Smorgasbook 2015

Last Tuesday I was thrilled to participate in Smorgasbook, an event put on by the Young Alberta Book Society. I presented both Bye, Bye, Butterflies! and Charlie's Dirt Day to local teachers and librarians. It was my first time doing an even like that but it won't be my last. I had a wonderful time meeting and chatting with the teachers and librarians, as well as with the other participating authors. Alberta has some really great literary talent. I left the event feeling so inspired and eager to read middle grade and young adult novels. I'm really excited to be part of this community and hope to do more events in the future.

Thanks to everyone who bought my books for their schools and libraries, and to everyone who has made inquiries since. It felt great to get so much positive feed back :)

Here are some of the other authors who were in attendance. Check out their books!

Carolyn Fisher
Karen Bass
Bill Bunn
Deborah F. Miller
Shirlee Smith Matheson
Cora Taylor
Lois Donovan
David Poulsen
Trina St. Jean

YABS poster and postcard

Back in January, the Young Alberta Book Society (YABS) asked me to illustrate a poster and postcard to promote their annual Taleblazers festival to schools and libraries in the province of Alberta. During the festival, authors and illustrators travel around doing presentations for students of all ages.

While brainstorming ideas for the poster and postcard, I was focussing on the purpose of having an author or illustrator speak to a group of students. I think it's about getting kids excited about books and writing and drawing. Making them feel inspired and like they can do it too.  That's what my solution is about.

yabs confab

YABS, the Young Alberta Book Society, is an organisation that helps to facilitate school author and artist visits (www.yabs.ab.ca). I've been a member for about a year and last night there was a meeting for members held here in Calgary.

It was a mix of local authors, illustrators and one story teller. The meeting was great - really informative and inspiring.  We talked a lot about inspiration and school presentations while drawing exquisite corps pictures.  It was really fun, and the pictures turned out quite interesting. I'd like to try something like that again in the future, perhaps at my sketchgroup.

Take a look...

Thank you to Carolyn Fisher, who organized the meeting. Read her post about it here.