Join me online on Saturday, January 14th at 1pm EST for a one-hour workshop on characterization: Nice is Not Enough, part of the SCBWI (Canada East) "Digging Deeper" workshop series. Here's the blurb: Nice is Not Enough: Developing Likeable and Unlikeable Characters: What makes us root for a character? How flawed can a protagonist be?… Continue reading Online Character Workshop
To all the young writers whom I'd hoped to meet at a workshop this spring or summer (cancelled due to Covid-19)... If you're stuck at home with a pen handy, why not start a story or ten? Don't know how to begin? I'll take you through five easy entry points over the coming weeks. (Kind of… Continue reading Young Writers Workshop: Know your Character
There's a new source of funding for author visits to English-language Quebec schools: ArtistsInspire. The program administers federal funding for minority language education. Through ArtistsInspire, schools receive full funding to invite authors, artists, or other culture creators to engage their students in the arts. All English-language schools in Quebec are entitled to $1500 per year… Continue reading Writing Workshops
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
Catherine Austen 