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Andrea Torrey Balsara is an award-winning children's and young adult author/illustrator and motivational speaker. Her passion is to empower children to think for themselves, to learn about the power and beauty of our diverse human family, and to walk the "Hero's Journey" in real life. Having struggled with mental health since childhood, she seeks to empower young people of all life experiences and diverse backgrounds through her writing, art, and presentations. 

Andrea Torrey Balsara

Andrea with her loves, Ollie and Maisie

Initially training to be a stage actress in London, England, Andrea went on to become a sign language interpreter for several years until finally finding her creative home: writing and illustrating books for young people. Andrea’s presentations combine book readings, music (depending on the presentation), theater, and discussion, all while weaving in elements of real-world empowerment that speak to youth where they are.

 

She lives in an old Victorian manor house with her husband and fur-family, where she can often be found in her cold attic of a work room, pretending to be the heroine from Jane Eyre as she writes and draws with frozen fingers. 

Eloquent Quill
Childrens YA Book Award Seal
Nautilus Seal Silver
Moonbeam
REV Eric Hoffer Finalist seal
NIEA finalist badge
purple dragonfly seal
SM Dragonfly Royal Seal Winner
TGL Award Seal 2017
SMA17 Approved Seal

Andrea has partnered with author Philip Roy to create the HAPPY THE POCKET MOUSE series, with Ronsdale Press. 

Please visit Philip’s website at www.philiproy.ca, and Ronsdale Press at www.ronsdalepress.com

Please check out another great website, at www.micheletorrey.com

Michele is Andrea’s sister, and is a gifted writer, speaker and educator, as well as a philanthropist.

With her husband Carl Gann and friend Liza de Guzman, Michele established Orphans Africa, www.orphansafrica.org, an organization devoted to the education of orphans and the empowerment of widows in Tanzania, and has been instrumental in building schools and dormitories, drilling wells for clean water,

and providing employment for many widows.

As well as Orphans Africa, there are many charities that do incredible work, here, and abroad. One of Andrea’s very favorite organizations is the Mona Foundation.  

They fund educational projects around the world, regardless of race, religion, or gender.

They are a grassroots organization, changing the world one child at a time.

Meet Andrea
Organizations

Canadian Society of Children's Authors, Illustrators and Performers

Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators

PEN Canada celebrates literature, defends freedom of expression and aids writers in peril.

The Writer's Community of Durham Region

The Canadian Children's Book Centre

The Writers' Union of Canada

Made up of more than 140 artists, artisans, photographers, writers and patrons

To enhance the enjoyment and growth of the arts in the Clarington area through exhibits, events, and more...

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