authors, book tour, children's books, school visits

Thank you, BookFest!

It was a pleasure to be part of the 29th annual Vancouver Island Children's Book Festival this year. I met hundreds of young readers at schools and libraries in the Nanaimo area during a week-long author tour that culminated in BookFest on May 2nd: a day-long celebration of children's literature in which I joined with ten other authors… Continue reading Thank you, BookFest!

Friday Fables, writing

Friday Fable: Belling Oprah

You may know the old story, "Belling the Cat:" One day the house mice grew sick and tired of losing their loved ones to the house cat, so they held a council to discuss the problem. Some said this and some said that, and eventually a young mouse rose to its hind feet and shouted: "The… Continue reading Friday Fable: Belling Oprah

authors, children's books

Children’s Authors and Illustrators all over Ottawa

October in Ottawa is the perfect time and place to meet local authors and illustrators of books for children and teens (without bothering us at home). On October 25th, head out to the 14th annual KidLit Cafe from the Ottawa Public Library and the Ottawa Children's Literature Roundtable. Come out to the Greenboro Branch (363 Lorry Greenburg)… Continue reading Children’s Authors and Illustrators all over Ottawa

writing

When Good Ideas go Bad

I keep a writing journal in which I write scenes by hand, work out plots, explore characters, make note of submissions, and - most important of all - jot down ideas for new books. I've kept writing journals for years and they contain some wonderful work that I've used in my books or plan to use in… Continue reading When Good Ideas go Bad

authors, book week 2014, children's books, school visits

Thank you, Nova Scotia Schools!

As I begin the last day of my tour of schools, libraries and bookstores in Nova Scotia, I want to say thank you to all the students I've met along the way. Thanks for listening. Thanks for laughing. Thanks for asking great questions. Thanks for saying I look younger than my photographs. Thanks for the opportunity to… Continue reading Thank you, Nova Scotia Schools!