:

Rob Shapiro has created an action-packed coming of age story that will suck readers in with its charming characters and bountiful plot twists. The true charm of Shapiro’s story, however, is balance. He has managed to write a story that is balanced between character development and plot as well as action and rest. Sam’s development from a scared and shy teenager into a brave person of action is just as important as the action of the story, and the two rely upon each other to advance. In addition to this, the story is exciting and fast-paced, but not without its pauses for the characters to stop and open up to each other. Sam and Hollinshead’s burgeoning relationship is a delight to read, and these pauses are part of what allow the characters to develop in the way they do.

Check out the full review here.