This is kind of cool – Dear George Clooney has been nominated for a CBC Bookie Award. If you click on the link, you can vote for George! (or, for another title if it happens to be your favorite). I think the Bookies are like a branch of Canada Reads.I just came back from a few days in Toronto. I was there for the Ontario Library Association’s Superconference. They invited me because Word Nerd won the Red Maple Award last year, and all the Forest winners are brought in. My favorite moment was being interviewed by young students Parth and Jesegan. They want me to use their names in my next book. I told them I couldn’t promise anything, but at least their names made it into my blog! They asked really smart questions, and they recorded the whole thing, so if they send me the podcast I’ll link to it here.
I also visited Valley Park Middle School for the second time. The students there – and their librarian, Elizabeth Galli – truly rock. I love that school. And I love the Swiss Chalet they always order me for lunch! They now have a new mural painted in their library, all about the love of reading – and Word Nerd is one of the books on the shelf in the painting! I’ll download a photo soon.
Oh, yeah – I also happened to be there during “Snowmageddon.” The storm that wasn’t. At least the reporters managed to look sheepish the next morning. I guess the kids must’ve been happy, though – city-wide snow day!
In other news, I have finally entered the 21st century and am the proud owner of an iPhone 4. Oh, how I love my new phone. When I’m not playing word games with other procrastinating friends on said phone, I am working on my new novel. 149 pages as of today.
Hi Susin!It’s me,Parth!Just wanted to say THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH for posting my name on your blog :D,and I’ve told EVERYONE of my FaceBook friends 😛 to check it out.Oh and I’ve “contacted” you about a question I had,and added some extra details about the “project” I’m doing.Well,thank you SO MUCH and we’ll keep in contact via “contact” 😛
Oops sorry to post again,but I guess you need the comments you can get!So yeah…sorry for calling you Susin :S,I meant Ms.Nielson…I had an AMAZING time.
Parth, you are welcome to call me Susin. Thanks to you and Jesegan for a great interview! Hey, and vote for my new book for the CBC bookies! (link in my last post).
Hmm. I’m not sure it’s very fair to put your book in with books like Mockingjay. I think they ought to have two more categories instead – Teens and then Young Readers. Oh well. I voted for you anyway. =D
Thanks, Nicole. Yeah, four of the titles are Canadian, and we’re pitted against the best-selling YA novel of 2010. But I guess that’s why it’s on the list! I feel like I’m in good company, though – nice to be invited to the party, as they say.