Track & Display Changes: A Writer's Blog

Counting on Katherine Is Soaring!

2019-02-19T17:39:00.002-05:00

I've been so busy scribbling I hadn't had a moment to update this blog with news of Counting On Katherine's reception in the kidlit world. To date, the book has been recognized with:

A Junior Library Guild Selection

Bank Street - Cook Prize Shortlist

ALA Amelia Bloomer List Selection

NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Book for Children

CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People

Chicago Public Library Best Books of the Year

CCBC Best Books of 2018 - Starred Review

OLA Best Bets

Children’s Book Review Best Nonfiction Picture Books

Vermont Clover Award Shortlist

Kirkus STARRED REVIEW

Thanks, everyone!

Katherine Johnson has her own Barbie!

2018-03-13T09:30:00.000-04:00

The Katherine Johnson doll will be available in May.

Mattel is releasing a new collection of dolls featuring inspiring women. You can get your own Katherine Johnson doll beginning in May. Of course you will need Counting on Katherine. to go along with it.

When I first began working on the book, Johnson was relatively unknown. But then came the smash hit movie, Hidden Figures. And now - a Barbie! I'm so excited to see her finally getting the attention she deserves.

Counting on Katherine tells much more of her story than is shown in Hidden Figures. It details her role in saving the doomed and crippled Apollo 13 and bringing the drifting spacecraft safely back to Earth. The illustrations, by the talented Dow Phumiruk, are stunning!

Dow made a trailer.....

2018-03-12T14:50:00.003-04:00

Watch the new trailer for Counting on Katherine! Illustrator Dow Phumiruk made it, and it is just as beautiful as the book. You can preorder the book now from your favorite bookseller - it goes on sale mid-June.

Sloths. Because - Sloths!!!!!!

2018-01-29T11:59:00.000-05:00

Coming soon - Sloth at the Zoom!

This sweet picture book is all about the virtues of slowing down and taking the time to enjoy the time you spend with friends.

And true to its theme, this little tale took fourteen years from concept to publication. Talk about slooooowwwwwwww.....

I'm utterly grateful to Karen Li, my editor at Owlkids Books, for hanging in there and making it happen in the end. And thanks too to Orbie for drawing such adorable pictures!

New Cover!

2018-01-25T09:30:00.000-05:00

I'm so excited about the revised cover to my upcoming book, Counting On Katherine. The adult Katherine was replaced by this younger version. What do you think about it?

Good news for Counting on Katherine!

2018-01-24T09:30:00.000-05:00

Counting on Katherine (Christy Ottaviano Books, June) has been selected by the Junior Library Guild. So pleased!

Updated cover!

2018-01-23T17:36:00.000-05:00

Coming in June - but you can preorder now!

Cover Reveal for Nonfiction Monday

2017-10-23T16:50:00.001-04:00

I'm so excited to show off this beautiful cover design for Counting on Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Saved Apollo 13.Coming June 2018!

Silver Birch shortlists announced!

2017-10-18T14:29:00.000-04:00

So pleased to have Monster Science nominated for the Silver Birch Award!

Lane Anderson Award for Science Writing Shortlists Announced!

2017-08-16T11:43:00.000-04:00

The finalists for the 2016 Lane Anderson Awards, honouring Canada’s best science writing with $10,000 in each of two age categories, have been revealed. And woohoo! Monster Science is on it!

Congrats to all the nominees. Here's thecomplete list:

Young Readers

Helaine Becker and Phil McAndrew, ill., Monster Science: Could Monsters Survive (and Thrive!) in the Real World? (Kids Can Press)
Anne Innis Dagg, 5 Giraffes (Fitzhenry & Whiteside)
Claire Eamer and Marie-Ève Tremblay, ill., Inside Your Insides: A Guide to the Microbes That Call You Home (Kids Can Press)

Adult Readers

Caroline Fox, At Sea With the Marine Birds of the Raincoast (Rocky Mountain Books)
Robert William Sandford, North America in the Anthropocene: An RMB Manifesto (RMB)
Tim Falconer, Bad Singer: The Surprising Science of Tone Deafness and How We Hear Music (House of Anansi Press)
Stephen Le, 100 Million Years of Food: What Our Ancestors Ate and Why It Matters Today (HarperCollins)

The winners will be announced at a ceremony in September.

CEO Writer Inc - You're HIRED!

2017-02-07T17:07:00.003-05:00

Congratulations!

You have decided to be a Writer.

Perhaps you didn’t realize that, with that decision, you also became an entrepreneur. And as Sole Proprietor of your own business, you are responsible for:

• Sales
• Product selection
• Marketing
• Production
• Accounting/Bookkeeping/Collections
• Customer service
• Legal and regulatory/health and safety
• And writing the book.

Unless you have had bottom line experience in a for-profit business, you might find yourself struggling with some of these areas, or, in fact, not even realizing they are a critical part of the job of Writer. Without these key skills under your belt, though, you will find it much more difficult to thrive as a professional writer.

Here are the top 5 business skills you will need to get your career off the ground.

1. Know your customer.

If you are considering a traditional publishing career, your customer is the publisher, not the child, parent, teacher or librarian (self-publishing is a different story). That means you should focus your attentions on publishers when trying to sell your book, not on wider marketing efforts. You don’t need a giant twitter platform. You need a focused email list.

2. Qualify the Customer.

This very sales-y term has a very simple meaning: are your potential customers buying what you are selling? It’s your job to find out. What kind of books do they publish/represent? How many per year? What’s the style, grade range, genre? Who is their primary customer – booksellers, schools, or libraries?

If you neglect to qualify the customer, you waste time, energy and money by trying to sell your product to a person or firm who is not in the market for that item.

Here are five proven ways to qualify the customer:
 Study books on store shelves to find out who publishes ones like yours
 Review next season’s catalogues
 Follow what they buy on Publishers Marketplace
 Learn about them through discussions with other writers and at conferences.
 Ask them!

3. Understand the meaning of the word “Sales.”

Sales is not about pushing people into doing things. It’s about building relationships. It’s the art of understanding a person’s needs and clearly communicating that you have a product or service that meets those needs. As sole proprietor of a Writing Business, your task is to establish good relationships with all the people who can buy work from you, whether or not they buy the work. Sales is a long-term endeavor. Think in terms of multiple projects, not just this one, especially if you plan to have an extended career.

4. Understand the Sales Process.

There are six main steps required to make a sale. All successful sales people follow these steps. They are:

Identify the key people who make the buying decisions: Editors, Agents, etc., and qualify them.
Make contact.
Re-Qualify them – are they still the right person (their job may have changed)?
Learn their needs.
Then, and only then, communicate what your project is (give them your pitch). Make sure to tell them how it fits their needs.
Close the deal.

5. Making the contact (step 2 of the sales process).

Making contact is tough. Successful sales people know, too, that tough does not equal impossible. As a result, the best sales people have a level of determination that is shocking to ordinary people.

I personally set seven as my minimum number of attempts at making contact. An email that didn’t get an answer? That’s not a “no.” It’s merely attempt one out of seven. On occasion I have followed up repeatedly for two years or more before getting to yes.

5a. But don’t be annoying.

Treat the person on the other end as a human being who deserves consideration and respect. Then guide your actions accordingly. By following these five steps rigorously over the last twenty years, I have enjoyed a flourishing career writing - and selling - everything from picture books to nonfiction to YA fiction. So can you.

OLA Signing/Appearance Schedule

2017-01-11T11:21:00.002-05:00

The Ontario Library Association Superconference is always a highlight on my calendar.

This year, I'll be busy busy busy!

Thursday, Feb 2:

Scholastic booth - 11 am - signing copies of Deck the Halls

Orca booth - 2:30 pm - signing copies of You Can Read, Dirk Daring, Secret Agent, and Let Sleeping Dogs Lie

Friday, Feb 3:

Forest of Reading Breakfast - 8 am

Canscaip Forest of Reading Launch - 10:30-11-30

DK Books - 12 pm - Poster signing for Our Great Prime Ministers

Hope to see you there!

Looking ahead to Superconference - Woot!

2017-01-05T10:50:00.000-05:00

The Ontario Library Association Superconference is always a highlight on my calendar.

This year, I'll be signing copies of Deck the Halls at the Scholastic booth on Thursday, Feb. 2.

I'll also be signing copies of You Can Read at the Orca booth that same day.

And if you just want to say hi, I'll be at the Forest of Reading Breakfast bright and early on Friday, Feb 3, talking about Worms for Breakfast and Everything: Space, which are both shortlisted for the Silver Birch Award. Expect me to be a bit overexcited, but sleepy-eyed!

Coming soon to a bookshelf near you!!

2017-01-03T10:40:00.000-05:00

My latest picture book, You Can Read, will be published by Orca later this month. You can preorder it now at your fave indy bookstore (I'm partial to The Bookkeeper, Mable's Fables, Blue Heron Books and Ella Minnow, among others). It celebrates both literacy and life, and is a very funny. ;)

I'll be signing copies at the Ontario Library Association Superconference at the Orca Booth on Thursday, Feb 2. Come by, say hi, and get a book!

Eureka!

2016-12-06T10:29:00.000-05:00

Hooray for Monsters - and California.

I recently learned that Monster Science has been given a Eureka Silver Honor from the California Reading Association.

Thanks, California!

Porcupine on Parade

2016-12-02T10:28:00.003-05:00

Lovely to learn that the gang from A Porcupine in a Pine Tree had a featured spot in the Toronto Santa Claus Parade this year!

Here's the photo of the adorable Indigo/Chapters float:

Thanks to the folks at Indigo, and to CTV for taking the vid! (And to Debbie Ohi, author and illustrator extraordinaire of Where are My Books? who snagged the screenshot!)

CANSCAIP'S amazing PYI conference is this weekend!

2016-11-16T10:33:00.000-05:00

I'll be speaking about nonfiction how-tos!

I'm giving the inside scoop on nonfiction at the Packaging Your Imagination Conference this weekend. You'll also get to meet outstanding industry professionals like Jacqueline Guest, Ashley Spires, Wallace Edwards, Suzanne Sutherland, and Christie Harkin. You really want to be there. Saturday, November 19, 2016.

Here are the deets:

PACKAGING YOUR IMAGINATION (PYI)
#PYI2016

WHAT'S AT PYI THIS YEAR?

Choose from a dozen sessions, including three Master Classes and our popular panel of publishers and agents
Terrific NEW location in the heart of downtown Toronto--close to subway, hotels, restaurants, theatres, museums, shopping...and more!
Two keynotes: Ashley Spires and David Booth
One-to-One evaluation of your manuscript, illustration portfolio or author website/social media (additional fee)

YOUR PYI REGISTRATION INCLUDES:

Full day of PYI sessions and keynotes for $195 (scroll down for our fantastic line-up of sessions and speakers)
Sandwich lunch
Coffee, juice and snacks served all day between sessions

ONE-TO-ONE EVALUATIONS

Add a One-to-One evaluation of your manuscript OR your author website/social media for $75 (you must also register for PYI for this option)

I'm pleased to be presenting:

Non-Fiction Truths: How to Plan, Pitch and Promote Your Nonfiction Project

Writing successful nonfiction requires plenty of research - and that's even before you begin the project! In this hard-nosed, nuts-and-bolts session, you'll get a step-by-step guide to how to take your idea from "Should I?" to Sold. Learn how to Evaluate and Structure Your Idea, Do an Effective Market Comparison, Create a Clear, Complete Proposal and Craft a Winning Cover Letter. Plus an up-to-the-minute look at the contemporary nonfiction market and how to target and evaluate potential customers, both in Canada and the US.

The Conference will take place at Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute in Toronto. See you there!

The Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute
is located in downtown Toronto

Packaging Your Imagination is THIS WEEKEND!

2016-11-14T10:30:00.000-05:00

Come to Toronto - yes, it's worth the trip - to get the lowdown on everything kidlit!

I'll be speaking on Nonfiction:

Non-Fiction Truths: How to Plan, Pitch and Promote Your Nonfiction Project

There are lots of other great speakers!!! I can't wait to sit in on all their sessions. For deets and registration info, go to Packaging Your Imagination.

See ya there!

Less than a week to go! Canscaip PYI Conference!

2016-11-13T10:08:00.002-05:00

I'll be speaking about nonfiction how-tos!

I'm giving the inside scoop on nonfiction at the Packaging Your Imagination Conference is next weekend. You'll also get to meet outstanding industry professionals like Jacqueline Guest, Ashley Spires, Wallace Edwards, Suzanne Sutherland, and Christie Harkin. You really want to be there. Saturday, November 19, 2016.

Here are the deets:

PACKAGING YOUR IMAGINATION (PYI)
#PYI2016

WHAT'S AT PYI THIS YEAR?

Choose from a dozen sessions, including three Master Classes and our popular panel of publishers and agents
Terrific NEW location in the heart of downtown Toronto--close to subway, hotels, restaurants, theatres, museums, shopping...and more!
Two keynotes: Ashley Spires and David Booth
One-to-One evaluation of your manuscript, illustration portfolio or author website/social media (additional fee)

YOUR PYI REGISTRATION INCLUDES:

Full day of PYI sessions and keynotes for $195 (scroll down for our fantastic line-up of sessions and speakers)
Sandwich lunch
Coffee, juice and snacks served all day between sessions

ONE-TO-ONE EVALUATIONS

Add a One-to-One evaluation of your manuscript OR your author website/social media for $75 (you must also register for PYI for this option)

I'm pleased to be presenting:

Non-Fiction Truths: How to Plan, Pitch and Promote Your Nonfiction Project

The Conference will take place at Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute in Toronto. See you there!

The Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute
is located in downtown Toronto

Just 6 more sleeps!

2016-11-12T10:08:00.005-05:00

I'll be speaking about nonfiction how-tos!

Canscaip's magnificent Packaging Your Imagination Conference is next weekend. You really want to be there. Saturday, November 19, 2016.

Here are the deets:

PACKAGING YOUR IMAGINATION (PYI)
#PYI2016

WHAT'S AT PYI THIS YEAR?

Choose from a dozen sessions, including three Master Classes and our popular panel of publishers and agents
Terrific NEW location in the heart of downtown Toronto--close to subway, hotels, restaurants, theatres, museums, shopping...and more!
Two keynotes: Ashley Spires and David Booth
One-to-One evaluation of your manuscript, illustration portfolio or author website/social media (additional fee)

YOUR PYI REGISTRATION INCLUDES:

Full day of PYI sessions and keynotes for $195 (scroll down for our fantastic line-up of sessions and speakers)
Sandwich lunch
Coffee, juice and snacks served all day between sessions

ONE-TO-ONE EVALUATIONS

Add a One-to-One evaluation of your manuscript OR your author website/social media for $75 (you must also register for PYI for this option)

I'm pleased to be presenting:

Non-Fiction Truths: How to Plan, Pitch and Promote Your Nonfiction Project

The Conference will take place at Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute in Toronto. See you there!

The Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute
is located in downtown Toronto

Just 7 more sleeps!

2016-11-11T10:08:00.000-05:00

I'll be speaking about nonfiction how-tos!

Canscaip's magnificent Packaging Your Imagination Conference is next weekend. You really want to be there. Saturday, November 19, 2016.

Here are the deets:

PACKAGING YOUR IMAGINATION (PYI)
#PYI2016

WHAT'S AT PYI THIS YEAR?

Choose from a dozen sessions, including three Master Classes and our popular panel of publishers and agents
Terrific NEW location in the heart of downtown Toronto--close to subway, hotels, restaurants, theatres, museums, shopping...and more!
Two keynotes: Ashley Spires and David Booth
One-to-One evaluation of your manuscript, illustration portfolio or author website/social media (additional fee)

YOUR PYI REGISTRATION INCLUDES:

Full day of PYI sessions and keynotes for $195 (scroll down for our fantastic line-up of sessions and speakers)
Sandwich lunch
Coffee, juice and snacks served all day between sessions

ONE-TO-ONE EVALUATIONS

Add a One-to-One evaluation of your manuscript OR your author website/social media for $75 (you must also register for PYI for this option)

I'm pleased to be presenting:

Non-Fiction Truths: How to Plan, Pitch and Promote Your Nonfiction Project

The Conference will take place at Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute in Toronto. See you there!

The Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute
is located in downtown Toronto

Eureka!

2016-11-10T14:46:00.000-05:00

Monster Science (Kids Can Press) has just received a Silver Eureka Award from the California Reading Association.

I'm as happy as a zombie with a fresh brain.

Spots still available for Canscaip's Magnificent Packaging Your Imagination Conference!

2016-11-10T10:05:00.001-05:00

There are spots still available for Canscaip's magnificent Packaging Your Imagination Conference! You really want to be there. Saturday, November 19, 2016.

Here are the deets:

PACKAGING YOUR IMAGINATION (PYI)
#PYI2016

WHAT'S AT PYI THIS YEAR?

Choose from a dozen sessions, including three Master Classes and our popular panel of publishers and agents
Terrific NEW location in the heart of downtown Toronto--close to subway, hotels, restaurants, theatres, museums, shopping...and more!
Two keynotes: Ashley Spires and David Booth
One-to-One evaluation of your manuscript, illustration portfolio or author website/social media (additional fee)

YOUR PYI REGISTRATION INCLUDES:

Full day of PYI sessions and keynotes for $195 (scroll down for our fantastic line-up of sessions and speakers)
Sandwich lunch
Coffee, juice and snacks served all day between sessions

ONE-TO-ONE EVALUATIONS

Add a One-to-One evaluation of your manuscript OR your author website/social media for $75 (you must also register for PYI for this option)

I'm pleased to be presenting:

Non-Fiction Truths: How to Plan, Pitch and Promote Your Nonfiction Project

The Conference will take place at Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute in Toronto. See you there!

The Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute
is located in downtown Toronto

Forest of Reading Lists are Out!

2016-10-14T10:59:00.005-04:00

The Forest of Reading, one of North America's largest children's choice award programs, has just announced its 2017 nominees.

I'm proud - and humbled - to have two books nominated in the nonfiction category this year!

Worms for Breakfast: How to Feed a Zoo (Owlkids) is a wacky cookbook-style primer packed with facts from experts at zoos and aquariums. Covering everything from regular animal nutrition to feeding babies to mimicking how animals hunt and eat in the wild, this book explores the eating habits of carnivores, omnivores, herbivores, and insectivores. Inside, you’ll also find real-life recipes from zoos around the world for meals like eucalyptus-leaf pesto, kelp tank goulash, and mealworm mush. Beware! You probably don’t want to eat any of it yourself.

Written in a plucky, conversational tone with delightfully wacky illustrations, a glossary, and tips for zoo animal care, this book is bound to appeal to picky readers.

Everything: Space (National Geographic Kids) blasts off into space to explore planets, stars, and beyond! Watch out! Giant swirling nebulae of fun will pull you in like gravity. Megaparsecs of facts, reports from explorers, maps and infographics, and more than 100 pictures will send you supernova.

For more information on the Forest of Reading, go here.

For registration information - if you work in a school, library, community centre, after-school group, etc - you really should register!!! - here.

Deck the Halls debuts - and is an instant bestseller!

2016-10-11T10:26:00.000-04:00

Deck the Halls: A Canadian Christmas Carol, hit store shelves last week. And to my utter delight, it immediately hit the national bestseller list in the #12 spot for children's books!

Deck the Halls is the sequel to A Porcupine in a Pine Tree and Dashing Through the Snow.

Track & Display Changes: A Writer's Blog

Counting on Katherine Is Soaring!

Katherine Johnson has her own Barbie!

Dow made a trailer.....

Sloths. Because - Sloths!!!!!!

New Cover!

Good news for Counting on Katherine!

Updated cover!

Cover Reveal for Nonfiction Monday

Silver Birch shortlists announced!

Lane Anderson Award for Science Writing Shortlists Announced!

CEO Writer Inc - You're HIRED!

OLA Signing/Appearance Schedule

Looking ahead to Superconference - Woot!

Coming soon to a bookshelf near you!!

Eureka!

Porcupine on Parade

CANSCAIP'S amazing PYI conference is this weekend!

PACKAGING YOUR IMAGINATION (PYI)#PYI2016

Non-Fiction Truths: How to Plan, Pitch and Promote Your Nonfiction Project

Packaging Your Imagination is THIS WEEKEND!

Non-Fiction Truths: How to Plan, Pitch and Promote Your Nonfiction Project

Less than a week to go! Canscaip PYI Conference!

PACKAGING YOUR IMAGINATION (PYI)#PYI2016

Non-Fiction Truths: How to Plan, Pitch and Promote Your Nonfiction Project

Just 6 more sleeps!

PACKAGING YOUR IMAGINATION (PYI)#PYI2016

Non-Fiction Truths: How to Plan, Pitch and Promote Your Nonfiction Project

Just 7 more sleeps!

PACKAGING YOUR IMAGINATION (PYI)#PYI2016

Non-Fiction Truths: How to Plan, Pitch and Promote Your Nonfiction Project

Eureka!

Spots still available for Canscaip's Magnificent Packaging Your Imagination Conference!

PACKAGING YOUR IMAGINATION (PYI)#PYI2016

Non-Fiction Truths: How to Plan, Pitch and Promote Your Nonfiction Project

Forest of Reading Lists are Out!

Deck the Halls debuts - and is an instant bestseller!

PACKAGING YOUR IMAGINATION (PYI)
#PYI2016

PACKAGING YOUR IMAGINATION (PYI)
#PYI2016

PACKAGING YOUR IMAGINATION (PYI)
#PYI2016

PACKAGING YOUR IMAGINATION (PYI)
#PYI2016

PACKAGING YOUR IMAGINATION (PYI)
#PYI2016