Philippa Dowding's Blog, page 17

1922, Stephen King

Jeesh, has anyone else recently read the short story "1922" by Stephen King (Full Dark, No Stars)? I was literally shaking, I'd forgotten how powerful his short stories can be. It's been a long time since I've read him, probably the last piece was The Stand (also gave me nightmares). The scene from 1922, when the sheriff turns up the first time, is one of the most chilling moments I can remember in short fiction. I couldn't have put it down if I wanted to (I really did want to). I'm working on a series of creepy middle grade stories these days, and so I thought I'd turn to the master. I studied a lot of Edgar Allan Poe in grad school, I seem to remember a paper on his "toolbox of horror," or something like that. I even wrote a story, my first short story, using some of his techniques which I think I'll post somewhere someday soon. But my stories are NOWHERE near as creepy as King's. I'm a little thankful actually that I'm writing middle grade work, I simply couldn't write anything as disturbing as he does. My word, how does he sleep at night??? In his Afterword, King does say that he had a hard time writing some of the stories in the book. Phew.

Neil Gaiman!

I simply CANNOT believe that in a few short hours I will be listening to the dulcet tones of Neil Gaiman at the Danforth Music Hall here in Toronto. In person. Sometime in the early 90s my brother bought me the complete set of the Sandman books (I think for my 30th birthday). I'm not really a graphic novel girl, so I wasn't sure what to think, I loved the storyline though. The next book I read was Anansi Boys, about 8 years ago, which was weird and interesting. THEN when my kids came along, I read them Coraline. My teenage son STILL remembers the terror the mum with button eyes instilled in his boy heart when he was ten. Then I fell in headfirst: Neverwhere, American Gods, and that children's book I read and re-read, The Graveyard Book. I have a very special relationship with The Graveyard Book. I think it's perfect. It fills me with joy, and with sorrow. It's one of those rare masterpieces that can make me laugh and cry on the same page. I think the chapter titled Danse Macabre is some of the finest children's writing anywhere, ever. The Graveyard Book is one of two children's books I wish I'd written (along with Tuck Everlasting). So. Tonight at 6:30 I get to sit and listen. And wonder, and be inspired by someone who could be the Mark Twain of our generation. I'll try not to laugh and cry at the same time, but no promises. I'll tell you what happens!

The Gargoyle at the Gates is in reprint mode!

I'm happy to say that The Gargoyle at the Gates is being reprinted this week. That's great news, although the first run wasn't huge, of course, it's always nice to hear that your book is selling well enough to reprint within the first year or in this case, within six months, of publication.
Very very honoured, thank you all for the support from the public and from nominating bodies like the Diamond Willow, Hackmatack and Red Cedar awards, as well as the CCBC and the International Youth Library in Munich. These reader's choice nominations and commendations are so welcome and appreciated by every author.
You'll know if you have a first edition of The Gargoyle at the Gates, since the first edition has a pull-quote on the front cover, from CM magazine. The reprint will not have the pull-quote on the front cover, but that will be the only difference. Happy indeed!

My Book Addiction picks The Strange Gift of Gwendolyn Golden

So very honoured that the folks at My Book Addiction blog have chosen my forthcoming book, The Strange Gift of Gwendolyn Golden, as their 'Waiting on Wednesday' pick for this week! Thank you!

The list "spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating."

In their "Why I'm waiting" section, they had this to say: "Simply put: This just sounds like a fun read! Every now and then I like to read things that aren’t overly complicated or mind-boggling, and this sounds like it fits the bill perfectly. The cover caught my eye and once I read the synopsis it went directly onto my TBR list."

Read more about MyBookAddiction on their great book blog: http://mybookaddiction.com/waiting-on...

Why do I write? Just read this letter ...

I received the highest honour an author can possibly get this week: a letter from an educational assistant telling me that one of her grade 5 students read his first book this winter.

And it was a book written by me.

Then he read the rest of my books.

Then ... he wrote his OWN book.

Really touched and very, very honoured. What higher praise can an author possibly want or receive? I'm very lucky indeed.

Here's a link to the whole letter on my other blog: http://phdowding.blogspot.ca/2013/06/...

An ACE award in my other life!

I'm a children's author, a job I love, but I have another life as a writer: I'm also a copywriter, and have been for over 20 years. I have two writer's hats, it's great. Today I found out that I won an ACE award (Award for Circulation Excellence) in my marketing copywriting life, for a cold gift donor program I wrote for Zoomer magazine. A real honour! Frankly, I owe any success I have as a children's author to my years of sweating it out as a copywriter, since good writing is good writing, the rules don't change much from medium to medium. If you'd like to read more, please visit my (other) blog: www.phdowding.blogspot.com

Always very very nice to win!

A Starred Review for the Gargoyle at the Gates

I can't tell you (dear reader) how totally honoured I am that The Gargoyle at the Gates is a starred review book in the spring edition of the Canadian Children Book Centre's (CCBC) Best Books for Kids & Teens 2013. I simply cannot believe the awesome company that my book is in!
A few of the other starred reviews this year: Arthur Slade (Hunchback Assignments, bk 4), Deborah Ellis (Parvana's Journey), Cary Fagan (The Boy in the Box), Shane Peacock (Becoming Holmes) and Gordon Korman (Ungifted).
Thanks CCBC, very very honoured indeed.

Still in Manhattan

I may be the last person in the Western hemisphere to go, but I FINALLY made it to Manhattan last week. It was quite powerful, almost overwhelming. I didn't realize how much all those American icons meant to me, a Canadian, until I was on the top of the Rockefeller Centre staring down into the lego land of the city, the Brooklyn Bridge, the Empire State and Lady Liberty all right there as I scanned the skyline.
Today, I kick off TD Children's Book Week - I have three readings, the first one today at Barbara Frum Library. I will be reading from my Lost Gargoyle books, and I know there will be an aside (or two) about the four huge gargoyles on the Chrysler building and the giant lions on the front of the NYC Central Library ... the world's a pretty magical place!

Final final final

The Strange Gift of Gwendolyn Golden is in the final, final editing stages. I've spent all week, dreaming in Gwendolyn. It's been very intense, but the book is now back with my fabulous editor at Dundurn, and is being given one last final polish with a soft, fine cloth. Can't wait to see it, ARCS coming in June.