Ann Connor Brimer Award

I am thrilled to have been short listed for the Ann Connor Brimer Award for Children's Literature. As a part of the Atlantic Book Awards I will travel to St. John's Newfoundland on May 17th for the celebrations. Congratulations to my fellow nominees Vicki Grant and Gloria Ann Wesley. I look forward to a great weekend in Newfoundland!Congratulations also to my friend Riel Nason on her nomination for the Margaret and John Savage First Book Award. See you in St. John's!

Another Great School Visit

On Thursday I visited Quispamsis Elementary School and spent a very rewarding day with students from K-5 . Some of the younger students including Isaac in Kindergarten,who is already a great writer, shared their writing and their thoughts on writing with me.I visited the grade three and four classes and read from The Year Mrs. Montague Cried ,talked about how the story came about and had a wonderful time of answering their insightful questions. I am always amazed by the depth of discussion I get during these class visits. Actually it does not amaze me a bit as I learned from my years of teaching that kids given an opportunity to talk about the important and meaningful things in life always show wisdom and compassion.I was so impressed with the principal Janet Miller who seems to be everywhere at one time running a very busy, kid centred machine. Watching her I remembered the frenzy that is elementary school and unless you have been there you have no idea the amount of energy and commitment it requires. Parents, teachers , and above all the kids are very lucky to have Mrs. Miller at the helm. I wish her, her staff and all the students a good March Break!

February Winding Down

Sunday morning. Caleb just left to take his father to catch his flight for a two week exercise in the USA. It is a beautiful morning and after a bit of straightening up from Burton's packing frenzy I will spend the day writing. Meg and the girls come Wednesday night and I expect that my writing time will be limited while they are here. Final edits done on Ten Thousand Truths and now back in Terrilee's hands. I await cover choices which I look forward to. Moving along on my story set in 1917. I will write today, Monday and Tuesday and then get back to it when the girls go home. I am very excited to have a good long visit with my daughter and two grand babies. I have a school visit on Thursday and then all my time will be given to enjoying Emma and Paige and giving Meg a good dose of grandmother time. My friend Alice just self published a delightful book ( Half a Loaf is Better Than Broccoli) filled with many funny kid stories from her 35 years of teaching. Congratulations Alice Edson.

Getting in to February

Another Sunday morning now in February. We had a winter storm yesterday reminiscent of winter storms in the past. These have been few and far between this winter . Driving home from my sister and brother in-law's house last night with my fearless husband, brought back memories of many snowy drives of the past. Sitting here now in my sunny office looking out at the snow banks while my youngest son plows the driveway I truly appreciate this season. Along with it's challenges it brings much beauty. I had a very enjoyable weekend spending time with two wonderful friends/sisters and their amazing 90 year old aunt. It was a time of story telling and reading and I relished every second of it. Their family which I often pretend is my own is so rich with story and memory and so values the place each generation and family member takes in the whole fabric . I sit in awe at the weaving of such a tapestry of memories.
Friday I sent back my revisions of Ten Thousand Truths and now wait for it to take it's next lap on the way to publication. I believe in this story and look forward to sharing it with others. Tomorrow I will return to 1917 and see where my story of Lily takes me and her. Now in my Sunday tradition I will attempt to reclaim my home, sweep up the dust balls

and dog hair, and catch up on laundry and overall tidying, enjoying my home and this stage of the life I have been given.

Last Day of January

It is the last day of January and a beautiful day indeed. It is January cold but the sun seems April hot. I am again sitting (and perhaps avoiding) writing in my writing room thankful for the opportunity. Yesterday I did a school visit at Touchstone School in Rothesay. The kids were amazing and I enjoyed spending time with them. I very quickly remember at such times what it was I loved about teaching but when I leave I remember what it is I love about having the freedom and time to write. I can not express how thrilling it is for me to enter a classroom and see my book on every students desk. Being a teacher who used novels long before and even after it became the in thing to do I believe to the core in the value of literature in teaching for developing a love for reading , writing and for teaching the basic lessons of life .The lessons those kids teach us are every bit as important as anything we try to teach them.Thank you to the teachers and staff of Touchstone for believing that as well.

Sunny but Cold January Morning

It is a very cold but sunny Sunday morning in January. I know it has been and is much colder in other parts of the country but it is cold enough for my liking here on the Walton Lake Road.I like winter, I love my wood heat and my cozy home but it is very work intensive and time consuming to keep that wood burning animal fed and on the weekends my husband is usually here to take that job from me. This weekend he is not so I did not wake to my usual warm house but am now attempting to get it to the desired temperature. But at least as I mentioned the sun is streaming in and as I sit my office this morning I can feel it's heat on my back. So far January has been a productive month. I am about four chapters in to my latest novel and am enjoying being back in 1917 on an island in the St Lawrence River,getting to know my characters and seeing the story unfold.I am waiting for my editor to send back the second round of Ten Thousand Truths and can't wait to begin the next stage,choose a cover and see it head to the printer .Hopefully we will launch it in May or June.I sent my third book to my publisher this week for her to read. I have two school visits booked in February. I got the cheque for my November visits this week and I like the feeling of getting paid as an author for doing what I did as a teacher for 29 years.A 4/5 clss at Macdonald Consolidated started reading The Year Mrs. Montague Cried this week and started a blog to record their responses . They invited me to participate and I am enjoying reading their writing.It is hard for me though not to comment on their conventions. "Just write" Mrs. M. says but Mrs. White says check your spelling and punctuation.I will now leave my sunny office and do a bit of necesary housekeeping,(laundry, bathrooms and such) and I then I will return to my office to write for the afternoon,enjoying the cold January day in a place that is exactly where I want to be.

Looking Ahead to 2012

Again my daughter has alerted me to the fact that I have not written on my blog since November. I've been busy is my main reason and not being of the blogger generation is another. I know that there are woman my age actively blogging but for me it hasn't quite taken off as one of my daily chores. Oh well I will attempt to improve that.I had the pleasure of going to Alberta for 12 days in December and kept my grandaughter Emma while her mom and dad and baby sister went to Maui for a friend's wedding. Coming home on the 14th I then proceeded to get the house ready for another Christmas. I have enjoyed family and friends and a quiet but busy two weeks with Burton home from work. I am so looking forward to Monday and my return to my writing routine. I have finished the second round of editing for my second book and I am excited to see it come together for a spring release. Happy New Year everyone !