Judith Graves's Blog, page 14
July 30, 2011
Blogs of Note
There are some fascinating writing related blogs out there and I wanted to share four that caught my attention this month:
On Scriptwriting:
The Script Lab is a wealth of information on all things screenplay-ish. Highly recommended. I keep up with this prolific site via their Twitter feeds: @TheScriptLab
I'm a huge fan of BBC programs, from Doctor Who to Being Human. I'm an even bigger fan now that I discovered they post sample scripts from various shows on their Writers Room page. They also do calls for submissions, if you're from the UK.
On Writing:
Writer Beware: Blogs is a handy resource shedding light "…. into the dark corners of the shadow-world of literary scams, schemes, and pitfalls. We also provide industry news, writing advice, and a special focus on the weird and wacky things that happen at the fringes of the publishing world." This week Victoria Strauss follows up on the Writers House hoax email sent to an aspiring young adult author. Haven't heard about it? Check out Strauss's post HERE.
Inkygirl is the witty and informative blog of Canadian author/illustrator Debbie Ridpath Ohi. Known for sharing her knowledge of all things Twitter, her hilarious publishing industry comics and exhaustive lists of industry professionals – Inkygirl should be a regular stop on your blog surfing adventures.
July 13, 2011
Fur Flies in Europe
This is just one of many TAILS I hope to share with you about my recent trip to Europe. I joined my hus
band (a high school social studies teacher), 22 grade 10-12 students, 1 parent and 4 teacher supervisors for a Commemorating Canada tour of France/Belgium/Germany. We've visited key WWI and WWII sites in which Canadian soldiers played a prominent role. While I enjoyed the military history aspects of the tour, my focus had been scouring each country for folklore references, the supernatural, or the fantastical.
Take Belgium for instance. When we first arrived in Ypres, my heart was captured by the amazing medieval / gothic architecture. As I began to take photos I noticed sculptures of cats crawling up buildings, cat shaped chocolates in shop windows, as well as cat sculptures guarding store windows. I asked our lovely tour guide, Christine, why all the cats?
Of course, there was a supernatural element to her explanation that I quickly recorded for future investigation and this is what I discovered. The town and surrounding Flanders area is home to many WWI memorials and also hosts a rather unusual festival every three years. The next one will be held on May 13, 2012.
The Cat Festival has been celebrated for over 40 years. Townspeople dress in cat costumes and there's a parade with medieval and modern representations of cats (Garfield is the highlight) and even throw toy cats from the church. Witches are also featured, a mock burning is held in the town square. The festival pays tribute to the burning times of the 18th century and the legend that cats were seen as witches familiars and thus tossed from the church's bell tower.
From these macabre origins, today the people of Ypres embrace all that is feline.
I found this blog post which has a bevy of photos from one of the festivals: http://www.catcollectors.com/ieper.html
July 2, 2011
Europe: Finally There
Well, I'm in France and have had little time to blog as I intended. However, I'm jotting down ideas for when I return – there's so much to write about – the gothic atmosphere, the food, the presence of steampunk culture. Sigh. I'll have loads to blog about when I get home. However, I am maintaining a blog for the students / parents. Check out the cool pics and vids if you've got a hankering for some flying buttresses. 
June 22, 2011
Europe or Bust…or is that beast?
My husband is a high school social studies teacher and his love of military history knows no bounds – it's been a dream of his to go to major WWI and WWII sites in which Canadian soldiers fought and died.
A dream of mine has been to go to Europe – because, hello, it's EUROPE.
Plus, I've always been fascinated with the story of the Beast of Gevaudan, the legend behind the film, Brotherhood of the Wolf. In the 1700s, the French countryside was terrorized by man-eating wolves. Not familiar with the lore? Go here:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beast_of_Gévaudan
In a week (that's right, a mere 7 days from now) both of us will get to dive headlong into our dreams. My husband has organized a class tour – Commemorating Canada: WWI and WWII Sites. We're travelling to France, Belgium and Germany on a tour with grades 10-12 students, as well as a few parents, and teachers as supervisors.
Not only will we be exposed to the architecture, arts, cafes, folklore, Belgium chocolates! – we'll be getting one hell of an education / appreciation for the men who fell… so we could prevail. The trip is a blend of a beast that may not exist, and the beast we call war. I'll be blogging about our experiences whenever wifi is accessible.
Until next week, hopefully from our first stop, Paris.
Adieu.
June 14, 2011
Featured Author: Janet Gurtler
Ah, the power of the Internet. Previous to meeting the wonderful Janet Gurtler in person, we'd chatted a few times online. I was thrilled when one of my author visits was close enough for her to drop in and I'm pretty sure I modelled what NOT to do during such an event…lol. Janet has since had her second YA novel published, with another on the way. Though she's one busy lady, she was kind enough to answer a few questions.
What projects are you working on / have published?
I am currently working on an Anthology short story for an Ebook that a group of writers I am tied in with called the Debs. We all published our debut books in 2009 and are putting out an ebook together. Find out more here: http://debut2009.livejournal.com/1085...
I'M NOT HER is my first Sourcebooks title. I also have another single title coming out in October from Sourcebooks called IF I TELL. They are stand-alone books but the publisher has done a great job branding them together with covers that complement each other.
What's your road to publication story?
Oh it's a long and windy road! When my son was a baby (he's 10 now) I decided I had to fulfill my lifelong dream of writing a book. And so I wrote a romance novel. And then I joined RWA and started to learn about how to write a book (lol)! I wrote a couple more romance novels and then eventually had an idea for a teenage novel about a boy character and this became my first YA. I got an agent with that book and travelled down a few more windy roads, but eventually, with a different agent, the boy book became my first published novel. It was called Waiting To Score and I wrote it under a pseudonym. Things went wonky on the path for a while but when I started I'm NOT HER, I began looking for a new agent, and connected with the wonderful agent Jill Corcoran. She sold I'm Not Her to Sourcebooks and soon after my next book, IF I TELL.
Why YA?
I think the better question for me, is WHY NOT YA. I love the genre so much. When I started writing YA that's when I truly found my voice as a writer. It felt like I'd found my home. I only read YA now and it's really what I love to both read and write. In some ways I think it's because I sucked so much at being a teenager that my brain kind of got stuck there and revels in the chance to do it all over again and again through the lives of fictional characters. Honestly though, I think YA stories resonate strongly with adults too because adolescence is such a time of change and hope and really aren't we all still searching for that in our lives? Teenage protagonists have the luxury of having more choices and less adult restrictions and there's so much more freedom for characters to do so much more.
Best writing advice you've heard?
Write. Write through the blocks. Write every day. Just do it baby. Write.
What inspires you?
Mostly I think it's coffee. But really inspiration is everywhere. The news. Music. Movies. Eavesdropping on people's private conversations. Other writers.
Did you write stories as a teen? If yes, what has / hasn't changed?
I wrote in journals when I was a teen. I don't really remember writing stories as much as I wrote to myself trying to figure out my world. I was in a deep search for who I was and who I wanted to be and wrote to try to find myself. Writing has always kept me sane.
Can you describe your office / workspace / writer's cave?
I basically just sit on my living room couch, laptop in my lap, coffee at my side. Usually the dog is at my side and I do my best to ignore housework that needs to be done around me.
What's in your main character's purse/backpack/car/locker right now?
Tess doesn't carry a purse, but in her backpack are the usual school supplies. Her most prized possession she carries with her is her sketch book and a collection of her favourite sketching pencils.
_____
Thanks for hanging, Janet! I hope we'll get a chance to actually sip some java one of these days.
Can't get enough of Janet Gurtler? Join the club. Check out her website: http://janetgurtler.com/ , and/or follow her on Twitter: @janetgurtler
June 8, 2011
Writers Guild of Alberta
This weekend I'm heading to Calgary to speak on a panel at the Writers Guild of Alberta's 30th Anniversary Conference:
Saturday, June 11.
Walking the Line; Writing for Young Readers— YA and Children's Lit
1:00-2:00pm
What are the writing guidelines for children's books? How about the key differences between a middle grade and a YA novel? Or just what, exactly, appeals to teen readers and how do you tailor your writing and market it to them? This panel of published children's authors will provide you with some valuable insight into the realm of children's literature.
Featuring Children's Authors: Dianne Linden, Glen Huser, Judith Graves, Hazel Hutchins.
I'm looking forward to our discussions, especially in light of the Wall Street Journal's recent article slamming the direction of YA. Which prompted a gathering of support from the YA Twitterverse. You can read all about it here: http://yasaves.easilymused.com/
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In other news, a signed copy of UNDER MY SKIN is available via Colleen McKie's blog as a part of a fundraiser for the Slave Lake Public Library which was destroyed in a devastating forest fire. Please do bid! To do so, go here: http://bitly.com/mp6B6W There are many amazing titles to be had – check them out and support a wonderful cause.
May 31, 2011
Give Your Library a Little Literary BITE
Along with whatever funds we can scrounge up via writing, most authors suplement their incomes while giving back to the arts community. I tour whenever time allows, connecting with teachers, librarians, and writers – young or old. This October I'm touring with the Young Alberta Book Society's (YABS) Taleblazers lit fest. YABS acts as a booking agent, handling all the scheduling details for their touring artists (writers, illustrators, storytellers, etc) and the venue organization, school or public library.
It's pretty nifty. This will be my second year touring and I'm looking forward to seeing more of Alberta and our thriving arts community / young writers. In addition to live visits, I'm also keen on short….FREE….Skype visits, or I can record a vlog / podcast for you on a specific topic of interest. Email me and we'll work something out. 
In case you want to see my literary street credit, here are a few recent references:
"While I am not a writer, I certainly learned a lot about the process and what it takes to become one. I love to read and always have but I now have a new respect for the work that goes into writing a book. Judith is an excellent speaker, intelligent and funny and an absolute pleasure to be around! I look forward to hosting her again soon at our library in Edson."
~ Suzy Miller, Edson Public Library
"Armed with commercial clips, a personal writing play list, dramatic activities as well as, of course, writing activities, Judith illustrated her message using media, action and words. She was independent in her set up, had everything she needed (including a swack of books and give-aways) and was ready to teach when the class began. Many of the students talked to me personally after telling me they loved what they learned in Judith's class and later that night at the Spotlight Cafe we heard from several of her students who read what they wrote in her class. Judith is a talented writer, an entertainer, and a passionate and reliable instructor. I support her future employment in the literary arts wholeheartedly."
~ Lisa Murphy-Lamb B.Ed., M.Ed, Coordinator,WordsWorth Youth Writing Program
Click HERE for the full reference letter from the Young Alberta Book Society.
May 27, 2011
Monster Librarian and Library Techs to DIE for
It's got to be fate that the same week I'm presenting at the Alberta Association of Library Technicians annual conference in Edmonton, Under My Skin gets reviewed by a wickedly cool horror fiction review blog called…The Monster Librarian. Their slogan? READ TO SURVIVE.
Love it!
I spent considerable time at Monster Librarian – checking out their comprehensive reviews of adult, teen and children's horror titles. The site is organized by age level, genre, and author listings. I discovered a bunch of intriguing reads and added them to my To Be Read pile. If recommendations are being handed out, I say you drop by their site for a look see.
Can't wait to hang out with my library peeps…see you on Saturday for my presentation, Author Visits to DIE for. I'll give you the low down on what authors are already doing to promote their work and how you can tap into their efforts to support your library programming. It's cheap. It's fun. You'll promote literacy and support the arts. Well, the theme of the conference is, Get Connected. Whoot!
Oh, and here's an excerpt from the review: "I must admit that I did feel a touch of Twilight deja vu while reading about the love triangle between Wade, Alec, and Eryn, but this book is loads better than Twilight! Beyond the blossoming romance in this novel, there is also the mystery of what is causing all of the paranormal activity in town. Waiting to find out the cause of kids going missing, and the animal attacks, makes Under My Skin a page-turner from beginning to end. The romantics out there will want to know who Eryn is going to end up with. This is a great first novel from Graves and I am truly looking forward to see what happens in the next installment of this series. This book would make a great addition to all libraries. Recommended."
May 20, 2011
Rebuilding the Slave Lake Library
As a library technician I've seen my share of damaged books, gum between the pages, dried cat urine crinkling bookcovers, and even the occassional (and dreaded) spring flood and loss of a few hundred titles. However, it is every library staff member's subconsious fear to lose all the books in a fire. And I'm not talking a book burning, though those are horrifying as well, I mean an all out natural disaster, or electrical failure, and the whole building burns down. (Another reason why I'm so anal about unplugging our zooped up laminator after EVERY use.)
Luckily most of us will never see that image become a reality. But it does happen. And it has happened to the people of Slave Lake, Alberta who recently lost 40% of their town due to a forest fire. City Hall, the Public Library, the cop shop…and countless homes. All destroyed.
Here is a recent blog post from the library's blog:
"Posted on Tuesday May 17, 2011 at 09:44PM
It is with sadness and shock that I write this post. As of Sunday, May 15, our beautiful new library has burned to the ground. Watching the news footage of the library in flames was one of the hardest things that I have ever had to watch. All the hard work and effort by so many people to bring the new library to the community destroyed in minutes.
All of the library staff and board are safe and sound however, which is the most important thing. Right now we don't know what the future will bring but we will be working hard to bring library service back to the community as soon as possible. Our best wishes to all members of the Slave Lake community."
Let's help them rebuild – one donation at a time. I encourage all my author friends to donate copies (even one!) of your book(s) and scour your bookshelves for any new/newish titles you can part with.
If you'd like to help the library rebuild, this information was posted to the Peace Library System website:
Rebuilding the Slave Lake Library – one Donation at a Time (posted May 19)
The public library in the Town of Slave Lake was completely destroyed on Sunday, May 15, as a result of a huge forest fire. The beautiful new Rotary Club of Slave Lake Public Library had just opened in 2010.
About forty per cent of the Town is gone and support for those who lost their homes and possessions is pouring in via the Red Cross and other organizations. Support for the library is also pouring in. Libraries, bookstores, publishers and other library-related organizations have been in touch with Peace Library System to see how they can help the library rebuild. Here's what you can do:
Donations of new or nearly new books (no more than two years old) can be shipped to Peace Library System headquarters where they will be catalogued, processed and stored until a temporary library opens in Slave Lake. Please ship prepaid to:
Peace Library System
8301 – 110 Street
Grande Prairie, AB T8W 6T2
ATTN: Books for Slave Lake Library
Cash donations can be made by going to the library's web page at www.slavelakelibrary.ab.ca and clicking on the "Make a Donation" link.
The Slave Lake Library and Peace Library System thank all who make a contribution to rebuilding the library.
For additional information, please contact Carol Downing, Assistant Director, at cdowning@peacelibrarysystem.ab.ca.
Monitary donations can be sent to the Red Cross to assist the town in general. Here is more information.
May 15, 2011
Edson Public Library and Taleblazers
I had a wonderful time chatting all things bookish with those present at my Edson Public Library workshops this Saturday. Suzy, librarian extraordinaire, and her witty crew made me feel welcome, and yeah, a bit like a rock star. Nice.
If you've thought of more questions from my babble at the workshops – please fire me an email and I'll do my best to help you out / find the answer / point you in the right direction.
I hope to make it back to Edson…a lovely town in the foothills. Those trails are great fodder for Wolven stories.
Speaking of trails…how about the Young Alberta Book Society's Taleblazers festival? It's going to rock this October, you won't want to miss out. I am touring with the festival and would love to visit your school/public library.
Here are the details from their website:
More than 60 outstanding Albertan literary artists will hit the roads this October, spreading the message about the importance of literacy – and a love of reading – to classrooms and libraries across the province.
Interested in booking an author, poet, storyteller, illustrator or playwright at your venue?It's easy! (And through Taleblazers, more affordable than ever…) Simply check out the list of 2011 touring artists here and then fill out this easy form.
It's that simple! Remember, it's first come, first-serve. Taleblazers 2011 runs October 3 – 31. The last day to book is September 23.
Questions? Contact the YABS office (780.422.8236 or info@yabs.ab.ca).
