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Andrea Torrey Balsara, http://www.torreybalsara.com

Author, Illustrator

 

Member profile details

First Name
Andrea Torrey
Last Name
Balsara
Province or Territory
Ontario
Craft
  • Author
  • Illustrator
Member Photo
Twitter
@torreybalsara
Instagram
@andreatorreybalsara
LinkedIn
@andreatorreybalsara
 

Professional information

Bio
Andrea Torrey Balsara is an award-winning children's and young adult author/illustrator and motivational speaker. Her passion is to empower children to think for themselves, to learn about the power and beauty of our diverse human family, and to walk the "Hero's Journey" in real life. Having struggled with mental health since childhood, she seeks to empower young people of all life experiences and diverse backgrounds through her writing, art, and presentations.

Initially training to be a stage actress in London, England, Andrea went on to become a sign language interpreter for several years until finally finding her creative home: writing and illustrating books for young people. Andrea’s presentations combine book readings, music (depending on the presentation), theatre, and discussion, all while weaving in elements of real-world empowerment that speak to youth where they are.

She lives in an old Victorian manor house with her husband and fur-family, where she can often be found in her cold attic of a work room, pretending to be the heroine from Jane Eyre as she writes and draws with frozen fingers. Visit Andrea at www.torreybalsara.com to book presentations and browse her books.
Available For
Writing and illustrating workshops for all ages, school presentations, Zoom presentations, child empowerment workshops, and Unity Rocks! interactive presentation.
School Visits
Writing and illustrating workshops for all ages, school presentations, Zoom presentations, child empowerment workshops, and Unity Rocks! interactive presentation.
Publications
PUBLISHING LOG:

The Nightingale’s Song (One Voice Press, 2018, picture book, author/illustrator*)
(*The publisher closed its doors shortly after publication in 2018-Republished through FriesenPress in 2019)
The Great & the Small (Common Deer Press, 2017, YA novel, author/illustrator)
Mouse Vacation (Ronsdale Press, 2016, picture book, illustrator)
Mouse Pet (Ronsdale Press, 2015, picture book, illustrator)
Jellybean Mouse (Ronsdale Press, 2014, picture book, illustrator)
Mouse Tales (Ronsdale Press, 2014, picture book, illustrator)
Greenbeard the Pirate Pig (First Ideas Publishing, 2013, picture book, author/illustrator*)
(*The company closed its publishing division in 2014—Republished through FriesenPress in 2016)
Freak of Nature (YARN Magazine, YA Review Network, 2011) short story, author

EDUCATIONAL MARKET:

The Present (Nitty Gritty Novels series, Pearson/Heinemann, 2009, YA novel)
The Wild Ones (Pearson/Heinemann, 2009)
Parker Shanahan: Survivor Against All Odds (Scholastic Canada, 2008, MG novel)
The Amazing Frankie (Pearson/Heinemann, 2008)
The Gift (Heinemann Education, 2006)
The Forty Coats Man (Heinemann Education, 2006)
Me, Dan and the Dragonfly (Heinemann Education, 2006)
Saving Zoop (Heinemann Education, 2005)
Awards
AWARDS LOG:

The Nightingale’s Song:
2018 Nautilus Book Award, silver

The Great & the Small:
2020 Page Turner Book Awards, shortlisted; won the Spectrum Audiobook prize
2018 Nautilus Book Awards, Silver
2018 Literary Classics, Eloquent Quill Award (top honours), Golds in Upper MG Adventure category and Special Interest-Epic category
2018 ScreenCraft Cinematic Book Competition, Semi-Finalist
2018 Moonbeam Book Award, Silver
2018 Purple Dragonfly Award, Silver
Spring 2018 Canadian Children’s Book Centre’s BEST BOOKS for Kids & Teens Magazine selection
2018 National Indie Excellence Awards, Finalist

Greenbeard the Pirate Pig:
2017 Eric Hoffer Book Awards, Finalist
2017 Gittle List Top Winner

Mouse Pet:
Spring 2016, Canadian Children’s Book Centre’s BEST BOOKS for Kids & Teens selection

Mouse Vacation:
Spring 2017, Canadian Children’s Book Centre’s BEST BOOKS for Kids & Teens selection

Freak of Nature:
2011 Pushcart Prize nominee
Other Memberships
SCBWI
PEN
CCBC
Writers Union of Canada
Writers' Community of Durham Region (WCDR)
Spirit of the Hills Writers Group (SOTH)
 

Member photo albums (2 Albums)