About Lindsey Carmichael
Social Media Bio
L. E. Carmichael is a multi-award-winning children’s author, former wildlife geneticist, and life-long questioner. She loves beaches, platypuses, and reading fairy tales by firelight. lecarmichael.ca #nonfiction #middlegrade #youngadult
Short Bio
L. E. Carmichael is a multi-award-winning author of more than 20 books for young readers.
A former wildlife geneticist and life-long questioner, she uses facts to reveal truths about nature, the environment, and the human condition. Whether educational nonfiction or whimsical flights of fancy, Lindsey’s books encourage critical thinking and cultivate a sense of wonder. Her work empowers young readers to dig deep, to dream and discover, to seek social justice, and to protect our planet.
Lindsey loves beaches, platypuses, and reading fairy tales by firelight. She lives in Ontario with her husband and the ghost of a six-toed cat. lecarmichael.ca
Long Bio
L. E. Carmichael is a multi-award-winning author of more than twenty books for children and teenagers. As a former wildlife geneticist, Lindsey discovered new reasons why arctic foxes are the coolest, and why bears sometimes get away with murder. Her endless curiosity and ability to tell a good story allow her to connect with audiences of all types and ages: from the youngest readers to experts in their fields.
A life-long questioner, Lindsey seeks answers through her twin passions: science and folklore. She uses facts to reveal truths about nature, the environment, and the human condition. Whether educational nonfiction or whimsical flights of fancy, Lindsey’s books encourage critical thinking and cultivate a sense of wonder. Her work empowers young readers to dig deep, to dream and discover, to seek social justice, and to protect our planet.
Lindsey is the author of Polar: Wildlife at the Ends of the Earth and The Boreal Forest: A Year in the World’s Largest Land Biome. She’s written several books on forensic science, including Fuzzy Forensics: DNA Fingerprinting Gets Wild. Her fiction has appeared in magazines and anthologies, including Canadian Tales of the Fantastic.
A popular speaker, Lindsey offers interactive science programs and writing workshops for grades 1-12. Her keynotes and seminars for adult writers and educators balance practicality with inspiration. Learn more on her website, at lecarmichael.ca
Lindsey lives in Ontario with her husband and the ghost of a six-toed cat.
Frequently Asked Questions
Historically, a lot of women writers have done just that. But no – it’s because I decided to be a writer when I was eight years old. Mini Me was confident my books would be bestsellers, and “Lindsey Carmichael” was too long to autograph into millions of copies! I’ve been signing my name L. E. Carmichael ever since.
Mostly, I go by Lindsey.
I sure was! I have a PhD in wildlife population genetics from the University of Alberta, and I won the Governor General’s Academic Medal for my original research on northern wolves and arctic foxes. I don’t do scientific research anymore, but I’m still allowed to call myself Dr. Carmichael.
As mentioned above, I mostly go by Lindsey!
They’re often presented that way, but I view them more as partners. Science and folklore are both ways of understanding how the world works and why people do what they do. Both approaches seek order in the chaos, make meaning out of data, and provide access to awe and wonder. After all, the more we know about our world, the more enchanted it appears.
I’m sorry, but no. I have so many ideas of my own that I’ll never be able to write them all. But I wish you all the best.
I’d love to! I offer workshops on both of those topics – check them out here.
If you’re looking for someone to provide feedback on a manuscript or work with you one-on-one, I recommend joining the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators or the Canadian Society of Children’s Authors, Illustrators and Performers, both of which offer mentorship programs.