Best of the SCBWI conference Canada East

I'm still in mourning that the conference is OVER. What a weekend! With only 45 seats available, there was a casual, intimate vibe that I just loved! The whole thing ran smoothly thanks to the super-human efforts of the organizer Jackie Paynaert. This woman is vivacious, hilarity and you should go check out her blog right now!

Only thing I regret - why, WHY do I always forget to take PHOTOS at these events? Sorry, I got nothing. But I feel strongly blog posts must have photos so here is a random shot of my man on our expedition last year.

So, here's the Cole's notes version of some of the brillance that resonated with me at the conference:

Terri Farley - author of the Stallion series
on why we write

• "we can help kids feel lke they have a part in the world"
• "families aren't perfect. Books show kids that's normal"
• Mine your own childhood for horror - "crawl back into the skin of the child that you were - there are plenty of lessons there"
• our job as story tellers is to "hold back the darkness for kids."

Veronica Rossi - author of the upcoming series the Never Sky
on high concept

• write the back flap of the book first. This keeps you focused on what the heart of the story is.
• make a list of ten things that could happen to your character. Avoid the first three. The last two ideas are probably the best
• high concept = a short log line

template for log line

After (inciting incident) a (character description) must (primary action) or risk (stakes) in order to (end goal)


Sydney Salter - author of My Big Nose and Other Natural Disasters
on writing believable characters

• "take time to let the characters reflect after a dramatic event before going to the next plot point. It will add weight to the story. A pause alerts the reader that they've changed."
• "Let the character return to a place where something important happened and reflect how they see things differently now."     LOVE THIS
• TIPS - read Teen magazines: answer the quiz as your character to get to know her. Study the body language in the sections "is he into you?". Read the excerpts of most embarrasing moments - can make interesting back story for your secondary characters.

edit: stole this photo from Sydney's facebook post.

Faculty, left to right - Veronica Rossi, Terri Farley, Hillary Vandusen, Josh Adams, Sydney Salter, Fran Cannon Slayton

ALSO, here's my signed loot I brought home!

Off to the conference!

I'll be back next week with the goods on the SCBWI Canada East writing conference in Niagra Falls. I'm SOOO excited to be meeting and talking to real live writers!

A whole weekend surrounded by people who understand:

•  the amount of brownies required when one goes out on submission
•  the obsessive compulsion to check emails 59 times per day
•  the need to write down that brilliant epiphany at 2:30 am for the scene you've been struggling with
•  the surreptitious use of a notebook while driving your teenager and her friends to a party

Yay for writing conferences!

Okay, and I simply must post this hilarious bit of talking dog.

Confession

I feel the need to confess something a little decadent. Today, I had the WHOLE day to write. And I wrote a total of ONE paragraph. I then spent the rest of the day shopping for books on line.

Shameful. Shameful. Shameful!

In my defense - it was raining outside and I'm about to go canoe camping for three days. I just didn't feel like getting wet. Oh, wait, that's not much of a defense for not writing.

Anyway.


now a little grin creeps across my face as I show what I bought....

I also bought several more on my KOBO reader!

Lots of Elevensies love here. I LOVE my fantastic group of debut authors!!!  I've also just finished reading a few more fabulous Elevensies which will all be featured in my next installment of  ELEVENSIES GIVEAWAYS. Stay tuned.

The Windup Girl was a must after reading SHIP BREAKER. Words cannot describe how much I loved that book!

And I know, it's about time I read Black Star, Bright Dawn. Especially considering Scot O'Dell is one of my favourite authors. To be honest, I've been a little shy to read it, but I was feeling brave today.

Okay, so anyone else have an uncontrollable book purchasing problem? Help me out here.

Winner of Ice-out contest!



winter didn't want to end this year


Today at the lake, we finally have a winner for the ice-out contest thanks to the dump of rain last night. The ice has been holding out in one corner of the lake for the last four days

stubborn ice in the bays

But today - YAY! Ice-free and ready for summer!

Just in time for our canoe instructor course this weekend! Went paddling two days ago and gingerly tested the temperatures. Let's just say I hope the canoe rescue portion will be quick since I'll be IN THE LAKE.

So.

We have a winner!  Winning guess of April 27 at 12:34.  (can I borrow your crystal ball?)

VIVIEN!!

And the prize is....

Thanks to everyone for playing along!

note: I guessed the 25 so I lost our family bet this year.

Dead things my dog brings home

Images from our hike today:

And here's our lake during the snowstorm and after

As you can see - the lake is half open!  Guesses for the ice-out contest are now closed. I'll be posting the exact date and time soon I think - and the winner!




Dead things


Today on our hike, my dog found a half a rabbit. The bottom half. This led me to ponder the events that would have taken place for a half a rabbit to be left in the bush. Tragic and dramatic stories tossed around in my head until I could write them down when I got back. Inspiration for writing is all around me.

A half a rabbit isn't the only thing my dog has found lately. This winter she was obsessed with a chickadee that had unfortunately broken its neck on our window. Tanzer sat with it in the snow - even brought it on our walks for three days.

I'm never surprised to see her trotting out of the bush, head held high, with a deer leg danging from her mouth. We live in the middle of a winter deer yard, and where there are deer, there are wolves.

Dead frogs, dead ruffed grouse, stinky dead things I didn't even recognize.

What has your dog brought home lately?

Guess ice-out contest

An annual tradition at my house is to guess the date that the lake will break free from its long winter nap. This year I thought I'd invite everyone to join for a chance to win a mystery prize.  (It involves a book.)

Leave a comment with your best guess of date and time for ice-out.  Good luck!

ALSO: happiness is... finding your book listed in THE BIGGEST HITS OF THE YEAR  in Trends in MG at the Write Angle! 

Beavers

Busy writing!

To entertain you while I'm away, here's a very cool vid of a couple of animals in Alberta that know what it's like to be busy.

Little known fact:
I'm not sure I would have noticed if it had not been pointed out to me, that all three of my manuscripts have beavers in them. Hmmm...

Good books and a writing conference

random photo from last summer because I've started counting down days till kayak season

Each year around this time I start hearing about amazing writing conferences, and writers getting together and partying and having FUN and I get a little jealous. Well, I've just signed up for the SCBWI Canada East conference in Niagra Falls, Ontario. The price is amazing and I've never been to Niagra Falls. I'm so excited!

Is anyone else going? I'd love to hear from you!

I'm hoping this will inspire me again to do more writing. I have been on a hiatus, but doing lots of READING. I'd like to recommend some fabulous books:

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys. 

Ever read a book that changes you?
This book did for me, and blew my mind with brilliant writing. Such an important story and Ruta tells it beautifully with characters that are so memorable, they feel like family. I was mesmerized from page one. And have I mentioned the WRITING? This author can WRITE! 

Illegal by Bettina Restrepo.

A story of struggle and desperate times, but somehow written with a feeling of hope. I'm left with a deep gratitude for all that I have. Beautifully written.

How Lamar's Bad Prank Won a Bubba-Sized Trophy by Crystal Allen.

Such a delightful read! Lamar is charming and vulnerable and tough and sensitive and hilarious. Crystal managed to make me laugh, then cry, sometimes on the same page. Loved it.

A few of my sled dogs

Today I woke to find Susan Fields had reviewed my book, DOGSLED DREAMS on her blog. WOW! I'm so happy that she enjoyed the book. And so did her kids! Susan mentioned how much she liked it when I posted a picture of one of my real dogs from the book. Here's a few more.

Doppler with some admirerers

Tarzan - unfortunately I don't have any pictures with him smiling

Doppler (bottom), Ulu, (left) and Orbit (smiling) as pups in the dog truck

On the stake out line at camp. Denali is the big white guy carefully not sitting on his straw

giving rides. Apollo and Soho in lead

Fall training. Blaze in lead. Doppler and Tarzan in point. Ulu and Apollo in Swing (or Team position). Orbit and Belle in Team. Elsie and Denali in Wheel

Elsie



dogs howling on the stake out line



Amazing dogs - amazing race

Must watch videos of Iditarod dogs in action from the official Iditarod Insider site.

Montage ONE

Montage TWO

Do these videos bring a lump to your throat? For some reason, I get very emotional watching how gorgeous and true the dogs are. And the dramatic music caps it.

ELEVENSIE BOOK GIVEAWAY winners!

WOW! I'm thrilled at how popular this contest was. ELEVENSIE BOOKS are feeling the love.

I'll be doing another mega contest for Elevensie books in the summer as I continue my pay-it-forward project.

And now I have even more reason to be thankful - my publisher has just informed me that DOGSLED DREAMS is the best selling title the company has had!  THANK YOU to everyone who has helped support me!


The following people have won

Jackie White has won a copy of UNEARTHLY

 Pamela Green has won a copy of THE IRON WITCH

Donna Earnhardt has won a copy of HEAD GAMES

Bethany has won a copy of SO SHELLY

Deb Marshall has won a copy of HAVEN

Mindy Crump has won a copy of RIVAL

YAY to the winners!

and the bonus books:


Rose Green has won a copy of A TRUE AND FAITHFUL NARRATIVE

Meredith Miller has won a copy of DOG GONE

Sherrie Peterson has won a copy of PERILOUS


Congratulations everyone. Make sure you check back for more contests and outdoor fun and photos!



Congratulations Amy Fellner Dominy!

My beautiful and talented friend, fellow Elevensie, and agent sister, Amy Fellner Dominy author of the upcoming OyMG, Walker and Company, May 2011, has sold her second teen novel!

Publisher's Marketplace announcement:

Author of the forthcoming OyMG, Amy Fellner Dominy's AUDITION AND SUBTRACTION, in which a 14-year-old girl faces competition in her school band from the new boy, who could take away not only her spot in District Honor Band, but also her best friend in a story of shifting friendships, divided loyalties and unexpected romance, again to Stacy Cantor Abrams at Walker, for publication in Fall 2012, by Caryn Wiseman at Andrea Brown Literary Agency (world).

YAY AMY!!!!

SNOW! and other things almost as awesome



We've been hit with snow this week - little late for the two dogsled races that had to be cancelled, but just in time for March Break.

Tanzer on watch





"would you get off the blog and come snowshoeing already!"

about 30 cm more yesterday!

GOOD BOOKS

I haven't been writing as much recently, but I call this time in between "percolating". I'm also doing lots of reading. GREAT books lately. Here's a few paranormal suggestions:

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

Haven by Kristi Cook

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

Captivate by Carrie Jones

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Forgive my Fins by Tera Lynn Childs

Warped by Maurissa Guibord

And a story that I LOVED - one of my absolute favourite reads - I can't even talk about. It's a manuscript by my fabulous critique partner, Paul Greci. 

 Have you ever read a manuscript that you were so excited about you just wanted to tell the world?

BOOK TOUR

Lastly, I will be in CHAPTERS bookstore in Sudbury this Wednesday for a presentation and signing. Please come by and  say hello if you can!

An Iditarod story

Several years ago, I handled for a musher in the Iditarod, Stan Zoray. For me, being in Anchorage surrounded by dogs and mushers was a little like going to the red carpet for the Academy Awards. So many famous mushers! Everywhere I turned, OMG - there's Dee Dee Jonrowe! There's Charlie Boulding! I even managed to get a picture of me standing beside my favourite author and musher, Dave Olsen. (except at the exact moment the photographer snapped the picture, Dave's dogs needed his attention, and he bent down to them. So I proudly show my photo of me and Dave Olsen's butt)

Fellow blogger Kim Kircher was lucky enough to be at the ceremonial start of the Iditarod yesterday in Anchorage, Alaska. Check out her awesome post about the sites and stories

To follow the teams, or to read more, go check out the Iditarod Official Website. Or for indepth coverage including the actual start today in Wasilla at 2pm check out Eye on the Trail.

Best part of being an author, and a challenge

First, I have to show you what I watched this morning while having breakfast:

My dog watched for a while, then shrugged her shoulders and went back to her squeaky toy. She's seen this show before.



Now, allow me to share with you what I think is the best part of being an author. Here are a few awesome emails I've been receiving from young readers of DOGSLED DREAMS.
note: some are editted to take out spoilers and I've replaced the name with the first initial


Dear Ms Johnson,

I really liked your book "Dogsled Dreams" and really liked how you described the characters. My favourite dog would be Apollo, because I think Apollo is a good dog.
I thought the book was REALLY FUNNY, interesting, and sometimes surprising. Sincerely J (gr. 5/6)



Dear Ms. Johnson,
I loved your book Dogsled Dreams. the dogs love running and stuff like that. I would love to try dogsledding. It sounds fun.
It was funny when the teacher slipped and landed on the pups’ pee. And I’m just like Rebeca I do those things and say those words !
Sincerely,
B


Dear Ms. Johnson,
I love your book "Dogsled Dreams". I thought your characters were fun and adventurous.
My favourite characters in "Dogsled Dreams" are Rebecca, Apollo, Rebecca’s dog team and Rebecca’s dad. But my favourite character would have to be Rebecca. She was exiting!
I probably like her so much because I am a girl too!
I liked it because of the thrill. It made me nervous exited and worried.
From,
K Grade 6



Dear Ms. Johnson,
I loved your book Dogsled Dreams sooooo much. I think it is the best book our teacher has read so far. I am going to read all your books.
My favourite dog is Doppler it is also Rebecca’s favourite dog. The book is so funny, I really liked the part when Rebecca and her dad went to the school to show the dogs to little kids and the dogs ran outside the classroom and to the hallway and one of the dog peed in the hallway and made the teacher slip, that was hilarious.
I think you write awesome books and I cant wait to read them all.
Sincerely, Y Grade 5



Dear Ms. Johnson,
I loved your book, Dog Sled Dreams. My favourite part was when the teacher slipped on the pile of pee. It was so funny. Your book was so cool. I loved it so much because it also had humor. One thing is that I hate Robin, she is so bad.
Sincerely,
S Grade 5



Dear Ms. Johnson,.
I thought your book was interesting, EXTREMELY funny, and sometimes surprising.
My favourite part is when Rebecca and her dad brought the puppies to school and they went to the bathroom on the floor. Then the teacher slipped and landed in the puddle the puppy made.
My favourite dogs are Tarzan, Doppler, Apollo, and Blaze.
Do you actually have a dog named Apollo? And do you race dogs yourself?
Your #1 fan
E. Grade 5




LOVE ALL OF THESE! And yes, Emma, Apollo was my leader for many years. Here he is:

And finally, I know I've already posted a cell phone pict, but please indulge me again. And to make it worth your while - here's a challenge -

if you find my book in your own bookstore, send me a photo and I'll send you a YA or MG book. Simple as that!


And so -  a few pictures that I can't stop looking at and grinning:

 Cole's bookstore. bottom left - that's me!

Chapters bookstore - holy crap!!!

Don't forget to enter my Insanely Mega giveaway. Nine winners! Nine fabulous books up for grabs.