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Laura Langston

Author

3680 Elliston Avenue
Victoria, B.C.
V8X 1R8 Phone: 250-386-1593
Email: langston@telus.net
Web: www.lauralangston.com

Born: Victoria, B.C.
Husband Barry Nazarko, daughter Tlell, son Zachary

Biography

Laura wanted to be a writer by the time she was in Grade Four. But she'd never met a real, live writer before and couldn't figure out how to make a living telling stories. So, two weeks out of high school, she became a bank teller. Unfortunately, she's lousy with numbers and she was terrified the bank was going to be robbed.

Since she loves to talk, is basically nosy and still wanted to write, she studied and then traveled to Winnipeg where she became a journalist for the CBC. Journalists are supposed to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Which, Laura wants to assure everyone, she did. However, the urge to tell the story behind the facts wouldn't go away. So, when her first child was born and she moved back to Vancouver Island, she began to write.

She and her family live with an overfed Beagle who steals food, a feral cat who retrieves oak leaves instead of mice, and a lizard named Freddy who eats live crickets. In spite of the chaos, Laura produces a wide variety of material for both children and adults including novels, picture books, non-fiction books and the occasional article for Canadian Gardening Magazine.

Published Works

Exit Point Orca Book Publishers, 2006
Mile-High Apple Pie Random House, 2004
Remember, Grandma? Random House, 2004
Lesia's Dream HarperTrophy Canada, 2003
A Taste of Perfection Stoddart Kids, Fitzhenry & Whiteside Distributors, 2002
The Fox's Kettle Orca Book Publishers, 1998
The Magic Ear Orca Book Publishers, 1995
Pay Dirt! The Search for Gold in British Columbia Orca Book Publishers, 1995
No Such Thing As Far Away Orca Book Publishers, 1994

Awards

"Lesia's Dream" winner of the Kobzar Literary Award. Also shortlisted for The Rocky Mountain Book Award, the Snow Willow Award, The Manitoba Young Readers' Choice Award.

"Mile-High Apple Pie" a CBC-NCSS Notable Studies Book for young people.
Nominated for the Cilip Kate Greenaway Medal
Shortlisted for the 2006 Blue Spruce Award

"A Taste of Perfection" Recommended, New York City Public Library Books for Teens, 2003 List
"The Fox's Kettle", Outstanding, Canadian Children's Book Centre; Governor General Award Nominee, Illustration
"Pay Dirt!" Our Choice, Canadian Children's Book Centre; shortlisted for both the Red Cedar and Silver Birch awards

Available For

Author talks, readings, workshops, all ages.