It was a real pleasure to be the Guest Quizmaster at the Ottawa heat of the Kids' Lit Quiz this year. The contest was held at Elmwood School on Tuesday, January 21st. And even in the middle of a teachers' strike (Go teachers! Fight for your class size!), 22 teams came out to battle. The… Continue reading Kids’ Lit Quiz 2020
August 2021 Update: When the Squirrels Stole my Sister is in the Fall 2021 catalogue of Fitzhenry & Whiteside, for publication this September. Cover image to come soon! [older post...] Years ago, I wrote a story about a clever squirrel who grew tired of waiting for a daily handout, so she decided to steal a whole… Continue reading Thieving Squirrels in Fall 2021
I had a great time at this year's MASC Young Authors and Illustrators Festival in Ottawa. The 3-day event was held at the Canadian Aviation Museum, where over 450 children aged 9-12 came from around the region -- some of them getting up at 5:00 a.m. to arrive in time! -- to enjoy a day… Continue reading MASC Festival 2019
I'm ready for the MASC Young Authors and Illustrators Festival taking place in Ottawa April 9-11. I'll be leading workshops with keen young writers coming to town from elementary schools across eastern Ontario and western Quebec. This annual event draws hosting authors and illustrators from across the country. This year's festival will feature authors Cary Fagan, Karen Krossing, David… Continue reading MASC Young Authors and Illustrators Festival 2019
I posted a motivational blurb on the SCBWI Canada East website today, about slogging it through the last days of November's novel-writing challenge. I have never actually made the NaNoWriMo journey, meaning I've never done a start-to-finish draft in the month of November. I've started books, and I've finished books, but never both in November.… Continue reading NaNoWriMo on the Slow Track
Catherine Austen 