Philippa Dowding's Blog, page 12
May 18, 2015
Your book got me through a terrible winter...
... and other top moments from the Ontario Library Association Forest of Trees in Toronto on May 12th, 2015.
Thank you for the Red Maple nomination, OLA. Although my book, The Strange Gift of Gwendolyn Golden, didn't win, it hardly mattered. It was such an honour to meet the other authors, the librarians, teachers and amazing young readers ... the nomination honestly does feel like winning.
Here's a longer blog post about top moments from the Forest of Reading 2015, with photos: http://phdowding.blogspot.ca/2015/05/...
Thank you for the Red Maple nomination, OLA. Although my book, The Strange Gift of Gwendolyn Golden, didn't win, it hardly mattered. It was such an honour to meet the other authors, the librarians, teachers and amazing young readers ... the nomination honestly does feel like winning.
Here's a longer blog post about top moments from the Forest of Reading 2015, with photos: http://phdowding.blogspot.ca/2015/05/...
May 7, 2015
Forest of Reading is Next Week!
It's happening next week folks!
The Ontario Library Association Forest of Reading celebration is coming to the Harbourfront centre in Toronto. It's been such an honour that my book, The Strange Gift of Gwendolyn Golden, has been a Red Maple 2015 nominee. I've met hundreds of readers at events and school talks, and I also travelled to Thunder Bay last week for the first of the four main celebrations.
So next week, May 12th, is the end of a full winter of reading for tens of thousands of Ontario kids who have read, enjoyed and voted on their favourite Canadian book in four categories: Blue Spruce (kids in k-grade 2), Silver Birch (grades 3-6), Red Maple (grades 7-8), and White Pine (grades 9-12).
The party starts at 10:00 at Harbourfront centre, and I'll be there, enjoying the fun for the third time. I'm so lucky, and so honoured. Wish Gwendolyn and I luck!
Here's a blog post with pictures from Thunder Bay last week: http://phdowding.blogspot.ca/2015/05/...
The Ontario Library Association Forest of Reading celebration is coming to the Harbourfront centre in Toronto. It's been such an honour that my book, The Strange Gift of Gwendolyn Golden, has been a Red Maple 2015 nominee. I've met hundreds of readers at events and school talks, and I also travelled to Thunder Bay last week for the first of the four main celebrations.
So next week, May 12th, is the end of a full winter of reading for tens of thousands of Ontario kids who have read, enjoyed and voted on their favourite Canadian book in four categories: Blue Spruce (kids in k-grade 2), Silver Birch (grades 3-6), Red Maple (grades 7-8), and White Pine (grades 9-12).
The party starts at 10:00 at Harbourfront centre, and I'll be there, enjoying the fun for the third time. I'm so lucky, and so honoured. Wish Gwendolyn and I luck!
Here's a blog post with pictures from Thunder Bay last week: http://phdowding.blogspot.ca/2015/05/...
April 13, 2015
Spring sprung outta my guitar
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.
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.
March 27, 2015
Got a writer in your midst?
This spring I've been invited by the Toronto Public Library to run 4 one-hour writing workshops for children aged 8-12.
My workshop is called "Be the Beanstalk: Grow a Story." Read more here: http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/de...
Thank you TPL, I cannot wait to see what writing mischief the kids and I get up to!
The Sophie's Writing Workshops are free but registration is required, so don't wait to register since space fills up fast. I'm not the only author running a workshop. Check out the whole list here, and give a budding author a boost! http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/se...
My workshop is called "Be the Beanstalk: Grow a Story." Read more here: http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/de...
Thank you TPL, I cannot wait to see what writing mischief the kids and I get up to!
The Sophie's Writing Workshops are free but registration is required, so don't wait to register since space fills up fast. I'm not the only author running a workshop. Check out the whole list here, and give a budding author a boost! http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/se...
March 12, 2015
Why fight when you can just float away?
"It's not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept and celebrate those differences."
--Audre Lorde
In a few weeks the grade 7 and 8 students of Ontario will be voting on their favourite Red Maple books for the Ontario Library Association Forest of Trees. Somewhere around 5,000 kids have read at least 5 of the 10 books on the list (which is here if you'd like to see what they're up to!) http://maple.bibliocommons.com/
This week, a teacher or perhaps a student pulled together a wonderful and very thoughtful slide video comparing my Red Maple book, The Strange Gift of Gwendolyn Golden and a non-fiction book by Niki Walker, Why do we fight? The slides are a thoughtful examination of both books, and it is the first time someone has mentioned that Gwendolyn's new-found community is the key to her salvation.
For a longer read, here's my other blog post: http://phdowding.blogspot.ca/2015/03/...
--Audre Lorde
In a few weeks the grade 7 and 8 students of Ontario will be voting on their favourite Red Maple books for the Ontario Library Association Forest of Trees. Somewhere around 5,000 kids have read at least 5 of the 10 books on the list (which is here if you'd like to see what they're up to!) http://maple.bibliocommons.com/
This week, a teacher or perhaps a student pulled together a wonderful and very thoughtful slide video comparing my Red Maple book, The Strange Gift of Gwendolyn Golden and a non-fiction book by Niki Walker, Why do we fight? The slides are a thoughtful examination of both books, and it is the first time someone has mentioned that Gwendolyn's new-found community is the key to her salvation.
For a longer read, here's my other blog post: http://phdowding.blogspot.ca/2015/03/...
March 1, 2015
Leonard Nimoy, Spocktoberfest, and middle school
One of my lifelong heroes died last week, and although I rarely get caught up in celebrity happenings, Leonard Nimoy's passing has made me pause and remember how his character, Spock, and Star Trek has shaped me.
In fact, when I think about it, Star Trek has been part of my consciousness for my entire life. I'm just old enough to remember watching the original airing of Arena in 1969, the episode with the green reptilian alien pitted in a life-and-death battle against Kirk on a distant planet. The thrilling terror of that slithery voice emanating from the green rubber suit was more than enough to capture my imagination for my entire life.
Star Trek was my secret obsession all through high school, until I went to university and met an entire generation of people, Trekkers, just like me. I loved The Next Generation , and wrote two scripts for that series, both rejected, and also created a slightly naughty song for Mr. Worf, called Klingon Love Affair which was hilarious. I still play and sing it at parties with old friends, now and then ...
As recently as two weeks ago, I watched the new J.J. Abrams ST movie, Into Darkness , which was thrilling. Zachary Quinto makes a great Spock, and his moment on screen with Leonard Nimoy was a wonderful hall of mirrors, looking into the future, into the past, into the future and so on. Due to the magic of Netflix, my 17-year-old son is methodically watching the entire Star Trek franchise. It's good to walk into the basement (where his bedroom is), with an armload of laundry and hear Patrick Stewart's silky voice arguing with Q.
So glad that a new generation has picked up the Star Trek gauntlet, may it prosper and inspire young people for years to come. I suspect it will.
For a longer essay on Star Trek , Leonard Nimoy, Spocktoberfest and how I
survived middle school, here's my other blog post: http://phdowding.blogspot.ca/2015/02/...
Truly, LLAP.
In fact, when I think about it, Star Trek has been part of my consciousness for my entire life. I'm just old enough to remember watching the original airing of Arena in 1969, the episode with the green reptilian alien pitted in a life-and-death battle against Kirk on a distant planet. The thrilling terror of that slithery voice emanating from the green rubber suit was more than enough to capture my imagination for my entire life.
Star Trek was my secret obsession all through high school, until I went to university and met an entire generation of people, Trekkers, just like me. I loved The Next Generation , and wrote two scripts for that series, both rejected, and also created a slightly naughty song for Mr. Worf, called Klingon Love Affair which was hilarious. I still play and sing it at parties with old friends, now and then ...
As recently as two weeks ago, I watched the new J.J. Abrams ST movie, Into Darkness , which was thrilling. Zachary Quinto makes a great Spock, and his moment on screen with Leonard Nimoy was a wonderful hall of mirrors, looking into the future, into the past, into the future and so on. Due to the magic of Netflix, my 17-year-old son is methodically watching the entire Star Trek franchise. It's good to walk into the basement (where his bedroom is), with an armload of laundry and hear Patrick Stewart's silky voice arguing with Q.
So glad that a new generation has picked up the Star Trek gauntlet, may it prosper and inspire young people for years to come. I suspect it will.
For a longer essay on Star Trek , Leonard Nimoy, Spocktoberfest and how I
survived middle school, here's my other blog post: http://phdowding.blogspot.ca/2015/02/...
Truly, LLAP.
February 5, 2015
Introducing Myles and the Monster Outside
Have you ever been on a never-ending car drive, and as the minutes turn to hours turn to days ... you start to see things outside the window. Things that no one else can see, of course.
Scarecrows waving goodbye?
Birds spelling the word "beware" as they fly past in formation?
Monsters striding along the highway?
If you love YA horror stories, I think you'll enjoy my new book in the Weird Stories Gone Wrong Series, following Jake and the Giant Hand . Introducing Myles and the Monster Outside, a paranormal road trip horror story for kids 9-12. Accompanied by 6 creepy and adorable illustrations by Shawna Daigle, I hope you check it out!
Please request an ARC for review from my publisher, Dundurn Press.
Here's more information, and a first peek at the fantastic cover! http://phdowding.blogspot.ca/2015/01/...
Scarecrows waving goodbye?
Birds spelling the word "beware" as they fly past in formation?
Monsters striding along the highway?
If you love YA horror stories, I think you'll enjoy my new book in the Weird Stories Gone Wrong Series, following Jake and the Giant Hand . Introducing Myles and the Monster Outside, a paranormal road trip horror story for kids 9-12. Accompanied by 6 creepy and adorable illustrations by Shawna Daigle, I hope you check it out!
Please request an ARC for review from my publisher, Dundurn Press.
Here's more information, and a first peek at the fantastic cover! http://phdowding.blogspot.ca/2015/01/...
January 24, 2015
Are writers born or made?
I knew I wanted to be a writer when I was 9 years old ...
I've been playing with my scanner this week, going through old pictures in preparation for school and library presentations this spring. As an OLA Red Maple nominee, I'm really honoured to be talking about my 4th book, The Strange Gift of Gwendolyn Golden, to kids in grade 7 and 8 in Thunder Bay and here in Toronto.
What to talk to them about, I've been wondering?
Then it came to me. I scanned a picture of myself at 9 years old and realized the answer was staring me in the face: Who here wants to be a writer? You can do it. I knew I wanted to be a writer when I was 9 years old ...
Here's me, at 9: http://phdowding.blogspot.ca/2015/01/...
I've been playing with my scanner this week, going through old pictures in preparation for school and library presentations this spring. As an OLA Red Maple nominee, I'm really honoured to be talking about my 4th book, The Strange Gift of Gwendolyn Golden, to kids in grade 7 and 8 in Thunder Bay and here in Toronto.
What to talk to them about, I've been wondering?
Then it came to me. I scanned a picture of myself at 9 years old and realized the answer was staring me in the face: Who here wants to be a writer? You can do it. I knew I wanted to be a writer when I was 9 years old ...
Here's me, at 9: http://phdowding.blogspot.ca/2015/01/...
January 17, 2015
A shake of the fist in January's face
January, I've already had enough of you, and you're only half over. Apart from the salted earth policy (Torontonians pour out a LOT of salt), there's also the bitter wind. The dark skies. The frozen fingers. The treacherously slippery subway stairs (the only place the city seems not to pour salt). I could go on. But I won't. Because there's a solution to January: a party!
My publisher, Dundurn Press, held a great party this week at a literary club in Toronto. I dragged myself out in the cold, and was so glad I did. Nothing like a night of cheer with writers, old friends, book and magazine people. I even wore the sorting hat (Hufflepuff, apparently). Thanks Dundurn! Some photos: http://phdowding.blogspot.ca/2015/01/...
My publisher, Dundurn Press, held a great party this week at a literary club in Toronto. I dragged myself out in the cold, and was so glad I did. Nothing like a night of cheer with writers, old friends, book and magazine people. I even wore the sorting hat (Hufflepuff, apparently). Thanks Dundurn! Some photos: http://phdowding.blogspot.ca/2015/01/...
January 7, 2015
YA readers love The Strange Gift of Gwendolyn Golden
"I absolutely adore this book... I have recommended it to so many people and I recommend it to you, too."
What a lovely review for my Red Maple nominated book, The Strange Gift of Gwendolyn Golden. Young readers are now reviewing the book on the Red Maple Bibliocommons page, and so far, the response is really great. Thank you everyone! Here's the link: http://maple.bibliocommons.com/dashboard
Have a look at more reviews for this year's amazing OLA Red Maple books (including Eric Walters, Kenneth Oppel, Richard Scrimger, Vikki VanSickle, Jaqueline Guest, Caroline Pignat, Jess Keating, Sigmund Brouwer, and Sarah Ellis, wow): http://maple.bibliocommons.com/dashboard
What a lovely review for my Red Maple nominated book, The Strange Gift of Gwendolyn Golden. Young readers are now reviewing the book on the Red Maple Bibliocommons page, and so far, the response is really great. Thank you everyone! Here's the link: http://maple.bibliocommons.com/dashboard
Have a look at more reviews for this year's amazing OLA Red Maple books (including Eric Walters, Kenneth Oppel, Richard Scrimger, Vikki VanSickle, Jaqueline Guest, Caroline Pignat, Jess Keating, Sigmund Brouwer, and Sarah Ellis, wow): http://maple.bibliocommons.com/dashboard
