I’m not sure when you started self-isolating, but we’re into our third week now. Today is the last day of March, so we can all bid adieu to a kind of crappy month and turn our thoughts to the next, kind of crappy month. Oh but it won’t be so bad because the weather will be getting nicer and nicer. Really, it will!
Here are a few more diversions for you, if you are in need. A Music, a Book, and a Treat, all warm and comforting. More cheerful movie picks to come tomorrow.
Continue readingComments Off on Isolation Picks 2: It’s all about Comfort
Filed under Isolation Picks
The thing about self-isolating for me, is that my days haven’t changed all that much. The biggest change, besides suspension of chauffeuring duties, is that now when I sit at home I know I’m not missing anything…
Anyhoo, for those of you less accustomed to hermiting, here are some of my current picks: a Music, a Book, a Chocolate, and a final bit of Bird Wisdom.
Continue readingComments Off on Isolation Picks
Filed under Isolation Picks
the Trunchbull by illustrator Quentin Blake
My weekly pick of something creepy/scary to share with you all… Anyone who has read Roald Dahl’s Matilda will know exactly whom I am speaking about. If you haven’t, Agatha Trunchbull is the headmistress at the school Matilda attends. Continue reading
Last week it was a painting from 1515, this week a character from a 90s graphic novel: Kingdok from Bone.
Comments Off on Weekly Eldritch: Kingdok!
Filed under Eldritch
Andersen’s Fairy Tales (1945) was one book we owned that really creeped me out as a child, partly because of the morose stories, but mostly because of the illustrations by Arthur Szyk (1894-1951).
Comments Off on Weekly Eldritch: Arthur Szyk
Filed under Eldritch
Yesterday I visited Warren Park School, a smaller school with a lot of spirit… even on the day after Hallowe’en!
Even after a late night the students showed no signs of being tired, in fact they were abuzz with their love of stories. And after we talked a little about characters and the basic elements of plot, I heard that they went right off to their classes and busily started on their own stories!
Thanks for your enthusiasm and terrific questions, Warren Park!
Comments Off on School Talks, Day 2
Filed under Author Info/Biographical, the Writing Life
In my last Writing Club post I wrote about two kinds of opening sentences, 1. Description, and 2. Action. Let’s continue …
3. INTRODUCE THE MAIN CHARACTER
This is an extremely popular and effective way to open a book. It can be in first person-
Call me Ishmael. (Moby Dick, Herman Melville)
Look, I didn’t want to be a half-blood. (The Lightning Thief, Rick Riordan)
Comments Off on Writing Club: Killer Openings Part 2
Filed under Get Writing!, Writing Club
Very excited to get the news that Eldritch Manor has been nominated for a Silver Birch Award in the Ontario Library Association’s Forest of Reading program!
Ten books are nominated for the Silver Birch Fiction award, which is aimed at readers aged 8 to 12 (grades 3-6). Readers from all across the country are encouraged to read at least 5 of the 10 books and vote on which should win.
I will post more news on the OLA Forest of Reading events as they come up, but for the moment, I’m just totally chuffed!
Will you read the 10 nominees? See the list here.
Comments Off on OLA Silver Birch nomination for Eldritch!
Filed under Author Info/Biographical, the Writing Life
The Seattle Public Library sets a world record for longest book domino chain. Why are these so satisfying to watch?
p.s. Nice looking library!
Comments Off on Book Dominoes in Seattle
Filed under Miscellaneous Fun-ness
I’d almost forgotten about these! Last spring I wrote two picture books for Caillou, and I just received some copies in the mail now that they’re finally out.
They recruited me to write these because I’d story edited the tv series Caillou for a season, and wrote a pile of scripts for the show. These titles are part of their Ecology Club series:
Caillou Learns to Recycle – in which Caillou’s daycare teacher tells the kids about what happens to the things we recycle, and what new products can be made from them.
Caillou – Fresh from the Farm – in which Caillou’s family visits a farmer’s market, and Caillou learns about local and seasonal foods.. and tries a new recipe.
This style of writing is certainly worlds away from fantasy fiction, but I can put on the Preschool Writing Hat when I need to! Which probably looks something like this…
p.s. Dang! I said it as a joke, but now I really want a Preschool Writing Hat!
Comments Off on New Caillou books: Ecology Club series
Filed under the Writing Life
