Information on School Visits

Click here to book a school visit 

Who I am

  • Bio
  • My name is Alessia Dickson and I am an award winning author and motivational speaker. Since publishing my young adult novel, The Crystal Chronicles at age sixteen I've been interviewed for CBC television, newspapers, magazines, and have inspired more than 30,000 students across 70 schools in Ontario. In 2017, I received the Order of Vaughan from the mayor, Maurizio Bevilacqua, for my work in the arts and the grand prize for the Purple Dragonfly Book Awards, which recognizes excellence in children's literature. In 2018, I worked alongside Eric Walters for Vaughan Teen Read Week and released my second book, The Crystal Chronicles and The Lost Temple, in 2019. Currently, I tour elementary and high schools across Ontario during the school year for author presentations and attend Ryerson University while working on my third book, The Sunken City. 

The Crystal Chronicles​

About The Book
  •  Ages - 10 and up 
  • Genre - Young Adult Fiction
  • Synopsis - The Crystal Chronicles follows the story of sixteen-year-old Alyssa Brooks who discovers she possesses magical powers and belongs to a supernatural race called Elementals, who control earth, air, fire, and water. As Alyssa discovers that the fate of the world is hanging in the balance, she sets off on a journey with her friends to collect four magical crystals scattered around the world. Together these four crystals make a powerful weapon needed to defeat the Society – an evil group of Elementals trying to destroy humanity. The Crystal Chronicles is often compared to international sensations such as Harry Potter, and Percy Jackson.
  • Educational Value -The book is great for students because each book in the series takes place in a new country. It’s a great way for students to learn about new cultures, international lore, and history.

Gym Presentation 

Breakdown
  • Duration - 1 hour
  • Setting - Gymnasium
  • Equipment - laptop, projector screen
  • Grades - 4-12
  • First 30 mins - personal introduction, explanation of the writing process including plotting, character development, editing, obstacles, and publication. Also includes writing advice and tips as well as a full synopsis about the book.
  • Last 30 mins -  a question and answer period for the audience and a fifteen minute period at the very end for book sales.Purchased books include a bookmark and a personalized signature to the student's name.

In Classroom Writing Workshop

Breakdown
  • Duration - 1 hour 
  • Setting - classroom, library, or gym
  • Equipment - laptop, projector screen
  • Grades - 4 - 12
  • First 25 mins - introduction, how to build plots, characters and dialogue.  
  • Last 35 mins - student writing period where I circulate the classroom and answer individual questions and offer personalized feedback. There is a voluntary sharing period at the end where students can read some of the work to the class. 
  • Alessia can also integrate specific classroom material into workshops. For example, many classes will be reading a certain novel or focusing on poetry or story writing.

Impact on Students

The Inspiration
  • When Alessia started The Crystal Chronicles, she was in grade five. She wrote the bulk of the book in grades 6, 7, and 8, and later published it in high school. Since her writing career started so young, many students can relate to Alessia's journey and young age.
  • However, Alessia realizes that many students are not writers or creatives. During each presentation, Alessia highlights diversity and the importance for students to follow their passions, no matter what sort of passion they possess. She especially focuses on how passion and persistence can get you anywhere, and how age is truly just a number.
  • Students always leave Alessia's presentations excited to read and write. Most importantly, students leave motivated to pursue their own interests in their own lives.

Pricing

Price breakdown (taxes included)
  • Gym presentation - $ 250
  • In Classroom workshop - $ 100
  • Virtual Author Visit - $60
  • Paperback price for school book sales - $ 20
  • Book Deal - 2 books for $35

Available Grants and Subsidies for Schools

Picture
As a proud member of the Writers Union of Canada, all schools in Ontario are eligible to apply for the Ontario Writers-In-the-Schools program. Funded by the Ontario Arts Council this allows schools to be granted subsidies to make author visits more affordable for financially pressed schools.The subsidies are as follows:

For a full-day visit, TWUC pays the first $200 of my author fee.
For a half-day visit, TWUC pays the first $150 of my author’s fee.

Click here for my TWUC profile:

 www.writersunion.ca/member/alessia-dickson

This program is run on an application basis. To apply for the subsidy for your school please see the following link:

 www.writersunion.ca/ontario-writers-schools

How to Book a Visit and Questions

Booking and Further Questions
  • Alessia would love the chance to come speak to your students! To book a school or for related inquiries, please see the contact form.

Previously Visited Schools 

# 77 Boxwood Public School - 2019

# 76 St. Peter Catholic School - 2019

# 75 St. Andrew Catholic School - 2019

# 74 St. Joan of Arc Catholic School - 2019

# 73 St. Agnes of Assisi Catholic School - 2019

# 72 Elders Mills Catholic School - 2019

# 71 San Marco Catholic School - 2019

# 70 Corpus Christi Catholic School - 2019

# 69 St. Stephen Catholic School - 2019

# 68 Pope Francis Catholic School - 2019

# 67 St. Cecilia Catholic School - 2019

# 66 St. Benedict Catholic School - 2019

# 65 St. Anthony Catholic School - 2019

# 64 Glenn Shields Public School - 2019

# 63 Associated Hebrew Schools Kamin Campus - 2019

# 62 Anne Frank Public School - 2019

# 61 Julliard Public School - 2019

# 60 St. Padre Pio Catholic School - 2018

# 59 Father Henry Carr Catholic High School - 2018

# 58 St Mary Catholic School - 2018

# 57 Pleasantville Public School - 2018

# 56 Sacred Heart Catholic School - 2018

# 55 St. Julia Billiart Catholic School - 2018

# 54 Wismer Public School - 2018

# 53 St. Cecilia Catholic School - 2017

# 52 Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic School - 2017

# 51 Louise Arbor Secondary School - 2017

# 50 Lorna Jackson Public School - 2017

#49 St. Raphael the Archangel Catholic School - 2017

# 48 St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Catholic School - 2017

# 47 St. David Catholic School - 2017

# 46 St. John the Baptist Catholic School - 2017

# 45 St. Nicholas Catholic School - 2017

# 44 Michael Cranny Public School - 2017

# 43 Roberta Bondar Public School - 2017

# 42 Blessed Trinity Catholic School - 2017

# 41 Immaculate Conception Catholic School - 2017

# 40 Our Lady of Fatima Catholic School - 2017

# 39 St. Agnes of Assisi Catholic School - 2017

# 38 St. Veronica Catholic School - 2017

# 37 St. Gabriel Catholic School - 2017

# 36 St. Catherine of Siena Catholic School - 2017

# 35 St. Joseph Catholic School - 2017

A big thank you to the grade 4's amazing artwork and poems inspired by The Crystal Chronicles!! It was so incredibly humbling to walk in and see a wall of art inspired by TCC!! Also a big hug to all the amazing students who gave me some fanart and cards!! Those are truly the things that matter. Much love to you all <3 <3

# 34 Ventura Park Public School - 2017

# 33 Father John Kelly - 2017

# 32 St. Mary of the Angels - 2017

# 31 Boxwood Public School - 2017

# 30 Markham Gateway Public School - 2017

# 29: W.J Watson Public School - 2017

# 28: R.L. Graham Public School - 2017

# 27: St. Rene Goupil Catholic School - 2017

# 26: Glen Gould Public School - 2017

# 25: Guardian Angel Catholic Elementary School - 2017

# 24: Forest Run Public School - 2017

I visited Forest Run Public school to talk to their grades 5-8 students. I had so much fun because we actually filmed my CBC interview in their library! Thanks guys!

# 23: Nellie McClung Public School - 2017

# 22: Romeo Dallaire Public School - 2017

Well everyone 2017 has started off with a bang! On I recently travelled to Romeo Dallaire public school, along with a camera man from CBC news. My presentation at their school will be featured on TV with me in the next few weeks. A huge thank you to the incredible students who showed great respect not only to the camera man but also to me! You were an incredible audience, I can't wait to see it all on TV! Stay tuned for the air date, I will be announcing it very soon. 

# 21: Pierre Berton Public School - 2016

# 20: Teston Village Public School - 2016

# 19: St. Andrew Catholic School - 2016

# 18: Pierre Elliott Trudeau High School - 2016

# 17: St. Emily Catholic School - 2016

# 16: Saint Gregory the Great Catholic School - 2016

# 15: Saint Margaret Mary Catholic School - 2016

# 14: Saint Angela Merci Catholic School - 2016

# 13: John Bosco Catholic School - 2016

# 12: Vellore Woods Public School - 2016

# 11: Aurora High Secondary School - 2016

# 10: San Marco Catholic School - 2016

# 9: Pine Grove Public School - 2016

# 8: St. Stephens Catholic School - 2016

# 7: Elders Mills Public School - 2016

# 6: Fossil Hill Public School - 2016

# 5: Woodbridge Public School - 2016

# 4: Kleinburg Public School - 2016

# 3: Holy Spirit Catholic School - 2016

Picture
 On May 16th 2016 I visited Holy Spirit Catholic elementary school as a guest author! A big thanks to all the kids and the staff who made this day possible! 

# 2: St. Joan of Arc Catholic Secondary School - 2016

On April 21st 2016 I visited St. Joan of Arc Catholic school as a teen author! I spent the day talking to the kids and I met so many wonderful staff and students! Thank you SJA!

 # 1: Our Lady of Fatima Catholic School - 2016

I visited OLF for their book fair back in February just days after my book was released. It is incredible to go back to my old elementary school after graduating in 2013. OLF is very special to me because The Crystal Chronicles was born in their classrooms and was developed out in their schoolyard. I remember it so well!! A big thank you to my Fatima fam <3