AnnickPress

Hazel Hutchins is an award-winning novelist and a wryly entertaining chronicler of modern family life. As a child, Hazel remembers that her mother read to the children every day and her father recited poetry. She grew up “on the farm” in southern Alberta, a setting that shows up in her picture book One Duck (1999).

She later moved to join her husband in the Rockies, where the local history, the joys of skiing and the energy of three growing children contributed her books. Her active imagination uses both real life and magic to move stories in humorous and enlightening ways.

Hazel initially writes her stories in longhand, then edits and prints them on a computer. “Always write about the things you're intrigued by, not just things you know,” she advises. “Don’t talk about your stories, write them! And don't be discouraged: it takes time to be a good writer.” Hazel likes to travel and visit schools, and her lively presentations have delighted children across Canada. Whether she’s working on a story about a family ski outing or a fantasy novel, Hazel is devoted to writing: “I like words, how they sound and feel. I love the way ideas in fiction open so many doors in my mind. The most rewarding part is making the words say exactly what I want. When that happens, it’s wonderful!”

Hazel has written over 30 books for children and young adults and has received numerous awards for her work. The List (2007), is a charming tale of heartwarming truth. Hazel is also the author of Sarah and the Magic Science Project (2005), an enchanting tale for adventurous readers about magic and science, and Beneath the Bridge (2004), a gentle, humorous story for the very young. Mattland (2008), written in collaboration with her friend, Gail Herbert, won the 2009 Alberta Literary Award and was included in the Ontario Library Association’s Best Bets List as well as the Canadian Children’s Book Centre’s Best Books for Kids & Teens, 2009. Her latest title, Together (2009), combines the best features of Hazel’s writing: a simple, lyrical text that is completely tuned in to a child’s world.

Today, Hazel lives in Canmore, Alberta. Her three grown children are off exploring the world but still show up in Hazel’s books (and in real life!) from time to time.

Hazel frequently does presentations for elementary schools. In an engaging and energetic manner, she reads from her stories and talks about getting ideas, creating characters, and coming up with great endings. She brings examples of rewriting, printer's sheets that help to illustrate how books “come together,” and objects related to research.