Originally from Canada, Karmel Schreyer is one of Hong Kong's most accomplished children's authors. In addition to the children’s books Empress Emi-poo and Peek-a-Boo Street, and the ‘novelty’ books including Hong Kong Surprise and Crunchy Cockroach: Phonics Poems for Hong Kong Kids, she has written three young-adult novels: Naomi: The Strawberry Blonde of Pippu Town; A Singing Bird Will Come: Naomi in Hong Kong; and An Ordinary Courage: Naomi in Indonesia which chronicle the experiences of a typical ‘third culture’ teenager.When not writing stories, Karmel writes educational materials for primary-aged children in Asia, and non-fiction for a variety of publications throughout Asia and North America, including a weekly travel column and editorials for the Hong Kong Student Standard. In the summer of 2004, she was writer-in-residence at Wallace Stegner House in Eastend, Saskatchewan. She was contributing editor of Hong Kong Parents’ Journal and has been a featured writer at the MAN Hong Kong International Literary Festival.
“Family writing” has always been a special passion for Karmel. She found in motherhood a treasure trove of things to write about, as well as the motivation to chronicle her ancestors’ lives for her children (and cousins’ children). In 2007, her creative non-fiction history/memoir By the Banks of the Brokenhead: One life—and one summer—on the Canadian prairie, an account of her and her two young daughters’ experiences living on the family farmstead and growing a vegetable garden during the summer following the SARS outbreak in Hong Kong, was shortlisted for the Manitoba Historical Society Popular Fiction Book of the Year. Most recently, Karmel has been giving Lifewriting sessions though a variety of women’s groups and also offers “Lifewriting Parties” for people who are eager to get their personal and family stories in print before the opportunity passes by.
Her website is: www.karmelschreyer.com
Want to host one of Karmel's LifeWriting courses?
Drop her a line at:
kardar (at) netvigator (dot) com
Client Feedback from Karmel Schreyer’s Creative Writing / Lifewriting Courses
Karmel’s creative writing course offers a wealth of information about writing of all kinds. With [her] encouragement, several of us have gone on to have our work printed in local publications. She provides a thorough introduction to the world of the written word.
— Beth (Mid-Levels)
Karmel's writing sessions motivated me to submit to a local publication — and it was accepted! My first writing 'paycheck' almost paid off the cost of her course.
— Jane (Repulse Bay)
Karmel taught us about the all the various nitty-gritty aspects of writing and threw in a large dose of encouragement to move us to a new level in our work.
— Wendy (Southside)
Karmel's class gave me the confidence I needed to start writing again, and a better understanding of how to get published. Not only does she equip you with the basics to get you going, she helps you find a home for your chosen style of writing.
— Brooke (Parkview)
Karmel inspired everyone in her class by encouraging us to write about everything and showing us that there are many different ways of achieving publication. I believe we left realising that that is a writer in all of us!
— Fiona (Repulse Bay)
