I realized in February that the supposedly funny, happy-go-lucky characters in my current project seem to be worrying an awful lot. Perhaps now that March is here and with it more vaccines, my characters will start to loosen up. Maybe they’ll even feel comfortable joining a crowd and travelling!

Upcoming Events

On March 23rd at 6:30 pm I’ll be part of a panel discussion hosted by the Vancouver Public Library and CWILL BC. Writing and Illustrating Kids Books: The Inside Story is a free online event open to anyone and is a great opportunity to hear from professional children’s writers and illustrators about how they broke into the field and built their careers. Click here to access the event.

Later in March I’ll be speaking with inGirls, a club for girls with autism. I’ve heard this is a lively group and I can’t wait to speak with them about my books, Lauren, and the writing process.

On April 8 at 6:00 pm I'll be having an online conversation with Rebecca Wood Barrett about her new middle-grade novel, My Best Friend is Extinct. See below for more about the book. Earlier that day Rebecca will lead a one-hour writing workshop for young writers on how to build an invented world. Sign up to RSVP and get your event link for either of these free events at: youthservices@whistlerlibrary.ca.

Children’s Book Recommendation

My Best Friend is Extinct by Rebecca Wood Barrett

I’m so excited to share this newly released middle grade novel by my friend and fellow critique group member. Rebecca’s story takes readers on a wild romp through the hidden world of a snow-covered town. Readers will cheer for quirky and lovable Henry as he navigates the challenges of friendship with his classmates on the school field and in secret tunnels with his new buddy and prehistoric creature,Yarp. This book had me laughing out loud and biting my nails. It is a great wintery adventure story for middle-grade readers.

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Adult Reading Recommendation

Humankind: A Hopeful History by Rutger Bergen

This readable non-fiction book posits that humans are hardwired for kindness, cooperation and trust, and backs it up with research and real-life cases to counter the stories we’ve learned to assume are the truth. He finds a true example of a Lord of the Flies scenario where the boys cooperated and created a working society for a year and delves into the flaws of the Stanford Prison Experiment. We could all use some positive news about humanity, and this book fits the bill. The best part is it isn’t even escapism, it’s realism.

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Behind the Scenes

Count Me In was inspired by a story my friend, Jane, told me about a hiking trip her family took to Lake Lovely Water near Squamish. When writing the story, I imagined what it would have been like for me to go hiking with her and her very strong, accomplished family when I was a teenager. I’m an experience hiker now, but I definitely wasn’t at age 12! Tabitha’s experience is based on how I likely would have felt in that situation--like a fish out of water.

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Resource for Writers

Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott

This book on writing is both hilarious and full of specific advice for writers. One of my favourite tips is to write “short assignments.” She suggests thinking about your writing as though you are looking through a one-inch picture frame. When you are overwhelmed, find one small scene you can write. For example, “today I will write a paragraph describing what my character saw when he rode the ferris wheel.” I use this trick a lot when the idea of a whole book, or even a chapter, looms so large in front of me that I can’t get started.

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If you’d like to purchase any of these books, you can visit your local independent bookstore, or click on the image for an affiliate link to amazon.ca.