Cary Fagan's Blog, page 2

When in Rome

My brother Lawrence sent me this photograph of himself in his favourite bookstore in Rome, holding copies of "The Big Swim" and "Jacob Two-Two on the High Seas" in Italian. That's "Mr. Karp's Last Glass" under his arm. My brother, who speaks Italian, can actually read them.

'The Old World'

My new story collection, "The Old World," has just been published by House of Anansi. Here are 35 short stories, each inspired by an old black-and-white photograph. I nervously enjoyed being the subject of interviews in the "Toronto Star" and on CBC Radio's "The Next Chapter." Here are some comments from the first reviews: "Charming, Funny, and sad." National Post "[A] magnificent new collection. This is Fagan at the top of his game. Simply put, he's a master storyteller." Canadian Jewish news

CCBN interview

Here's a little interview in the 'Canadian Children's Book News Newsletter' about my two new kids' books. * http://bookcentre.ca/publications/new...

Busted Pencil

Here's a nice review of 'What I learned in Florida' in 'Broken Pencil.' Did someone ask whether copies were still available? Why, yes they are. **http://www.brokenpencil.com/news/chap...

Two days in Atlanta

Here I am at the Tundra Books booth, American Library Association Conference, signing books for an impressive line-up of dedicated children's librarians. I met people who work in libraries all over the U.S. and as far away as India. I'm signing 'Little Blue Chair,' the new picture book. I was very happy to find out that Madeline Kloepper, the wonderful young illustrator, has won the inaugural May Cutler Emerging Artist of the Year Award for the book. The late May Cutler, who I interviewed back in about 1985, founded Tundra Books fifty years ago.

First reviews for 'Wolfie and Fly'

Publisher's Weekly (Starred Review): "A promising first outing for this memorable odd couple." * City Parent: [A] classic story of imagination, friendship and adventure told by a master." * Reviews in Chalk: "Splendid beginning for a series! Renata is so lovable in her own way...I am already looking forward to more Wolfie and Fly's adventures."

New course: Writing Picture Books

On January 30 I start my course on writing picture books for University of Toronto Continuing Education. The location is at College and St. George. I love teaching this course and the participants are always passionate and interesting. So if you need some help kickstarting the creative impulse of yours, or finishing a manuscript, please join us. * http://learn.utoronto.ca/interactive-...

What I'm Reading Now

"For that moment, she only knew the empty ache beside her, the void where her sister was supposed to be." -Katherena Vermette, The Break

Indie Book Fair

We had fun yesterday standing, leaning, slouching, and sitting behind our table at the Meet the Presses Indie Book Fair in Toronto. We (me, Rebecca Comay, Bernard Kelly) were there for our chapbook press, espresso. I picked up a nice haul of small books and chapbooks, which you can see in the third photo. (The first two were taken by Bernard.) We ourselves sold 30 books, which was quite satisfactory. The owner of a new bookstore in Dundas Ontario, The Printed Word, bought copies of all our titles for his store. We wish this brave young man much luck and hope to visit it in the not too-too distant future.

Jarrett Lerner on 'Danny Who Fell in a Hole'

The writer Jarrett Lerner has posted a review of 'Danny Who Fell in the Hole' that is the most thoughtful response to the book I've seen. My thanks to him. You can read it at https://jarrettlerner.com/2016/10/13/....