Particles of Narrative Conference Oct 27, 2007

A day of intellectual particles of information bombarding my brain. By the end of the day, I was inspired but doubt if I could have recited the alphabet correctly if you'd asked me...

The impressive speakers included Ken Oppel, Megan Whalen Turner, Sarah Ellis, Mark Turner, Linda Hutcheon and Tim Wynne-Jones.

The Panel discussion with all the speakers was amazing, some fundamental issues of children's literature were discussed, interspersed with moments of fun and camaraderie.

Details from each speaker's talk to follow, when my over-stimulated brain calms down.

Until then, enjoy the pictures.

My baby comes home...

My mom might say her baby looks cute. But I beg to differ.

I brought mine home today and its awesome!

Yes, finally got my copy of "The Third Eye" and in spite of my claim to be a writer, words fail me.

And so I won't say any more except that I have to go. My baby needs another hug :)

Sis, a cousin and I

Many many moons ago....a birthday celebration with sis and a cousin.

Waiting.....

We're all waiting for something.....

As a child, I waited to grow up.

As a grown up, I waited to get rich and happy, and live happily ever after.

As a mother, I wait for my son to get back home after an overnight camping trip.

And as a writer, I'm waiting more than ever...

To hold my first book in my hands and revel in its reality,
To finish my second manuscript,
To hear from my publisher that sales are great,
To get a reply on an e-mail I've sent,
For my SASE hoping its good news.

This reminds me of a poem I'd studied in school:

On His Blindness

By John Milton

When I consider how my light is spent constantly
Ere half my days in this dark world and wide,
And that one Talent which is death to hide
Lodged with me useless, though my soul more bent
To serve therewith my Maker, and present
My true account, lest He returning chide,
"Doth God exact day-labour, light denied?"
I fondly ask. But Patience, to prevent
That murmur, soon replies, "God doth not need
Either man's work or his own gifts. Who best
Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best. His state
Is kingly: thousands at his bidding speed,
And post o'er land and ocean without rest;
They also serve who only stand and wait."

And so.....I wait.....

CLICK! One Novel Ten Authors

Just got this book in my hands and what excellent timing...a cool evening, an exciting book and a glass of wine. Could one ask for anything more?

For those who don't know, they're ten of the best authors the world over, all coming together to write a chapter of CLICK.

The impressive lineup includes David Almond, Eoin Colfer, Roddy Doyle, Deborah Ellis, Nick Hornby, Margo Lanagan, Gregory Maguire, Ruth Ozeki, Linda Sue Park and Tim Wynne-Jones.

This is an Arthur A. Levine Book, an imprint of Scholastic. All royalties from the sale of this book benefit Amnesty International.

This is all I have time for....the book beckons.

Have a pleasant weekend, all!

And here it is!

And the wait is almost over......

In a month's time or less, there will be a newborn in the literary world. A child that took four years from conception to birth. One that has embodies countless hours of dreaming, writing, re-writing, polishing and at least a quart of the red stuff.

The Third Eye
Published by the Dundurn Group
http://www.dundurn.com/Available October 2007

For Tara and her brother, Suraj, the year since their mother and grandfather fled the village of Morni in the middle of the night has been a nightmare. Their new stepmother is cruel and deceptive, and the village itself is lacking a healer. What’s more, men of the village have been disappearing, often returning in a strange, altered form.

When a new healer, Zarku, mysterious man with a third eye possessing strange power, suddenly appears in Morni, all are mesmerized by his magic-all except Tara, who sees through his evil disguise.

With nothing but her own courage and wit, Tara tries to find her missing mother and grandfather, the true healer, in time to save her village. But along the way she must enlist the help of the god Ganesh and the lord of death, Yama, or she, like others before her, will fall victim to Zarku’s third eye.

Do come back.....picture to follow shortly!