Posts Tagged ‘writing books’
Don Aker – YA Writer Profile
May 21, 2013 | 
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Don Aker – YA Writer
CANSCAIP (Canadian Society of Children’s Authors, Illustrators and Performers) (repeat that with your eyes closed) asked me if I’d write a profile of the YA writer Don Aker for the Fall/Winter issue of their magazine, CANSCAIP News.
What fun it was! I read all I could find online about Don – along with all his YA titles, he’s also written for middle readers, One on One.
We talked face to face non-stop for three hours, then I wrote the profile.
This is a new venture for me. I think it’s called non-fiction. You have to stick to the facts. But I hope I will have conveyed my admiration and respect for a fine writer.
The Space Between is my favourite of all his books, and his too.
And then there’s The First Stone.
If you haven’t yet discovered Don, you have a treat in store.
Check him out at www.donaker.com
Posted in CANSCAIP, CANSCAIP News, Children, Children's book, Don Aker, Juvenile fiction, One on One, The First Stone, The Space Between, Young Adult fiction | 
Tags: CANSCAIP, CANSCAIP News, Don Aker, juvenile book, middle reader book, Middle Readers, writing books, YA Writer, young adult fiction | 
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Halifax Book Signing
On Saturday Sylvia Gunnery and I met for brunch. Sylvia is a retired teacher, and believe me, her students were very lucky to have her.
She generously gave me her thoughts on how to present Nix Minus One in junior high.
Helpful thoughts.
Surprising thoughts.
Thoughts based on experience and wisdom.
Thanks again, Sylvia!
(And the eggs hollandaise were terrific.)
Then we went to the Chapters stores in Bayers Lake and MicMac Mall and signed our books. Between the two of us, it was an impressive display of books.
Thanks to the managers of the two stores for all their help.
We had some great conversations with customers.
Sylvia’s sister brought flowers for us – so kind of her.
Some writing group friends came by and chatted.
And we even sold some books…
Sylvia and I at Chapter’s Book Signing
Posted in After publication, Book Signing, Chapter's Indigo Bookstore, Children, Children's book, Emily For Real, Juvenile fiction, maritime author, New Juvenile Fiction Book, Newfoundland fiction, Nix Minus One, read books, Reading, Sylvia Gunnery, The Nine Lives of Travis Keating, Young Adult fiction | Tags: Atlantic provinces, book signing, children's author, Children's book, children's books, halifax, jill maclean, juvenile book, maritime author, Martime authors, new juvenile fiction book, newfoundland, Newfoundland book, Nix Minus One, writing books, young adult fiction | No Comments »
An early start at a private school in Ottawa
An early start at a private school in Ottawa, where I was warmly welcomed. This visit was sponsored by the Ottawa Writers Festival – many thanks, Leslie.
Then I met a poet friend for a pub lunch, and ended the afternoon at the National Gallery where I watched a segment of “The Clock,” a film that lasts 24 hours, is made up of short clips of many, many other movies all of which have a reference to time, and takes place in “real” time – in other words, if I’m watching from 4 to 5pm, that hour of the film covers the minutes from 4 to 5 pm. I loved it! Apparently the gallery has stayed open all night several times so people can watch the night-time segments.
Sculpture outside the National Gallery
Patriotic Tulips near the River
Petunias at Byward Market
Posted in Jill's Travels, Newfoundland fiction | Tags: book set in Nova Scotia, Martime authors, school visit, writing books | No Comments »
The Rest of March
Revising my free verse novel. Is there life after free verse novels? Will I still be revising this book when I’m 99? Stayed tuned. Or not.
Posted in Juvenile fiction, maritime author | Tags: Atlantic provinces, children's books, juvenile book, Newfoundland book, writing books | No Comments »
Vancouver Island Trip
I drove “up-island” on Vancouver Island on the bus, stopping in Cobble Hill to visit a small private school where the daughter of a good friend teaches. Most fun of all was reading the books each student had written and illustrated; and then, when I was home again, receiving letters from all of them, also illustrated.
Posted in Jill's Travels, Newfoundland fiction | Tags: jill maclean, maritime author, Newfoundland book, writing books | No Comments »
