sherylbooks

Sidney Youth Arts and Culture Festival featuring Nikki Tate

25 Jul 2011 Leave a comment

If you happen to be anywhere the south end of Vancouver Island on Wednesday July 27, don’t miss Nikki Tate. Nikki, a writer, storyteller, and broadcaster, will be telling stories from 10-11:30 at the Mary Winspear Centre (2243 Beacon Ave, Sidney, BC) .

Nikki brings a blend of humor and exuberance to a high energy performances as she tells tales about the daring (mis)adventures of the Knights of Camelot, traditional stories from the far reaches of the world, and modern twists on old favourites. A short Q & A session will follow Nikki’s presentation

This performance is part of Sidney’s Youth Arts and Culture Festival and is suitable for audiences from 8 to 88.

A hummingbird morning

23 Jul 2011 Leave a comment

by sherylbooks in Writing Life

It was lovely this morning so I sat out for the first time in ages to have my tea. The hummingbirds weren’t in the least shy this morning so I was able to get a few pictures. These are two Anna’s who frequent my feeders. One is a little hard to spot as it’s in the nearby tree. Not the best pictures, but all I had was my phone camera.

What authors do when they aren’t writing

22 Jul 2011 Leave a comment

by sherylbooks in News, Writing Life Tags: wedding favors, what authors do when they aren't writing

It’s starting to seem like summer. Yesterday I made 15 jars of raspberry jam to add to the 24 jars of strawberry jam I’ve made so far. The goal is 100 jars of jam which I and Ali are making for wedding favors for Cloe’s wedding. Ali will make 1/3 and I will make the other 2/3, so only 39 more jars to go. I’m thinking blueberry will be next, then apricot. The last jam to jar will, of course, be blackberry. Too bad you can’t taste it!

Laurel Snyder’s Bigger Than A Breadbox Skype Tour

20 Jul 2011 2 Comments

by sherylbooks in News, Publishing News Tags: children's books, For Teachers, Skype Author Tour

Are you a teacher looking for a great deal? Well Laurel Snyder has one just for you…she’ll be doing a Skype tour of 100 schools in 100 days, and it’s FREE! Yep, you read that right. FREE!. And, the icing on the cake is that the first 30 schools who sign up will get a free copy of her new book, Bigger Than A Breadbox. It may sound crazy, but Laurel is serious, so don’t delay, sign up for her “Bigger Than A Breadbox Skype tour” today.

An I Can Read app for Free!

19 Jul 2011 Leave a comment

by sherylbooks in News, Publishing News Tags: apps, children's books, Dixie by Grace Gilman & Sarah Mcconnell, HarperColllins, I Can Read series

Hey are you a teacher or parent in the market for a free easy read book? HarperCollins is launching apps of their I Can Read series. And, to kick of the celebration, they’re offering Dixie by Grace Gilman & Sarah Mcconnell as a FREE download for your i-Phone, i-Touch, or i-Pad, so check it out.

Dixie

by Grace Gilman & Sarah Mcconnell

Thanks to Cynthia Nugent for the heads up on this free app.

The Blood-Red Pencil: 10 Reasons Writers Might Drink

18 Jul 2011 Leave a comment

by sherylbooks in Help for writers, Writing Life Tags: The Blood-red Pencil, Writing Life

Sometimes writing is so frustrating that you just want to throw the towel in, or at least have a nice glass of chardonay…If you’re having one of those days, check out The Blood-Red Pencil: 10 Reasons Writers Might Drink. It’ll make you laugh, and you might not even need that drink!

PIcture Book Webinar with Mary Kole

17 Jul 2011 Leave a comment

by sherylbooks in Help for writers, News Tags: kidlit, Mary Kole, picture book webinar

On Thursday July 28, Mary Kole is offering a Picture Book Webinar. Mary is an agent with Andrea Brown, teaches webinars for Writer’s Digest, and hosts a fabulous blog. If you’re trying to break into the picture book scene, you won’t want to miss this one, especially since she’s offering a picture book critique for no extra cost. It’s a steal people!

Lidsey Carmichael’s Authorpalooza!

16 Jul 2011 Leave a comment

by sherylbooks in interviews, News Tags: 10 Stories Upauthor interviews, Lindsey Carmiichael, middle grade fiction authors, middle grade non-fiction authors, picture book authors, teen authors

Over at 10 Stories Up, Lindsey Carmichael is hosting an Authorpalooza! Her plan is to post interviews with 20 authors and illustrators during July. Each week she’ll have a different theme – picture book, middle grade nonfiction, middle grade fiction and teen. See the schedule below to meet some of my favorite Canadian authors and enjoy!

PICTURE BOOK WEEK – JULY 4-9

Linda Bailey – July 4

Ruth Ohi – July 5

Sheree Fitch – July 6

Nicholas Oldland – July 7

Rebecca Kool – July 8

Picture Book Giveaway – July 9

MIDDLE GRADE NONFICTION WEEK – JULY 11-16

Helaine Becker – July 11

Claire Eamer – July 12

Lizann Flatt – July 13

Joan Marie Galat – July 14

Moushumi Chakrabarty – July 15

Nonfiction Giveaway – July 16

MIDDLE GRADE FICTION WEEK – JULY 18-23

Arthur Slade – July 18

Alma Fullerton – July 19

Karen Spafford-Fitz – July 20

Yolanda Ridge – July 21

Danika Dinsmore – July 22

Middle Grade Fiction Giveaway – July 23

TEEN WEEK – JULY 25-30

Nora McClintock – July 25

Vicki Grant – July 26

Robert Paul Weston – July 27

Tim Wynne-Jones – July 28

Moira Young – July 29

Teen Giveaway – July 30

Vancouver Folk Music Festival

15 Jul 2011 Leave a comment

by sherylbooks in News Tags: Vancouver Folk Music Festival

Today I’m off to pick up my wayward youngest daughter Katie who has been traveling in South East Asia, New Zealand and Australia for the last eight months. I’m so excited to see her. The other wonderful thing is that she just happens to be coming home on the weekend of the Vancouver Folk Music Festival. Some of the highlights will be Rosanne Cash, Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks, and Joel Plaskett Emergency. Going to this three day festival has been a family tradition since my girls were babies, so I’m thrilled that Katie will be joining. Unfortunately, one of my girls won’t be able to make it for the whole weekend as she’ll be at Children’s Hospital putting in a couple of twelve hour shifts; but we hope she can make it down for a few of the workshops so we can all be together. If you haven’t been, you don’t know what you’re missing!

the girls & I at a previous folk music festival

All we’ll need is a little sunshine to make the weekend perfect.

Kate Middleton & Anne of Green Gables

14 Jul 2011 Leave a comment

by sherylbooks in News Tags: Anne of Green Gables, favorite books, Kate Middleton

I’m not much of a royalty buff, but judging by the newspaper headlines during the young royal’s wedding and North American tour, there are lots of you out there. One tidbit I picked up that I loved though, was that Kate Middleton was a real fan of Anne of Green Gables when growing up. Check out this meeting between the Duchess and the current star during a visit to Prince Edward Island. (Tip: fast forward to the last half of the video)

Sheryl McFarlane