Writers between the ages of 12 and 19 are invited to join me for a free writing workshop at the Toronto Public Library Brookbanks Branch (210 Brookbanks Drive) on January 31, 2009, from 1 to 3 pm. Come play with words, find inspiration for new stories, and polish your prose for submission to the 2009 Young Voices magazine, the library’s magazine for teen writing and art. The contest closes April 4, 2009, with contributors notified in June and the annual magazine released next October.
News
Cleavage Highly Recommended
Cleavage: Breakaway Fiction for Real Girls, which includes my short story “Profanity,” received a highly-recommended rating from Canadian Review of Materials. The review, posted December 5th, says “the stories are very strong, with sympathetic girl protagonists, colourful purposeful mothers, realistic family situations and the gleaming knife of raw emotion. Highly Recommended.” You can read the full review here.
Cleavage Enlightens and Entertains
A ‘n’ E Vibe posted a great new review of Cleavage here. Monika Wierzbicki writes “When we get very lucky we come across a book that expands our minds, enlightens us, and miraculously is still entertaining enough to make us want read it again.” Cleavage is “written in a wonderfully direct and often hilariously offbeat way that will make you want to keep reading.” You can read more about Cleavage here.
Reading at the Cleavage Book Launch
A full crowd gathered at the Canadian Children’s Book Centre last night to celebrate the launch of Cleavage: Breakaway Fiction for Real Girls. We enjoyed mocktails and cool snacks before settling in for readings from five of the contributors to the book. Thanks to all for the enthusiastic response.
Young Voices 2008 Launch
On October 16 at 7 pm, I’ll join the staff of the Toronto Public Library to celebrate the launch of Young Voices 2008, the library’s annual magazine for teen writing and art. As a guest editor of the magazine, I’m looking forward to congratulating the wonderful teen artists and writers whose work will appear in the magazine. Watch for the magazine to appear at your local TPL branch, or join us for the launch at the North York Central Library (5120 Yonge St.).
Cleavage Writing Workshop
Teens are invited to a writing workshop on the theme of beauty and body image. Join myself and Patricia McCowan – authors from the short story collection Cleavage: Breakaway Fiction for Real Girls – at the Beaches branch of the Toronto Public Library on October 4 from 2 to 4 pm (2161 Queen St. East). Stories from the workshop can be submitted for posting at breakawayfiction.blogspot.com by emailing breakawayfiction@gmail.com.
CANSCAIP presentation
I was invited to give a talk for CANSCAIP, the Canadian Society of Children’s Authors, Illustrators and Performers. On September 10, I spoke about my recent exploration into the art of screenwriting and how it applies to writing a novel. If you’re interested in screenwriting, two excellent books are Syd Field’s Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting and Robert McKee’s Story: Substance, Structure, Style, and the Principles of Screenwriting.
Writing for Children at Centennial College
Do you want to write for children or teens? Join me for a writing workshop on September 25, 2008, at Centennial College to learn how to generate ideas, develop believable characters, understand genres, edit your writing, and market and promote your work.
Cleavage Book Launch
Teens and adults are welcome to join me at the official book launch for Cleavage: Breakaway Fiction for Real Girls, which includes my story “Profanity.” The event will be held on Wednesday, September 24 from 5:30-8:30 at the Canadian Children’s Book Centre (Suite 101, 40 Orchard View Blvd, Toronto). Please drop by to celebrate with us – and enjoy mocktails and cool munchies.
Summer Writing at Camp
I just finished two awesome weeks of teaching WordPlayer writing workshops at Pegasus Studios Arts Camp in Toronto. Together we wrote and shared poems, created characters using masks, and invented stories about buried treasure. The kids and teens were super enthusiastic when we created our own imaginary worlds then wrote stories about them. They drew maps of their worlds, imagined characters, then wrote pages of fabulous material. Thanks to all for sharing your writing with me.
New Story in Cleavage Collection
My latest story for teens, “Profanity,” will be published this Fall in Cleavage – an anthology about mothers, daughters, and body image (Sumach Press). In “Profanity,” teenaged Claudia is repelled by her mother’s pregnant body, referring to her as “the human whale.” Editors Deb Loughead and Jocelyn Shipley preview some of the issues in the anthology in the Parents Canada article “Your Child’s Body Image.”
WordPlayers Writing Workshops
This July, I’ll be leading WordPlayers writing workshops for children and teens at the Pegasus Studios Arts Camp. If you like writing poems or stories, come play with words using masks, story dice, photos, character games, and more. For more information, go to Pegasus Studios.
The Castle Key Great Magical Book
The Castle Key was selected by the Canadian Children’s Book Centre for The Magic of Books: Great Canadian Children’s Books About Magic. This thematic guide recommends books that will create a magical reading experience for children.
Prose Writing Workshop for Teens
In February 2008, teen writers joined me at the York Woods library in Toronto for a prose writing workshop. Participants expressed themselves through writing using a variety of stimulating activities designed to teach technique.
Young Voices Writers Conference
On October 20, 2007, I enjoyed a writing workshop with enthusiastic teen writers at the Young Voices Writers Conference. The event was held at the North York Central Library in Toronto. In my workshop, I focussed on how to revise a work of fiction, demonstrating my own revision process then discussing specific ways to polish prose with writing exercises to show technique.
Editor of Young Voices Magazine
On October 18, 2007, I joined the staff of the Toronto Public Library to celebrate the launch of Young Voices 2007, the library’s annual magazine for teen writing and art. As a guest editor of the magazine, I congratulated this year’s winners and encouraged teens aged 12 to 19 to enter their writing for next year’s magazine, when I’ll again act as an editor. For more information about how to submit, go to Young Voices magazine.
Pure Selected Best of the Year
Resource Links, a national reviewing journal, selected Pure as Best of the Year 2006 in the category of fiction for grades 7 to 12. Set in a future where genetic engineering of humans is forbidden, Pure tells the story of Lenni – a misfit artist who discovers she has a surprising gift for healing.
Prose Workshop, Toronto Public Library
Teens aged 12 to 19 joined me for a prose workshop at the North York Central Library in Toronto on February 20, 2007. Participants worked on their creative writing with an eye to submitting to Young Voices, Toronto Public Library’s magazine for teen writing and art. Participant Sanjeev Narayanaswamy wrote this review of the workshop.
Take the Stairs Nominated for White Pine Award
The Ontario Library Association nominated Take the Stairs for the 2005 White Pine Award. This novel in thirteen voices reveals the private thoughts and dreams of the thirteen teens who live in a rundown inner-city building as they struggle to turn obstacles into opportunities and make their way in the world.