Born in Ajax but raised in Montreal Sylvia enjoyed writing compositions from Grade 4 on never dreaming anyone other than a dead American or British person wrote books. After graduating from Concordia, she worked in corporate finance before staying at home to raise her three children and connecting with writing again. As research for one of her books Sylvia obtained a blue belt in judo.
Sylvia enjoys writing realistic humour sprinkled with lots of dialogue. She loves the challenge of writing one offs and series based on her own or publisher’s ideas. Teachers and Librarians praise her for her uncanny knowledge of the way young people think, talk and act. Sylvia is also an award-winning editor of Today's Parent Toronto magazine.
2001 Shortlisted for the British Columbia Red Cedar Award
2000 Shortlisted for the Canadian Library Association Award
The Manitoba Young Reader's Association Award
Walking a Thin Line
(Scholastic Canada, 1997)
The Big Race
illustrated by Susan Gardos
(Scholastic Canada, 1996)
1996 The Silver Birch Award, Ontario's Young Readers Award
A Wild Life Volume 5
(Stabenfeldt, Norway and Sweden)
Abandoned in the Wild
A Wild Life Volume 4
(Stabenfeldt, Norway and Sweden)
River of Ice
A Wild Life Volume 3
(Stabenfeldt, Norway and Sweden)
Alpha Wolf
A Wild Life Volume 2
(Stabenfeldt, Norway and Sweden, March 2007)
Last Chance for Paris
After an argument with her mother, city girl Zanna must live with her Dad and brother in the wilderness. Can she endure a life full of red meat and bad fashion?
A Wild Life Volume 1
(Stabenfeldt, Fitzhenry & Whiteside)
World Rights Available Ex:
Norway and Sweden: Stabenfeldt, 2007
North America: Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2007
"This story is easy to follow and touches on the multiple confusions of adolescence. It blends the excitement of an adventure story with the wry sense of humour of a 14-year-old stuck for a summer in the mountains." Recommended
- CM Magazine
"Written with elements of wry humor and romance, this Canadian novel features a narrator whose disarmingly candid opinions make her an appealing guide for readers who usually veer away from backwoods adventures or survival stories."
- Booklist
"McNicoll puts a quirky spin on the traditional fare of teen summer romance and adventure in an exotic locale."
- Kliatt
The Ghost Series
The Spellbound Sleepover (Trollbunden)
(B. Wahlstroms Bokforlag, Forma Sweden, 2007)
Beauty Series
Beauty Returns
(Fitzhenry & Whiteside Canada, 2006, Stabenfeldt, Norway, Sweden and Germany)
Nominee, 2008-2009 Stellar Teen Book Award,
BC Teen Readers Choice
Mixed Media Award for Young Adult Book, 2007,
Hamilton Literary Awards Program
“In Beauty Returns, Sylvia digs deeper into teen angst, as well as outlining completely the challenges, accommodations and struggles of the visually handicapped. And what an ending! Confident middle school readers will find both beauty and magic in this trilogy's satisfying conclusion.”
- Hamilton Spectator
A Different Kind of Beauty
(Fitzhenry and Whiteside, 2003, Stabenfeldt, Norway, Sweden and Germany)
Nominee, 2005 Ontario Library Association Red Maple Award 2005 Nominee, 2005 Manitoba Young Readers' Choice Award
listed as one of "My Favourite 100 Recent Canadian English Books for Older Children" by Arlene Perly Rae Everybody's Favourites - Viking 1997
The Stage School series
Three Authors have a Novel Idea by Lindsey Craig
- The Burlington Post July 5, 2000
"Sylvia McNicoll has a secret identity. The Burlington author is one of three writers behind the successful Stage School book series written under pseudo name Geena Dare. First bought and published through London, England's Orchard Books, the series is now distributed in Canada by Vancouver's Raincoast publishing company...
The series revolves around a group of friends at a performing arts school. Each book focuses on one of six teens as they deal with school, family, friendship and love. The series is geared to 8-11 year olds..."
