Hello, friends. This past weekend, I went to Belleville to meet E. K. Johnston. She and I have been friendly on Twitter for a few years, and I became a raving fan of hers as soon as I read her debut novel, The Story of Owen. The Story of Owen, which is shortlisted for an LA Times Book Award, is about dragon slayers in small-town Ontario. It is hilarious and heartbreaking and sly and insane in all … [Read more...]
Humility
Hello, friends. This past weekend, a Kingston-based group of children's authors got together to sign books at our local Chapters. We were five: Leanne Lieberman, Jill Bryant, Mary Alice Downie, Ann-Maureen Owens, and me. Fellow author Christine Fader very generously took photos, rallied troops, handed out bookmarks, and was her ebullient self. Here's one of Christine's photos of us getting set up … [Read more...]
Fermentation
I've been a very sloppy blogger recently, and for that I sincerely apologize. I didn't mean to fall into an every-other-week pattern, and I realize it's Thursday today. I have a specific plan to improve (I've blocked out a blogging session each Monday evening) and I hope my weekly post will become a joyful habit, rather than something I cringe to realize that I've missed once again. But I'm … [Read more...]
Crime Scene 2012
Hello, friends! I had an absolutely splendid time this past weekend at Scene of the Crime, and thought I'd share what I could with you. I had a great "handler" at the festival (basically, a person assigned to make sure the visiting author is supplied with coffee and doesn't get lost), a Wolfe Islander named Kristina, but I forgot to ask her to take some photos while I was reading & panelling, … [Read more...]
At the Scene of the Crime
Hello, friends! I'm so excited about this week. Tomorrow, I'll be skyping with a group of YA readers in Prescott, Arizona. And this weekend, I'm appearing at the Scene of the Crime Mystery Festival on Wolfe Island, Ontario. I'll be there with DJ McIntosh, John Moss, and Thomas Rendell Curran, as well as the deliciously named Ladies Killing Circle. I love Scene of the Crime. It's friendly, … [Read more...]
On performance
Yesterday, my almost-four-year-old had a birthday celebration at his preschool, to which his whole family was invited. It was absolutely beautiful: thoughtful, focused, loving, and joyful. And yes, I wept. But I'm more interested in my son's response, which was an intense blend of pride, excitement, the need to control his own surge of emotions, and stage fright. It's all completely logical, and … [Read more...]