A Writer!
Gillian Richardson discovered she was a writer one day in 1985. On the phone, an editor said, “We’d like to publish your book, One Chance to Win.” Up to that moment, Gillian had thought of herself as a reader (a book-worm since about age 4), a teacher (showing others how to read and write) and a teacher-librarian (sharing other writers’ stories with her students). Having a first book published didn’t change all that, but it opened a new door to an exciting dream and a huge challenge – if one book was possible, could she write more? Ideas were everywhere, after all.
Books and More Books
Gillian has since written over 20 children’s books. They include nonfiction books about science and history that have won international awards. Her realistic chapter books and novels are stories about finding a sense of belonging, the rewards of helping someone of an older generation, and meeting the challenge of a serious illness. Her picture books show themes of honesty, being true to oneself, and understanding nature. She has also ventured into Ebook publishing with 3 illustrated titles: 2 chapter books and a collection of short stories.
Articles
Some ideas aren’t big enough to be books. Gillian has turned many smaller finds into children’s magazine stories and articles using nature as a focus. Combining research on animals such as foxes, pronghorn antelopes, porcupines, mountain goats, snowshoe hares, owls and grebes with a fictional dramatic survival moment is an especially fun and rewarding kind of writing. Nine of these stories have been published in Cricket, a top US children’s magazine.
Nature Writing
Animals that spend time upside down, and the tiniest of creatures became the subjects for articles that appeared in WILD, a Canadian nature magazine. Gillian’s article about Mt. St. Helens was published in a UK magazine, Aquila, on the 25th anniversary of that volcano’s 1980 eruption. She wrote about a variety of topics like cactus, solar energy, platypus, shells, crows and fingernails for KNOW, a Canadian science magazine for kids.
Teaching
For 13 years, she taught other adults to write for children as an Instructor for The Institute of Children’s Literature. As long as ideas are everywhere, Gillian hopes to keep rediscovering that she is a writer.
Gillian is one of the two original Robins in the group. She has been a member since 1984.
Contact Gillian at: tellgillian@telus.net
Visit Gillian at:
Here are all of Gillian’s children’s books. Click on a book cover to learn more about a book.
Saskatchewan Children's Writers' Round Robin 
Hello-
I am trying to purchase a copy of Rag Doll Rescue and was wondering if it is still being sold?
My daughter has lost her copy and is very upset.
Thank you very much for your time.
Carrie
Hello! I was hoping to connect you with some of my students through their Silverbirch Reading Club Blog. Please email me if you would be interested in sharing ideas, thoughts or reflections with some of your younger readers :o)
Zelia :o)
Hello Zelia,
Sounds like fun! Let me know more details at tellgillian@telus.net
Gillian
Dear Gillian,
After 15 years in the field of horticulture, and being laid off too many times during cold North Dakota winters, I got a an elementary teaching degree. I am now in my 25th year of teaching while still doing horticulture on the side. When a couple of boxes of non-fiction books made its way to my classroom several years ago I was quickly drawn to your book, 10 Plants that Shook the World. Prior to opening the cover, I chose to guess the 10 plants, scoring 8/10. I missed cinchona and pepper. Recently, I read that rice in the most consumed food on earth. Why not rice as one of the 10?
Sincerely,
Kim Schultz