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.
If you’re looking for funny, smart middle grade books and lots of entertaining animal facts, you need to check out Jess Keating’s “My Life Is A Zoo” series. I met Jess through Torkidlit and Nerd Camp; she’s funny, smart and entertaining in person, too :-). The third book in her series, . . .
Happy National Punctuation Day! Be kind to a comma today, and beware of misplaced apostrophe’s.
Just finished AWKWARD, an absolutely wonderful middle grade graphic novel by Svetlana Chmakova (Yen Press/Hachette, 2015). This needs to be in every school library. Why? Because it Svetlana does SUCH a great job at capturing the awkwardness of middle school personal interactions, especially for the insecure and shy. I wish this . . .
I love this quote by Robert Cormier so much that I’ve made it available as a free, print-ready poster. Download the poster here. (after opening the image, right-click for PC, ctrl-click and hold for Mac) Also see my free, print-ready Archives.
One of my favourite Neil Gaiman quotes: “Just write. Many writers have a vague hope that elves will come in the night and finish any stories for you for you. They won’t.” You can see the original video in which he offers advice for young writers:
Just finished THE KIDNEY HYPOTHETICAL: OR HOW TO RUIN YOUR LIFE IN SEVEN DAYS by Lisa Yee (Arthur Levine Books, Mar/2015). I’ve been a fan of Lisa’s since MILLICENT MIN, and I thoroughly enjoyed her new YA. What I love about all of Lisa’s books, including this one: the wry sense of . . .
Every journey to publication is different. Don’t compare yourself to others. Find your OWN path, at your own pace.
Added to my For The Love Of Reading resource for teachers, librarians, booksellers and young readers: a free, print-ready “Reading Lets Your Imagination Soar” poster. For all my free, print-ready material, please see Debbie’s Print-Ready Archive. I’ve also added a greeting card version of just the found object art to my Zazzle card shop (Canada/U.S.).
What I just tweeted: Just heard that BONE GAP made the 2015 National Book Award Longlist!