Meet the Mushers

Iditarod.com photo credit

The official list of mushers signed up to race the 2011 Iditarod is up on the website. Check out the site HERE to see full biographies and photos of the racers. My secret crush, Martin Buser is running again this year! Good luck to all and happy training!

Put your hands up in the air

This has nothing to do with adventure, or dogs, or outdoor adventure, or writing. And I don't ususally do this here - but seriously, just watch.


jokeroo.com

Don't forget to enter my book giveaway! Closes on Monday, November 15!

Reviews coming in

After the ARC's are sent to reviewers, it's yet another thing to wait for in this business. Will they like it? What if they think it's sucky? Will they write and print a review that it's sucky? What if everyone reads the review and decides not to buy the book because of said suckiness? Really, the waiting can be torture.

With three weeks left till the publisher's deadline for reviews, I still have a while to wait. But, I have received TWO REVIEWS before the deadline and they are most awesome! Someone out there gets the story. They like the writing. Not one mention of sucky.

I was going to wait to share the reviews, but I just can't.






Dogsled Dreams is an inspirational story about a girl learning the rewards of persistence, hard work and bravery. It is much more than an adventure story about a young musher; it is about a girl determined to prove her knowledge, abilities and maturity to her family, peers and, most importantly, herself. Rebecca's experiences are applicable to any young girl ready to emerge from the security of childhood to the freedom of adolescence. Dogsled Dreams is a captivating and exciting debut novel and introduction to dogsledding.

Superior Outdoors Magazine



This is an engaging, often exciting, and sometimes humorous story full of rich details and fascinating information about dog sled racing. Rebecca and her dogs not only came alive, but they brought me along on their adventures.

Cynthia Chapman Willis, author of Dog Gone and Buck Fever

Dogs help you live longer

Last year, Dogs in Canada magazine published one of my articles, WALKING THE DOG. It's now up on the Dogs in Canada website.

The article is about my friend, Alana who has Cystic Fibrosis. Her goofy dogs are keeping her alive. See how by checking out my article here!

Excerpt:
Alana’s neighbours grew accustomed to the sight of her pulling a wagon with Magnus sitting proudly. They could set their clocks by the morning, noon and evening walks.

Celebrating Dog Books




A few of my DOG BOOK collection.

  Lately I've been reading some amazing books about dogs. Wanted to share some of my recommended reads with you.

LOST AND FOUND by Jacqueline Sheehan haunts me still. The characters are rich and vivid and the dialogue is amazing. The author wrote me back after I sent her a fan mail!

LISTEN by Stephanie Tolan. A quiet, thoughtful book about the power a relationship with a dog can have. Loved it. This author also wrote me back!

THE BOY WHO SPOKE DOG by Clay Morgan. Interesting that the dog's speak in this story. And they are fiercely loyal.

PUPPIES, DOGS, and BLUE NORTHERS by Gary Paulsen. It's by Paulsen, so what more can I say about this. Loved it.

IZZY AND LENORE by Jon Katz. Katz has a special way of writing about dogs that worms into your brain. I've enjoyed all of his books. And especially SOUL OF A DOG. Just wow.

DOG GONE by Cynthia Chapman Willis. Great story, amazing characters, emotional read. Loved it!

Have you read any good books about dogs lately? I'd love to hear about them.

Book Giveaway Celebration!

In Two and half months, my debut novel DOGSLED DREAMS will be released! I can hardly believe it! To celebrate, I'm giving away the following fabulous books. All you have to do is answer one question

What is the main character's name in Dogsled Dreams? HINT: female protagonist

The answer can be found at my website.

Three winners will each win two books. In an attempt to be hip, I've made a FORM. Fill out your preference of book-goodness you'd like to win. I'll compile the information and random-pick the winners. Deadline is November 15 to enter. Exactly TWO months before Dogsled Dreams release.

Enter HERE.

RAMPANT by Diana Peterfreund - hard cover

ETERNAL by Cynthia Leitich Smith - soft cover

AS IF BEING 12 3/4 ISN'T BAD ENOUGH by Donna Gephart - signed by author!

BUCK FEVER by Cynthia Chapman Willis - hard cover

THE ELEPHANT KEEPER by Christopher Nicholson - soft cover

The Writer's Guide to CRAFTING STORIES FOR CHILDREN by Nancy Lamb - soft cover

Middle Grade authors

Here's a few fabulous middle grade authors with debut books coming out in 2011. They're fellow Elevensies members and from the look of their new websites, their books are going to be fantastic! Check them out

Caroline Starr Rose just unveiled her new website for her novel, MAY B. It's a historical survival story! In verse! How she does that is a mystery to me. But I know I can't wait until September.

Allan Woodrow has a hillarious website. Seriously, go see what his typical book signing looks like. This series will be a riot. The Rotten Adventures of ZACHARY RUTHLESS is available now for pre order.

Dog costume fun

What good is a strange, yearly tradition of dressing up to get candy if you don't use the chance to completely humiliate your poor canine companion whose greatest joy in life is to please you?

photos from sympatico.ca

First review

This is way cool!

Not only did the amazing Cynthia Chapman Willis, author of DOG GONE and BUCK FEVER, agree to review my ARC, but she also provided a BLURB. That's the short quote that goes on the cover of the final book.

I'm delighted that my first review is positive - in fact, she liked it so much, she's posted about it on her blog. I'm feeling a little star-struck, and completely honoured.

 Check out Cynthia's blog to read what she thought of DOGSLED DREAMS.

DOGSLED DREAMS is available for pre order at the publisher's site. PRE ORDER HERE.

Winterdance Training Run

Fourteen seconds of passion.




Thought I'd post this quick, fun video to remind everyone we've got SNOW coming soon! Let's get excited!!!

Winterdance Dogsled Tours is a large kennel of 150 huskies, in my hometown of Haliburton, Ontario. They plan to run the Yukon Quest this year! Also, their e-book Iditarod Dreamer is available to purchase on their site. Hop over and check out their other fun videos!

Adventure post contest

This post is for the awesome contest going on at Beth Revis's blog to win an ARC of her fabulous debut novel coming out ACROSS THE UNIVERSE. I'm pretty sure you've heard of it, but if you've missed it, check out the first chapter here. It will blow your mind.

I normally write short, quick posts here. But this will break from tradition.


A life lesson at a remote outpost camp

Working as a cook in a prospector camp north of Pickle Lake, Ontario in January comes with a few challenges. But I was 19 and ready for an adventure, though I didn’t know how to cook.


I chopped wood, stoked woodstoves and hauled water. I also quickly learned how to feed a camp full of hungry guys. I was so good at all these jobs, the guys stopped mumbling about having some whimpy girl in camp and actually started saying things like, “you’d make a good trapper’s wife there darlin’.”

Which I took to be a compliment of sorts. They even made me my own private outhouse. This consisted of a hole, some logs nailed to the trees and a plastic see-through tarp stapled up to form a privacy screen that worked about as well as when you were in 6th grade and your friend held up her scarf in front of you to change behind in gym. Still, it was mine.

One morning I slept in. I’m not sure how since the average air temperature inside the walled canvas tent was possibly colder than the minus 40 degrees Celsius outside. I threw my legs over the side of my plywood platform bed and jumped into my boots. My squeaking steps to the cook tent sounded loud in the silent darkness. Normally I lit the woodstove quickly using a mixture of gas and oil. I’d sprinkle some on the kindling, light a match and toss it in. There’d be a little “poof” and the kindling would begin to cheerily crackle and spit out its warmth.

But there was a shortage of gas today. Only the guys cutting line with chainsaws could use it. I held up my Coleman lantern and stumbled around until I spotted the can of Naptha gas.

I wonder if that will work, I said to myself. Did I mention I was 19?

I grabbed the can with icy fingers and gingerly poured some on the kindling. I leaned over the woodstove, peering down the opening at the top. That doesn’t look like enough. It probably needs more. I poured more. I straightened, shivered, and poured a little more on just to be sure.

I lit the match directly over top of the stove. And to ensure that the Naptha worked, I leaned over the yawning, dark hole and watched the match drop in.

Life lesson #132.

A large ball of rabid flame shot up towards my face. I was blown backwards by the force of the explosion. The stove pipe was launched through the tent wall like an evil black rocket. A deafening blast cut through the freezing air that was probably heard in the living rooms of the people in the next village.

“What was that Joe?”

“Don’t know Martha, sounded like some lunatic white woman is testing the volatility of Naptha gas.”

The commotion brought 12 men in long johns, running in to find me giggling on the ground. There was a melt hole across the chest of my Polypropylene shirt, some blisters already forming on the backs of my hands, and the distinct smell of burnt pig. I was to discover later that half my eyebrows were gone.

The rest of that month passed slowly for me. Stripped of my “trapper’s wife” honorary title, I was now the camp joke. Guaranteed to bring a smile to any who glanced at me.

But I did learn how to cook, how to get along with a group of surly male prospectors, and some fire safety. The good thing is you only have to learn something like that once.

DOGSLED DREAMS book trailer

Today is the day.

For your viewing pleasure, I present the official DOGSLED DREAMS trailer created by the most awesome Madison Meyer of M2 Productions.

End of summer adventure photo collage

One of the great things about blogging is I get to share some of my vacation photos without being that obnoxious friend that makes you sit through the two hour slide show of their trip to Disney World. This way, you can scroll through the ones that are boring. Here's a few I haven't posted already. Enjoy.

My man on his cell as a storm approaches



The fog monster approaches




cooking noodles. Yum.





paddling next to a deer



what's a slide show without the obligatory dog shot?



I've posted this one before - but it's just too cute not to repeat



Outdoor Writers of Canada awards!

How to turn your book club into a spectacular event

New release alert!

How To Turn Your Book Club Into a Spectacular Event by Myra Calvani is available now on Amazon. It's published by Twilight Times Books.

The most amazing thing is that I'm listed in the book as a resource! I'm thrilled and honoured.

Here's what some people are saying
"How to Turn Your Book Club into a Spectacular Event, by Mayra Calvani, speaks directly to kids who love to read and who want to share their favorite books with friends." --The Story of a Writer



HOW TO TURN YOUR BOOK CLUB INTO A SPECTACULAR EVENT is packed with great ideas on making this happen. From ideas of what to call your book club to brainstorming questions to ask, this is a must have book if you're serious about having a successful club." --YABooks Central



For more info, check out Myra's website HERE.

I'm on Writer's Alley!



I can't believe it!! I've hit the big time and I'm featured on Sheri Larsen's blog!!! Her graffiti wall features all sorts of amazing talented writers and I'm honoured to be chosen!

Check out the interview for how I feel about writing, dogsledding, agents, and dog breath. Go here.