Volume 38 Number 3 Fall 2016 ISSN0708-594X IN THIS ISSUE • Introducing Ken Setterington • Anne Laurel Carter – Starting Your Story with a Bang • Marsha Skrypuch – Meet the Professionals • Sylvia McNicoll – Canadian Writers’ Summit • Alice Priestley – Illustrator’s Sketchbook Plus all our regular features (Logo design by Karen Patkau) CANSCAIP News Canadian Society of Children’s Authors, Illustrators & Performers La Société canadienne des auteurs, illustrateurs & artistes pour enfants

Introducing… KEN SETTERINGTON by Gillian O’Reilly

“One of the things I always believed in was supporting Canadian [children’s writers].” Ken Setterington—storyteller, performer, writer, advocate—is remembering one of the highlights of his time as Children and Youth Advocate at the Public Library: getting J.K. Rowling for the big Novel Afternoon fundraising event in October of 2000, an event that raised funds for the Toronto Public Library’s children’s literacy programs and the Osborne Collection of Early Children’s Books. But it wasn’t just Rowling’s day. Thanks to Ken’s efforts, the creator of Harry Potter was joined These days Ken is well-known as an advocate by 33 Canadian authors. Ken was determined for Canadian children’s literature but the that “if we were going to have J.K. Rowling, we pathway to that highlight moment started had to have the room full of Canadian decades earlier when, newly back in Canada children’s authors—which we did.” after two years as a teacher with CUSO in northern Nigeria, he decided to pursue a Masters in Library Science at the University of program the TD Summer Reading Club and Toronto. then it went provincial and then national.” Working in the library wasn’t new to Ken. The Storyteller and Author Scarborough native jokes that, over the years, On another front, Ken was actively involved in he has done every possible job in the library storytelling—as a children’s librarian in with the exception of maintenance. He worked Scarborough and elsewhere. “I was lucky in his local library as a teen and enough to work with [noted during his undergraduate years storytellers] Alice Kane, Rita when he was earning a BA in Cox, Eva Martin and Dan Canadian History from York Yashinsky.” He also worked with University’s Glendon College. Diane Wolkstein, the official After becoming a children’s storyteller of New York City, librarian, Ken returned to work telling stories in Central Park at Scarborough Public Library, over two decades. where he filled a number of He also collaborated for many roles, including being in charge years with storyteller Joan of publicity and adult Bodger, and wrote the programming at various times. introduction to her book Tales And while librarianship has of Court and Castle, published been his profession, many in 2003, a year after her death. other roles have intertwined “Joan was a dear, dear friend.” their way through his career. During the 1990s, he joined Children’s book panelist on the Bodger to co-lead her annual CBC Radio’s Morningside with literary tour to the United Peter Gzowski, for example. Kingdom, titled “A Winter’s “That did a lot of good to my Journey to King Arthur’s career,” he comments frankly. Britain.” As well, he has also He continues to be one of the told his own stories and written children’s book panelists on a one-man stage show Heroes of CBC’s The Next Chapter. My Youth: Women of He also chaired the children’s Scarborough. services committee for all the His storytelling skills led libraries in Metro Toronto (in Tundra Books to approach him, the city’s pre-amalgamation saying they had a team of wonderful paper- days). “We decided that it would be useful to all cutting artists (Nelly and Ernst Hofer) and they work together, building on the best elements of wanted a story about snow. Ken’s opinion was each system’s program. The summer Reading “the last thing they needed was a new story Club was the first program of the amalgamated about snow.” What they really needed was Hans libraries in 1999. The program got bigger and Christian Andersen’s The Snow Queen. The [after amalgamation] I was hired as the publisher felt the original was too dated, too Children and Youth Advocate in 2000 and Victorian for their purposes and asked him to continued to build the program and garnered do a retelling of the story. The book was more support from TD until we named the published in 2000. The pairing of Ken’s words

CANSCAIP NEWS 2 FALL 2016 and the Hofers’ illustrations proved to be a Ken’s inspiration came from going to a wedding fruitful collaboration with two more books with a friend and her daughter. “The daughter (The Wild Swans and Clever Katarina) was just ‘It’s all about me, it’s all about me.’ following in 2003 and 2006. And I thought, yes, that’s what it would be.” He The Snow Queen was not Ken’s first piece of deliberately gave the book a title that would be writing for children. He had written a picture completely unambiguous. He didn’t want any book manuscript earlier and buyer to be able to say they didn’t know what approached Groundwood they were getting. Indeed, at Books about publishing it. It conferences, he has sometimes was based on his own seen teachers and librarians experience with Joan Bodger refuse free copies of the book and her late husband’s ashes. because they didn’t want to take As Ken recalls, Groundwood that book back to their schools. publisher Patsy Aldana wrote The work on Mom and Mum back, “We don’t do picture took place at an extremely busy books about ashes; can we do it period for Ken because, at the as a short story?” She wanted to same time, he was working on include it in an anthology of A Guide to Canadian Children’s stories about libraries, so Books in English, co-written “Rose’s Wish” became one of with professor, reviewer and the chapters in the 2001 book author Deirdre Baker and When I Went to the Library, published in 2003. The well- edited by Deborah Pearson. received Guide listed 500 books Like The Snow Queen, Ken’s by Canadian authors and next children’s book also began illustrators, all with as a request from a publisher. annotations of approximately Margie Wolfe of Second Story 300 words; “Highly Press wanted a picture book in Recommended Books” lists; advance of Canada’s Civil and indexes arranged by title, Marriage Act legalizing same- author/illustrator, subject sex marriage across the indexes, geographical setting country. Looking for a gay or lesbian writer, she and the author or illustrator’s approached Ken—with the result that he is the place or residence. “That was a massive amount only male author on the feminist publisher’s of work. It was huge,” says Ken. list. Mom and Mum are Getting Married was Branded by the Pink Triangle (published in published in 2004. What works about this book 2013) came about after Ken told Margie Wolfe is that, although it is a book written for a that her Holocaust series didn’t include a book purpose, Ken managed to find the childish about the Nazis’ persecution of gay men. She heart of the matter. Regardless of the politics asked him to do it. He says, “The challenge and the issues and the human rights landmark about doing a book about gay men for a decisions that gave rise to the book, the only children’s audience for a feminist press was a important question for the narrator is “Do I get tough balance.” The book did very well, to be a flower girl?” winning the 2014 Canadian Jewish Book Award and named an Honour Book for the 2014

CANSCAIP NEWS 3 FALL 2016 Stonewall Book Award. As well, it was Children’s Book Centre and the president of shortlisted for both the TD Canadian Children’s World Literacy Canada, and being a founding Literature Award and the Norma Fleck Award member of the National Reading Campaign. for Canadian Children’s Non-Fiction. He has served on committees for the Newbery Ken is now working on a book about the and Caldecott Medals. And he recently wrote treatment of the disabled in the Holocaust, to an article for School Library Journal on diversity be published by Annick Press in Canadian children’s publishing. in 2018. “I think what everyone “As a kid, I was lucky How does he work as a one writes is in some way enough to have parents writer? autobiographical. That goes for who supported reading Ken is not one to get up non-fiction as well.” and I remember my sister regularly at 6:00 am and write Ken has maintained his being a big fan of Lyn for an hour. “That doesn’t mean interest in disability issues ever Cook, who lived in that I won’t have done that for a since university where “I acted Scarborough. When we deadline. I’ve got a deadline in a production of the play went to Stratford, we went now and I will be really pushing Creeps [David Freeman’s looking for the setting of it.” ground breaking 1971 play her book, Pegeen and the “When I did Branded by the about four men in a sheltered Pilgrim. Without Pink Triangle and A Guide to workshop]. We did a really question, knowing that a Canadian Children’s Books in good production.” Years later, book was set in your English, it was just sitting down in the course of reading an backyard made a huge and doing it and slogging away. adult book about another difference.” Because I had a really busy aspect of the Holocaust, he career, I was able to fit in things came across some information about the around it. So I’ve always done a lot of stuff, so it disabled. So he approached Annick Press, will be refocussing of attention to just sit and asking if they’d be interested in a book on the do this. disabled in the Holocaust and they said yes. “It’s really important,” Ken says about his desire “Certainly having encouraging friends helps a to share this relatively unknown aspect of lot,” he says. Having been in the industry so history. long, he says he has some “powerful allies.” And by “powerful allies” he means people who will Ken’s regards himself as lucky to be able to tell him frankly what works and what doesn’t write the books he wants to write, within, of and “who are bright, really successful and are course, the confines of deadlines and saying, ‘Okay, get back to it. Just stop [avoiding schedules. “I would say that I have only worked the task].’” on things that I wanted to do, that I felt there was a reason for doing.” He adds, “I have the “It’s a matter of sitting down and doing it, and utmost respect for the people who can write not sitting down and playing a game on the easily, that isn’t something that comes easily to computer and not sending out masses of me. I do like to sit down and write—it’s just email...” easy to do other things.” Research Those other things include being involved in a For Ken, the challenge in covering the topics he number of organizations over the years, has tackled is that these are subjects that including serving as president of the Canadian haven’t been explored much. His research has

CANSCAIP NEWS 4 FALL 2016 taken him to the Sachsenhausen Concentration Association (ALA) and listened to scathing Camp, the Holocaust Museum in Washington, reviews of books that I considered decent non- the Gay Museum in Berlin and the fiction because of liberties taken by a writer.” International Gay and Lesbian Research Centre Advocate in Amsterdam. Throughout his career, Ken has always been a “As a ‘retired person’ [since 2011] I have the promoter of Canadian books. Those who hear ability to do what I want to do when I want to him on The Next Chapter will quickly realize do it.” He spent a lot of time among the that he talks only about Canadian books. archives at the Holocaust Museum for Branded “Because it’s a Canadian radio program, I will by the Pink Triangle. The institution, he points talk about Canadian books, because there is so out, was set up to tell the story little air time given to Canadian of the six million Jews who stuff.” died under the Nazi regime, but wants to make sure the Where does that nationalistic story is told of the millions of advocacy come from? “As a kid, others who also died. “They are I was lucky enough to have getting more resources all the parents who supported reading time. They’ve been really and I remember my sister being helpful.” a big fan of Lyn Cook, who lived in Scarborough. When we went “For me, research takes you to Stratford, we went looking only so far.” Then, he has to sit for the setting of her book, back and figure out how to tell Pegeen and the Pilgrim. the story. “Because I have a Without question, knowing history degree, it means that I that a book was set in your want it to be TRUE. Anything I backyard made a huge said in Branded can all be difference.” verified. That was really important to me. I wasn’t going to create scenarios. I know these He carried that excitement through in his are the facts and that’s what it is. working career. “When I worked in Scarborough as the children’s coordinator, I “I think a lot of the other Holocaust stories made sure that any Scarborough author that we have dialogue and created scenarios. I wasn’t had was always celebrated. We always brought going to do that. It may happen with the next in people that lived and worked in the book [after the one about the disabled]. But, if community, so that the kids would also see that it does happen with the next book, [that book] being a writer was a possibility, that it was is not going to be listed as traditional non- something that they could do and that it was fiction. It has to be really clear that that’s what real people that did it. And I just thought that I’m doing.” if you look in the newspaper, all the books that He is also conscious that when details are are being reviewed are the big books out of the embellished or dialogue is added for the sake of States, so how is anyone going to make a a story, it can be negatively received. In an splash? So I was more than happy to just interview in the IBBY Canada Newsletter promote Canadian.” (Winter 2015), he commented, “I’ve have been “It’s important for people to read the stories of on award committees for the American Library their country, set in their community. And

CANSCAIP NEWS 5 FALL 2016 Canada’s lucky that we’ve got so many people mind—and whether or not it could be a teen from other cultures, like Adwoa Badoe for book. I have a couple of projects sitting in example. It’s way more interesting to read her drawers that need some work and that I will get Ghanaian teen story than to read a prolific back at. Or I may decide that I want to do more American writer writing about Africa. It’s performing and go back to storytelling. But important that we have true voices that are there are only so many hours in the day and coming forward.” there’s other things I want to do.” Frustration So stay tuned. Ken may have wound up his If Ken has a frustration with the Canadian career as a librarian, but he continues to be scene, it is that he feels the voice for children’s immersed in his research, storytelling and literature is not strong enough. “America has a writing interests. And—most important of much stronger voice for children’s literature. all—no matter where these interests lead him, Having done the Newbery Committee, having he will always be a strong advocate for done the Caldecott Committee, I have no Canadian children’s literature. difficulty saying that those people talk about books in a way I have never found in Canada, GILLIAN O’REILLY is ever. That was great.” the co-author, with It was an honour to have been on those Cora Lee, of the 2016 committees, he says. The job involved reading revised edition of The thousands of books and it was a huge amount Great Number of work, but he was struck by the passion for Rumble: A Story of children’s books among the wider community. Math in Surprising “For the Newbery, the ALA has a book on how Places (Annick Press), to conduct a mock Newbery. There are so many with new illustrations discussions about what books are going to win by Nova Scotian artist [the award], just among the general book Lil Crump. She is community as much as the library community. currently working on a biography of noted Canadian doctor William Osler. “People get really invested. Every city has a mock Newbery, so there are people who have read everything. And when you go to the ALA Midwinter Conference, and the winners are announced, you’ve got a room with a thousand people who are cheering. They are not getting the speeches, just finding out who the winners are. That’s a press conference that starts at 8:00 in the morning and everyone is there.” What’s next? What’s the next writing project for Ken? “I don’t know. I’ve done personal stories with my show Heroes of My Youth, which was all a kid’s recollection of growing up in Scarborough. Those are all somewhere in the back of my

CANSCAIP NEWS 6 FALL 2016 But then you take a stranger’s voice NSTUVSWTXY when you speak in your new tongue. Each word is a stone dropped in a pool. IN MEMORIAM: We are sad to report that I watch the ripples and wait for more. Nancy Prasad passed away in London, You search in vain for other stones to throw. Ontario on April 6, 2016. They are heavy. Your hands hang down. You have two voices when you speak; I have two ears for hearing. Speak to me again in your mother tongue. What does it matter how little I understand when the words pour out like music and your face glows like a flame. – Nancy Prasad

LEACOCK MEDAL: SUSAN JUBY, Nanaimo, B.C. has won the $15,000 Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour for her novel Republic of Dirt, the continuing adventures of a Brooklyn woman who inherited a derelict farm. Susan was judged best of 60 entries, the seventh woman to win the award since its creation in 1947.

FIRE AT SONO NIS: The office and warehouse of one of B.C.’s most venerable publishing imprints, Sono Nis Press, were completely destroyed by a West Kootenay fire on August 4. Nancy was one of CANSCAIP’s earliest The cause of the fire has yet to be determined. members, helping to organize the meetings The owner, Diane Morriss, was travelling with and later becoming, for about a decade, the one of her authors, Sylvia Olsen, in Vermont office secretary. In more recent years she helped and New Hampshire, when she received the as a volunteer in the office, cheerfully stuffing news of the fire that started in the carport at envelopes. Her poems appeared in many the far end of the office building. It hadn’t magazines and literature anthologies. Her most spread to the warehouse before the volunteer anthologized poem was “You Have Two Voices” firefighters arrived about half an hour after it reprinted below: was called in. Morriss says her next steps after the demolition are to find a suitable distributor You have two voices when you speak so she can start reprinting and redistributing in English or your mother tongue. some of the press’s titles—of which there are When you speak the way your people spoke more than 400, including 150 in print—within the words don’t hesitate but flow the next few months‚ and to transfer the like rivers, like rapids, like oceans of sound, remaining archives to Simon Fraser University. and your hands move like birds through the air. The press has published more than 400 titles

CANSCAIP NEWS 7 FALL 2016 from 200 Canadian authors including many to offi[email protected]. Make sure you put CANSCAIP members. CANSCAIP Logo Submission in the subject For more background information on Sono line. We’d love to have colourful, playful art. Nis Press, see Marsha Skrypuch’s Meet the For those who find scanning a challenge, send Professionals column in the Fall 2014 issue of paper art to the CANSCAIP office. the NEWS, available in our website archives.

FOLLOW CANSCAIP: Looking for some new friends? There is now a handy page on the CANSCAIP website where the Twitter handles of our professional members are listed. Let’s follow each other and help promote each other’s work. And don’t forget to follow @CANSCAIP as well, http://canscaip.org/ page-1862893.

FINDING CANADIAN BOOKS: 49thShelf.com is a website devoted to Canadian books including books for kids. Produced by the Association of Canadian Publishers together with the Canadian Publishers’ Council, and with funding from the Department of Canadian Heritage and the Ontario Media Development Corporation and a lead sponsorship from Amazon.ca., its purpose is to make it easier for readers to discover Canadian books in all genres, from bestselling authors to new talent, from publishers large and small, from all regions of the country. Thanks to LENA COAKLEY for pointing us to this great resource.

LOGO VARIATION: Our front-page logo variation is by KAREN PATKAU. You can see more of her work in her current “Who Needs…” series, including Who Needs A Desert and Who Needs A Jungle (all from Tundra). We are looking for more logo variations to dress up the NEWS. For inspiration, you can view our current ones at the ever-changing logo site on the home page of our website. If you are a full CANSCAIP member/ illustrator and would like to submit your version for possible use, here are the specifics: Digital submission is preferred, so scan your art at 300 dpi (high resolution) and email the file

CANSCAIP NEWS 8 FALL 2016 factors. These young adults had an “internal locus of control” and “positive social From the orientation”. Where did that come from? I know! I know! by Sharon Jennings Werner noted that “…some resilient children… President’s Desk experienced multiple strong stressors at A few months ago, I was asked (along with vulnerable points and their resilience about two dozen colleagues) to give a 90- evaporated.” But this did not happen with other second spiel about my author presentation to a children. Why not? And, “From a young age, group of library technicians. This should have resilient children tended to meet the world on been straightforward, but I was overcome with their own terms.” ennui. I mean, what do I do? Why? And who Clinical psychologist George Bonanno stated cares? And because I don’t sing, dance, or play that all of us possess the same stress-response the ukulele (you know who you are), I’m at an system evolved over millions of years. He asked: obvious disadvantage when it comes to selling Why do some of us use the system more myself with bells and whistles. I used to play effectively than others? Believing that we can the accordion—forgotten how—but when I saw teach ourselves to be more resilient, he posed Lemony Snickett/Daniel Handler present with this question: “Do you conceptualize an event an accordion, I cursed myself for being a short- as traumatic or as an opportunity to learn and sighted fool. grow?” Luckily, I came across an article written by I finished the article annoyed and surprised Maria Konnikova in The New Yorker (February that a love of reading wasn’t factored in to 11, 2016) titled “How People Learn to Become explain why some children thrive against all Resilient”. I say ‘luckily’ because the article odds. Not even a mention of how important frustrated me so much that I found the focus books are in a child’s life. Surely I’m not biased? for my 90-second infomercial. The first book I remember clearly was Pierre The author began with the research of Berton’s The Secret World of Og. My mother, a developmental psychologist Norman Garmezy. Berton fan, bought the hard cover when it was Over three decades he worked with thousands first published. (I still have it.) She read one of kids to determine what made some of them, chapter a night and the agony of waiting despite incredible difficulties, develop the pushed me to learn to read ‘all by myself’. The resilience needed to excel in life. five children in this story go down a tunnel that Of course I knew the answer, but let’s continue. they discover beneath their playhouse. Adventures and even capture ensue before they Others took up his research. Developmental make their way home. I made my parents drive psychologist Emmy Werner published the past the Berton home in Kleinburg so that I results of a 32-year study, beginning before might catch a glimpse of that wondrous birth, of 689 children. One third of these kids playhouse. My request for a playhouse in our were classified as ‘at risk’, and one third of this backyard was, however, denied. third developed into competent, confident adults. Werner decided that luck was involved I became the child who could read a book in a because some of these kids had a strong bond day, not moving from my chair. “Your nose is with a family member, neighbour, or teacher. always in a book,” my father said. Well yes, But there were inexplicable psychological because everything that was going on in my life

CANSCAIP NEWS 9 FALL 2016 was in a book. Everything that I wanted to Because of books—my steady diet of kids in happen was in a book. Everything that I charge—I was able to face traumatic events and worried about, dreaded, was in a book. know that I wasn’t alone or unique. I learned As a child, it never occurred to me that books resilience by osmosis and was prepared for weren’t ‘real’. The stories and people were as whatever might come. real to me as anything on the evening news. Ah, but did I stay resilient? A few years ago my When I read about Laura Ingalls and Anne family went through a crushing meltdown. Shirley and Joe and Frank Hardy and Mary How did I cope? I read. When everything was Lennox and Jo March, I was reading about unbearably bleak and dreary, I sat for an hour people I knew and I modelled with a book and a mug of tea. my behaviour on these friends. BTW, it isn’t coincidence that When I was sent to my room, I on my mug is the C.S. Lewis was the little princess and my quotation: “You can never get a mother Miss Minchin. All cup of tea large enough or a those squabbles with the little book long enough to suit me.” girls at school? Josie Pye and I marvel at the stunning books Nellie Olsen. When I got into being written now, books that physical fights with grade reveal not only the usual ups school heartthrobs, well, if and downs of childhood, but Anne could smash a slate over also the horrific consequences Gilbert’s head, then why not of war and disease and abuse. me? Cue for Treason? Of Martin O’Boy and Bud (not course I wanted to disguise Buddy) and Parvana and Henry myself as a boy and join Shakespeare’s K. Larsen and Chanda and so many more— company. Lost in the Barrens? I’d survive. I struggling, coping, surviving, overcoming. came across The Secret Circle Mysteries and Unlikely heroes all. wanted to have all those nail-biting adventures myself. The article mentioned that some resilient kids were lucky and had a mentor. I bet it was I discovered Anne in grade five and became someone who read to them. So that’s what I do obnoxious about my relationship with her. I in an author visit. I read the embarrassing, sad, knew her better than any other reader. I did go goofy, scary bits from my stories, and hope that to a Presbyterian church after all, and you can I am connecting with ‘the right child at the imagine my thrill when I discovered that L.M. right time with the right book.’ Montgomery’s husband had spent two weeks one summer as the guest minister at my (Photo by Ian Crysler) church! My dad died when I was 16, but I had already wept with Anne Shirley when Matthew died. This didn’t make my sorrow go away, but somehow, the sadness was alleviated. Sharing in Anne’s grief gave me the template I would need. And, as Anne did for Matthew, I brought flowers from my dad’s garden to place on his casket.

CANSCAIP NEWS 10 FALL 2016 supporting photographs for on-line and print WUabScU! articles. Lisa’s photos appeared over several by Monique Polak years in Cat Nap Desk Calendars (Sellers Publishing), and most recently in the 2015 Bad In this column we welcome our newest Cat Desk Calendar and Wall Calendar members. (Workman). THÉRÈSE CILIA is a freelance painter and illustrator whose whimsical and detailed work KAREN HOOD-CADDY is passionate about the often finds a home in children’s books, prints, natural world and self-empowerment. All her stationary and commissions. Thérèse obtained fiction books and her one non-fiction book her BFA in drawing and painting in 2007 at explore these themes, particularly her last three OCAD University, in Toronto. In 2012, she children’s books, which have characters who turned a two-week artist retreat in take on various animal/environmental causes. Newfoundland into a yearlong residence in Howl, The Truth About Brace and Saving Crazy Bonavista, where she began illustrating her first were published by Dundurn. Howl was children’s book Over by the Harbour, with nominated for the Violet Downey Award and Flanker Press in St. John’s. Bullet the New the 2012 Best Book for Children Library Award. Steam Engine is their second collaboration. She She has sold the films rights to all three books currently lives in Belleville, Ontario, where she and is now writing the fourth book in The Wild has recently completed her third picture book, Place adventure series. The working title is To Keeper of the Light (Formac). In June, Thérèse Kill a Leatherback. Karen lives most of the year received the Quinte Arts Council Arts with her partner and dogs in a small, water- Recognition Award, an honour given to those access cabin on Georgian Bay. The rest of the who have made a significant contribution in year, she snowshoes the hills of Collingwood. support of the arts in the Quinte region. DHARMALI PATEL is A graduate of the an illustrator who Institute of Children’s lives in Toronto. She Literature, LISA HART spends her days studied under writers creating illustrations Sandy Fox and for different Melissa Stewart. Her publications and print and online working as an children’s magazine animation director, credits include non- designer and concept fiction, fiction, artist for animated poetry, activities and series. In her 13-year career, she has worked as crafts. Some reprint sales of articles appeared art director, visual development artist and on CD-ROM for use by libraries, in student children’s book illustrator. She has worked on a testing and translation into Braille. She has number of productions airing on Teletoon, received recognition on a local level for her Cartoon Network, Nicktoons, as well as historical fiction. Lisa has successful competed projects with Warner Brothers and Disney. She in local photography competitions, as well as illustrated Danielle McLaughlin’s That’s Not having framed works hung in her hometown Fair! (Kids Can Press, 2016). art gallery. She provides some of her own

CANSCAIP NEWS 11 FALL 2016 KRISTEN CICCARELLI grew up on her grandfather’s grape farm in the Niagara Peninsula, but now lives in Kitchener- Waterloo. Before writing books, she made her living as a baker, a bookseller, and a potter. Her favourite place to write is in a tiny cabin on the back of an Old Order Mennonite farm. Kristen’s debut YA fantasy series recently sold in a pre-empt to HarperCollins (US/CAN) and at auction to Gollancz (UK). Publication is slated for fall 2017.

ANITA MIETTUNEN is a writer and illustrator who loves exploring the natural world. She is an active member of SCBWI and previously coordinated critique groups for the CAA in Ottawa and Vancouver. In 2010, she completed the Humber School for Writers Summer Workshop. She has been lucky enough to travel to many places around the world, sometimes on her bicycle! She has lived in Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa, England, Finland, and Japan. These days, she lives close to the ocean in a little white house under a giant fir tree. Her book Big Blue Forever (Red Deer Press) will be released this fall.

CANSCAIP NEWS 12 FALL 2016 performing arts series “Limelights,” Show Mode NEWS ROUNDUP will be in readers’ hands March 2017. Raquel By Elizabeth MacLeod lives in Montreal. Deadline for WINTER NEWS: November 20, 2016 ONTARIO (OUTSIDE TORONTO) We’d love to hear from you! Let us know about your new books, tours, awards, launches, etc. Welcome to new Friends: Marielle Aylen, Email the details, including your town and London; Jen Bailey, Ottawa; Yvette Besner, province, with the subject line: WINTER NEWS Ottawa; Chantal Boileau, Sarsfield; Dana to: [email protected]. Church, Waterloo; Vera Constantineau, Copper Cliff; Maureen Cubberley, Burk’s Fall; ATLANTIC REGION Nancy Del Col, Markham; Graham Ducker, Welcome to new Friend: Deborah Mert, Oshawa; Ingrid Dykstra, Burlington; Dartmouth, NS. Catharine Griffin, Hamilton; Kelly Hannon, McDougall; Karen Harding, Oakville; Linda SYLVIA GUNNERY has been invited to help Jonasson, Brantford; Susan Lewis, Kitchener; launch the new Young Adult/Children’s Sean Lindsay, Kitchener; Stacey Marshall, programme at the eighth annual Cabot Trail Burlington; Clair Marsland, Barrie; Marica Writers’ Festival in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Mattaliano, Hamilton; Hayden Maynard, on September 29 and 30. Along with KEVIN Oakville; Moya McPhail, Campbellcroft; SYLVESTER and HUGH MACDONALD, Sylvia will Katherine Melnyk, Duncan; Noelle Paredes- give readings and writing workshops in various Plaza, Pickering; Elizabeth Quinn, schools across the island. A family reading Tottenham; Karen Rudniski, Wolfe Island; event will be held in Sydney on September 29. Corinne Santa, London; Tiffany Short, Sylvia lives in Crescent Beach, NS. Oakwood; Lori Twining, Owen Sound; Sya JANET MCNAUGHTON’s book Flame and Ashes: Van Geest, Guelph; Barbara Virley, Ottawa; The Great Fire Diary of Triffie Winsor and Jade Watson, Peterborough. (Scholastic) won the Bruneau Family R.J. (REBECCA) ANDERSON is happy to Children’s/YA Award in the Newfoundland and announce the September 27 release of her Labrador Book Awards Program this spring. ninth book, A Little Taste of Poison, in which Janet lives in St. John’s, NL. young Isaveth sets out to solve a tangle of mysteries and bring an escaped murderer to QUEBEC justice with the help of some old friends… and a Welcome to new Friends: Alex Costa, dash of magic, too. Kirkus praises the book for Montreal; Christine Ferris, Wakefield; and its “intricate plot packed with mysterious twists Jennifer Irwin, Pointe Claire and turns” and describes it as “part melodrama, part comedy, and all around good fun.” The RAQUEL RIVERA’s new novel, Show Mode book is a sequel to last year’s A Pocket Full of (Orca), is inspired by her own children’s public Murder (both Simon & Schuster Canada), school for the arts. “Just. Freaking. Perfect.” A which will be available in paperback September passionate musician, artist and perfectionist, 6. Rebecca lives in Stratford. grade nine student Adina narrates the joys and pains of spearheading a group dance act with JEAN BOOKER’s publisher has sold the Chinese her unwieldy friends, in time for auditions for rights to her novel Mystery House (Fitzhenry & their school’s vaunted fall show. Written for the Whiteside). Jean lives in Bobcaygeon.

CANSCAIP NEWS 13 FALL 2016 KYLIE BURNS is pleased that her latest book, so grateful to the much-missed PHOEBE William Kamkwamba—Powering His Village GILMAN for her glorious illustrations. Jean lives (Crabtree), will be published this fall. It’s the in Guelph and Maggie lives in Vancouver. inspiring story of a young man who demonstrates perseverance and ingenuity in HELEN MASON is the face of adversity. Even though happy to announce circumstances forced him to drop out of high her three new books school, 14-year-old William Kamkwamba published this fall. visited his local library in Malawi every day to They include two pursue his love of learning. After reading a titles from the book about wind power, he decided to try to primary-level make a windmill to supply electricity to his own “Citizenship in home. He succeeded by recycling pieces of Action” series: Be an metal and spare parts from a local scrapyard. It Active Citizen at Your was the beginning of a journey that continues School and Be an to inspire and encourage those who want to Active Citizen in Your Community. She also create positive change in their communities. authored What is Digital Entrepreneurship? Kylie lives in Uxbridge. and edited What is Environmental Entrepreneurship? (all books Crabtree KRISTEN CICCARELLI’s Publishing Company). The last two titles are for debut young adult students at the junior level. Helen has been series, “Askari,” sold accepted into the Humber School of Writers’ in a pre-emptive bid Creative Writing correspondence programme to HarperCollins (US/ which started in September. She looks forward CAN) and at auction to receiving coaching that will help her improve to Gollancz (UK). The a young adult novel. Helen lives in Wellington. first book is about a dragon hunter who JENNIFER MOOK-SANG’s debut middle grade must hunt a deadly novel Speechless (Scholastic) has been short- dragon and bring her listed for the Manitoba Young Readers’ Choice father its head, or she’ll be forced into a Award, the Red Cedar Award (BC Young political marriage. Publication is slated for fall Readers’ Choice), the Diamond Willow Award 2017. Kristen is also a bookseller for Words (Saskatchewan Young Readers’ Choice), and Worth Books and a teen art mentor at the Clay the Surrey Schools Book of the Year. Speechless & Glass Gallery. She lives in Kitchener. is honoured to be listed on CBC Best Books of the Year, CCBC Best Books for Kids and Teens, DOUGLAS DAVEY will be reading from his and OLA Best Bets. Named a ‘writer to watch’ novels Switch and M in the Abstract (both Red by the CBC, Jennifer has been learning how not Deer Press) at the Eden Mills Writers Festival. to be speechless by sharing her love of reading Douglas lives in Guelph. and writing with children in schools and libraries across Ontario. She will lead a Sophie’s JEAN LITTLE and MAGGIE DE VRIES are pleased Studio writing workshop for young people at to announce that their book Once Upon a the Toronto Public Library in the fall. Golden Apple (Penguin), is being published on (torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp? October 4th as a board book to celebrate its Entt=RDMEVT18070&R=EVT18070). Jennifer 25th anniversary. Both authors are excited and lives in Burlington.

CANSCAIP NEWS 14 FALL 2016 SUSAN ROSS will be launching her sixth TORONTO children’s book, Dogs Don’t Go To School Welcome to new Friends: Janette Shipston (Giggles Press), this fall. With this book, Chan, Laurie Cheung, Roxanne Deans, Stephanie Amatori, who is currently studying Michelle Faux, Robert Gilbert, Oliver Lue, art at Western University, makes her debut as a Scott McGuirk, Farzaneh Moaven, Jess children’s illustrator. Dogs Don’t Go To School Sheridan, Mark Smith, Nicole Trudel and introduces Gillie, Grandma and Grandma’s Bojan Vemic. little dog, Abby, to children ages three to eight. Gillie is worried about her first day at HELAINE BECKER’s book Deck the Halls: A kindergarten. Grandma’s solution is to send Canadian Christmas Carol, the sequel to the Abby to school, too. After all, Gillie and Abby national bestsellers A Porcupine in a Pine Tree are both five. Chaos follows Abby as she and Dashing through the Snow (all Scholastic inadvertently disrupts one activity after Canada), will be in stores September 27. another. Children will love reading about “Falalalala, eh,” says Helaine. “Get your holiday Abby’s hilarious antics. Susan lives in London. prep done early!”

GISELA JAMES BOW is pleased to announce that his SHERMAN spoke at fourth young adult novel, a science fiction story the Art Gallery of entitled Icarus Down (Scholastic Canada), will Hamilton’s Family be published in September. The story follows a Day in July. In group of colonists fleeing Earth, only to find keeping with the themselves stranded on a hostile planet. venue, she read a Caught between a burning sun and monsters funny scene from a on the forest floor, the colonists live in cities work-in-progress tied halfway up deep chasms, until one young about mixing colours. man is banished to the forest floor and The young audience discovers the truth behind the colony. James enjoyed watching how many different colours and his wife, Erin (The Swan Riders), are can be created with red, yellow, blue and white. preparing for fall launches and publicity, Gisela’s novel The Farmerettes (Second Story including a joint book launch at Bakka-Phoenix Press) was one of six books shortlisted for the Books on 84 Harbord Street in Toronto at 3:00 Hamilton Public Library’s Top Teen Novel p.m. on Saturday, October 1. Contest. Readers voted for their favourite every week until the contest narrowed down to the PHILIPPA DOWDING winner. The Farmerettes made it all the way to will have two books second place. Gisela lives in Dundas. published in 2016. The first is Carter and JAN THORNHILL has two books out this fall. I the Curious Maze, Am Josephine (and I Am a Living Thing) about a young boy (Owlkids) is a concept book for the very young, who enters a time- illustrated by Jacqui Lee. The second book, The travel maze on the Tragic Tale of the Great Auk (Groundwood), is Canadian National non-fiction for older kids. It’s also the first book Exhibition grounds in Jan has self-illustrated in almost 15 years. Jan Toronto. The second lives in Havelock. is Everton Miles is Stranger than Me, the sequel

CANSCAIP NEWS 15 FALL 2016 to The Strange Gift of Gwendolyn Golden (all this year, Liz recorded a video for the Canadian Dundurn Press), which was shortlisted for the Children’s Book Centre about getting kids Ontario Library Association Red Maple award interested in history—go to youtube.com/ in 2015. watch?v=fWJk-NG3Pmo to take a look. Liz’s book about famous horses, Galloping Through THEO HERAS is History (Annick Press), has been nominated delighted to for the 2017 Rocky Mountain Book Award. announce the release She’ll be teaching a creative writing class for of her new picture kids at Victoria Village Library in Toronto, after book, Hat On, Hat school on Tuesdays from October 4 to 25. Off (Pajama Press), illustrated by RENNÉ MIREILLE MESSIER is branching out! Her new BENOIT. This last year picture book, The Branch (Kids Can Press), has been a busy one illustrated by Pierre Pratt, is now available. This for Theo. Also intergenerational story based on the great arriving this fall is her Toronto ice storm of 2013 will have kids and labour of love, Reading the World’s Stories: A parents looking for potential in broken Bibliography of International Youth Literature branches everywhere. The French version, Ma (Rowan & Littlefield), co-edited by Annette branche préférée (Éditions Scholastic), will be Goldsmith and Susan Corapi. The bibliography in stores in January. Mireille lives in Toronto. is the fifth volume in a series sponsored by the United States Board on Books for Young People KENNETH OPPEL’s new YA novel Every Hidden (USBBY). Thing (HarperCollins Canada) was published in September. Kenneth will appear at a number SUSAN HUGHES is pleased to report the of festivals this fall, including Telling Tales, upcoming publication of her newest picture Toronto Word on the Street, the Ottawa book Maggie McGillicuddy’s Eye for Trouble Writer’s Festival, the Winnipeg Thin Air (Kids Can Press). “A playful story about Festival, Calgary Wordfest, and Vancouver friendship and the joys of an active International Writer’s Festival. In addition he’ll imagination,” it was edited by Stacey Roderick be making stops in the United States in Austin, and beautifully illustrated by Brooke Kerrigan. Chicago and Atlanta. Susan looks forward to sharing her story at 11:30 a.m. in the TD Children’s Literature Tent at GILLIAN O’REILLY’s revised edition of The Great Word on the Street in Toronto on Sunday, Number Rumble: A Story of Math in Surprising September 25. Places (Annick Press), co-written with Cora Lee, appears this fall with more graphics and ELIZABETH MACLEOD’s latest book is Canada new illustrations by Nova Scotia artist Lil Year by Year (Kids Can Press). It includes an Crump. Gillian and Cora had a lot of fun event from each of the 150 years Canada has rewriting, reshaping and updating the book. been a country, as well as biographies, amazing After all, what authors wouldn’t like the chance facts, quotes and more. While Liz wrote most to tackle the bits that they have always secretly of the book, text was also provided by such been slightly dissatisfied with? CANSCAIPers as JANE DRAKE, BARBARA GREENWOOD, PAT HANCOCK and ANN LOVE. KAREN PATKAU’s book Who Needs a Desert? is You can see a trailer for the book at the First Runner-Up for Green Book Festival youtube.com/watch?v=vxnumaFJt7g. Earlier 2016. This is an annual American competition

CANSCAIP NEWS 16 FALL 2016 honouring books that contribute to greater lyrics, stage directions and Cree vocabulary. understanding, respect for and positive action Tomson Highway is a Canadian icon, author, on the changing worldwide environment. playwright and pianist. Sue is presently Other books in Karen’s “Ecosystem” series, all working on illustrations for the board book An written and illustrated by Karen, include Who African Alphabet (Orca Book Publishers) Needs a Swamp?, Who Needs an Iceberg?, Who written by ERIC WALTERS and due for release in Needs a Jungle? and Who Needs a Prairie? (all March 2017. Tundra Books). Every book in the series is a Green Book Festival honour book. MANITOBA, SASKATCHEWAN, RICHARD SCRIMGER is having a busy year. His ALBERTA book Lucky Jonah (HarperCollins), wherein a Welcome to new Friends: Barbara Wackerle magic camera helps a young boy come to terms Baker, Calgary; Janet Chotai, Edmonton; with his sexuality, came out this spring. “Think Amy Dennis, Calgary; Jeanette Dover, Freaky Friday meets Brokeback Mountain,” says Calgary; Sharon Engbrecht, Red Deer; Richard. This fall he will publish two more Joanne Fisher, Calgary; Jennifer Gilliard, books. Weerdest Day Ever! (Orca) is a prequel Edmonton; Brittany Hollett, Edmonton; to the “Seven” series. Bunny attends a re- Loretta Polischuk, Meacham, SK; Janet enactment of the War of 1812, and doesn’t Robinson, Regina; Sylvie Roy, Regina; understand. “We can beat America at hockey,” Jennifer Schulmeister, Sherwood Park; he says, “but this is war!” Downside Up Radha Singh, Calgary; Reshal Stein, (Tundra) is a pretty sad book. It’s quirky too, Winnipeg; Monique Stokvis, Saskatoon; and but the grief is real. A boy missing his dog falls Wendy Taylor, Regina. through the world to a place looking just like home—except that here his dog is alive. This is MARGARET BUFFIE has signed a contract with a world where nothing that is loved is lost. publisher Pajama Press for her new young adult “Doesn’t sound like Scrimger, does it,” says novel. The historical mystery, title pending, is Richard. “But it may be his truest book yet.” slated to be published in March 2017. This will be the award-winning author’s eleventh novel RINA SINGH is pleased to report that her non- for young adult readers! Margaret lives in fiction book Diwali: Festival of Lights (Orca Winnipeg. Book Publishers) will be released in September. Diwali is part of the “Origins” series and JUDY COOK is provides a rich look at the religious and secular enjoying promoting aspects of the holiday. The book includes her book When personal interviews and photos from all over Dinosaurs Go India and the world. Kirkus called it “an Dancing in Manitoba. exceptionally valuable resource.” The picture book was independently SUE TODD is excited to announce the fall 2016 published through release of The Incredible Adventures of Mary Friesen Press and the Jane Mosquito (Fifth House Publishers), a play company recently written by Tomson Highway. Sue’s linocut art chose the book for accompanies the magical script about a their Great Book Giveaway promotion as part of wingless little mosquito from small town Altona’s annual Sunflower Festival. Judy was Manitoba. The illustrated book includes song there to sign books for the fun giveaway event!

CANSCAIP NEWS 17 FALL 2016 Other thrilling news to report is that the book programme is now in its 20th year of operation. has earned the silver Mom’s Choice Awards® Gail and co-recipients will be featured on Excellence Seal of Approval. Judy lives in Global News, in Avenue Magazine, in a one- Winnipeg. hour Global Television special, and honoured at the culminating awards gala. Gail is also the JOAN MARIE GALAT new Alberta/NWT/Nunavut Regional was a speaker at a talk Representative for The Writers’ Union of concert hosted by the Canada. She lives in Edmonton. United Nations Environment BRITISH COLUMBIA Programme in South Korea. Her speech, Welcome to new Friends: Pravina Annamalai, “The Nature of Vancouver; Laurie Cheung, Salt Spring Island; Night,” explored Simone Conner, Duncan; Leslie Day, climate change and Chilliwack; Paul Haston, North Vancouver; sustainability, as well Marion Iberg, Langley; Lorraine Murray, as the relationship between art and science in Victoria; Gayle Ricketts, Nanaimo; and our Earth and sky environments. Joan shared Renice Townsend, Fruitvale. content from two upcoming titles: Dot to Dot KAREN AUTIO’s chapter book Kah-Lan the in the Sky: Stories of the Aurora (Whitecap Adventurous Sea Otter (Sono Nis Press), Books) and Dark Matters: Nature’s Reaction to illustrated by Sheena Lott, won the 2016 Word Light Pollution (Red Deer Press), as well as Award for children’s novel. Karen toured in Branching Out: How Trees Are Part of Our Ontario (North Bay, Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie, World (Owlkids). She also presented to and many points in between, including the students in South Korea, then met with wonderful Children’s Library of Richards organizations in Japan involved in astronomy Landing) during TD Canadian Children’s Book outreach. Joan lives in Spruce Grove, AB. Week in May. Karen lives in Kelowna. SIMON ROSE’s novel Flashback (Tyche Books) LEE EDWARD FÖDI spent part of July in Korea, continues to gather great reviews. The second where he spoke at literacy events hosted by the and third parts of the story will be published Canadian Embassy with fellow authors DAN next year. In the meantime, Flashback has been BAR-EL and Kallie George. Afterwards, they nominated for the Alberta Book Publishing taught a week-long creative writing camp in the Awards Book of the Year for Children and Korean countryside for writers age 8 to 18. Lee Young Adults. The results of the competition also led a series of workshops at British will be available by mid-September. Simon lives Columbian libraries in support of the summer in Calgary. reading programme, for which he was the GAIL SIDONIE SOBAT is a Global News Woman official illustrator. Lee lives in Vancouver. of Vision for 2016–2017, a programme that DEBORAH HODGE is delighted to announce her annually celebrates the accomplishments of 13 new picture book, Bear’s Winter Party, outstanding Edmonton area women—heroines illustrated by Lisa Cinar. It’s the story of how a and visionaries—whose stories inspire. She is lonely bear makes friends. (He has a party!) She being recognized as an artist, author and was also pleased to take part in the Eden Mills coordinator of YouthWrite®, a camp for kids Writers’ Festival where she presented her who love to write… just about anything! The

CANSCAIP NEWS 18 FALL 2016 recent book, West Coast Wild: A Nature display now suspended from the ceiling of the Alphabet (both Groundwood Books), Beaty Biodiversity Museum in Vancouver. illustrated by KAREN RECZUCH. Deborah lives Suitable for all ages, this photo-based book also in Vancouver. includes essential facts about the endangered blue whale and highlights the process SHELLEY museums go through to prepare a skeleton for HRDLITSCHKA’s latest display and study. Anita lives in Vancouver. book is Dancing in the Rain, a follow-up SCOT RITCHIE is happy to announce the release to her earlier title, of My House is Alive! (Owlkids). Do you ever award-winning wonder what causes that sound in the Dancing Naked (both bathroom at night? This book looks into Orca Book bumps, thumps and noises we hear and what Publishers). In this the science is behind them. Scot also illustrated new book for teens What Milly Did: The Remarkable Pioneer of she explores the grief Plastics Recycling (Groundwood). This book is that follows the death of a parent, adoption about Milly Zantow, the woman who invented issues, healing and first love. Shelley lives in the system of numbering plastic for recycling, North Vancouver. which has come to be the global standard. Coming soon is another instalment in Scot’s CAROL MACKAY’s poem for young children, “Five Friends” series. Let’s Eat! A First Book of “Swinging Into Town,” appeared in the July/ Food, From the Farm to You (Kids Can Press) is August 2016 issue of Ladybug magazine. all about the journey of food, from the farm to Another of Carol’s poems, “Sunning Seal,” was your table. Scot lives in Vancouver. published in the June issue of Highlights. Carol lives in Qualicum Beach. MARGRIET RUURS was recently awarded CYNDI MARKO’s book Kung Pow Chicken: Let’s SCBWI’s Crystal Kite Get Cracking! (Scholastic Canada) has tied in award, voted by the chapter book category for British peers, for her latest Columbia’s Chocolate Lily Award. The first and title, A Brush Full of second “Kung Pow Chicken” books, which Colour (Pajama Cyndi writes and illustrates, have been Press). She will be included in the Kellogg’s Family Rewards speaking in Alert Bay, programme in the United States, where BC, in September and shoppers can earn free Scholastic books when at the Vancouver they purchase a participating product at International Writers Festival in October. Walmart. Cyndi lives in Penticton. Margriet’s next book, Stepping Stones, a ANITA MIETTUNEN’s first children’s book, Big Refugee Family’s Journey (Orca Book Blue Forever (Red Deer Press), will be Publishers), will be released in October. published this fall. Inspired by a true story, the Illustrated by Syrian artist Nizar Ali Badr, the book blends fiction and non-fiction techniques book tells the story of a family having to flee a to tell the remarkable tale of how a giant blue war-torn country. Stepping Stones is a whale, long buried in Prince Edward Island, fundraiser in support of refugees. Margriet lives came to be installed as a magnificent skeleton on Salt Spring Island.

CANSCAIP NEWS 19 FALL 2016 INTERNATIONAL GORDON KORMAN is pleased to announce the recent release of Slacker (Scholastic), the story of a video gamer and dedicated couch potato The Word On The Street Toronto who cares about nothing and winds up in September 25, 2016 from 11am to 6pm. charge of everything. And for the fall, the eighth book in the “Swindle” series, titled Jingle Join us on Sunday, September 25, 2016 (both Scholastic), will be released at the end of for the 27th edition of The Word On The September. It’s a holiday story, with laughs Street Toronto, Canada’s largest outdoor guaranteed! In the works is the third book in book and magazine festival! the award-winning “Masterminds” series, Masterminds: Payback (HarperCollins), due to The Word On The Street is a free be released March 7, 2017. Gordon lives in festival for all ages and proudly celebrates Great Neck, New York. the Canadian written word. Come see how we turn Harbourfront Centre into a book lover’s paradise.

This year, make sure to check out our new programming stages (the Genre Zone and the Canadian Magazines Tent), our massive Exhibitor Marketplace featuring 270 book and magazine exhibitors…

and the bestselling Canadian authors we attract for every event!

For more information visit: www.thewordonthestreet.ca/toronto.

CANSCAIP NEWS 20 FALL 2016 First Pages… I think The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins has a masterful opening. I love its deceptive Starting Your simplicity and the clarity of the story bells: Story When I wake up the other side of the bed is with a Bang! cold. The person who slept beside Katniss, the MC, is by Anne Laurel Carter critical to her throughout her story (her sister, Prim) but she will be absent. And “cold” warns The first pages of a novel are critical. Gone are that the inciting incident will be a terrible one the days of the slow start. Your first pages must for Katniss, the Day of the Reaping. hook a reader’s interest, and if that reader happens to be an agent or editor, remember— Action: show the MC in they are the gateway to publication. The a scene of well-chosen following guidelines are what I’ve learned over conflict many years as both writer and instructor. So let’s look at a few ways to get off to a good start. Writing first person, present tense sometimes First… helps a writer feel immersed in the MC’s point of view (pov) and engaged in a strong, active Don’t bore the reader scene. I think that past tense and third person I try to apply this writing rule to every page of work equally well. What counts is a quick start my manuscript. Some scenes are inherently in a scene of action. Bring the MC to life. Don’t more compelling than others, like the first kiss make the reader wait to hear a beating heart. in a romance, or the discovery of a body. When Here’s another strong opening (past tense and I choose the right opening scene, it has action, 3rd person) from Graceling by Kristin Cashore: characters and a conflict that all reflect the “In these dungeons the darkness was complete, emotional world of younger readers. It must be but Katsa had a map in her mind.” on their radar. Katsa runs through a dungeon in these first Start in the NOW pages, knocks out guards with her Grace (a gift of the MC’s life of fighting) to free a prisoner. No long explanations. Action. Compelling. Where is the best place to start? The best advice is to show the MC (Main Character) just Reveal something that will before things start to change. In terms of plot be critical to the character this means just before the first inciting as the story unfolds incident. If I’m Kevin Sands writing a middle-grade I believe in deconstructing successful books in medieval adventure in which a boy will blow the genre I’m writing (currently fantasy). something up in my fabulous climax, my first Although I don’t follow trends, the foundation pages will show him learning how to blow of being a writer is being a reader. In recent something up. But will it be believable for a years, fantasies no longer use prologues and young boy? It will if he’s a curious and clever first person (not omniscient) is popular. By the apothecary’s apprentice. And because kids love time you read this, things will change again. My secret codes, why not have him decipher a advice is to study what you love as a reader and recipe for gunpowder? Here’s his fabulous write in a similar way. opening line to his first pages:

CANSCAIP NEWS 21 FALL 2016 ““Let’s build a cannon,” I said.” (The (The Reluctant Journal of Henry K Larsen, by Blackthorn Key by Kevin Sands) Susin Nielsen)

Point to the MC’s destination Involve another main Good first pages remind me of a train ticket to a character to crank up mysterious destination. Clues point the way so the stakes a reader can choose “I’m in” or “I’m off.” If I stay A second main character is one way to up the on board until the end, I don’t want to feel stakes. For example, continuing with Jennifer tricked. I want to look back and see that I was Niven’s first pages about suicide, we are in heading here right from the first pages and yet Theodore’s head on the first page of All The it was a surprise. Bright Places: When I wrote my contemporary novel, The “…I’m asking myself this now as I stand on a Shepherd’s Granddaughter, my first pages narrow ledge six stories above ground…” involved a Palestinian girl, tending sheep with On the next page we meet the other MC, a girl her grandfather on their land because this who is also thinking of jumping. Wow. A well- scene pointed directly to the story’s climax designed scene. Two teens about to fall in love concerning a fight for that land. and the stakes are high: When I recently read All the Bright Places, I “Her name is Violet Something. She is might have stopped reading because it was a cheerleader popular—one of those girls you story about teen suicide. But Theodore’s voice would never think of running into on a ledge was so engaging, and the relationship that six stories above the ground.” developed with a broken girl so tender, that I chose to stay on. That’s one way to add more tension to your scene. Another is by asking “what if” questions. Don’t deceive the reader If your MC is asthmatic, what if his puffer is about the story destination empty? If she’s in a submarine searching for a creature, what if she hasn’t tested the vessel’s If I’m writing about teen love and suicide from ability to withstand deep sea pressure? Crank my own sad yet funny memories of a bipolar up the tension. Add a threat. boy, I might open with a suicide attempt told in his wry voice: No backstory “Is today a good day to die?” (All the Bright (or use sparingly) Places by Jennifer Niven) Backstory slows the action of any scene. It’s If I’m Susin Nielson (who pairs humour with good to delete or keep to an extreme minimum tough YA issues much as John Green does) and in the first pages. I sometimes highlight it on a I’m writing about horrific bullying and its hard copy, and allow myself to keep one or two aftermath on a younger brother, my first page bits if they are essential to introducing the both hooks and alerts the reader. Her GG character. The rest can be woven into later winning novel starts in the MC’s thoughts and chapters if it truly helps build to the climax. concerns the psychologist, Cecil, he is forced to However, sometimes an essential bit of the visit after the event: MC’s history needs to be woven deftly into the “…I looked up his name, and do you know what opening. On the first page of All the Bright it means? Dim-sighted or blind. Not a good Places, Theodore shouts down at his sign… We haven’t talked about IT yet.”

CANSCAIP NEWS 22 FALL 2016 schoolmates from the tower he’s about to jump Young readers want things clear and off: compelling. I like to read my passages out loud “I, Theodore Finch, being of unsound mind, do because it helps me hear the rhythm and hereby bequeath all my worldly possessions to sounds of my sentences. I prefer spare and Charlie Donahue, Brenda Shank-Kravitz, and avoid long descriptions. They went out of my sisters. Everyone else can go f— fashion with hoop skirts and bustles. And I themselves.” learned as a school librarian that literary writing bores kids. They want story. Readers don’t want to know more about his friends and sisters at this point. Let that wait. Finish the entire rough draft We want to know if he’s going to jump. Scenes BEFORE revising first pages and memories to show how unsound he is It’s a waste of time perfecting the first chapter aren’t needed either. The author judiciously until we’re on firm ground with the MC and the reveals Theodore’s life in later chapters. fabulous climax of our novel. Great dialogue In a first draft, I’ve learned the hard way to If you are writing contemporary, your consider the first chapter as a holding place. characters must sound contemporary. Listen to Sometimes I’ve been lucky and started in the teens. Study passages of well-paced, intriguing best place. Usually though, even with pre- dialogue in great YA books like Eleanor and plotting the big scenes, I make many surprising Park, Looking for Alaska, Word Nerd or the first discoveries as I write the novel. My pages (and every page) of Teresa Toten’s The understanding of the MC and her destination Unlikely Hero of Room 13B: changes. So does my choice of the best opening ‘“…Welcome, Robyn, to room 13B and the scene. Young Adult OCD Support Group… you will Writers commonly start a novel too early in the have no doubt noticed that there is no backstory. It’s okay to do this in the first draft. It thirteenth floor on the elevator. We have to get can be a way of understanding the character. off on fourteen to get to this floor.’ After the first draft is finished, the clouds lift, “‘Yeah, man, what’s with that? I spent half an the seas part, and god (a trusted, critical hour riding the damn elevator my first time reader) often says: Good story. By the way, my here. I thought it was some psycho test,’ said interest took off on page 27. Try starting there. Peter… And don’t forget: grammar “‘So,’ continued Church, ignoring the mistakes = dirty shirt interruption, ‘in some blessed existential way we, uh, don’t exist.’” As a writer I devote more time to polishing the first pages than any others. Editors and agents Focus on clear writing at our conferences and meetings stress their and strong story importance in a query. Yet they often see We all write with a critic on our shoulder mistakes writers cannot afford to make: typos, squawking at us: make this passage beautiful incorrect punctuation and syntax errors. They and complex! It’s not literary! Proust would make a bad first impression and are an easy fix. disown you! As a result, we embed clauses, add Proofreading is like checking our outward extra metaphors and obfuscate because we appearance in the mirror before an interview. think it makes our writing better. Even if you excel at grammar, get someone to proofread your work. I ask my husband and

CANSCAIP NEWS 23 FALL 2016 daughter or exchange with a writing colleague. stories about the handsome stranger who came If you can afford it, pay someone reputable. I to town. Good readers, starting with the savvy also email my polished query to myself before I agent or publisher, will insist we offer a fresh send it out, wait a day, and check it one last and unique twist. time before I “Send”. And remember, the best way to learn to write is One last point: to…. Ignore bad advice Learn by example: In recent years a writing guru made up a list of borrow from the best rules that included things like: Study recent novels in the genre you write— • never begin with the weather especially ones that you find compelling. • never begin with a long description Deconstruct what they do and try it. Through • never begin with dialogue imitation, we incorporate the skills good authors use into our personal toolbox. This is Holy kaboly. No weather? We write about the the artist’s apprenticeship and it’s lifelong. drama of life. Weather is critical to many When we have a story to tell, it will be uniquely scenes. Here’s one from a wilderness survival ours, and we’ll begin with great first pages. story : “Day had broken cold and grey, exceedingly ANNE LAUREL cold and grey, when the man turned aside from CARTER’s last two the main Yukon trail and climbed the high novels (The earth-bank…” (To Build A Fire by Jack London) Shepherd’s Description sets the scene: Granddaughter and “Lyra and her daemon moved through the Last Chance Bay) both darkening hall… The three great tables that earned the CLA Best ran the length of the hall were laid already, the Book of the Year silver and the glass catching what little light Award for Children. there was and the long benches were pulled out She enjoys teaching ready for the guests…” (The Golden Compass writing for children at by Philip Pullman) U of T and is currently revising the first pages of a new novel. www.annelaurelcarter.com Good dialogue creates immediate tension: “Someone is following me.” (Scars by Cheryl Rainfield) Forget bad advice. Go with what works for your story.

More bad advice: don’t read anything in the genre you’re writing In addition to learning from other good writers, it’s part of my research to be aware of novels that might be close to mine. These days everything is a trope. There are a thousand

CANSCAIP NEWS 24 FALL 2016 Meet the Professionals change. One day while I was walking around by Martha Skrypuch Toronto and thinking about what I wanted to do next, I discovered The Children’s Book Store. I applied for a job and was hired the next MARIA MARTELLA day. It was a dream job. I ended up staying Book Wholesaler and Owner of Tinlids there for 17 years. When the owners (Judy and Hy Sarick) retired, they sold the educational Can you tell me about Tinlids? What should division to Pegasus, which was a huge authors and illustrators know about distribution centre, owned by Chapters. I was Tinlids? the Children’s Collection Tinlids is a Canadian book Development manager there. wholesaler that sells to schools Pegasus closed after a year, and and public libraries across then I worked for another Canada. We are the official wholesaler for a couple of years. wholesaler for the Ontario Two years later, in 2003, I Library Association Forest of started Tinlids. Reading program. In addition Can you describe your to our website (tinlids.ca) and typical day? other online presence (facebook, twitter, instagram), Contrary to what some might we also have a 5,500 sq. ft. think, I don’t read all day! But I showroom in north Toronto, do read every night. A typical that anyone can shop in from day often starts out with a Monday to Friday. We purchase morning meeting with either a books from all major and many customer who is shopping in smaller publishers. We are also our showroom, or a publisher a strong supporter of Canadian authors, rep who is selling me the next illustrators and publishers. We make good season’s titles. Whether I am purchasing for coffee. Tinlids, or helping a customer, that can take up most of my day. Sometimes my purchasing What is your role at Tinlids? meetings last for 4 hours, and I can have 3 or 4 My main role is to make good coffee. I also help full days of buying in a week. If it’s “show teachers and librarians with their selections, season”, I will be out of the office selling at and make sure we’re carrying the very best various school board events, or doing book books for our customers. I do all of the buying talks. for our showroom and for special school board I usually have tons of email and lots of events. I also provide lots of book talks and selection to do for customers. Often a customer selection help on a daily basis. will give me a budget and ask me to select What did you do before Tinlids? books for them based on some specific needs. I worried less, worked shorter hours, had time So most of my day is spent thinking about for parties… I could go on. Okay, I was a social books, buying books for our showroom, worker, working with children, adolescents and selecting books for libraries, or making lists I teenage moms. I really loved working with kids, especially love helping customers start their but after eight years I decided I needed a collection for a new library. It’s great to see new books, but I really love those backlist titles that

CANSCAIP NEWS 25 FALL 2016 are still strong core titles for libraries. There are might sound simple but it’s not. I like when the hundreds of gems in the backlist. illustration tells you a bit more about the What drives you nuts? character, and when the text is so great that you don’t even need the illustrations. I love books The declining number of teacher-librarians in that are great read-alouds—again, sounds the schools. Customers who tell me they don’t simple but it’s not. I also love wordless picture want to buy books for their intermediate books and “advanced” picture books. Advanced students because those students don’t read. picture books are great for junior, intermediate Scaredy-cat librarians who worry about books or high school students, and usually provide that might have a “swear word” in them. great starting points for discussion or further What are you grateful for? exploration of an important subject. Authors and illustrators who are brave enough Okay I could go on for hours about this. Don’t to write about sensitive topics that kids want to get me started on poetry (love it and want more know about. Publishers who are brave enough of it), graphic novels (love) and non-fiction to publish those books. Teachers and librarians (love but pickier about non-fiction). I seriously who are brave enough to buy them. I’m grateful want to keep talking but if I do, this will end up that there are now many more Canadian being a book instead of an interview. authors and illustrators than when I started The books I choose have to fit into what I bookselling. And I love the diversity in our believe our customers want. They have to work Canadian books. I hope it continues to grow. for a classroom or library. I want books that will What is your selection criteria for books? engage our modern students. That doesn’t mean I only want new books. It means I only When I’m choosing fiction, especially YA want fantastic books. fiction, I need to believe the characters and care about them. They need to have an What advice do you have for a first time authentic voice. I don’t like preachy fiction or author or illustrator? books with an obvious message that hits you If it’s a published author or illustrator, find out over the head. I love when an author really which stores or wholesalers are supporting you. captures the realities of being a teenager. If you have a website, mention these stores as a Authors like Susin Nielsen, Teresa Toten and place to purchase. Independent stores and Martine Leavitt do this well. Remember what wholesalers that hand-sell your book need your you went through as a teen? Or what you support too. Find out what your bookseller wished you had gone through? All the bad likes about your book. Go see them and ask choices you made? All the thoughts you had? questions. Be open to honest and constructive Thinking about your future, drinking, sex, feedback. I always say, “If you want my honest drugs, the world and how you do or don’t fit opinion, you need to be ready to hear that your into it? I get anxious just thinking about it. I baby is ugly.” See what your competition is. If love when authors remember and are true to you’re writing a picture book about a little girl the crazy messed-up teenage psyche. Those are who is attached to her bunny, it better be as the brave authors. good as (or better than) Knuffle Bunny by Mo Picture books are easier to buy of course, but I Willems! If I bought every book with a bunny still say no to many titles that just aren’t good in it, I would need to open up a separate store. enough. I choose picture books where the And call a good shrink… Ack! So many bunny illustrations and text work well together. That books.

CANSCAIP NEWS 26 FALL 2016 What do you see as the future for the book business? MEET CONNECT SHARE! I think book lovers will always need curated lists and a place that showcases them. Sometimes you don’t know you want a book until you see it in a store or a library. I’ve been around long enough to see many different new technologies challenge the physical book and bookstore. I think we will always have people who want that experience of walking into a Never miss a meeting: bookstore or library and being in that social www.canscaip.org/EventsCalendar! Add space. I hope that the future will include more CANSCAIP events straight to your diversity from voices we don’t hear from calendar or inbox with handy RSS and enough. calendar tools: What I DON’T see is only a digital future in the Montreal: CANSCAIP meetings are held book industry. Apparently neither does regularly. For more information, contact Amazon, since it opened up a bricks and Carol-Ann Hoyte. [email protected] mortar bookstore last year. Toronto: Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month, ten times a MARSHA year (no meetings in July or August). SKRYPUCH’s 20op Meetings in 2016: Sept. 14, Oct. 12, Nov. 9, book is Adrift At Sea: Dec. 14. See website for location and A Vietnamese Boy’s topic. Story of Survival, Saskatchewan holds virtual meetings illustrated by Brian monthly on the 15\]. Diennes (Pajama skcanscaip.wordpress.com. Your SK rep is Press) coming out in Sharon Plumb Hamilton. fall 2016.

CANSCAIP NEWS 27 FALL 2016 The Canadian Writers’ Writers’ Rights, Pedagogy, Interactive. Each participating organization used its own criteria Summit 2016 for selecting their panels and speakers, and you by Sylvia McNicoll could listen to something with an academic Herding Cats theoretical focus or participate in lively theatre sports. Helena Aalto, CANSCAIP For me the Writers’ Union of Canada’s (TWUC) Administrative Director, was part of the Annual General Meeting provides one of the best opportunities to meet a variety of authors Canadian Writers’ Summit planning committee from across Canada, always and foremost a tool which met regularly over a period of two years. against the isolation of writing. This year Creaky Bits TWUC’s AGM and conference were part of a A major flaw was that new writing event, a many workshop partnership with sessions overlapped fourteen writing which forced organizations including participants to leave CANSCAIP, Canadian early or arrive late for League of Canadian sessions. The venue Poets, Playwrights Guild was spread over a large of Canada and Canadian area that included a Authors Association to name a few, inviting over couple of buildings 200 panelists and which divided two sets speakers to present. of un-air-conditioned tents—think lots of walking and negotiating From June 14 to 17 this new venture, the maps. Topic descriptions and sessions did not Canadian Writers’ Summit, drew over 800 always match. Some seemed weirdly academic people. Over 75 sessions and panels, plenaries, or esoteric (think primal scream), and some receptions and keynotes took place from speakers did not seem particularly qualified to morning to night in tents and buildings at speak on their topic. Lunch was provided in Harbourfront Centre, Toronto where the portable plastic containers, convenient, but not sunshine (or starlight), sparkling water and recyclable. (I took mine home and have reused sailboats provided a beautiful background for a them several times since.) The nearby hotels far-flung venue. were luxury accommodations not accessible to “You definitely got your bang for the buck most poor writers. However rooming with through networking and meeting peers,” said Norma Charles, author of Last Chance Island Marthe Jocelyn, author of What We Hide (Ronsdale Press), Jo Ellen Bogart, author of The (Tundra Books), who was able to connect with White Cat and the Monk (Groundwood Books) her fellow Secrets (Orca) author Vicki Grant and Gisela Sherman, author of The Farmerettes from Nova Scotia as well as Sarah Ellis from (Second Story Press) at the Harbour Castle Vancouver, author of Outside In Hotel with the TWUC discount, proved a (Groundwood). Airfare and other decadent bargain for me with extra transportation for TWUC AGMs was opportunities for socialization. subsidized by Canada Council. The workshops were arranged in categories, such as Business of Writing, Craft of Writing,

CANSCAIP NEWS 28 FALL 2016 A Sampling of Talks: Jennings, “Based on my own 26 years of That Elusive Writing Grant—Still Elusive experience, I know that it will be a hard sell to have the above changes—and others—made to There were no specific hints or guidelines the one-size-fits-all contract. However, it is divulged in this simultaneous bilingual talk by empowering to know that organizations such Simon Brault of the Canada Council for the as TWUC are working to ensure authors are not Arts. Indigenous and emerging writers will be left behind. Knowledge is power, and asking targeted for increased Canada Council funds questions before you sign can only increase and changes to the applications procedure were awareness that there are concerns.” lauded if not explained. But the good news for everyone is that The CANSCAIP Speakers funding will be doubled over the next The speakers that five years so we should CANSCAIP arranged all see an increase in included Kenneth Public Lending Rights. Oppel as a keynote, Kevin Sylvester on In the Ontario Arts “Author as Performer: Council (OAC) Grabbing and Keeping “Getting the Grant” Your Audience” and talk we learned that Sharon Jennings on the Chalmers Art Joanne Findon, Gisela Sherman, Jennifer Mook-Sang “Writers’ Craft for Fellowship is Kids’ Writers.” undersubscribed and writers can be awarded up to $50,000 “to examine, investigate, explore Kenneth Oppel, author of The Nest (Harper and experiment with style, technique, process, Collins), charmed his audience with a funny method, content, or an issue or concern in their and smart talk and slide show about his writing arts practice.” http://www.arts.on.ca/ career and process, reading from fan mail gone page99.aspx Unfortunately the deadline had wrong, chatting about and showing early map passed before this workshop. OAC plans to go scribblings of a story through to the final edits. online for applications soon, but they admitted He advised the audience to write from their they have been planning to go online for the passion rather than following a trend, last several years. comparing his biggest successes to his lesser. He claimed that after all his books he still Changing Business, Changing Contracts: doesn’t know what he’s doing. The Global Fair Contract Initiative for Authors Kevin Sylvester, author of MiNRS (Simon & Schuster), gave practical suggestions to hook TWUC sponsored a session on contracts and the listener: “Use humour, danger and gross fair dealing in which a panel (from the U.S., stuff to keep the audience’s attention… Don’t England, Canada, Latin America) presented read to them. Talk about your theme instead their wishlist items for a standard contract such and relate it to your books.” as the author retaining copyright, a ‘use it or lose it’ limit on the publisher’s rights and the Sharon Jennings, author of Connecting Dots elimination of ‘deep discount’ author royalty (Second Story Press), spoke about using penalties, as well as unfair non-compete authentic personal experiences in stories, clauses. Said CANSCAIP President Sharon relating how she often reads a passage to

CANSCAIP NEWS 29 FALL 2016 students in which the main character wets her similar requests but a majority was finally pants because it happened to her. She said, convinced and the motion was passed. “We are writing a story for young people. We The Margaret Laurence Lecture are not writing for parents, or teachers, or houses of worship, or the Conservative Party of Always a high note for TWUC, this talk is Canada. We are not teaching lessons, or morals sponsored by the Writers’ Trust and honours a or values in order to give adults a break from senior writer of stature to talk about the writer’s doing their jobs. Our job is to write a story that life. This year’s speaker was CANSCAIP’s own will resonate with our readers, that will reflect Jean Little who tag-teamed with her sister Pat the truth of their DeVries to alternately tell and read her speech. world. We are not “A great sisterly telling children how to comedy team,” said behave. We are Rachael Preston, showing them how to author of The Fishers survive.” of Paradise (Wolsak and Wynn). Practical, sage advice delivered with plenty Jean spoke about the of self-deprecating triumphs and humour from all of the torments of her CANSCAIP speakers. writing journey: the way her father The Children’s inspired and then Caucus and the AGM Jean Little and Pat DeVries assisted and pushed Traditionally children’s her writing forward. writers gather in a How a bad review from Sheila Egoff wounded prescribed time slot of their own at the TWUC her and how isolated she felt as a writer as well AGM, putting real people with Facebook pages as the extra marginalization she experienced as and discussing issues that TWUC can perhaps a children’s writer. She also told how Margaret help them address. This year Sharon Jennings, Laurence wrote a good review of her work and CANSCAIP president, chaired the Children’s later a letter of support for a grant application. Caucus and, perhaps inspired by the big Margaret also wrote Jean the letter inviting her audience numbers for Canadian Writers’ to join the Writers’ Union. Summit presentations by Jean Little, Kenneth “I laughed and cried throughout the whole Oppel, Kevin Sylvester and other children’s thing,” said Rachael Preston. “Warm, funny and writers, it was decided to put forth this motion: brilliant, they deserved their lo-o-o-ong Be it resolved that since writers for young people standing ovation,” said Gisela Sherman. make up over 25% of the membership of TWUC, You can listen to the recording here: there should be a higher presence of authors for https://soundcloud.com/user-321539818/ young people on general panels. childrens-literature-pioneer-jean-little-on-the- (Presented by Sylvia McNicoll, seconded by writing-life-margaret-laurence-lecture-2016 Gisela Sherman) or you can read about her life here There was some discussion around the motion, https://www.thestar.com/news/insight/ particularly whether other genres might make 2016/06/19/jean-little-recalls-her-father-a- poem-and-a-day-that-changed-her-life.html

CANSCAIP NEWS 30 FALL 2016 Listening to Jean speak about how much she longed to get together with other writers reminded me about how lucky we were to be able to attend the Canadian Writers’ Summit. Sorry you missed the event? From June 1-4, 2017, the TWUC AGM will be held at Simon Fraser University Harbour Centre in BC. Planning is also in the works for another Canadian Writers’ Summit in Toronto, ON in 2018.

Sylvia McNicoll, Lena Coakley, Jennifer Maruno, Jocelyn Shipley

SYLVIA McNICOLL, a 25 year+ member of both TWUC and CANSCAIP, has written over 35 books. Her most recent young adult novel Best Friends Through Eternity (Tundra Books) has recently been released in Korean. Her new middle grade Great Mistake Mystery series launches in January 2017 with The Best Mistake Mystery (Dundurn Press).

CANSCAIP NEWS 31 FALL 2016 To Market, To Market No longer accepting high fantasy queries of the sword-and-sorcery variety. Send your query to by Beth Pollock [email protected] and include the word “Query” in the subject line of your e-mail. Include Please note: CANSCAIP does not screen literary the first chapter or first ten pages of your work, agencies or publishers. It is your responsibility pasted into the body of your e-mail. to research their business reputations before signing a contract. Reputable agencies and Erin Young publishers do not charge for reading, editing or Dystel & Goderich Literary Management: http:// publishing manuscripts. www.dystel.com All forms of YA and MG fiction, particularly fantasy, PUBLISHERS paranormal and magical realism. Include a cover Handprint Books Inc. letter in the body of your e-mail, along with the first 413 Sixth Avenue, Brooklyn, NY, USA 11215-3310 chapter or first 25 pages of your ms. Send an e-mail Website: www.handprintbooks.us to [email protected], or mail your query to Manuscript submissions: Board books to middle Young’s attention at Dystel & Goderich Literary grade fiction. Send a query letter with a sample of Management, One Union Square West, Suite 904, up to 7,500 words. Shorter books may be sent in New York NY, USA 10003. their entirety. Submissions should be sent as an attachment to [email protected]. Lauren Spieller Multiple submissions are accepted as long as you Triada US Literary Agency: http:// mention it in your letter. www.triadaus.com Illustration submissions: Submit jpgs or pdfs. MG and YA fiction. In MG, looking for heartfelt Total submission size to be 1.5 Mb or less. Send to contemporaries, exciting adventures, contemporary [email protected]. Alternatively, fantasy, magical realism, and light sci-fi. In YA, you may provide a link to a website containing your authentic teen voices in any genres. Especially fond illustrations. of fantasy, sci-fi and high-concept contemporaries. Email query letter and your first ten pages to Chronicle Books, Children’s [email protected] with the word QUERY in the 680 Second Street, San Francisco, California, USA subject line. 94107 Website: http://www.chroniclebooks.com/ Hannah Fergesen submissions kt literary: http://ktliterary.com Manuscripts: Fiction, non-fiction and board books, Looking for edgy speculative or contemporary YA activity kits, and other unusual or novelty formats. and MG fiction, from fantasy, mystery, horror and Picture book manuscripts may be submitted in their magical realism, to family-oriented dramas, entirety. Projects for older children should include a historical fiction, and stories dealing with query letter, synopsis, and three sample chapters. contemporary issues. Particularly attracted to Queries should be mailed to the address above; no stories with strong visuals and sharp dialogue. E- digital submissions. Please include your e-mail mail your query letter and the first three pages of address, and indicate whether this is a simultaneous your manuscript in the body of the e-mail to submission. If Chronicle is interested, they will [email protected]. Include the word respond within six months. “Query” and the title of your ms in the subject line. Please do not include any attachments. AGENTS Alyssa Jennette Stonesong Literary Agency: http://stonesong.com Children’s fiction and picture books. Prefers sophisticated middle grade, magical realism, and teen noir. Especially drawn to diverse voices, thorough world-building, and unreliable narrators.

CANSCAIP NEWS 32 FALL 2016 Gordon Korman for Masterminds Congratulations (HarperCollins) Jennifer Mook-Sang for Speechless (Scholastic) CANSCAIP Members! Kenneth Oppel for The Nest (HarperCollins) Rona Arato Philip Roy for Eco Warrior (Ronsdale Press) The Diamond Willow Award (Alberta) for The Robin Stevenson for The Summer We Saved the Last Train (Owlkids) Bees (Orca Books) Linda Bailey The Shining Willow Award (Alberta) for If Kids •Information Book Ruled the World (Kids Can Press) Tanya Lloyd Kyi for The DNA Detective (Annick Press) Becky Citra Rob Laidlaw for Elephant Journey: The True The Red Cedar Award for Finding Grace Story of Three Zoo Elephants and their Rescue (Second Story Press) from Captivity (Pajama Press) Marianne Dubuc Elizabeth MacLeod and Frieda Wishinsky for The Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Award (picture Colossal Canada: 100 Epic Facts and Feats book) for Mr. Postmouse’s Rounds (Kids Can (Scholastic Canada) Press) Michelle Mulder for Trash Talk: Moving Toward Sharon McKay a Zero-Waste World (Orca) The Hackmatack Award (fiction) for The End of Kevin Sylvester for Baseballogy: Super Cool the Line (Annick Press) Facts You Never Knew (Annick Press) Susin Nielsen The Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Award (Young SHORTLISTED for the 2017 Hackmatack Awards Adult/Middle Grade) for We Are All Made of •Fiction Molecules (Tundra) Linda Bailey for Seven Dead Pirates (Tundra Kenneth Oppel Books) The Manitoba Young Readers’ Choice Award Philippa Dowding for Miles and the Monster for The Boundless (HarperCollins) Outside (Dundurn Press) David J. Smith L.M. Falcone for The Missing Zucchini (Kids The Red Cedar Award (non-fiction) for If… A Can Press) Mind Bending Way of Looking at Big Ideas and Liam O’Donnell for Tank & Fizz, The Case of the Numbers Slime Stampede (Orca) Eric Walters The Snow Willow Award (Alberta) for The Rule •Non-Fiction of Three (Razorbill Canada) Rob Laidlaw for Elephant Journey: The True Story of Three Zoo Elephants and their Rescue SHORTLISTED for the 2017 Red Cedar Readers’ from Captivity (Pajama Press) Choice Awards Elizabeth MacLeod and Frieda Wishinsky for • Fiction Colossal Canada: 100 Epic Facts and Feats Linda Bailey for Seven Dead Pirates (Tundra) (Scholastic Canada) Sharon Jennings for Connecting Dots (Second Michelle Mulder for Trash Talk: Moving Toward Story Press) a Zero-Waste World (Orca)

CANSCAIP NEWS 33 FALL 2016 IS YOUR MAC HOLDING YOU BACK? If you’re BUSINESS BRIEFS not comfortable with your Apple computer, WRITERS-IN-RESIDENCE: Berton House your writing program and your file system, 2017-2018. Four writers will be selected to live you’re probably wasting valuable creative time and work for three months in Dawson City, and energy. Rob Morphy can help you relax Yukon, in the childhood home of renowned and get writing. One-on-one, in home (central Canadian author Pierre Berton. Writers will Toronto for now) Apple therapy. Get back to receive a $2,000 per month honorarium. work! Contact Rob at [email protected]. They will also read at the Whitehorse Public TED STAUNTON leads Writing Children’s Library and the Dawson City Community Fiction courses I and II this fall, Tuesday and Library, and engage with the local community Thursday evenings beginning in mid through writing workshops, meetings with September. Classes are held at Mabel’s Fables public and local literary groups, participation book shop. Writing I surveys all genres of kid in local events, and representing themselves lit. Writing II is a workshop for experienced and their work to local and national media. writers. Click the links below for the George Submission Deadline: October 3, 2016 Brown College Continuing Ed website: https:// (Midnight PT). Results will be announced in writing-children-s-fiction-i/ or https://writing- late January 2017. For more information visit children-s-fiction-ii/ writerstrust.com or contact: James Davies, Program Director ([email protected] or VISITING CREATORS: Librarians and teachers 1-877-906-6548 x245) interested in having author, illustrator and performer visits can check members’ pages on WRITING WORKSHOP: ANNE LAUREL CARTER the CANSCAIP website at www.canscaip.org. will be instructing Writing for Children at the University of Toronto (downtown) Tuesdays FREELANCE EDITOR: Kathryn Cole, former 6:30 to 9 pm, October 16 to December 6 (no children’s book publisher at Oxford University class November 8). Workshop with other Press and Stoddart Kids, and more recently writers as you study and acquire tools to draft Editorial Director at Tundra Books, is now and polish a successful picture book, middle working as a free-lance consultant and editor. grade or YA novel. Register at: She can be reached at [email protected]. learn.utoronto.ca. See also MANUSCRIPT EVALUATION and COACHING: www.annelaurelcarter.com Written a first draft and need feedback? Need a BOOK TRAILERS: Bring your stories to life for line-by-line edit? Completed an outline, a first your prospective readers with a book trailer. chapter and a last chapter, but don’t know Videographer Tim Clark will create a where to go from there? Playing with a half- professional, 1 to 3 minute trailer for a story in written manuscript that you’re not sure merits any genre. Watch his trailer for The Choice by your continued efforts? If your manuscript is Kathy Clark which was named video of the aimed at a child or teen audience and you’re week on the Open Book website. Contact Tim looking for some honest and practical at [email protected]. feedback, Susan Hughes can help. Get in touch with her at [email protected] SEMINARS: For information about PWAC or refer to her website for more information: (Professional Writers Association of Canada)’s www.susanhughes.ca. 2016-2017 seminars on freelance writing see www.networds.ca.

CANSCAIP NEWS 34 FALL 2016 CANSCAIP NEWS 35 FALL 2016 Return Undeliverable Canadian Addresses to: CANSCAIP, 720 Bathurst St., Unit 503, Toronto, ON M5S 2R4 416-515-1559 offi[email protected] www.canscaip.org CANSCAIP News A quarterly bulletin of the Canadian Society of Authors, Illustrators and Performers La Société canadienne des auteurs, illustrateurs et artistes pour enfants Volume 38, No. 3 – Fall 2016

The CANSCAIP Executive CANSCAIP News ELECTED EXECUTIVE MEMBERS President SHARON JENNINGS Editor BARBARA GREENWOOD Vice President Lena Coakley Contributors Anne Laurel Carter Past President Bill Swan Sharon Jennings Treasurer Maureen McGowan Elizabeth MacLeod Member at Large Patsy McKinnon Sylvia McNicoll Friend at Large Lorna Poplak Gillian O’Reilly Monique Polak APPOINTED EXECUTIVE MEMBERS Beth Pollock Alice Priestly Recording Secretary Bev Katz Rosenbaum Front Page Logo Variation Karen Patkau Program Committee Heather Camlot Newsletter Production Rob Morphy Theo Heras Catherine Rondina Patricia Storms Illustrators’ Reps Holly Main Siggy Pattinson Membership Committee Yolande Hirdaramani Holly Main Michelle Nidenoff Listserv Manager Marsha Skrypuch Social Media Coordinator Melanie Fishbane Packaging Your Imagination Heather Camlot Joyce Grant Jennifer Maruno Administrative Director Helena Aalto

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CANSCAIP NEWS 36 FALL 2016