Katarina
Jovanovic
The Blue
Vase
Email the Author:
[email protected]
Author’s Website:
In construction
About the Author
Katarina’s characters have common human problems
and challenges and learn how to deal with them.
Her illustrated book for children, “The King Has Goat
Ears” was designed to help children with disabilities
build a positive self-concept.
In her second book, “The Blue Vase” (a novel) the main
character experiences bullying.
Katarina is originally from Europe where she worked as
a radio broadcasting journalist and was awarded
several times for her poetry.
In Vancouver, Katarina was a teacher, worked with
refugee and immigrant families and coordinated
programs. Currently, Katarina coordinates the Early
Childhood Education Program at Vancouver Community
College.
How the Author Began Writing
Katarina was eight, sitting alone in her room and
thinking sadly of some bad things that happened to her
in school that day. She picked a notebook and wrote a
story about it. Her parents read the story and were
touched. They showed it to her teacher and the story
was published in the school magazine. Since then,
Katarina never stopped writing.
About the Book
Ten year old Sonia stays with her neighbor, Mrs.
Kaminski, and her granddaughter, Marta, after school.
When Sonia accidentally breaks Mrs. Kaminski’s
precious vase, Marta offers to keep it a secret-for a
price. But, Sonia is not able to satisfy Marta’s
mounting demands for more gifts, more money and
special favours. Finally, after her teacher makes a
crucial discovery, Sonia summons the courage she
needs to confront her bully.
The Inspiration Behind the Book:
Author’s
Writing Tip:
Make daily notes on your
observations, feelings,
experiences, thoughts and
descriptions of people and events.
Read to expand your mind and to
enrich your language.
Write about things that you know,
use real stories and events as
your inspiration; don’t be afraid
to share personal thoughts and
emotions.
When she was in early grades of elementary school,
Katarina had a difficult time with a group of girls. At
that time, she didn’t know that this was bullying and
just felt bad about herself. Later on, she began looking
with genuine empathy at other children being in similar
situations. When she became a teacher and a parent,
Katarina gained a real understanding of bullying as a
serious problem. She did a thorough and extensive
research about this issue and wrote “The Blue Vase”.
The goal was to help school age children recognize
bullying and to show them that there is a solution for
it even when everything seems hopeless.
What’s Next?
Katarina is working on a new book – watch out for it!
Other Books by the Author:
The King Has Goat Ears illustrated by Phillipe Beha, 2008;
BC Book Prize Winner, 2009
2016-2017
www.chocolatelilyawards.com