A woman and a young girl sitting on a chair reading a book together, smiling and enjoying a moment of shared reading.

That’s me, on my mother's lap. It’s hard to say which was more important, the book or her lap. If you get both, the world can be a wonderful place. That’s why I write for kids.

Some people call me the Disaster Queen. I do put my characters in pretty scary situations, but the truth is, the events in my books really happened. Those events are part of Canadian history.

My first book, Terror at Turtle Mountain (an account of Canada's deadliest rock slide) grew out of an oral tale, told by someone who knew someone who had survived the disaster. It was such an exciting story, until one student said, “Canadian history is boring.” Boring?

I was determined to prove otherwise.

Simple line drawing of a happy cartoon character with an open mouth, with three small circles above its head representing the telling of stories.

A portrait of the author telling stories. Clinton, age 5

I grew up in Toronto, going on to study literature at Trinity College, University of Toronto. After attending the Toronto School of Storytelling, I began to tell stories orally, working for many years as a professional storyteller. I've shared tales at schools, libraries, conferences, festivals, on radio and television, even in an Arabian harem and from inside a bear’s belly. But that’s another story.

Poster for the Whistler Writers Festival featuring a banner with the festival logo, titled "Through the Eyes of a Child," a seminar by Penny Draper, presented by Vision Pacific, with a background of books.

Although I write largely for and about young people, the Disaster Strikes! series has a strong following of adult history lovers. The books have received numerous awards and are used widely in schools. I also write book reviews and travel articles, and am available for speaking engagements, classroom visits and workshops.

Older woman on a beach wearing a purple jacket and yellow rain boots, standing next to a large pile of seaweed.

My home is currently in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Living on a island means a lot of time on or near the sea, which is exactly where I want to be.

I am a member of the following organizations that promote books and writing here in Canada and abroad:

And for more information on storytelling and the oral tradition in Canada, Storytellers of Canada/Conteurs du Canada is a useful resource.