Debbie Ridpath Ohi's Blog, page 64
June 2, 2015
#BookADay: This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki (Groundwood/House Of Anansi)
[image error]
#BookADay: THIS ONE SUMMER written by Mariko Tamaki, illustrated by Jillian Tamaki (Groundwood Books/House Of Anansi, 2014). Bought this at The Beguiling Books & Art a while back after hearing it won the Governor General's Award for Children's Illustration. I found that the book perfectly captured the feeling of summer in both the text and illustration (the latter made me swoon) and there were so many "omigosh I have so felt like that" small and not-so-small moments of truth throughout.
From the publisher's synopsis:
"Rose and Windy are summer friends whose families have visited Awago Beach for as long as they can remember. But this year is different, and they soon find themselves tangled in teen love and family crisis. From the creators of Skim comes an investigation into the mysterious world of adults.
"Sure, Rose’s dad is still making cheesy and embarrassing jokes, but her mother is acting like she doesn’t even want to be there. Plus, being at the cottage isn’t just about going to the beach anymore. Now Rose and Windy are spending a lot of their time renting scary movies and spying on the teenagers who work at the corner store, as well as learning stuff about sex no one mentioned in health class.
"Pretty soon everything is messed up. Rose’s father leaves the cottage and returns to the city, and her mother becomes more and more withdrawn. While her family is falling to pieces, Rose focuses her attention on Dunc, a teenager working at the local corner store. When Jenny, Dunc’s girlfriend, claims to be pregnant, the girls realize that the teenagers are keeping just as many secrets as the adults in their lives.
"No one seems to want to talk about the things that matter. When the tension between Dunc and Jenny boils over, Jenny makes a desperate and destructive move and Rose's mother is galvanized into action. In the aftermath, nothing is completely resolved, but secrets have been aired, which means that things are at least a bit better for everyone. For Rose and Windy, the end of summer brings the realization that, while Awago Beach might always be the same, they have both been changed forever.
From Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki, creators of the multi-award-winning graphic novel Skim, comes a stunning and authentic story of friendship, illustrated with subtly heart-breaking moments and pure summer joy."
---------------------
More info: Donalyn Miller's Summer Book-A-Day Challenge | Archives of my #BookADay posts.
June 1, 2015
Three Questions With Karen Krossing: Advice For Young Writers, BOG Crystal Kite Award and PUNCH LIKE A GIRL
Karen Krossing wrote poetry and rants as a teen and dreamed of becoming a published writer. Today, she’s the author of seven successful novels for kids and teens, and she conducts writing workshops to empower emerging writers. Her latest is Punch Like a Girl (Orca, 2015).
I met Karen through Torkidlit and CANSCAIP, and have been a fan of her work ever since I read The Yo-Yo Prophet (Orca Books). You can read my mini-review, plus her book inspired one of my daily doodles:
I love Karen's positive outlook and her support of other children's/YA writers, especially in the Canadian publishing industry. Her Twitter feed (@karenkrossing) is one of my favourites; to authors out there looking for great examples of how to use social media, I strongly encourage you to follow Karen's feed!
You can check out Karen’s website or find her on Twitter or Facebook. To watch her book trailers, go here.
About Punch Like A Girl (Orca Publishers, 2015):
"Nobody understands why Tori has suddenly become so moody and violent. When she attacks a stranger in a store, she ends up doing community service at a shelter for victims of domestic violence. There, she bonds with a little girl named Casey, but when Casey is abducted while in Tori’s care, Tori is racked with guilt, certain that she should have been able to prevent the abduction. During the search for Casey, Tori comes face to face with an ex-boyfriend who sexually assaulted her at a party. Only when she speaks out about the assault is she able to begin to heal."
Q. Could you please take a photo of something in your office and tell us the story behind it?
These fun-loving characters remind me to find the joy in writing. Although writing can be grueling and seemingly impossible at times, it also surprises and delights me when I persevere through trouble spots.
Q. What advice do you have for young writers?
Be an immovable force. My middle-grade novel Bog took ten years from conception to published book. I lost my way and doubted my story many times, but I never stopped trying.
Q. What are you excited about right now?
I’m thrilled that Bog just won the 2015 SCBWI Crystal Kite Award in the Canada division! It's particularly important to me because this is a peer-given award, voted on by members of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. (From Debbie: see Karen's blog post announcement.)
I'm also excited about my current work-in-progress. I'm one-third done a first draft of a new novel, and I’m eager to see how it’ll turn out. Will I pull off the ending I’m aiming for? Will readers like my protagonist? I can’t wait to find out.
------
For more interviews, see my Inkygirl Interview Archive.
May 29, 2015
Three Questions With Russ Cox: Advice For Young Writers and Illustrators, Tigers and debut author/illustrator picture book FARAWAY FRIENDS
I first met Russ Cox through our mutual friend Hazel Mitchell, when we were both members of Pixel Shavings. I've been grateful to Russ for his encouragement and support, especially his tips re: Photoshop and Painter. He's one of the nicest people you could hope to meet. Plus check out the WONDERFUL and uncannily accurate drawing he sent me after I admired it online (and said it looked like me in younger days):
Russ lives in Maine with his wife and 4 furry art directors. When not creating children’s books, he enjoys playing the banjo, moose juggling, and debating Einstein’s theory that the speed of light is constant (only one of those is true). You can find Russ at his website, Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, Google+ and Tumblr.
Synopsis of FARAWAY FRIENDS:
Faraway Friends is about Sheldon, a would be astronaut, and his sidekick Jet, who are looking for a lost friend through a space adventure only to find a weird alien creature and its furry friend.
1. Could you please take a photo of something in your office and tell us the story behind it?
I have lots of knicknacks in my studio that I like to look at but this little tiger might be the best thing I have in it. It was made for me by the super talented Jennifer Carson as a surprise gift. She made it from a doodle I posted:
[image error]
I was stunned when she handed it to me at a NESCBWI conference a few years ago. I smile every time I see it. I think I will call him Otis.
2. What advice do you have for young writers and illustrators?
Being an illustrator for a very long time, I am rather new to the writing end of the book world. The few things I have learned are:
Don’t be afraid to put words to paper. Okay, this is one that I am still working on but I’m getting more comfortable with each attempt I make. I come from an illustration background so writing is outside my comfort zone. It was you, Debbie, who started me on this path after telling me to write a story from a doodle I shared. That nudge and doodle turned into Faraway Friends.
Share your stories with a few people or join a critique group. The fresh eyes and ears can help you find problem areas in your writing, and act as a great support network when the self doubt and fear start creeping in.
Embrace rejection. It is okay to hear “no thank you”. It helps light that creative fire and you learn from it. Faraway Friends received a bunch of rejections before finding a home. Not everyone is going to love your story.
Turn off the modern world and go outside. There are stories outside your house and studio waiting to be heard and told.
3. What are you excited about right now?
I am really excited about doing some promotional events for Faraway Friends. I am in the midst of scheduling signings, festivals, and school visits for the summer and fall.
The projects on my drawing table at the moment are a book series for Penguin Random House called Puppy Pirates (written by Erin Soderbergh Downing) that I am illustrating . This has been a ton of fun to do. The first two books will be released this summer and the other two in the fall. I am also writing some new picture book stories and have begun putting together a graphic novel. That reminds me, time to turn off the computer and head outside.
------
For more interviews, see my Inkygirl Interview Archive.
May 28, 2015
Productivity tip for writers: see how long you can stay offline
Know the difference between actually being productive and the illusion of productivity, especially when you're online.
#BookADay: SHADOW CHASERS by Elly McKay (Running Press)
[image error]
#BookADay: SHADOW CHASERS by Elly McKay ( Theater Clouds on FB), published by Running Press. I love Elly's absolutely gorgeous paper-theater lightbox illustrations.
Synopsis: "Once evening paints the summer sky, shadows will come out to play. You must move fast, because as quickly as the wind blows, the shadows will be on their way. Chasing after our hopes and dreams may take many tries before we finally catch them. This magical nighttime story shows that the journey is just as remarkable as the destination."
Elly's new BUTTERFLY PARK just came out from Running Press!
You can find Elly on Etsy, on Twitter , on her website.
More about SHADOW CHASERS on the Running Press website.
---------------------
More info: Donalyn Miller's Summer Book-A-Day Challenge | Archives of my #BookADay posts.
May 26, 2015
#BookADay: WON TON AND CHOPSTICK by Lee Wardlaw and Eugene Yelchin (Henry Holt).
Today's #BookADay: WON TON AND CHOPSTICK, written by Lee Wardlaw, illustrated by Eugene Yelchin (Henry Holt).
Synopsis: "Won Ton cat's purrfect life with his boy is changed forever when the family adopts a (gasp!) puppy." More about the book, including a Teacher's Guide & Activity Kit. Lee was kind enough to answer Three Questions for me on Inkygirl.
---------------------
More info: Donalyn Miller's Summer Book-A-Day Challenge | Archives of my #BookADay posts.
WHERE ARE MY BOOKS? Book Tour recap
I had a FANTASTIC time during my WHERE ARE MY BOOKS? Book Tour earlier this month. Thanks to Simon & Schuster Children's for making the book tour possible for me, and to all the schools, libraries and bookstores who participated.
For those interested, I've posted links to my photos and recap at DebbieOhi.com/2015booktour, including what I learned along the way.
May 25, 2015
#BookADay: FOX AND SQUIRREL MAKE A FRIEND by Ruth Ohi (my sister!!), published by Scholastic Canada
#BookADay: FOX AND SQUIRREL MAKE A FRIEND by my awesome sis, Ruth Ohi (published by Scholastic Canada). This was a "Best Books" selection by the The Canadian Children's Book Centre and a "First and Best" Toronto Public Library Selection!
"Is there room for someone else in Fox and Squirrel's friendship? Fox and Squirrel are the best of friends. But when Yellow Bird comes along, he and Squirrel frolic high up in the treetops where Fox can't reach. Fox feels like Squirrel doesn't need him anymore. Can Squirrel help Fox see that there's room in their friendship for another?
The simple text and joyful art together deliver a heartwarming tale with a subtle but profound message about the strengths of friendship, loyalty, and acceptance."
More about my sister and her school visits: http://RuthOhi.com
More about the book: http://www.scholastic.ca/…/v…/fox-and-squirrel-make-a-friend
---------------------
More info: Donalyn Miller's Summer Book-A-Day Challenge | Archives of my #BookADay posts.
May 24, 2015
#BookADay | YOU NEST HERE WITH ME by Jane Yolen, Heidi Stemple and Melissa Sweet (Boyds Mill)
Heidi and Jane were kind enough to answer Three Questions for me earlier this year:
Three Questions With Jane Yolen: Advice For Young Writers, Books, Tea and YOU NEST HERE WITH ME
Three Questions With Heidi Stemple: Advice For Young Writers, Owls and YOU NEST HERE WITH ME
---------------------
More info: Donalyn Miller's Summer Book-A-Day Challenge | Archives of my #BookADay posts.
