Philippa Dowding's Blog, page 13
December 31, 2014
Year in Review, 2014 will be hard to top!
Here it is, the last day of 2014. Facebook recently sent me a compilation of photos of my year (which always creeps me out), but did remind me that 2014 has been a fantastic year for me. Thank you to readers, fans, voting committees, librarians, and Dundurn, my publisher, I'm very, very lucky and grateful for all the support from everyone this year.
A quick rundown: 2 book launches, 6 award nominations, 2 author tours, 1 magazine excerpt, and contracts signed for 2 more books. It's going to be a tough year to beat!
Here's a link to a longer blog post about 2014, the fantastic year that was: http://phdowding.blogspot.ca/2014/12/...
Happy New Year, one and all!
A quick rundown: 2 book launches, 6 award nominations, 2 author tours, 1 magazine excerpt, and contracts signed for 2 more books. It's going to be a tough year to beat!
Here's a link to a longer blog post about 2014, the fantastic year that was: http://phdowding.blogspot.ca/2014/12/...
Happy New Year, one and all!
December 21, 2014
May you find your tin foil fairy
It's solstice today. The sun just low-slanted through the front window in a way it does only at this time of year, and shone on the star at the top of the Christmas tree. I was too astonished to take a photo, so you'll have to see it with words.
Quite lovely, and Druidic.
I've posted my annual holiday story over on my longer blog: http://phdowding.blogspot.ca/2011/12/...
Happy holidays, and may you too find your tin foil fairy in 2015.
Quite lovely, and Druidic.
I've posted my annual holiday story over on my longer blog: http://phdowding.blogspot.ca/2011/12/...
Happy holidays, and may you too find your tin foil fairy in 2015.
December 10, 2014
The Tale of the Christmas Bonus
Gather 'round my friends, and let me tell you the tale of a Christmas tradition, now lost to the mists of time. The year was 1987. And the tradition? The Christmas bonus ...
It reads like the stuff of legend, but in reality, one year I actually received a hefty Christmas bonus from my employer. It was the first year of my full-time life as a circulation supervisor at the Financial Post in Toronto, and I was 24 years old.
It only happened once, since the tradition of the Christmas bonus was cut the next year, and then never happened again anywhere else that I have ever worked since. That one year, 1987, will shine brightly forever in my memory.
And what did I receive as my bonus? Read my longer blog post to see, and Happy Holidays! http://phdowding.blogspot.ca/2014/12/...
It reads like the stuff of legend, but in reality, one year I actually received a hefty Christmas bonus from my employer. It was the first year of my full-time life as a circulation supervisor at the Financial Post in Toronto, and I was 24 years old.
It only happened once, since the tradition of the Christmas bonus was cut the next year, and then never happened again anywhere else that I have ever worked since. That one year, 1987, will shine brightly forever in my memory.
And what did I receive as my bonus? Read my longer blog post to see, and Happy Holidays! http://phdowding.blogspot.ca/2014/12/...
November 16, 2014
After the Giller, a few thoughts on making a living as a writer
There's been a lot of talk in the press lately about how much the average Canadian author earns: @$10,000 a year, apparently.
It's not much, and kudos to Giller winner Sean Michaels for pointing out to Rick Mercer, the host of the Gala evening, that he will likely live on his winnings for the next ten years (which for the math-challenged among us, works out to yep, $10,000 a year).
$10,000 a year is likely not far off the reality, and for many writers that's probably not a bad year. It's not a lot of money, to be sure, but the relatively low pay isn't the point. Art will out, and I don't think any of the authors I know would stop writing based on the pay alone.
Here's a longer blog post which explains why: http://phdowding.blogspot.ca/2014/11/...
It's not much, and kudos to Giller winner Sean Michaels for pointing out to Rick Mercer, the host of the Gala evening, that he will likely live on his winnings for the next ten years (which for the math-challenged among us, works out to yep, $10,000 a year).
$10,000 a year is likely not far off the reality, and for many writers that's probably not a bad year. It's not a lot of money, to be sure, but the relatively low pay isn't the point. Art will out, and I don't think any of the authors I know would stop writing based on the pay alone.
Here's a longer blog post which explains why: http://phdowding.blogspot.ca/2014/11/...
November 7, 2014
Sweet fan letters for Jake and the Giant Hand
"I really enjoyed your book. It really was my taste. It was mysterious, adventurous, and creepy. I loved the giant flies. Sometimes I just sit on a hot summer day on my porch and let the flies land on me." 11-year-old fan
Last night I went to the TD Children's Literature Awards at the Carlu in Toronto. A wonderful night, and congrats to all the winners! Sometime during the joyful mayhem, a dedicated and sweet librarian from Northern Ontario found me and gave me two fan letters from 11-year olds who had just read Jake and the Giant Hand.
This is the best part of being a children's author, my friends. Having librarians hand-deliver fan letters from kids far away. Wow. Thank you to organizations like TD for promoting and celebrating Canadian children's books. And thanks to librarians everywhere for working so hard to get the word out and into the hands of young readers. I felt like I'd just received a letter from the pony-express. The librarian-express. Librarians rock the world.
Here's a longer blog post: http://phdowding.blogspot.ca/2014/11/...
Last night I went to the TD Children's Literature Awards at the Carlu in Toronto. A wonderful night, and congrats to all the winners! Sometime during the joyful mayhem, a dedicated and sweet librarian from Northern Ontario found me and gave me two fan letters from 11-year olds who had just read Jake and the Giant Hand.
This is the best part of being a children's author, my friends. Having librarians hand-deliver fan letters from kids far away. Wow. Thank you to organizations like TD for promoting and celebrating Canadian children's books. And thanks to librarians everywhere for working so hard to get the word out and into the hands of young readers. I felt like I'd just received a letter from the pony-express. The librarian-express. Librarians rock the world.
Here's a longer blog post: http://phdowding.blogspot.ca/2014/11/...
October 15, 2014
Red Maple nomination for The Strange Gift of Gwendolyn Golden!
Big news today! I am so honoured to announce that my 2014 middle grade title, The Strange Gift of Gwendolyn Golden, has just been nominated for a Red Maple award by the Ontario Library Association, as part of their reader's choice Forest of Reading awards.
A heartfelt thanks to the OLA for supporting, promoting and introducing Canadian authors to Canadian children. Also, many thanks to my publisher, Dundurn Press, for going on this strange little magic realism ride with me, and believing in a story about a flying girl.
Really, I'm so delighted and frankly, a little surprised! This is my third Forest of Reading nomination (gargoyle books two and three were Silver Birch express nominees in 2012 and 2014), but this is my first Red Maple nomination, which is for grades 7-8.
It's such an honour, plus I'll finally, finally, get to meet Ken Oppel! How cool is that?! Congratulations to all.
Here's a blog post on my other blog, with more info: http://phdowding.blogspot.ca/2014/10/...
A heartfelt thanks to the OLA for supporting, promoting and introducing Canadian authors to Canadian children. Also, many thanks to my publisher, Dundurn Press, for going on this strange little magic realism ride with me, and believing in a story about a flying girl.
Really, I'm so delighted and frankly, a little surprised! This is my third Forest of Reading nomination (gargoyle books two and three were Silver Birch express nominees in 2012 and 2014), but this is my first Red Maple nomination, which is for grades 7-8.
It's such an honour, plus I'll finally, finally, get to meet Ken Oppel! How cool is that?! Congratulations to all.
Here's a blog post on my other blog, with more info: http://phdowding.blogspot.ca/2014/10/...
September 13, 2014
Win a copy of Jake & the Giant Hand!
Here's the Goodreads hall of mirrors again, but if you'd like to enter to win a copy of my upcoming middle grade creepy story, Jake and the Giant Hand, just click here: http://bit.ly/1qMK6au
The good folks at Dundurn Press are offering up 5 copies to be won on a Goodreads Giveaway, so if you're interested please request a copy. The offer expires Oct 10, so do it now while you're thinking about it.
The wonderful illustrations by Shawna Daigle (how can an artist make a huge fly both adorable AND creepy?) are worth the effort!
Good luck, hope you win, just in time for Halloween.
The good folks at Dundurn Press are offering up 5 copies to be won on a Goodreads Giveaway, so if you're interested please request a copy. The offer expires Oct 10, so do it now while you're thinking about it.
The wonderful illustrations by Shawna Daigle (how can an artist make a huge fly both adorable AND creepy?) are worth the effort!
Good luck, hope you win, just in time for Halloween.
September 3, 2014
A review in School Library Journal
"The tale has a great ending with a clever wrap-up that will keep readers wondering."
My newest middle grade book, Jake and the Giant Hand , has just received a terrific review from the School Library Journal in the US. Shawna Daigle's wonderful illustrations are also lauded.
I'm really delighted about this, and quite honoured. Thank you, SLJ! Also chuffed to see that Neil Gaiman's newest book, Hansel & Gretel, is also reviewed in the same issue. Mr. Gaiman is a writer I've loved for years, long before I became a writer myself.
Here's a link to my other blog, with more on the review (and Neil Gaiman): http://phdowding.blogspot.ca/2014/09/...
My newest middle grade book, Jake and the Giant Hand , has just received a terrific review from the School Library Journal in the US. Shawna Daigle's wonderful illustrations are also lauded.
I'm really delighted about this, and quite honoured. Thank you, SLJ! Also chuffed to see that Neil Gaiman's newest book, Hansel & Gretel, is also reviewed in the same issue. Mr. Gaiman is a writer I've loved for years, long before I became a writer myself.
Here's a link to my other blog, with more on the review (and Neil Gaiman): http://phdowding.blogspot.ca/2014/09/...
August 24, 2014
Hackmatack award video
The Hackmatack award ceremony from Charlottetown P.E.I. last May, was recently posted online. I just watched it and ... it was great to see everyone again! My little speech about Charlotte's Web and gargoyles kind of made sense. And best of all? I sat beside (and got to know) the lovely Ashley Spires!
Here, in its entirety, is the link to the Hackmatack award ceremony. All 11 authors are on here, it was a blast meeting them. Give a listen, you'll hear Ashley Spires, Dan Bar-El, Rob Laidlaw, me, and lots of other talented Canadian authors. If you want to see my little blip, I'm around the 33 minute mark (and thanks to Simon, my presenter and really nice kid): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuJzO... Enjoy!
Here, in its entirety, is the link to the Hackmatack award ceremony. All 11 authors are on here, it was a blast meeting them. Give a listen, you'll hear Ashley Spires, Dan Bar-El, Rob Laidlaw, me, and lots of other talented Canadian authors. If you want to see my little blip, I'm around the 33 minute mark (and thanks to Simon, my presenter and really nice kid): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuJzO... Enjoy!
August 7, 2014
When writers dance around the house ...
I've been away a bit, "remembering my summertimes," as Stuart Little famously said. I came back to a few nice surprises, namely more good reviews for my new book, Jake and the Giant Hand, plus a guest post on my publisher's blog, about what it felt like to receive my first award nomination.
A quick excerpt from the guest post: "I simply couldn’t believe it. I had to re-read the letter from the nominating committee about thirty times until it very, very slowly, sunk in. I don’t generally need that long to get the gist of something, but for several minutes I simply couldn’t grasp what I was reading. Eventually though, I did catch on. I got out of my chair and danced around my office, then through the house. Keeping the news quiet until the shortlist was officially announced was like trying not to let anyone see me breathe, or blink."
For more about Jake and the Giant Hand, and what makes authors dance around like nine-year-olds, here is my other blog: http://phdowding.blogspot.ca/2014/08/...
A quick excerpt from the guest post: "I simply couldn’t believe it. I had to re-read the letter from the nominating committee about thirty times until it very, very slowly, sunk in. I don’t generally need that long to get the gist of something, but for several minutes I simply couldn’t grasp what I was reading. Eventually though, I did catch on. I got out of my chair and danced around my office, then through the house. Keeping the news quiet until the shortlist was officially announced was like trying not to let anyone see me breathe, or blink."
For more about Jake and the Giant Hand, and what makes authors dance around like nine-year-olds, here is my other blog: http://phdowding.blogspot.ca/2014/08/...
