Monday, July 02, 2007

Pictureless Post....

Am sitting at an incredibly foggy-screened terminal in a faceless little internet cafe in Abbottsford, BC. My laptop computer is refusing to acknowledge any access to wireless on the campus, so I have hied myself down here to quickly catch up on my email and any other electronic excitement to be had. The woman on the other side of the counter has a severe disease I can only hope is past the communicable stage. The thrill of the hunt for internet access intensifies!

First class at the CWC Summer Camp today -- great fun, much imagination in the 16 grade 6 students who are in my class. Tonight they are learning circus tricks and dramatic movement, all of which will add deep resonance to their writing tomorrow, I am sure. They are a lovely group, but I am sorry to say that the meatballs at the dinner table (combined with the lack of internet) sent me fleeing to town. Found sushi and this place, so all is well.

Will take a few pictures tomorrow, but today have failed miserably, so this post will have to go unillustrated.

Writing Tip of the Day: Today with my CWC group, we worked on developing character and all the little things that allow for a greater dimensional depth. However -- for the purposes of the stories we are writing together, it mostly boiled down to identifying the primary goal of the character and then planting a giant PROBLEM in the way. Nothing like a decent problem to see what a character is really made of...

~kc

Sunday, July 01, 2007

Here's to the tree...


...who gives its life blood so that we may sweeten our pancakes, and then, in its death throes, drained of chlorophyll -- donates its scarlet image to the flag that celebrates our nationhood.

Thanks, mighty sugar maple! And Happy Canada Day to all. 140 years a nation, and still in the first flush of our youth. Remarkable.

From maples to apples -- or more properly, Apples. My computer is driving me crazy these days and I am considering switching teams and moving to a Mac. Anyone with words of wisdom on this front is welcome to share. My sister, a serious journalist (unlike her more flighty sibling) has always had one, and I believe the time has come for me at last.

I'm off to CWC Summer Writer's Camp and will try to blog from away, if I can find a connection.
But before I go -- a new feature: writing tip of the day. Let's see if we can do that with a bit more style...
Writing Tip of The Day

Hmm. Not many options for striking change of title...
Regardless -- let's move to the tip. Every writer needs a good thesaurus. And no, I'm not talking about the one built into Word. I have quite a pile of them on the shelves over my desk. A few of my favourites: Roget's Pocket(of course), The Oxford Thesaurus, and goofily enough, The Highly Selective Thesaurus for the Extraordinarily Literate. Whatever your need (and lately mine seems to be 'tip of the tongue' syndrome, when the word I want is ...almost ... there), if you are a serious writer a thesaurus should be one of your most basic tools. If you have a favourite you'd like to share -- let me know!
~kc

Saturday, June 30, 2007

Summer Camp!



I've never been to a sleep-over summer camp. Last year I taught at the Vancouver Public Library's Canadian Summer Writing Camp, but that doesn't count, because we still went home at the end of the day.



Things are about to change.

On Monday, I shall hie myself off to Abbottsford to teach (and sleep over!) at the Creative Writing for Children (CWC) Summer Camp 2007. Three days of writing stories, learning new skills and making great friends. I'll bring my camera and get a few shots of some of the action to share. I'm also bringing my computer -- time to take another shot at DEADLINE.

One of the CWC teachers this year is James McCann. James' new book PYRE has just come out and he and I will be sharing a book launch sometime soon. Stay tuned for details!

~kc, wondering if there is such a thing as marshmallow-free s'mores...

Monday, June 25, 2007

Monday, Monday

Another busy day. SiWC board meeting with more good news -- a new presenter confirmed today. Will be putting together a note to the listserv to outline some of the good things happening behind the scenes of this year's conference.

But first -- a Very Important Confab in Bellingham tomorrow -- the SiWC Contest Assistants put their heads together at last!

The SiWC Writing Contest has an early deadline this year -- August 3, 2007. More info can be found at www.siwc.ca

Got a lovely note from Helene Boudreau yesterday. We met for the first time in Toronto over Thai dinner, and though I may have shared just a little too much of myself with her, she's clearly forgiven me. Helene is (along with Rose Holck and Marsha Skrypuch) a section leader in the YA and Kidcrit forums. Apparently MS. Z is to be the featured book for July in the YA/Children's forum. Got to send in my bio, first, though -- it's on my list, Helene! (I hate that I can't insert your accents here, dammit.)

I'm really looking forward to being a part of it!

And as for the pic, well...

doesn't everyone love a little baby duck?


~kc

Saturday, June 23, 2007

Stargate fixation...

My daughter is a geek.

She's proud of this state of geekiness. Revels in it. She's an IB student, about to go into Grade 12, spends six days out of seven in the pool, training with her swim team, spends most of her time with her nose in a book.

MOST of her time.

Lately, however, I've noticed she's been drawn to the dark side. Her inner geek is being sucked dry by a Stargate fixation. She's taken to buying entire seasons, planning her life around the next re-run and locking into the final episode that ran this week. She happily reported to me that she is not sad the final season is over, as there are at least two movies planned.



Now, I remember Kurt Russell running through the very first Stargate what seems like eons ago. Not a bad movie, as I recall. But was it the substance from which 8 or 9 seasons of a tv show could emerge like bacteria on agar? Apparently so.


I don't know if I am alone, here, in saying that this particular fixation is a mystery to me. I feel so sad for the guy forced to wear the '80's glasses into the new millennium. It hurts me to see Richard Dean Anderson morphing into William Shatner. And maybe I'm crazy, but I have to say I'm very relieved they at least let the guy with the little gold issue on his forehead grow his hair for the final season...

~kc

Thursday, June 21, 2007

Apropos of not much...

This is Seamus, in a state of such total relaxation that he cannot close his lips over his teeth.

I envy this state.
I am not there.

In actual fact, I am currently a brain in search of a pensieve. Too many thoughts -- not enough cognative material left in which to make sense of any of 'em. If you don't get the allusion, you are definitely behind in your Potter reading. Better get on it -- July 21st is looming!

I may have expounded upon this subject in this space before (and if I have, see above mental state for explanation) but the reason that I love reading JK Rowling is her express adoration of language. Dumbledore's pensieve is a case in point. The word evokes the state of mind one requires for deep thought, the vessel in which to do it AND the emotion one might experience whilst in such a state. Pure genius. And as a liguist, she also creates brilliant voices for her characters.

I am lucky enough to be reading another story by my friend Michael Hiebert, who in this case is giving the most human voice to his main character, who happens to be Jesus. Michael is brilliant at voice -- the most important weapon in a writer's arsenal (other than a stellar ability with a decent military metaphor, of course...). If you want a taste of his efforts, check out My New Cardboard Box, his blog. (The link is over to the side -- just on the left over there somewhere. No...further down. You've got it.) The Jesus Book Tour is amazing, funny and poignant and wicked. I can't wait to see how it ends.

The amazing women of Pandora's Collective have also picked July 21 as the date of their Summer Dream event, this year to be held in Stanley Park. My buddy James McCann and I will be a part of it, representing CWILL BC. I am pretty sure I'll also be doing a reading for the North Shore Writers' Association and possibly even the CAA. James and I are also working on the details of a book co-launch -- perhaps to be held that day in defiance of the Rowling juggernaut. More to come as things coalesce.

~kc

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Still Awaiting Final Confirmation...

...but I think my buddy James McCann's new book PYRE has finally made it's much-delayed (and much-anticipated) appearance. Watch this space for further details, or better still, cruise on over to James' blog for the latest. He's at http://jamesmccannauthor.blogspot.com/


In other news, I just found out yesterday that Quill & Quire, Canada's publishing industry stalwart, has also got a blog. The mysterious Quillblogger even mentioned my so-brief-you'd-better-not blink appearance at the CCBC event at Book Expo. We'll forgive the minor misquote in favour of cheering their acknowledgement of the existence of an author hailing from west of the Rockies. (West of the Coast range, too, if you want to get technical about it...). Go Q&Q!

Lots more going on, but tonight my head is full of the boy's penultimate lacrosse game of the season, the first in which he was actually knocked off his feet, and the second in which he scored a goal. His team won a resounding victory tonight, hot on the heels of a win in Abbotsford last night, so he's a pretty happy guy these days. Go Northshore!

And to close, perhaps a fitting shot of the goalie he built to stand in when he doesn't have a human around to take shots at -- looks a bit familiar, somehow...
~kc

Sunday, June 17, 2007

Back from Toronto...



...and with much to catch up on.


To begin -- a quick look back at the Spring Book Hatching. We had a pearly grey morning which dissolved into full rain by the time the event began, but for some reason still ended up with a full house and many happy people.
The Alice MacKay room of the Vancouver Public Library was full to overflowing with authors, illustrators, kids, parents, teachers and book lovers of all shapes and sizes. The place looked great thanks to Kathie Shoemaker and her helpers. Blackberry Books reported brisk sales, countless autographs were signed, dozens of Cobs cinnamon buns consumed and tons of book prizes were given out to joyful recipients.

Cynthia Nugent, who was celebrating the launch of two new books, dashed around taking pictures, and can be given full credit for the shots displayed here. At the top of the page, we have huckster Dan Bar-El, demonstrating a great book-selling pitch along with extraordinary sartorial flair. To the left is CWILL BC President James McCann, in deep consultation with brilliant emcee (and Pandora's Collective founder) Sita Carboni.

Here is Maggie deVries in possession of a Really Big Fish, (with a preternaturally calm Ainslie Manson seated nearby).

And finally, a shot of a Most Relieved CWILL BC vice president (standing beside her equally pleased colleague), enjoying the evidence of a good time being had by all.

Thanks to all who worked so hard to make the inaugural Spring Book Hatching such a success, and to all who came out to enjoy. We may have to just do this again sometime!
~kc

Sunday, June 10, 2007

Book Expo Canada

Am blogging in the shadow of the CN Tower after a full day in Toronto. (My hotel is the tiny little brown building to the right of the base of the tower in the picture.) Got in this morning at 2:30 am and after a few hours sleep, hit the ground running. It's been a GREAT day, with lots of excitement in the works -- more details when I can. I shared the stage today for a brief while with a number of other authors as the Canadian Children's Book Centre sponsored a reading of some of their 'Our Choice' authors from last year. SHADES OF RED was an 'Our Choice' selection, and I had a lot of fun listening to the other authors speak about their work. Plan to chase down several to get them to sign their books for me!

Met with my wonderful agent, Carolyn Swayze, for a non-coffee chat after she'd been to the Christie Blatchford breakfast. It was great fun to see her, particularly since we both had to travel 3000 km to do so.

Ran into Eric Walters and was able to thank him in person for the great blurb he wrote for Ms. Z. I caught him signing at at least three booths today. Prolific man --and _really_ nice guy.

Many celebs from the CanLit world to be seen wandering around today, not to mention a Stockwell Day sighting in the airport. How could my day be any more complete?

Dinner with a goodly percentage of the CompuServe Writer's Forum KidCrit crew. I met several of the group for the first time in the flesh and it was great fun. Anita Daher is here celebrating SPIDER'S SONG and RACING FOR DIAMONDS. Marsha Skrypuch is celebrating the impending arrival of her DEAR CANADA book about the Spirit Lake internment camp. Marina Cohen was signing at the Vanwell booth. Helaine Becker was signing today for Maple Tree Press and tomorrow will be back to sign some of her many titles for Scholastic. Mahtab was celebrating her very first book --THE THIRD EYE, with Dundurn. Nancy, Helene and Deborah made the evening complete.

The Spring Book Hatching went off yesterday without a hitch. (Well -- the coffee arrived a little late. But that was it. So no hitches that couldn't be bourne....)

Will have SBH pictures and more detail soon. I have once again run out of day.

~kc

Wednesday, June 06, 2007

The Actual Cover



Here is my first view of the final cover art for the new novel. I am really thrilled and have to extend a warm thank you to Eric Walters for his lovely blurb. The scrawl is not his -- but in fact belongs to Dundurn designer Alison Carr who has done a fantastic job with this book. (Apparently Alison's mother -- a teacher -- had a hand in the lettering!) Thanks, Alison! Thanks Alison's mum!

~kc

Ms. Z and MS

Spent most of today working on the SiWC brochure -- a hard-copy summary of the program for this year. Some astounding writers will be in attendance -- check out www.siwc.ca to see a listing of presenters. Names, pix, bios and workshops are slowing going up -- our webmaster Dale McGladdery is doing a bang-up job.

Still haven't held Ms. Zed in my hands -- hoping a copy arrives by Friday...

Hey -- a shout-out to Kirsti Wakelin, CWILL BC member, blogger and arteest extraordinaire, who will be missing our Spring Book Hatching this weekend to do a Very Big Bike Ride in support of research for MS. If you'd care to find out more, or pledge to help her meet her goal, here's the link:

https://msors.mssociety.ca/bike2007/Sponsor.aspx?L=2&PID=966782

~kc

Monday, June 04, 2007

Ms. Zephyr is a Book!



Got an email from my editor, Barry Jowett, today.

He was holding my new book in his hands. He likes it. I hope I like it!

I can't wait to see it, I know that much.

Soon -- in time for this Saturday's Spring Book Hatching, I hope.

So, I don't have new book euphoria just yet, but I _almost_ have completed book euphoria. DEADLINE is now 100,000 words when I thought it was going to be 85, but it is a mere couple of pages from being finished. Had a great writing day today and hoping tomorrow brings the euphoria. Hope with me. Chant with me -- Charlie's mantra: Stay Calm, Staying Calm.

Much happening this week:

  • MS. ZEPHYR becomes a book. (It was not supposed to happen until tomorrow, but it actually happened one day early!)
  • Spring Book Hatching on Saturday
  • Flying to Toronto Saturday night
  • Book Expo on Sunday and Monday, with CCBC launch of Ms. Z and signing at the Dundurn booth lined up, along with meetings of many friends from afar.
  • Somewhere in there I have to fit in DEADLINE becoming (if not a book) a completed ms.
  • Plus all the things I have to do before I leave for Toronto.
But... is this all fun?

Why yes -- it is.

I love my job.


~kc

Sunday, June 03, 2007

DEADLINE Approaches

Worked all day today (with the exception of a couple of hours spent viewing a boy's lacrosse game from atop an eliptical trainer, thereby killing two birds with one treadmill) on meeting the DEADLINE deadline, which is, in fact, tomorrow.

I am touching wood as I type this (which makes typing darned difficult, I have to say) but I think I may finish this thing tomorrow. Not finish--finish, but finish. (I could articulate this more succinctly, but the writers among you know what I mean, and the non-writers must know by now that the writers are nuts anyway, so there we are.)



Got the absolutely marvellous news yesterday that MS. ZEPHYR'S NOTEBOOK will be delivered on Tuesday to Dundurn. Much planning of launches and readying for this week's Spring Book Hatching, trip to Toronto, CCBC event at Book Expo Canada, Dundurn signing at same and meeting of many friends and compatriots throughout next weekend. (The image of the book tower, left, is courtesy of the Book Expo Canada website...)

All of this predicated on achieving above DEADLINE deadline -- so in order to facilitate same, this is it for now. (Forgot to mention that whilst watching the lacrosse match and pedalling rapidly nowhere, I also read the latest David Sedaris story in the New Yorker. The undisputed highlight of the day.)

~kc

Thursday, May 31, 2007

Caution: Busy Summer Ahead...

It was a gorgeous day in my part of the world today -- sorta looked like this: A day to remember how lucky we are to live here and now. Important to remember these things once in a while.

Two great meetings tonight. The first was over my first Korean dinner (vegetarian, too!) with Joon Park and the teachers of CWC -- Creative Writing for Children, a creative writing program that has been developing over the past five years in Vancouver. I will be teaching at their summer school this year, with my CWILL BC buddies James McCann, Lee Edward Fodi, Kari-Lynn Winters and two other wonderful instructors -- Lori Sherritt (who is Kari's partner with the Tickle Trunk Players) and Shelley MacDonald, another amazing drama teacher.

We'll be teaching somewhere around 50 kids at the Summit Pacific College in Abbotsford for three days in July, and it sounds like it's going to be a great time. More details as they become available, but I think it's safe to say we'll be running away to the circus this summer.

After dinner, James and I went for coffee to sort out the details of our upcoming book launches. We have big plans in the works as soon as some of the finer details are confirmed -- like book completion dates!

My DEADLINE deadline is this weekend. DEADLINE or bust.You read it here first.

Finally, I had two conversations today with amazing writers -- Jay Clarke known to the world as Michael Slade, (http://specialx.net/)and Jack Whyte, (www.camulod.com) writer and raconteur extraordinaire. They will both be a part of the Surrey International Writers' Conference this year, which is rapidly evolving into the Go-To Event of the fall season.

I'm done for the day. Time only for a few words of The Chamber of Secrets to take me away...

~kc

Monday, May 28, 2007

Refilling the Well

Had a chance to see two incredible movies this weekend, so I grabbed it. BABEL was the first. The performances were stunning and I really loved the story. The interconnectedness of the diverse cultures was lovely and the layers of the story captivated me. I loved the scenes in Morocco and Japan -- and Cheiko on the balcony was a revelation. However, I felt the ending pandered to the American audience, and that spoiled it the tiniest bit for me.






Yesterday I watched THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND. Stunning movie. Every time I see Forest Whitaker I am gobsmacked by his ability to inhabit the skin of his character. I kept having to remind myself that the story is based on a novel -- merely inspired by true events. The truth was in all likelihood much worse. Brilliant movie.

I highly recommend them both. And now -- I need to grab a few minutes to write.



~kc

Thursday, May 24, 2007

Flickr Test

By George...

I think I've got it!

This posting of the cover of my last novel is brought to you courtesy of my new flickr account.

Nice castle, eh?

It is, of course, the Bloody Tower from the Tower of London. Site of Anne Boleyn's final demise and setting of a couple of scenes near the turbulent finale of this novel.
Have had a few very interesting discoveries recently, on the subject (of all things) of clocks. Will post more, later.

~kc

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Busy Day

SiWC board meeting day, which meant lots of driving, lots of talking. But much was accomplished, so all is well.


Signed up today to take the Robert McKee STORY seminar this November in Vancouver. My good buddy Michael will be going too, so I plan to have a great time. I've read McKee's book and have always had a hankering to see him in action, so it's a fun thing to look forward to in what will likely be a Very Busy November.

Finished reading LINCOLN'S DREAMS by Connie Willis the other night. I am a huge fan of Willis, but this is my least favourite of any of her books. I adored THE DOOMSDAY BOOK and TO SAY NOTHING OF THE DOG, and was completely thrilled with BELLWETHER. Any of these would get my highest recommendation. But everyone deserves to have an off day, so I'll just put LD down as Connie's. I still consider Connie Willis as a goddess among writers.

Started Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone last night, in preparation for the final book's emergence in July. Every time a new one has come out, I've had to read the entire set again. My chief delight in Rowling's collection is her sheer love of language. Anyone who can invent the words quiddich and pensieve is okay by me.

Hopefully tomorrow will bring confirmation that MS ZEPHYR'S NOTEBOOK will indeed be emerging in time for all her planned launches. If that is the case, I will put plans for my shared launch with James McCann's novel PYRE into high gear.


~kc

Monday, May 21, 2007

Long Weekend

And so it has been, most of it spent with my assets stuck in this chair, working on SiWC workshop planning. However, the end is in sight, the board meeting is Wednesday and after that, the material should be making its way to the website.


Thanks to advice from illustrator extraordinaire Kirsti Wakelin, I've just established a flickr account, to better manage my photographs in this blog, so here is a little test...

...which, in fact, did not work. I tried loading from Flickr, but instead had to load the picture from my archive. (Puppy Seamus, almost two years ago.)
So much to learn, so little time...
In the meantime, watch this space for launch details regarding the imminent arrival of MS. ZEPHYR'S NOTEBOOK.
Plans are in the works for a co-launch with James McCann, who will be launching his latest novel, PYRE.
Tomorrow, James and I and a bunch of other CWILLites will descend on the Vancouver Public Library to scope out the Alice McKay room, prior to our Spring Book Hatching.
Much is unfolding -- hope it all means I can soon remove my now more substantial assets from this chair...
~kc

Sunday, May 20, 2007

Spring Book Hatching








...a bit of an update for those interested in new books and the authors that write them.

Saturday, June 9th, between 1 and 3, hie yourself off to the Alice McKay room in the downtown branch of the Vancouver Public Library.
There you will find all the new material you need for a summer of wonderful reading. More than 30 authors and illustrators will be presenting their latest works. Blackberry books will be on site, so you can pick up a new book or six from your favourite BC authors and illustrators.
These will include: Alison Acheson, Dan Bar-El, Diana Bonder, Vivien Bowers, Della Burford, Kristen Butcher, Linda DeMeulemeester, Maggie deVries, kc dyer, Lee Edward Fodi, Dennis Foon, Diane Haynes, James Heneghan, Melanie Jackson, Heather Kellerhals-Stewart, Cora Lee, Shar Levine, Ainslie Manson, Adrienne Mason, James McCann, Victoria Miles, Max Newhouse, Cynthia Nugent, Jacquie Pearce, Louise Phillips, Ellen Schwartz, Sima Elizabeth Shefrin, Shannon Stewart, Tiffany Stone, Joan Betty Stuchner, Diane Tullson, Kari-Lynn Winters & Pam Withers.

This event is sponsored by CWILL BC, Blackberry Books, The Vancouver Public Library and Pandora's Collective, with support from ING and Purdy's Chocolate.

Each author or illustrator will have a table -- so come out and meet your favourites! There will be treats and activities galore.
There will also be a PASSPORT table, where all attendees can collect a passport. If collect autographs from ten or more presenters around the room, you can tear off a tab at the bottom of the passport and be eligible for a PRIZE! (Plus you get to keep the autographs...)

Bonnie Nish and Sita Carboni of Pandora's Collective have graciously offered to help by emceeing this event. Each author and illustrator will get a brief chance to showcase his or her latest books.

There will be three presentation 'sets' – one for each age group: Picture Books, Middle Grade/Chapter books, Young Adult/Teen books. In between sets, activity will take place at the tables, books can be bought, autographs can be obtained. Activities around the room will resume between the presentations, giving the authors a chance to sign their books etc.
Come and join us for a couple of hours of great book collecting fun -- June 9th at the Vancouver Public Library.

~kc


Saturday, May 19, 2007

Can it be true...?


Has she hung up her gin pail at last?




Mr. Clooney is stunned at the thought of a blogsphere without his favourite scribe...
~kc







Stars Shine in Surrey...


...this October.




This list is not complete as yet, but it's looking pretty good so far, I think!


Authors:
Kelley Armstrong, John Brady, Jan Burke, Anthony Dalton, Michael DeFreitas, Maggie deVries, Diane Duane, Hallie Ephron, Lee Edward Fodi, Dennis Foon, Diana Gabaldon, Stephen Galloway, Bruce Hale, Cecelia Holland, Bernice Lever Paul Lima, Phillip Margolin, Don McQuinn, George McWhirter, Jacqueline Mitchard, Peter Morwood, Anne Perry, Lois Peterson,Vicki Pettersson, Karen Robards, Wendy Roberts, Barbara Rogan, Michael Slade, Patricia Smiley, Timothy Taylor, Meg Tilly, Nancy Warren, Eric Walters, Jack Whyte, Daniel Wood.

Agents:
Donald Maass, Cricket Pechstein-Freeman, Jeffery McGraw, Kristen Nelson, Rachel Vater, Doris Booth, Janet Reid ,Nephele Tempest, Sorche Fairbank, Dan Conaway, Jenoyne Adams, Lauren Abramo, Michael Bourret, Jenny Rappaport.

Editors:
Elizabeth Lyon, Lisa Rector-Maass, Barry Jowett, Kaylan Adair, Jesse Finkelstein, Bob Tyrrell, Tonya Martin and Maggie de Vries


Registration opens in July. Watch the website at www.siwc.ca

Or better still, sign up for the on-line newsletter on the site. It's ONLY used to send SiWC news -- and it will keep you up to date with the latest.

~kc

Friday, May 18, 2007

Twigg Book


Hey -- just remembered I promised to load an image pertaining to the new Shadbolt fellow ...
Here's my favourite book by Alan Twigg, as chronicled a day or two ago:

(Cheesy image quality thanks to the rotters at the Anvil Press site.)






A better image is this one, of the masthead of BC Bookworld. Twigg is a friend to all authors in British Columbia, having gathered an on-line compendium of some 8000 names of writers from this province. BC Bookworld is known to riders of ferries and denizens of bookstores throughout the province as a leading journal chronicling the chaotic existence of people who make their living in the realm of words. It's a great read.
~kc

Thursday, May 17, 2007

Spring Book Hatching Approacheth


Met today with CWILL BC president James McCann and the most wonderful ladies of Pandora's Collective. Bonnie and Sita will be helping us with the Spring Book Hatching as the star emcees for the event AND I think I may have sold them on the wonders of blogging, as well!


Here's a copy of the poster for the event -- designed from the artwork of Kari-Lynn Winters and Jacqueline Pearce by Kirsti-Anne Wakelin, artist extraordinaire!


James and I may end up launching our books together. We both write for young adults and our books should be arriving within a few weeks of each other. Stay tuned for more information!
~kc

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

50th Post!

Hey -- just realized this is my 50th blog posting. I guess it's become a habit, eh?

News today about author, BC Book world editor and all round nice guy Alan Twigg...

He's not only the most recent recipient of the Shadbolt Fellowship for the Humanities from SFU, he's been named writer in residence at the George Price Centre for Peace in Belize city. Twigg has written a dozen books on Belize and Cuba and is now working on a book about the relationship between founder of Belize George Price and former PM Pierre Trudeau. It's an interesting story, but I'm not going to tell you more -- you have to go check it out at Alan's website: www.alantwigg.com

As appealing as his books about far away and warm places may be, my favourite Twigg title is INTENSIVE CARE and it tells the story of Alan's dual with a brain tumour. Guess who won?

My computer is driving me crazy tonight, but I will try to post a picture of Alan and or one of his books tomorrow.

Currently reading MISS WYOMING by Douglas Coupland, interspersed with pithy quips from George Carlin's WHEN WILL JESUS BRING THE PORK CHOPS?.

~kc, a reader of eclectic tastes...

~kc

Sunday, May 13, 2007

Mothers

So, I just had an idea, but I have to go hunt down some old photos to realize it. I think it'll have to wait until tomorrow.

In the meantime, I can give you a picture that I promised a week ago or so -- from the Orca Book Launch held at Kidsbooks. I was there to support CWILL BC authors Kari-Lynn Winters and Diane Tullson as they launched their new books. This picture is of CWILL BC Prez James McCann and a fan congratulating Kari, with her new book JEFFREY AND SLOTH close at hand.
I think more pix will be posted at the CWILL BC blog, address appended in the side bar. Check it out to see!
~kc

Saturday, May 12, 2007

BC Book Prizes


A bit late with this news, but nonetheless...


BC Book Prize Winners Announced

Vancouver, BC - The West Coast Book Prize Society is pleased to announce the winners of the 23rd Annual BC Book Prizes. They are as follows:

Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize Sponsored by Friesens, Webcom and Transcontinental
Carol Windley, Home Schooling (Cormorant Books)

Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize Sponsored by the BC Teachers’ Federation
Don McKay, Strike / Slip (McClelland & Stewart)

Hubert Evans Non-fiction Prize Sponsored by Abebooks
Heather Pringle, The Master Plan: Himmler’s Scholars and the Holocaust (Viking Canada)

Roderick Haig-Brown Regional Prize Sponsored by Sandhill Book Marketing
Katherine Gordon, Made to Measure: A History of Land Surveying in British Columbia (Sono Nis Press)

Sheila A. Egoff Children’s Literature Prize Sponsored by the BC Library Association
Sarah Ellis, Odd Man Out (Groundwood Books)

Christie Harris Illustrated Children’s Literature Prize Sponsored by Kate Walker and Company, Michael Reynolds and Associates and Craig Siddall and Associates
Maggie de Vries and Renne Benoit,Tale of a Great White Fish: A Sturgeon Story (Greystone Books)

BC Booksellers’ Choice Award In Honour of Bill Duthie Sponsored by BC Booksellers' Association and Duthie Books
David Suzuki and Greystone Books, David Suzuki: The Autobiography

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR'S AWARD FOR LITERARY EXCELLENCE
Patrick Lane is the recipient of this award, established in 2003 by the Honourable Iona Campagnolo, to recognize British Columbia writers who have contributed to the development of literary excellence in the province.

This year’s gala, emceed by William Deverell and attended by the Honourable Lieutenant Governor Iona Campagnolo, took place at Government House in Victoria on April 28, 2007. The BC Book Prizes were established in 1985 to celebrate the achievements of British Columbia writers and publishers. The prizes are administered and awarded by members of a non-profit society who represent all facets of the publishing and writing community. The West Coast Book Prize Society congratulates all of the winners!

The 2007 BC Book Prizes On Tour has just wrapped up too and more than 2,900 people around the province have had the opportunity to meet and hear some of the finalists for the BC Book Prizes. This year, BC Book Prizes On Tour visited a record 15 communities with readings in schools as well as public venues like libraries and book stores. Check out photos of the authors on tour at our website.

For further details, visit www.bcbookprizes.ca


~kc

Not Ready to Make Nice...

Spent the morning poolside, alternately watching my girl get a best time in 100 m breast stroke (who knew?) and continuing my quest to sort programming, invitations and vast quantities of Surrey Conference email .


Paused this afternoon to watch the boy's team get trounced in lacrosse [sigh -- but I think he had fun, anyway] and have a quick peek at SHUT UP AND SING, the documentary about the Dixie Chicks travails over the past few years.
Interesting viewing.
In spite of being born and reared a red-neck Albertan, I grew up in the age of anthemic rock, so country music was a closed book to me. However, today I enjoyed watching these women find their way through the morass created as a result of something that was originally meant as a bit of an attention-getting noise. It's fun to watch people stand up for their own convictions, particularly if they have to do a little soul searching along the way.

Good flick.

Back to work!

~kc

Wednesday, May 09, 2007

Migraine Haiku


afternoon totalled

black spots, nausea intense

migraine, goddammit




...a twisted homage to my wrecked day and Miss Snark's Pynchon haikus, with apologies to Edvard Munch


~kc, recovering, thank you

Tuesday, May 08, 2007

Hot Fuzz


The boys are back.

Went to see Hot Fuzz tonight with Petey. It was everything I had hoped it would be. I was a bit worried that Simon and his gang wouldn't be able to maintain the standard they set with Shaun of the Dead, but they did just fine.

The cast (and casting) is brilliant, though for the life of my I can't understand why Steve Coogan (and Cate Blanchett, for that matter) would want to perform uncredited. Peter Jackson also shows up in a cameo as an uncredited (but murderous) Santa.

Much gore in the last half hour, but nothing less than one would come to expect from this particular gang of miscreants.

Lovely respite from my labours, but back to programming tomorrow. My goal is to have the SiWC program roughed in and ready for approval by the end of the week. Still working out invites, though, which makes this tougher...

My _secret_ goal is to find three days on the weekend and thereafter to finish DEADLINE once and for all -- for now. For this I may need to run away from my responsibilities, if I can. We'll see.

~kc

Monday, May 07, 2007

Pyre Launch Postponed

Just got a note from James McCann --

The launches for Pyre have been postponed due to the book not being physically available until late May/early June...More to follow. DO still come to 80s at 8 on Wednesday May 16th, and do enjoy a fun time of 80s music and trivia! (Even if Pyre can't make it.)
Cottage Bistro, 29th@Main. (in Vancouver, BC...)
James

When the new launch info goes up, I'll post it here, too.

~kc

Friday, May 04, 2007

Facebook and SiWC and My Man Jan

I acquiesced to coercion and opened a page on Facebook today. (You can find me under kc dyer, though they insisted on capitalizing my k and d.)


I'm not sure what the value of this endeavour will be, but we'll see. My daughter suggested I use the page to publicize my books, but I have my blog and website for that... I guess we'll see what develops.


Spent the bulk of the day gathering up the last of the invitees for SiWC this year. There will likely be a few more over the next couple of months, as all things settle out, but the line-up is looking pretty darned stellar already. Since the author list in the public domain already, I'll post it here:


General Fiction: Don McQuinn, Stephen Galloway, Cecelia Holland, Jacqueline Mitchard, Timothy Taylor,

Historical Fiction: Jack Whyte, Diana Gabaldon, Anne Perry

Mystery: John Brady, Jan Burke, Hallie Ephron, Phillip Margolin, Patricia Smiley, Barbara Rogan

Urban Fantasy-Horror: Kelley Armstrong, Vicki Pettersson, Michael Slade

Romance: Karen Robards, Wendy Roberts, Nancy Warren

Children / Young Adult: Maggie deVries, Lee Edward Fodi, Dennis Foon, Bruce Hale, Eric Walters.

Speculative Fiction: Diane Duane

Non-fiction: Michael DeFreitis, Elizabeth Lyon, Anthony Dalton, Paul Lima, Lois Peterson, Daniel Wood.

Poetry: Bernice Lever, George McWhirter


The categories are almost useless, because virtually everyone of these authors writes out of genre now and again. Anne Perry belongs in mystery, and Bernice Lever belongs in non-fiction and Diane Duane writes for kids and so on.


But isn't this an amazing list? There are one or two surprises still to come. And when we add the incredible selection of agents, publishers and editors -- well, it's possible that Surrey might be the place to be for aspiring writers in October.


I'm just saying.


One other note. Today after school, being Friday, my children and I were in pursuit of DVDs (for them) and chocolate (for me, but of course they managed to score a bit as well). Whilst managing to meet our weekend quota of both items, we ran into a friend of mine -- Jan Hurst. I was thrilled to introduce him to my children. Such a cool guy.


It is a point of great delight to me that Jan's first foray into writing was a book about building kayaks , published circa 1931. He's written a couple of books recently; Thorfinn Thorhallson's Saga, published in 2001, and more recently a speculative fiction story called Ultimate Downsizing.


When I saw him today, he was on his way to a 'three-day' birthday party for his daughter-in-law, he said, with celebrating set for this evening and Sunday, and apparently a day off for the hang-over in between. He shook hands with my son, and remembered meeting my daughter at Word On the Street last September.


"You remember me," he said to her. "I'm the old guy from Bowen Island." He waved us good-bye and headed off to meet his daughter-in-law and go to the party.


On his next birthday, he'll be 95.


Here's his website if you'd like to check out his books. (Or if you need your kayak tuned up, he's your man.)


http://www.thorfinn.ca/author.html


~kc

Thursday, May 03, 2007

Orca Launch

Tonight I drove through the deserted streets of Vancouver (via the deserted streets of Richmond -- evidence of how the threat of playoff elimination for the Canucks can make traffic seem like some other city's problem) to attend the Kidsbooks launch of a number of new Orca books titles.


Two CWILLers were presenting their books: Kari Winters (JEFFREY AND SLOTH) and Diane Tullson (THE DARWIN CHRONICLES).


Congrats to both of them on beautiful books! When CWILL president James McCann, also in attendance, shoots me the picture I took of he and Kari, I'll be sure to post it here.


I was looking for a copy of THE NUMBER DEVIL for my daughter, but the store was sold out, so will pick one up when I go to one of James's upcoming launches. I did buy a copy of 'GOOD DOG, FERGUS' by David Shannon (whose books I adore) to send to my sister and her old dog.


And in that spirit, here is a picture of a good dog I know, named Fergus.
(Two dog pictures in two days...a record!)


Ran into author/editor Maggie deVries at the launch, who will be coming as a presenter to SiWC this fall. Also ran into another editor whom I am hoping will be able to make it. Watch the mailing list for updates!


(If you're not on the mailing list for SiWC -- why not? Check out the website www.siwc.ca for details and get yourself all signed up. You won't be inundated with email -- just when we have good news about the conference to share. And this is a newsy time of year. I'm just saying.)



~kc

Housekeeping...


Short post tonight, as it is past midnight and I have once again run out of day. Cleared 760+ emails off my machine today-- the system has been threatening to crash for days now. This reduction should improve things a little.

In other news, I have been invited to participate in a podcast interview this summer with Book Bites for Kids, a division of The National Writing for Children Centre. http://www.writingforchildrencenter.com:80/

More info closer to the event.
Progress on the SiWC front now includes having contacted all confirmed speakers for their bio and picture. This information will soon appear on the website: www.siwc.ca

Next big steps are to fill the roster and get the workshops scheduled. It's slowly happening!

Will send out a teaser mailout with more presenter names this weekend.
The picture of Seamus is to make up for the fact that I left him out on the deck tonight as a storm rolled in. He was not spooked, but I felt terrible. He'll pay me back by taking up all the bed.

~kc






Tuesday, May 01, 2007

James McCann launches PYRE

CWILL BC president (and my buddy!) James McCann announces a triumverate of events to launch his newest novel:


This is the story of the events that lead up to the story as it plays out in James's first book RANCOUR.

May 16th, May 26th and 27th -- so no excuses -- check out one of these fine events, and buy a book or two!

May 16th -- 80s @8 pm, 4468 Main Street (29th Ave.)

May 26th -- Kidsbooks in Kits @ 6:30 pm, 3083 West Broadway

May 27th -- Kidsbooks in North Van @ 2 pm, 3040 Edgemont Blvd


~kc






Monday, April 30, 2007

New Site for SiWC Fans



Catherine Duthie, Regency Writer Extraordinaire, has set up a chat site about the Surrey International Writers' Conference.


You can check it out here:




You can also check out the official site here:




Or -- if you have a question, you can always post a comment to this blog. I am conference coordinator this year, and if I can't answer your question, I'll find someone who can!


~kc

Galleys In...

Finished my review of the galleys for Ms. Zephyr's Notebook today, and sent 'em in just before noon.

At that point my brain turned off completely, so in spite of the mountain of outstanding work I have waiting, I took the dog out for a run along the Seaview Walk in West Van.

It was good for both of us.

Galleys have now entered the techno-age. Used to be that the publisher would send out a copy of the actual galleys, the author would carefully evaluate and make any changes required and then pop them back in the mail.

These days it's done by PDF. At least that's how my publisher does it. I ran 'em off and carried them around with me all weekend. Somebody spilled coffee all over a couple of pages last night at my son's lacrosse game. So I was grateful I didn't actually have to send them back.

Instead, I sent a list of changes, along with my acknowledgements and dedication. Haven't heard any screams of hysteria from Toronto yet, so I'm crossing my fingers all is well.

With all my conversations here about this book, I'm not sure I've ever described it. Here's what the book jacket says:

When Logan Kemp hurls himself into a rugby scrum one morning, he has no idea that by afternoon he'll be fighting for his life. Worse, the only other patient on his ward is a troubled girl named Cleo who may not be hospitalized just for a broken wrist. When all he wants is his regular life back, the thought of Cleo throwing away her own leaves Logan determined to change her mind.

Cleopatra Jones wants to design the perfect life; a teenage boy and a few well-meaning health professionals are not going to stand in her way. But Cleo soon finds that life -- and even death -- can interfere with the best-laid plans.

Both teens reinforce the walls that have kept them safe in their own worlds, but the secrets in a teacher's notebook show them how the word sustenance can have more than one meaning. Facing the biggest challenge of their lives, Logan and Cleo discover the powerful forces of redemption and forgiveness.

One of the good things about Dundurn (my publisher) is that they let me write my own book jacket copy -- so at least it's not been written by someone who hasn't read the book.

So, as you can see from this description, Ms Z is a bit of a different story than the previous three I have published. It's still a novel aimed at teens, but with a contemporary setting and theme. I'm quite interested to see how it does when it makes it out into the great wide world, as it is so different from my earlier work.

I guess I'll know soon enough.

~kc

Sunday, April 29, 2007

Anita Daher Most Promising in Manitoba!

Last night, sister scribe Anita Daher won the John Hirsch Award for Most Promising Manitoba Writer at the 2007 Manitoba Writing and Publishing Awards. Anita is the author of Flight From Big Tangle, Flight From BearCanyon, Racing for Diamonds and Spider's Song. (The last two books just came out in the past week!)

Congratulations to this fine writer and to the Manitoba Publishing Guild for recognizing her abilities!

~kc

Saturday, April 28, 2007

Progress

Pretty tired tonight after rising at 5 this morning to take the girl to her swimming time trial. While other parents helped out on deck, I brought my pillow and fell asleep in the back seat of my car.

However, I have made it to about page 97 of Ms. Z's galleys. The devil, as we all know, is in the details and I am torn between feeling I am being too picky and realizing the book is worth it.

I read at least 30 of the pages while on various pieces of gym equipment while also watching the boy's lacrosse game today.

The sleep in the car allowed me to do this.

However, it appears it was not enough to allow me to continue working this evening. I'm done for the day.

~kc

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Galleys!



They're here!

The galleys for my upcoming novel, MS. ZEPHYR'S NOTEBOOK, arrived today.

They are about 2 1/2 weeks late, mostly because this book has required more design work than any of my previous novels.

My second book, SECRET OF LIGHT, revolved around the life of Leonardo daVinci. (Interestingly enough, I believe I was writing it just about the time that Dan Brown was putting fingers to keys on his own modest endeavour of similar topic, though substantially different execution.) Anyway, the only interior design element of that book that set it apart from a conventional manuscript was the insertion of leonardo's famous mirror-writing signature. As I recall, I had trouble finding an image clear enough to allow the designers a decent shot at reproduction, and in the end, I think I traced it. So really, it was the kc dyer rendition of the odranoel. (This is not correct either, of course, as here I have just reversed the letter order and not the letters themselves...)

By contrast, Ms Z. (whose period I disagree with but have been forced by the mores of conventional Canadian usage to accept) is an internal design nightmare. The manuscript contains post-it notes, drawings, memos, report cards, letterhead, doodles, internet messaging, email, a menu (wait a minute -- I think the menu might have been guillotined...), selections from a graphic novel, doctor's orders...well, you get the picture.

Or pictures, as the case may be.

Anyway, it's now time for me to go through the galleys and make sure all is well. I had a quick look this afternoon before I had to brave the TransCanada on a trek to Surrey for a SiWC board meeting, and I was pretty happy with what I saw. There was a big problem right at the end, where two graphic depictions had been dumped instead of placed where they belong in the ms, but that is easily solved.

Over the next couple of days I'll talk here a bit about how the whole process of reviewing the galleys works. It's almost my favourite part of the whole book publishing business, because there is so much looking forward involved. A new book is a new beginning. I'm really happy with this story, so that makes it even better.

I haven't seen the final cover design just yet. The one accompanying this post is an interim design -- almost there but not quite. I'm hoping for a coffee stain and some grafitti from a friend of mine.

We'll see what I get.

~kc

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

New York, New York!


Just back from my first visit to the city since the mid-1980's. I am gobsmacked at how many people can live together in such a small space in anything but total anarchy. It is astounding.

This is a view of the Chrysler building from my hotel room at dusk.

My companions and I walked mostly everywhere, but the cabs we did take gave me a bit of a study in diversity. We had two drivers who originally hailed from Haiti, one from Pakistan, one from Ireland, one from Egypt, one from Tunisia and a single born-and-bred New Yorker. Cuisine encompassed Mexican, Korean, Italian, Thai and, on our last night, a piece of original Lindy's New York style cheesecake.


A good time was had by all.

~kc

Monday, April 16, 2007

Congratulations...

...to fellow Dundurn author and Compuserve scribe James Bow. His new book FATHOM FIVE arrived on his doorstep today. If you want to have a peek, check out his blog: Bow. James Bow. The address is in the Blog sidebar.

We are slowly making progress on the SiWC website -- but if you want a hint of some of the outstanding writers who will attend as speakers this year, check out the main page at www.siwc.ca The rest of the site is not live just yet, but it's coming! Next up will be bios and pix of the presenters this year, and once the board approval has come through, a listing of the workshops will go up.

One other thing new this year is the SiWC Writing Contest Deadline. It's been moved up to August, so check it out. Still one of the richest prizes associated with a writing conference contest, and now with four categories: Fiction (The Storyteller's Award, sponsored by Diana Gabaldon and Jack Whyte), Non-fiction, Poetry and Writing For Children. The new dates and requirements are all posted on the website -- so get those story ideas on paper in time for the August deadline!


And just because I can, here's a picture my daughter took of a funny sign at the base of the Filbert steps in San Francisco.

If you've seen a sign you'd like to share, send it in!



~kc

Saturday, April 14, 2007

North Shore Writers' Festival, 2007

News from the Local Writing Front --

A Stellar Line-up of Authors at the North Shore Writers Festival

Back for its eighth spectacular year, 2007’s North Shore Writers Festival will bring some of Canada’s finest literary stars to our local libraries. The Festival runs April 20th – 28th at the North Vancouver District Public Library, North Vancouver City Library, and the West Vancouver Memorial Library. From stories of adventure to comedy to spoken word, there is truly something for everyone at this wonderful Festival.

Festival headliner is extreme explorer Colin Angus, who in 2006 became the first person to circumnavigate the globe entirely by human power. Over three continents, two oceans and 17 countries, Angus walked, rowed, skied and cycled a total of 43,000 kilometres during his two year expedition. During his fascinating presentation he will chat about his adventures and screen Beyond the Horizon, a film recording his remarkable journey around the world in an effort to promote environmental awareness. He and his partner Julie Wafaei, who accompanied him on part of his journey, will appear at the Kay Meek Centre (1700 Mathers Ave., West Vancouver) on Friday, April 20th at 7:30pm.

Want to tickle your funny bone? Girls Night Out, featuring Susan Juby, Wendy French, and Robyn Harding, is the event for you. Juby, raised in Smithers, Harding, born in Quesnel and Vancouver-born French all write – with some sugar but more spice – of such popular girl topics as overcoming a happy childhood, surviving adolescence, the challenges of kids, husbands and animals, and not being Margaret Atwood. Come find out where novels such as Alice I Think, The Secret Desires of a Soccer Mom and sMothering originated. These three hilarious authors will chat at the West Vancouver Memorial Library on Monday, April 23rd at 7:30pm.

Those interested in the environment and BC history will be fascinated by acclaimed journalist and author John Vaillant’s talk. Vaillant’s study The Golden Spruce: A True Story of Myth, Madness and Greed, a gripping narrative of beauty, mystery and destruction, began as a New Yorker article and won a Governor General’s award for non-fiction. Don’t miss Vaillant’s appearance at the North Vancouver City Library on Tuesday, April 24th at 7:30pm.

What’s the recipe for a perfect literary evening? Mix books with delicious food, of course! Mother-daughter team Dolly Watts and Annie Watts, former proprietors of Vancouver’s Liliget Feast House, have recently authored Where People Feast: An Indigenous People’s Cookbook. This sumptuous book is the culmination of a life sharing the food traditions of the Git’ksan people. Join the authors, sample their cooking and hear their stories on Wednesday, April 25th at 7:30pm at the West Vancouver Memorial Library.


Another wonderful mother-daughter team at the Festival this year is Blanche Howard and Allison Howard. Join the Howards as they launch A Memoir of Friendship, a collection of letters between Blanche and the late, great Carol Shields. Share in the celebration at the North Vancouver City Library on Thursday, April 26th at 7:30pm.

For something a little different, come to Words Out Loud, featuring spoken word artist Ivan E. Coyote and poet Kate Braid. Coyote is to CanLit what k.d. lang is to country music: a beautifully odd fixture. She performs her warm, witty stories with verve and honesty. Braid, carpenter and poet, came to writing with a desire to honour the ordinary. Her work honours the lives of those who build, fix, organize, and prevail. April is National Poetry month – celebrate by listening to these two fabulous wordsmiths on Friday, April 27th at 7:30pm at the Capilano Branch Library.

Local writers, young and old, experienced and emerging, will give listeners a taste of some hot-off-the-press writing at The Writers Next Door: A Reception. Come, listen and chat on Sunday April 22nd at 2:00pm at the Capilano Branch Library.

Aspiring writers will have an opportunity to meet with Maggie de Vries, this year’s writer-in-residence.
A versatile writer, editor and teacher, de Vries is accomplished in both children’s and adult publishing. Her memoir Missing Sarah was nominated for a Governor General’s Award, and her Tale of a Great White Fish is shortlisted for a BC Book Prize this year. She will be available to meet with writers on Saturday April 21st from 10:00am – 4:00pm at the Parkgate Branch Library; Sunday, April 22nd from 10:00am – 4:00pm at the North Vancouver City Library; and Saturday, April 28th from 10:00am – 12:00pm at the West Vancouver Memorial Library. Writers can book a free half-hour one-on-one mentoring session by calling 604-987-4471.

Returning to the Festival for its second great year is the Short Short Story contest, open to all North Shore residents. Deadline is April 10th! Winners will be announced at the Writers Next Door event.

All events are free; seats available on a first-come, first-served basis. For more details and a complete schedule of events, please visit
www.northshorewritersfestival.ca or pick up a flyer at any North Shore Public Library.

That's it for now. I'm off to help a friend celebrate a milestone!

~kc

Friday the Thirteenth

Actually, now that I look at the clock, not any more. Have spent most of the day writing, writing, writing letters to the Most Wonderful and Exceptional presenters we have coming this year to the Surrey International Writers' Conference. It is a sad fact that, though I am many months away from the end of this letter-writing gig, I need to do a better job of cleaning up my email. I've just discovered that I have 500+ in my Sent box. Yipes. Actually about 1500+ in the various boxes. Spring cleaning ahead, I guess.

Plan to spend the weekend NOT letter-writing, but book writing. DEADLINE is living up to its name. Time to get it done and move on. Ceilidh is calling.

Speaking of my Edinburgh girl, the London Book fair is about to commence on Monday, I see. You can see more about it here:
www.londonbookfair.co.uk

Last year, I was lucky enought to have a peek at the gigantic event (which many people went to great pains to insist is tremendously smaller than the Frankfurt version). I had travelled to Edinburgh (my favourite city in Europe; setting of next series, starring Ceilidh Craig, as referenced above) for a little research jaunt. Whilst out for a drink with a few of the city's literary community, (a night to remember, without a doubt), I happened to mention to Ron Grosset (of Geddes & Grosset Ltd in Edinburgh, and one of aforementioned literati) that I would be in London the following week.

He very sweetly arranged an invitation for me, which was slipped in a clandestine fashion under my hotel room door when I arrived in London. So, off I went to Excel in the Docklands to see the Fair. And a wonderous event it was, with more books, publishers and agents than the eye could hold.

Of course, this year the London Book Fair represents nothing so much to me as a giant pain in the ass, since many of the the intended recipients of my letter writing efforts are currently jetting across a Very Large Body of Water with priorities other than answering their email.

So it goes. Time to read a little Vonnegut, I think, just to be reminded of how life never quite turns out as one might expect.

Oh -- and I am going to see if I can load a copy of the cover of Ms Z into this missive. Why not? (Hope it works!)

~kc

Thursday, April 12, 2007

Brantford Book Camp (for Kids and Adults)

Here's a little news about the astounding Book Camp (for kids) and Summer Writing Workshops (for adults), founded by Marsha Skrypuch, and held every summer in Brantford, Ontario:

Brantford will be holding its 4th annual Book Camp for kids this coming August.
We have upped the maximum age of participants to 14 from 12 because we have so many kids who want to return each year. In past years, we've had kids come from Oshawa, Kitchener, Hamilton and Toronto.
And this is the second year for our Summer Writing Workshops. These workshops are for published and aspiring writers over the age of 16. Last year, participants came from Washington State and Winnipeg, as well as within driving distance of Brantford. Two of our unpublished participants from last year have since received book contracts. We have upped the enrollment from 16 to 24 and have tripled the number of workshop leaders. If you know of anyone who might be interested in attending either of these writing workshops, please pass on this link: http://calla.com/bookcamp/index.html


I'd like to add you can also check out Marsha's website at www.calla.com (it's in the list in the sidebar, too).


~kc

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Vonnegut Dead

Just read that Kurt Vonnegut died today.

Feel totally wrecked by this news, somehow. The man was 84, and suffered a bad fall a few weeks ago, apparently. But somehow it doesn't seem right that he is gone.

His work has forever influenced me as a reader, as a writer and as a person.

So, effectively, I guess, that means that he isn't gone.

I read today that he was a POW in Germany when Dresden was firebombed. He and the others took shelter in an underground meat locker -- labelled slaughterhouse five.

~kc

Book Tour

Just today received an invite from the Canadian Children's Book Centre to tour during 2007 Book Week. I'm very happy about this, as it's my first tour with the CCBC. It will take place in a province other than my own, yet to be determined, in November.

I know writer Anita Daher has been chosen as well (and only 'cause I read it on her blog...) -- but that's about all I know at this point.

Stay tuned for developments!

In other news, I still haven't had a peek at the final page proofs for Ms. Z. Turns out it's taking a bit longer to put together than the publisher had thought. I'm really looking forward to seeing them -- I'll report here when they arrive.

~kc

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Book Expo Plans

Last year, SHADES OF RED, (the final novel in my Eagle Glen trilogy) was selected by the Canadian Children's Book Centre as an "Our Choice Selection". This made me eligible to promote my new book with them this year at Book Expo in Toronto.

Travelling east for three days may, to some people, seem a little extreme in exchange for five minutes of book promotion, but some authors will do anything for a little face time. So, I'll be there. Watch for my reading at the Canadian Children's Book Centre area at around 1:20 in the afternoon. (Since I'll have flown all night to get there, you'll be able to pick me out as the only sleep-reading author present.)

Edited to add that I have just found out my good buddy Marsha Skrypuch will be reading from her book shortly after me. (I think she will be reading from ARAM'S CHOICE, her latest marvellous book.) You can be assured Marsha will NOT be sleep-reading.

More details closer to the time.

~kc

Monday, April 09, 2007

Writing Contest For Kids

Just heard this writing award has been reinstated. If you are a young writer from Alberta -- give it a shot!

You can find more information on the website for the Young Alberta Book Society at www.yabs.ab.ca.

Think you're funny?
Enter to win the Martyn Godfrey Young Writers' Award, sponsored by the Alberta Weekly Newspapers Association.
Martyn Godfrey thought he was funny too - so funny he took on a student's dare to write a book and ended up writing 40! To celebrate Martyn's memory and love for reading and writing, the Young Alberta Book Society started the Martyn Godfrey Young Writers' Award.
The Martyn Godfrey Young Writers' Award is an annual, juried writing competition open to all Alberta students in grades 7 through 9.
Students are asked to submit a humorous short story (between 500 and 1500 words) along with a cover page to the Young Alberta Book Society by May 11, 2007.
Two winners will receive trips to the 2007 Writers Guild of Alberta's Youthwrite Camp in Bragg Creek, Alberta and half day visits from an Albertan author, illustrator or storyteller to their schools during Taleblazers 2007.
For full contest and entry details, please visit our webpage at http://www.yabs.ab.caor email the Young Alberta Book Society at info@yabs.ab.ca

~kc

Friday, April 06, 2007

Easter Weekend

I'm tired. This writing business is hard work. The goal for the weekend is to hone in on the end of DEADLINE before real life leaps up to bite me again next week. A bit too much churning of the wheels today. I'm hoping for better tomorrow.

I'm sure there is more to report, but I can't remember any of it right now.

Happy Easter to all!

~kc

Tuesday, April 03, 2007

Much Ado About Everything

Working like a maniac on too many projects to count right now. Let's see...

I'm awaiting the page proofs for MS ZEPHYR'S NOTEBOOK, due out in May. (VERY excited to see how those will look...this book is quite a departure for me.)

Last year I wrote a novel for kids called A WALK THROUGH THE WINDOW, and I've just completed a bit of a re-working of that, so I hope it will be ready to meet the world pretty soon.

DEADLINE is still teetering on the brink of completion. My current goal is to get it done before I head off for a quick trip to New York later this month.

Also working to get the 2007 SiWC line-up off the ground. This is a VERY busy time of year, as all the presenters need to be put into place (likely 55+ this year) AND all the presentations have to be readied for the production of the conference brochure. Many hundreds of emails winging through the ether as a result.

I'm also leaping into the breach for this year's Lions Bay Telephone Directory -- my one remaining annual desk-topping project.

Progress continues apace on the CWILL BC Spring Book Hatching, coming this June. It's going to be a great party! We've got nearly 30 writers introducing their new books, and prizes and excitement galore.

Let's just say my life is pretty full these days.

I'm feeling quite bereft, as I finished Palin's Diaries of the Python Years last night. It has been quite fascinating to me to read of all the goings-on behind the scenes. Has quite brought me back to my own teenage years when I could recite the Parrot Sketch et al verbatim. However, I've also found the book very inspiring from a writer's point of view. I hadn't realized just how much of Michael Palin's life has been devoted to writing. His work ethic is admirable, all the more so because of the emphasis he placed on not isolating himself through the process. Fascinating read. (I spent a bit of time chasing Mr. Palin down through his 'people' to see if he might consider attending the Surrey conference this year, alas in vain. I hold out hope for some future year, though. I think he'd enjoy himself immensely in this setting.)

Am currently trying to fill the Palin breach by reading a book called RANCOUR by CWILL president (and friend) James McCann. I actually stole this book from James last year, but this is my first chance to read it. It has an exciting premise, with promise of werewolves, vampires and teen angst. (Not sure which will turn out to be the scariest of the three...) James has a new book coming out very shortly, titled PYRE. One thing is certain -- the man has an undeniable flair for coming up with riveting titles.

I also picked up a copy of my daughter's school book CHRONICLE OF A DEATH FORETOLD by Gabriel Garcia Marquez today, whilst the girl was in her piano lesson. Got irretrieveably hooked and had to finish the story before making dinner. Simply marvellous read.

Monday, April 02, 2007

Happy April, Fool!

It's not technically April Fool's Day anymore. It's now April 2nd, and I have just finished a rewrite of A WALK THROUGH THE WINDOW. I think it's more in a place where I want it to be, now. Ready to fly out into the real world, I hope.

I have been working on this manuscript to the exclusion of everything else for awhile, so it was not until last night at roughly two-ish, that I remembered the date. All that came to me at that hour, in the messing with kids's minds department, was to turn off the power to their most loved appliances. So I searched for the right buttons to push on both the circuit breaker boards in the house, and duly disconnected the power to both the TV and the X-box. I was anticipating a lot of teen anguish over the mysterious phantom power outage that killed their appliances but not the fridge or my computer.

Of course, things did not go as planned.

First of all, my son awoke around 5 to discover his clock was not working. (I'd had to turn the power off to all the outlets in his room.) Of course, he felt compelled to wake me with this news. Strike One.

When I finally emerged from my own bed in the morning, I could hear the tv going downstairs. My daughter just arched an eyebrow at me by way of greeting. I trooped all the way downstairs to find my 'April Fool's!' note, left tauntingly taped to the circuit panel, had been defaced.

'Never underestimate my brain,' it read. 'I figured it out right away.'
Strike Two.

On the front door, she left me her own cryptic note: Happy April Fool's Day. The note was accompanied by a little sketch of a pair of boots.

I glanced out the front door to see, stepping delicately down the 45 or so steps to the street, a single shoe on every riser. Each belonging to the perpetrator's mother.

Strike Three. April brings baseball with it, too, at least to one Fool who thinks she can pull something over on her children.

Also managed to squeeze in a great planning meeting with the Most Excellent Spring Book Hatching Planning Committee today. More on that soon.

All in all a very satisfactory April Fool's Day.

~kc