News & updates
KidLit Trivia Night: Support IBBY Canada
Looking for a fun way to share your expansive knowledge of children’s literature? Join us for a virtual trivia night on March 11th at 8pm EST. You can join as a team or individual and proceeds will support all the great work IBBY Canada does to foster a love of literature.
Livres Babar Storytime- Dec 6, 2024
I am heading to la belle province and would love to see you at Livres Babar in Pointe-Claire on December 6 at 4pm. They’ll be snacks, crafts, and of course, stories! All ages welcome!
Get Published Webinar-Nov 16, 2024
I’ll be teaming up with kidlit superstars Naseem Hrab and Jack Wong to share notes and tips on how to get a picture book published. Get great advice and support the Canadian Children’s Book Centre at the same time! Info and tickets here.
Come see me at the National Arts Centre on Nov 11
I am thrilled to be returning to the stage at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa in DEAR CANADA: LETTERS FROM THE SECOND WORLD WAR. I was honoured to be involved as dramaturg and a performer in Miranda Mulholland’s moving, diverse and enriching commemoration of WWII, presented as a radio play, featuring music and letters written by actual Canadians during WWII. You have two chances to catch this show on November 11th. Details here.
Packaging Your Imagination 2024
I will be presenting a workshop all about navigating tough topics for middle grade readers at this year’s Packaging Your Imagination Conference on October 26th. There are fantastic speakers, networking opportunities and options attend in-person and virtually. Details and tickets are available here.
News Round-up June 2024
Hello! Here are a few things to look out for this summer/early fall.
SUMMER 2024
Woodstock Public Library Writing Contests for Kids
I will be returning as the author judge of the Woodstock Public Library writing contests this summer.
For the 6-12 year old category click here
For the teen category click here
Creature Feature Story Time & Event- Type Books Junction, Toronto, ON
Join me at on Sunday, July 14th at 11am at Type Books Junction for a special reading and related activities for IF I HAD A GRYPHON and ANONYMOUSE. Fun for kids ages 3+
FALL 2024
THE LIGHTNING CIRCLE at Telling Tales Festival- Burlington, ON
I’ll be recreating an afternoon in arts and crafts from my favourite summer camp on Saturday, September 21st at one of my fave book festivals in Canada. Watch this space for updates.
Packaging Your Imagination Conference- Toronto, ON
I have long admired this fantastic writing conference held by CANSCAIP and am thrilled to be holding a workshop on craft on Saturday, October 26th. More details to come here.
The Lightning Circle is one of Indigo’s Best Books of the Year So Far
Thrilled to see The Lightning Circle in such good company on Indigo’s Best Books of the Year So Far list! If you haven’t picked up a copy yet, you can get 25% off if you purchase between June 4-17th, 2024.
The Lightning Circle on CTV Your Morning
I dropped by CTV Your Morning on April 29th to talk about my latest novel, The Lightning Circle. Check it out below!
Creature Feature Storytime
Join me on Sunday, April 7th at Type Books Junction in Toronto for a family-friendly event featuring not one but TWO creature books and an activity.
CBC Here & Now Tuesday Afternoon Book Club Interview
You can hear my December 5, 2023 interview with Chris Glover all about How to Decorate a Christmas Tree here!
How To Decorate a Christmas Tree Storytimes
Join me across Ontario for cozy, festive storytimes that will put you in the decorating mood. Stay tuned for more dates!
Toronto International Festival of Authors 2023- Events
Thrilled be be returning to TIFA Kids at beautiful Harbourfront Centre this fall for not one but two events, including a sneak peek at How to Decorate a Christmas Tree.
Telling Tales Festival 2023
Join me at the beautiful Royal Botanical Gardens in Hamilton for a reading and diary writing workshop based around P.S. Tell No One.
Reading & Q&A: 12:30-1pm
Signing: 1-1:30pm
Writing Workshop: 3:15- 3:45
Creative Writing Camp with Centauri Arts
Join me for a week-long intensive workshop on the ins & outs of world-building and creating science fiction and fantasy. Open to ages 11-18.
Anonymouse Storytime: Woodstock Public Library, July 6
See the world through Anonymouse's eyes! Learn about the power of public art and how to find beauty and mystery in your own neighbourhood. Including examples from public art around the world my own walks in urban Toronto.
Summer Writing Series at Richmond Hill Public Library
Kids age 9-12 can join me every Thursday in July from 4:30-5:30 at the Richmond Hill Public Library Central Branch to help build their writer’s toolkit.
Anonymouse Storytime at West End Phoenix- June 24
The morning includes an introduction to public art styles around the world (with examples), an Anonymouse reading and some simple crafts for kids to do with their families!
March Break 2023 Events
On Friday, March 17th I’ll be at Indigo Square One for 2 book events. At 1pm I’ll be doing an If I Had a Gryphon storytime and signing, followed by a Meet & Greet (think of it as a live AMA) for P.S. Tell No One at 2pm. Come say hi, bring your kids, and get a book signed! Who knows, I may even be wearing St. Patrick’s Day green!
P.S. Tell No One on CTV Your Morning
I dropped by CTV Your Morning to talk all about my brand new book, P.S. Tell No One. Inspired by the books of Judy Blume, many summers working as a camp counselor, and years of conversations about periods, puberty, and all things middle school, I poured my heart and soul into this book. I hope readers will be entertained, reassured, and inspired to pass it on!
Dear Canada: Letters From the Second World War
I am thrilled to be working again alongside brilliant artist and advocate Miranda Mulholland on a second Remembrance Day theatre piece, Dear Canada: Letters from The Second World War, premiering at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa on November 11th. An earlier commemoration, Letters From The Great War: A Commemoration of the First World War, debuted live at Soulpepper Theatre in November of 2018 and was adapted for streaming for the NAC in 2020.
Dear Canada: Letters from the Second World War is “an artistic Remembrance Day commemoration presented as a radio play with music and foley using real letters from Canadians during the Second World War.” The show includes letters between lovers, parent and child, friends, and more. Each one firmly places the audience in the thick of the moment, whether it’s landing on the beach on D-Day, having a surprise drink with the King of England, surviving the horrific conditions of labour camps abroad and displacement camps here in Canada, translating the so-called Cree code or attending a dance with Irving Berlin in attendance. The letters are full of pathos and humanity, interspersed with live music, both contemporary and of the era. When I was a student, Remembrance Day was always a big deal, and as an adult, I’ve never quite found a substitute for the assembly and how it affected me. Dear Canada: Letters from The Second World War fills that need for me, and I hope it does for others, as well.
This time around I am thrilled that in addition to acting as dramaturg, I will be joining the cast, consisting of the very talented Julian Taylor, Patricia O’Callaghan, Jamie Drake, Tak Arikushi, and of course, Miranda Mulholland. We would love to see you in Ottawa on November 11th. Stay tuned for potential streaming details!