Tuesday, November 28, 2006

New Brenda Chapman article




Word Wizard at Work

by Sarah Poirier, Health Canada Intranet
November 9, 2006

With seven novels written, Brenda Chapmanis doing what she loves -- writing. As an acting senior communications advisor in the new Public Affairs, Consultations and Regions Branch, assigned to Health Policy Branch, Brenda is a strategic thinker and writer during the week, and a budding author on the weekend.

For 15 years, Brenda was a special education teacher and loved interacting with youth, but she also wanted to work in the writing field. After completing a casual writer/editor term at the Pest Management Regulatory Agency nine years ago, she wrote her first book for her daughters, Lisa and Julia, who were 12 and 9 respectively at the time. When Julia finished reading the manuscript, she said, "Mom, you write just like a real author!" and Brenda thought she might be able to get it published.

Many authors say that the best writing comes from writing about what you know. Brenda has been able to draw from her experiences growing up in a small town and moving to the city. "I enjoy being able to draw from my past growing up in northern Ontario, which is where the second book is set," says Brenda.

Two novels, Running Scared and Hiding in Hawk's Creek, have already been published by Napoleon Publishing in Toronto, and a third, Where Trouble Leads, is due out in spring 2007. These three novels are part of a series that centres around an adolescent girl named Jennifer Bannon. "Her parents have separated and her father reappears in town after being gone for two years," explains Brenda. "Her mother works as a nurse, and Jennifer is often left to babysit her 10-year-old sister, Leslie. Not only does Jennifer have to cope with her parents and sister, but she's also starting high school and not doing well."

Since the three novels are mysteries, revealing the rest of the plot would spoil the suspense. A fourth novel in the series is currently with the publisher, pending acceptance. Brenda's agent is also looking for a publisher for two adult mysteries, and Brenda has also just completed a stand-alone mystery, set in Minnesota and Ottawa.

After nine years in the government, Brenda is used to a lengthy approval process and many revisions for the communications products she develops at work. Creative writing is a simpler process, a negotiation between her and the editor, with Brenda having the final say. On weekends, Brenda wakes up early and devotes most of her time to creative writing. Usually she's lucky and the words simply flow from the tips of her fingertips onto the computer screen. But, she admits, "Sometimes the housework suffers."

Brenda's thoughts on the most misused phrase today: "When people say something is 'really unique'. There is no degree to uniqueness - it's either unique or it's not."

Brenda's thoughts on how new technologies influence reading habits: "I think people like to read and hold a book in their hands ... video books are fine on occasion because they allow you to do work around the house or drive your car.... I don't think I would ever read an e-book."

You can find Brenda's novels in major bookstores like Chapters, Indigo and Barnes & Noble, and smaller stores like Collected Works, Leishman Books and Prime Crime Books. On December 2, 2006, from 1 to 3 p.m., Brenda will be signing books at Shirley Leishman Books in Westgate Mall, Ottawa, Ontario. For more information, visit the
www.brendachapman.ca Web site.

Sunday, November 26, 2006

Brenda Chapman interviewed

Brenda Chapman was recently interviewed by Karen Syed of Echelon Publishing, Maryland, USA. The interview can be found here:

http://teen-seen.blogspot.com/2006/11/mysteries-for-young-at-heart-interview.html

Thursday, November 16, 2006

Stolen Away launch a great success!




On November 15th, Napoleon author Christopher Dinsdale launched his new young adult adventure novel "Stolen Away" at Chapters in Newmarket, Ontario. Here are some photos from the event. Congratulations, Chris!

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

Prose Workshop with Karen Krossing

Teens aged 12 to 19 are invited to join young-adult author Karen Krossing at her Prose Workshop, held at the North York Central Library, 5120 Yonge Street (at the North York Centre subway stop) on Tuesday, February 20, 6-8 pm. Work on your creative writing endeavours, meet other teen writers, and consider submitting your work to Young Voices, Toronto Public Library's magazine for teen writing and art. Space is limited. To register, contact Ken Sparling at ksparling@torontopubliclibrary.ca or 416-397-5970. For more information about Young Voices go to www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/ramp.

Sunday, November 12, 2006

More on Brenda Chapman

Brenda Chapman has been featured in the Lakehead University alumni news here:

http://magazine.lakeheadu.ca/page.php?p=53&i=7

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

Stolen Away out now!




Napoleon author Christopher Dinsdale celebrates the launch of his latest young adult adventure novel, "Stolen Away".

Brenda Chapman in Ottawa

Napoleon's Brenda Chapman will be signing books at Shirley Leishman bookstore in Westgate Mall (Ottawa) on Saturday, December 2nd from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.

Thursday, November 02, 2006

More from lian goodall



On Saturday afternoon, August 19, Napoleon author lian goodall met visitors at the Elman Campbell Museum in Newmarket as part of their Nova Scotia Day. lian showed images and chatted with visitors about the life of Nova Scotian contralto, Portia White. Elsewhere in the museum, her husband, Derek Cooke, shared his experiences as curator at the Fortress of Louisbourg.

On Tuesday evening, October 3rd, goodall returned to the Elman Campbell Museum. This time she helped kick off Women's History Month with a talk based on her Napoleon book Singing Towards the Future: the Story of Portia White. It was interesting to meet people in the audience who were descendants of Black Nova Scotians!