The Fantastic Grown-Up Book Fair
is brought to you by
Aren Morris of Black Box Creative Development Agency
(formerly Black Box Publishing House)
and
Karen Dean of Fierce Publishing
Author. Educator. Theatre Maker. Producer. Typewriter Enthusiast. Gatherer of creative folk.
Aren A. Morris is a Halifax-based arts educator and novelist.
She has been writing, directing, facilitating, and producing student theatre in education for decades and now works with Halifax Regional Arts. She loves finding ways to incorporate the Performing Arts into Curriculum Delivery.
Aren’s debut, We Happy Few, is a historical fiction novel taking place in Halifax, NS at the end of the Second World War and was released in May 2022. She is now revising and editing her sophomore novel, another historical fiction set in NS, and co-hosted “Just My Type”, an improvised typewriter poetry fundraiser for the WFNS in February.
Her other endeavours include women’s creativity retreats, writing and producing youth theatre and dance shows, and multidisciplinary collaborations with local artists, dancers and writers.
She is one half of the short lived and now defunct Black Box Publishing House, which is now evolving to become Black Box Creative Development Agency, a container large enough to hold and promote all of Aren’s creative interests and pursuits.
Aren loved school book fairs as a kid and can't wait to nerd out with both authors and readers alike.
Resilience Expert. Inspiring Speaker. Bestselling Author. Entrepreneur. Success Coach. Fierce Leader. Mentor. Mom. Survivor. Advocate. Limit-Pusher.
Karen Dean is an incredible motivational speaker, coach, entrepreneur, and bestselling author who shares her own personal stories of resilience and proven tools for success, while inspiring audiences, readers, and clients with an amazing sense of positivity.
She has been featured on CBC, Global TV, and CTV Atlantic, as well as numerous podcasts around the world, and publications like the Chronicle Herald, Truro Daily News, and Hub Now.
Recognized by the RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards as a Nominee four times, Karen has operated successful businesses in many different industries for over 25 years.
Karen has published two books to date:
Canadian Bestseller, We Are Unbreakable: Raw, Real Stories of Resilience from Women in Nova Scotia in 2020 is a compilation book sharing inspiring stories from 22 women.
Fierce & Fabulous: A Self-Love Journal which provides readers with a daily practice to reconnect to their inner self and become even more successful, both in their professional and personal lives.
Check out creators of The Fantastic Grown-Up Book Fair, Aren Morris and Karen Dean, on The Author Journey w/ Anne O'Connell