It's been a year-long gargoyle party ...

...and now it comes to an end with the Hackmatack tour, which starts today. I'll be touring New Brunswick and PEI this week, and ending in Charlottetown for the big awards event on May 30th.
I've been so honoured that my book about a lost gargoyle in the big city,
The Gargoyle at the Gates, has been nominated for five awards this year: Red Cedar, Diamond Willow, Silver Birch Express, Cooperative Children's Book Centre (US) and the Hackmatack awards. It was also named a White Raven book 2013 by the International Youth Library in Munich, a huge honour. I've met so many wonderful librarians, teachers, parents, authors and kids all along the way. Thanks everyone for all the fun, it's been a wonderful year and I couldn't be more thankful. It's probably time to start writing another book! PD

The Gothic Gargoyle Ballet

Listen to the Gargoyle Shuffle

What would a dancing gargoyle look like, do you think? 
I can't show you, sorry, you'll have to imagine it. But I CAN let you listen to the Gargoyle Shuffle. It's a guitar piece I wrote for the description of gargoyles dancing in my children's book, The Gargoyle at the Gates (p. 91).

Click here for the Gargoyle Shuffle. Enjoy!

"Christopher ... picked up his guitar and began playing into the night. Snow was falling delicately, softening and quieting the busy city. His music lifted through the snowy air. Ambergine came out of the bushes first and stepped into the spotlight near the apple tree ... Then she started spiralling and pirouetting in the snow, dancing to the guitar music. Slowly Gargoth joined her ... and there in the snowy, strange little gothic park, Christopher watched the two ancient creatures dance and pirouette and move together in a gargoyle ballet, as the snow fell gently upon them." From The Gargoyle at the Gates, p. 91

5 Award Nominations for The Gargoyle at the Gates

I couldn't be more honoured ...
I've started many of my tweets and blog posts with those words lately, and I mean it every time I write it.
The Gargoyle at the Gates, the third book in the Lost Gargoyle Series, has now received five award nominations, four in Canada and one in the US, plus it's been honoured with the White Raven 2013 designation from the International Youth Library in Munich and a starred review in the Canadian Children's Best Books for Kids & Teens, 2013.
I'm really, really touched and well, honoured, that this story has been so well received by the YA literary community.  I feel incredibly lucky to be able to share it with children across Canada and around the world.
It's a book about magic and friendship, family and ancestors. It's a book about how to stand up to a bully, how to banish secrets and how to build a community through urban renewal. It's also a book about cruelty, obsession and the courage of resistance.
But more than all that, it's a book about how to make a friend, even with something as seemingly unlovable (at least at first) as a gargoyle. Thank you to everyone who has read Gargoth's story, I hope you enjoyed it! And once again, I'm truly honoured.

Award Nominations & Commendations for The Gargoyle at the Gates:
OLA Silver Birch Express Award, Shortlist 2014
Red Cedar and Stellar Book Award, Shortlist, 2013-2014
CCBC Best Books for Kids & Teens 2013, * Starred Review 
White Raven Book, International Youth Library, Munich, 2013
Hackmatack Children's Choice Awards, Shortlist, 2013-2014
SYRCA Diamond Willow Award, Shortlist, 2013-2014
Cooperative Children's Book Centre Awards Nominee for Best Books for Kids & Teens (2012)
Resource Links Magazine, A BEST BETS BOOK 2012

Reading at the Richmond Hill Library

The Author and gargoyles at Richmond Hill Library

I love presenting to children, reading my books to them, talking about gargoyles, answering their questions. They always have such great questions.
Yesterday I went a little further afield than normal, and travelled to Richmond Hill Public Library for their Reading For Life Event.
Loads of fun, thanks for having me Sharmin!
My favourite question of the day from a grade 3 boy:
"You wrote the book, why do you have to read it? Don't you know every word?"
Awesome question. That would definitely have occured to me if I was nine. My answer was something like, well you'd THINK that, but the way we speak and the way we write is different. Plus, I have a terrible memory!
Here's a link to an earlier blog post about children's questions: The 10 oddest Questions I've been asked by kids

Philippa Dowding author events, April and May

Spring is here, and with it comes author and book events. This year I'm very honoured to be presenting at libraries and schools in and around Toronto in April and May. If you're in the neighbourhood, come say hi:

Life Long Reading Event
Where: Richmond Hill Library
When: Tuesday, April 16th
Time: 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
FREE, open to public (registration required, see above)

TD Canadian Children's Book Week

Author Visit
Where: Barbara Frum Library
When: Monday, May 6th
Time: 1:30 -2:30 p.m.
FREE, open to public

Author Visit
Where: Albion Library
When: Wednesday, May 8th
Time: 2:00 - 3:00 p.m.
FREE, open to public

Author Visit
Where: Holy Name Catholic School
When: Thursday, May 9th
Time: 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.
FREE, open to public

Spring, spring, spring! Here are two of my favourite youtube videos about spring.
Toronto Island Spring Tree Tour
Jane Siberry, Spring Song

Award Week for The Gargoyle at the Gates!

It's been an amazing week for The Gargoyle at the Gates, book 3 in the Lost Gargoyle Series. I couldn't be more honoured, and frankly, more amazed. The book has now received two national award nominations, and been awarded one international library honour.

Here are the nominations:

The SYRCA Diamond Willow Award (Saskatchewan),
Shortlist, 2013-2014

The Hackmatack Awards (Altlantic Canada), Shortlist, 2013-2014

And the international library honour:

The White Raven (The International Youth Library, Munich), 2013

Thank you so much to the SYRCA, Hackmatack and IYL for this huge honour, it's just amazing.

I've been trying to think about what is attracting such attention to this story. Not to spoil the story for anyone, I will say that the gargoyles both suffer in this book at the hands of the evil Collector, and they both resist him in their own way. I think that's an important message for children: that resistance, dignity and courage make us who we are, whether gargoyle or human. And friends and family help save us, too.

Perhaps universal.

Here is a very timely and interesting article by Noah Richler in the National Post today, called "The Truth about being shortlisted" As he says, receiving a nomination is very definitely as good as winning!

Gargoyles at Yorkdale Indigo this Saturday, March 16!

Well, I have to admit, it's been a quieter winter than last year. The OLA Silver Birch nomination kept me really busy in 2012. This year is more contemplative, a slightly slower pace, allowing me to write much more than I did last winter. So I guess there's a balance there, somewhere.
I WILL be at Yorkdale Indigo in Toronto this Saturday, March 16th, signing books and saying hello. Come on out if you're up that way.
Here's a blog post about running a good bookstore event from last fall. Hope I remember to follow my own advice!

Diamond Willow 2013 nomination for The Gargoyle at the Gates!

Well, that's just amazing! 
The Saskatchewan Young Readers 
Choice Willow Awards have just selected
The Gargoyle at the Gates, book 3 in the Lost Gargoyle Series, as one of their Diamond Willow nominees for 2013.  So very honoured and delighted. Thank you SYRCA! Here's the link with all the great nominees, I'm in fantastic company: Diamond Willow 2013