Weird Stories Gone Wrong, 6 books, Reviews, book trailers, interviews and more

WEIRD STORIES GONE WRONG, including REVIEWS, interviews, awards, and more for all six books in the award-winning spooky series, for readers ages 9-12:

About the Weird Stories Gone Wrong Series:

 Quinn and the Quiet, Quiet (2019)  BOOK TRAILER

Blackwells and the Briny Deep  (2018) BOOK TRAILER

​Alex and The Other (2018) BOOK TRAILER

Carter and the Curious Maze (2016)  Book Trailer

Myles and the Monster Outside (2015) WINNER, OLA Silver Birch Express Honour Book​  Book Trailer
​
Jake and the Giant Hand  (2014) Book Trailer Read an excerpt of  Jake and the Giant Hand  in Taddle Creek Magazine

Reviews & Interviews, Weird Stories Gone Wrong:

McNally Robinson Two Thumbs Up reviewer July/2016 (Carter)
Canadian Children's Book Centre BookNews, Spring 2016 
Canadian Teacher Magazine, Jan 2016 (pp 26-27)
American Library Association Booklist, Dec 2015
Cindy's Love of Books, Nov 2015
Recently Read, Oct 2015
The Girl's Book Blog, Oct 2015
Top Halloween Books 2015 
Kirkus Reviews, July/2015
School Library Journal/Aug. 2014
Bookshelf Gargoyle, Aug. 2014 
Oct. 2014, InsideToronto.com: Author always wanted to tell a spooky tale

Introducing the Weird Stories Gone Wrong 6 Book Bundle and my fave illustrations from each book.

Here it is, the Weird Stories Gone Wrong Bundle! Or is that an Omnibus...

Whatever you choose to call it, it does mean that for the first time ever, all six books in the series are now available in one place as of today! Thank you to publisher Dundurn Press for pulling this 5-year project together.

You can download the e-pub or pdf format now: 
Weird Stories Omnibus

It's been an amazing experience writing this series. It took five years to write and publish all six books, a significant output of words, effort and skill from everyone involved, including my amazing series illustrator, Shawna Daigle, who added just the right touch of weird to everything.

Here's a recent blog post with more top memories: 5 top take-aways writing a series

Since book six, Quinn and the Quiet, Quiet (Sept. '19) is the final book in the series, I thought I'd take this space to post my favourite illustration from each book, and tell you why:

Dix and the Smallish Officer
Copyright Shawna Daigle, 2019

Book 6

Book 6. My favourite illustration from book 6 is definitely Dix the robot and the smallish Officer, because I love the character Dix, and Shawna captured him so completely (a little clueless, a little sweet, and very brave).


Book 5. My favourite illustration from book 5 is William and the Mermaid Queen, because she's so terrifying! But also because I decided to write this book, Blackwells and the Briny Deep, because Shawna asked if we could do a book with mermaids, one of her favourite things to draw.

William and the Mermaid Queen, copyright Shawna Daigle
From Blackwells and the Briny Deep (2018)

From Alex and The Other
c Shawna Daigle, 2018

Book 4. My favourite illustration from book 4, Alex and The Other, HAS to be the transformed pig aliens trapping poor Alex in their green gazer beam eyes. He-he!

When I was writing this scene, I could see it SO perfectly, but I really wasn't sure how to explain it to Shawna, or if she (or anyone else for that matter) would get it.

She did get it. Perfectly.

Cover art, Carter and the Curious Maze
Copyright Shawna Daigle, 2016

Book 3. I wrote Carter and the Curious Maze (2016) as a love letter to Toronto. It is a time-travel story set on the grounds of the Canadian National Exhibition, not far from my house. My favourite illustration is definitely the cover (although all the inside illustrations are amazing too.) I love this cover the best of all six in the series, which is a tough call because they are all beautiful works of art. But this one took my breath away when I first saw it, and it still does.

Book 2. Myles and the Monster Outside (2015) is still my favourite book of the series, mostly because it came from a real-life spooky night I spent on the highway after a 4-day drive. It was such a relief to write that scene out of my head and onto paper!

From Myles and the Monster Outside
Copyright Shawna Daigle, 2015

Also, this book had 3 national award nominations, and won the OLA Silver Birch Express Honour Book award in 2017.

My favourite illustration from the book, and my favourite in the entire series, is the triptych of Myles, Courage the dog, and Myles's monster.

And finally, Book 1. When I started this journey with Jake and the Giant Hand in 2014, I had never worked with Shawna, and had never had an illustrator draw my weird scenes. It was a revelation. I gasped when I saw her first drafts for the book cover, and then the inside drawings. It is the very LUCKIEST thing that can happen to a writer: to see their ideas, drawn from the deep, dark, lonely well of their writing, become an image that exactly matches what they were thinking.

I cannot thank Shawna enough for capturing everything, every single cover and image (46 images in the series in total), so perfectly.

So, here is the final book cover and one final favourite image, which is one that we never used: the campfire story of The Giant Hand being told by Christopher in the cabin in the woods. I love this, because when I saw this cover concept, even though we went with Shawna's amazing giant fly in the end, I knew that the series was in excellent hands, and we were going to work together really well! THANK YOU SHAWNA, and everyone involved with the series, it's been a dream.

Alternate Cover, Jake and the Giant Hand
Copyright Shawna Daigle, 2014

For more about the Weird Stories Gone Wrong series on THIS BLOG
For all 6 book trailers, here is my YOUTUBE CHANNEL

Weird Stories Gone Wrong at the CNE 2019

Award-winning Weird Stories Gone Wrong series
Quinn and the Quiet, Quiet comes out September/2019

Come to the CNE on August 24 or 26, 2019! Bring the kids!

I'll be the featured performer at Scadding Cabin, reading to kids from my 2016 title, Carter and the Curious Maze, which is a time-travel story set on the site.

It's book 3 of the award-winning Weird Stories Gone Wrong series for kids ages 8-12.

Here's the York Pioneers facebook page for more information about the event: Philippa Dowding at the CNE

We'll be playing Victorian games, colouring, and I'll be doing readings from the books as people gather at the beautiful gardens. Books will be available for purchase, bookmarks are free! Hope to see you there.

When: August 24 & 26 2019
Where: CNE, Scadding Cabin grounds
Time: 2-5 pm
Event is FREE with admission

Pick of the week, tech storytelling, a librarian's letter, free teacher's guides and more

Coming September 2019, Dundurn Press

It's been a busy week, lots to cover! 

FIRST, I want to say thank you to the 49th Shelf editors for choosing Quinn and the Quiet, Quiet as one of their 5 top middle-grade books this week. 

Here's the list: 49th Shelf Editor's Picks for July 29-Aug 4
Always exciting to see my book with other fine Canadian authors (and NYT Bestsellers) like Kelley Armstrong! August Update, Quinn is also on the 49th Shelf Most Anticipated Fall Books for kids list.

Quinn is the sixth and final book in the award-winning Weird Stories Gone Wrong series. It comes out in September, so this is a nice early boost for the book. It was also named a Dewey Divas and the Dudes FALL PICK a few weeks ago, which is amazing.

Quinn and the Quiet, Quiet pre-orders are ON!
(and pre-orders = love, folks!)

Request a copy for review now from the publisher, Dundurn Press.

SECOND: Alex and The Other, book four in the Weird Stories Gone Wrong Series, is used as an example of great horror stories to inspire kids to tell their own ghost stories using tech, on the 49th Shelf Teacher's blog.

For 8 great ideas and tech solutions to help kids tell their own stories using video creation, stop motion animation, podcasts etc: Books to Inspire Storytelling (with tech to capture the tales) 

THIRD: I received a really lovely librarian's letter this week, talking about Carter and the Curious Maze and Myles and the Monster Outside (books 3 and 4 in the Weird Stories Gone Wrong series)!

Here's an excerpt: 
"We have never seen our class so excited about our read aloud. They never wanted me to stop. My teacher would always use that time to prep stuff but when I started reading these books, she would just stop and listen.
...The last week of school we had an Indoor camping day and we all sat in the dark under a tarp and read the last of Myles and the Monster Outside by flashlight. One of the cards I got at the end of the year said that they thought I was such a good reader and that Carter was their new favourite story of all time."

Wow, honestly letters like this help to keep a writer going. Writing is such a lonely job most of the time, it's always such a shot in the arm to hear from actual people that actual children love your books! If you ever want to reach out to an author, do it. They will always be appreciative!

FOURTH: And here's some news I'm happy to finally share! There are three terrific new FREE Teacher's Guides on the Dundurn site, go see:

The Gargoyle in My Yard, Teacher's Guide
The Strange Gift of Gwendolyn Golden, Teacher's Guide
Everton Miles is Stranger than Me, Teacher's Guide

Keep reading everyone! I'm going on a wee break, so see you all in August!

5 Stars and Two Thumbs Up for Carter!

"I liked how Carter was brave. If I had gone in to the maze I probably would have been very scared. I also liked how the author made the story unpredictable so you wouldn’t know what would happen next. You really should read this book. I give it 5/5. --Jiyoo, a Two Thumbs Up Reviewer"

Thank you!

I just noticed this Two Thumbs Up review on the McNally Robinson bookstore website, from a young reader. I always really appreciate hearing what kids think of the books, so many thanks, Jiyoo! Also, writing a review for a book you liked is the nicest thing you can do for an author, since reviews will draw other readers to the book.

Here's the whole review: 5 Stars for Carter and the Curious Maze

Here's the book trailer to find out more about Carter's odyssey in the curious maze: Carter Book Trailer

BOOK 4 COMING March/18!

Carter and the Curious Maze is book three in the award-winning Weird Stories Gone Wrong series, with TWO NEW BOOKS coming out in the series in 2018, including Alex and The Other. 
Stay tuned!

Win an ARC copy of Alex and The Other!

COMING March/2018. WIN AN ARC now!

Beware the tall, whispering strangers.
Beware the haunted school bathroom mirror.
But most of all ... 

... BEWARE THE OTHER.

Calling all middle-grade horror fans! There's a Goodreads Giveaway for my next book, a story about a missing cat, an evil twin and weird strangers who may not be what they seem.

Go to Goodreads NOW and you could win an Advance Reading Copy  (ARC) of Alex and The Other, book 4 in the award-winning Weird Stories Gone Wrong series (ages 8-12).

Hurry though, contest ends November 17/2017. There are 9 copies to win! Enter the Goodreads Giveaway now.

Here's the book trailer, with fantastic illustrations by Shawna Daigle. 

Enjoy!

Alex and The Other BOOK TRAILER and ARC letter!

Beware The Other! My next book in the Weird Stories Gone Wrong series, Alex and The Other, is in the house! The Advance Reader Copies are now at the publisher, Dundurn Press, about to be mailed out to reviewers and bloggers soon. Stay tuned!

Here's the letter that accompanies the ARC:

"Dear Middle-Grade Reviewer,

As a child, I went through a phase of being utterly convinced that I had an identical twin — I just hadn’t met her yet. Do we all imagine that there is an exact copy of us out there, somewhere, I wonder?

I’m delighted to present my fourth book, Alex and The Other, in the award-winning Weird Stories Gone Wrong Series for middle-grade readers. Each story explores a different horror sub-genre, for kids ages 8-12, including a tall tale (Jake and the Giant Hand, 2014), a psychological road-trip thriller (Myles and the Monster Outside, 2015, Winner of the OLA Silver Birch Express Honor Book award), and a time-travel/historical fantasy (Carter and the Curious Maze, 2016).

The latest addition, Alex and The Other, is a doppelgänger story about a lonely boy who has to stand up to an evil twin trying to take over his life. Alex must decide who he is, what matters most to him and, … who is the real Alex, anyway?

All alone, his family, his town, and his beloved cat seemingly tricked forever by the evil twin, Alex finally has to ask for help from a weird pair of pig-like strangers in trench coats and dark sunglasses, who might not be entirely what they seem …

Please enjoy this psychological, evil-twin/alien story, combined with seven creepy illustrations from Shawna Daigle. I hope it reminds young readers that many struggles go unseen, and sometimes you have to ask for help, and keep asking even though it’s scary, until someone hears.

Philippa Dowding"

Check out the wonderful new Book Trailer, featuring fabulous illustrations by Shawna Daigle.
Pre-Order Alex and The Other Now.

A child's visit to Fort Rouille during the CNE...

Tree pose with the York Pioneers (not easy in a skirt);
photo courtesy InsideToronto.com

Yoga, monarch tagging, and a child's visit to Fort Rouille! Come to Scadding Cabin during the CNE, and go back to a simpler time in Toronto. 

Join me on August 21 and 28th, 1-3 p.m., I'll be reading from my time-travel/historical fantasy children's novel, Carter and the Curious Maze, which is set in 3 different time periods on the CNE grounds: 1903, 1813 and the Grand Magazine Explosion, and 1750 trading day at Fort Rouille.

Fort Rouille, Toronto @1750

Here's an InsideToronto.com article about Scadding Cabin events during the CNE (yes, that's me in the hat, trying to do tree pose in a long skirt, or laughing like a maniac in the third picture):
Scadding Cabin During the CNE

Thanks to the York Pioneer and Historical Society for inviting me to read to kids during the CNE!

Join me for a reading at Fort Rouille during the CNE!

My book, Carter and the Curious Maze, has been out for a year now. Somehow! It's a time-travel/historical fantasy for kids 8-12, set on the CNE grounds in Toronto, and is book 3 in the award-winning Weird Stories Gone Wrong series.

Last summer I read from the book on the CNE stage, and at Fort York. Now, in the last leg of a reading triumvirate, I'm reading at Fort Rouille, twice during the CNE 2017. Many thanks to the wonderful York Pioneer and Historical Society for the time slot, and the encouragement!

Fort Rouille was the first European settlement in the Toronto area, 1750-1759, a French trading post set strategically near the Humber River, to combat the English fur trade in the area. The original site still sits at the foot of Dufferin Street and Lakeshore Road, on the current CNE grounds.

Part of Carter's time-travel story is set there. It's a fascinating, little-known part of Toronto history that kids won't learn about in school.

Come join me at Scadding Cabin, for a little history and fun on Family Mondays (kids get in with adults for $2):

August 21, 1-3 p.m.: Fort Rouille with Philippa Dowding
August 28, 1-3 p.m.: Fort Rouille with Philippa Dowding

Carter and the Curious Maze Book Trailer
All posts about Carter and the Curious Maze on this Blog

Time Travel in Toronto...

Did you know Fort Rouillé was a tiny French trading fort which stood at the foot of what is now Dufferin street in Toronto, from 1750-1759? 

The French inhabitants (12 people for most of the year), and local First Nations, traded furs for hatchets, blankets and silver. Fort Rouillé was the first permanent European settlement in Toronto and a monument still stands, beside Scadding Cabin on the CNE grounds.  

 Learn about Fort Rouillé at the CNE this summer, on Kid's Toonie Monday! Travel back in time, learn about Toronto's history, and enjoy a reading from my children's book in a chapter about the fort, Carter and the Curious Maze...

... Carter enters a curious maze at the fair, only to discover that he has travelled back in time! He visits three time periods, 1903, 1813 and 1750, all on the same spot on the CNE grounds!

Hosted by the York Pioneer and Historical Society, the event will include historical children's games, a scavenger hunt, prizes, a reading, book signing and more. Come join us for Time Travel in Toronto:

Event: A visit to Fort Rouille with Philippa Dowding

When: Monday, August 21 & Monday, August 28

Time: 1-3 pm 

Where: CNE Grounds, Scadding Cabin

Cost: $2 CNE admission for kids 13 and under

More About Carter and the Curious Maze, book 3 in the award-winning middle-grade series, Weird Stories Gone Wrong:

Book Trailer, Carter and the Curious Maze
Blog Posts, Carter and the Curious Maze
CM Magazine Review (4/4 stars)
Goodreads Reviews

NEW BOOK COMING MARCH 2018!
The Weird Stories Gone Wrong series, for kids 8-12, has a new little brother coming in 2018: Alex and The Other.

Introducing Alex and The Other

Coming March 31/2018

CREEPY aliens, a lost cat, an evil twin ....

... HERE IT IS! The gorgeous cover for my next book, Alex and The Other!

It's so creepy, and so deliciously weird. This is book 4 in the award-winning Weird Stories Gone Wrong series, horror stories for kids 8-12. This one is a classic doppelganger/evil twin story, a bit darker than the other books in the series.

Beware The Other!

Thanks once again to illustrator Shawna Daigle for her amazing talents, and thanks to publisher Dundurn Press for letting us tell this next weird story. This is now my favourite cover of all time.

Here's more about the book on Amazon: Alex and The Other.

Here's the blurb:

"Beware The Other...

Alex is the loneliest boy at school. Not only are his parents away (again), but his beloved cat is missing. Plus, one morning his reflection in the haunted bathroom mirror at school starts talking to him. Then two mysterious strangers in overcoats and sunglasses appear, whispering the same message, over and over: Beware The Other …

But, worse than all that, is the girl with the braid. She looks just like Alex. She’s better than him at everything, and they even share the same name. Soon, she’s the only Alex anyone can see, at school, at work, even at home. In no time, it’s almost as though the real Alex never existed at all.

Can the real Alex outsmart his evil twin and get his life back before she replaces him for good? And more importantly, who is the REAL Alex, anyway?"

TO Request an ARC from Publisher: Dundurn Publicity
Click to find out more about Weird Stories Gone Wrong.
More blog posts about Weird Stories.
Book Trailer for Myles and the Monster Outside, Winner of the OLA Silver Birch Express Honour Book Award.

Carter excerpt just in time for Canada150!

Toronto is a pretty interesting place, at least I've always thought so... 

Recently, I joined the York Pioneer and Historical Society, which as the name implies, explores Toronto's history. They recently published their annual journal, The York Pioneer (along with a book about founding father, William Howland), and very nicely excerpted part of my time-travel slash historical-fiction novel for kids. I'm really chuffed to see part of my middle-grade story, Carter and the Curious Maze, in their venerable pages, thank you! And just in time for the celebration of Canada's 150th year of Confederation.

The section they excerpted (with permission), recounts a brief visit by two modern day boys (via a creepy maze), to the first European settlement on Toronto soil, at Fort Rouille, at the foot of Dufferin and Lakeshore roads, on the current CNE grounds. There's a memorial to the Fort, beside Scadding Cabin.

It was a pleasure to research this little-known French trading Fort, and to imagine visiting it in 1750, as a lost and frightened time-travelling boy from present day. The local First Nations hunters traded with the French at this spot.

It's an interesting look at Toronto's history, for kids 8-12. Here's a 4-star review (their highest) from CM Magazine.

There isn't much research material available in English (or much in French either) about the Fort, so I made the best use of materials at hand, with many thanks to Fort York and the CNE archives! And of course, thanks to the York Pioneers!

Here's how to purchase Carter and the Curious Maze.

Here's the Book Trailer.

Read more about  Carter and the Curious Maze on this blog.

Thanks Chris Hadfield Public School!

Swag from Chris Hadfield PS. Check out the Mary Shelley Card Catalog
thank you note, published by the Library of Congress. Cool!

Ahh, had another great school visit yesterday at Chris Hadfield Public School in Whitby, Ontario.

The kids were so fun, they had such great questions. And the teachers and the wonderful teacher-librarian were so supportive and interested in books, literacy, and Canadian authors.

Thank you, Blue Heron books, for handling book sales!

The teacher-librarian gave me a thank you note, which is actually a Library of Congress catalog card (the thank you is on the reverse). She gave me Mary Shelley, what an honour, now in pride of place on my writing desk.

There were lots of great questions from the kids yesterday, but here's my personal fave...





Q: Do you write the title first, or the book?
A: Sometimes a great title pops in there, and sometimes I have to really think about it. I HAVE changed a title in mid-write, a few times, as the story reveals itself. But usually I know pretty much from the start what the title will be. 

Thank you to everyone for a great day. And an extra special thanks to Blue Heron books, from Uxbridge, for handling the book sales! I hope the kids enjoy their summer reading, keep reading everyone.

And here's a shout out to anyone going on a long family car trip this summer ...
I see you, Myles ...

ARC letter for Myles and the Monster Outside

My sixth book, Myles and the Monster Outside, book 2 in the Weird Stories Gone Wrong series, has been nominated for two awards:

The Hackmatack Children's Choice Award
The Silver Birch Express Award

Thank you so much to the nominating committees and to the librarians, teachers and readers who read, vote for and promote Canadian authors!

A few readers have recently asked me what gave me the idea for Myles and the Monster Outside?

Here's the letter that accompanied the advanced reader's copy, with the answer:

"Dear Middle-Grade Horror Lover,

Book 1, Jake and the Giant Hand

When I was a child, my family and I travelled on long car trips to far-flung places like Manitoulin Island, Cape Cod, and South Carolina.

In my early twenties, I drove across Canada in an ancient Vega that barely made it home. A long car trip requires a certain fortitude, an ability to remain focused despite the inevitable boredom, and the knowledge that anything could be around the next corner.

My early travels became the inspiration for Myles and the Monster Outside. I wanted to examine the crucible of a tiresome journey from the perspective of a young boy who is moving to a new home for the first time. I also wanted to create a middle-grade character who is prone to anxiety and who has a vivid imagination that is both his undoing and his strength.

Who hasn't been that child in the back seat, tortured by the boredom of a long drive, convinced they can see something strange outside the window?

Book 3, Carter and the Curious Maze

I know I was!

As the journey unfolds, Myles must confront fears about his new home, a monster, a rainy night, and a ghostly old man and his dog. At first his overabundance of imagination is a curse, but as the story unfolds, he comes to realize that the ability to see what no one else can see may just give him the advantage.

At its heart, Myles and the Monster Outside is a paranormal road-trip adventure, a horror story about the monsters we create outside ourselves, and how we cope with them.

I hope you enjoy the journey!"

For more about Myles and the Monster Outside:

Goodreads Reviews
All "Myles" posts on this blog
YouTube Book Trailer, featuring illustration by Shawna Daigle

SAVE BIG, Carter and the Curious Maze is on the Dundurn Hotlist!

If it's (almost) spring, then it's time for the Dundurn Press Hotlist deal!

You can score 40% off their HOTLIST books, if you order on their site in the next few weeks. Pick up great titles in YA, mystery, fiction and non-fiction at a huge discount.

For my readers, you can grab Carter and the Curious Maze at 40% off  - Just $5.99 a copy! That's a pretty decent deal, you won't find a better one anywhere.

Go to Dundurn Press right now, pick your books, and use the discount code HOTLIST40.

Great reading, great prices, go now!

Thank you CanLit for Kids!

Thank you to the CanKit for Kids experts out in BC! They have selected not one, but TWO, of my titles for their winter catalog selection. 

Both Everton Miles is Stranger than Me (Dundurn, 2016) and Carter and the Curious Maze (Dundurn, 2016), have been selected.

You can read more about the books here.

CanLit for Kids selects great books for schools and libraries across the country, and their selections are updated spring and fall. Subscribers then order pre-selected book packages of high-quality books for school-age kids. Go and check them out, they are wholly Canadian and very knowledgeable (and lovely) book folks.

Publishing two books close together poses a few challenges (like how to be in two or three places at once!), but both books have done well so far and have fabulous reviews. It's very gratifying to see both books get the nod from a great service like Canlit for Kids.

Everton Miles is Stranger than Me is the sequel to The Strange Gift of Gwendolyn Golden (nominated for the OLA Red Maple Award 2015), and the series is called The Night Flyer's Handbook.

Carter and the Curious Maze is book 3 in my award-nominated middle-grade series, Weird Stories Gone Wrong.

Thank you CanLit for Kids!

More about the books:

Everton Miles is Stranger than Me (posts on this blog)
Carter and the Curious Maze (posts on this blog)

Free Colouring Pages from Carter and the Curious Maze

 Free Colouring Pages, ENJOY!

This summer and fall, I've handed out hundreds of these wonderful illustrations from Carter and the Curious Maze, book 3 of the award-nominated Weird Stories Gone Wrong series. The illustrations are by Shawna Daigle, who has kindly allowed me to make them available.

Kids have coloured these images in Fort York, the CNE and at library and bookstore events. Some of their work is pretty amazing!

The first image is Carter discovering he has traveled back in time, to the CNE in 1903! The second image is when he realizes he is sitting below a canon at Fort York in 1813, on the

day the Americans invade York (and the GRAND MAGAZINE explodes, making the largest man-made explosion in history up until that time). KA-BOOM!

HAVE FUN! Please click on the images, print them out and have fun colouring them! It's all the rage these days. Enjoy!