Heather Kirk, author of two novels for teens with Napoleon, Warsaw Spring and A Drop of Rain, recently gave a 12-week course for adults in creative writing at Georgian College in Barrie, Ontario. The course, which stretched from September 15 to December 8, 2008, offered the fundamentals of writing non-fiction, poetry, plays, filmscripts, short stories and novels. More information about Heather's various publications and activities can be found on her website at www.heatherkirk.ca.

On Wednesday December 3rd, Christopher Dinsdale participated in a Christmas fundraising event for Clearmeadow Public School at Chapters Newmarket. Many books were signed and a good time was had by all. The school council at Clearmeadow P.S. was very appreciative for the effort put into the event. The money raised will go directly into enhancing the academic programs at Clearmeadow P.S..

Brenda Chapman at Bouchercon

Brenda Chapman attended Bouchercon 2008 in Baltimore in October. This annual mystery conference draws about 1500 authors and fans for four days of panels, parties, schmoozing and fun. Brenda was part of an author panel discussing young adult mysteries and censorship - a most interesting discussion. An annual highlight of the conference is 'Meet the Canucks' when the American hosts show their appreciation to the Canadians and British for their support after 9-11 by throwing a party. Brenda is pictured at the event with UK author John Harvey and Ottawa author Rick Mofina.

Phillippa Dowding, a Toronto writer who will publish her children's novel The Gargoyle in my Yard with Napoleon in the spring of 2009, is a featured poet this month on the American website bestpoem.wordpress.com

Heather Kirk will be giving an illustrated talk on world-famous Canadian author, Mazo de la Roche, on Tuesday October 7, 2008 at the Peter Gzowski Branch of the Georgina Library in Sutton, Ontario. Heather will also be giving talks on de la Roche at the Elman Campbell Museum in Newmarket, Ontario on November 4, 2008 and at the Aurora Public Library in Aurora, Ontario on November 11, 2008. The talks in Newmarket and Aurora are part of the National Reading Series sponsored by the Writers' Union of Canada and the Canada Council. Heather Kirk is the author of two recent books on Mazo de la Roche, including a biography for teens and adults. Heather is also the author of two novels for teenagers published by Napoleon.

Lori Knutson launch

On the evening of Thursday, August 7th, 2008 Alberta author Lori Knutson launched her children’s novel The Ghost of Northumberland Strait.
The launch was held in the village of Hughenden in the southeast part of the province, where Lori lives and teaches school.

The launch was well-supported by the community and the local media was very cooperative in helping to promote the launch prior to the event. Lori was interviewed in The Provost News by publisher Richard Holmes and also on radio by Key83 broadcaster and literacy advocate Jeff Newland.

People attending the launch enjoyed refreshments and entered the draw to win a copy of The Ghost of the Northumberland Strait. Lori read from the new novel and signed copies of it and her previous work.

The launch was co-hosted by the Hughenden Public Library. Staff and board members helped serve snacks, visited with guests and cleaned up afterwards. Other community libraries lent their support by posting information regarding the launch in their library buildings and by distributing bookmarks featuring cover art from The Ghost of Northumberland Strait.

Peggy Dymond Leavey reading

On June 22nd, Peggy Dymond Leavey was one of three authors who read at Children's Day, day two of the County of Prince Edward Authors' Festival. The event was held upstairs in the bright new loft space over Books and Company in Picton. After a break of four years, the festival hopes to become a yearly event once again.

Brenda Chapman visited numerous bookstores on a roadtrip across New England. She is pictured in front of Eight Cousins bookstore in Falmouth (Cape Cod) and in front of Where the Sidewalk Ends bookstore in Chatham (Cape Cod).

PEC Authors' Festival

After a four year hiatus, The Prince Edward County Authors' Festival is on again. It will be held June 21st & 22nd at Books & Company, 289 Main St, Picton. Children's Day is Sunday, June 22nd from 1 to 3 p.m. One of the presenters is Peggy Dymond Leavey, who will be reading from her latest novel, "Treasure at Turtle Lake". There is no charge for Children's Day Readings. It is sponsored by the County of Prince Edward Public Library.

Heather Kirk, author of Warsaw Spring and A Drop of Rain, two linked teen novels published by Napoleon, spent Monday June 2, 2008 talking about her books at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Barrie. Heather and five other writers from Simcoe County set up displays of their books in the cafeteria of the hospital and chatted with hospital staff and visitors. Heather, who is also the author of a recent biography for teens and adults about world-famous Canadian writer, Mazo de la Roche, gave three talks on de la Roche over the past six weeks. Heather spoke to the Simcoe County Historical Association on March 18, the Orillia Historical Society on May 21, and to the Stroud Book Club at the Innisfil Public Library on May 28. On April 12, 2008, the Historical Sites and Monuments Board of Canada unveiled a plaque to Mazo de la Roche at Benares Historic House in Mississauga, Ontario. De la Roche (1879-1961), author of the Jalna novels, is now officially a "person of national significance." De la Roche was born in Newmarket, Ontario, and grew up mainly in Newmarket, Orillia, and Toronto.

Christopher Dinsdale was invited to the Hershey Centre in Mississauga for the final event in this year's Festival of Reading celebrations. It was an energetic afternoon with cheerleaders, rappers and dancers showing their stuff between author presentations. Fellow Napoleon author Peggy Dymond Leavey was also part of the festivities as highlights from last year's celebration were presented on the big screen. It was an exciting end to an amazing festival. Thank you OLA!

2008 Red Maple Awards

Christopher Dinsdale was honoured to participate in the 2008 Red Maple Awards at Harbourfront. The event was both exciting and well-organized. Christopher and nine other selected authors started the day off by speaking to the thousands of students who attended the event before the winner was selected. Congratulations to Eric Walters for winning the 2008 Red Maple Award! After the ceremony, the authors signed autographs and participated in the many story-based activites organized by the Ontario Library Association. It was a chilly but fun day for all!

Brenda Chapman visited the Stittsville Public Library on May 22nd along
with Ottawa authors R.J. Harlick, Barbara Fradkin and Margaret Stoddart
to read from their latest books and to discuss the writing process.

Day's Lee reading

I was lucky enough to be asked to take part in the Blue Metropolis Literary Festival's first ever Children's Festival this year. The kids from the grade 2 class from Westmount Park school came to my reading at Westmount library. They watched the pictures on screen as I read my book The Fragrant Garden. After a lively Q&A, and a short documentary on how a restaurant works, they set about creating a menu for their own restaurant. It was a fun morning!

Christopher Dinsdale Presentation

Christopher Dinsdale was honoured to be part of the Kawartha Pine Ridge School Board Forest of Reading celebration. Red Maple participants from across the region converged on Bowmanville for fun activities, pizza and a visit with a Red Maple author. Christopher enjoyed leading the presentation entitled "Developing a Storyline through Research". The students and teachers wished Christopher all the best as he heads off to Harbourfront next week for the Red Maple awards.

More from Brenda Chapman

Brenda Chapman as Chair of Capital Crime Writers is being introduced by RJ Harlick at Crime Writers of Canada's Arthur Ellis shortlist evening on April 30th at the Ottawa Public Library. The Audrey Jessup short story contest shortlist was also announced during the evening, and Brenda's entry "Evening the Score" made the final five.

Christopher Dinsdale presentation

On Thursday April 3rd, Christopher Dinsdale was invited to the Newmarket
Public Library for an author presentation. The students, parents and
librarians enjoyed the talk that detailed the research required to write
his latest novel Stolen Away. He ended the presentation with a reading
from the novel itself. The Newmarket Public Library is Christopher's
home library and many of his stories are born within the bowels of the
building's non-fiction basement. As always, he finds it a pleasure to
present to the home town crowd!

Heather Kirk news

Heather Kirk gave an illustrated talk on the fabulously successful Canadian writer, Mazo de la Roche, on March 18, 2008 to the Simcoe County Historical Society in Barrie, Ontario. Heather will be giving talks on de la Roche at the Orillia Historical Society on May 21 and at the Stroud Book Club in Innisfil on May 28. From April 28 to July 28, Heather will be offering a Creative Writing course at Georgian College in Barrie. On May 31, she will give a one-day seminar on writing for children at Georgian College.

Christopher Dinsdale at Reading For The Love Of It 2008

Chris Dinsdale was honoured to be a presenter at this year's Reading For
The Love Of It 2008, Canada's largest language arts conference, at the
Sheraton Centre in downtown Toronto. Chris was asked by the organizers
to present on the topic "Using Literature to Investigate Canada's
Aboriginal Peoples and Early European Explorers". After explaining to
the audience how he developed and researched the storylines for both
Broken Circle and Stolen Away, Chris then tied the novels to the Native
Studies expectations of the Ontario Grade Six curriculum through a
series of successful cross-curricular, novel-based activities. Finally,
the delegates met with Chris as he signed books at the Bacon and Hughes
booth on the exhibition level of the conference facility. It was a
memorable day for Chris, for not only did he have the chance to present
to his colleagues but he also formed friendships with many of the other
authors attending the conference.

Brenda Chapman in the flesh!

Brenda Chapman visited Amanda Gray's Grade Six class at Elmdale Public School in Ottawa on Wednesday, February 20th as part of Bookfest Week.

Literary Evening Series

Napoleon and Company author Brenda Chapman was a guest of the Ottawa Public Library Foundation's 2007/2008 Literary Evening Series in November, entitled "An evening with author Jane Urquhart at the Chateau Laurier". Brenda is pictured with Jane and fellow RendezVous author R.J. Harlick, among other local authors.

lian goodall on the radio

Kettleby, Ontario writer Lian Goodall is experienced in writing the life stories of well-known people for younger readers. Her most recent work, PHOTOGRAPHING GREATNESS: THE STORY OF KARSH (Napoleon) follows the seventy plus year career of the world's finest portrait photographer. Lian will be on CKCU FM 93.1, Ottawa, this Thursday evening, January 31st, at 6:30 p.m.

PHOTOGRAPHING GREATNESS is a well-researched, attractive and informative biography. It includes examples of Yousuf's famous portraits, photos of the Karsh family, as well as a timeline for both the photographer's life and for his famous photographs. Readers of any age are directed to the Library and Archives website which has an alphabet of Karsh's photographs. Yousuf Karsh was, as author Lian Goodall notes, a humanitarian whose special focus was sick children.

Lian Goodall is an experienced children's book reviewer, who continues to teach creative writing. She has written several biographies for young readers, one of which, SINGING TOWARDS THE FUTURE: THE STORY OF PORTIA WHITE (Napoleon) was shortlisted for the Hackmatack Children's Choice Award in Atlantic Canada. It is also an Our Choice selection of the Canadian Children's Book Centre.

Yousuf Karsh spent many years in Ottawa and readers may be surprised to learn of some of his 'not so well-known' Ottawa interests. Tune into your community radio station, 93.1 FM this week and find out more from biographer Lian Goodall.

www.ckcufm.com

lian goodall creative writing course

There's still time to sign up for lian goodall's popular creative writing courses with the York Region District School Board Continuing Education. "Creative Writing: Children's Books" will be running again this semester, Monday nights from 7 pm to 9:30 beginning January 21, 2008. lian will also be offering a new course on Wednesday nights from 7 pm to 9:30 beginning January 23, 2008. The course is called "Writing the Past" and is designed to help those working on memoirs, creative non-fiction pieces or similar projects. Contact the YRDSB Continuing Education for more information of e-mail lian at lian_goodall@sympatico.ca.

Two Very Different Book Signings

lian goodall has had two very different book signings for her new book Photographing Greatness: The Story of Karsh.
December 8th was a lovely, sunny day in Fergus. A nice-sized crowd attended the signing at Roxanne's Reflections and enjoyed eating a piece of cake to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the photographer's birth.

December 16th was a blizzard! lian and baby Amzie made it to Nicholas Hoare bookstore in downtown Ottawa. The kind staff were there too, but few people were able to attend due to the treacherous conditions. Those that made it had stories to tell, as did some people who tried to make it!

lian will be hoping for great weather at the official launch of Photographing Greatness: The Story of Karsh which will be held on January 10 in Ottawa at Laurier House National Historic Site.In advance, lian would like to thank Parks Canada for hosting the event. She is sure it will be sunny!