Contact Information:

1040 Sweet Gum Way, Watkinsville, Georgia 30677
telephone 706-769-8163
Email: gailkarwoski @hotmail.com
FAX 706-769-9589

Summary of Teaching:

Thirteen years experience in public school teaching in high school, 
middle school, and elementary school, Clarke and Oconee Counties, GA.
Subjects taught: Gifted classes, English, Reading, Creative Writing,
Drama, Social Studies.

Selected Publications:

Author, River Beds; Sleeping in the World’s Rivers
(South Carolina: Sylvan Dell Publishing, 2008)
A picture book written as a gentle bedtime story but based on scientific info. (sequel to Water Beds, below)

Author, Julie the Rockhound
(South Carolina: Sylvan Dell Publishing, 2007)
A picture book that introduces young listeners to crystals - Earth’s natural treasures.

Author, Tsunami: The True Story of an April Fool’s Day Disaster
(Ohio: Darby Creek Publishers, 2006)
A nonfiction narrative about the 1946 tsunami that hit a school and town in Hawaii.

Author, Water Beds; Sleeping in the Ocean
(South Carolina: Sylvan Dell Publishing, 2005)
A picture book written as a gentle bedtime story but based on scientific info.

Author, Miracle: The True Story of the Wreck of the Sea Venture
(Ohio: Darby Creek Publishers, 2004)
A nonfiction narrative about the shipwreck that inspired Shakespeare to write The Tempest.

Author, Quake! Disaster in San Francisco, 1906
(Atlanta: Peachtree Publishers, 2004)
A novel about a boy searching for his lost family during the Great Earthquake and Fire.

Author, Surviving Jamestown: The Adventures of Young Sam Collier
(Atlanta: Peachtree Publishers, 2001)
A fictionalized history of the early years of the colony.

Author, Seaman, the Dog Who Explored the West with Lewis and Clark
(Atlanta: Peachtree Publishers, 1999)
A fictionalized biography of the dog who accompanied the explorers.

Author, The Tree that Owns Itself; and Other Adventure Tales from Georgia's Past
(Atlanta: Peachtree Publishers, 1996) with Loretta Hammer.
A collection of a dozen tales of historical fiction.

Editor, An Introduction to Law in Georgia
(Athens: Carl Vinson Institute of Government, 1985).
A high school textbook for law-related education.

Editor, Teaching Georgia Government
(Athens: Carl Vinson Institute of Government, 1977-81).
A quarterly newsletter for social studies educators.

Editor, City Government in Georgia
(Athens: Carl Vinson Institute of Government, 1980).
A middle-grades textbook.

Writing Awards:

2009, Georgia Picture Book Author of the Year, Georgia Writers Assoc.(River Beds)
2009, Gold Recipient - Animal Kingdom, a Mom’s Choice Award, Just for Moms Foundation (River Beds)
2007-8, Finalist, New Mexico Land of Enchantment Book Award (Quake!)
2007, Winner, Colonial Williamsburg & Williamsburg Library Beacon of Freedom Award (Miracle)
2007 Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People (Tsunami)
2007, Learning Magazine Teachers Choice Award (Water Beds)
2006-7, Finalist, Florida Sunshine State Young Readers Award (Quake!)
2006-7, Finalist, Masschusetts Children’s Book Award (Quake!)
2006-7, Finalist, Nevada Young Readers Award (Quake!)
2006-7, Finalist, Tennessee Volunteer State Book Award (Quake!)
2006-7, Finalist, Rhode Island Children’s Book Award (Quake!)
2006, Finalist, Southern Independent Bookseller’s Alliance Award (Water Beds)
2005, Finalist, Foreword Magazine, Book of the Year (Water Beds)
2005 Featured title, National Book Festival Pavilion of States (Miracle)
2005, Most Outstanding Author of the Year, a Mom’s Choice Award, Just for Moms Foundation (Water Beds)
2005, Kansas State Reading Circle Recommended Reading List (Quake!)
2004-5, Pennsylvania School Librarians Association Young Adult Top Forty (Quake!)
2004, St. Louis Post-Dispatch Best Books for Young Readers (Miracle)
2004, Georgia Children’s/Young Adult Author of the Year, Georgia Writers Assoc. (Miracle)
2004, Junior Library Guild Selection (Miracle)
2004, Sydney Taylor Award, Assoc of Jewish Libraries Notable Books for Older Readers (Quake!)
2004, Maxwell Medal for Best Children’s Book, Dog Writers Assoc of America (Quake!)
2004, Brodart “Gem” (Quake!)
2001-2, Finalist, South Dakota Prairie Pasque Book Award (Seaman)
2001-2, Finalist, Tennessee Volunteer State Book Award (Seaman)
2001, Work-in-Progress Grant runner-up, Society for Children's Book Writers & Illustrators (Miracle)
2001, Bank Street College Best Children's Books of the Year (Jamestown)
2000-1, Finalist, Georgia Children's Book Award (Seaman)
1999, Pick of the List, American Bookseller's Assoc. (Seaman)
1997, "Most Tellable Tale" Storytelling World Award ("Mammy Kate" in The Tree)
1996, Georgia Children's Author of the Year, Georgia Writers Assoc. (The Tree)
1994, Individual Artist Grant, Georgia Council for the Arts ("King of the Swamp" in The Tree)

Selected Conference Presentations:

Featured Author, Florida Association of Media Educators, Orlando, FL, 2007
Featured Author, Teachers Conference on Literacy, Lodi, CA, 2006
Children’s Writing Instructor, Southeastern Writers Assoc. Conference, St. Simon’s Island, 2005
Featured Author, Teachers Conference on Literacy, Lodi, CA, 2006
Featured Speaker, Florida Council of Teachers of English, Orlando, 2005
Keynote Children’s Author, Arkansas Literary Festival, Little Rock, 2005
Featured Speaker, Virginia State Reading Assoc. Conf, Arlington, VA, 2005
Teacher’s Workshop Instructor, Massie Heritage Center, Savannah, GA, 2004
Presenter, California Reading Association, San Jose, 2004
Presenter, National Middle School Association Conference, Minneapolis, 2004
Presenter, Core Knowledge Conference, Atlanta, 2004
Presenter, National Council for the Social Studies, Chicago, 2003
Presenter, California Reading Association, San Diego, 2003
Presenter, American Association of School Librarians, Kansas City, 2003
Luncheon Speaker, SCBWI Southern Breeze Fall Conf., Birmingham, AL, 2002
Speaker, Council of Media Orgs Conf., Athens, GA, 2002
Speaker, GA Council of Social Studies Conf., Athens, GA, 2002
Featured Speaker, Virginia State Reading Assoc. Conf., Virginia Beach, VA, 2002
Speaker, Jamestowne Society - First Georgia Co., Atlanta, GA, 2001
Presenter, Virginia Library Assoc. Conf., Richmond, VA, 2001
Presenter, Virginia Assoc. of Teachers of English, Hampton, VA, 2001
Speaker, Sandhills Writers Conf., Augusta, GA, 2001
Presenter, National Council for the Social Studies Conf., San Antonio, TX, 2000
Presenter, Montana State Reading Conf., Great Falls, MT, 2000
Presenter, SE Int'l Reading Assoc. Conf., Savannah, GA, 2000
Keynote Speaker, SE Newfoundland Club, Savannah, GA, 2000
Presenter, South Carolina Library Assoc. Conf., Hilton Head, SC, 1999
Presenter, Missouri Assoc. of School Librarians Conf., Osage Beach, MO, 1999
Presenter, GA Assoc. for Gifted Children Conf., Athens, GA, 1997
Presenter, Harriette Austin Writers Conf., Athens, GA, 1997
Presenter, Georgia Council for the Social Studies Conf., 1997
Guest Author, Conf. on Children's Literature, UGA, 1996
Presenter, Georgia Independent School Assoc., Athens, GA, 1996