Welcome to my new blog, which now includes content from many of the blogs I’ve created over the years. You can now also access content via category from this one page instead of having to search for my individual blogs, which were scattered over various platforms and websites.
While NaNoWriMo is a wonderful motivating challenge for writers who are able to devote a big chunk of time during November to writing, some of us find it nearly impossible to keep up throughout the month. In my case, it’s usually because I’m away for a week at a board gaming convention . . .
If you’re an office supplies fan and find yourself in Manhattan, you need to go visit CW Pencils at 15 Orchard Street, New York, NY 10002. Note that the shop has a new location! Here are links to some of the sharpeners I’ve been using. Mobius & Ruppert Brass Round Double-Hole Sharpener – . . .
Also see my friend Errol Elumir’s daily Nanotoons! National Novel Writing Month (aka NaNoWriMo) begins today! To educators: there’s also a Nanowrimo Young Writers’ Program. If you love the spirit behind NaNoWriMo but want a gentler year-round writing (and editing) challenge with flexibility, feel free to try the Inkygirl Daily Writing Challenge. There’s also . . .
Earlier this year, I was so impressed to see Mira Campbell’s posts about a Book Tasting Café that she and fellow educator Shelly Narayan created for students at F.H. Miller Jr. PS in Toronto. I asked Mira if she would share some info about what went into this project — . . .
Just write. Many writers have a vague hope that elves will come in the night and finish any stories for you. They won’t. – Neil Gaiman
Sarah McGuire and Fred Koehler were once both awkward teenagers who mostly grew out of it. Each draws on their unfortunate adolescence to write stories for young readers. They met at a writers conference and decided to get married. In common they share: love of travel and adventure, dogs over cats, and sci-fi . . .
I was thrilled and deeply honoured that SAM & EVA has been nominated for a Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award this year in the CCBC Book Awards. After the invite-only event for winners and nominees, some of the Toronto area kidlit/YA authors are throwing an Unofficial After-Party Canadian Kidlit Masquerade Ball on Oct.29th, 2018 from 7 pm . . .
Thanks to Nancy Tupper Ling and Andrea Offermann for answering Three Questions for me today! Their picture book, The Yin-Yang Sisters And The Dragon Frightful, comes out on Sept. 18th from G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers. Curious about how the cover got created? Read Andrea’s behind-the-scenes peek (with sketches and photos) on an earlier . . .