Teen Reads

My new site is up

2011-07-06T09:19:00.000-07:00

I've been busy building myself a new site which includes a wordpress blog and website rolled into one. I'm gradually transferring content. This is where all new posts will be located.

New site coming soon...

2011-06-28T17:45:00.003-07:00

I'm in the midst of a blog/website move...will keep you posted.

The Why We Broke Up Project

2011-06-14T10:08:00.000-07:00

I stumbled across The Why We Broke Up project which is based on the book Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler AKA Lemony Snicket. According to Handler, "This website allows you to share your stories of heartbreak with us, just as we shared ours with you. Our hope is that the Why We Broke Up project will enable all of our heartbreak to reach critical mass, so that, unlike [name redacted], it will never bother us again."

As soon as I saw Handler's name attached, I knew the book and the project would be as quirky as it is awesome. The illustrations are also awesome, so you just lose. You can read the book, visit the website and share with the world why you broke up with someone... or why they broke up with you! Maybe you broke up with them because they didn't like ketchup on their mac and cheese. Maybe they were a cheating dirtbag, or maybe they were addicted to romantic comedies which you couldn't stand. Maybe they were shallow, or maybe they didn't like books! It doesn't matter, you can commiserate with Handler and Kalman, as well as complete strangers to get all out of your system and move on.

Another writer weighs in on YA books

2011-06-10T15:41:00.000-07:00

More on the YA question. Just finished reading a short essay by Sherman Alexie on "Why the Best Kids Books are Written in Blood". If you haven't figured out why young people need all sorts of literature, you'll want to check out this poignant essay. And, if you haven't read Alexie, it's not too late! His The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is both dark and funny. It's also brilliant, just like most of his other books.

Dark YA Literature

2011-06-10T14:23:00.000-07:00

There has been such an uproar over teen books these days since the WallStreet Journal article that accused YA novels of being "rife with depravity" and "so dark that kidnapping and pederasy and incest and brutal beatings are now just part of the run of things." Everyone has been weighing in, including well known authors like Judy Bloome, Neil Gaiman, and Laurie Halse Anderson. Bloggers have been frenzied in their rebuttals and facebook has been awash with links. Even National Public Radio has weighed in on the subject. Still, some continue to wave the "teen protectionists" flag, which is usually synonymous with book banning. For a balance overview of the controversy, check out Publisher Weekly's "Are Teen Novels Dark and Depraved — or Saving Lives?" by Karen Springen yesterday.

Personally, I'm of the opinion that YA literature gives a voice to what is sometimes to painful to share. Books about difficult subjects such as: suicide, self-harm, teen prostitution, rape, and addiction are all examples. Authors like Laurie Halse Anderson, Ellen Hopkins, Cheryl Rainfield and others can show you dozens of emails and letters they receive from young people who confirm that reading has saved their lives. Books about real life challenges young people face lets them know that they are not alone; that others have had similar experiences, and that they can survive similar terrible experiences.

Books can also be pre-emptive. They can also show a reader the eventual result of taking a certain path without actually having to do so themselves. A realistic book for young people with believable characters about about self-harm, such as Scars by Cheryl Rainfield, or Crank by Ellen Hopkins, may be enough to get a teen to seek help before heading down that path. A book like Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, may prevent a teen from blaming themselves in the terrible event that they are raped. A book like The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, may move young people to think about ways to prevent wars down the road.

There are so many positives about realistic teen fiction these days that it's hard to believe this even needs to be discussed. Of course dark books are not for every teen. But they should always be available to those who need or want to read them, especially for those kids whose lives have literally been saved by knowing that they are not alone, and that they have options.

Michael Hauge's 6 stage plot structure

2011-06-07T13:42:00.001-07:00

Today I'm trying to apply Michael Hauge's "6 stage plot structure" to the young adult novel I've been working on. He also has a wonderful "Story Concept Template" that I find useful. If you don't know who Michael Hauge is and you have writerly aspirations, you may want to spend a little time on his website. You may even want to order a book or two. This guy is amazing. I took a two day workshop with him, and I would love to do more. He gets right the heart of your writing, doesn't mince words, and he's good. His credentials speak for themselves.

2011 The Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Book Awards

2011-06-04T12:15:00.000-07:00

The Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Book Awards have been announced.

Here are this year's winner in the young adult / middle reader category.

YOUNG ADULT / MIDDLE READER AWARD
Half Brother By Kenneth Oppel (Toronto, ON)
Published by HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.

To find out more about this Ontario Arts Council Award, check out their site.

Author Skype visit

2011-06-02T15:05:00.000-07:00

Image via CrunchBase

Author school visits are a wonderful way to turn kids onto books. But, with tight budgets, a lot of schools simply can't afford the expense; unless they get creative. Author Skype visits are a less expensive alternative, and it's easier than you think. Most schools already have the equipment necessary and Margriet Ruurs has written an easy "how to" host an author Skype visit in Canadian Teacher Magazine. While you're there, check out a few of the other wonderful articles.

Help Slave Lake, AB rebuild their fire-devestated library

2011-05-21T11:21:00.001-07:00

My son-in-law has been up fighting the fire in Slave Lake Alberta. In a phone conversation to us he spoke about how terrible the destruction was. What a nightmare for the people of that fire-devestated town. My heart goes out to them. One of their losses has been their new public library. I'm so happy to see that support from other libraries, publishers and book lovers has been pouring in. Please consider helping with:
1) cash donations which can be made through www.slavelakelibrary.ab.ca on their "Make a Donation" link, or
2) donating new or nearly new books (they are asking for books no older than 2 years, probably to avoid musty cast-offs). These can be shipped to the Peace Library system headquarters for cataloguing and storage until a temporary library can be opened in Slave Lake.

ATTN: Books for Slave Lake Library
Peace Library System
8301 -- 110 Street
Grande Prairie, AB T8W 6T2

Room by Emma Donoghue

2011-05-08T09:54:00.000-07:00

I've been reading a book called Room by Emma Donoghue. It's an amazingly powerful story about a young woman who is kidnapped from her university, locked in a steel reinforced shed and forced to become a man's sex slave. She has a child, Jack who is the narrator of the story. It's a difficult and yet wonderfully told story. Aside from being a compelling story in it's own right, this is a novel that would be fabulous in terms of studying voice, character and how plot and character are and must be intertwined. Donahue totally nails both Jack and his mother's voice before they escape, and after. It's one of those must reads. Although it's fiction, Donahue has created characters who live and breathe.

Blogging vacation

2011-04-20T16:14:00.000-07:00

Life is crazy busy right now, so I've decided to cut myself a little slack. I'm taking a blogging vacation until things settle down a little. Feel free to peruse the past few years of posts. I'll still be tweeting and facebooking on occasion so I won't be disappearing entirely. Happy spring.

Rock the Drop! Support Teen Lit Day

2011-04-14T11:17:00.000-07:00

Yep, it's Teen Lit Day today, and there is no shortage of ways to celebrate. For ideas on how to make this day rock, check out YALSA (Young Adult Library Services).

Meanwhile, readergirlz, one of my favorite blogs, have come up with a pretty cool way to get the word out. It's called Rock the Drop! Here's what you do.

1. Visit their site (the link is above)

2. Download the same bookplate I've snagged below

3. Print it

4. Paste it into your favorite YA novel

5. Drop the book in a public place (bus stop, coffee shop, etc.

6. Snap a photo

7. Send it on over to readergirz AT gmail Dot com

8. check out their site to see the YA love

9. Thank the cool ladies at readergirlz

10. spread the word

Here's my contribution. I left it in the lobby of my local rec. centre and it was gone when I finished my workout an hour later. I know that whoever has it will enjoy Miss Smithers by Susan Juby.

JULIAN SMITH - I'm Reading a Book: a great way to support Teen Lit Day

2011-04-14T10:14:00.000-07:00

Today is Teen Lit Day. Yeah. I discovered this vid by way of a writer Mary McKenna Siddals. It's pretty cool, and so is Julian. If you like this, he's got some really cool other clips, music, social commentary and he isn't a bad writer either so have a look at his blog.

Flash Mob Freeze Mob to help Celebrate National Library Week, April 10-1...

2011-04-13T08:30:00.000-07:00

Thanks for Leila at Bookshelves of Doom for the heads up on this week being National Library Week as well as National Volunteer Week. Whew...busy busy week!

http://bookshelvesofdoom.blogs.com/bookshelves_of_doom/

YA Highway: Why are there so many love triangles in paranormal YA?

2011-04-12T11:27:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

Of course love triangles have been around forever! But, here's a link to an interesting post on why there are so many love triangles in YA paranormal literature . Leila Austin, the author of the post, raises the point that there are other ways of bringing conflict into young adult books. Check it out. YA Highway: Why are there so many love triangles in paranormal YA?

A word about reviews

2011-04-05T21:20:00.000-07:00

A work of art is usually pretty close to the heart of it's creators. Most of us who write, want to make a living, but most of us also want to create something special, something that others will want to read again and again. Unfortunately, not everything we create is wonderful. I don't know a writer out there who hasn't wanted to change something after a book has been published. Nothing is perfect no matter how much we want it to be. it. Sometimes it takes us a while to discover our own imperfections. Not so with reviewers. They can usually spot problems that we writers (and even editors who also end up close to a project) miss. Consequently, authors get bad reviews. It's just the way of the world.

So, what to do when you get a bad review?

Suck it up...

In other words, keep your mouth shut! If you must comment, if anything, be gracious. Thank the reviewer for their time, and move on. Bitch about the review to your family & friends if you must, but then move on to your next project. Try to use any constructive criticism to improve your next work. If there's nothing constructive in a review for you, forget it. Your job is to get work out into the world, not to worry about one opinion. Yep, that's right, a reviewer's opinion is just one opinion. We always hope reviewers will love and recommend our work. We hope all of our readers will love our work too. Some might. Some might not. You just have to get used to the fact that public criticism isn't always fair. But, one way or another, you DO have to learn to deal with it, at least if you want to survive in the world of literature, art, theatre, music, or any other art form. It's part of the business, just like rejection is. Media, whether it's internet media or print media has some great advantages and some serious headaches. My first publisher always told me that any review is a good review no matter how bad it is...it gets the word out.

Emily Dickinson's "Wild Nights-Wild Nights!"

2011-04-01T08:00:00.000-07:00

Wild Nights! Wild Nights!

By Emily Elizabeth Dickinson

Wild nights! Wild nights!
Were I with thee,
Wild nights should be
Our luxury!

Futile the winds
To a heart in port, --
Done with the compass,
Done with the chart.

Rowing in Eden!
Ah! the sea!
Might I but moor
To-night in thee!

And here's a copy of the original written by Emily. Pretty cool don't you think!

Image via Wikipedia

Poetry Month and Kidlitosphere Central

2011-03-31T22:37:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

April is an exciting month. Spring is in the air. The publishing world is aflutter with fabulous new books, and the entire month is a celebration of poetry. There are poets and poetry out there to inspire pretty much anyone and everyone. At Kidlitosphere Central, more than a dozen Kid's Lit and YA Lit bloggers have stepped up to share all things poetry; from a Poetry Potluck to a Poetry Party...from EduHaiku to Teen Poetry, you'll want to check out the links.

Mentoring

2011-03-31T12:49:00.001-07:00

I didn't have a mentor when I started out writing more than twenty years ago, but I wish I had. This morning, I spent an hour or so with a young woman interested in writing for kids. She was sweet and enthusiastic, but very naive. Many seem to view the life of a writer in romantic terms when really, it's a lot of hard work. Being a writer requires commitment and tremendous self-discipline, generally, without much in the way of monetary compensation...Ideas are all well and good. I have hundreds of story ideas. But, a book is a whole other matter. It takes time to plan, time to write, and time to revise, and then revise again. Furthermore, books involve a skill set that can't be learned overnight, and takes a lifetime to master. If it were easy, a whole lot more people would be doing it.

As well, few young people are aware that writing is actually a business. No one wants to publish your book just because! It costs publishers money in editorial time, designing time, print costs, advertising costs, and the usual overhead. Publishers want, and need, to make money from their publishing line. They won't publish your book unless it can make them money.

I hope the young woman I spoke to takes the time to learn not only the craft of writing, but the business, since the two go hand in hand. Maybe one day I'll get an excited phone call telling me that her first book is coming out. I hope so.

Diana Wynne Jones

2011-03-28T09:07:00.000-07:00

Sad news in the YA world...fantasy writer, Diana Wynne Jones has passed away. Best known for the Chrestomanci series, she started populating her books with witches, sorcerers, ghosts and goons when J.K. Rowling was still playing in the sandbox. One of the things that I particularly enjoyed about her books is her wonderful sense of humor. She could be both funny and scary, which is quite a rare mix. It's hard to believe that we'll soon be seeing the last of her phenomenal books. What a great loss. As far as I know, and surprisingly, only one of her books was turned into a movie, Howl's moving Castle, which is probably why a lot of North American readers aren't as familiar with her as they could be. I've heard that her very last book will be published by Greenwillow Books early next year. Fortunately, she leaves a huge body of work. I know I'll be downloading a few of my favorite titles on my Kobo to reread. Elizabeth Bluemle posted a great tribute on Shelftalker this morning.

Cover of Howl's Moving Castle

Aric Davis and "Nickel Plated"

2011-03-24T16:18:00.000-07:00

Aric Davis has written a very interesting article on writing for the YA market. He talks about how he dealt with the sex and violence issue in his novel Nickel Plated. Worth a look through for sure.

World Poetry Day

2011-03-21T11:19:00.000-07:00

Happy World Poetry Day. Celebrate by reading a poem, writing a poem, or sharing a poem with a friend or stranger.

Check out Re:Verse, a zine for young poets. Great poems and lots more.

Yesterday

2011-03-20T11:36:00.001-07:00

Here's a pic from my sunset run along Dallas Road yesterday. Notice that it isn't dark even though it was almost 7pm. Later some friends and I walked down to Dallas Road again to check out the super moon (when the moon is closest to the earth). It was pretty awesome, but sadly didn't get the moon over water shot I was after.

April is National Poetry Month

2011-03-16T19:41:00.000-07:00

Gregory from GottaBook will be featuring 30 Poets in 30 Days to celebrate National Poetry Month in April. Some of the poets he'll be hosting are: Arnold Adoff whom I saw many years ago and whose poetry I still adore, Vancouver's own Avis Harley, multicultural poet extraordinaire, Janet Wong, and the amazingly versatile Jane Yolen to name just a few. Do be sure to check it out his blog, and to make it easier, you can even subscribe!

YA Highway: The Importance Of Not Being Earnest All The Time

2011-03-16T10:08:00.000-07:00

I love this blog...and especially this post on dumping the expectations and just writing. Ya can't revise it if isn't written folks...YA Highway: The Importance Of Not Being Earnest All The Time

YA Highway: Writing Exercises to Get Your Pen Moving

2011-03-14T13:27:00.000-07:00

Kristin Halbrook offers a few pretty good suggestions on YA Highway for the dreaded blank page for any of you who are experienced writer's block. YA Highway: Writing Exercises to Get Your Pen Moving.

The Reinvention of Teaching by Ross Laird

2011-03-12T20:10:00.000-08:00

I was fortunate enough to hear Ross Laird speak at a Writers' Union of Canada symposium yesterday. The topic was "Securing a Footing in the Changing Literary Landscape" and boy was this guy good. He was upbeat, encouraging and full of advice and resources to help writers equip themselves for the revolution that publishing is undergoing. In fact, he's a goldmine of information on all sorts of topics, from running, to refinishing antique mahogany to how to become more web savvy.

If you are an educator, parent, or forward thinker, you won't want to miss his fabulous article on "The Reinvention of Teaching." It's provocative as well as informative. It was refreshingly concrete and not steeping in double speak!

International Women's Day, celebrating 100 years

2011-03-08T21:19:00.000-08:00

Happy International Women's Day. Although we didn't really start celebrating IWD here in North America until the 1970's, this is the 100th year celebration. Join with women across the world to celebrate the strides we have made since 1911.

Image via Wikipedia

Vacation

2011-02-27T21:06:00.000-08:00

Oscars tonight. Hawaii tomorrow. Life is not bad. I have a post scheduled while I'm away. Otherwise, see you in two weeks.

Sheryl

Resource Links Best Books of 2010 is out

2011-02-25T15:27:00.000-08:00

Resource Links has their list of best books for 2010 out. Scroll down to see the list to see the book list for grades 7-12. Some great books to explore here, as well as professional resources, audio-visual resources, and French language titles.

March 9th is World Read Aloud Day

2011-02-25T12:46:00.000-08:00

March 9th is World Read Aloud Day. Celebrate by reading your favorite book aloud to someone you love. Being read aloud to is a pleasure at any age. All you have to do is find a good book, and someone you love (or like!) to share it with. For more ideas, visit Lit World

Tips for young authors

2011-02-24T22:55:00.000-08:00

Here's another great site if you want to be a writer. This one has been put together by a children's and YA author Dee White. She has tons of info., tips and opportunities, so check it out. http://deescribewriting.wordpress.com/want-to-be-a-writer/

Figment: A great community for young writers

2011-02-24T22:23:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Sherrie for the heads up on figment, a totally awesome site for young people to share their writing, connect with a community of others with similar interests. It was started by New Yorker staff writer Danna Goodyear and Jacob Lewis, a former New Yorker managing editor. It's a place to share and comment on each other's original writing, as well as a marketing site for YA publishers. You'll find poetry, mysteries, sci-fi and cell phone novels from established and emerging writers. You can find this and so much more at figment.

Snowy day

2011-02-23T10:46:00.001-08:00

Oh my. This is what I woke up to. I've shoveled, because there was so much snow that Ruby disappeared when I let her out to pee. Just to clarify, she didn't run away, the snow was over her head! She was quite freaked out... It's still snowing though and is supposed to keep going through tomorrow! Yikes.

Scars by Cheryl Rainfield

2011-02-22T11:54:00.000-08:00

Further to my Freedom to Read post, fellow author Cheryl Rainfield has just discovered that her book Scars is being challenged in KY. Talk about timing! Here's a link with Cheryl's take on the whole situation. You can help by blogging about the book or buying the book for yourself or a teen who has self-esteem issues. Literature can be the key that unlocks the door to a young person's personal hell. Why take that opportunity away, especially when it can be so helpful? Banning or challenging books isn't new, but we don't have to lie down and accept it. We all have the right to choose what we want to read, and what we don't. If you have difficulty with a book, close it. It's as easy as that.

Freedom to Read Week

2011-02-22T11:29:00.001-08:00

It's Freedom to Read Week so get involved. Get your students to make bookmarks using banned book titles, host a public reading of banned books, read a challenged book and leave it on a bus for a stranger to find, ask your local librarian for a list of classics that have been banned or a list of current literature being challenged, and share it with colleagues. For more ideas, check out the Freedom to Read Website above.

Canadian Writers Speak Out on Copyright

2011-02-15T09:31:00.000-08:00

Young Writers Contest Deadline Contest Deadline is Feb. 18, 2011

2011-02-14T16:13:00.000-08:00

HomeI
Canadian Children's Book Centre
Book Week 2011 Writing Contest
Calling all young writers and poets!
Book Week 2011 WRITING CONTEST for Kids and Teens
Do you have a story or a poem about someone that is changing the world?
Are you in Grade 4 to 12? If so, enter the Book Week 2011 Writing Contest!
This year Book Week celebrates global citizenship. The theme Changing the World, One Child at a Time will focus on stories that highlight children and teens who are doing things to make the world a better place in their community, country, or abroad.
The stories may be fiction or non-fiction.
One winner from each grade will receive a $250 gift certificate to the bookstore of his or her choice.
Winning entries will be posted on the Book Week website – www.bookweek.ca.
Entries must be postmarked by February 18, 2011.
The story or poem must be written during the current school year.
Entrants must be in Grades 4 to 12 at the time of the contest deadline.
Entries must be written in English and must not exceed 1,500 words.
All entries must include a fully complete ENTRY FORM*
No faxed or emailed entries will be accepted.
Due to the large volume of entries, we cannot acknowledge receipt of entry.
Contest open to residents of Canada only.
Winners will be announced on May 4, 2011.

*Please note that entries not accompanied by an ENTRY FORM will not be considered.
MAIL ENTRIES TO:
Writing Contest
c/o The Canadian Children's Book Centre
Suite 101, 40 Orchard View Blvd
Toronto, Ontario
M4R 1B9

For more information about the Book Week 2011 Writing Contest, please contact Carolyn Code at 416.975.0010 ext. 227 or carolyn@bookcentre.ca.
The Book Week 2011 Writing Contest is generously sponsored by:

2010 CYBILS announced

2011-02-14T13:32:00.000-08:00

Image by Javier Volcan via Flickr

On the good news front the 2010 CYBILS were announced today. These are grass roots awards that grew out of the community of Kid lit and YA lit bloggers who wanted to celebrate the best in books for young people. Check out the winners, and don't forget that a lot of great books are to be found on the short-lists too. Spread the word about great reading for kids and young adults, and while your at it, make a donation to keep the awards going...the folks who sit on these committees, read truckloads of books until they find the best, all do this on their own time. It's Valentines day, so show them a little love.

The Book Business

2011-02-14T10:26:00.001-08:00

So it's happened...after months and months of teetering on the edge; Borders has gone under. They declared bankruptcy today. Some of you might be shrugging your shoulders. "Big deal," I can hear you saying. Well, just so you know, it is a big deal. Things are in lock down mode. Staff aren't being paid, and debts, including those to publishers & distributors aren't getting paid either. That means that vulnerable publishers don't have money to pay royalties or go ahead with printing spring and maybe even fall lists. I already know of a few writers who've had books cancelled, and the list serves are abuzz with talk about what all this means. Don't forget, this event isn't in isolation. Last week HB Fenn (a publisher and one of Canada's largest distributors) went down, and the week before Key Porter Books closed show...and Key Porter books have published some of the biggest names in books in Canada, including Margaret Atwood! It's so discouraging to be involved in books right now. Senior writers are worried if they'll have enough money to pay their bills, and so many of us had gone back to part-time work to keep the wolf from the door.

I know there will always be readers, and books will always be published in one form or another. But with it being less lucrative to publish, will only a few houses and on-line book giants control what is available? Will vibrant young writers bursting with ideas and talent want to be involved in a business that can't support them? It's all so worrisome...and I can only hope that there are still a few out there who will want to take chances, who will want to bring out books that are just safe but push creative and intellectual boundaries. I look forward things settling down in the book business soon. But I hope we don't end up with a mediocre model. I know it's hard to be creative when financial worries keep knocking at your door, but I also know that books change lives.

All of you out there who've been touched by this have my every sympathy.

Gaiman on Copyright Piracy and the Web

2011-02-13T21:15:00.000-08:00

This is a very interesting take on pirating by Neil Gaiman, one of my fav. authors.

CBC 's YA Best Book Poll

2011-02-08T12:29:00.000-08:00

CBC's Best YA Book Poll: Make sure you vote.
Here are the five titles and let me tell you that you'll have a tough time making a decision because they are all seriously good books.

Best Young Adult Novel

The Reckoning by Kelley Armstrong

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Dear George Clooney, Please Marry My Mom by Susin Nielsen

The Secret Fiend by Shane Peacock

Plain Kate by Erin Bow

Vote

Harper Canada has a new children's executive editor

2011-02-08T10:31:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Hadley Dyer, Harper Canada's new Executive Editor of Children's Books. Dyer, is both a children's editor and the YA author of one of my fav. books, Johnny Kellock Died Today. She's worked as a bookseller, at the Canadian Children's Book Centre, and as a freelance editor at James Lorimer & Company, Groundwood Books. Things are looking up at Harper Canada in the kids and YA departments. A little good news instead of the usual publishing doom and gloom.

George Clooney Please Marry My Mom

2011-02-06T09:00:00.000-08:00

It may be Super Bowl Sunday, but I'm more about Dear George Clooney Please Marry My Mom by Susin Nielsen than I am about football. I'm reading it on my Kobo, and enjoying it immensely. Nielsen is just so funny...

Ann Walsh is February speaker for Victoria Children's Literature Roundtable

2011-02-05T12:34:00.001-08:00

Next Victoria Children's Literature Roundtable Meeting: Monday, February 21, 2011

Victoria Children’s Literature Roundtable Meeting
Monday, February 21, 2011, 7:30 pm
Nellie McClung Branch of the Greater Victoria Public Library,
(Cedar Hill & McKenzie).
Doors Open at 7:00 pm, come and browse the Cadboro Bay Books table.
Everyone welcome! Cost: $5.00 at the door, Students $4.00, $25.00/year

Guest Speaker: Author Ann Walsh
Ann Walsh is well-known for her novels set in Barkerville during the Gold Rush in B.C. She will talk about her wide range of titles, such as Forestry A-Z, Horse Power, The Doctor’s Apprentice, and Your Time, My Time.

2011 Share the Love Book Event

2011-02-03T09:26:00.001-08:00

There are so many ways to share the love of books...
Buy a book for a child
Donate gently used books to a charity
Read a book to someone you love
Read to a stranger
Leave your favorite book on a bus for a stranger to find
Join a book club
Drop off a favorite book at a friend's place
Set up a book exchange between coworkers or classmates
Buy a book from your local independent bookstore
Visit your favorite author and their publisher's webpages and leave them an I love your books note
Review a book that you loved on-line via Facebook, Goodreads, etc.
Tweet about a good book.
Spread the word, and for more suggestions, visit Jenna @ One Mystake at a Tyme for more info. and to post on how you've been sharing your love of books.

Philip Pullman speaks out against library cuts

2011-02-02T10:38:00.000-08:00

No matter where you live, libraries are being hammered. Not only do they have to make do with less, but their dollars have to cover increasingly expensive technologies as well as books. So far, librarians and library administers have come up with creative ways to keep services going, but there comes a point when it will be impossible to keep afloat no matter how Herculean the effort. Libraries are bleeding, not only here in North America, but in England. Many of us have stood up to support our libraries, but our voices aren't being heard. Philip Pullman, author of The Golden Compass, has added his voice to the chorus. Perhaps someone will listen if enough of us speak out. Read his speech here.

New Youth Literacy Website

2011-02-01T17:24:00.000-08:00

Fellow author Pam Withers and a few colleagues have set up a pretty cool non-profit youth literacy website that you may want to check out. It's called "Keen Readers" and it's full of resources including: articles, tips, interviews, reviews, writing contests, and even a blog that parents, mentors and kids will find useful. For example, I found a whole page of resources for reluctant readers. Here's the link.

Lois Lowry advice shared by Lee Wind

2011-01-29T10:56:00.000-08:00

Image via Wikipedia

To all you writers out here here's some wonderful advice from the author of The Giver and several dozen other books, Lois Lowry.

"retell your own stories from your life
give sorrow words
give happiness words,
give jealousy words,
give anxiety words,
give fear words -
take those intense emotions you've experienced in your life, and give them words."

Thanks to Lee Wind for taking notes and blogging them so that those of us who can't attend the SCBWI Conference in New York this weekend can share insights into the creative process of greats like Lois Lowry.

Family Literacy Day

2011-01-27T10:55:00.000-08:00

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Today is Family Literacy Day. There are lots of ways to support Family Literacy all year round though so turn off the TV and play a game of scrabble with your kids, read them a picture book or a chapter of a novel (kids are never too old to be read to), or follow a recipe and bake a cake together. Above all, act as a role model and get caught out reading on a regular basis. For more ideas and information, visit ABC Life Literacy Canada.

TED, Amazon to Launch TEDBooks

2011-01-26T15:49:00.000-08:00

Exciting news, TED the non-profit group that provides a platform for the important thinkers, writers, artists and scientists of our age, will launching TEDBooks in an e-format in cooperation with Amazon. This will be an awesome opportunity for young reader readers to pick up books by some of the best minds in the world today, and all for under $3.00. If you've never been to TED, you may want to check it out some of their videotaped lectures. To start, three e-books will be launched.

A brief review of The Library of the Early Mind

2011-01-22T21:55:00.001-08:00

On January 20th The University of Victoria had the honor of hosting the Canadian premiere of the "Library of the Early Mind," a documentary by Edward J. Delaney and Steven Withrow to a packed house. It was the most wonderful evening and a great way to celebrate my 58th birthday...it began with a children's book donation to support local groups who support children. The Dean of Education, Dr. Ted Riecken, welcomed the audience and introduced a children's literature panel. Dr. Sylvia Pantaleo introduced the film and gave a little background on it's creators. After the documentary was shown, the panelists, including myself, Kid's Can Press editor and non-fiction writer, Val Wyatt, Governor General short-listed illustrator, Kristi Bridgeman, and Victoria Public Library Children's and Youth Services Coordinator, Tracy Kendrick, were led in a lively discussion led by moderator, Dr. Pantaleo. The film was so jammed packed full of the most interesting interviews and insights that the discussion could have gone on for hours. Creators like: Chris Van Allsburg, Daniel Handler (AKA Lemony Snicket), Lois Lowry, David Small, Mo Willems, Patrick Lane, and many others, offered inspirational insights and pearls of wisdom about the impact of children's literature on children and the adults they will become. Social responsibility, creativity, cultural impact, new media, the importance of literature, and the ability of literature to open doors were only some of the subjects touched on. In addition to interviews with creators, critics such as Roger Sutton and Anita Silvey were interviewed. Librarians such as Betsy Bird and editors like Arthur Levine also offered their insights. There were three things disappointing about the film. The first is that it didn't include any Canadian talent. The second is that it was over far too soon. And the third was that one could not stop the film repeatedly to take notes; there was just too much to take in. I can only hope that it will soon be available on DVD. Every school, library, and writer will want one. Thank you to Edward and Steve for devoting the time and resources to the creation of this wonderful documentary. Thank you to a fabulous panel for providing a Canadian perspective. And thank you to Dr. Sylvia Pantaleo and The Department of Education of the University of Victoria for bringing it to Canada.

Martin Luther King Day

2011-01-17T09:57:00.000-08:00

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Happy Martin Luther King Day. We don't celebrate it here in Canada, but Betsy Bird has provided at great list of books if you want to find out more about this amazing American who influenced so many.

The "N" word and Huck Finn

2011-01-14T11:52:00.000-08:00

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The Mark Twain "white wash" controversy continues. I'm sure you've all heard about the removal of the word "nigger" from Huck Finn and it's replacement with the word "slave." Jon Stewart did quite a funny piece on it on the John Stewart Show. Here is the Canadian link. And here is the American link.

One one side of the coin, is the argument that the book will be more widely read, especially in high schools, if the "N" word is changed, On the other hand, some people feel that Twain wanted us to be uncomfortable with the racial epitaph and taking it out is contrary to Twain's intention. For a more serious look at the question, Katie Davis has interviewed Dr. Alan Gribben, the editor who made the decision to make the change. It's worth listening to.

Words to live by

2011-01-13T00:15:00.001-08:00

Obama's Arizona speech moved me to tears. Here is the link, and here are a few of the words that all of us who want a better world for our children ought heed.

"We recognize our own mortality, and we are reminded that in the fleeting time we have on this Earth, what matters is not wealth, or status, or power, or fame -– but rather, how well we have loved -- and what small part we have played in making the lives of other people better."

Thank you Mr. President.

More on ALA Awards

2011-01-12T22:07:00.000-08:00

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More on ALA Awards...so many good books to read!

Margaret A. Edwards Award honors an author, as well as a specific body of his or  her work, for significant and lasting contribution to young adult literature.   

Sir Terry Pratchett is the 2011 Edwards Award winner. His books include: The  amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents The Wee Free Men, A Hat Full  of Sky, The Color of Magic, Guards! Guards!, Equal Rites, Going Postal, Small Gods and Mort. 

Schneider Family Book Award for books that embody an artistic expression of the  disability experience

Schneider Teen Award (ages 13-18) Five Flavors of Dumb by Antony  John and published by Dial Books

Alex Awards for the 10 best adult books that appeal to teen audiences 

The Reapers Are the Angels: A Novel by Alden Bell, published by Holt  Paperbacks

The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake: A Novel by Aimee Bender, published by  Doubleday

 The House of Tomorrow by Peter Bognanni, published by Amy Einhorn Books

Room: A Novel by Emma Donoghue, published by Little, Brown and

The Vanishing of Katharina Linden: A Novel by Helen Grant, published by  Delacorte

The Radleys by Matt Haig published by Free Press

The Lock Artist by Steve Hamilton, published by Thomas Dunne Books for  Minotaur Books

Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok, published by RiverheadBooks

Breaking Night: A Memoir of Forgiveness, Survival, and My Journey from Homeless  to Harvard,” by Liz Murray, published by Hyperion

The Boy Who Couldn’t Sleep and Never Had To by DC Pierson, published by  Vintage Books

2011 Printz Award for YA lit.

2011-01-10T20:44:00.000-08:00

ALA announced their awards today. Here's the YA award winner and honor books. I'll post a few more award winners over the next few days so you aren't overwhelmed.

Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in literature written for young adults

Ship Breaker written by Paolo Bacigalupi and published by Little, Brown and Company

Printz Honor Books

Stolen by Lucy Christopher and published by Chicken House

Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King and published by Alfred A. Knopf

Revolver by Marcus Sedgwick and published by Roaring Brook Press
Nothing by Janne Teller and published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Happy reading...

Tweeting on Twitter

2011-01-07T14:53:00.001-08:00

Image via CrunchBase

Yes, I've finally done it...I've joined the ranks of millions tweeting. In fact, I think I might like it since the posts are short and sweet. On the other hand, there are sooo many. I'll have to be careful to keep my WIP in my sights and ignore twitter while I'm working. You can locate me by going to twitter and searching for "@sherylbooks" or follow the link on the sidebar.

Library of the Early Mind coming to Victoria

2011-01-05T12:12:00.000-08:00

Mark your calendars for an exciting children's literature event. Library of the Early Mind, a documentary that explores children's literature, is coming to Victoria on January 20th at UVIC at the David Lam Auditorium at 7pm. This free documentary will be followed by a children's literature panel moderated by Professor Sylvia Pantaleo to discuss the film's themes from a Canadian perspective. The panel features, Valerie Wyatt, an editor with Kids Can Press and the author of the award-winning How to build Your Own Country, Kristi Bridgeman, illustrator of the Governor General's short-listed Uirapurú written by the late P.K. Page, Tracy Kendrick, Coordinator of Children's and Teen Services for Victoria Public Library and Sheryl McFarlane, author of Waiting for the Whales.

Happy 2011

2011-01-04T14:15:00.001-08:00

Image by by Lorena via Flickr

Welcome back and happy 2011 to everyone. I'll start posting in a few days...I rang in the new year with a bit of a bad back, but watch for posts again in a few more days.

Dark Trends Teen Lit.

2010-12-29T09:37:00.000-08:00

The New York Times had quite an interesting article on the trend toward dystopian writing in teen fiction. It's worth checking out, including the various comments after the article. Then follow up with the discussion on agent Suzie Townsend's Confessions of a Wandering Heart blog.

This John Green clip is too funny to resist

2010-12-23T15:14:00.000-08:00

I've already declared my away status, but I couldn't resist this too funny John Green video. Green just happens to be one of my fav. YA authors...and he was on Jeopardy (well sort of)...and he does an awesome happy dance.

What more can you want from an author? Good books you say...Ya, he's got those too.

An Abundance of Katherines and Looking for Alaska are both sooo good.

WGSS Teacher Skit Flash Mob - Don't Stop Believin' (Glee) - Christmas Sk...

2010-12-23T09:47:00.000-08:00

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Wishing everyone out there a fabulous holiday season. Here's a little Xmas present from Walnut Grove High School Teachers and Admin. I wish my high school staff had been this much fun...Back Soon.

Bull's Eye by Sarah Harvey

2010-12-18T20:00:00.000-08:00

I love Sarah Harvey. For one thing, she's an amazing writer, and for another, she's incredibly prolific. In fact, I can't seem to keep up with her. I thought I'd read most of her books, and then the other day I came across Bull's Eye, a young adult high interest novel for reluctant readers that I couldn't put down. Harvey has a hook-you-from-the-get-go style that doesn't let up. Listen to the opening line..."I'm the only one home when the UPS guy delivers the package that blows up my life."

See what I mean! And, the package in question has nothing to do with real bombs, at least not of the 9/11 sort. The explosion that rocks Emily's world is an emotional one; and once it goes off, it sends both her and her mother reeling. The package contains the truth about Emily's real mother, now dead of a drug overdose. Everything the "un-mom" has told Emily is a lie. Emily has to get away. She has to find out who her father is. It doesn't take long to track him down, but she's too late by a year having been killed by a drunk driver. Emily returns home but finds herself lashing out but she gets caught before things escalate too far. She's fortunate enough to be sentenced under the restorative justice model; counseling once a week and community service twice a week at an after school daycare. This is where she meets a 7-year-old April who helps her discover that family isn't all about biology.

Bulls Eye is a quick read, but like most of the other books from The Sounding Series, it's well worth the 100 or so pages and hour or two of your time.

The Smell of Paint

2010-12-14T12:44:00.000-08:00

Air Productions Co. did this book trailer for The Smell of Paint. I realize that I forgot to post this trailer. Better late than not at all!

Opportunities for Young Authors

2010-12-12T10:16:00.001-08:00

Hey if you are a keen young writer and you're 15 or older, check out this http://www.youthwrite.com/. They do weekend workshops during the winter, but a longer writing camp during the summer, so even if you don't live near Edmonton, Alberta, you should check them out. They offer one-on-one blue pencil cafes, authors/teachers who are some of the best in their field including TV script writers, and they've even started a Spoken Word Youth Choir. Here's one of their performances written by Gail Sidonie Sobat.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1

2010-12-08T19:36:00.000-08:00

So last week one of my daughters and I spent a rainy afternoon watching the new Harry Potter movie. I admit, that I went in with attitude; I loved the books...all of them. Would the movie be as good? But, as a serious fan, it's hard to stay away. Just like the previous two Potter films, my attitude was swept away within the first few minutes The movie was totally absorbing. In fact, when the lights went on I wasn't ready to let go of Harry, Hermione and Ron.

The film is centered around the fast-paced race for our three heroes to find and destroy the evil Horcruxes before the Dark Lord can get his hands on them. Unfortunately, it seems the Ministry of Magic and Hogwarts School of Magic have already been infiltrated by said evil so our three heroes are on their own. While they do get help from an unexpected quarter, the movie ends with a chilling scene that will leave you on the edge.

There were so many scary scenes though, that I wouldn't recommend this one for kids. I mean there were times when I found myself either closing my eyes or biting my nails or both. And if the truth be known, more than one involuntary gasp escaped my clenched jaw...resulting in a hissed "shhhh" from my daughter.

So what I want to know is...When is Part 2 out! Since I can't wait, I'll probably be rereading the whole book sometime very very soon. I did notice that a game for The Deathly Hallows Part 1...but, you probably already knew that.

Today I'm going to see the new Harry Potter

2010-12-02T09:44:00.000-08:00

Off to see Harry Potter this afternoon. I know...I know. You've probably already seen it. But, I refuse to line up in the rain, which is what I would have had to do to see it sooner. I hear it's quite dark, which would be in keeping with the novel. Will report back.

Also have another review coming up of one of Sarah Harvey's books, but probably won't get to that until my daughter, who is visiting, heads back home to Vancouver.

In the meantime, here are some virtual cookies for you to munch.

CBC Books - The Book Club - YA Death Match final round

2010-11-23T09:45:00.000-08:00

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If you're a fan of Anne Shirley of Anne of Green Gables, you better come to her defense because she's about to get smacked down in the CBC Books - The Book Club - YA Death Match final round against Harry Potter and Clary Fray. Clary calls Anne "more suitable for tourists looking for a photo than for battle". She doesn't consider Harry Potter a serious contender either and recommends throwing Potter pity party given that he's had it so tough going to a private school and all. So, get on over to the CBC - YA Book Club and vote if you don't want Anne to be history!

Writer's Digest 11th Annual Short Story Competition

2010-11-18T12:01:00.000-08:00

For anyone out there who happens to be crazy enough to want to get into the writing business, Writer's Digest is having a short story writing contest with some seriously sweet prizes. They're looking for bold and brilliant stories under 1500 words. You don't have much time. Contest submission closes December 1, 2010. So get writing, and once you've got a completed manuscript, edit, edit, and edit some more.

Image by yeah but via Flickr

2010 Governor General's Award for young adult lit.

2010-11-16T09:11:00.000-08:00

Children’s Literature – Text

Wendy Phillips, Richmond (British Columbia), Fishtailing(Coteau Books; distributed by Publishers Group of Canada)

In this highly-inventive, poetic narrative, four compelling characters take the reader on a wild ride through the dangerous terrain of friendships threatened by manipulative acts. Deftly switching voices,
Wendy Phillips creates a powerful momentum in Fishtailing that leaves the reader breathless.

CBC Books - The Book Club - YA Death Match, round two bonus showdown: Boy Sherlock Holmes takes on Alanna

2010-11-15T10:00:00.000-08:00

In more news, Boy Sherlock Holmes needs your votes in CBC's Book Club's "YA Death Match".

Which is your favorite sleuth? My colleague Shane Peacock (author of the Boy Sherlock Holmes series) is counting on your votes as his character takes on Alanna from the Song of the Lioness series. Follow the link to vote NOW. CBC Books - The Book Club - YA Death Match, round two bonus showdown: Boy Sherlock Holmes takes on Alanna.

Interesting Interview with Suzanne Collins

2010-11-15T09:38:00.000-08:00

The "Where do you get your ideas from?" may be one of the most common questions asked of authors, but it is often a very complex one to answer. I came across an excellent interview with Suzanne Collins, author of The Huger Games Triology in the Huffington Post. It's well word reading. What I found most interesting was how bits and pieces of things came together to inspire her...the desensitizing influence of television, the Greek Myth of Theseus and the Minotaur in which 14 children are sacrificed to keep Athens safe, and Spartacus (a classic film starring Kirk Douglas as a rebellious Roman slave which just happens to be one of my all time favorites). The magic of writing is in taking all these threads of inspiration and ideas and weaving them together into a compelling story. No question that Suzanne Collins has done just that.

Salt by Maurice Gee

2010-11-12T11:14:00.000-08:00

I recently read Salt by New Zealander, Maurice Gee while on a road trip to the American Southwest and couldn't put it down. Set in a dystopian world on the brink of destruction, it it is a world that shares similarities with our own. Salt is the classic story of a boy and a girl from opposite social classes who find themselves dependent upon each other for their struggle to survive.

Hari lives in Blood Burrow, the decaying remains of a city that lies in ruins. The inhabitants of Blood Burrow must fend for themselves against packs of starving dogs, rats, and the "Company Whips" who come in search of forced labour. Hari's father Tarl is captured by the Company Whips, but his resistance earns him a place in Deep Salt, a terrible mine from which no one has ever returned. Hari has no choice but to try to save his father. Along the way he meets Pearl, a privileged girl from the city where Company operates. The fact that she is fleeing her former life as well as an arranged marriage, doesn't endear her to Hari. But, he needs her help, and the help of her extraordinary maid, Tealeaf to save his father from Deep Salt. And, the three share the same unusual ability to communicate telepathically.

The fact that Gee's pacing is impeccable, that his descriptions are easy to visualize, and that his characters are compelling, makes this a story worth reading. Still, Salt offers much more. The world Gee has built is one you'll want to know more of because it shares so much with our own. It is a place where greed prospers alongside unselfish sacrifice. It's a world with potential for greatness, and equal potential for senseless violence. It is a world that teeters on the brink, and you'll want to know how it fares in the future. And guess what! The second installment of this planned trilogy is available, so I'm off to buy book two, Cool.

Lest we forget

2010-11-11T09:38:00.001-08:00

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Today's post is a poem written by John Gillespie Magee, a young Canadian pilot who did not survive World War II. He wrote this at age 19 a few months before he died.

High Flight

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth

And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;

Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth

of sun-split clouds, — and done a hundred things

You have not dreamed of — wheeled and soared and swung

High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there,

I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung

My eager craft thro' footless halls of air....

Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue

I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace

Where never lark nor even eagle flew—

And, while with silent lifting mind I’ve trod

The high untrespassed sanctity of space,

Put out my hand, and touched the face of God

*Thanks to my friend Linda Granfield for the reminder. She's one of those special people in the world who has been able to lead the way in helping us celebrate fallen soldiers without glorifying war itself. Thanks for all your work Linda.

The Vow of Silence

2010-11-09T19:54:00.000-08:00

I confess that I'm a community activist from way back...When I was in high school, I protested the Vietnam War, became a vegetarian in my staunchly meat-eating house, and helped get a recycling centre going. So, when I came across The Vow of Silence sponsored by Free The Children as a way to raise funds to support Children's Rights, I decided I'd better post a link in case you haven't heard about it. It's backyard activism at it's best. Check it out and see if you agree, and if you do, get a friend or two to join in. The money you raise will make a difference to another kid or teen somewhere in the world we share.

Image by iomarch via Flickr

The next travel installment

2010-11-02T22:38:00.000-07:00

Here's the next travel installment...

Weather has been fabulous...we're so lucky. Went to Arches National Park and had a really hard time leaving. It's one of those magical places in the world, especially with so few tourists visiting during the late fall. Having stayed in nearby Moab, Utah, we were able to get there quite early. The sky was crystal clear, and we definitely need our toques, gloves and down jackets. We did several short hikes which added up since the elevation was between 3900 and 5800 feet. One of the hikes we took was led by a young volunteer and his theme was survival of the park. This is a place whose survival is in our hands. These parks are such a treasure. This is a place I want to go back to...

Down the road in another canyon cut by this lovely sedate river, we discovered some amazing petroglyphs. There were dozens of panels that stretched about 125 feet along a rock face. I'm including one of the panels.

We left these amazing petroglyphs just as the sun was setting and drove some long hours through two mountain passes that had me white knuckling the steering wheel so that we could be close to Zion National Park the next morning. It was worth the drive even though it was probably the most developed of the parks we'd been to, complete with shuttle busses. See for yourself.

The road out of Zion to Bryce is seriously scary with 1000 foot drops and no rail guards and a series of tunnels blasted through the sandstone during the depression. One of the tunnels was over a mile long.

We stayed just outside of Bryce National Park that night and it's a good thing we did. Although we woke up to sunny clear skies, by 2 pm, the first snow storm of the season hit. The altitude made for hard hiking. We started out at 6500 feet and topped out at 9100 feet. The last time I was there (30 years ago) I hiked the entire way up to Rainbow Ridge, but this time, we drove most of the way. Still, it was beautiful.

After Bryce, we did a lot of driving...and driving...and driving until we hit the Columbia River Valley. We decided to go to the top of the ridge for the views and discovered wind, and power in the form of 500 + wind turbines (soon to be 1000) in high ranch country. I was kind of excited about the whole renewable energy in action concept until we had lunch in the tiny town of Bickleton (population 90) where a man by the name of Bob, the County Highways Supervisor informed us that most of the power produced in the area goes to California...go figure!

At least Bickleton is getting a new school out of the deal, although not much else seems to have changed there in the last fifty years.

The last place on our list to see was Mount St. Helens National Volcano Park. On the way there the rain was coming down so hard that we could hardly see the road. We were almost ready to cancel the Mount St. Helens portion of the trip, but decided to hang around to see if the weather cleared. Lucky us...it did. The views were stunning. I remember when this volcano blew back in 1980. The blast snapped trees as if they were matchsticks, and ash filled the air for months. It changed the face of the valley, and the pacific northwest. It reminded us that nothing is permanent. After a few hours of fog, and a climb of a few thousand feet (by car, not foot), this was our reward...

We've only a few days left before crossing the border and taking the ferry home. It's been a wonderful adventure. Glad to have shared a little of it with you...

Sheryl

The trip so far

2010-10-31T20:40:00.000-07:00

Apologies. It's been ages since my last post, but between driving, hiking, visiting, and reading natural history material in preparation for our next stop, I have been slack with posting. But, we've been having a wonderful time so far and I do promise to post of couple of reviews of books I've read soon. In the meantime here's a bit of a travel log.

After a few days of visiting my mom, we went to Bodie, California, an abandoned mining town which sits at nearly 9000 feet. It was fascinating.

Then onto Manzanar, California, the home of a US Japanese internment camp in the middle of Owens Valley (the place where water was taken from to feed LA; it's the basis of ChinaTown, a movie about how corruption let to 95% of the Valley's water being sucked dry). Apparently it used to boast being fertile orchard country.

After another long drive, that included a tour through Death Valley before we visited the Grand Canyon. These photos don't come close to the grandeur...

Then onto my brother Bart's in Phoenix. We cruised around Canyon Lake, which I hadn't been to since I was a kid (it's one of the nearby lakes where we used to camp when I was a kid). We also went to the Museum of Music which is world class, and so well done; it was amazing and well worth a visit if you're in the area.

When we left Phoenix we headed for more Canyon Country. The first stop was Monument Valley where a lot of the westerns were filmed. We also visited Gooseneck State Park.

We've been covering a lot of miles, but every day seems to be a highlight. We visited Mesa Verde, one of the homes of the Anasazi (a word no longer in use by the way) which totally blew me away. The drive up and down just about did me away, with hairpin turns and steep cliffs, it sits atop the very high dessert mesa pictured here.

I thought Mesa Verde was amazing. Then we went to Chaco, New Mexico, another home of the "Ancient Ones" ( 850-1100 AD). It was desolate and beautiful and amazing. It's been called the North American equivalent to Stonehenge since the building site is aligned such that light shines through corner openings at specific times of the year to capture solar and lunar cycles. It was a major cultural centre for the Pueblo peoples and comprised the largest buildings in North America until the 19th century. It's mainly quarried sandstone, but the Chacoans hauled wood for roofing from as far as 50 miles away... without the aid of the wheel!

Next installment in our Four Corners visit is Arches National Park and then Bryce Canyon and points north.

Suzanne Collins coming to Vancouver, BC

2010-10-12T12:24:00.000-07:00

Dratted. I just heard that Suzanne Collins of The Hunger Games trilogy fame will be in Vancouver, BC on November 2th at Vancouver Kids Books. I won't be back from my trip by then, but if you're anywhere near Vancouver, I hope you get a chance to see her. The event is expected to sell out so get your tickets early.

Sad & Excited

2010-10-12T12:20:00.000-07:00

Just said goodbye to my girls after a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend. I'm sad and excited all rolled into one. I treasure the time we spend together now that they each have their own busy lives, but this leaving was made easier because tomorrow is day one of a month long road trip to the American Southwest where I'll get to reconnect with my mom and sibs, and where I'd love to set a novel (after the one I'm working on now).

This has to be a short and sweet post as I'm on the run to get a million errands done. My next chore (hee hee) will be to pick out a couple of books from my bedside pile to bring along. I had planned to bring Inkdeath, the third in Cornelia Funke's Inkworld series but I've decided against it as I'm having a hard time getting into it even though I grew to care about Meggie, her parents and the fire-eater Dustfinger in the first two books. No worries though...there's the pile to choose from is BIG! I'm thinking I'll start with Salt by New Zealand writer, Maurice Gee since I've heard nothing but good things about it.

Canadian Thanksgiving coming up.

2010-10-05T14:07:00.000-07:00

Image by bucklava via Flickr

I'll be on wonderful Quadra Island, BC working for the next several days and will be picking my girls up from the ferry on my way back into town on Friday night. They'll be home for the long weekend (Canadian Thanksgiving) so no posts for a while, especially since I have to make apple, pumpkin and blackberry pie to keep everyone happy! Not to mention turkey! Hope you all have a great book to read!

ADD on the YA Highway

2010-10-04T09:55:00.000-07:00

Image by photognome via Flickr

Great post on YA Highway this morning on how an ADD teen might receive your book. It's too funny. Kristin Briana Otts compared the first lines or paragraphs of several classics like To Kill A Mockingbird, Brave New World and Jane Eyre for ADD friendliness and throws The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman into the mix as a comparison. Her conclusion is no surprise...tight first lines may win you an agent, as well as teen readers down the road. Of course this is something that all YA writers know right? But, hey an occasional reminder won't hurt.

Just so you know, Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book rated 10/10 ADD friendly! I totally loved that book, whereas Jane Eyre only managed a 3/10 for ADD friendliness. I never did get through that one (sorry all you Bronte fans, but I found it a bit tedious. But I do like this new cover. Hmmm, red shiny things...I wonder if that makes me ADD...

One Love | Playing For Change | Song Around the World

2010-10-02T17:58:00.000-07:00

This is an amazing clip. It's creative and clear and just plain great music.

I had to post it even though it isn't book related. Maybe it will inspire someone to create a literature-based spin-off. If you do, please let me know. Until then, enjoy!

Teen Writing Groups

2010-10-02T10:26:00.001-07:00

I happened to come across this youth writing program when I was looking for something else. If you live near Edmonton or Calgary, Alberta, are between the ages of 14 and 19 and are interested in honing your writing craft, check out these two groups that meet on a monthly basis.

Teen Writing Groups – Edmonton and Calgary
The WGA Teen Writing Groups meet on a monthly basis and are mentored by writers Erinne Sevigny (Edmonton) and Sarah Ivany (Calgary). The purpose of the groups is to unite teens interested in pursuing the craft of writing and provide a fun, friendly, safe and structured environment for participants to receive constructive feedback on their writing, involve themselves in literary discussion, take part in on-site projects and learning sessions with exciting guests, and engage with like-minded young writers. The age range for these groups are 14 - 19 (Edmonton) and 15 - 18 (Calgary).

Themes that the groups have explored include fiction, poetry, travel writing, memoir and songwriting. Guest appearances have included Patrick Pilarski, Nicole Pakan, Aaron Macri, Trisia Eddy, Hiromi Goto and Heather Clitheroe.

If you'd like to join a group or obtain further information, please contact:

Erinne Sevigny: erinnesevigny@gmail.com (Edmonton group)
Sarah Ivany: sivany@broadviewpress.com (Calgary group)

An Important Message from Ellen About Bullying

2010-10-02T09:31:00.000-07:00

Thank you Ellen for tackling bullying. You are so right. Bullying is far too accepted, and now we have cyber bullying to contend too. There's nothing ok about the way Tyler's privacy was invaded. There's nothing ok about bullying period.

Banned Books Reviewed link

2010-09-30T11:55:00.000-07:00

Image by ru_24_real via Flickr

My wonderful agent Suzie Townsend had a great Banned Books Reviews post today on her blog. Check it out.

Sorry Suzie. Couldn't find a pic of you on Zemanta Assitant. But I did stumble on this picture of a Townsend's Warbler. It's shares your name and upbeat personality so I thought you'd appreciate it. It also has the advantage of not infringing on anyone's copyright.

Virtual Classroom visits

2010-09-28T13:27:00.001-07:00

Image via CrunchBase

Lately I've been posting about banned books, but today I want talk about the importance of celebrating literacy to encourage reading. A great way to kick off or culminate a literacy focus for your school is through an author visit. I say this not just as an author, but as a former teacher. I've seen so many connections between writer and reader from both sides. They can be truly transformative. I recall one school visit where a student was so excited about the topic (bald eagles) that he ended up assisting me in a fact game. He was thrilled. I learned later that this student was autistic and did not generally participate in class discussions. Other visits have culminated in story writing, art displays, research projects, and book journeys that may not have otherwise happened.

Unfortunately, in this climate of economic constraint, not all schools can afford to have an author visit no matter how wonderful the connections between writer and reader. Now, there is another way, a virtual author visit using Skype. While I've not myself participated in a virtual classroom visit, many of my colleagues. While they do pose some challenges, virtual classroom visits can be very rewarding. This summer when visiting Salt Spring Island, my colleague and friend Margriet Ruurs showed me how it's done. One of these days, I'll give it a try. But, in the meantime Margriet has written a helpful article about it in Canadian Teacher Magazine; Using Skype to Bring Experts into the Classroom by Margriet Ruurs. You won't regret it.

The Gryphon Project by Carrie Mac

2010-09-24T14:53:00.000-07:00

I just finished The Griphon Project by Carrie Mac, a book I've been looking forward to reading long before it won the BC Book Prize for Young Adult Literature this year. I love Mac's writing, it's usually tight, yet language rich with unusual thematic juxtapositions and metaphors that make you stop and say "Wow! I wish I'd written that."

Although I enjoyed it, I found The Gryphon Project to be a little less satisfying than other books I've read by Mac.

The sci-fi story with a recognizable near future setting evolves around Phoenix, her brother and their friends. When we first meet her, Phoenix has the ideal family, the ideal older brother, and the ideal life, other than the fact that she has only one life left after having used two up prior to the age of six. Most people in her social class are allotted three lives, and most still have all three. Gryphon, Phoenix's older brother, is an all star athlete and poster boy for Chrysalis, the governing body who controls after death recons. This ensures that their family leads an even more privileged existence. But things start to go awry when Gryphon and some of his friends engage in progressively more and more risky stunts. By contrast, the lack of recons available to her, turn Phoenix into a worrier. Secrets that she'd rather not know are dropped into her lap just before Gryphon has a horrible accident. Unbelievably, Chrysalis deems Gryphon's death a suicide and everyone knows there are no recons for suicides. There's only one way to prove Gryphon's death was an accident, but his friends aren't talking and have shut Phoenix out. Still, Phoenix is determined to break their code of silence and save her brother even if it means risking her last life by going into dangerous territory.

Although the book has some great writing and interesting plot twists, in the end it was a little disappointing. I found the main character's self-absorption got in the way of a story. This may be a case of Mac trying to take on too much in one story. While the The Gryphon Project never really lived up to it's science-fiction thriller billing, it did raise some very compelling social issues; something Mac has always shown herself to be a master at. The Gryphon Project isn't all I'd hoped for, but it is worth a read.

The Oak Bay Book Worm is reading Waiting for the Whales

2010-09-20T11:07:00.000-07:00

For the last several months, The Oak Bay Book Worm has been reading a different book every week, Alice in Wonderland, Treasure Island, Moby Dick are a few of the books being read. My dog Ruby, aka "the shadow" is checking out what the Oak Bay Book Worm is reading this week; it's Waiting for the Whales! Dan Bell, the creative horticulturalist behind The Oak Bay Book Worm, and all sorts of other horticultural masterpieces, you are awesome!

By the way, if you like what you see, let the Parks & Rec. Department of Oak Bay know. I'm sure it would be a treat for them to hear some positive feedback for their wonderful living art, especially art that has encouraged reading. And, it's always nice to have one of your own books on the Book Worm's reading radar.

Laurie Halse Anderson - Speak Poem

2010-09-20T07:51:00.000-07:00

Here is Laurie Halse Anderson reading from her poem, "Listen". Once you've listened, I hope that you too will speak out about how books help to heal...

Speak shouldn't be silenced by censors

2010-09-19T10:06:00.000-07:00

Censorship is rearing it's ugly head again, this time in Springfield, Mo where a university prof by the name of Wesley Scroggins wrote an opinion piece for the local paper where he characterized Speak, by Lauie Halse Anderson as filthy, immoral soft porn. Apparently professor Scroggins doesn't understand that the rape scenes in the novel are not there for titillation. His conclusions are disturbing at best. I'd like to remind readers that Speak was a Printz Honor Book, a National Book Award Finalist, and a New York Times Best Seller that has given voice to victims for the last ten years.

I'm sad to say that the need for books that give victims a voice are as important today as the day Speak was released. A mere week ago in a community near Vancouver, Canada, a 16 year old girl was drugged and gang-raped at a rave. Cell phone pictures were posted by a 16 year old boy with no thought of the fact that this girl is forced to relive that horrendous experience time and time again. If more of the young people involved had read Speak, and gained insight into how insidious and horrendous rape is, the situation might have been prevented. I have given Speak to countless young women, including my own three daughters. I wish I had given it to more young men. This is an important book that NEEDS to be available. And it's important that we speak to our young people about the difference between consensual sex and rape.

Book Airlift to LA

2010-09-15T14:38:00.000-07:00

A few months ago, I was contacted by Helaine Becker, a writer friend. She'd been in LA and had visited a school with virtually no books on the library shelves. Not one to accept the status quo, Helaine decided to do something about it. That something is about to come to fruition.

The following is a press release she sent along this morning.

Children’s book author orchestrates Canada-wide book drive to stack library shelves of inner city school in Los Angeles.

Helaine Becker’s Airlift to LA highlights the state of Canadian school libraries.

August 23, 2010 (Toronto, ON) Shocked by the empty library bookshelves during an author visit to a Los Angeles-area elementary school, children’s book author Helaine Becker is taking action. She’s started a campaign to put books in the hands of disadvantaged children in LA, and, just as important, is bringing attention to the alarming state of Canadian school libraries.

Becker, an award-winning Toronto area author, has written over 40 books for children, including Science on the Loose (Maple Tree Press 2008), and is known for her wacky, off beat humour for the younger set.

In a recent trip to California, Becker collected over 650 books (most were discards from more affluent schools) for Barton Elementary School, located in an inner city area of Long Beach. Books not up to library standards were given directly to the children and for most of these children, it was the first time they had ever owned a book or even read for pleasure. Now back in Canada, Helaine is spearheading a campaign — Airlift to LA — to stock the shelves of another Los Angeles-area elementary school in the Compton district.

“The three schools I visited were all understaffed, underfunded, and under stocked to the point of breakdown,” explains Becker. “I was completely shocked by how bad the situation was there. The way U.S. schools are funded through property taxes means schools in low-income areas have virtually no ability to meet existing school standards, nor to effectively educate the next generation.

“My hope is that by helping the kids in the Compton-area, we will not only deliver books to kids who need them, but also draw attention to the fact that Canadian school libraries are heading the same way. Our libraries are also dramatically underfunded, in every single province and territory,” explains Becker who recently visited a northern Canadian school whose dusty shelves included books such as The Red Indian and Young John Kennedy. “If you only have a part-time library tech to come in and look after the place one half-day a week, and no funding to restock the shelves with books less than 50 years-old, well, Compton, here we come.”

A long-time advocate for school libraries, Becker sees helping the children in LA as a short-term solution. “The real problem we are trying to address is the systemic problems we face on both sides of the border. Almost none of the school libraries I visit are up to Canadian standards set by the Canadian Library Association,” says Becker who authored a document that allows the public to determine how their school libraries stack up. “If they do the assessment they will see how poorly we are doing and, as a result, why our literacy numbers are going sideways. My hope is that the public will use the results to put pressure on the government to put the funding back where it can do so much good — in a fully-functioning, fully-staffed school library.”
Becker has partnered with Sandra Tsing-Loh, columnist and local celebrity in the LA-area and an advocate for public education, and Rebecca Constantino, founder of Access Books — a non-profit organization which organizes book drives and funding for underserviced school libraries. Last week, Becker shipped approximately 1200 books from over a hundred Canadian authors, publishers and the public to LA. in advance of the book presentation event at Ralph Bunche Elementary School, October 2, 2010.

The event will include author presentations by several Canadian writers including Becker, Wendy Kitts, Rob Weston and Kari-Lynn Winters who will also help refurbish the Bunche school library by sorting and cataloguing books and painting wall murals with the students.

For more information on Airlift to LA go tohttp://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=121216734588705.

To see how your school library “stacks up”, download the Canadian Coalition for School Libraries and Canadian Association for School Libraries Library/Media Assessment Questionnaire athttp://www.scribd.com/doc/36299260/Library-Assessment-Final-Draft

-30-

For further information on Airlift to LA contact:

Wendy Kitts
info@wendykitts.ca
506-382-4360 or 506-852-1600
www.monctonwriters.ca

Helaine Becker
helbeck@rogers.com
647-985-3682
www.helainebecker.com

To send a book donation by October 2, 2010:

Airlift to LA
c/o Access Books
3622 W. Slauson Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90043

Happy Birthday "I'm Here. I'm Queer. What the Hell do I Read"

2010-09-15T11:12:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to wish send a birthday shout out to "I'm Here. I'm Queer. What the Hell do I Read." This blog is a great resource, was voted "BEst GLBT Book Review Blog in 2009, and is celebrating their 3rd birthday.

Mockingjay brilliance

2010-09-09T16:41:00.000-07:00

It's been about 2 weeks since I've read Mockingjay. I hesitated to write about it immediately, mainly because I wanted a little time to digest it.

Off the top, I have to say that Suzanne Collins is brilliant. The story is brilliant. The ending is brilliant. The entire trilogy is brilliant. And disturbing...very very disturbing. This is likely why it's come under fire. "Too violent. Too bleak. Too frightening for young people," or so I've read.

For my part, I couldn't agree more. It is too violent. It is too bleak. It is too frightening. Far too frightening. And it ought to be required reading; not just for young people, but for parents, lawmakers, and especially for politicians. The thing is, this world could easily be our own not too far down the road. The thing is that the decadence and corruption and struggles for power and the human pain and suffering in this book are so close to home that it takes my breath away...still.

Katniss is a pawn in a game that she can never win, not unlike the children of war today. She is appalled that some of the people she loves and respects do terrible things. They hope and pray that the end will justify the means. Katniss is appalled that she too does terrible things. How wildly different is this from war torn countries of today and yesterday? Ms. Collins simply imagined things on a post-apopoliptic world scale.
Her trilogy suggests that there can be no real winners in war. There will always be someone hungry for power. There will always be decadence and exploitation. But Collins does leave room for hope, even if it is a slender thread. As Katniss says, "...on bad mornings, it feels impossible to take pleasure in anything because I'm afraid it could be taken away. That's when I make a list in my head of every act of goodness I've seen someone do. It's like a game...But there are much worse games to play."

The Book Worm

2010-09-09T14:40:00.000-07:00

This is so cool. The municipality of Oak Bay always does these very cool garden instillations close to where I live, and close to the local high school, Oak Bay High School. This summer they did a reading bookwork all created with flowers. Every Monday the title of the book would change. It's been Treasure Island, Harry Potter, and lots of other great titles. This week, the book title was OBHS Course Selection Guide. Too funny. I love creative people, and creative municipalities!

short list announced for Victoria Book Prizes

2010-09-09T12:08:00.001-07:00

The big news in Victoria today is that the finalists for the City of Victoria Butler Book Prize and the finalists for the Bolen Books Children's Book Prize have just been announced.

Finalists for the Butler Prize for adult literature are:

Frances Backhouse for Children of the Klondike (Whitecap Books)

M.A.C. Farrant for The Secret Lives of Litterbugs (Key Porter Books)

Eve Joseph for The Secret Signature of Things (Brick Books)

Jay Ruzeky for The Wolsenburg Clock (Thistledown Press) and

Deborah Willis for Vanishing and Other Stories (Penguin Canada)

The finalists for the Bolen Books Children’s Book Prize are:

Dede Crane for Poster Boy (Groundwood Books);

Michelle Mulder for After Peaches (Orca Book Publishers) and

Sylvia Olsen for Counting on Hope (Sono Nis Press).

The winners will be announced at the awards gala on October 13.

What's a writer to do!

2010-09-08T16:03:00.000-07:00

There's been an interesting discussion on swearing in YA literature on one of my listserves. Of course to swear or not to swear is a decision that most young adult writers will come across at one time or another just by the nature of characters they write about. Even if your protagonist doesn't curse, one of the characters in many stories probably will. Some writers have been quite creative about how they handle swearing. For example, John Green in An Abundance of Catherines, used "fuggin" instead of the obvious. In my newest novel, Steps, which is not yet published, my character used "friggin," etc. But, in the novel I'm currently working on, I may need to be more explicit in order to be true to some of the secondary characters. My preference with cursing is similar to my approach to violence in film. So long as it's not gratuitous, I can deal with it. But, sometimes that doesn't work in fiction. What about those teenagers who I pass in the park near my house? The lot of them swear like truck drivers. If I'm painting a realistic picture of teenagers hanging out, it may well involve gratuitous swearing.

Love to hear your take on these things, especially given many of us need to get our books into schools to actually make a living as writers, especially here in Canada. What's a writer to do!

It doesn't pay to disinvite authors and Mockingjay is finally out!

2010-08-24T08:11:00.000-07:00

Two big news days. Yesterday Teen Lit Festival in Humble, Texas was cancelled; I gather, due to so many authors pulling out after Ellen Hopkins was disinvited. I'm sorry to see this happening. I'd really rather that the decision makers rethought the withdrawal of their invitation to Ms. Hopkins. In a perfect world I guess...sigh. So you Humble teens. You'll just have to get to the library and read.

In other news, today is the release day for Suzanne Collins MockingJay. I can't believe that my agent Suzie Townsend was lucky enough to get into a bookstore where Ms. Collins was speaking along side of her editor, the equally great David Levithan. Not only does Suzie have the book, she's already READ it! I'm not far behind you Suzie.

My idea of a perfect summer da

2010-08-22T09:56:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was my idea of a perfect summer day. Sunny but not too hot. A lovely breeze. After a gorgeous bike ride on Lockside trail, a stop a Maddock's farm for ice cream, and a burger downtown, we wandered into Munro's Books along Government St. I love this bookstore, although I find it dangerous to step through it's impressive (formerly a swanky bank) glass and wood doors. I think last night's visit set me back a couple of hundred...Yikes. So many books to read though. Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China which I'm reading for my book club, The Gryphon Project by Carrie Mac (which I've been meaning to read since it won the Sheila Eggoff Prize for YA Literature at the BC Book Prizes), and InkDeath, the last in Cornelia Funke's trilogy which I've yet to read. So exciting, I'll have to get through these really fast because the fall list will be in soon, and the "too be read piles" will just get higher and higher!

More on Ellen Hopkins Teen Lit fiasco in Texas

2010-08-19T10:21:00.000-07:00

More on the Ellen Hopkins Teen Lit fiasco in Texas....

Publisher Weekly's Blog has posted an article about it, and I read reams of responses. One of my favorite teen lit authors who weighed in was Chris Crutcher (if you haven't read him yet, please do, he's fabulous). Among other things, he said..."The point is, it’s a fight we have to wage loudly, if for no other reason than to show the kids we believe they can think for themselves and that we believe in freedom whether that particular freedom “suits” us or not."

I love that the internet allows us to draw attention to censorship issues so quickly. So far, only a few have responded to the School Library Journal article posted yesterday. But, I suspect it won't be long before dozens more weigh with comments. It's an issue that authors are willing to fight for; not only for themselves, but on behalf of their readers.