Summer Hiatus

It's a year since I started blogging, and it's been an interesting one. I've learned a lot about the online world. I have yet to start a twitter presence, and am contemplating whether or not I'd be brave enough to post tiny missives from wherever I am.

Yesterday marked the end of my talks for this school year. A big thank you to Jacqueline Gaudet at Ecole South Park and to Patricia Bartha at Sir William Osler Elementary for inviting me to speak at their respective schools this week. It was wonderful to meet you and your charming students.

And, now, with my speaking schedule wrapped up, I must turn my strict attention to the first draft of a book that has a July 31 deadline. Over the next 7 weeks, I will be hard at work. No swimming, no sunning, no lazy, hazy days of summer. I'll be at my computer. 

On that note, I will also be taking a blogging hiatus. I realize that I'll likely need to direct all my writing energy to my book.

Thank you to everyone who has been kind enough to read my blog over the past year. It's been a real treat to get your comments. 

Have a wonderful summer! Cheers!

Michelle Obama and Me...

I was out watering my garden this morning and admiring the leafy green vegies that are poking up from the soil, and thinking about ways in which Michelle Obama and I are similar. In case you're interested, here are my conclusions:

- We both dug new gardens this spring, and are clearly interested in sustainable, local food sources. (I didn't have quite as many photographers documenting my ground-breaking, however.)

- She lives in the White House and I have a bit of white trim on my house.

- We both have 2 daughters (though mine are a bit older and I also have a son).

- We think that feeding our kids delicious home-grown food is a worthy endeavour. (Who can argue with that?)

- We both have husbands who aren't shy speaking in front of a crowd. (My husband's crowds might be a touch smaller and we're still waiting for his inauguration.)

I think the similarities end there, but I will continue to muse about the First Lady as I watch my garden grow over the summer, and be impressed by her example. 

I wonder if she'll be whipping up a spinach salad with greens from her garden tonight?

Bon appetit, Michelle!

Chocolate Lily Winners

Congratulations! 

Last night's winners of the Chocolate Lily Awards are:

In the novel category: 

Winner: Joan Betty Stuchner for Honey Cake 

Honour Book: Norma Charles for Boxcar Kid

In the picture book category:

Winner: Chris Tougas for Mechanimals

Honour Book: Kari Lynn Winters for Jeffrey and Sloth.

And congratulations to all the nominees! What a grand showing of talent. It was so interesting to hear the speeches of the nominated authors and find out the stories behind the stories.

The room was full of writers, illustrators, and enthusiastic children and their parents. Thank you to the Chocolate Lily organizers and to Vancouver Kidsbooks for an excellent event!

P.S. I didn't win, but I got a delicious chocolate treat and a beautiful certificate for being nominated. I was happy. :-)

Chocolate Lily Awards

Tomorrow is the annual Chocolate Lily Awards ceremony being held at Vancouver Kidsbooks at 7:00 pm. There is a wonderful line-up of local B.C. authors who have been nominated for this children's choice award. (Check out the Chocolate Lily website here to see the list.)

I wondered where the award name came from and found this photo of the Chocolate Lily flower. Beautiful!

I will be there tomorrow, having been kindly nominated for my picture book, Lily and the Mixed-up Letters, published by Tundra Books. (Lily and Lily: coincidence? I think not. :-)

Hope to see you there! 

Cheers.