I had a fantastic trip visiting schools and libraries around the Peace River district with my Sheila A. Egoff nominated book Middle of Nowhere.  Thanks to all the kids, teachers, principals and librarians of Dawson  Creek, Fort St. John, Fort Nelson, Hudson’s Hope and Chetwynd!  Thank you to the hardworking folks at the BC Book Prizes!

The lovely Gail Anderson-Dargatz invited me to contribute a Guest Blog to her website.  Mine offers nine tips on writing for children.  I know, I know.  Would it have killed me to come up with ten?  Here it is!

Jasper John Dooley, Star of the Week is a Hackmatack Children’s Choice Book Award Nominee!  I’m excited about the possibility of touring in Atlantic Canada next year (please pick Jasper, please, please, please) with some of the other nominees.  I also love that a children’s book award rhymes with “attack”!  See the full list of nominated books here.  And by the way, the hackmatack is a beautiful tree.

I’ve attended the BC Book Prizes on four occasions, both as a nominee for the Ethel Wilson Prize and as a presenter.  My absolute favourite presenter each time was the venerable Sheila A. Egoff, who awarded the prize that honours her name, The Sheila A. Egoff Children’s Literature Prize.  Egoff read every book nominated and spoke about each one of them at the podium.  She was a truly generous spokeswoman for BC writing for children.  This makes it a special honour that Middle of Nowhere has been nominated.  I’m thrilled and look forward to celebrating with my co-nominees at the gala in May.  I only wish Sheila could be there.

Middle of Nowhere is on the shortlist for the Canadian Library Association’s 2013 Children’s Book of the Year Award!  The citation reads: “This prestigious award honours a book by a Canadian author, published in Canada in 2012, that is designed to appeal to readers aged 12 and younger. Given the wealth of extraordinary children’s writers in Canada, choosing the winner can be a phenomenal task. This year the Award committee received 172 books; ultimately, 43 of these were long‐listed for thorough reading and review.”  Read the list of all the nominated titles here.

Starred reviews in the venerable  Kirkus Reviews don’t come along every day.  What a sweet treat to get one for Jasper John Dooley, Left Behind!  Read the review here.

Look what’s new!  Jasper John Dooley, Number Two!  Thrilled to receive my author’s copy.  I can hardly wait for March 1st, the official publication date.

Every year the Ontario Library Association compiles a list of the top Canadian books for children and teens.  Hurray for Middle of Nowhere, which is on the list for 2012.  Read the list of honoured books here.

I’m so pleased to have a story in the Celebrate Winter issue of chickaDEE.  In addition to the story, Club chickaDEE.com has posted a little interview with me.  Check it out!

Middle of Nowhere is a Quill and Quire Best Book for 2012. “Children are amazingly capable of identifying – and rejecting – sophistry. The books that speak to them tend to be the ones that treat them with respect, engaging their intellects as well as their imaginations. Middle of Nowhere is that kind of book.”  Read the whole list.