Jan L. Coates's Blog, page 11

Access Copyright Foundation = Opportunities for Writers

Thanks to a grant from the Access Copyright Foundation, I’ll be living in old town Lunenburg for the month of August and researching the arrival of the first Lunenburg settlers (French Huguenots from Montbeliard) in the 1750s. I’ve received support from ACF one time before when they gave me a grant to attend the Carver/Stinson writing retreat in Port Joli. Grants are hard to come by, and I’m feeling lucky to have their support for researching this project.

My Menegaux (Mingo) family arrived in Nova Scotia originally in 1752, but as far as I can tell, they then moved to Philadelphia for a few decades before returning in the very early 1800s and settling in the River John area. I have a clay jug that came to Canada with those original settlers, and I’ve always wanted to write a novel, maybe inspired by that jug, somehow connecting a kid today with those original ancestors. I’m planning to dig deep, visit all the local museums, and hope that somebody will introduce me to an expert in the area of the “Foreign Protestants”, as they came to be known.  I’m so curious to see what random bits and pieces I’ll stumble upon that will spark my interest and ignite the story.  It won’t be the story of my actual relatives, but rather of the original inhabitants of Lunenburg, many of whom still have descendants living in the Lunenburg area. Wish me luck!

Do you have a story you’ve always wanted to write?

Booksellers + Volunteers = Happy Writers

I had a chance to talk about The Power of Harmony at the Atlantic Booksellers Conference on the weekend. Rather than read from the book, I talked a bit about how I’ve spent most of my life writing the book (to steal a thought from Kathy Stinson), since it had its origins in the 1960s on my elementary school playground in Truro, NS. Besides three other authors, the group attending the breakfast meeting were all dedicated and friendly booksellers, either retail or wholesale, and it was great to meet Sonya Gillis, Fitzhenry & Whiteside’s Atlantic sales rep. I SO appreciate all the things these booksellers do which enable me (and everybody else) to continue being a writer!

This weekend, I’ll be one of three WordPlay authors reading and giving workshops at Read by the Sea in beautiful, charming River John, NS.

I’ll be doing a workshop on “Character Craft” for middle-grade readers; Jackie Halsey and Vicki Grant will lead workshops for younger and older readers. There’s also an adult component, and the adult authors this year include Vincent Lam, Martina Endicott, Phil Hall and Rebecca Silver Slayter.  This annual festival is completely run by volunteers (with financial help from sponsors including Canada Council), and it’s a nice opportunity to get out and be part of the literary community – events include readings and picnics, and I’m looking forward to meeting some new people, staying at the lovely Tatamagouche Centre and maybe doing some beach strolling. The volunteers I’ve communicated with via email have been incredibly attentive and accommodating, and it’s so great when committed, dedicated people work together to make these festivals happen year after year. Cheers to them! Stop by if you’re in the area this weekend!

What’s your book about? Not an easy question to answer…

I don’t know about other writers, but I cringe when I’m asked this question.  I guess I’m just not very good at condensing 240 pages down into a couple of glowing sentences, but here’s the jacket copy from The Power of Harmony, which gives a thumbnail sketch of the book: The Power of Harmony, jacket

I’ve been busy putting up posters and hounding people to come to my launches on June 8th and 11th – if you’re reading this, I really hope to see you – cupcakes and smiles at The Box of Delights in Wolfville at 11:00 am on the 8th, and “lunch” (courtesy of The Springhill Heritage Group) and LIVE MUSIC at the Springhill Miners Memorial Library on the 11th at 6:30 pm.

Happy Book Birthday to THE POWER OF HARMONY!

Let the nail-biting begin! I finally got my hands on a copy of The Power of Harmony yesterday – Mitzi from The Box of Delights book store was kind enough to lend me a copy while I’m waiting for my author copies to arrive.

I’ve decided having a new book is a lot like sending one of your kids off to their first day of kindergarten – you’re excited and happy (because of all that “free” time), but at the same time, totally terrified! Will the other kids like him? Will your kid behave himself and make you proud? Will all the strangers be friendly and kind? And if not, will your kid be be strong enough to cope and stand on his own two feet?

Despite this terror, I’m looking forward to my launches – in Wolfville on June 8th, and in Springhill (where the novel is set) on June 11th. Hope to see some of you there!

The Power of Harmony – the trailer

Whenever I get frustrated trying to find the right words to tell a story, or when the story stubbornly refuses to move ahead (like today!), I’m thankful I didn’t decide to take up film instead of writing.  This two-minute video took me MUCH more time than it should have, but I hope it captures the essence of The Power of Harmony – coming soon!

Great(er) Expectations

Not of the Charles Dickens variety, and definitely NOT of the baby variety.  But after mulling and stewing for a few weeks, I’ve finally started a new project, and, as always – I have great expectations.  A huge part of the writing process is giving birth to a whole cast of new characters, young, old and in-between. I remember the first time I heard an experienced writer describe hearing the voice of her character for the first time – her description went something like this: “I was sitting at the table, and he just came over, sat down across from me and we chatted.”

At the time, I was a highly-sceptical novice, and I’d never had that kind of out-there writing experience.  Now that I have a few full-length manuscripts under my belt, I understand what that author meant.  There has to be a moment when your characters become real 3D people to you, or the writing just won’t flow. You can’t tell somebody’s story until you get to know that person, until you can hear their words and perceive the world as they would. In other words, you need to try to detach yourself from the story and make it completely your character’s story.

I’ve just finished reading Susan Patron’s Hard Pan trilogy – The Higher Power of Lucky won the Newbery Medal a few years back. It’s so obvious that the author knew Lucky (and the other Hard Pan residents) inside and out, and that’s part of what makes them such wonderful books. The author’s voice is rarely, if ever, evident. That’s a skill I’m still working on…

Jacob’s hard at work in Duk Padiet these days and has posted a few pictures on the Wadeng Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/WadengWingsOfHope These future students are proudly modelling Wadeng t-shirts (and no doubt, helping with the building:) I’m sure Jacob’s family here in Nova Scotia is missing him terribly, but proud of him at the same time – me, too!

Wish I’d written that…

Do you ever find yourself deeply absorbed in a book when, all of a sudden, you have to stop, back up and re-read a phrase, a sentence, or even an entire paragraph? And I’m not talking about forgetting what you just finished reading! Sometimes I read something so profound, or so insightful and deftly written that I have to re-read, make sure it really was as perfect as I thought it was.  Here are a few examples of writing that’s stopped me in my tracks lately (not coincidentally by some of my fav writers):

a) A Prayer for Owen Meany (John Irving)

I am doomed to remember a boy with a wrecked voice – not because of his voice, or because he was the smallest person I ever knew, or even because he was the instrument of my mother’s death, but because he is the reason I believe in God; I am a Christian because of Owen Meany.

b) Because of Winn-Dixie (Kate DiCamillo)

My name is India Opal Buloni, and last summer my daddy, the preacher, sent me to the store for a box of macaroni-and-cheese, some white rice, and two tomatoes and I came back with a dog.

 I thought about my Mama. Thinking about her was the same as the hole you keep on feeling with your tongue after you lose a tooth. Time after time, my mind kept going to that empty spot, the spot where I felt like she should be. 

c) Counting Stars (David Almond)

It happened so long ago I can’t even be sure it happened as I say it did. Stories change in the telling, memory makes up as much as it knows. We were very small. The things we saw were all mixed up with the things we dreamed and the things we were scared of.

In other news, Jacob’s on the ground in South Sudan this month, meeting with building contractors and looking to begin the construction of his school – he’s been working hard on this for years through his foundation, Wadeng Wings of Hope, and has spoken to thousands of people in his fundraising efforts. I’m happy that sales of A Hare in the Elephant’s Trunk have contributed a few bricks to his dream. Such an exciting time! I hope Jacob’s mom, Adau (Heaven), is watching over him:)

Read anything amazing lately? Please share!

“There is no friend as loyal as a book.” Ernest Hemingway (well, maybe my dog)

A writing friend sent me this sweet picture of her granddaughter reading RAINBOWS, and it got me thinking about the importance of certain books in my own life.  In particular, the books I remember from being a kid.  My sister and I had a long discussion this summer about a book we both remembered well – well, everything except for the title!  She spent an evening tracking the book down as a Christmas gift for me, and here it is:

I don’t remember exactly why it was such a favourite, but I think it had something to do with wishing we could have a sweet cozy house in the woods built for our family, or maybe it was because the kids seemed to have such a perfect life among the animals since we had a short-lived Nature Club once upon a time:) Maybe this book is also why I’ve always been a fan of old-fashioned illustrations (these are by Eloise Wilkin).

I always browse through the books when I visit used clothing stores, and I came upon this one the other day, which I picked up for $1.50:

When I Googled it today, I discovered there are many versions, but this is the one we used to own, with illustrations from 1962. I had a baby sister die in 1967, so it’s easy to see why this became a favourite in my family as we struggled with the concepts of angels, heaven, etc. In fact, I continue to struggle with those concepts – this will become obvious when THE POWER OF HARMONY comes out this spring…

As a kids’ writer, my primary goal is to create something kids will like, a story that will speak to them on some level, and maybe even become part of their childhood memory libraries, a lofty goal indeed. What picture books spring to mind as your childhood favourites?  Can you remember why they were your favourites? I think I’m about 14 in the header picture above – pretty sure my Nana P’s hidden Harlequins were my favs then…

Old Friends and Grown-up Kids

My favorite part of the holidays is getting to spend time with friends I don’t see very often – don’t know how it happened, but all of a sudden many of them are old friends, friends I’ve had for 25+ years (although, of course, WE are NOT OLD!)  Now that Liam and Shannon are adults (the picture is from 2006, I think), so are their friends, and it’s a treat to see young adults I once knew as babies and little kids  - and they’re nice people, “well brought up”, as they say. A credit to their parents, many of whom are also our friends. As they finish school and scatter, we’ll continue to have our annual party on the 23rd, just to stay in touch, keep connected.

Wolfville has a community Christmas dinner, like lots of communities; a chance for anybody and everybody to share a meal and be together. I hope all of you have a friend (or two) to share the holidays with, and that you have a supportive community to feel part of, during the Christmas season, and all year long. I wish you peace, warmth and love, and I hope that 2013 will be kind to you and yours!

Cape Sable Island

Rainbow Lobsters!

I got to take a couple of days off from editing “The Power of Harmony” this week to visit Cape Sable Island. I was doing a W.I.T.S. visit at Clark’s Harbour School – which has students from primary to grade three! I didn’t know such schools still existed, but it’s wonderful! Students from grades 4-6 also go to school on the Island, just up the road. An interesting way to deal with declining enrolment and still keep two small schools open.

Carter’s Beach (Port Mouton)

Everything was LOBSTER, as the season had just started a couple of days earlier. I’ve never spent time in a fishing community, and it seemed like everybody was associated with the industry in some way.  The kids were great, and so were the teachers. I drove around the entire Island on my way home, and it’s beautiful – reminds me of Newfoundland (although I’ve never been to Nfld – yet).

I travelled down a few back roads, one of which led to Carter’s Beach (Central Port Mouton) – it’s always an odd experience to be alone on a gorgeous sandy beach, especially on a brisk day. A day when, as someone said yesterday, the “wind is very thin” (as in so thin it slips right in between your buttons, the collar of your coat, etc.) Some day I hope to get around to setting a story somewhere on the coast of Nova Scotia. If you’ve never made it down to Barrington, then across the causeway to Cape Sable Island, I highly recommend it – it’s the kind of place other people picture when you say you’re from Nova Scotia:)

Wonder if Sobey’s is paying the lobster fishers the $3/pound I read about today

silent watchers