Coming March 2020
So I’m taking next week off from blogging, and will be back on January 5th!
I wish you and your families the happiest of holidays, and the most blessed of new years!
Your support this year has meant the world to me. And beginning in January, we’re going to start talking about book two and hopefully have a cover reveal VERY soon!
Until then, take care and I will see you in 2018!
Much love!
Wendy
And with it, the end of my debut year as a children’s book author.
There have been many ups and downs this year – happy surprises, thrills, and the odd disappointment (how is it I DIDN’T make the New York Times bestseller list?) but by far, the loveliest surprise was going through it with all the other 2017 debut authors.
They are an illustrious group and many of them did make it onto the NYT Bestseller lists: Stephanie Garber, Angie Thomas, Nic Stone, Karen McManus to name but a few.
We represented the diversity of person-hood and spanned continents. We wrote groundbreaking books, diverse books, own voices books, fairy stories, funny stories, old-fashioned adventures.
But what we had in common was two-fold:
Sometimes, over the course of this year, I’ve forgotten just how fortunate we debut authors were. Not only to break into the publishing world, but to have each other to ask questions of, to celebrate with, to commiserate with, to cry with.
E.B. White once famously ended his masterpiece, Charlotte’s Web, with the following line:
It is not often that someone comes along that is a true friend and a good writer. Charlotte was both.
On this day, the day that the last #2017debut, Amanda Searcy’s The Truth Beneath the Lies, is published, it seems like the most fitting quote to end a remarkable year.
Source
And since I love the hustle and bustle of December, and all of the holidays that are included, I thought I might put together a gift for YOU.
It’s been a thrill to have my first book published and a thrill to edit the next one, which you’ll hear more about in the coming weeks when the cover is revealed.
To thank you for your support this year, I’ve decided to not only give away a hardcover copy of It’s a Mystery, Pig Face! but also two middle grade novels that I loved so much I read them in one sitting: The Stars Beneath Our Feet by David Barclay Moore and The Someday Birds by Sally Pla. I’ll even throw in some Pig Face bookmarks.
I’ll announced the winner next Friday, December 8th!
And stay tuned, I may have another giveaway in the next two weeks!
One of my favourite ones is Book Riot, a wonderful site chock-full of great articles, reviews and news from the book world.
Of course, my favourite section is the Children’s section, and I can’t tell you how many great articles I’ve read there, and how many recommendations for books I’ve gotten there that have turned out to be fantastic.
One of my author friends, Karina Yan Glaser is a regular contributor to Book Riot and I love her articles.
This is the time of year that parents and other adults are searching for recommendations of good books for the children in their life.
Book Riot is the perfect site to visit!
Have a great week. Next week: HOLIDAY GIVEAWAY TIME!!!!
It’s a real honour to be included in a “best of” list by such a prestigious organization, and it’s fun that Pig Face is right beside his good friend Holly Farb, written by the wonderful Gareth Wronski!
The funny thing is, when you write a book you have no idea if other people will like it.
So I’m happy to end 2017 on such a high note and looking forward (I hope!) to making next year’s list with my next book, The Frame-Up!
And yes, Pig Face makes a wonderful holiday gift!
My writing process, for good or bad, is not.
Since I am in the throes of revising to meet a December deadline, thought I would share the exact process I go through to write a book.
Granted, I’ve only written nine books in the last three years (only three of which will likely ever see the light of day) but the following list is a somewhat humorous and oh-so-accurate depiction of my writing life:
I don’t know about you, but the holiday season always seems like the perfect time of year to add to my picture book collection. (Well actually, any time of year seems like a good time of year to add to my picture book collection, but never mind…)
This is the ultimate example of how wonderful illustrations can tell a story.
It’s also a wonderful reading experience, curling up with a child and together, you and they add your own spin to the story.
When my children were young, they were crazy about Peter Spier’s wordless picture books:
Zoom, by Istvan Banyai
The Red Book by Barbara Lehman
This year, I’ve added a new wordless picture book to my collection, one that combines two of my favourite things: The Nutcracker and Author/Illustrator Elly MacKay.
The illustrations are absolutely glorious, and I can imagine many children poring over this book and inventing their own dialogue between the two main characters, a young boy and a young girl, who are initially reluctant, then enthralled, to attend the ballet.
I always want to step right into Elly’s worlds, and this book is no different. You can watch the short You Tube video below to see how she does the incredible world she does:
Want to buy Elly’s latest book?
And please, share your favourite wordless picture book titles with me! Would love to add to my collection!
we’ve just started the tear-out and it looks like this:
In other words, a total mess.
My latest book looks remarkably like this:
When I look at these pictures I can’t imagine December 1st, when the reno is scheduled to be done.
I’m at the point in my revisions where everything is a jumble.
I feel like I’m groping in the dark.
I feel like it will never be pretty.
I can’t imagine being able to turn it in to my editor on December 1st.
The thing is, you have to practically dismantle your book to see what needs to be there and what needs to go.
What you need to do to make it coherent.
The kitchen reno has a plan, but no doubt things will crop up and that plan will have to be adjusted.
The same thing is happening with my revision.
You can’t have a new kitchen unless you tear the whole thing apart.
Just like I can’t have a good book without tearing my WIP apart.
It’s not fun, but it can be very satisfying…
Someday, it might even look good….
(On the kitchen and the reno!)
I’ve been a reading and writing machine, casting aside all other pursuits to get my current work in progress completed by deadline and greedily adding to my to-be-read pile.
I also just read DEAR MARTIN by Nic Stone in one sitting and it is fantastic!
There is so much goodness in this list that I don’t know where to start. I can’t NOT begin THE BOOK of DUST by Philip Pullman, and I suppose I should get to those library books, but this pile will be completed in the next two or three weeks.
Because soon it will be time to start planning my holiday list…
In the meantime, are you looking for books to give as gifts? Then pop over to SCBWI Book Stop – you can query authors, titles, mosey the shelves, see what you’d like…
And by all means, visit my page and say hi!
Have a great week and let me know what you’re reading this week!
Lisa Maucione – You’ve won these three books! Hope you and your class enjoy them! I’ll be in touch to send them your way!
Thanks everyone for entering! Stay tuned for another giveaway in late November!
Meanwhile, I’m spending the next week dreaming about the release of Philip Pullman’s new book, . I cannot wait to read it! Hmmm. we may have to talk about HIS DARK MATERIALS next week…
Have a great weekend!
First of all – thank you for the kind words about my friend Brian Carty. He will be missed forever, but his light goes on shining!!!
This time, one lucky winner will win not one, not two, but three MG books!
All you have to do is leave a comment and I’ll pick a random winner next Thursday night.
His name was Brian Carty, and we have been friends for just about forty years.
And he was wonderful.
But even better than being wonderful. He was good.
And that goodness sustained not only himself and his family, but his many friends.
And when I say many, I mean MANY. Bri-Guy was beloved, because he knew how to love.
A little over ten years ago, Brian made a major professional change. I’d known he was dissatisfied; we talked about it all the time. But when you have two young children, it’s hard to make big changes, it often feels like its impossible.
But Brian was also brave, and that bravery and subsequent career change meant that hundreds, if not thousands, of social work students benefited from his wisdom and his goodness.
Five years ago, when I decided to drop everything and pursue my wildest dream of writing for children, he had my back. Big hugs. Always interested in what was happening. Always telling me it was going to happen soon.
There were high fives when I signed with my wonderful agent Lauren Galit.
And when I sold my first book in 2015, he was almost as excited as I was.
And when I created this website and began writing this blog, he was my third subscriber. (When I told him that he said he was my Number Three Fan)
The thing about we writers is that we are an insecure lot. We toil away in solitary places (or in busy places with earphones!) and pray that what we bleed onto the paper touches someone.
And we rely heavily on our wonderful family and friends who buoy us up and ask us how things are going and keep at us not to keep plugging away.
Brian was one of those people for me.
I saw him one Friday afternoon this summer and we marvelled at how, after so many rough patches, our lives were turning out pretty darn well, thank you very much.
Two weeks ago when I saw him, he was walking towards one of the tents at our local Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival, a bounce in his step. He was going to his happy place.
But then, he always carried that happy place with him. And even better, he shared it with everyone else.
When you lose a friend too soon, you can’t help but wonder “what if?”
I like to think I’ll see Brian again. I hope so. But this is my way of thanking him for supporting, no, celebrating, what was one of the hardest decisions I ever made in my life.
That made all the difference to me.
And what makes me happiest of all? That not only did Brian touch my life in such a positive way, but that he touched so many others in exactly the same way.
Love you, Brian. And thank you.
Hi everyone,
Wanted to share two new releases this week, written by a couple of Canadian writers who are exceptionally talented!
They’re the second in a series and you absolutely do NOT need to read book one (but you are SO going to want to, I promise!)
Without further ado:
“Give this to fans of Encyclopedia Brown who are looking for longer (and funnier!) well-plotted mysteries.” —Booklist on Howard Wallace, P.I.
“My partner scanned the message and a slow grin took over her face as she said our four favorite words: ‘ We have a case.’”
HOWARD WALLACE IS BACK!
Middle-school detectives Howard Wallace and Ivy Mason are itching for a juicy case. But when their friend and cohort Marvin hires them to prove his nephew— über-bully Carl Dean—didn’t pugnap the school mascot, they’re less than thrilled. To succeed, not only must Howard and Ivy play nice with Carl, they’ll have to dodge a scrappy, snoopy reporter and come face-to-face with Howard’s worst enemy, his ex-best friend Miles Fletcher. Can Howard deal with all these complications and still be there for Ivy when her life is turned upside down? Or will he once again find himself a friendless P.I.?
“Another sequel is in the offing, and young mystery fans should be glad.” —Kirkus Reviews (less)
Howard and Ivy are back! And twice as funny as they were in book one! This time they’re hot on the case to figure out who took school mascot, Spartacus, and framed Howard’s #3 nemesis Carl. You know this is going to be a humdinger, and Casey Lyall does not disappoint. This is a wonderfully fun book, and I can’t wait for book three!
Visit Casey’s website!
Get ready for dragons, robots, and an even more dangerous quest in the sequel to The Adventurer’s Guide to Successful Escapes!
Anne, Penelope, and Hiro have returned to Saint Lupin’s Quest Academy for Consistently Dangerous and Absolutely Terrifying Adventures, where there’s only one way to leave: pass or fail. At the annual Quest Academy awards, they’re recognized for their success in their first outing-Best Illegal Quest That Nearly Destroyed the Entire World–but a strange boy steals Anne’s gauntlet and activates a new quest that pits them against all of dragonkind. Their charge: kill the dragon queen. The problem is, Anne doesn’t want to kill any dragons! But ignoring a quest can have horrible consequences, just as killing the dragon queen would start an all-out war between people and dragons. To avert disaster, Anne and her friends will have to dodge robot attacks, defeat new foes, and survive the dangerous dragon trials just for a chance to explain.
With charming, funny text and lots of heart, The Adventurer’s Guide to Dragons is the perfect read for anyone who likes fantasy with lots of laughter.
Seriously, Wade Albert White is one of the funniest authors writing today. This book, book two in the Adventurer’s Series, is even better than the first and just as witty and creative. Anne and Penelope and Hiro are off on another quest, one that could result in them being shish-kebobs for the Dragon Queen. Rollicking adventure, brilliant writing, clever plot-twists – this book has it all!
Visit Wade’s website!
Guaranteed good reads!!!!
They are hosted by passionate educators and writers and they have one thing in common: they love children’s literature!
The upcoming long weekend is the perfect opportunity to take a listen to one of these wonderful podcasts, so I thought I’d share a small list of my favourites!
Hosted by Corinna Allen, I ADORE this podcast! Corinna always ask the questions I would ask and has the best guest! A real treat in every episode!
Click here to start listening!
Hosted by Amy Kurtz Skelding, this podcast hosts great discussions about books and my throw in the odd recipe as well…
Click here to start listening!
Hosted by Betsy Bird and Kate Ramsey, this is all about picture books and is such a delight!
Click here to start listening!
this is not just about kidlit, but SO helpful for writers that I need to include it!
Click here to start listening!
A fun podcast (I was recently interviewed!)!
Click here to starting listening!
I’d love to hear what podcasts you love! Happy Labour Day!
It was 10C when I woke up this morning.
Which means fall is coming.
But what better way to celebrate the end of summer with some great middle grade books that take place in summer?
Savour the warmth. Take those last outdoor swims. Eat that ice cream.
And read!
Here are five books that evoke those lazy days of summer:
All of these books are great reads for your end-of-summer hurrah!
Happy reading!
This has been a terrible week.
Hate marched, its opponents were murdered or injured, and a country realized that the leadership to address racism and bigotry was not there.
Of course, many would rightfully argue that we have lacked true leadership on that issue for hundreds of years. And not just in America.
But we can change that. And one way to do that is through books, especially children’s books. Here’s a short list of books we could all benefit from reading this week and the coming months. I’ve also tossed in a couple of adult books.
We need to learn. We need to do better.
Most of the time, those books are books I read when I was much younger:
But this summer I’ve had the pleasure of reading two books that I am positive are going to require multiple readings over the course of my life:
For readers who loved Sara Pennypacker’s Pax and Lois Lowry’s The Giver comes a deep, compelling, heartbreaking, and completely one-of-a-kind novel about nine children who live on a mysterious island.
On the island, everything is perfect. The sun rises in a sky filled with dancing shapes; the wind, water, and trees shelter and protect those who live there; when the nine children go to sleep in their cabins, it is with full stomachs and joy in their hearts. And only one thing ever changes: on that day, each year, when a boat appears from the mist upon the ocean carrying one young child to join them—and taking the eldest one away, never to be seen again.
Today’s Changing is no different. The boat arrives, taking away Jinny’s best friend, Deen, replacing him with a new little girl named Ess, and leaving Jinny as the new Elder. Jinny knows her responsibility now—to teach Ess everything she needs to know about the island, to keep things as they’ve always been. But will she be ready for the inevitable day when the boat will come back—and take her away forever from the only home she’s known?
There are almost no words to express my Wonder at what author Laurel Snyder has achieved in this book. Part childhood meditation, part mystery, part glorious wonder, this book is amazing. A true achievement and an author at the top of her game.
Weeks later, I’m still thinking about this book. And I know I will want to read it again soon.
Things Finley Hart doesn’t want to talk about:
-Her parents, who are having problems. (But they pretend like they’re not.)
-Being sent to her grandparents’ house for the summer.
-Never having met said grandparents.
-Her blue days—when life feels overwhelming, and it’s hard to keep her head up. (This happens a lot.)
Finley’s only retreat is the Everwood, a forest kingdom that exists in the pages of her notebook. Until she discovers the endless woods behind her grandparents’ house and realizes the Everwood is real—and holds more mysteries than she’d ever imagined, including a family of pirates that she isn’t allowed to talk to, trees covered in ash, and a strange old wizard living in a house made of bones.
With the help of her cousins, Finley sets out on a mission to save the dying Everwood and uncover its secrets. But as the mysteries pile up and the frightening sadness inside her grows, Finley realizes that if she wants to save the Everwood, she’ll first have to save herself.
If you ever want to read a truly magnificent book about the inner lives of children, especially ones who are hurting, this one is for you. The story of Finley, sent to stay with her grandparents for the summer (grandparents she’s never met) while her parents contemplate divorce, this book is a beautiful treatise in imagination, pain, friendship, and hope, and is truly one of the finest books I’ve ever read. Legrand is a remarkable writer.
I love knowing those books are out there, waiting to be reread again!
How about you? Any book you are dying to reread again?
If you’re like me, you’ve been soaking up the sun (a bit), working (a lot), and reading, reading, reading!
In Canada, there’s still a month until school starts again, so I thought I’d share some new middle grade books releasing this month that are worth checking out:
Talk about having a lousy day. While Zinnia’s seventh grade classmates are celebrating the last day of school, she’s cooped up in the vice principal’s office, serving detention. Her offense? Yarn bombing a statue of the school mascot. And when Zinnia rushes home to commiserate with her older brother, Adam, who also happens to be her best friend, she’s devastated to discover that he’s left home with no explanation. Just when it looks like Zinnia’s day can’t possibly get any worse, a colony of frantic honeybees mistakes her hair for a hive and lands on her head! Told from the alternating perspectives of Zinnia a humorous young loner and knitter and an unintentionally comical hive of honeybees, this quirky, heartfelt novel will strike a chord with anyone who has ever felt alone, betrayed, or misunderstood as it explores the challenges that come with learning to trust yourself and the often messy process of discovering the true meaning to home.
I’ve read this book already and loved it!
Ambassador, you are go for launch in T- minus 5…4…3…2…. Get ready to blast off with this high-action, high-stakes middle grade adventure that’s perfect for fans of Chris Grabenstein and Peter Lerangis!
Miranda Regent can’t believe she was just chosen as one of six kids from around the world to train for the first ever mission to Mars. But as soon as the official announcement is made, she begins receiving anonymous threatening messages…and when the training base is attacked, it looks like Miranda is the intended target. Now the entire mission—and everyone’s lives—are at risk. And Miranda may be the only one who can save them.
The Martian meets The Goonies in this out-of-this-world middle grade debut where the stakes couldn’t be higher.
Debut author Kristi Wientge tackles the uncomfortable—but all too relatable—subject of female body hair and self-esteem with this sweet and charming novel in the tradition of Judy Blume.
Karma Khullar is about to start middle school, and she is super nervous. Not just because it seems like her best friend has found a newer, blonder best friend. Or the fact that her home life is shaken up by the death of her dadima. Or even that her dad is the new stay-at-home parent, leading her mother to spend most of her time at work. But because she’s realized that she has seventeen hairs that have formed a mustache on her upper lip.
With everyone around her focused on other things, Karma is left to figure out what to make of her terrifyingly hairy surprise all on her own.
Again – I’ve read this book already and it’s delightful!
Kat Greene lives in New York City and attends fifth grade in the very progressive Village Humanity School. At the moment she has three major problems—dealing with her boy-crazy best friend, partnering with the overzealous Sam in the class production of Harriet the Spy, and coping with her mother’s preoccupation with cleanliness, a symptom of her worsening obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Read this one, too and it is heartwarming and wonderful!
Twelve-year-old Devin Dexter has a problem. Well, actually, many of them. His cousin, Tommy, sees conspiracies behind every corner. And Tommy thinks Devin’s new neighbor, Herb, is a warlock . . . but nobody believes him. Even Devin’s skeptical. But soon strange things start happening. Things like the hot new Christmas toy, the Cuddle Bunny, coming to life.
That would be great, because, after all, who doesn’t love a cute bunny? But these aren’t the kind of bunnies you can cuddle with. These bunnies are dangerous. Devin and Tommy set out to prove Herb is a warlock and to stop the mob of bunnies, but will they have enough time before the whole town of Gravesend is overrun by the cutest little monsters ever? This is a very funny “scary” book for kids, in the same vein as the My Teacher books or Goosebumps.
This book is a HOOT and your kids are going to devour it!
Any and all of these books will be a great addition to your home or school library, or ask you local library to order in a copy!
Happy reading!
Since I can’t go to schools or libraries to do visits, I wanted to create a forum for talking about […]
Yes, I know I’m late. Technical difficulties meant I was locked out of my own website. Seriously????? Whatever, it is […]