Back from LA and the SCBWI Conference

So nice to be home again. I missed my tiny house and huge garden; especially the garden. I also missed the creek that runs beyond the park near my house as I am setting a novel there. This morning I wandered along the footpath that runs along the creek taking notes of bird species, particularly wonderful climbing trees, and the playground equipment at the school nearby. These things will all figure into the story which is about a boy who is chronically late for school despite the fact that it is just down the street. Of course, it's never his fault, even when he gives in to the call of the lonely swings, for just one up up up and then jump ride, or when he falls into the creek trying to find the nesting spot of some ducks. But more on that later. For now, let's just say that one of the reasons I was away was to attend a fabulous writer's conference in LA put on by the SCBWI (Society for Children's Book Writers and Illustrators). If you haven't already read one Sara Pennypacker's Clementine books, you'll want to hit the library or bookstore today. She is soooo funny. And, speaking of funny, I got to see the famous Sid Fleshman, who is also fantastically funny. Be sure and read ALL of his books too. There were lots and lots of writers there, some of whom I've admired for years, like Linda Sue Park who wrote A Single Shard. I also got a chance to hear Susan Patron, who wrote the Newbery Award-winning and hotly debated and much banned, The Higher Power of Lucky. But, there were new to me writers that I really enjoyed as well. One of my favourites was John Green. He writes for teens, but boy did I rush out and buy his books. I'm so looking forward to reading them. I saw lots of other really inspiring writers too, and will probably blog about some of their books on my book blog. One of the things I like best about being a kids/teens book writer is reading all these great books by other authors. If you want to be a writer, it all starts with being a reader. So, I'm off to read another great book. Later, Sheryl

SCBWI summer conference

Went to the SCBWI annual summer conference which I would recommend to both established and new writers. My week in LA was quite wonderful despite staying at the not very affordable for working writers Hyatt hotel. Actually, you could tell the writers from the aspiring as most of the writers would trek to the grocery store and return with shopping bags--not from Macies or Bloomingdales, but from the grocery store!

So inspiring to hear Linda Sue Park (Newbery Award-winner and author of A Single Shard not to mention lots of other books) discuss her process with her editor. Talks by newish writers like John Green (Looking for Alaska) who totally blew me away and Sara Pennypacker who accepted a humour award for writing the Clementine books which are wildly funny was a treat. Seeing Sid Fleshman and Susan Patron (author of the heavy banned The Higher Power of Lucky) was pretty cool too, although the autograph lines were just too long to wait in. So, I'm back at my friend's desk in Vancouver, pounding away on the keyboard (figuratively of course. Don't worry Dennis, I'm being gentle, honest) and looking forward to bedtime when I get to crack another new book, some of which I will review soon on my book reveiw blog soon.

I was going to ignore the last Harry Potter book but...

Yes, I had every intention of ignoring the last Harry Potter book, at least until the price dropped. It's not as if I have nothing else to read. But, a friend wanted to see the new Potter film and so off we went. Well, after that it was inevitable. I went out and bought Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows the next day. I had to know what was to become of Harry, Ron, and Hermione, not to mention 'You know who'. So my plan was, no daytime reading; this is for bedtime consumption only I told myself! Unfortunately, my rational, 'I have to finish this manuscript I'm working on and if spend all my time reading I never will and therefore won't be able to pay bills' self lost out to the 'but I want to know' self, and I cheated. I did start out, reading only a few chapters at night, but as the pace quickened, my resolve dissipated. I had to know. Today I finished it, and my 8 hour work day dwindled down to about 3 1/2 hours. I've got to hand it to Rowlings; she hooked me on the first page, and my interest never wained. Writing a series consisting of seven books with each one being more compelling than the previous one is not something most writers can pull off. As far as I can see, she has improved her craft with every book and of that I am even more envious than of her millions. After all, I doubt any of us enter this business with the view to making money. (Check your sanity if you have).From what I read in Publisher's Weekly, sales in the first 24 hours in the U.S. alone topped 8 1/2 million copies. Imagine that many people wanting to read your books! The thing that I find so encouraging here, is that if you write something wonderful and people hear about it, they'll read it; even in this media driven world that we inhabit, they will stop and read. How could I not be grateful to J.K. She has ensured interest in the written word for a generation of kids whom we feared wouldn't willingly pick up a book. As Allison Taylor-McBryde, one of our wonderful youth librarians as well as a UBC professor says, "Harry Potter is an a librarians dream opportunity." Besides, it gives the rest of us a bit of hope that the next book a child or teenager picks up just might be ours. J. K. you go girl!!!

Vancouver is a Writer's Meca and this is where I will work work work on that novel...or else!

So here I am in Vancouver, taking over another writer's house while he takes over mine. This way I get to (a)help my daughter move, paint, put up curtains, and fill her fridge, (b)stay out of my garden during prime garden distraction season when I could spend days out there and not even turn my computer on, and (c)get back to that novel I've been working on. Yesterday it didn't work as I was involved in the slogging of furniture. Today it didn't work because I stayed in bed to start the latest Harry Potter book (damn you J.K. Rowlings for getting me hooked on page 1!) and then went over to hang curtains as per above. So, tonight it's more of Harry Potter; but no excuses tomorrow...Gotta go, Harry is calling. Sheryl

Serendipty pictures

So, I have finally gotten around to buying a new battery for my camera and have downloaded some long neglected photos including a few from Serendipty, Vancouver Children's Literature Roundtable's wonderful annual conference. Here are a few that I think you'll enjoy. Here's Ron Jobe, the man behind Serendipity and so many other wonderful Roundtable events.




And what a treat it was to hear Cornellia Funke speak. Here she is signing books. Of course there was no shortage of local talent either. From left to right is Irene Watts, Joan Betty Struchner, Ainslie Manson, and Norma Charles who blinked at the last minute. Julie Lawson is kneeling in front. Below, illustrator Janet Stevens , who was an absolute hoot, signs books. I wish I would have had more of a chance to chat with her, but I did at least get to introduce her, although I wish I would have had the low-down on her nickname for her sister for that introduction. Ah well, next time. And the last picture of the two lovely ladies is of Charlotte Teeple from the Canadian Children's Book Centre in Toronto on the left while on the right is the most talented Nan Gregory who books you definitely have to read if you haven't done so already.

Butler Prize for Books announces long-list & The Smell of Paint is on it!

A good bit of news came my way on the weekend. My novel, The Smell of Paint, has made the long list for The Butler Book Prize, in the Young Readers' Category. It was in good company alongside books by Andrea Spalding, Dede Crane, Laura Langston, Diane Swanson and Nikki Tate to name a few. Will have to wait two months to see who makes the short-list of five though. I have my fingers crossed.

What a busy few months it's been. Lots of travel back and forth to Vancouver for book-related activities and in helping my daughter search for an affordable condo. Did finally find her a place, although I'd hardly call it affordable. Sigh...I suppose affordable is a relative term these days.

Went to a fantastic Young Authors forum the other day with good friend and fellow author Linda Bailey. Met up with several other author friends, Normal Charles, Irene Watts, Ellen Schwartz, and Debbie Hodge which was also fun. The forum featured fantastic writers like Susan Jube, Dennis Foon, Shelley Hrdlitschka, John Burns and Kit Pearson not to mention Bob Tyrrell from Orca Book Publishers, Ken Setterington, the library's Youth advocate from Toronto, Allison Taylor-McBryde from North Van. library who also chairs the YA reader's choice book awards in BC, etc. The topics included writing for reluctant readers, censorship in YA books, fantasy, historical fiction, and humour. Of course the titles were far more clever and literary, but you get the gist. The format included two presenters per topic speaking for about 10 minutes each, followed by a panel discussion with moderator Phyllis Simon from Vancouver Kid's Books posing questions. Then the audience was invited to ask questions too. So so good.

Sadly, not as much writing getting done as I had hoped though, although plenty of thinking about writing which we all need to do on occasion. For example, Alison Taylor McBride pleaded for more books which reflect average teen concerns as opposed to the extremely brutal talley she's seen come across her desk recently while Orca Bob explained how their edgy reluctant teen series has coped with censorship issues in the US. There was plenty more insight as well as suggestions to mull over while I painted walls at my daughter's place that evening.

And now May is gone too!

May has come and gone, and I'm finally settling down as I am pretty much at the end of my touring season. I have worked on several picture book manuscripts and am back to working on that mystery novel; well not exactly a mystery, but sort of. I'm am in the midst reading Noah Lukman's most excellent The First Five Pages which I highly recommend for both new and mid-list writers. I like to spend at least some time every year improving my craft as writing is one of those professions that you can always get better at. I have always had issues with dialogue although I'm pretty happy with the dialogue in The Smell of Paint. Lukeman has plenty of useful things to say about how to write it effectively. Needless to say, when it comes to this in process novel, more rewriting is in the cards for me. So, after a half day of working on my manuscript and another half day reading Lukeman and making notes, I'm disappearing into the garden for a little dirt therapy. Later. Sheryl

Yikes it's almost May!

April has been a crazy busy month, with trips to Lethbridge, Calgary, Vancouver, Saltspring Island and Seattle. Two Young Authors Conferences and a Teachers' Conference not to mention school visits, have kept me hopping ferries and planes. It's always a treat to catch up with old friends like Marie Louise Gay, Deborah Turney-Zagwin and Linda Bailey. I have met lots of wonderful new friends too,writers: Helaine Becker, Marty Chan, and Dennis Foon, and illustrator Lorna Bennett. Be sure to check out all of their books.

A heartfelt thanks to event organizers Elaine Rusnack,(Weaving Words), Richard Chase (Lethrbridge YA Conference), Teresa Bowles (Calgary YA Conference) and Kelly McQuillan (Surrey teacher/librarian) who all did such a fabulous job of putting together author events.

With so much traveling, I am way behind in my writing. I plan to start catching up though really soon. I am bursting with ideas, some of them coming from the kids I've met up with over the last few months. Vancouver Children's Literature Roundtable' Serendipity Conference is coming up this week, so I'll have to be patient a little longer. Oh how I wish I could be like Eric Walters and write anywhere and everywhere. Sadly, I need to lock myself away from all distractions to really get words on paper; at least words anyone cares to read.

For now though, I'm enjoying the second in Bruce Coville's The Unicorn Chronicles. I am so behind! I saw him at a conference on the weekend and he mentioned that the third book is about to come out. I guess I'd better read fast. If you haven't read the first, go get it immediately. The other book that I have on the top of my pile is The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things by Carolyn Mackler. It is supposed to be soooo good. With so many good books to read, it's a wonder any of us ever get around to writing! Later, Sheryl

Otters holding hands

Yes, despite my daughter's lack of faith in my technology abilities (probably with good reasons), I have finally figured out how to upload You Tube videos to my blog. This is a fantasitc one of sea otters at the Vancouver Aquarium. Enjoy! Sheryl

I Can't Believe It's Already April!

I can't believe it's already April! I know, I know, I know. It's been ages since I've posted. Trips to Vancouver, Nevada, Tofino, Lethbridge and French Beach have kept me busy. A particular highlight in Lethbridge aside from the awesome Weaving Words Conference and The equally awesome YA Writing Conference hosted jointly by their library and Children's Literature Roundtable, was a trip to Waterton National Park and seeing a huge herd of elk, and I am talking in the hundreds. It was fantastic! Then, having my lovely daughter home from Australia has enticed me away from work and into talking about books, reading books, and watching our favourite TV shows, What Not to Wear, and one and all of the home reno shows. She has two more weeks before starting her dream job in Vancouver working for a book rep. company which is the go-between for publishers and booksellers/libraries. Got to enjoy having her home while I can. Next week is Saltspring Island and teaching writing to grade four and fives, and then Vancouver where I'll be teaching a YA writing workshop for Adults. Busy busy busy...

Until next time, happy reading, Sheryl

Bloggers have kid's book awards too

Just wanted to let everyone know who doesn't already that bloggers give out awards too! Check out http://dadtalk.typepad.com/cybils/2007/02/the_2006_cybils.htmlto find out about the best of the best in kids' books according to us regular folk. Hey, a Canadian book even made the list; Melanie Watt has won for fiction picture books for her book Scaredy Squirrel published by Kids Can Press. Later, Sheryl

Deb Ellis

I have just returned from taking Deborah Ellis to her hotel after her last presentation during the Victoria leg of her western tour. I have spent the last several days listening to Deb address the effects of war, aids, poverty, and the drug trade on the lives of children with audiences that ranged from grade four students to senior citizens. The importance of the themes that Deb’s stories bring to the forefront are especially evident in the questions the young people in her audience ask; questions like how can kids live in prisons, why can’t kids who are sick get the medicine they need, and why can’t girls go to school in Afghanistan? Many will have read The Breadwinner, Pavanah's Journey and Mud City, but Deborah Ellis has written many other books. She is no one trick pony, despite this label she so often gives to herself. She is about shaking us out of our complacency and about empowering young people to demand more of our world and it's inhabitants. She is about social justice.

Not surprisingly, I was excited to hear that Deb has turned her compassionate yet critical storyteller’s eye on North American. Jakeman will be the title of her next novel. It's about kid whose mother goes to prison. It's about poverty and the feeling of being powerless, but it's also about alter-egos and about kids taking back their power. I can hardly wait to read it.

The Higher Power of Lucky & Three Wishes

So what do The Higher Power of Lucky and Three Wishes have in common? Read on...

It’s unbelievable. The controversy around this year’s Newbery Award-winner, The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron is growing in leaps and bounds. The ugly head of censorship has been rearing it’s head in the New York Times, on Publisher Weekly’s Website, and in blog after blog. It seems that a lot of librarians have trouble with the word “scrotum”, and that’s enough to keep the book away from sensitive young readers! I must admit that I agree totally with Ms. Patron who explained that scrotum is a “delicious” word. Unbelievable, and of course one of the many ironies (I’m not even going to go into sex-driven advertising or music videos here) is that as the ‘ban the book frenzy’ reaches it’s peak, we are just about to celebrate Freedom to Read Week. Don’t they get it? Banned books are wildly appealing to the young and curious, as I first learned back in the 1960’s when J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye was banned from my high school. Even the kids who had an aversion to reading devoured that book (or at least key passages of it). So, congratulations Ms. Patron. You can expect to sell more books and you are in very good company!

It was only a year ago that a huge controversy developed when one school district in Ontario chose to drop Deborah Ellis’ Three Wishes: Palestinian and Israeli Children Speak from a provincially sanctioned readers’ choice award, again just as we were heading into Freedom to Read Week!

For anyone in the Victoria, BC area, the Victoria Children’s Literature Roundtable will be hosting Deb Ellis as part of our celebration of Freedom to Read Week at Spectrum Community High School @ 957 Burnside Rd in the school library @ 7:30.

Or you can go to http://www.freedomtoread.ca/ to find out how you can celebrate this important week in your own area. Defy the censors. Read a banned book!

Sheryl

Eric Wilson was wonderful Grey Whales Ahead

Yes, I'm a little slow. It has been a couple of weeks since mystery writer Eric Wilson spoke at our Children's Literature Roundtable. With sales into the millions and publications in more than a dozen countries worldwide, you might expect him to be less humble. But, that just wouldn't be Eric. What a lovely man. Here's where you can find out more about Eric and his newest books http://members.shaw.ca/ericwilsonweb/.

In upcoming news, On March 20, and 21, I'll be visiting Tofino and Uclulet during their Pacific Rim Whale Festival. If I'm lucky I'll get to see the some of the 22,000 grey whales on their annual migration-the longest of any mammal; an estimated 16,000 km return trip. Very cool! While I'm there I hope I get a chance to stop by the studio of one of my favourite west coast artists, Mark Hobson. I have one of his limited edition grey whale prints over my bed. One of the few disadvantages of being a kids' book writer as far as I can see, is that I don't have enough money to buy more art! But then, there could be far worse things couldn't there. S.

Back from Australia and ALA in Seattle...

After my last trip to Seattle for the American Library Association Conference and book signings with author friends Debbie Hodge and Linda Bailey I had one more trip planned. I had thought I would be going to Toronto for the Ontario Librarian's super conference, but I'm just not up for it, so my plans are to stay home and write. Unfortunately, flu season has slowed me down. Hopefully, I will soon be back to the novel I'm working on as well as one new picture book and two board books.

In the meantime, reading, mindless television and the sun finally shining is keeping me sane. Check out my book blog for a review of Debbie Hodge's new picture book. Here I am at American Library Association Conference in Seattle signing my newest book. I am with two fantastic Fitzhenry & Whiteside Sales Reps. Stephanie Stewart (left), and Penny Taylor (right).

Tomorrow night our Children's Literature Roundtable will also be hosting Eric Wilson; Canada's million-copy selling mystery author for kids. He always gives a fantastic talk, so will let you know how it goes. Later, Sheryl

Reviews

Hey,

I just discovered two reviews of my new book, The Smell of Paint. One is on Amazon.ca--go to the review at the bottom of the page. The other is on a Book Blog. Check them out. S.

Back from sunny Australia and rainy Seattle

So, I'm finally back from a wonderful trip to Australia where my three lovely daughters and I enjoyed surf and sun, great wines, and fantastic museums and art galleries for almost a month. Arrived home to power outages and a foot of snow. Yikes! That was followed by wind storms, downed phone lines, and then computer problems. I fit in a trip to Seattle for the American Library Association Conference and book signings for A Pod of Orcas and The Smell of Paint with author friends Debbie Hodge (she has a new picture book out which you should totally check out called Lily and the Mixed Up Letters --watch for a review soon on my book blog with Tundra Books and Linda Bailey (who has new picture book coming out in the spring called Sweet Pig) which was also lots of fun. So, you see I have plenty of excuses for not updating this blog for a while. No more slacking off though…

It was a pretty busy fall with lots of travelling, lots of school presentations and festivals. The winter is supposed to be my writing time, so I'll be home a lot more. I'm especially looking forward to hearing Eric Wilson talk at the Children's Literature Roundtable (a group of teachers, librarians, parents and writers who love and want to support kids books) on January 29th. Eric has a new book out called Red River Ransom. With more than a million books sold in 10 countries, and 30 years of writing under his belt, Eric has tremendous insight into writing for kids. I am especially interested to hear of how he always gets feedback on manuscripts from a small group of kids. What a cool guy. Then near the end of February, our Roundtable is hosting Deborah Ellis who is also fabulous. But, I'd better get back to writing. All for now, Sheryl

Update

So, I'm home now and will be for several weeks after pretty much being on the road for several months. Such a busy fall with multiple trips to Vancouver, up-Island, Toronto, Arizona and Seattle. But, being home has not been quite as relaxing as I'd hoped as I arrived just in time for a major snow storm, power outages, and artic weather hammering the usually wet West Coast. I spent three hours digging out my car and shoveling foot deep snow. I trudged to the grocery store in my rubber boots (I don't own winter boots) and came home with blocks of ice instead of feet! I must admit, it is pretty though, especially now that I have power back and can make a cup of hot tea and I don't have to rely on very wet wood and an ineffient fireplace and piles of blankets to keep me warm. So, aside from getting ready to host the last Children's Literature Roundtable of the year, judge a kid's writing contest for the Canadian Children's Book Centre, and work on my next book, catch up on letters and emails resulting from dozens of school and library visits, I have glorious time to read read read....

Sadly, what wasn't waiting for me was book reviews for my new book. If you read it (The Smell of Paint), and like it, and I hope you do, think about writing a review for Amazon. Sigh...Getting a book review for a kid's book is almost as hard as getting one published! Until next time...Sheryl

Deborah Ellis and Andrea Spalding coming to Victoria

I'm such a slacker about updating, but then I have a pretty good excuse; I've been on the road! Actually, I've hardly been home all fall, Toronto, Arizona, up-island several times, Vancouver several times, so you can forgive me for not updating. I had an absolutely wonderful time in Toronto--teaching a workshop, and doing school and library visits as well as spending time with eastern authors and illustrators which was fabulous. Many bottles of wine and great dinners later, I'm back home. Writing is usually such a solitary thing so I always enjoy the time on the road. Still, it's good to be back home--wearing my lulu lemon pants and a sweat shirt, and getting back to eating veggies and not tempting myself with deserts (I have a serious lack of will power on this one. If I see it I want it!).

I have been wearing my other hat for the last few days, organziing the Victoria leg of Deborah Ellis' tour. Of course you all know Deb Ellis, the author of The Breadwinner, Pavana's Journey, Our Stories Our Songs: African Children Talk about Aids, and the very controversial Three Wishes: Palestinian and Israeli Children Speak. Deborah will be speaking to our Children's Literature Roundable of which I am the chair. We are mostly educators, librarians, and parents, but a few authors also belong. I am very much looking forward to what Deb has to say. I heard her once before when she spoke about women and children's lives in Afghanistan. So if you happen to be in Victoria at the end of February, drop me a line to find out more details.

On a related front, we are very excited to have Andra Spalding coming to speak to the Roundtable in early December. Andrea is the author of so many wonderful books, Including Bottled Sunshine, and The Most Beautiful Kite in the World. More recently, she has teamed up with Judge Scow, a First Nations elder to write Secret of the Dance. Check out my book blog for a review. It is a wonderful and very important book.

Time to watch a little home reno tv, a favourite past time when the weather is too rainy and miserable to get out into my garden. Besides, I have to come up with some clever ideas for my fireplace front now that I've chipped away all those ugly broken tiles.

All for now. Sheryl

Good news from IBBY Canada

The theme this past spring for Nami Island's second annual international Children's Book Festival in Korea was"Journeys of the Imagination." The idea of this IBBY sponsored event was "... to evoke the notion that every child can travel around the world in their imaginationon and through books and dream of a peaceful future in which they meet each other are are friends." I was delighted to hear that IBBY Canada had included Waiting for the Whales, my first picture book in the exhibition that respesented Canada. The other 9 titles included are:
Florence et la Sainte-Catherine by Lysette Brochu and Chrisian Ouesnel
Le Chandail de Hockey by Roch Carrier and Sheldon Cohen
La grandmere by d'Aputik by D Groulx
Dragonfly Kites by Tomson Highway and Brian Deines
NothernLights: The Soccer Trails by Michael Kusugak and Vladyana Kyrorka
A Big City ABC by Allan Moak
Tiger's New Cowboy Boots by Irene Morck and Georgie Graham
Glaire's Gift by Maxine Trottier and Rajka Kupesic
Ghost Train by Paul Yee and Hrvey Chan

To find out more about IBBY Canada (Canadian member of the International Board on Books for Young People) check out their website. They do great work.