Gina McMurchy-Barber

Gina McMurchy-Barber is an award winning Canadian author. Her books are favourites with teachers and librarians looking for stories that will bring history to life. Themes include First Nations, building the railroad, fur trade, Vikings and more. Gina's other passions in life include animals (she was a research assistant in Borneo with Birute Galdikas, studying orangutans), archaeology (earned her degree from Simon Fraser University), writing (she is working on her sixth YA novel), and teaching (has been a classroom teacher for twenty years, and writes plays and stories that inspire her students.) She started writing while studying archaeology at university. This led her to study journalism and become a freelance writer. After the birth of her two sons she discovered the amazing world of children's books. In 2004 Gina received the Governor General's Award for Teaching Excellence in Canadian History. Since then she has been nominated for the Governor General's Literary Award, the Canadian Library Association Book Award, BC Book Prize, Saskatchewan's Willow Awards, the Silver Birch Awards, Hackmatack and various other book awards. Gina's books incorporate her love of history, archaeology, children and animals. She continues to teach and visit schools to talk about her work.