VIVIEN
BOWERS

Bio

Vivien Bowers was born in Vancouver, Canada in 1951, the second of four children. She received a B.A. in English (honours) from the University of British Columbia followed by a teaching certificate, and was a grade 5 teacher for several years in Nelson, BC. Vivien has been a freelance writer for more than twenty-five years, writing elementary and secondary school materials, as well as non-fiction books and magazine articles for both adults and children. She has been invited to do presentations on her children's books in hundreds of schools and libraries across the country. Bowers has two sons, now grown up, and lives at the base of the mountains outside of Nelson,BC. She loves to escape into the wilderness to ski, hike or canoe.

Awards

Winner

• 2007 Canadian Science Writers Association "Science in Society" journalism award, children book
• 2002 Red Cedar Book Award
• 2002 Hackmatack Children's Choice Award
• 2000 Information Book Award
• 2000 BC Book Prize (Sheila A. Egoff Children's Award)
• 1998 Canadian Science Writers Association "Science in Society" journalism award for children's book
• 1982 Western Magazine Award

Finalist

• 2009 Red Cedar Book Award
• 2008 Hackmatack Children's Choice Book Award
• 2008 Diamond Willow Award
• 2006 Silver Birch Award
• 2005 Red Cedar Book Award
• 2004 Banff Mountain Book Festival award for mountain literature
• 2004 Independent Publisher Book Award, Environment/EcologyNature
• 2004 Rocky Mountain Book Award
• 2004/5 Red Cedar Book Award
• 2003/4 (Saskatchewan) Diamond Willow Award
• 2000 Mr. Christie Award
• 2000 Libris Award for Non-Fiction
• 2000 Canadian Science Writers Association Award
• 2000 Red Cedar Award
• 1998 Silver Birch Award (Ontario Library Association)
• 1998 Western Magazine Award

List of Publications

Adult Books

In the Path of an Avalanche: A True Story.
Greystone Books, 2003.
Sample Writing

Children's Trade Books

Crime Science: How Investigators Use Science to Track Down the Bad Guys
OwlKids Books/Maple Tree Press, 1997. (Canadian Science Writers Association Award) and the revised edition: Crime Scene: How Investigators Use Science to Track Down the Bad Guys.
Sample Writing

Wow Canada: Exploring this Land From Coast to Coast to Coast
OwlKids Books/Maple Tree Press, 1999. (Information Book Award, BC Book Prize, Red Cedar Award, Hackmatack Children's Choice Award) Sample Writing

Only in Canada! From the Colossal to the Kooky
OwlKids Books/Maple Tree Press, 2002.
Sample Writing

That's Very Canadian! An Exceptionally Interesting Report About All Things Canadian, by Rachel.
OwlKids Books/Maple Tree Press, 2004.
Sample Writing

Crazy About Canada! Amazing Things Kids Want to Know.
OwlKids Books/Maple Tree Press, 2006.
Sample Writing

Hey Canada!
Tundra Books, 2012.
Sample Writing

Textbooks and Other Educational Materials

• Regular contributor of articles to "What in the World?", a monthly current events newletter produced by LesPlan Educational Services Limited, Victoria, BC, and distributed across Canada. Also, author of cartoon feature for "Canadian Reader," a similar publication designed for younger students.
  
  
• Six Grade 7 Science distance education modules for the B.C. Ministry of Education, Distance Education Branch, 1998: Astronomy, Earth's Crust, Environmental Chemistry, Energy, Ecology and Life Cycles.
  
  
• Four Grade 4 distance education modules for the B.C. Ministry of Education, Distance Education Branch, 1996 and 1997: Crossing Canada (East & West), Solving Problems, Travelling.
  
  
• British Columbia. Grade 4 book, Canadian Provinces Series. Lerner Publications Ltd., Minneapolis, 1995
  
  
• Science Probe 8 and Science Probe 9 (2nd eds.) 30 1-page features on science-related topics for these Grade 8 and 9 texts orginally published by John Wiley & Sons Canada, 1993; re-published by Nelson Canada.
  
  
• Personal Growth: Humanities Resource Book (Primary &: Intermediate). 37 lesson plans for implementing the B.C. "Learning for Living" (health/guidance) curriculum. Written for GT Publishing Services Ltd. for the B.C. Ministry of Education, 1990.
  
  
• Nelson Intermediate Atlas: Teacher Resource Book. 20 lesson plans for grades 4-7. For GT Publishing Services Ltd. Published by Nelson Canada, 1990.
  
  
• More Than Meets the Eye: multicultural unit (Grade 5) for Alternatives to Racism Society, published by Pacific Educational Press, University of British Columbia, 1989.
  
  
• Science & Technology 11: Space Technology Module (Grade 11) for GT Publishing Services Ltd. on contract to the B.C. Ministry of Education, 1988.
  
  
• Our Land: Building the West (Grade 10) for Gage Educational Publishing, 1987 (co-author).
  
  
• Canada: Learning from the Past, Looking to the Future (Explorations Series: Grade 5) for Douglas & McIntyre (Educational) Ltd., 1985 (co-author).

Magazine Articles

• "Avalanche!" (Canadian Geographic March/April 94, reprinted in Doctor's Review, Ski Canada) Sample Writing
  
  
• "Mum, Daughters and Mud on the West Coast Trail" (Beautiful British Columbia, Summer 95)
  
  
• "Women Who Climb Walls" (Beautiful British Columbia, Spring 97) Sample Writing
  
  
• "Glacier Trek" (Ranger Rick, August 97)
  
  
• Winner, 1982 Western Magazine Award; Finalist, 1998 Western Magazine Award
  
  
• Member, Periodical Writers Association of Canada
  
  
• Instructor, community college magazine writing courses

Radio

• Co-host of Kootenay Co-op Radio's "Osprey Outlook," a show that interviews volunteers who contribute to the local community.
  
  
• Contributor to CBC Almanac program as a member of the "Wilderness Panel."