MASC Young
Authors and
Illustrators
Festival
MASC Young Authors
and Illustrators
Festival is an annual
three-day literary
event which brings
award-winning
Canadian authors and
illustrators of
children’s books to Ottawa
every spring to work with
young aspiring artists and
writers. The event is filled
with literary activities
including workshops, author
readings, book signings and
more. Over the past 30 years,
the festival has proudly
featured many of Canada’s
literary icons including Tim
Wynne-Jones, Marie Louise
Gay, Kevin Sylvester, Melanie
Florence, Cary Fagan and
Sidney Smith. The Festival is
generously supported by
Eagle Professional
Resources, Canada Council
for the Arts and Ingenium.
Kassya (Murray) Ziegelmayer writes
of her experience attending the festival
as a young participant and later as a
teen volunteer.
“ For as long as I can remember, I have
had a passion for reading. My first
exposure to the MASC’s Young
Authors and Illustrators Festival was
in 2001 right before my third
birthday. My mother had attended
the opening ceremony and brought
me back a book that had been
personally signed by one of the
illustrators, Ruth Ohi. To this day,
her book is one of my favourite books!
Finally, in Grade 4, I had the great honour of
attending my first Young Authors & Illustrators
Festival and was really fortunate to be able to
attend every year through to the 8th grade. I
loved having the option to choose between a
wide range of authors and illustrators with
different knowledge, stories and experiences. I
looked forward to reading their books prior to the
festival, buying their books at the book fair and
getting them signed. I was more into writing and
was passionate about someday creating a
fictional novel for children to read.
When I was no longer able to attend as a
participant, I wanted to volunteer my time as a
high school student ‘Shadow’ (or artist assistant)
in the workshops. This was a whole new and
exciting experience. Being paired with an
illustrator or author for the day, I was able to get
to be in the workshops and also get to know
them a bit better. I remember feeling star struck
when I got to help out in Eric Wilson’s writing
workshop. I had also attended his workshop as a
student which really added to the experience of
working with him again as a young teen! This
volunteering opportunity gave me the ability to
see some of the creative things the kids attending
created as well.
I am so happy that young teens now have the
option to be able to continue to build on their
creativity through Your Story! If you are thinking
about becoming a future author or illustrator, or
you just like to write or draw for fun, I would
recommend checking out this wonderful event! “
Kassya Ziegelmayer
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