author talks, books, children's books, contests, public speaking, school visits, writing, young writers

Immersed in Student Writing

This Tuesday, I had the pleasure of calling the names of twelve young writers whose short fiction won places in the Ottawa Public Library's Awesome Authors Contest. What a pleasure to be one of this year's judges and to read excerpts from the fantastic mix of winning stories: humour, drama, sci-fi, horror, and sad, sad… Continue reading Immersed in Student Writing

books, contests, public libraries, short stories, What's New, writing, young writers

Good Reading

I just received my copies of the latest Pot-Pourri -- that's the annual volume of youth writing published by the Friends of the Ottawa Public Library Association (FOPLA). This lovely book contains all the winning poems and stories from last year's Awesome Authors Contest, a youth writing competition held every winter by the Ottawa Public Library.… Continue reading Good Reading

book reviews, books, children's books, Friday faves, middle grade novels, picture books, teen novels

Friday Faves–Books I Read and Loved this Spring

I updated my Goodreads account this afternoon, adding a dozen or so titles that I read and loved this spring. If you're looking for a summer read, here are a few of my recent faves. Picture Books Once I Ate a Pie Written by Patricia MacLachlan and Emily MacLachlan Charest; illustrated by Katy Schneider (HarperCollins,… Continue reading Friday Faves–Books I Read and Loved this Spring

author talks, authors, public speaking, reading, writing

A Celebration of Reading

My home town, Gatineau, is one of this year's hosts of Canada's largest festival of reading. We're an official "Reading Town" this month, with events and presentations that come to a close tomorrow. It's all part of the National Reading Campaign's mission to make reading a national priority. I'm doing my bit to celebrate. Tomorrow afternoon, I'll… Continue reading A Celebration of Reading

books

Satan Makes Lemonade

For the eighth time in my life, I’m trying to finish Milton’s Paradise Lost. (So far, I’ve reread Book I, the bit about the fallen angels landing in hell. It’s fun to read aloud when you get to lines like, “Awake, arise, or be for ever fallen!”—which does not work on sleeping teenagers, BTW). I… Continue reading Satan Makes Lemonade