Pictou-Antigonish Regional Library
Monica Graham is a freelance journalist and photographer. She has written for the Halifax Chronicle Herald since 1996. Monica's writing and photos have been published regularly in The Chronicle Herald and The Nova Scotian (included in the Sunday Herald), and less often in Rural Delivery, The Pictou Advocate, The Trident, Food Safety & Quality, Atlantic Beef, Atlantic Fisherman, and other trade journals as well as online. One of her short stories appears in the anthology Christmas in the Maritimes.
Monica has written five history books to date, with a sixth ready for release in the spring of 2012. Her seventh and eighth non-fiction books are in the planning and research stages.
She is a member of the Writers Federation of Nova Scotia (WFNS), the Writers Union of Canada and of the WFNS's Writers in the Schools program. As a member of the Writers in the Schools programs, Monica has conducted writing workshops in elementary schools. She prefers a "learn to do by doing" approach, using games, images, and hands-on exercises to encourage writing and story-telling, and to persuade participants to clarify their ideas and opinions and then write them down. The workshops also cover the five Ws, the distinction between fiction and non-fiction, and how to "cheat" by using tools like a Thesaurus and a dictionary. Monica has also given also story-telling and memoir-writing workshops to adult literacy and seniors' groups. Methods and sessions depend on the ages and abilities of the participants, and may include a reading from her work. Monica has provided one-on-one writing mentoring to children and adults, and has read manuscripts and offered advice when asked to do so by students and budding writers.
In her spare time, Monica co-manages a woodlot. She is an active member of the Pictou Historical Photograph Society (www.pictouphotos.ca), and has given presentations to several Pictou County genealogy and historical societies, local school classes, and library programs on special topics of historical research and local interest. Monica writes liturgy for religious worship, and has served two terms as volunteer board chairwoman for the Diocesan Times (Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island newspaper).
She's also been a part-time assistant postmaster, and a counselor for non-profit groups assisting people with disabilities, and volunteered as a general and project leader for 4-H, a Girl Guide leader, a Scouts Canada group committee member, the Canadian Ski Patrol System and with Pictou County Continuous Learning Association (PicCOLA).
Just for fun, Monica sings in two choirs, reads murder mysteries, and paints. She also skis, swims, snowshoes, paddles, cycles, hikes, gardens, collects rocks, and enjoys other outdoor activities.
Monica lives in Sundridge, Pictou County.
2008 - Berton House Retreat, residency program for established writers. ( //www.bertonhouse.ca/en/alumni.html )
1995 - Atlantic Community Newspaper Association, for general interest column.
1994 - Canadian Community Newspaper association, for centennial history of The Pictou Advocate
1991 - Canadian Community Newspaper Association, for best Christmas story.
