by Karen Krossing | Jul 12, 2011 | Mentoring
Books collected for the Red Door Family Shelter
One of my summer projects this year was collecting donations of books for the Red Door Family Shelter in Toronto, where I volunteer once a week with school-aged kids. I was happy to collect books from Rachel Seigel of S&B Books, author and reading program coordinator Sheilah Currie, and Barb Pepin of Chapters Indigo. These books are being used in the shelter’s summer reading program, which I help with once a week. I received novels, picture books, learning-to-read books, graphic novels, and non-fiction books by fabulous Canadian and international writers and illustrators – a total of five boxes of books. The kids and the shelter staff were thrilled when I brought them in! Thanks to Rachel, Sheilah, and Barb for making it happen.
by Karen Krossing | Jun 14, 2011 | Book News
I just got an Ontario Arts Council Works-in-Progress grant for my current project! I’m happily screaming “yahoo” and seriously disturbing the neighbours. This particular novel has given me angst for a few years now, so it’s wonderful that the jurors liked it. Maybe I CAN finish this project.
I’ve tried for grants before with this novel but haven’t been successful. Rewriting and persistence are so important.
I remember once, when I was an unpublished writer, I sent an impulsive email to an author I admire – Karleen Bradford. I was looking at her website because she had useful information for emerging writers. I was feeling discouraged at the time, and I asked her for advice on how to get motivated to continue writing after a rejection letter from a publisher. I never really expected an answer, but I got one quickly. Karleen wrote something like, “A writer’s greatest talent is sheer pig-headed stubbornness.” Her words helped me pick up the pencil and return to my story once again. Thanks, Karleen. I’ve found those words to be true over and over again.
by Karen Krossing | May 29, 2011 | Book News, Mentoring, On Writing, Presentation News
This past week, I received an advance reading copy of The Yo-Yo Prophet, my new novel from Orca Books. The interior design is on-theme, with a silhoutette of a yo-yo starting each chapter. It looks like the designer had a lot of fun with this one!
This week, I also completed the judging of submissions for the Toronto Public Library’s Young Voices Magazine of art, poetry, and prose. I met with a team of enthusiastic teen judges on Thursday night to argue passionately for our favourites in the category of prose written by teens aged 17 to 19. The winners will be announced soon, and the launch for the 2011 magazine will be held in October. I can’t wait to see the finished product.
I also ran a memoir-writing workshop this week for fellow writer and instructor Karen Rankin, who was unable to attend her class. I was so impressed with the fascinating stories I heard and the quality of the writing. These dedicated writers are faithfully developing their craft and sharing their sometimes hilarious and sometimes harrowing real-life tales. It made me remember two things: First, everyone has interesting stories to share, if only we take the time to listen. Second, real life is often stranger than fiction, but perhaps fiction can be equally strange, if it’s told well enough to make unusual events believable.
by Karen Krossing | May 18, 2011 | Book News
I’m thrilled with the cover for my new teen novel – The Yo-Yo Prophet, to be published by Orca Books in September 2011. I love the colours, the somewhat geeky yo-yo guy, and the silhouettes of the people in the windows. Here’s a sneak peek into what the book is about:
Calvin is the smallest guy in his high school, and a perfect target for Rozelle and her girl gang. His mother is dead, his father is long gone and his only remaining relative, his grandmother, is getting too sick to run her dry cleaning business. The only time Calvin feels in control is when he’s working his yo-yo. When he takes up street performing, Rozelle demands a cut and insists on being his manager. To get media attention, she markets him as a yo-yo genius who can predict
the future, dubbing him the “Yo-Yo Prophet.” Calvin begins to believe his own hype, but as Gran’s condition deteriorates, he realizes that it will take more than fame and adulation to keep his family intact.
by Karen Krossing | Apr 16, 2011 | Mentoring, Presentation News
As Vice-President of CANSCAIP, one of my duties is to coordinate the annual Packaging Your Imagination conference. If you like to write, illustrate, or perform for children and teens, please join me at Victoria College in Toronto on Saturday, November 5th. You can:
- start the day with a Welcome Address by Governor-General’s Award winner Sarah Ellis.
- choose three Workshops in your special area of interest. Workshops include expert-level sessions intended for established writers and illustrators — as well as a session for beginners. All others sessions are at the intermediate level. Topics range from how to craft a picture book to creating graphic novels to how to pitch your work.
- join with the whole group for a Keynote Address from renowned author/illustrator Loris Lesynski.
- end the day with a Pitch Perfect manuscript/portfolio critiquing session. Get a one-paragraph pitch plus 1000 words critiqued by agent Ali McDonald or editor Gail Winskill in a ten-minute private session. Or get five portfolio pieces critiqued by art director Andrea Casault. Space is limited, and spaces will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Register early to get your first choice in workshops and one of the limited number of Pitch Perfect critiquing sessions.
Need another reason to register early? This year, the first 75 registrants will be automatically entered in a draw to win a Blue Pencil mentorship in any genre with keynote speaker Loris Lesynski.
For more information, go to Packaging Your Imagination 2011.
