Judith Benson

judithbenson@books4kids.ca

Late Bloomer

Although Judith’s love of reading came early, her opportunity to write came much later. In fact, not until she became a grandmother did she publish her first book: The Noise in Grandma’s Attic. In the meantime, she moved from Ann Arbor, Michigan to Manchester England and finally to Canada, where she became a Canadian citizen and completed 25 years of teaching elementary school, conducting writing workshops and traveling province-wide from Saskatoon to do author readings before retiring in 2002.

Jumping Genres

During the four years she’s spent writing her first intermediate level novel, Judith has edited an environmental teaching guide on Saskatoon’s Natural Grasslands, written fiction and non-fiction for Saskatchewan Learning, written and directed a twenty-one minute DVD called Saskatoon’s American Elms: A Legacy for the People and the Planet, and published nature articles and poems. Her second chapter book, Butterfly Gardens, was based on her experiences with school ecology clubs in which planting wildlife gardens was a major project. Her current project, an historical novel for 9-12 year olds, Emma of Many Disguises, is in progress with her editor.

Retirement Adventures

After her husband, Geoff, retired in 2008, they moved to Salmon Arm, British Columbia where new horizons beckon and old Saskatchewan friends visit. Her role of environmental activist continues in her new province. She encourages mature writers to pursue their dreams to write and publish and young writers to hone their literacy skills through the art of writing.

Long Distance Migration

She and another member of the Saskatchewan Round Robins, Gillian Richardson, another transplant to B.C., share their love of nature in the Shuswap and will travel across the Rockies and Prairies to meet with fellow Robins twice a year, in spring and fall. In between those migrations, Judith will carry on writing for children and enjoy gatherings with her son and daughter and her growing flock of grandchildren in Michigan.