Hannah Waters and the Daughter of Johann Sebastian Bach

Barbara Nickel

Barbara Nickel was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and grew up in Rosthern, a town north of Saskatoon. She currently lives in the small community of Yarrow, B.C. with her husband and two children, but returns to Saskatoon often to visit her family.

Barbara’s latest novel, Hannah Waters and the Daughter of Johann Sebastian Bach, was nominated for the 2005 Governor General’s Award. In the fall of 2005 she toured Saskatchewan for TD Canadian Children’s Book Week, and had a wonderful time presenting her new novel in schools and libraries all over the province. An earlier novel, The Secret Wish of Nannerl Mozart, was nominated for several awards, including the Red Cedar Young Readers Choice Award.

Barbara also writes poetry. Her poetry book for children and young adults, From the Top of a Grain Elevator, is based on her growing up years in Saskatchewan and is illustrated by Kathy Thiessen, who still lives in Rosthern. Barbara has written a Teacher’s Guide to accompany this book, and has presented poetry workshops in classrooms across Canada. Barbara also writes poetry for adults; her book The Gladys Elegies won the Pat Lowther Award, and her work has been widely anthologized and published internationally.