Philippa Dowding's Blog - Posts Tagged "myles-and-the-monster-outside"

Well, it's happened. That golden orb in the sky has melted the last three feet of snow on my front lawn, finally. And today for the first time in 6 months, it's warm and sunny.

Spring always makes me creative.

I write most days for 4 or 5 hours, but one can't just sit and write all day, can one? When I get up and wander around to eat, or pet the dog, or make tea, I also pass three or four guitar-playing spots in my house, and grab an instrument to play for 5 or 10 minutes.

I've recorded a little bit, lately. SO, here is my first recorded piece in about a year: Spring. Listen, enjoy, walk in the sunshine (and download it free if you like).

https://soundcloud.com/phdowding/spri...

The cover art for the track is from my forthcoming title, Myles and the Monster Outside, with thanks to the illustrator, Shawna Daigle.

Review copies now available!

If you'd like to review Myles and the Monster Outside, my newest creepy middle grade horror story and book 2 in the Weird Stories Gone Wrong series, you can now request an E/ARC on NetGalley: https://s2.netgalley.com/catalog/book...

You can also request a traditional print ARC from my publisher, Dundurn Press. Here's a longer blog post with more info and a very cute review for book 1 in the series, Jake and the Giant Hand, from a grade 4 reviewer: http://phdowding.blogspot.ca/2015/05/...

Enjoy!

"A carefully written Goosebumps ... a shivery spook tale."

Well, thank you Kirkus Reviews for the nice things you wrote about Myles and the Monster Outside, my forthcoming book from Dundurn Press (Sept. 2015). This is book 2 in the Weird Stories Gone Wrong series, following big brother Jake and the Giant Hand (Sept. 2014).

My children read R.L. Stine until our books fell apart, so to be compared to the classic middle-grade horror franchise of Goosebumps is a real honour, thank you!

Here's a longer blog post about the review:
http://phdowding.blogspot.ca/2015/07/...

Here is Myles and the Monster Outside on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

The book E/ARC is up on NetGalley here if you're a member and care to peruse: https://s2.netgalley.com/catalog/book...

Enjoy!

I love the blue summer sky outside my office window these days. The blue of August, the blue sky of summer without smog, which we've have very little of these days since the coal-powered generating stations were closed a few years ago.

Blue, blue, blue, I'm inspired by you!

Which is likely why I picked blue for the background for the Myles and the Monster Outside book trailer. It's book 2 in the Weird Stories Gone Wrong series, and the 6 creepy illustrations are by the very talented Shawna Daigle. The strange guitar music is my composition, me playing it.

Here's the book trailer, enjoy the blue: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oyVz...

My new middle-grade horror story, Myles and the Monster Outside, is starting to pop up on blog posts and reviewing sites, many thanks to everyone who takes the time to read and review this strange, paranormal thriller for kids.

My #1 lesson learned from writing this book was how to be spooky without being too spooky, since this is for kids from ages 8-12.

The answer was pretty clear: LOVE your monster. Give it a personality, a quirk that the main character can count on (my monster has an eerie whisper which eventually becomes grating).

So yes, love your monster. This is a lesson I learned early in my career, when I was lucky enough to take a script-writing seminar with the great Robert McKee. http://mckeestory.com/

He talked about the moment in the movie Young Frankenstein, when Peter Boyle (Frankenstein's monster), looks in the mirror before taking the stage at Carnegie Hall, and tips his hat to himself.

There you have it: monster love. What's not compelling about a monster who loves his own reflection?

I'll be writing more about this in the weeks ahead, and the run up to Halloween and the publication date for my new book, but in the meantime, have a look at some of the fantastic monster-love from Shawna Daigle, who illustrated Myles and the Monster Outside:

http://phdowding.blogspot.ca/2015/08/...

And the book trailer features even more monster love!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oyVz...

BOO! In honour of the release of my newest middle-grade book in the Weird Stories Gone Wrong series, Myles and the Monster Outside, here are two spooky Halloween Happenings:

Draw your Monster Contest: Enter to win 1 of 5 copies of the book, just draw a Halloween monster. All entries get a Weird Stories Gone Wrong bookmark! More details here: http://phdowding.blogspot.ca/2015/10/...

Goodreads Giveaway: Five copies are up for grabs! Giveaway is open to US and Canadian readers and ends October 22. https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sh...

And here's the book trailer, just for fun: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oyVz...

Thank you OpenBook Toronto for selecting the Book Trailer for my new book, Myles and the Monster Outside, as their new Video of the Week!

I love the intro too, apparently I have a "signature charm" -- how nice!

Here's the Video of the Week:

http://www.openbooktoronto.com/video/...

Thanks OpenBook Toronto!

The Draw your Monster Contest is in full swing and kids at 4 participating libraries across the GTA are drawing their monsters, weird and wonderful as they are, in time for Halloween.

Winners will receive 1 of 20 copies of my latest book, Myles and the Monster Outside: Weird Stories Gone Wrong, plus all entries receive a bookmark.

Check out my other blog for how to enter, plus take a look at some of the monstrous entries, they're awesome.

http://phdowding.blogspot.ca/2015/10/...

"Strange events transpire that will keep the reader turning pages with bated breath. Mixing colorful, descriptive imagery with plentiful dialogue, Dowding creates an excitingly spooky tale. Add Daigle's ghostly drawings, and readers will be enthralled with this second novel in the Weird Stories Gone Wrong Series."
--American Library Association Booklist Review, Dec. 3, 2015

Wow! Thank you ALA for this amazing review for my new book Myles and the Monster Outside (2015). Here's a longer blog post if you'd like to read more: http://phdowding.blogspot.ca/2015/12/...

"I really liked this book because it is full of mystery, action, adventure and scary parts...I also like how the book starts because it really catches the reader’s interest right away. I would recommend this book for anyone who likes ghost stories and mysteries." [Brennen, 11, Grade 6]

What a fabulous review from a middle-grade reviewer at Canadian Teacher Magazine, thank you! I'd just like to point out that the only other books reviewed by middle-graders in the current issue (they get to choose their favourites to review, apparently) are two books by Eric Walters (Sleeper and Innocent). I'm in fabulous company!

Read the complete review here: http://www.canadianteachermagazine.co...