His Name is Blessing

Reading a book can change your life, so can writing one…Here’s a Ted talk by Eric Walters about how writing changed his life.  Be warned though, when you watch it, you may want to leap in and  try to do 1/2 of what Eric does, and that will keep you very busy for the rest of your days!  Enjoy His Name is Blessing.

A Resource for Rhyme

A lot of kids love rhyme and so do I.  In fact, I adore rhyme, and have successfully written and published several books in rhyme.  But, and there always is a but isn’t there, it’s always been difficult to get a rhyming picture book published.  There are lots of reasons for that publishers aren’t interested in rhyme. An important consideration, and one you may not even have considered, has to do with how well a book travels in the international sphere.  Rhyme doesn’t translate well, so translations are not an easy sell.  Of course, a more obvious problem is that in a surprising number of rhyming stories, the rhyme dictates the story rather than the other way around.  New writers are often attracted to rhyme, but simply don’t have the skill to pull it off.  So, if you want to brush up on your rhyme, Rhyme Weaver is a website you may want to check out.  Thanks to my colleague Lois Peterson for reminding me what a great resource it is.

 

 

Writing Tools

I’ve been working so hard lately, not at writing, but at learning a new program; Scrivener, which I think will help enormously with my latest project…a graphic novel. For anyone interested, they offer a free download for a month so you can give it a try by clicking on the Scrivener link above.  I’m finding it a bit of a challenge so far, but I think it might even be helpful for picture book writing and for managing writing projects in general so I’m committed to sticking to it.  There are so many awesome features that I think it’s will be a great writing tool.  I’ll report back periodically.  If you’ve used Scrivener, I’d be happy to hear it you found it useful or if you having any tips.

Of course, life is all work and no play…I’ve finally gotten over a series of winter illnesses that kept me off the water, but last night I went out in the voyageur canoe with a few fellow paddlers and had a wonderful time. Thanks Sue Douglas for organizing us and for the lovely pics.  Thanks Mile for being our trusty stern and happy birthday Alice.

Canadian Kids Write

Winners Announced for Book Week 2013 Writing Contest

Young winners from Burlington (ON), Caledon (ON), Calgary, Edmonton,
Hamilton (ON), Kinburn (ON), Ottawa, Scarborough (ON), Winnipeg

TORONTO ~ May 8, 2013 — The Canadian Children’s Book Centre (CCBC) is excited to announce the winners of the Book Week 2013 Writing Contest for Kids & Teens. Close to 1,500 entries were received from young writers in every province and territory across the country.

The national contest is a much-anticipated part of TD Canadian Children’s Book Week — the largest celebration of Canadian books for young people in Canada, which is happening now  (Saturday, May 4 to Saturday, May 11, 2013).

The winner from each grade will receive a $250 gift certificate for the bookstore of his or her choice.  Two honourable mentions from each grade category will also receive $50 gift certificates.

The winning stories and honourable mentions can be read online at www.bookweek.ca.

The WINNERS of the Book Week 2013 Writing Contest are:

Grade 4:           Alexis Hilts of Edmonton, Alberta for Yorky the Terrier

Grade 5:           Miguel Castro of Scarborough, Ontario for The Curse

Grade 6:           Izzah Muhammad of Calgary, Alberta for One Word

Grade 7:           Mackenzie Hauch Krueger of Kinburn, Ontario for Papadum

Grade 8:           Maya Schwartz of Winnipeg, Manitoba for Viola

Grade 9:           Kirsten Marquez of Burlington, Ontario for Untitled

Grade 10:         Lia Codrington of Ottawa, Ontario for Doucement

Grade 11:         Katarina Wex of Caledon, Ontario for Living with Anorexia

Grade 12:         Evelyna Kay of Hamilton, Ontario for Kendra’s Stranger

 

Nine noted Canadian children’s authors generously donated their time and expertise to judge submissions from young writers all across the country. The judges for the Book Week 2013 Writing Contest are:

Sheryl McFarlane, author of Island Santa, from Victoria, BC
Sharon Jennings, author of Home Free, from Toronto, Ontario
Jessica Scott Kerrin, author of A Narrow Escape (The Lobster Chronicles series), from Halifax, Nova Scotia
Sylvia Gunnery, author of Emily for Real, from Crescent Beach, Nova Scotia
Richard Scrimger, author of Ink Me (Seven series), from Toronto, Ontario
Don Aker, author of Running on Empty, from Middleton, Nova Scotia
Sylvia McNicoll, author of Dying to Go Viral, from Burlington, Ontario
Lori Weber, author of Yellow Mini, from Pointe-Claire, Quebec
Arthur Slade, author of Island of Doom (The Hunchback Assignments 4), from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

 

The Book Week 2013 Writing Contest is a wonderful opportunity for young writers, says Grade 10 judge Sylvia McNicoll: “Awarding prizes is not the primary goal, because if that were true there would only be a couple of winners. Each young writer who enters goes through the process of creating, polishing and submitting, knowing they will be read. The real purpose is to encourage the creative reaching of Canadian kids. In this way the contest entrants are all winners.”

 

The Canadian Children’s Book Centre would like to congratulate this year’s winners and honourable mentions, and thank the judges for their dedication to reading and evaluating this year’s submissions.

 

About the Canadian Children’s Book Centre:
The Canadian Children’s Book Centre is a national, not-for-profit organization founded in 1976. We are dedicated to encouraging, promoting and supporting the reading, writing and illustrating of Canadian books for young readers. Our programs, publications, and resources help teachers, librarians, booksellers and parents select the very best for young readers. For more information, please visit www.bookcentre.ca.

For more information, please contact:

Shannon Howe Barnes | Program Coordinator
The Canadian Children’s Book Centre | Suite 217, 40 Orchard View Blvd. | Toronto | Ontario | M4R 1B9

T: 416 975-0010 x 227 | F: 416 975-8970 | shannon@bookcentre.ca

www.bookcentre.ca | www.bookweek.ca | Like us on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter

Looking for children’s book events in your area? Visit events.bookcentre.ca!

 

“The Canadian Children’s Book Centre helps the creative talent of Canada – the writers, the illustrators – reach the people who count: the readers.

An investment in the Canadian Children’s Book Centre is an investment in your child’s future as a Canadian.” ~ Margaret Laurence

BC Book Awards will be announced tonight

Sad that I can’t make the BC Book Prize Gala tonight because of a cold, but I’m wishing everyone luck.  There were some super books on the short-lists this year, so be sure to add the short-list as well as the winners to your summer reading list!

 

Matsqui Elementary School in Abbotsford

Thanks to the staff and students at Matsqui Elementary School in Abbotsford, BC for hosting me for an author visit this week.  The students had fabulous questions, and I could just tell that they were excited to try out some of of the writing tips I shared with them.

A special thanks goes to grade 2/3 teacher Rhona Pederson for all the time she spent organizing this week’s author visit. I do hope parents realize just how much teachers do beyond the work day  to make their children’s educational experience rich and meaningful.

Lastly, I’d like to congratulate new grandmother and  principal Kathy Fladager whose three day old granddaughter popped in for a school visit along with her proud mum and dad…you can never start them too young!

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 2013 TC 10K

I returned from my wonderful week in Hawaii, grabbed a few hours of sleep, and met  my running partner at 6:30 am the following morning for a lovely walk through Beacon Hill Park to the Parliament Buildings and the start line of the 10K Times Colonist Run/Walk.  This year we decided to walk it due to a serious lack of training on our part.  So, not as good a time as last year, but hey, walking 10 k is better than being a couch potato.

Besides being good for us, we had time to catch up and enjoy some great bands along the way.  We also ran into tons of  old friends.

The only disappointment…the chocolate  milk was all gone by the time we hit the finish line!

So next year, we’re back to running it for sure.