Biography
Marty writes books for kids, theatre for adults, and social media posts for fun. His bestselling thriller YA novel Haunted Hospital has won over reluctant readers across North America. It is available in print, electronic, and audio formats, as well as in French. A prolific creator with 23 published books, over 100 produced plays, and hundreds of radio and print articles, Marty is no stranger to the writing process. An improviser and veteran public speaker of over 20 years, Marty can engage any audience, whether they be wiggling Kindergarten kids or stoic high school students. He has presented thousands of sessions—both in-person and virtual—for audiences around the world, including Japan, London, Moscow, New York, Los Angeles, Cairo, Mexico, Washington, Chicago, Toronto, Whitehorse, Halifax, St. John’s, and remote Inuit communities across northern Canada. You can preview Marty’s novels on his website (www.martychan.com) or check out his writing tip YouTube videos (www.youtube.com/@Marty_Chan).
Session Information
For 2024 – 25, Marty is offering virtual and in-person sessions. Availability for in-person may be limited.
In Person
In-person Half Day: $600.00 plus GST for two 60 minutes sessions
In-person Full Day: $1200.00 plus GST for four 60 minute sessions
*Please see below for virtual rates
Grade Breakdown:
K – grade 2
Grade 3 – 4
Grade 5 – 6
Grade 7 – 9
Grade 10 – 12
Maximum audience size for presentations: 200
Maximum audience size for workshops: 30
In-Person Set Up Needs: Projector, two 6 ft long tables, microphone and stand.
Virtual
Single virtual session: $200.00 plus GST
Three virtual sessions: $500.00 plus GST
*Note: the sessions can be spread out over different days.
Author talks: 40-minute sessions with unlimited classes participating, but please follow the grade breakdown.
Writing Workshops: 40-minute sessions with up to 3 classes, following the grade breakdown.
Grade Breakdown:
K – grade 2
Grade 3 – 4
Grade 5 – 6
Grade 7 – 9
Grade 10 – 12
There is no maximum audience size for virtual author talks, but please adhere to grade breakdown.
Maximum audience size for workshops: up to 3 classes at once.
Virtual Set Up Needs: Zoom, Google Meet, or MS Teams. Teachers may need a volunteer to mute/unmute the microphone or relay responses via chat. If the camera can be on, that would be ideal as Marty will also rely on hand signals for responses.
Author Talks:
Folktales to Furry Tails (K – grade 2): Marty brings to life classic Chinese folktales with a combination of humour, tech magic, and audience participation. He’ll reveal the origin of the rainbow in China, the creation of the Chinese astrological calendar and the reason parents hand out money during Lunar New Year. He’ll also reveal the process behind his picture book True Story or his latest novel, Dragon on the Loose.
What’s the Big Idea? (Grade 3+): With 23 published works and over 100 plays, Marty has an array of anecdotes to map out the real-life origins of his works. He’ll share how elements of his life’s experiences gave him the big idea for his stories, and he’ll inspire kids to look to their own lives for their big ideas.
Workshops:
Story Starters (Grade 3+): Marty shares easy-to-apply techniques to help students break down picture prompts into story elements. He reveals strategies for taking even the dullest picture and turning it into an exciting story.
Cheat Code for Conflict (Grade 4+): Just as a video game has a cheat code to make the game easier to play, Marty has a code to make it easier to create conflict. He also demonstrates the various types of conflict students can inject into the middle of their stories.
Thrill Your Reader? (Grade 5+): Creepypastas, urban legends, and tales of terror are easy to write if you know the secret. Marty reveals the three critical elements of any thriller so that students can craft a jump scare or two in their scary stories.
* Marty also offers virtual residency programs and other workshops as well, but these are more effective in the winter/spring. If you’re interested in his STEM workshop (Secret Vault), an escape-room-styled treasure hunt that tests kids’ math knowledge, please contact him directly.
Bibliography
L’Hopital Hante (Haunted Hospital), Orca Books, 2024
Izzy Wong’s Nose for News, Orca Books, 2024
Dragon on the Loose, Orca Books, 2024
Cosplay Crime, Orca Books, 2024
Final Cut, Orca Books, 2022
Willpower, Orca Books, 2022 (Junior Library Guild Selection)
Kylie the Magnificent, Orca Books, 2021
Haunted Hospital, Orca Books, 2020 (Junior Library Guild Selection)
Kung Fu Master, Orca Books, 2019
The Ehrich Weisz Chronicles: Metamorphosis, Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2019 (nominated for an Aurora Award for Best Young Adult Novel)
Keepers of the Vault: Shadow and Spell, Clockwise Press, 2017
Keepers of the Vault: Fire and Glass, Clockwise Press, 2016
Keepers of the Vault: Melody and Myth, Clockwise Press, 2016
The Ehrich Weisz Chronicles: Infinity Coil, Fitzhenry and Whiteside, 2015 (nominated for an Aurora Award for Best Young Adult Novel)
Barnabas Bigfoot: The Bone Eater, Thistledown Press, 2013
The Ehrich Weisz Chronicles: Demon Gate, Fitzhenry and Whiteside, 2013
Barnabas Bigfoot: A Hairy Tangle, Thistledown Press, 2012
The Forbidden Phoenix, Playwrights Canada Press, 2012 (Winner of the Gwen Pharis Ringwood Award for Drama)
Barnabas Bigfoot: A Close Shave, Thistledown Press, 2011
The Forbidden Phoenix, Playwrights Press, 2011
The Mystery of the Cyber Bully, Thistledown Press, 2010
True Story, Ink Jockey Press, 2009
The Mystery of the Mad Science Teacher, Thistledown Press, 2008
The Mystery of the Graffiti Ghoul, Thistledown Press, 2006 (winner of the 2007 Diamond Willow Award)
The Mystery of the Frozen Brains, Thistledown Press, 2004 (Winner of the 2004 City of Edmonton Book Prize)
Mom, Dad, I’m Living with a White Girl, Playwrights Press, 2001
Reviews
“We were honored to be able to share a few days with Marty Chan. He came into our schools and talked to students and teachers about writing. Teachers were thrilled to see him connect with the students in grades 3-5, sharing about his story the The Mystery of the Mad Science Teacher. Students are still talking about him 2 weeks later. You could hear a pin drop during his presentation, for students in grades 6-8. They were hanging on his every word as he shared how he came up with the idea for, Keepers of the Vault, Fire and Glass. We hope to have Marty back again to share with more teachers and students his love for writing.”
“We were all so thrilled to have Marty Chan present at our library this fall! Marty is an excellent speaker and presenter; he is a natural storyteller with the innate ability to captivate an audience and hold their attention. We were very impressed by how Marty was able to connect to the students at their level; everyone found his stories intriguing and hilarious. They were awed by the magic tricks and loved the interactive elements of his presentation. Students left inspired with huge smiles on their faces!”
“Marty engaged a very difficult group of junior high students the ENTIRE presentation. We have never had a presenter come in who was able to capture and hold their attention. This was awesome. Students were even commenting on their way out the room how amazing he was. It was so great to hear them excited about something related to learning. Students were talking about his presentation for days after. The students say he was the best author they have ever seen.”
“I had the privilege of sitting in on Marty’s Div 2 and Div 3 presentations, and both were equally excellent with each presentation specifically tailored for the target group. In both settings, he held a captivated audience and had the students hanging with bated breath for his next word. If students got one thing out of his presentation it was the power of words. In particular, I don’t remember the last time I saw a room full of Junior High students so thoroughly engaged and entertained, all without the presence of any electronics.”