I have a new fall book. My copies arrived in yesterday's mail. It's called Cheat and it is part of the Currents imprint from Orca, a series aimed at reluctant readers from about 11 to 14. The story focuses on a cheating scam taking place within a high school, and it looks at what happens when a reporter for the school paper attempts to expose it.

I have to thank my nail tech for this one -- in fact, I already have -- the book is dedicated to her. She told me about a cheating scam that had been going on when she was in high school. It was too mind-boggling not to write about.

I have recently discovered an inspirational and informative internet magazine for writers -- and readers. It's called simply Author Online. Unfortunately Googling the name doesn't get you the magazine, so here's the URL. (www.authormagazine.org/index.htm) Sorry, this isn't a link.

The site contains reviews, articles, blogs, interviews, new book information, and more. It also archives back issues, which provide hooked visitors the opportunity to browse past editions. This morning I read an article about the importance of infusing tension into a novel's first sentence -- and another about using backstory effectively. The next article I'm going to look at deals with the relationship between writer and agent (not that I have an agent, but I did once upon a time, and it might be interesting to find out why the relationship didn't work.) There's also an interview with C.C. Humphrey, author of Vlad. I might have to take a look at that too.

This really is a fabulous website. Check it out.

Wow! What a summer! So many visitors and so much fun. And I have tons of photos to prove it.

But now it's back to work, and first on my to-do list is rewrite #1 for the next Zach & Zoe book. I'd mention the title, but it's probably a mute point since the publisher wants to change it. I have published almost 20 books, and only 3 have ever seen a title change -- all 3 of the Zach & Zoe books. Very interesting ... hmmm.

The rewrite was pretty intense. There were some major plot changes asked for, which impacted the whole book. At first glance, I thought the changes wouldn't be too bad, but then the domino effect kicked in, and I was soon pulling out my hair. I didn't follow all the editor's suggestions -- some just weren't going to work and some I didn't feel were necessary -- but I did change a lot. Since the rewrite isn't due until September 15th, I shall push it aside for a few days and then go through it one more time before I send it off into cyberspace.

Then it's a waiting game. Will the editor like the changes? Hate them? Want more? Only time will tell.

And now on to the next item on the to-do list. 

Gosh! The end of August is upon us already. But it's been a great summer -- lots of family and fun and tons of sunshine and heat. I'm pretty much back to work now -- I'm in the middle of rewrites for the next Zach & Zoe book -- but I'm still in reading mode.

Currently I have my nose buried in Heat Wave by Richard Castle. This is a hoot, because it's fictional fiction. The book is fiction and so is the author. Allow me to explain. Castle is a television series -- a fun detective show that has a mystery writer (Richard Castle) shadowing a detective (Kate Beckett) and two of her underlings as they solve crimes. Initially Beckett was less than thrilled to be baby-sitting Castle, but he had some in with the mayor, and there was no way she could get rid of him. It turns out he can occasionally prove helpful. The banter between the two is a lot of fun, and there is a sexual attraction between them, though neither is willing to acknowledge it. As a result of his work with Beckett, Castle has launched a new mystery series around a female detective (Nikki Heat), based on Beckett. The first book of the series is called Heat Wave and often shows up in the television episodes. 

The thing is, in real life, Heat Wave is a real book available in hard cover and paperback -- and the author is none other than Richard Castle. But Richard Castle is not a real person; he is a character on a television show played by actor Nathan Fillion. When I saw the book on a big display in Chapters last February with a photo of Richard Castle (Fillion) on the back, I knew I had to get it. I'm a big fan of the show, and this was such a clever marketing ploy, I had to read that book. 

To further add to the fun, the book is endorsed by real life suspense writers, James Patterson and Stephen J. Cannell, who make periodic guest appearances on the show -- along with Michael Connelly -- as Castle's poker buddies. They play themselves and provide insight when Castle is trying to work through plot problems for his books.

I've just begun the book -- I'm on page 37 -- but it's teeny-tiny print -- so I'd be a lot further along if the text was larger. The names have been changed. The detective is Nikki Heat and the writer is Jamieson Rook (an obvious chess reference to Castle), but it's still Beckett and Castle, and as I read, it's like I'm watching another episode of the televison program.

Too much fun! 

I don't know how other authors do it -- reading for pleasure while while they are writing. I try, but I struggle, and I definitely don't enjoy what I'm reading as much as I would like. I think it's because I'm distracted. While I am crafting a story, I am so consumed with the characters and the plot, that there isn't room in my head for someone else's story. It must be my inability to multi-task showing itself yet again.

But because I am currently between writing projects and have sworn to stay that way for the rest of the summer, my mind is empty. (No wisecracks, please.) So I couldn't race to my stack of 'to-be-read' books fast enough, and the one on the top of the pile was Still Missing by Chevy Stevens. I met Chevy (a penname; her actual name is Renee) at the BC Bookfair Breakfast last February. We were both presenting upcoming books along with Adam Lewis Shroeder and Susan Juby. Because this was a promotional event, there were free copies floating around, and being addicted to books, I helped myself.

Still Missing is Chevy Stevens' first novel, but it is certainly not going to be her last. In fact, her second novel, Never Knowing is scheduled for release in 2011. This young lady better buckle her seatbelt, because her career as a writer is about to skyrocket.

Though Still Missing didn't actually hit bookstands until this month, advance reviews have been stellar. In this suspense thriller, Chevy tells the story of Annie O'Sullivan, a young realtor in a small Vancouver Island town, who is abducted and held captive for a year by a deranged man she refers to as The Freak. The story is told in hindsight through Annie's sessions with her 'shrink', but knowing Annie survived the ordeal in no way detracts from the intensity of the story. I was horrified and dumbfounded by the atrocities she was forced to endure while in captivity and amazed at her resourcefulness, tenacity, and mental strength.

Chevy says that her purpose in writing this novel was to explore the aftermath of an abduction. Even when Annie physically returned to her 'pre-abduction' life, her ordeal was not over. She was no longer who she had been. Her experiences had changed her, and her absence had changed the people who had been in her previous life. Annie was, in fact, still missing.

This is a fabulous book. Read it. You'll be glad you did.

Golly, I can't believe it's been a month since I last wrote something in my blog. My excuse is that I've been working, and I haven't had much noteworthy writing news to pass along. I still don't have much to report, but I sent the first draft of Zach & Zoe and the River Rescue off to the editor yesterday, so I'm feeling wonderfully unburdoned and ambitious. It's funny how deadlines can weigh me down. I don't even realize they're affecting me until a project is done and suddenly a huge weight is lifted from my shoulders and I can breathe deeply again.

Which is where I'm at right now. For the first time in two and a half years, I have no project waiting in the wings. That's a little bit scary, because -- though I had a new book out in the spring, another set for release in the fall, and another for next spring -- I have nothing lined up after that. Of course, I have a ton of ideas and I shall definitely pursue some of them, but not right now.

For the next few weeks I'm pushing all things writing-related to the back of my desk. I'm going to paint the kitchen cupboards, dead-head flowers, read in the sunshine, party with family, do some pickling, try some new recipes, and drink wine on the deck ...

... Oh, yeah ... and breathe. 

This morning I was up bright and early and down at my local bookstore (Coho Books) to present a seminar titled The Truth About Writing. Coho Books is a warm and charming bookstore, but it isn't huge. So when the owners put a press release in the local paper, advertising the event, they advised people to phone early and reserve a spot as space was limited. Apparently, the phone rang off the hook, because the seminar filled up quickly and there was a waiting list hoping for cancellations. Needless to say we had a full house.

The event was scheduled from 9 am to 11 am. I was only going to speak for about an hour and then field questions -- and hopefully sign some books. But one thing led to another, and I ended up talking the whole two hours. The following Q & A period lasted another 25 minutes. THEN people purchased my books and I signed them.

The time positively flew by. I still can't believe I spoke for the entire two hours. Talk about long-winded! (Who knew I knew enough to fill that length of time?!) 

I obviously had a fabulous time. I hope everyone else did too.

As I sit in my office winding down from the day, I can hear the television in my husband's office. I'm pretty sure he's tuned in to SPEED, because I can hear the racing commentators. (I think you have to be from the South to be eligible for this sport.)  Anyway, part of my brain is tuned into what I'm doing, but another part is unconsciously tuned in to my husband's TV, and I hear one of the commentators say, "He started out with nothing, and he still has most of it left."

And though I don't realize I'm listening, I feel myself smile.

It's all in how you say it.

Beauty.

Wow! My books are really on a roll. The second installment in my Zach & Zoe series -- Zach & Zoe Bully and the Beagle -- has been shortlisted for the 2011 Chocolate Lily Award. How fantastic is that!

Colour me very happy!

(It makes me want to work harder on the next book. It's called Zach & Zoe and the River Rescue and should be out next spring.)

Golly, The Last Superhero has only been in bookstores for a month and already I'm thinking about the new book that's coming out in the fall. That's because the catalogue from Orca Books arrived in yesterday's mail, and there was the cover and blurb for Cheat large as life on page 16.

I love it when we reach this point in the publishing process. There are still a few things that have to happen with the book before it is actually published, but I'm not the one who has to do them.

Well, here it is June -- though you wouldn't know it from the weather -- and here I am, once again making resolutions to improve myself. I do this sort of thing all the time. Every new year, month, week -- heck, even every new hour -- is an opportunity to turn over a new leaf.

Primarily I'm focused on defeating my tendency to procrastinate. Considering all that I've had on my plate for the last two or so years, some people might not think I procrastinate at all. But I do -- a lot.

Some of it is good procrastination -- if there can be such a thing. In other words, while I'm playing computer games or surfing the Internet, I'm thinking about what I'm not writing, and that is a necessary process. Sometimes my mother will ask if I've written the next chapter of something and then is clearly (though quietly) critical of my lack of achievement when I confess that I have not. I explain that writing is different than cleaning the bathroom or washing the floor. Those are mindless jobs. They require no thought. You just do them. My mother doesn't understand that writing is different. You can't just sit down and begin to type. You have to have something to say, and you have to know how to say it. And that requires think time. So I might as well do those other mindless things while I'm thinking.

Unfortunately I can't put all my procrastinating down to that. Much of it is simply due to a reluctance to begin. Once I get started, I'm fine. So that's what I shall aim for in this new month. I'm going to stifle my procrastinating tendencies and get right to work.

Right now! 

My trip to Ontario was great. All the school and library visits went really well, and the Silver Birch celebrations were amazing. The big provincial gala was held on Thursday at Harbourfront Centre in Toronto. Organizers say it was the best attended gala to date. Over 250,000 Ontario students took part in the Forest of Trees Reading Programs, and over the two days of celebration, 7,000 young people showed up at Harbourfront to cheer on their favourite authors and stand in line to get their autographs. Sixty authors attended (the most in the history of the event), and despite the cold, windy, rainy conditions, a good time was had by all.

One of the highlights for me was spending the day with Martha Newbigging, the illustrator of Pharaohs and Foot Soldiers. Though we'd exchanged emails and spoken on the phone during the making of the book, we had never actually met. But we hit it off right away and even did a tag-team autograph session. Martha accompanied every signature with a quick sketch of one of the characters from the book. She's so fast! And so good too. We got to thinking perhaps we should do some classroom visits together. Wouldn't that be cool for the kids!!

On Friday I took part in a regional Silver Birch gala for Durham, held in Whitby, Ontario. And I drove there on the 401 all by myself. Okay, maybe not quite all by myself -- I had Gloria with me (my GPS). At any rate, I made it there on time, in one piece, and without an ulcer. I started the day with a couple of classroom presentations at FM Heard School. What fun! Kids love learning about the mummification process -- especially removing the brain through the nose. Then there was the Silver Birch Luncheon held at the local rec centre. I understand there were around 1,000 young people in attendance, and they were all pumped. Even though the results had been announced at the previous day's event, students hadn't been told, so they were just as excited as kids had been the day before. It was Fantastic!

In total, I was away 8 days, and for the first time in at least 10 years, I got to spend Mother's Day with one of my children. My daughter may be a mom with 4 kids of her own, but she's still my kid, and sharing the day made it special. The only thing that could have made it better was if my son and his family had been there too.

Because I knew I was going to be mega-busy and because I also knew I would be spending all my free time with family, I left my computer at home with instructions to my husband to download my emails every couple of days so that the server wouldn't get overloaded. (That spam takes up a lot of space, you know.) I didn't check email once while I was away. So it was a lovely surprise to come home and find out my books had received two more award nominations. Return to Bone Tree Hill had been shortlisted for the 2011 Manitoba Young Readers' Choice Award, and Zach & Zoe and the Bank Robber had been shortlisted for the 2011 Red Cedar Award. Hurray!

I would love to rest on my laurels and just enjoy the rewards of my labours for a while, but if Zach & Zoe and the River Rescue is going to be published next spring, I have to get working on it. The first draft is due August 3rd.

So away I go. 

Pull out the suitcase -- I'm off again!

This time I'm bound for Toronto and the Silver Birch Gala. Pharaohs and Foot Soldiers is a nominee in the non-fiction category. I was nominated for the Silver Birch only once before, way back in 1998, when The Runaways was a regional winner in the fiction category. It was my first nomination for any award (first book too), and it was a fantastic experience. Back then the gala was held at St. Lawrence Market, and the memory that stands out most about the event was the number of young people who were there. It seemed as if there were thousands, and the line-up of kids wanting to get their books autographed seemed to go forever. This time around the festivities are at Harbour Front Centre on Lake Ontario, and I'm anxious to see what that's like.

Speaking of The Runaways, a Winnipeg school has just purchased a class set from me. The book went out of print two years ago, but teachers are still using it in their classrooms, and that makes me feel great. I was wondering what I was going to do with all the copies I was hoarding.

It's officially out there, people -- The Last Superhero.

My first copy arrived in yesterday's mail. The rest will follow shortly. The distributor likes to get the books off to the bookstores first (I have no problem with that), so the rest of my share should arrive within the next week. Then I'll be mailing them off to family.

I love it when the new books come out. This is #17 for me, so you'd think it would be old hat by now, but I still get that rumble of giddy excitement in my stomach when I hold the published book in my hand for the first time. 

Just one more reason why I love my life. 

Gosh ... it's hard to believe the whirlwind of activity surrounding the BC Book Prize nomination for Return to Bone Tree Hill is over. But it was sure fun while it lasted. My book didn't win the big prize, but I'm okay with that. There were a lot of very talented writers and fantastic books that also didn't win, so I'm in very good company.

I would like to thank everyone who emailed, sent cards, and posted encouraging messages on my Facebook wall (I still can't get onto Facebook, but I receive wall posts as emails). That was really great. I would also like to thank the people who came to the 'ball' -- the awards' dinner, actually -- to cheer me on in person. I really appreciated the show of support, and we all had a really good time. It was so good to see people I haven't seen in a while and to catch up on what everyone is up to. 

Government House, in conjunction with the West Coast Book Prize Society, put on a fabulous event. All the speakers were entertaining, the proceedings moved along at a good pace, Steven Point was a gracious host, the decor was beautiful, and the food was scrumptious. According to my friends, Julie Lawson and Dayle Gaetz, the washroom was pretty impressive too. 

So now it's time to move on. (sigh) I have books to write, class visits to prepare for, and just enough time to unpack my suitcase, do my laundry, and repack for the Silver Birch Gala in Toronto.

I love my life. 

Fifteen author presentations in seven days. Our little troupe visited Terrace, Kitimat, Hazelton, Prince Rupert, Prince George, Smithers, and Quesnel. Most days found us climbing into the van (our second home) at 8 o'clock in the morning and crawling back to our hotel rooms at 10 o'clock at night. It was hectic and exhausting, but soooooooo rewarding and so much fun.

My partners in crime were three other BC Book Prize nominees: Kari-Lynn (not Carolyn, not Kari-Ann, and most definitely not Kerry!) Winters, who is a finalist for the Christie Harris Illustrated Children's Book Award; Cathleen With, who is vying for the Ethel Wilson Award for adult fiction (this is her first novel and already she's among BC's literary elite!); and Michael Turner, who is up for the same prize as Cathleen (Michael has been nominated for the BC Book Prizes FOUR times and he even won once!) Our driver, organizer, and general go-to guy was Bryan Pike, the Executive Director of the BC Book Prizes. So, as you can see, I was in some pretty good company.

We visited schools during the day, fitting library, museum, and bookstore readings in between and in the evening. We heard each other's readings so many times that when Michael lost his place one time, Kari was behind him whispering the next sentence. Kari's presentation was interactive and involved silly hats, noises, and actions. Her intention was to get the audience involved, but sometimes they were shy, which meant we other authors had to step up. I personally played the part of a bug, a fish, and a raindrop. Michael had a soft spot for the part of the horse, and by the time the tour was ending, he had the role down pat.

The school visits were fantastic! Whether I had an audience of 25 (that only happened once) or 80 (that was pretty much the norm), the kids were great -- attentive, enthusiastic, and amazingly insightful. I was asked many questions I'd never been asked before, which was both refreshing and impressive.

When we weren't presenting or driving, we were sightseeing. While in Kitimat, we drove out to the Haisla Village and visited world-renowned carver, Sammy Robinson, in his workshop. We just sort of popped in uninvited, but he graciously showed us around and answered the kazillion questions we had. Jewellery and wood pieces alike were all beautifully crafted, and I was totally envious of his private upstairs studio with it's ocean and mountain view.

In Hazelton we visited K'san, a heritage village museum. The longhouses weren't open for us to view (wrong season), but the paintings on the exteriors and the many and varied totem poles were impressive just the same. In Houston, I snapped a photo of the world's largest fishing rod, and in Prince Rupert we visited two now-defunct canneries, one of which has been restored as a museum.

Perhaps the most fun though was riding in the van. Being in close quarters with four witty people was a riot. My stomach ached from laughing. I learned a lot too. Mostly what I learned was how much I don't know. And there was always music. Bryan had an endless playlist. Whatever songs we asked for, he had them. The Flight of the Conchord song/skits were hilarious too. Kari and Bryan saw a spirit bear, there was an eagle lunching on a dead deer, and a fox. We all had a great time, and the miles just slid away.

Many thanks to the West Coast Book Prize Society and all the wonderful sponsors that made the tour possible.

And now, on to Government House and the Awards

Today is run around like a chicken with my head cut off day, because I leave bright and early tomorrow morning for the Northern BC tour, and as usual, I have left everything to the last minute. (How like me.)

So, I am simultanously doing laundry, cleaning bathrooms, vacuuming, preparing meals for my husband so he doesn't starve in my absence, amassing my bag of performance tricks, and packing (lightly, I am told) my clothes for a week away. 

This is going to be a fantastic trip, and you can read all about it on the BC Book Prize website, because all of the nominees will be blogging about it there. So please check in now and again to find out how we're doing.

TTFN. 

Lucky me! I'm off to Northern BC, courtesy of the West Coast Book Prize Society. As part of the BC Book Prize program, organziers send nominated authors to various parts of the province to introduce hungry readers to their books. I shall be travelling with Michael Turner and Catherine With, both nominated for the Ethel Wilson Award, as well as Kari-Lynn Winters, who is nominated for the Christie Harris Award. We'll be on the road from April 11 - 18 and visiting Terrace, Kitimat, Hazelton, Prince Rupert, Prince George, Quesnel, and Smithers. I just know this is going to be a ton of fun.

I hadn't realized what a big deal the BC Book Prizes were until I was shortlisted for one. Not only is there the tour, but there's also a Soiree for the public at the Listel Hotel in Vancouver to kick off events, and, of course, the gala itself -- at Government House no less! Finally, I'll get another chance to wear the formal I bought for my son's wedding in 2005! Please cross your fingers that I don't spill any food down the front as this is a fancy sit-down dinner with white linen napery. (Thank you Thistledown Press for purchasing my ticket -- my publisher has been very generous in promoting Return to Bone Tree Hill.)

Three writing friends from Campbell River are travelling down to Victoria to provide moral support at the gala. Thank you, Dayle Gaetz, Jocelyn Reekie, and Heather Kellerhals-Stewart. I'm trusting they'll be on their best behaviour and there won't be any shrill whistles or bawdy hoots. (Thanks to everyone else who has called or emailed to wish me well.)

I would be lying if I said I wasn't getting excited. Dayle tells me I need to prepare an acceptance speech in case I win.

GULP! I hadn't even thought about that.

It's awful and then it's good. Life seems to go like that. Tuesday was a painful day, waiting for the resolution to my car crash debacle. I know this demonstrates my own flaws, but I get very impatient with other people's ineptitude. In hindsight, I have to say that the insurance adjuster was terrific, as were the folks at the insurance agency in Campbell River where I went to sign off on all the paperwork. Bottom line: I have my new car and I'm good to go.

On the other hand, Thursday was a tremendous day. I got royalties in the mail from two different publishers -- money is always an upper, and I found out that Return to Bone Tree Hill had been shortlisted for the Sheila Egoff BC Book Prize. It's quite an honour even if you don't take home the $$. One of my editors emailed an interest in publishing the third book in the Zach & Zoe series in the spring of 2011, and a publisher at another house expressed interest in a book proposal I'd submitted.

Nothing is written in stone, but it's all encouraging, and in this job that's all you can hope for.

Today I was interviewed by a local radio station about my BC Book Prize nomination and I barbecued a fantastic T-bone steak for supper.

Like I said -- it's all good.

Like everyone else in Canada, watching the Olympics has become part of my daily routine. My favourite events are the short-track speedskating races. I especially enjoy the relays -- a sort of civilized roller derby on ice. The skaters weave themselves in and out of the action like commuters getting on and off a busy freeway.

It reminds me a bit of life. The constant circular movement is the ongoing activity of the world. The individual skaters are like 'Everyman', pushing through the crowd to establish a place for themselves. Sometimes they get a boost and sometimes they get bumped. 

That's kind of where I am in my own world right now. Lots of good things are happening, but I'm having to deal with some not-so-swell stuff too. 

First of all, about a month ago, the publisher pulled the plug on my secret societies book. I understand the rationale for it, but I put a lot of work into that project and was really disappointed to see it canned. But I knew moping wasn't going to help, so I got to work on a partial manuscript for a picture book story I've had on file for years. Surprisingly, I even finished it and sent it off to a publisher. If my picture book track record is any indication, it will probably be returned, but nothing ventured, nothing gained. 

After that I got to work researching and plotting the historical murder mystery fantasy I want to write. Because that process doesn't require any actual writing, it was like taking a much-needed break. I also pulled out my art supplies and got to work on some paintings -- something I've been planning to do for ages but have just not gotten around to.

Then last week I received an email from one of my editors, informing me that Zach & Zoe Bully and the Beagle has been nominated for the Diamond Willow Young Readers' Choice Award, and asking if I was planning to write another book for the series. Sweet! I had an idea for a story, but for various reasons had been procrastinating about pursuing it. This nomination was all the motivation I need, so I whipped up a chapter outline and whisked it off to the editor. Now all I can do is wait to see if the editorial staff like it. In the meantime, the book was reviewed in today's edition of CM Magazine and received a 4-star, highly recommended review. I can't ask for more than that.

Everything is on schedule for the April release of The Last Superhero, and I'm excited for it to see daylight. That book was a long time in the making and had several incarnations before it actually became the story it is now. On another writing front, I received my revision letter yesterday for Cheat, a novel for reluctant readers that's due out in the fall. The changes asked for aren't as onerous as I'd expected, so that is a major relief. I should be able to meet the March 5th deadline no problem.

Also it looks like I shall be able to attend the Silver Birch gala in Toronto in May. Author visit bookings have started to dribble in, which means I'll be able to pay for my flight.

On the downside, I crashed my car on Tuesday. It was the other guy's fault, and neither of us was hurt, but it was a nasty collision. The whole front of my vehicle is gone. So now I'm carless is Campbell River. Though I haven't had official word from the insurance company yet, I'm pretty sure it's a write-off. And I so loved that car! 

I have my first Skype visit (to a high school class in Minnesota) coming up on Monday, and then on Friday I'm presenting to a couple of Grade 8 classes in Victoria. Both are events to look forward to, but I woke up this morning with the start of a head cold, and that is not a good thing when you have to be energetic and talk for an hour or two.

I could go on, but I'm sure you get the idea -- and besides, today's Olympics are about to start. 

We are in the Age of Technology -- there's no doubt about it. Cell phones, Ipods, MP3 players, DVD's, Kindle, Wii, Blue Tooth, huge flat screen TV's and, of course, computers to name just a few household innovations. Even we dinosaurs find ourselves immersed in technology. The fact that I have a website and this blog, and that I shall be presenting to high school students in Minnesota next week via Skype are proof.

So when the organizers of The Forest of Reading Awards asked nominees to create a short video promoting their nominated books, I took a deep breath and agreed to do it. How? I had no idea. I knew I could take videos with my digital camera, and I thought I might be able to do something with the camera built into my computer, but I had no clue how to proceed. The content wasn't a problem; it was the process that was a mystery.

Upon mentioning this to my writing group, one member said that her fourteen-year-old grandson (Michael Stevantoni) was an amateur movie-maker, and she would ask him if he was interested in helping me out. He was! Yahoo!

We had a preliminary meeting to set up a plan, and then two days later we did the actual filming. It was such a relief to leave the HOW of it all up to someone else. I had checked out a few of Michael's creations on YouTube and was confident he knew what he was doing.

The filming took about 2 hours. The editing took another day. And then Michael uploaded the finished video on to YouTube for the world to see. It will soon be embedded on the promotional website for the Forest of Reading too. And after that? The Sundance Festival, I'm sure!

In the meantime, go to YouTube and check it out. Here's the link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnJPGA_GySs

At the moment you'll have to copy and paste this into your browser, because I don't know how to activate the link. I'll have to get my computer guru son to do that for me. (Don't act surprised. I told you I was a dinosaur.)

I made the three-hour drive to Victoria Sunday afternoon in order to attend the BC Book Fair at the Laurel Point Inn. I was one of four authors ion hand to introduce an upcoming book at the Monday morning Authors' Breakfast. Not only that, but I was up first, which is a bit daunting when you're presenting at an event you've never before attended and therefore have no clue how to proceed. On the other hand, I got to speak to the audience while it was still fresh and attentive. (To be perfectly honest, the group was attentive throughout the whole program.) Let's hear it for booksellers!

It was the first time out of the gate for The Last Superhero (Napoleon Publishing), which is scheduled for release in April. I wrote this book a few years ago, so it's a relief to see it finally see daylight. Basically it's a story about bullying, fighting for what you believe in, friendship, loyalty, and getting along. It has a moral, but it doesn't overwhelm the story, and there are enough laughs to balance out the drama.

Thanks to my publisher for submitting my name for the event. Thanks also to all the booksellers who attended.  

I am still working diligently on the revisions for The Order of Death and Other Secret Societies. At first I was overwhelmed by the prospect, because it seemed like the publisher and editor wanted the impossible -- namely the secret societies' secrets. But with some rethinking, researching, and rewriting, I think I'm getting closer to the goal. No, I don't know all the secrets, but I'm presenting what I've been able to discover in a more intriguing way. And since the publisher has extended the deadline, I'm feeling a lot less pressure.

On other fronts, things have been smoother sailing. I received the editorial feedback for The Last Superhero yesterday, and the changes were pretty minimal -- mostly just some punctuation fixes, which I whipped through in about ten minutes. Thank goodness! I don't think I could handle two major sets of revisions at the same time.

Just before Christmas I got an unepected cheque from one of my publishers for The Gramma War, a juvenile novel that was published in 2001. Apparently the Maryland Department of Education wants to use an excerpt from it in their reading assessment tests. Neato.

Another first for me will be happening sometime in February. A teacher in Edina, Minnesota has invited me to Skype with special ed students at her school. This will be as close as I come to being a television celebrity. I'm looking forward to it. It should be fun.

Finally, I just found out a few minutes ago that Pharaohs and Foot Soldiers was named to Resource Links Magazine's Best Books List for 2009.

All in all, things are going pretty well. 

Okay, so I've done my best to pick a fight with my husband -- it being Boxing Day and all -- and to no avail. The man is so filled with the Christmas Spirir(s) that there is no hope. (Besides which, I can't seem to hit a single correct key on the keyboard). I am simultaneously filled with hope and overwhelmed with burderns. One grandchild has reached the one year landmark and the newest has withstood a brush with death in Sick Kids Hospital. It's been quite the Christmas season. I have a publishing commitment to meet and two others in the wings. I am thankful for my publishing success, and hopeful that the new year will bring more work my way. The new year offers a reunion with farflung family and new books. I also want to do some painting. Too bad a day has only 24 hours.

Dear Facebook Friends,

I have been locked out of Facebook since mid-October. I can read what's posted -- at least most of it -- but I can't post a thing. Anything you see from me is via a link with my website blog. So please know that I'm not ignoring you; I just can't connect with you. Please visit my website (www.kristinbutcher.com) to connect with me through my email there.

Ciao.

Kristin