Rita Feutl has been a writer since she was seven, when she finally learned enough English (as a second language) to string sentences together. After that, she could barely take her nose out of books while she was growing up in Toronto.

With an M.A. in Journalism, Rita has published a variety of articles in newspapers and magazines, including The Globe & Mail, the Toronto Star, the National Post, the Edmonton Journal, and others. She also edits books and websites on a contract basis. As a researcher and writer, she has produced a wonderful historical fiction novel for ages 8 and up called Rescue at Fort Edmonton, now on the Authorized Resource List of Alberta Learning's Grade 4 social studies curriculum.

Teachers may wish to reinforce the learning experience with the Rescue at Fort Edmonton Teacher's Study Guide, which includes activities, background information and assessment tools. Classes studying Alberta and Edmonton history will enjoy hearing about some of Alberta's exciting historical figures, including Wop May, Emily Murphy and Chief Factor John Rowand. They'll also learn how nuggets of personal and historical facts can be woven together to create great fiction. See http://coteaubooks.com/index.php?p=Author&authorid=81 for more information.

Rescue at Fort Edmonton, Coteau Books, 2004. Rescue at Fort Edmonton is now on the Authorized Resource List of Alberta Learning's Grade 4 social studies curriculum. It was chosen for the 2010 Edmonton Journal Newspapers in Education book for serialization. Teachers may wish to reinforce the learning experience with the Rescue at Fort Edmonton Teacher's Study Guide, which includes activities, background information and assessment tools.

Rescue at Fort Edmonton Teacher's Study Guide Coteau Books, 2006, with Diane Linden

”And I Won't Blow Your House Down”, Sightlines 10, Prentice Hall Canada, 2000

Lines and Connections, Alberta Anthology: The Best of CBC's Alberta Anthology for 2005, Red Deer Press, 2005

Editor, Kids' Healthy Cooking, Company's Coming Publishing Limited, 2006

Editor, Trio: Decorating With Glass Vases, Nawrocki Holdings Ltd., 2006

Editor, Cooking at Home, Company’s Coming Publishing Limited, 2007

Project manager, Focus Series: Apple Appeal; Berries & Cream; Carrot Craze; Chicken Breast Finesse; Chilled Thrills; Chocolate Squared; Coffee Cake Classics; Cookie Jar Classics; Cranberry Cravings; Dip, Dunk & Dab; Easy Roasting; Fab Finger Food; Fruit Squared; Hearty Soups; Hot Bites: Lemon Lime Zingers; Mushroom Magic; Salads to Go; Shrimp Delicious; Simmering Stews; Simply Vegetarian; Sips; Skewered, So Strawberry; Splendid Spuds; Steak Sizzle; Sweet Dreams; That`s a Wrap; Tomato Temptations; Tossed; Warm Desserts and Zucchini Zone, Company`s Coming Publishing Limited, 2007-2010.

Room Enough for Daisy, Orca Book Publishers, tentative publishing date, fall 2011, with Debby Waldman

Author Visit (Grades 3-7): Rita talks about she combined historical and personal facts to create a novel in which a 12-year-old kid explores Alberta's past. Rita will bring to life the tales of Wop May's Mercy Flight to northern Alberta, Emily Murphy's part in the Famous Five and Hudson Bay Chief Factor John Rowand's journey from Montreal as a 13-year-old looking for work on the North Saskatchewan River.

Setting the Scene Writing Workshop (Grades 4 - 7): Using authentic historical photographs, Rita works with students to create a rich, sensory scene with characters ready to tell a story.

Character Builder Workshop (Grade 4 - 7): Rita presents her Character Builder techniques to help students create interesting characters with motives and desires. Sparks fly when characters meet and a story develops!