Lanny's fascination with history began in grade seven, with a copy of Mary, Queen of Scots. Being Scottish, (maiden name Robertson), she fell in love with the story and its heroine. Soon she was devouring every book on queens in the library. That obsession led to a love of history, especially Canadian history.

An avid reader, Lanny employed her love of history during a three-year stint writing Edmonton Origins, a column which followed the adventures of the colourful characters who helped build Edmonton, for Our World Magazine 50.

In 2001, she indulged her interest in politics by running for town council in Gibbons, Alberta. To her amazement, she won. She is now in her second term.

A prairie girl, born and raised in Alberta, her first children's book, John Diefenbaker: The Outsider who Refused to Quit, was a labour of love. "I always knew John was loved on the prairies, but what I never really understood until researching this book is that to many people he was larger than life, a hero. So many people still speak of him with great fondness."

Lanny holds a diploma in Radio and TV Arts from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology as well as a certificate in Local Government, Municipal Management from the University of Alberta. She works as a freelance writer, doing health, environmental and family oriented stories for magazines such as Canadian Living, Canadian Family and Canadian Geographic. She also teaches writing for Edmonton Public Schools continuing education.

John Diefenbaker: The Outsider who Refused to Quit. Jackfruit Press, 2006 (www.jackfruitpress.com)

Mummies: All Wrapped Up. Sails Literacy, 2006. (www.sailsliteracy.co.nz/main.html)

Titanic: The Canadian Connection, 2006. (www.amazingstories.ca/start.php)

Forthcoming
Titanic: The Canadian Connection junior edition due fall 2008

Rebel Politicians due fall 2008

Building Faces due Spring 2008

All presentations run approximately 40 minutes with a 10 minute question and answer period. They include a reading and discussion of one of the various topics below.

Social Studies

Grades 4 to 9 - Titanic: The Canadian Connection - Did you know there were Canadians on board the Titanic? Famous Canadians including the president of our railway, a major with the Queen's Own Rifles, even an heir to the Molson fortune.

The Titanic sinking was one of the most captivating catastrophes in history. A tragedy which not only changed our world but also our perceptions of it; nothing will ever be unsinkable again. Titanic: The Canadian Connection junior edition, grades 4/5 reading level, due out soon.

Lanny will also bring some of her growing collection of Titanic memorabilia. Class worksheets are available on her website.

Grades 6 to 8 John Diefenbaker: The Outsider who Refused to Quit. Curriculum tie-in: The three levels of Government - which one meets your needs. (Note: I am also an elected local government politician.)

Creative Writing

Grades 1 to 3 - What is it like to be a writer? Using The Day the Elephant Ran Free, a work in progress, Lanny will lead the students in a discussion on the trials and wonders of being a non-fiction writer.

Grades 4 to 9 Using her non-fiction books as a backdrop, Lanny will discuss the importance of research, organisation, revising and editing. Includes a candid discussion on being a non-fiction writer.

Grades 4 to 6 - Building better story skeletons. Writing a story is difficult when you're not prepared. Using the students' own experiences, Lanny will show them how skeletons (simple outlines) can help their writing flow faster and easier. Includes a writing exercise and follow-up exercise.

Grades 5 to 9 Using Mummies: All Wrapped Up to kick start the process, Lanny will walk students through the mechanics of writing non-fiction informational reports. Includes group exercise.

Other suggestions as well as ideas for multi-day workshop available on her web site http://www.lannyboutin.com, under workshops.

John Diefenbaker: The Outsider who Refused to Quit
Edmonton Public Schools 2007 Notables List
Canadian Childrens Book Centre's best for 2007

Titanic: The Canadian Connection has received the 2006 Canadian Authors Association's Exporting Alberta Award.