• engage students in Canadian history with a lively, visually appealing presentation
• spark enthusiasm for writing
• focus on the immigrant experience with curricular tie-ins
• read a brief excerpt from one of her books
• reveal how family stories inspired her to write novels
• explore with students how family history can inspire their own stories
• unravel the process of publishing and book design
• include time for students to ask questions

St. Clement School, Grande Prairie, AB

"You inspired me by the way you brought your first draft. I learned that you can't write a good book like Second Watch without doing research."
Jessi, Grade 5

“I was extremely impressed with all aspects of Karen’s visit.  She was organized and I appreciated her e-mails with reminders about what she would need, and details like time and location of her presentation.  All of my grade five students had read Karen’s book “Second Watch” (2005) and were enraptured by it to say the least.  The grade five teachers at my school were very impressed by the quality of writing in Karen’s story.  “Second Watch” is an extremely powerful book with many curricular “ins”, including the theme of immigration.  Ms. Autio’s second book, “Saara’s Passage,” is being highly anticipated at Rutland Elementary as the students anxiously await the fall publishing.

Karen was a very effective presenter. It was obvious that speaking to children is a passion of hers. She interacted with the students, talking about how she wrote her story, why reading was important and sharing some interesting facts about the curriculum along the way. Ms. Autio brought enlarged photographs of artifacts, pictures and copies of drafts and stories she had done in the past. She enraptured the students with her personal stories and experiences. The students were interested and engaged throughout her presentation.”

Sarah Parmar, Teacher-Librarian, Rutland Elementary School

"I love the history and how much detail you put into your book. It'll help me for when I write my own book and add the detail, history, and fiction like you had in your book!"
Sierra, Grade 6

"I learned that it's good to ask others about your writing when you're writing a book or story."
Allison, Grade 6

“I recently had the pleasure of hosting Mrs. Karen Autio at our school to speak to our Grade 5 students. Mrs. Autio spoke to the children about her book, Second Watch, which focuses on immigration in Canada and the sinking of the Canadian Pacific ship, the Empress of Ireland. Mrs. Autio also shared her journey as a writer and the process she follows as she creates a story. Her presentation kept the students enthralled and prompted many interesting and thoughtful questions.

The children and teachers were equally fascinated with her story and with her presentation. Mrs. Autio interacted well with the students, was well-prepared and conveys her passion for the topic.

I would not hesitate to invite Mrs. Autio back to our school for another visit in the future. We cannot keep Second Watch on the library shelf and the students are eagerly awaiting the release of the sequel!”

"Thank you for coming!! I loved it when you got us going with reading some of the story!! THANK YOU!!"
Shyan, Grade 5

"On April 2, the intermediate students and staff of Ellison Elementary attended an hour long presentation by local author, Karen Autio. Ms. Autio wrote Second Watch, an historical fiction novel about the tragic 1914 sinking of the Empress of Ireland. During the presentation she spoke about what it takes to become a published author, how Second Watch came to be, researching historical settings and events and the process of book cover design. 
Students were captivated by the selection she chose to read from her novel and were left with the strong desire not only to get their hands on a copy of Second Watch, but also to do their own research about this largely forgotten event."

Ellison Elementary School May 2007 Newsletter: Library News – Author Visit