BookLust

Inspired by TED

Strangely enough, it is often when I am at my busiest that I feel the least inspired. My mind is overwhelmed by deadlines and wanting to please art directors, and the end result is that my heart and soul feel a tad neglected. I've been feeling very uninspired lately, because tax time approacheth, and the deadlines loom ever large. But as luck would have it, some friends have been reminding me about the amazing web site TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design), which contains some utterly awe-inspiring and passionate speakers. Do check them out if you can spare some time. In fact, I insist you do. Instead of watching yet another silly TV show, get a cup of coffee, or better yet, a glass of wine, sit down and prepare to be engaged, entertained, and yes, inspired.

Some of my fave speakers to date: Jill Bolte Taylor, Isabel Allende, Ben Dunlap and Maira Kalman.

Enjoy!

Author Views

Here's something interesting I found while puttering around the Annick Press blog. It's a site called AuthorViews, and is basically a collection of videos from a wide variety of authors (I believe American and some Canadian) discussing their books. From the words of the president, Steve O'Keefe, "AuthorViews is a nonprofit project to gather, edit, and distribute video profiles of authors and others in the book trade and related arts." Annick Press is one of the sponsors, so I assume that's why there's a smattering of Canadian authors and illustrators in the video collection.

One video in particular caught my attention, because it's the delightful and very talented children's author and illustrator Ruth Ohi. She's illustrated over 40 picture books and novels, and has written and illustrated at least six of her own picture books. She's a Canadian treasure in the world of kid's books, and she's just so darn sweet and giving when you meet her! She also has a very talented sister Debbie, and both these women astound me with their creativity, energy, generosity and zest for life.

In the video when Ruth discusses her career, and the fact that with what she is doing, she is "promoting a lifelong love of books", I think, yeah, that's what I want to do to – I want to make a difference, entertain kids, and share my love of books and reading with young audiences, who will hopefully carry that love of books with them for the rest of their lives. To get paid to do a job like that, for me, would be heaven.

When I grow up, I wanna be just like Ruth Ohi.

Meet Me at the Museum, Dahling

Oy. Total time-waster when I should be working. But couldn't resist. Dig this site, museumr. It takes any of your images and loads them into pictures of people at museums. Instant fame! (But sadly no instant fortune). So with a click of the mouse, Good Granny/Bad Granny gets framed!

Found via this lovely blog, Creative Laundry.

And 13 Ghosts of Halloween gets sophisticated!

Ok, back to work.

"I Drink Therefore, I Am!"

Thanks ever so much to Bibliovixen for finding this lovely gem, Monty Python's Philospher's Drinking Song, on YouTube. Gawd, it's been a long time since I've heard this one. I knew a guy in high school who had this song memorized, as well as plenty of other hilarious Monty Python skits. That was my definition of cool when I was a teenager.

Happy New Year to one and all. Don't drink and drive, but drink and get as philosophical as you want!

Town Crier Interview

Here's an interview I had recently with Lorianna De Giorgio, the Arts & Entertainment reporter for the Town Crier. I've scanned the interview and photo, and cut and paste it so it can fit on the blog properly. I was pretty nervous about the interview, because talking to someone in person is quite different from taking the time to write out one's answers via email. I have a tendency to ramble and blather and generally not make sense, but Lorianna is obviously a professional, because she made me sound way more interesting than I really am!

Meet Me On The Danforth

I always thought The Danforth Review concerned itself with just grown-up literary folk. So imagine my surprise and glee when the charming Nathaniel G. Moore asked to interview me and talk about 13 Ghosts of Halloween! You can read the interview here.

And if you're getting sick of all these interviews, don't worry...Halloween is almost over! Of course, then I'll be talking about my next book, hee hee...

I Survived the Word

Yesterday was a beautiful day in Toronto, wasn't it? Perfect weather for Toronto's Word on the Street. Thanks to everyone who came to see my little presentation at the Children's Reading Tent! Who did I see yesterday? Let's see...I saw Kerry, and Debbie and her sister Ruth, and Andrea and Wil and Robynne!

I cannot begin to express how nervous I was beforehand, but once I got on stage, I think my attitude was, "oh what the hell, I'm gonna have fun, no matter how terrified I am!" I think I did a pretty good job, and I did hear people laugh, and I actually had quite a good turnout of adults and kids, thank goodness! Debbie Ohi took some very good photos of me doing my presentation:

And here's a shot of me at the signing tent, talking to Kerry of Pickle Me This. (taken by Guy).

Me and my husband Guy – my life, my love, my support for everything I do. I love you, sweetie.

Some other interesting stuff...I managed to see Sean Cullen do his talk for his most recent kid's book, Hamish X and the Hollow Mountain. It was very good. And he read from the book, and I gotta say – Sean Cullen can write. And he is so funny!

After my book signing, the publicist from Scholastic took Guy and I to the VIP lounge for Word on the Street. Just as we were walking into the building, guess who walked out? A very well-dressed and dapper David Suzuki. Damn he is nice on the eyes.

Open Book Toronto

Huzzah! It's official, folks – Fall is finally here! And what better way to celebrate this beautiful and blustery season than with book talk? Because what is Autumn without books? They go together like...I dunno, Atwood and that Longpen. Well, maybe not. But anyway, back to book talk. Have you heard of the fabulous new site Open Book Toronto? Here's what it's all about:

Open Book: Toronto celebrates the new and wonderful books, authors and events coming out with Ontario's independent, Canadian-owned publishers. Open Book is committed to showcasing the outstanding range and quality of contemporary Canadian writing and invites Torontonians to connect with their very own vibrant and cutting-edge publishing scene.

October 2007 marks the launch of Open Book's annual celebration of the Fall book season. Throughout the month, Ontario publishers, bookstores, literary festivals and Open Book (along with several partners) will host a fabulous series of events to introduce Torontonians to this season's new books. Our website and newsletter will keep you up-to-date on our festivities.

This site is amazing. I'm exhausted trying to devour everything it offers. They've even got a section called Words With where Canadian authors talk about what Canadian literature means to them. I really like the one by comedian and children's author Sean Cullen.

Hmmm...he's a celebrity who is now venturing into children's books...I should probably review him for my BACA Off! segment, shouldn't I? I've actually been meaning to read his books. I must confess that I do like a kid's book with the name Hamish in it. It is, after all, the name of one of my cats. However, upon close inspection, I'm not impressed with the fact that the illustrator's name, Johann Wessels, is not mentioned on the cover of the book. Not off to a good start.

That's Very Lady Patricia To You

How do they know these things? What else would I be but the Sage of Giggleswick?

Wanna find your Peculiar Aristocratic Title?

Thanks to Kimbofo for this gem!

Granny goes YouTube!

Mary McHugh, the author of Good Granny/Bad Granny has made a delightful video on youtube! In the video she talks about some of her favourite Good Granny/Bad Granny examples, and just to show what a way-cool granny she is, she even does a little tap dancing!

You can see more of her entertaining videos here. Damn I wish I had such great-looking legs...