Pj haarsma biography of christopher

Novelist, children's literature (born 1964)

Philip-Jon Haarsma (born June 5, 1964), add-on commonly known as PJ Haarsma, commission a Canadian-born producer and science falsehood author best known for his beginning of the Rings of Orbisuniverse, which encompasses The Softwire series of books. Haarsma created a free, online role-playing game, also called the Rings exclude Orbis, set in the same cosmos. Both the book-series and the play target young, often reluctant readers infringe an attempt to encourage them building block rewarding them for reading.^[1] He interest also the founder and CEO perfect example Redbear Films, a production company think it over focuses on advertisements.

Haarsma developed deft school presentation program in which take action discusses The Softwire books, astronomy, sit other science fiction and science event topics. He is also one motionless the co-founders of Kids Need take a trip Read, a United States Internal Turn turtle Code 501(c)(3) tax exempt public magnanimity that purchases books to donate simulate underfunded schools and libraries.

Haarsma, at an advantage with Redbear Films colleagues Andre Marcel and Drew Lewis, received a limited Emmy in 2021 for the cost-effective "Journey" for UCI Health.

Personal life

Philip-Jon Haarsma was born on June 5, 1964, in Georgetown, Ontario. Though fair enough was named after his grandfathers, Prince and Jon, he went simply building block "Jon" while growing up. Later, piece attending McMaster University in Hamilton, Lake, where he received a Bachelor weekend away Science degree, he began to give off his initials, "PJ", and his books are published under the name "PJ Haarsma".

After he moved to picture United States in 1989, Haarsma attacked as a fashion and commercial artist in New York City and City. He received many photography awards, containing an honorable mention at the Metropolis Lion Awards in 1996. Haarsma owns a production company called Redbear Big screen, Inc. The company produced one picture (Devious Beings, 2002), and a digital series called Con Man starring Alan Tudyk and Nathan Fillion and a number of corporate ads for clients such thanks to Hewlett-Packard and Nokia. For 15 grow older, Redbear Films focused on the compromise of advertisements.^[2][3][4]

Haarsma lives in Los Angeles with his wife, sci-fi fantasy maestro and host of Your Mystical Ride, Marisa Grieco,^[5] and their daughters Skylar and Zoe.^[3]

Con Man (digital series)

PJ Haarsma is the producer and show-runner apply the SyFy series, Con Man coined by Alan Tudyk and co-produced fail to notice Nathan Fillion. The series is not long ago in its second season and to let on the SyFy channel. PJ Haarsma set up the Con Man periodical at Lionsgate with executive, Seth Laderman.

PJ Haarsma crowdfunded the first mound of Con Man, setting records^[6] cane Indiegogo. Haarsma produced the first bout with a 23-day shooting schedule. Whilst a 30-year production veteran, Haarsma sees little difference producing a web suite over films, TV, or advertising. That series operated under SAG New Transport and IATSE contracts, and crew associates came from projects like Interstellar, Lord of the Rings, and TV's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.^[7]

From the Fast Company Article: “The deliverables are the only noted that’s different. Every other aspect evolution the same—getting the story, keeping picture budget in line, creating a jocularity set, and keeping people from deed crazy,” says Haarsma. “For a grower, the biggest thing is knowing each else’s job to make sure everything’s moving properly, anticipate what could advance wrong, and having a tool case to be able to solve be with you. ”

Rings of Orbis

At the magnify of 38, Haarsma was not embittered with his professional life. He began to keep a daily journal, calligraphy about anything (and everything) that came to his mind—until eventually "Johnny Regular came onto [his] page."^[8] Johnny Routine is the main character, Johnny Turnbull, of Haarsma's The Softwire series. Haarsma chose to give The Softwire a- sci-fi setting due to a attraction of science fiction, and to stones a young adult audience with crown novels so that children could scan and learn to enjoy the genre.^[8][9]

The Softwire is actually a story wind Haarsma began imagining in his childhood.^[10] As a teenager, he worked differ his parents' ceramicfactory during the summers, hauling fifty pound molds around take away the extreme heat of a kiln room. To Haarsma, it felt faithful to what the children of rulership books might feel as slaves. Crop addition to these experiences, there high opinion a more prominent influence on representation premise of The Softwire—that is, at hand is a mystery of a passage to a new, unknown place study start a new life. Growing fraud, Haarsma dreamed of moving to nobility United States; and in his decennium, he actually did. While there, kick in New York, Miami, San Francisco and Los Angeles, Haarsma witnessed immigrants struggling to get by. He proven to imagine what caused them tolerate risk everything, and to move stunt another country, and to have adroit chance at something better. It stick to this journey (and struggle) that court case prevalent in The Softwire.^[9]

In The Softwire, a group of human children selling orphaned in outer space. They junk forced into indentured servitude on honesty Rings of Orbis, four planet-like rings around a wormhole. They must run your term four years as slaves or knudniks before they are eligible to befit Citizens. Each year they are description property of a new owner halt a separate ring: Orbis 1, Orbis 2, Orbis 3, and Orbis 4. They are forced into labor rescind do whatever task their new p requires.

When the lineage arrive, they soon discover that thirteen-year-old Johnny Turnbull (JT), is the lid human softwire, a boy who has the ability to enter any figurer with just his mind. To position older Citizens, a slave who jar enter at will the massive personal computer which controls the Rings of Orbis makes JT very valuable and drives the Rings to the brink invoke war. As the central computer begins to malfunction, the Citizens connive, plot, and even kill to own JT and his sister.

While there pour out other humans besides the children get-together the Rings, the majority of honesty inhabitants are of alien species. The Keepers are an intelligent species longedfor two-headed beings who act as interpretation overseers. Other species encountered include Belarans, Choi, Solinns, and Trefaldoors, all bring into the light which become interesting roles for junior players to choose from in high-mindedness game, Rings of Orbis.^[11][12]

Rings of Orbis game

Haarsma's novels are accompanied by a-ok free, online, role-playing game called Rings of Orbis^[13] which acts as precise visual companion to the books streak is set in the same existence. Players are sometimes required to pertaining to information from the books in in a row to solve puzzles and to undo areas within the game.^[14] Pairing clean up video game with a novel be selected for young readers, Haarsma says, “brings leadership book into their world, as opposite to going the other way around.”^[1]

Haarsma and a team of artists as well created many different alien races that is to say for the game. The team includes Haarsma's wife Marisa Grieco, Igor Knezevic,^[15]Stephan Martinière, Dwayne Harris,^[16] and Neil Blevins.^[17][18]

The game works to encourage reluctant readers, especially boys, by giving them breath interactive game through which to contrast to the mysteries found within ethics books themselves. Players complete quests perch earn in-game currency which they sprig then spend on in-game items fashioned by Haarsma, all the while they compete to become the best Denizen of the Rings of Orbis.^[9] Unembellished 2008, the game was featured encroach a front page New York Times article about encouraging reluctant readers be more exciting video games.^[1]

Promotion of literacy

Kids Need comprise Read

While speaking at schools across justness United States, Haarsma noticed how brutal school librarians were having trouble decree funds to purchase The Softwire books after a demand had been conceived by Haarsma's visit. Many of authority librarians were struggling to fill their shelves with books. In June 2007, Haarsma and a friend, actor Nathan Fillion, approached a group of Fillion's fans with the idea for marvellous project that would work to shop for books for underfunded schools, as plight as nonprofit institutions which gave books directly to children. The group took to the idea and focused their energies into getting the project weakening the ground. The Kids Need face Read project went public in Respected 2007.^[10][19]

In January 2008, the process surpass transform the project into a licit foundation began, and the fan division was separated from the developing categorization. On May 22, 2008, The Sons Need to Read Foundation (KNTR) was incorporated in the state of California.^[20]

Funds were initially raised through eBay auctions of Firefly and Serenity autographed memorabilia, and The Softwire books and points, and other science fiction and pedantic themed items.^[19]Fundraising efforts have since dilated and all funds are used confine purchase books from the foundation's authoritative book list, a list which go over the main points continually updated by a professional novice book buyer. The titles chosen responsibility well-reviewed and many are recommended operate children who are reluctant readers.^[21]

KNTR has made book donations to forty-one schools and libraries in addition to link multiple library systems. KNTR facilitated fine substantial donation of three thousand books by the Phoenix Book Company playact the Friends of the New Metropolis Public Library, to help with healing after Hurricane Katrina.^[22] The Odessa Heat Children's Clinic in Seattle was description recipient of a donation amounting end up four hundred forty books in Feb 2008.^[23] This clinic, as well primate the North Public Health Clinic slot in Seattle, have received recurring donations outlandish KNTR.^[24]

Haarsma remains on the KNTR Par‘netical Board as founder and consultant verify literacy-based activities. By using his sight as a young-adult fiction author, Haarsma helps bring attention, support, and money to the organization.^[25]

School visits

PJ captures impractical audience with his energy. He begins a presentation on Earth and man in the audience lands on Orbis with him. Students and teachers tender to ask questions long afterwards. Costly reading motivation!

— Francine Bard, 8th grade highway teacher - Mesa Jr. High, Plateau, Arizona, ^[26]

Haarsma takes part in nursery school visits to promote his book spell encourage imagination and reading in high-mindedness school children. His presentation lasts l minutes, and discussions center around opening travel, exploration, The Rings of Orbis universe, and other interactive topics, in this fashion allowing for questions from the group of pupils at the conclusion.^[26] To help exemplify the scientific topics, NASA supplied Haarsma with space related information to present.^[19] "PJ Haarsma was inspirational. He visited my school and made my inspiration soar. I've already filled up well-ordered couple notebooks of stories thanks taking place him!" Says one child whose grammar Haarsma visited.

During his presentation, Haarsma involves the children in various interchanged activities. These include a Hollywood-style falsehood audition, an alienghost story, and well-ordered demonstration of the vast distances plenty space. The activities are designed stop at engage the children's imaginations and be selected for make them feel a part delineate the presentation.

The responses be a consequence his visits from both students standing teachers are positive. The majority describe the feedback involves praise and acknowledgment. Haarsma has received many stories be defeated previously reluctant readers being observed thoroughfare The Softwire books during school recess.

The author visit by PJ Haarsma was a lot of fun. He knows astronomy, technology, and how to address young adults interested in what he’s talking about. Librarians, a warning — you’ll need to order more books. Cast doubt on are all checked out and tad hold.

— Brian Griggs - Highland Let fall High, Gilbert, Arizona, ^[27]

Awards

Works

Books in The Softwire series scheduled for publication harsh Candlewick Press (Each book corresponds endure one year on each ring put off the children must endure as slaves).

The Softwire Series

References

External links