Philippa Dowding's Blog, page 3

The new normal zoom book launch, here to stay?

Thank you to everyone who came to the zoom book launch for FIREFLY! Is this the way we're going to do book launches from now on?

My newest middle-grade book, FIREFLY, is now fully launched into the world! We had a wonderful book launch on March 2nd, 2021. Kidlit blogger extraordinaire, Helen Kubiw, asked me questions, the attendees asked questions (there were 55 zoom attendees, which blew me away, thank you all), and it was a really fun hour.

The full Q&A book launch is now up on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMGRE...

Here are the notes for the Q&A on Helen Kubiw's blog too: https://canlitforlittlecanadians.blog...

There was a draw for a free costume rental at Thunder Thighs Costumes in Toronto, where the story is set (a business which was started in the late 1970s by my extended family, and which is still going strong). There was a draw for best costume. There were authors and guests from across the country, and a few guests from the US, all chatting with each other in the chat box.

Is this the new way we're going to do book launches from now on? Is this actually an improvement, a new adaptation due to COVID which is better for everyone than schlepping to a bookstore or a library or some other event in the dark of winter? There were people at the launch last night from the US, BC, and Manitoba, as well as Northern Ontario, and here in Toronto, and quite a few of them commented how this is actually easier and fits our livestyles better than all gathering in person. Plus, it has the advantage of being short and sweet. Starts at 6 pm, ends at 7pm.

I'd still love to see my friends in person, but last night was really fun. Thank you all for joining me! And so many thank yous to the amazing interviewer and kidlit blogger, Helen Kubiw, she was great!

Here's my other blog with more: http://phdowding.blogspot.com/2021/03...

You're invited to the BOOK LAUNCH for FIREFLY, March 2/2021 (there may be lobsters)!

Please join me at the BOOK LAUNCH for FIREFLY, March 2nd/2021, 6-7 p.m. Attendees can WIN A FREE COSTUME RENTAL from Thunder Thighs Costumes!

Here's the book launch Invitation link, please register for this free event below: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/virtual-l...#

I'll be interviewed by the wonderful children's lit blogger, Helen Kubiw, and books will be available for online purchase through Another Story Bookshop.

The story takes place in a costume shop, based on a real costume shop run by my extended family. A family member from Thunder Thighs costumes will be at the launch to answer questions about the shop, too! Plus, all book launch attendees will be entered into a draw to win a free costume rental at Thunder Thighs (value @$100).

This isn't the way we usually do book launches, but let's party anyway in the only way we can. My motto these days: we can't hold each other right now, but until we can, it may help to hold a book.

I hope you can come celebrate FIREFLY with me on March 2nd!

Here are 5 Questions about Firefly on my other blog: http://phdowding.blogspot.com/2021/02...

5 Questions About FIREFLY

What is FIREFLY about? Why is it set in a Toronto costume shop? What's your favourite part of the book?

FIREFLY is coming out this week, my 13th book for children, and my first piece of realistic fiction. I loved writing this book, since it's set in a Toronto costume shop which is run by my extended family, and which I've visited for years. There is nothing as interesting as a costume shop!

From the back of the book:

Motorcycle cop? Medieval warrior? Maybe a singing lobster?
If you lived in a shop with seven million costumes, what would you choose …

Firefly lives with her Aunt Gayle at The Corseted Lady costume shop, which is much better than living in the park where she used to live. But there’s a lot to get used to: food, a bed (if she can bring herself to sleep in it), a cat, a new school. She even has to get used to Aunt Gayle.

But when you can wear anything, become anything, how do you decide who you are?

And which costume is the real one?

For more about Firefly, here is my other blog: http://phdowding.blogspot.com/2021/02...

Introducing FIREFLY ...

"Firefly lives in the park across from her mother’s house. It's safer there. But after the bad night happens, and her baseball-bat-wielding mother is taken away, children's services sends Firefly to live with her Aunt Gayle. She hardly knows Gayle, but discovers that she owns a costume shop..."

... and when you live in a costume shop with 7 million pieces, how do you decide which costume is the real you?

Here's a longer blog post about FIREFLY: http://phdowding.blogspot.com/2020/10...

I'm so honoured to introduce this lovely middle-grade story about mental health, addiction, and courage. Despite the themes, the story is funny, fast, and filled with the love and changing characters (and costumes) in Aunt Gayle's world-renowned costume shop. It is my first attempt at realistic fiction, after a career of writing horror, magic realism and dystopia.

I hope you're curious!

Inspired by a real costume warehouse in Toronto, FIREFLY comes out from DCB Young Readers, February 2021. Stay tuned for more!

Sometimes phobias fuel the creative fire ...

"I've been that little kid in the back seat, a little anxious about where we're going..."

Phobias, dreams, journals ... hear more about how writers create spooky stories for kids, on CABIN TALES, a new podcast for children by wonderful Canadian writer Catherine Austen!

Listen to Episode 3, Spooky Stories are All Around Us, featuring me, Kari-Lynn Winters and Amelinda Berube: https://cabintales.ca/2020/09/11/spoo...

You'll hear about spooky stories we've written, where ideas come from, journals, how at least one of us (me) uses phobias to fuel the creative fires, and much more.

Here's a 60-second clip of me talking about dreams that inspire my books: https://twitter.com/CathAusten/status...

And a 60-second clip with me talking about using phobias to create:
https://twitter.com/CathAusten/status...

Finally, another 60-sec clip of me discussing the merits of keeping a journal, and why every young writer should have one: https://twitter.com/CathAusten/status...

If you're a parent or educator with a young writer at home, you might really want to check out CABIN TALES, a quality writing podcast for kids (there's even a "fright-free" version for younger children): https://cabintales.ca/

OCULUM Livestream Q & A

OCULUM had a great outing at the Peel District School Board Virtual Forest of Reading Celebration on June 2/2020!

Thanks to PDSB organizers for creating a week-long, online Forest of Reading celebration for 9 authors to answer questions from Peel students.

Here's the whole Q & A from June 2/2020, I start at 43 minutes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qT26G...

Helaine Becker and Zetta Elliott are also featured, with wonderful answers to kids' questions. Really thoughtful and fun.

I answered 25 questions in 30 minutes, including gems like "What inspired you to write OCULUM?"; "Why are there so many peaches in the story?"; "What's your favourite part of the story?" and many more!

Also, kids learned little-known facts about me, like I lived on a glacier, I play guitar, and my favourite candy is a red twizzler.

Enjoy!

Is it Tuesday Today? And Read Aloud Canadian, FREE license to read!

How are we all doing at the end of April, 2020?

I personally have asked "Is it Tuesday today?" too many times. Has it been Tuesday for a few months, or something? OR, maybe every day is actually Tuesday during this pandemic?

Messed up days of the week aside, I hope you are coping, however that looks for you right now.

Read Aloud Canadian Books, Free License, including Silver Birch 2020 nominee, OCULUM!


Some good news if you'd like to read any of my books aloud and record your reading to post for education purposes. ALL twelve of my published titles are now available to read aloud through a free agreement with my publishers and Access Copyright.

Read more here: https://phdowding.blogspot.com/2019/0...

Keep counting the days my friends, whether it's Tuesday or not.

We can't hold each other right now, but until we can, it may help to hold a book.

PD

Free online resources to teach and engage kids at home

This post is a list of free resources for everyone working hard to keep kids entertained, enlightened, engaged at home right now.

There are several excellent Canadian book sites for kids, which offer interesting, fun, educator-approved resources for parents and teachers.

Here are two that are completely free, with Teacher's Guides, author's websites, virtual readings and more. (I'm focusing on Canada here, but American publishers and in fact most children's publishers have a website with free resources for kids, so check them out too.)

Ontario Library Association, Forest of Reading.
Website: https://forestofreading.com/school-ag...

Check out the Forest of Reading program, 1-hour online author talks, resources, games, crosswords, author websites, ideas to engage with books and much more, all completely free from the Ontario Library Association.

The Canadian Children's Book Centre
Website: https://bookcentre.ca/news/canadian-b...

The CCBC has just launched the new Read Canadian at Home: Resources for Parents resource on their website. LOTS of authors are linked, with resources, games, videos, book talks and much more, and more authors are joining in every day.

I hope this helps you engage your young readers. We can't hold each other right now, but until we can, it might help to hold a book.

OCULUM is a Silver Birch 2020 Nominee!

Well, in the BEST NEWS EVER category, I'm so honoured to say that my middle-grade, science fiction dystopia, OCULUM, is a Forest of Reading Silver Birch 2020 Nominee!

Thank you so much to my publisher, DCB, and to the Ontario Library Association for running this amazing reader's choice program for kids from kindergarten to grade 12.

It's an incredible honour to receive a Forest of Reading nomination, which is the largest reader's choice award in Canada. Many hundreds of thousands of kids (you heard that right!) will be involved in the school-based reading program this winter, and choosing their favourites next spring in a big Forest of Reading festival in Toronto.

I couldn't be more honoured and excited to be part of it! Let the fun begin!

For "5 Questions People are Probably Going to Ask me About OCULUM," here's my other blog:
http://phdowding.blogspot.com/2018/04...

Happy Book Birthday to Quinn and the Quiet, Quiet!

Happy publishing birthday to Quinn and the Quiet, Quiet, which releases into the world today, September 21, 2019!

Quinn is living in the strange Work Centre, where the children make the Blue Brick TM from the rich, blue mountain rocks.

But why are the children making the Blue Brick TM? What IS it, anyway? Why can they snap blue sparks with their fingers for courage, behind the Officer's backs?

AND why are some of the children turning BLUE?

Part dystopia/horror story, part environmental resistance thriller, I hope you'll check out this 6th and final book in the award-winning Weird Stories Gone Wrong series for kids 9-12!

More on my other blog: http://phdowding.blogspot.com/2019/09...