Happy Book Birthday, FIREFLY!

 

CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S BEEN 4 YEARS!

Firefly came out Feb 6/2021. In the following years, it won the Governor General Literary award, the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz award, was named a Globe and Mail Top 100 book, an OLA Best Bet Book, and was nominated for over a dozen more literary awards.

Thank you to my wonderful publisher DCB Young Readers, for making this book happen.

Order online: Buy a Copy Locally or check your local library.

From 4 years ago: It's officially FIREFLY'S BOOK BIRTHDAY, and my little dog Samwise Gamgee, approves (he doesn't even mind Juggernaut the cat on the cover).  

And here's a heartfelt rant from this Canadian author: now more than ever, if you enjoyed a book, tell the world online! Reviews matter so much.

There's a book launch coming March 2 with Another Story Bookshop, stay tuned for more on that! 

For now, here's more on this blog about FIREFLY! Happy Birthday FIREFLY!

The Governor General Literary Awards at Rideau Hall, April 18, 2024!

Author photo courtesy Terry Fan

Here it is, the last day of 2024! What was my TOP POST of the year? Yep, my visit to Rideau Hall on April 18, to receive the incredible honour of the gift of a GG award for my book FIREFLY.

An amazing day for any writer, enjoy! And Happy New Year all:

"Well, it's happened! The 4-year wait for the Governor General Awards has ended, and all the literary laureates from 2020-2023 have been celebrated in a four-day visit to Ottawa this April!

I'm still processing, and when the official photos come out, I'll share them along with more thoughts about the experience. Sincere thanks to illustrator Terry Fan for the candid photo of me before the ceremony, in the sunroom at Rideau Hall! 

Thank you to the Governor General of Canada and to the Canada Council for the Arts for hosting us writers, from all over the country. It was an absolute blast to meet 60+ laureates (usually it's 14 or so), and to visit the archives, the National Gallery, the Canadian War Museum (a personal trip), and then Rideau Hall together on April 18th. 

Each of us took our turn in front of the crowd of 200+ attendees, listened as our book was cited by the GG committee, then met Her Excellency The Right Honourable Mary Simon, our Governor General. 

FIREFLY, leather-bound, on the right

When we shook hands, our Governor General whispered, "good morning!" then smiled and handed me my gift: a leather-bound copy of my winning middle-grade book, FIREFLY. Apparently we were photographed together, but all I remember honestly, is her sweet smile and her green eyes!

A wondrous day. Thank you to my publisher, Marc Cote (Cormorant Books), and my editor, Barry Jowett, who were both there to celebrate with me. I told them when I was standing in front of the crowd filled with joy (and more than a little emotion), I was 9-year-old Philippa and 60-year-old Philippa, and every Philippa in-between, who wrote and failed, then wrote some more.

The Pink Room, Rideau Hall, for lunch

A magical experience, I'm filled with gratitude. Thank you and congratulations to all the laureates, it was SO great to meet you and celebrate together!

Here is the complete list of Governor General laureates 2020-2023.

Official photos of me with the Governor General and other laureates 

For all posts about FIREFLY on this blog.

Are the Kids Alright ... 10 books for I Read Canadian Day on 49th Shelf!

This is I Read Canadian week. Read a Canadian author to support the Canadian publishing world. Read a book, tell a friend, write a review, give a gift book. Anything and everything to celebrate Canadian authors, books, and publishing.

Here's my curated list from 2021, on the 49thShelf: Kids Coping With Crisis

These are 10 fantastic books by Canadian authors, which explore adult and parental mental health, homelessness, poverty and addiction through a kid's eyes. I was asked to curate and annotate this list by 49thShelf, as a celebration of my newest book, FIREFLY. Thank you to them!

The books are by Eric Walters, Rebecca Upjohn, Monica Kulling, Christina Kilbourne, Holly Dobbie, Natalie Hyde, Eden Robinson, Christopher Paul Curtis, E.L. Chen. All great authors you should get to know! Books links, annotations and more at the link: Philippa Dowding on the 49thShelf.

Happy I Read Canadian Day!

All posts about FIREFLY on this Blog

What's it like to win the Governor General's literary award?

 

Reposting from November 2021, because in a few months I will go to Ottawa to receive my GG award, after a 4-year hiatus. I'll be talking about this experience in upcoming posts:

"A: On October 3rd this year, a woman in Golden, BC, woke up to a meteorite crashing through her roof and landing in bed beside her. I think that’s a perfect metaphor for winning the Governor General’s Literary Award: it’s somewhat miraculous, unforeseeable, and frankly leaves you a little shaken up.

I couldn’t be more honoured by this win for Firefly, a book very close to my heart..." 

--PD on the 49th Shelf, Dec/2021

A meteorite is right! In the interview I also talk about inspiration for FIREFLY, challenges creating the character, my litmus test for a great children's story, and what I'm reading right now.

Read the entire interview: 49th Shelf Q&A Interview with Philippa Dowding

I'm still getting used to the idea that FIREFLY won the GG award for Young People's Literature (text) this year. In the photo above, I'm pretty dazed at the news, celebrating at my publisher's office that morning, so much champagne!

But it's slowly sinking in and thank you (again) to the Canada Council. Part of the job of receiving this massive honour, I'm realizing, is to be gracious and inclusive, and to thank everyone who reaches out with congratulations, and to say yes to every invitation, but also eventually to just sit with it, to try to be worthy of it. It's so unexpected, this meteorite, that it will take time to get used to having it in the bed with me.

In the Globe and Mail, Nov/2021

There's also a terrific review on Storytime with Stephanie, thank you!

Here's the opening paragraph: "At the beginning of October, the Governor General’s Literary Award and the Forest of Reading Award nominees were announced in the same week. When a book appears on both of those lists, it’s certainly one to consider reading. Firefly by Philippa Dowding certainly lived up to its nominated status!"

It's really all about the story though, Firefly's story, not about me (thank goodness), and I couldn't be more pleased that because of the Governor General win, more kids will be reading about PTSD, homelessness, addiction and mental health. I hope that none of them live a life like Firefly's (please no!), but if they do or know someone who does, they'll also know they're not alone.

Shine bright, Firefly!

All posts on this blog about Firefly.

Foreign Rights for FIREFLY!

 

Macedonian Edition of FIREFLY

Introducing the Macedonian Edition of FIREFLY! Thanks to my Canadian publisher,
 DCB Young Readers, and my new Macedonian publisher, SF (Strange Forest).

Well, it's finally happened: FIREFLY has been published in a language other than English! I find it delightful that the Macedonian book cover is so sweetly different from the English version. The main changes are that Aunt Gayle is on the front cover too (she only appears on the back cover in the English version), and there are two versions of Firefly on the Macedonian cover (a darker, reserved one behind the WWI flying ace version). Juggers the cat is pretty sweet in both versions!

For those who don't know, these "foreign rights" are an income stream for authors and publishers, and I'm grateful to SF for inviting FIREFLY into their publishing space. Please contact my publisher if you're interested in foreign rights for FIREFLY.

Other news ... FIREFLY has also been optioned for film rights, so stay tuned!

Enjoy The Time Twin, my short story on CBC Books

 

Thank you to CBC for permission to use their original Instagram image.

I'm reposting this from this week, last year (I think the post is going to disappear soon, so enjoy while you can). Does everyone have a time twin? During this period of pandemic and isolation, I've discovered that every connection is significant, even something as simple as meeting a jogger in the park. 

I'm so honoured to have my short story, The Time Twin, featured on the CBC Books site as part of the CONNECTIONS series by the 2021 Governor General literary award winners. 

Here is the series description: "CBC Books asked the winners to reflect further on the theme of connection in original works. The all-new literary series explores the not-so-obvious and complicated ways we engage and interact with each other and the world around us."

I set the Time Twin in my local park, the same setting for the park in FIREFLY. A park is a magical space, in fiction and in life. I hope you enjoy the TIME TWIN, and that you connect through your own chance encounter with a time twin.

Happy holidays all!

PD

A visit to the costume shop, a day skiing, a guitar visitor

A few February updates for you:

AUTHOR VIRTUAL VISITS

FIREFLY went to Thunder Thighs costume shop last week, while I was getting photos for school visits together. The Corseted Lady costume shop in the book is based on Thunder Thighs, the real costume shop run by my extended family. More images to come.

If you're looking for an author virtual visit, I still have some availability!  Here is the WITS Author Visit Subsidy page. You may get a grant to invite me to talk to your class.

FOREST OF READING

Look for my Forest of Reading Red Maple presentation on February 11, 2022, available on the Ontario Library Association website that day.

WINTER WINTER WINTER

How are you getting through this interminable winter? I've had a few days skiing, bright blue sky and white winter snow just north of Toronto. Cold though. I've cross-country skied most of my life, here in Ontario, in Alberta and Quebec. If there is snow, you might as well find a way to enjoy it.

Also, I had a visitor come and hang out in my office last week (son came for a visit). I snuck a photo of him playing my Yamaha classical guitar in my messy office. Note the Vaseline lip balm for general dried out winter lips.

That helped with winter, too. 

Hope you're doing okay ... miss everyone.

5 Questions About My Book, FIREFLY!

FIREFLY is my thirteenth book for children, thank you to DCB Young Readers, my amazing publisher. 

FIREFLY recently won the 2021 Governor General's Literary Award for Young People's Literature (text) and has also received another five shortlist nominations, including the Ruth & Sylvia Schwartz Children's Book Awards and the OLA Red Maple Awards.

Set in a real downtown Toronto costume shop, it's a story about mental health, PTSD, homelessness and poverty. BUT, it's also about the indomitable spirit of a 13-year-old girl, and her imperfect but amazing aunt, who runs the costume shop.

Order FIREFLY now.

Here are the top 5 questions I think people might ask about the book, enjoy!

1. What is FIREFLY about?

Firefly has been sleeping in the Toronto park across from her mother's house for most of the summer.  Then the Bad Night happens and she gets nabbed by social services, who send her to live at The Corseted Lady costume shop with her Aunt Gayle. The costume shop has 7 million pieces in it, enough for Firefly to try all kinds of identities in grade nine at her new high school. But which one is the real Firefly?

2. What made you want to write this story?

The setting for the story is inspired by a real costume shop in Toronto, run by my extended family members: 

Read more about Thunder Thighs here. 

It's an amazing place, a warehouse with 7 million pieces in it! Along with all the beautiful costumes, you'd have to include the huge collections of things like buttons, eye glasses, boots, shoes, fascinators to reach that number, though. My sister-in-law started the shop in the 1980s, and built it into a very successful business, creating and renting costumes for the Canadian film, theatre and television industry. She made my wedding dress, for instance, which was used on at least one CBC franchise! Costumes transform us, but also reveal who we are. I wanted Firefly's story to be more about who she becomes, than who she was on the street, and costumes are a great way to achieve that.

3. Firefly and her mother don't reconcile by the end of this story. Is this a little unusual for a middle-grade book?

Without giving too much away, I did want to write a story that explores the long-term struggle a young person has with a parent who, for various reasons, cannot parent their child properly. There's no fast, easy way to heal and to write any other kind of ending would be untruthful. But the story isn't really focused on the past. In the indomitable spirit of a young teenager, Firefly looks forward. She's curious, loving, smart, resourceful and with help from her aunt, her friend Charlie, a good social worker and a few others, she starts a journey of self-discovery. And in a costume shop, that journey can go in some amazing and hilarious directions! 

The ending is hopeful too, and there is the suggestion that Firefly and her mother will talk again, one day. When Firefly is ready.

4. What is your favourite part of the book?

It was a real honour to write a story inspired by a family-run business, one that my kids have worked at, that I have watched grow and change for decades. I have lots of memories about it, including the carrot costume that one family member wore every Halloween, or the motorcycle cop outfit that my son loved at age 13. It's a family story, so I love that about it, although it is a piece of fiction. The book is also quite hilarious in places, strange things can happen in a costume shop, especially at Halloween (which is when the story is set). I really love Chapter Fourteen, "There's Always a Guy in a Gorilla Suit," which I think is one of the funniest things I've ever written!  I'll just leave that there!

Firefly statue from friends, Dec. 2021

5. What is the main message you want young readers to take away from FIREFLY?

I think any child, whether in a difficult home situation or not, will identify with the courage and humour in Firefly. We're all luminous, beautiful creatures, lit from within, and there are people who see that in us, too. The main message I want kids to hear: find your crew, and let them love you and help you. You're not alone.

BOOK LAUNCH Q&A on YouTube: Kidlit blogger Helen Kubiw interviews me on all things FIREFLY.

Firefly is a CBC Books "28 Middle-Grade Books" Pick, March 2021

Firefly is an EXPERT PICK, Canadian Children's Book Centre March 2021

Beautiful Review from CanLit for Little Canadians

Here's a short YouTube video of ME Reading FIREFLY

FIREFLY BOOK TRAILER

More about FIREFLY on this BLOG

FIREFLY gets a Starred Review and is a Globe and Mail Top 100 Book!

"This fantasy specialist's shift into realism is a triumph."

The Globe 100: The Books we Loved in 2021 
The Globe & Mail, December 2021
Full list also available in the newspaper print edition,
Saturday, Dec. 4th, 2021

The great news for FIREFLY just keeps coming, and it's been an amazing month. In this space I've shared that FIREFLY won the Governor General's Literary Award for Young People's Text, and that it's an OLA Red Maple 2022 nominee.

The book has also just received a Starred Review in the Canadian Children's Book Centre Best Books of 2021 (Fall Edition). The book was also named one of 9 Great Holiday Reads for Kids by CBC's The Next Chapter in December.

Author and her publisher, Nov. 17/2021

AND, the Globe and Mail newspaper chose the book as one of its top 100 books of the year, in the Young Adult Fiction section. 

The quote above is astonishing: a triumph.

I'm deeply moved by that, and couldn't be more honoured that Firefly's story is resonating with so many people. I hope that it resonates with you, too. 

Please, this year support your local bookstore, and as always, read Canadian (then tell the world what you thought)! 

Keep reading everyone, and shine bright, Firefly!

Signing with my beautiful new pen,
 a gift from my wonderful publisher

More about Firefly:

Author Reading, YOUTUBE

Book Launch, YOUTUBE

All Posts about FIREFLY on this BLOG

The Next Chapter recommends FIREFLY as a great holiday read ...

 

"It's a powerful book with engaging characters. It helps one discover who family is. It's a book with a real heart and something that young readers are really going to be taken by."

-Ken Setterington, CBC's The Next Chapter

Well, the great news for FIREFLY just keeps coming, and I couldn't be more honoured. Thank you to the CBC children's book panel, for selecting FIREFLY as one of their "9 Great Holiday Reads for Kids."

Here is the whole list of 9 books: Firefly on the CBC

The book panel also chatted to Shelagh Rogers live on CBC radio, Saturday Dec. 11. A few excited friends contacted me to share that great news, too. (Link on CBC page, noted above)

It's a great list, go and check it out!

Also, I have the BEST friends who gifted me this incredible FIREFLY trophy this week (along with a bottle of champagne) to celebrate the Governor General Literary award win. Any resemblance to an old hockey trophy is purely coincidental! 

I love everything about this:

Happy Holidays everyone and shine bright, Firefly!

All posts about Firefly on this blog

FIREFLY is a Governor General's Award Finalist AND an OLA Red Maple Nominee

I've never had a week like this before. I don't think that as a writer, you can have a better week. Certainly, you would never expect a week like this. I'm still in shock. 

On Thursday, October 14th, I woke up to the news that FIREFLY was a Governor General's Literary Award Finalist, Young People's Literature (text). It is an incredible honour, one that I would never have expected. I've cheered on my friends, many times, and clapped with joy from the sidelines when they were nominated. But to be a Finalist myself? Never, not EVER, did I ever think that would happen. Tears of joy, wept along with my inner 9-year-old who used to dream of being an author one day.

I'm also incredibly honoured to be among the first group of Finalists with Mary May Simon, the first Inuk Governor General, in Rideau Hall. Here is a CBC article by Inuk journalist Pauline Pemik, Oct. 21/2021: Interviewing the Governor General in my Language felt like reconciliation.

Winners are announced on November 17, 2021. Stay tuned for that. Here's a video of me reading from FIREFLY:

The next day, October 15th, was the day that FIREFLY was shortlisted for the Ontario Library Association Red Maple Award. 

An incredible honour, this means that young readers in Ontario in grades 7 and 8 will be introduced to Firefly, an indomitable, funny, wise 13-year-old living in a park in downtown Toronto. I will be talking to kids (probably via Zoom etc) across the province about the book, then the young readers choose their favourite book out of the ten nominees. Next spring, 2022, the winners are decided in a big celebration. Stay tuned! 

Here is a post from 2014, about being a Red Maple nominee. That year I was nominated for The Strange Gift of Gwendolyn Golden.

Shine bright, Firefly!

All posts about Firefly on this blog.

It's a Governor General's Literary Award Nomination for FIREFLY!

 

I am so honoured to be able to say that FIREFLY is a Finalist for the 2021 Governor General's Literary Awards!

That's something that you dream about, but never expect to write on your blog. As a thing. That's actually, you know, happened!

Here is the complete list of 
GG Finalists for 2021

You'll find FIREFLY in the Young Readers Literature - TEXT category, a total of 5 books. I'm very pleased to be named with my amazing kidlit peers, Kevin and Basil Sylvester, Sharon Jennings, Angela Ahn and Liselle Sambury.

Thank you to my wonderful publisher at DCB Young Readers, and congratulations to all the nominees. The winners are announced on November 17, 2021, check back then!

Shine bright, Firefly!

All posts on this blog about FIREFLY

Singing lobsters, medieval warriors, and There's Always a Guy in a Gorilla Suit ...

 

"Gloria! You are HILARIOUS!" one of the ladies laughs, then they all grab a lobster costume. One of them sees me watching and says, 'We're a vocal quartet!' I just cannot imagine what kind of party they are going to dressed as four singing lobsters. It takes a certain self-confidence to go to a Halloween party dressed as one quarter of a lobster quartet.

This idea actually makes me quite happy. I'm perilously close to giggling." --From FIREFLY, p. 103

Ever wondered what Halloween in a costume shop might be like?

Firefly knows. She lives in the Corseted Lady costume shop with her Aunt Gayle, which is much better than the park where she used to live. But it takes some getting used to, especially around Halloween. Singing lobster quartets, medieval warriors, Gorilla Suit Guy, that's just the start.

Here's a YouTube clip of me reading this chapter:

There's a new FREE TEACHER'S GUIDE and an excerpt from the book, too.

Halloween is coming! Spend some time with Firefly in her Aunt's costume shop, based on a real costume shop in Toronto, run by my extended family. ENJOY!

All Posts About FIREFLY on this blog

FREE Teacher's Guide for FIREFLY!

 

"Of all the costumes Firefly wore, what was your favourite? Why?"

- Sample FIREFLY Teacher's Guide question, DCB Young Readers

My fabulous publisher at DCB has created a wonderful new (and also free) classroom resource for my latest book, FIREFLY. 

The book is an interesting, funny, and moving read about a girl discovering who she really is, by escaping her difficult home. The story is set in a downtown Toronto costume warehouse run by my extended family, and it's a book close to my heart, a book that I've always wanted to write.

I hope you'll download this free Teacher's Guide and use it in your classroom (recommended for grades 6-8). There's also a free excerpt from the book on the book page. Enjoy!

More Free Teacher's Guides for my books on the 49th Shelf Here, including OCULUM, The Gargoyle in My Yard, and Weird Stories Gone Wrong (9 free guides in all)

EXTRAS:

Me reading from FIREFLY  (YouTube)

Book Trailer

Book Launch Interview with blogger Helen Kubiw (YouTube)

All posts about FIREFLY on this blog

A lovely tweet for FIREFLY from a fan ...

It's not every day that an author gets a TWEET like this from a reader! 

Thank you, Andy7071, you may not realize how inspiring it is for an author to hear from a reader, that their story, their character, their words, have moved another person. Writing a story is such a leap of faith: faith that someone will read it, that it will make sense to them, that it will speak to them in a way that matters or deepens their understanding of the world.

Faith restored!

Read an excerpt of FIREFLY: Philippa Dowding, Open Book

Watch a short clip of Philippa reading on YouTube

MORE ABOUT FIREFLY ON THIS BLOG

 

CLICK TO ORDER

Lovely FIREFLY review and excerpt on Open Book!

"Philippa Dowding has a special knack for exploring tough issues in her kids' books without sacrificing storytelling and imagination. She meets kids and teens where they are to tell fascinating and often even funny stories about strong characters in complicated situations with family, moving to new cities and towns, or dealing with an absent parent... 

The appeal of Firefly, like so much of Dowding's work, isn't limited to young readers. Her nuanced depiction of trauma, the search for identity, and the desire to define what "family" means will resonate with readers of all ages."

A lovely review and excerpt of FIREFLY, on OPEN BOOK, thank you!.

Here's the whole review plus: Read an Excerpt of FIREFLY

The good news for FIREFLY just keeps coming!

All posts about FIREFLY on this blog

Family, PTSD, homelessness and more, FIREFLY interview on Deborah Kalb's blog

I'm so honoured to be the featured author on US blogger Deborah Kalb's blog this week! She asked me some great questions about my latest book, FIREFLY, and I had a lot of fun answering them. Thanks Deborah!

See the FULL Q&A INTERVIEW.

We talked about finding story inspiration, how the story started, how it ended, my writing process along the way, what I hope young readers take from the story, and also finding that fine writing balancing act of pain and humour, a delicate combination in a middle-grade book about serious issues like PTSD, homelessness and parental addiction. 

Click for the whole interview. Here's Question 2:

"What do you think the novel says about definitions of family?

One thing I’ve learned from raising my family in a busy city is that our definition of family is constantly changing, and that we help, support and love each other in ways that make us family, whether we’re related by blood or not.

Firefly has a friend in the park who looks out for her, a homeless man named Moss Cart, who despite his own challenges helps her as best he can. She helps him, too. There’s also a group of therapists at Jennie’s, a women’s drop-in centre, who teach Firefly coping techniques for PTSD (the therapists don’t know she is only 13).

And there’s Aunt Gayle who barely knows her niece, but agrees to shelter and care for Firefly as soon as the social worker contacts her. Aunt Gayle’s staff at The Corseted Lady all care for Firefly, too. As they spend time together in the days before Halloween (a busy time in a costume shop), they give Firefly support and validation in the most unusual way (and a plot twist that I can’t give away!).

When she starts grade nine six weeks later than everyone else, Firefly also discovers a family of school friends she never expected.

The only traditional family member in the story is her mother (who she calls Joanne-the-mother), who has failed Firefly. At the end of the book, they are not reconciled although there are supports in place for Firefly if she ever wants to connect with her mother.

What is a family? Ultimately in this book, it’s up to Firefly."

NEW: Watch my short 3-minute reading from FIREFLY, on BIBLIOVIDEO

More about Firefly on THIS BLOG.

FIREFLY is an Amazing New Middle Grade Read for Spring on the 49th Shelf!

 

FIREFLY is one of 10 books named an "Amazing new middle grade read" for spring, 2021 by the 49th Shelf! Thank you!

Here's the 49th Shelf Post 

I'm in great company with authors Mahtab Narsimhan, Kathy Kacer, Michelle Kadarusman, Marthe Jocelyn, Roy McGregor, Leslie Gentile and more. Congrats all! 

Also congratulations to my amazing publisher, DCB Young Readers, who has TWO titles on this prestigious list. Elvis, Me and the Lemonade Stand Summer, by Leslie Gentile, is also published by them.

AND, thank you to the Canadian Children's Book Centre and Bibliovideo, who have featured my three-minute reading from FIREFLY HERE. Go see what my messy office looks like! 😊

The good news for Firefly just keeps coming, and I'm really honoured. Keep reading everyone!
All posts about FIREFLY on this blog.

 

So honoured that FIREFLY is a CBC Books "Best Middle Grade Books of Spring 2021" selection! I'm in great company with some terrific Canadian writers.  Thanks CBC!

Here is the whole list, check it out for some wonderful reads for kids 9-12: Philippa Dowding on the CBC Books Spring 2021 List

All posts about FIREFLY on this blog

FIREFLY is an Expert Pick by the Canadian Children's Book Centre!

"Firefly's compelling story unfolds through her indomitable and spirited first-person narration, and flashbacks revisit her troubled childhood of neglect and parental struggles with addiction. Aunt Gayle's care and kindness wrap around Firefly like a comforting, hand-knit blanket."

--Canadian Children's Book Centre, March 2021 Expert Picks

So honoured that FIREFLY is an Expert Pick in the March 2021 newsletter of the Canadian Children's Book Centre! Thank you so much for the lovely review!

More about Firefly:

Youtube Video of FIREFLY Book Launch, Q&A with kidlit book blogger Helen Kubiw and me.

The Author Reads from FIREFLY, 3-minute YouTube Video

All posts about FIREFLY on this Blog.