Storm of the season

Over a foot of snow in 24 hours with high winds = no power for two days. But we've dug out, we're back on, and we're ready for the next one. Bring it!

and then the sun came out

Tongues and Teeth and stuff



Photo by Alaskaphotography.com

The Iditarod begins tomorrow - March 3. For all your doggie goodness news, check out some of these links

 the Official site here

Race Talk forum
Backstage Iditarod

New Web Cam sites

Iditarod Start
Nome (the finish line)


For more amazing pictures of tongues and teeth check out Alaska Photography

including this short video of a crash. omg. I've so been there.




Enjoy!

Catch Fire

My dear blogger friend Alex J. Cavanaugh is celebrating his new release today. Alex is a true champion of the writing community giving his time and energy to supporting authors in every stage of the writing journey. And today the cosmos are smiling for his turn.

The goal is to help CassaFire “catch fire” on the best seller charts and achieve the success of the first book, CassaStar. There’s also a special package of prizes being given away at the author’s blog as well as book giveaways during his two-week blog tour.

See Alex’s site for details

CassaFire

by Alex J. Cavanaugh

Available today!

Science fiction - space opera/adventure

CassaFire is the sequel to Cavanaugh’s first book, CassaStar, an Amazon Top Ten Best Seller:

“…calls to mind the youthful focus of Robert Heinlein’s early military sf, as well as the excitement of space opera epitomized by the many Star Wars novels. Fast-paced military action and a youthful protagonist make this a good choice for both young adult and adult fans of space wars.” - Library Journal

Buy the book:

Barnes and Noble

Amazon

Kindle

Why Do They Run?

It's eighteen days away.

Every year, I sign up for the Iditarod Insider to get the latest news and videos. I pick the free option, but if you are a teacher, or huge fan, you can choose to subscribe to the whole package. It's a fun way to be part of the race, without the travel.

Check out my favourite video so far this year here and click on THE DOGS OF THE IDITAROD for a one-minute clip that will make you smile.

Or, if you just want to know WHY THEY RUN, check out my book, DOGSLED DREAMS.

It's all about love.

Goodreads

sled dog central

OMG - my book has magically appeared on Goodreads.

ICE DOGS

It's alive! 

I would love it if you added it to your list

May B winner

Little late getting this post out due to the skate skiing conditions across the lake. SPECTACULAR! What a day.

and so,

Winner of the ARC of Caroline Starr Rose's May B is ...


Susan Fields

YAAAAYYY   *Kermit arms waving

Random photo from here so there's something to look at in this post.

Thank you to everyone who entered.

Giveaway May B

Lots of buzz lately over Caroline Starr Rose's brilliant novel in verse MAY B. 

My five star review on goodreads.

I'd like to help celebrate by offering an ARC giveaway. Randomly selected. Just leave a comment here before Feb. 4 and you will be entered to win.

Please include your email if it isn't linked to blogger!

Winner announced Feb. 5


Speaking of survival stories - has anyone seen the new release, The Grey, with Liam Neesen?  Besides being full of annoying Hollywood-ized untruths about wolves, it's a great adventure. Leave a comment, I'd love to chat about it.

Wolves and Bears and Contracts, oh my!

Thought it's time to share the story of when I got my offer from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

And when you live in the middle of a wildlife preserve, most everything is a story...

dramatic recreation.

There were two publishers interested in making an offer for my YA novel, ICE DOGS. So we knew the date it was to happen. As you can imagine, I was a bit of a basket case that day.

Hubby was hanging around, not helping with the nerves, so before it all went down, I suggested he take the dog out for a walk.

At the exact moment the offer came in, I glanced out the window to see my dog running for her life down the driveway with a freaking Timber Wolf on her tail. The wolf got right to the bottom of the stairs of the deck before it wheeled around and ran off.

And my man was missing.

So forget about the fact I just had the offer of a lifetime, and all my dreams come true. Instead of celebrating, I had images of my man surrounded by a wolf pack somewhere.

I think my exact words were, "Gotta go... the wolves!"

Turns out, while on their relaxing walk, the dog spotted a bear with two cubs, began a chase that didn't really work out for her, and came running back to my Hubby. All Hubby saw was teeth coming at him.

He scrambled up the closest tree and stayed there to wait it out. The dog continued running home, and somehow picked up a wolf along the way. (I swear, I'm not making this up!)

So the dog got chased by a bear AND a wolf on the same walk!

Leave it to MY DOG to steal my thunder!

Ever wonder where deer sleep in a snowstorm?

... on my snowshoe trail apparently!

We had a mother of a storm here yesterday. When I went snowshoeing today, I found these deer beds on my trail. You can see where they dug down, and then how much snow fell while they were all comfy in bed.



see the frozen indent made by the deer's leg in the middle of the bed?

What cool things have you found on your trail?

Weather fit for napping - or critting...

photo credit here Nap how I want

It's minus thirty four wind chill outside. That's -34 C. Winter has arrived. And that means it's time for DOGSLED RACES!!!

Or napping.

Or writing.

And since I'm not doing any of those lately, I'd like to use this weather as an excuse to celebrate my good fortune of selling ICE DOGS to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

I didn't do it alone! I had lots of help. And so...

I'm offering to critique the first three YA or MG chapters of the first three people who comment.

• Must let me know in the comment that you would like to take me up on the offer.
• Either send me your email address, or leave it in the comments.
• Must have chapters ready to send right away.
• I'll send it back to you within three days of receiving your chapters.

edited: I had no idea that would go so fast! Sorry - offer is now expired. I have my victims volunteers already!

Michael
Sophia
Marcy
Angela

Send me your chapters!

I will absolutely do this again the next time I have a few days free.

Thanks everyone!

May B a good day

HUGE congrats to my debut author buddy Caroline. At long last, her book comes out today!!

MAY B by Caroline Starr Rose

I watch the wagon
until I see nothing on the open plain.
For the first time ever,
I am alone.

Starred Review from Kirkus
Starred Review from Publisher's Weekly
Junior Library Guild Selection
Amazon Best Book of the Month for kids Selection



Also out today, another debut author buddy,

The Gathering Storm by Robin Bridges

What a good day for books!

Interview

I'm over on fellow author Mindy McGinnis blog today Writer, Writer, Pants on Fire where I intelligently discuss writing goob.

Mindy and I both have books coming out in fall 2013. It's nice to have someone to wait with.

To add Mindy's book to your Goodreads list check it out, NOT A DROP TO DRINK.

Wolf Toy

Had to do a quick post to show you what the wolves have been up to on the lake.

Bite marks on our bouy marker. Size comparison with our dog's toy.

We attached a new bouy this summer marking a log sticking out of the water on our lake. Once the lake froze, the bouy sat on top of the ice. It apparently looked like a new toy. The wolves ripped it off its rope, and played soccer with it across the lake.

We retrieved it this morning on our walk. The number of wolf tracks surrounding it looked like dozens of wolves had played the game , but we've only seen three - a spectacularly large and lush wolf with two smaller ones.

our lake view from the porch.

Now I want to tie more balls to the dock to watch the wolves come and play with them. I wonder if they like squeaky toys.

Happy New Year to everyone!

Best of 2011

Favourite picture of the year. Sled Dog Central

Top Five reads

1. The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson
2. The Dark and Hollow Places by Carrie Ryan
3. Prized by Caragh M. O'Brien
4. Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake
5. Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

Dogsled Dreams book tour 2011. Dog race mascot came over to admire my books!

Top Five Things from this blog

1. This dogsledding video
2. My sled dogs
3. Best part of being an author - fan mail
4. Georgian Bay adventure
5 Announcing my book deal for Ice Dogs





Top Two Things from other people's blogs

1. Sandra Mitchell's post Eventually You'll Care Less
2. Tahereh Mafi on Being a Writer


What were some of your favourites this year?

Story Siren 2011

What a year of reading! I completed my Goodreads reading challenge with 81 books! And 36 were debut's which also completes my Story Siren debut challenge.

I'm so thankful for being part of the amazing group The Elevensies. When I needed to share good news, or bad, they were there to talk me down. We supported and learned from each other, and I've made friends that will hopefully remain for my writing career.

A bonus of doing the debut challenge was it introduced me to books in genre's that I wouldn't normally read.

I've learned:

• Dead people? - very very cool to read about! Especially if they are dressed in, you know... blood.
• Ramadan? Yiddish? - I'm embarrassed to confess, I didn't really know much. But so glad to learn.
• God Stones? - yeah, I'm a new and frothing fan of fantasy! Woo!
• 1941 in the Soviet Union? - reading Ruta's masterpiece rocked me to the core. It changed me.

Here's my 2011 debut list

1. The Trouble With Half a Moon by Danette Vigilante (MG)
2. Warped by Maurissa Guibord (YA)
3. Vesper by Jeff Sampson (YA)
4. XVI by Julia Karr (YA)
5. Unearthly by Cynthia Hand (YA)
6. Head Games by Keri Mikulski (YA)
7. Perilous by Tamara Hart Heiner (YA)
8. Across the Universe by Beth Revis (YA)
9. Rival by Sara Bennett Wealer (YA)
10. So Shelly by Ty Roth (YA)
11. Haven by Kristi Cook (YA)
12. The Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney (YA)
13. Clarity by Kim Harrington (YA)
14. How Lamar's Bad Prank Won Him a Bubba-Sized Trophy by Chrystal Allen (MG)
15. Illegal by Bettina Restrepo (YA)
16. Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys (YA)
17. The Lipstick Laws by Amy Holder (YA)
18. The Rotten Adventures of Zachary Ruthless by Allan Woodrow (MG)
19. OyMG by Amy Fellner Dominy (YA)
20. Moonglass by Jessi Kirby (YA)
21. Memento Nora by Angie Smibert (YA)
22. Divergent by Veronica Roth (YA)
23. Possession by Elana Johnson (YA)
24. Blood Magic by Tessa Gratton (YA)
25. Bestest. Ramadan. Ever. by Medeia Sherif (YA)
26. Dead Rules by Randy Russell (YA)
27. Wither by Lauren DeStafano (YA)
28. Vanished by Sheela Chari (MG)
29. End of the Line by Angela Cerrito (YA)
30. Popular by Alissa Grosso (YA)
31. The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab (YA)
32. Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake (YA)
33. With a Name Like Love by Tess Hilmo (MG)
34. My Very Unfairy Tale Life by Anna Staniszewski (MG)
35. Don't Expect Magic by Kathy McCullough (YA)
36. The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson (YA)

Can't wait to get started on 2012!

Did you do this challenge? Which books rocked your world?