Vancouver Folk Music Festival

Had a wonderful time in Vancouver visiting my girls and going to the Vancouver Folk Music Festival.  Here are a few pics from the Folk Festival.  As you can see, the crowds were huge, the weather gorgeous, and the setting superb.  The music was pretty awesome too.  Hard to beat.

Below are one of my favorite groups, Naomi Shelton & the Gospel Queens.  Some of the other groups that were totally awesome were The Malahat Revue with Adidan Knight from Victoria, the Peatbog Faeries from G.B., Sarah Harmer, Tao Seeger (grandson of the great Pete Seeger), Nathan Rogers (son of the   late great Stan Rogers), and the United Steelworkers of Montreal, and these were just a few.

Have a great summer

It's been quiet around here for a while; been working on a new book.  Tomorrow I'm over in Vancouver for a bit, and then off to visit friends on the Gulf Islands so probably won't post for a while.  Have a great summer, and drop me a line if you read a really good book.

Later...

Best Books for Kids & Teen in 2010

Hurray.  I just received The Canadian Children's Book Centre's Best Books for Kids & Teens in 2010.  I can't wait to read it.  This is a fabulous resource for anyone stocking bookshelves in schools, libraries or at home.  It includes information about award-winners, interest levels, reading levels, and thematic links like sports or science or history.  It has a section for audio and magazines and even includes resources for teachers and librarians.  It's easy to get too.  All you have to do is be a member of the Canadian Children's Book Centre which supports and promotes Children's Literature in Canada.  The cost is $60 a year, and from my perspective, it's the best deal going.

A heads up for those of you south of the border, or overseas:  Best Books for Kids & Teens only covers Canadian material, so if you what to know what's up in the Canadian publishing scene for kids, this is the place to find it.

Salish Sea

Image via Wikipedia

It's amazing how important language is to all of us.

On July 15, the area that is now called the Strait of Georgia, Juan de Fuca Strait, Haro Strait and Puget Sound, will all be christened the Salish Sea in honor of the original First Nations who paddled these waterways.  Lieutenant Governor of B.C. Steven Point (a former provincial court judge and chief of the Skowkale First Nation) will be honoring the name change with an original song and a canoe he carved under the guidance of a master carver. 17 canoes, some from as far away as Alaska and the Oregon coast are expected.

There has to be a story in this people.  Get writing.

Coming soon

Spent a bit of time this morning writing the script for a book trailer for The Smell of Paint.  In some ways it's a lot like a pitch, using 6 or 7 lines of script, but in other ways it's quite different because the visuals can do so much, especially for a novel.  When you think about it, it's a little bit like picture books.  You start with a story in very few words, and then  the artist comes along and tells the bits between the lines.  So, now I'm looking forward to seeing the end product.  I'll post it when it's all finished.

Happy 4th of July

Image via Wikipedia

Happy 4th of July to all my south of the border family and friends.

Happy Canada Day Happy Reading

Happy Canada Day.  It's raining so no bike ride for me today.  I may just stay in bed all day and read one of the 3 or 4 books I have on the go and drink copious quantities of tea.  Life could be worse...Happy reading.

...Or if you happen to live in a place where you actually have summer happening, unlike here on the west coast... Happy bike riding.

not so big news on Canada Day eve

So, almost 7:30 on the eve of Canada Day, our version of the US 4th of July.  Just finished working and my big plans for this holiday evening include: watching a home renovation show or two, reading a few hundred pages of The Girl Who Played With Fire, and drinking a couple of glasses of some lovely Chardonay.  Hopefully tomorrow we'll get a little sun and I can go for a bike ride to offset the calorie build-up from a full day of sitting on my butt at the computer working on a new novel,  Sad to say that I didn't even get very far.  7 hours of work netted me about 700 words...sometimes it just doesn't come.

Did have a really good conversation with my former editor, Ann Featherstone, who, after many years, has become a very good friend. We talked about books we've read, books we should be reading, and books we'll send to each other.  Of course, the frustrations of writing and of editing came up.  We both concluded that neither of us could leave the business even if we wanted to...it's too wrapped up with who we are.

If you ever get a chance to work with the wonderful and very talented editor, Ann Featherstone, you are one lucky writer/illustrator.  She's awesome.

Hot Guys Reading

Just came across this "Hot Guys Reading" site passed on by a writer friend.  Check it out, and if you see any hot guys reading, snap a pic and email it on.

Strawberries & chocolate

Too full of chocolate covered strawberries to blog...ugh!

I'm a lovely sunny yellow but...

I'm a lovely sunny yellow but I have the disposition of a dark raincloud storming across the sky.  Actually, I'm literally yellow, and so is the floor of my new shed.  My puppy Ruby escaped though, thanks to much contorting on my part so that the entire can of stain did not spill on her.  Damned dogs getting underfoot when you're carrying an open paint can!  Of course she got to sit in the shade while I cleaned up the mess and acted dejected because I didn't want to throw the ball for her.

Now that I'm back from the paint store, I suppose I'd better get back outside since I've got three more sides of the shed to stain.  No reading for me today...

welcome into the world Chloe Elise

I have a new grandniece, just minutes old.  I love how easy it is to connect with friends and family these days.  Welcome into the world Chloe Elise.  I can't wait to meet you and bring you lots and lots of books which your big sister Abby can help you read.  And of course, Abby will get her own "big girl" books.  Way to go D. & B.

a day of reading

After a few days of working in the garden, I don't mean planting a few flowers.  I mean serious garden work involving taking out a tree blown down by a windstorm about 10 days ago.  Sadly, it took out about a quarter of my garden.  First I had to cut it all up into three foot pieces that would fit into my wheel barrow so that I could get it up a temporary ramp, across the deck, through the gate, and out front where I could dump it until the weekend when my neighbor will be around to loan me her truck. This took me the better part of a day since I no longer own a chain saw (yes, I have in the past been know to wield one). Then I had to dig out a stump, salvage the few plants that hadn't been trashed, and bring in 2 yards of topsoil, (about 40 trips with the wheel barrow), and then replant after a delightful trip to the nursery of course.

So, I figure after all this, I deserve a day off.  No writing, no gardening, no working at the shoe store.  Just a day of drinking tea, cracking the cover of one of the books in my gargantuan pile, and reading.  Of course I may check out a few of my fav blogs to see what's cooking, but otherwise, it's just a nice "stay in your pj's sort of reading day.   Lucky me.

Will Smith - Running & Reading (The Key to Life)

Oops.  Sorry, the video no longer seems to be available.  The message though is simple...The Key to life is running (keep your body fit) and reading (keep your mind fit).

Happy father's day to all you dad's out there.  Here's a pretty cool message from Will Smith's (it's from the 2005 Kid's Choice Award).  This guy must be one great dad.  My dad didn't make music or win awards, but he was a pretty good father.  He didn't have a chance to finish school before his own dad passed away.  So he quite school at the age of 13 to get a job and help support the family.  When I was growing up he worked six days a week so he didn't have much time for reading.  But if he were alive today, I'm pretty sure he'd agree with Will Smith's message. 

Buy someone you love a picture book

I love picture books.  I bought someone I love Linda Bailey's book, Stanley's Party yesterday.  He was thrilled.  Share one of your favorite picture books with someone you love, and you'll put a smile on their face.  And remember, picture books can be for everyone.  You don't have to be in the target 3-7 age group to enjoy Linda's book.  As I said, it's one of my favorites.

books and dreams

Ok, so last night I went to buy a wooden trellis, but it seems trellises are in demand these days, and everyone in town was out.  By everyone, I mean the non-trendy stores where I can afford to shop...hey, I'm an author...we don't make enough money to be trendy.  Anyways, my last resort was Home Depot, but, you guessed it, they were out too!

Just as I was about to leave they announced that the "Ladies Only How to Tile Workshop" was about to start.  I couldn't help thinking what a great book title that would make, probably written by someone like Alexander McCall Smith...but I digress.

I wandered over, sat down, was a given a free package full of helpful advice and product information, a folder to keep it all in and a free demonstration.  I was sucked in from the get go.  I just might be the next tilting queen, or not...

And how does this relate to books you might be asking.  I'm getting to that part, honest.  Sadly, I didn't come away with a trellis.  But, I did buy their book on tiling, and some sample tiles for my bathroom.  You might think that I've been roped in, and perhaps I have.  But, you won't be laughing when my sad little bathroom with peeling paint and a decrepit  heater gets transformed into something resembling the pretty pictures in my new book tiling book with gorgeous glass tiles and a heated tile floor.  At least that's the dream, and for the price of a book, and a few sample tiles, dreaming is pretty cheap, don't you think.

): No free WIFI for us

Yesterday Starbucks announced that as of July 1st WIFI will be free in the US.  What about us here in Canada though?  All I can say is they won't be making me any soy lattes or london fogs until I get the same treatment as my friends in the US.  I guess I'll just have to do my writing at home for the time being.  Just imagine how much money I'll be saving!

WriteOnCon

An exciting new online kid's and ya book conference has just been announced by a couple of young enthusiastic writers.  They have scored some awesome presenters including my wonderful agent Suzie Townsend.  Registration for this August Conference isn't until July, but more news will be coming soon check the WriteOnCon site frequently.

WriteOnCon is an exciting online writer’s conference for children’s writers everywhere!

A team of seven: Jamie Harrington, Elana Johnson, Casey McCormick, Shannon Messenger, Lisa and Laura Roecker, and Jen Stayrook started this project with a single goal: paying it forward. They'd all heard so many writers who wished they could attend a conference, but simply didn’t have the time or money. So they decided to bring a conference to them—a free online conference that anyone could attend in the convenience of their own homes. And so, WriteOnCon was born. (Rated MC-18: for main characters 18 and under.)  I love this part!!!

The response from industry professionals has been overwhelming (check out our awesome list of presenters) and more presenters names will be added as people confirm. In the meantime, they suggest you mark your calendar for August 10-12, and tell your friends so they can be here too. They're working hard to make this the best conference they can, and it’s going to be—EPIC!

Follow the link to their site and see what they have in store. And check back regularly for updates. You can also follow them on Twitter and Facebook.

~The WriteOnCon Team

Ripple Sketches& Kelly Light

The whole BP oil fiasco in the Gulf feels overwhelming, but a group of kid's book illustrators has decided to do something to help.  It began with illustrator Kelly Light putting up small sketches for small donations that go directly to  The Institute for Marine Mammal Studies and The International Bird Rescue Research Center.  

The image shown is a sample of what is available.

Kelly decided to put the word out to see if other illustrators were will to contribute.  The response was so overwhelming that Ripple Sketches was born. The way it works, is you make a direct donation to one of the above two charities to help animal victims of the oil spill and send Kelly the confirmation number and your address, and she'll send you a sketch. Way to go Kelly.

Victoria, BC is a smart place to live

Hey everyone, Victoria is a smart place to live.  No lie!  I read it in the Globe & Mail.  Here's the link.  Lifelong learning: why Victoria is top of the class.
Now if it would just stop raining...