Loraine Kemp
I was born in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada, and grew up on a four-acre farm surrounded by my beloved horses, cats, dogs, and a large and sassy pet skunk. I did have human friends but spent a lot of my time playing with my animals or drawing them. When I graduated from high school, I completed a two-year Fine Arts program – I was sure that I wanted to be a commercial artist.
That’s when I discovered and dove into fantasy novels like The Lord of the Rings, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, and The Golden Compass. I was smitten by their amazing worlds. Many writing courses and conferences later, I started to write novels and short stories. I entered many writing contests and have won seven awards as outlined below.
In 2005, my writing took a backseat when I was commissioned by Sono Nis Press to illustrate a book called Tabasco the Saucy Raccoon. Author Lyn Hancock and I toured to schools and libraries in British Columbia and Ontario presenting writing and illustrating workshops for students during the next two years. I have provided illustrations for two other books, One Thing I Know For Sure, and Tide changes.
In 2014, I was commissioned to illustrate Karen Autio’s historical picture book, Growing Up In Wild Horse Canyon. Crwth Press was our publisher and after our release October 15, 2018, Karen and I embarked upon a whirlwind book tour to libraries and schools in the Okanagan Valley. Karen is one of my best buddies and a joy to work with.
During the research in Wild Horse Canyon, a children’s book about a young cougar began to take shape, and in 2019 Crwth Press agreed to publish my new book, Luna, that I wrote and illustrated. The book is being released Aug. 30/2022. I look forward to sharing my children’s book with young readers!
I still live in Kelowna, with my husband, John, but no pet skunk.
Awards
• 2000–2004 Selected by jury twice to attend the Literary Arts Program (Children’s Writing) of the British Columbia Festival of the Arts. Placed first in the following contests: Byline Magazine, Bard’s Ink Writing, and the Kay Snow division of the Willamette Writer’s Society Conference.
• 2013 Placed first in The Word Guild’s Fresh Ink short story contest at the Write! Canada Conference. Orion’s Sword won first place in the Genesis contest at the American Christian Fiction Writers’ Conference in Indianapolis.
Professional Affiliations
SCBWI – Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators
Canadian Childrens Book Centre