5 Take Aways from Writing a Middle Grade series ...

The Weird Stories Gone Wrong series, 2014-2019

YES, it's almost Halloween, so here is my re-post about Weird Stories Gone Wrong, and how to write a spooky series for kids:

"4. My advice for anyone writing a  children's middle-grade series?

Write it your way from the start, however weird, different or strange it may seem at first (hey, I wrote the first book about a giant’s hand buried in a farmer’s field, if that isn’t weird, what is?). Your series template is your personal calling card, your style, your vision. Make it memorable and unforgettably yours from the first word to the last."

The above is an excerpt from my post about Quinn and the Quiet, Quiet on the Dundurn Blog, October 31, 2019. Quinn is the sixth and final book in the award-winning Weird Stories Gone Wrong series.

What's my favourite memory from this 5-year journey? What's my favourite book? How do you end a series? Did I know I was going to write 6 books when I started out? (No, on that one!)

Full blog post here: Philippa Dowding on the Dundurn Blog

It's true, the sixth and final book in my award-winning, middle-grade horror series has just been published. It's Quinn and the Quiet, Quiet, an environmental dystopia which will introduce kids to the idea of resistance, imbalance of power, and self-determination. I'm pleased with this book, something I've wanted to write for a long time.

It's hard to say goodbye to a series, but it's been an incredible joy and pleasure to create the Weird Stories Gone Wrong series over the past 5 years. The books have been called "Goosebumps from north of the Border" by Kirkus Reviews, and they've garnered three national nominations, and won honour book at the 2017 Forest of Reading celebrations in Ontario. I couldn't be more proud of all the books, or more surprised at how fast the time has flown by while creating them!

I guess time really does fly when you're having fun.

Here's my favourite illustration from Quinn:

Clem looks into the Quiet, Quiet, Illustration by Shawna Daigle

I had a wonderful publisher, thank you Dundurn Press. And a terrific illustrator, many thanks to Shawna Daigle, we've had such fun together and have vowed to find something to work on again.

More to come on Quinn, but for now: 

CM Magazine Recommends Quinn and the Quiet, Quiet
All posts about Quinn and the Quiet, Quiet on this blog
Book Trailer

Top 5 Blog Posts from 5 Years of Blogging

Somehow I've been blogging for five years. I've posted 275 times, an average 55 posts a year, pretty much one post a week. As 2017 comes to a close, here are the "most-viewed" posts on this blog over the five years ...

Author, Sept 2017

I've written about books (mine mostly but not entirely), and about the writer's life (tips and pointers about writing get views). I've posted about my adventures in the Canadian Kid Lit world (always fun). I've put up my poetry and music, or pictures and letters from kids, snippets about my family, sailing, my dog, and more. I've tried to update my blog every week, rain or shine. 

It's been fun for the most part. It's certainly a record of this part of my life, if anyone is ever interested. As I write this, I'm creeping toward 80,000 views, which seems amazing. For a relatively quiet and reserved type, who knew I had so much to say!

The Top 5 posts from the past 5 years are a bit of a surprise, being memoir, music and monsters, so here they are ...

#5. The Tin Foil Fairy. A Christmas Eve memoir, I was six and my older brother's prank turned into the magical stuff of legend. I re-post it annually on Christmas Eve.

#4. My Brush with Mortality ... and Measles. Another memoir, here's the story of the spring when I was 11 years old, and went blind from measles (a message for the anti-vaxxer movement).

#3. When Authors and Editors Write Music Together. Super proud of this one. My first guitar album, Fifth Season, came out in 2015, with my editor. Lovely tunes, I hope you'll give a listen. The second album, Birches, is out now too. Listen free on the Free Music Archive, or pay what you will on Bandcamp. Enjoy!

#2. American Library Association Loves Myles and the Monster Outside. A great review for my 6th book from the ALA, in which they say nice things like "readers will be enthralled." Thank you!

And #1 is ... Myles and the Monster Outside KIRKUS REVIEW. Best review ever for my award-winning horror story for kids (book 2 in the Weird Stories Gone Wrong series). I love "Goosebumps from north of the border." We read R.L. Stine in this house until the books fell apart!

So the top posts (by views) are Memoir, Music and Monsters. Sounds good to me. We're all voyeurs at heart, so who doesn't love a good memoir piece? Or the curiosity of a lovely instrumental guitar album by an author and an editor? And a universal fascination with monsters? That goes without saying.

Will I keep blogging? Yes, for a while anyway. I hope to add reviews of Canadian kid lit authors, more writing tips, and more poetry in the year ahead.

If you're still reading, here are the next top posts from the past 5 years...

#6. It's Blog Tour Week for Everton Miles is Stranger than Me
#7. Book Reviews and How to Survive Them
#8. The Ghost of Lego Past: An Ode
#9. Carter and the Curious Maze Book Trailer is a Featured Video
#10. When Authors and Editors Write Music Together, Part 2

So glad to see a poem in there (#8), and if you're at all interested in magic realism, #6 is an exhaustive set of interviews about my YA fantasy series, The Night Flyer's Handbook. And as for book reviews, #7 is the best advice I can give anyone on that subject.

Thanks for joining me, and here's to another 5 years (wow, 2022, imagine)!

Myles and the Monster Outside KIRKUS REVIEW

Coming Sept. 2015, Dundurn Press

UPDATE: Myles and the Monster Outside has been nominated for an OLA Silver Birch Express Award 2017 by the Ontario Library Association, thank you! I thought I would re-post this great Kirkus Review (which also happens to be my all-time #1 post). Enjoy. 

"Dowding’s second Weird Stories Gone Wrong is a relatively realistic, carefully written Goosebumps ... this is a gentle but still shivery spook tale.

Readers who have made a big move will identify with Myles and his fears made manifest. (Horror. 7-10)"
--Kirkus Reviews, July/2015

I'm quite thrilled with this review from Kirkus for my 2nd book in the Weird Stories Gone Wrong series, thank you! Their reviews are no-nonsense and their tagline is: "The World's Toughest Reviews on the World's Top Selling Books."

1 of 6 illustrations from Shawna Daigle

I particularly appreciate the "Goosebumps" mention, my children read R.L Stine until the books fell apart, I'm very honoured to be compared to that classic middle-grade horror franchise.

This story is a truly creepy paranormal road-trip told through the eyes of an anxious 12-year old boy. We all have monsters, right? Who hasn't been that child in the back seat on a long car drive, who starts to see things out the window? I know I definitely was. 

Myles and the Monster Outside is forthcoming from Dundurn Press, Sept 19, 2015, and is accompanied by 6 fantastically creepy illustrations by Shawna Daigle. Here is the book trailer which showcases her art (and that's me playing the spooky guitar). 

Booklist Review 
For more reviews, check Goodreads. 
Here is the complete Kirkus Review.
Read my author letter which accompanies the ARC of Myles and Monster Outside.
To request a Media Copy please contact Dundurn Press 
Read a Q&A blog post about the book on the Dundurn Blog Here

Everton Miles is Stranger than Me KIRKUS REVIEW

"Dowding offers a charming sequel ... a page-turner that is funny, magical and entertaining."
--KirkusReviews July/2016

There's nothing tougher for an author than waiting for the first review of a new book. It brings new light to the old phrase, "waiting on tenterhooks"-- whatever those are!

(Quick lookup on Merriam Webster: "a sharp nail used for fastening cloth on a tenter." Oddly oblique, but the sharp nail part is apt.)

Sewing implements aside, I couldn't be more pleased with this first, fantastic review of my new book, Everton Miles is Stranger than Me, from Kirkus Reviews in the U.S.

THANK YOU, KIRKUS! They bill themselves as the "toughest reviews of the world's bestselling books," so they're no nonsense, honest and it's quite an honour to get them to review you.

All to say, huzzah!

More to come on Everton Miles is Stranger than Me soon (release date is October 15, 2016 from Dundurn Press), but here is the Amazon page if you'd like to read the first chapter, or pre-order your own copy: Everton Miles on Amazon

And of course, here's the Goodreads page for book one, The Strange Gift of Gwendolyn Golden which was Shortlisted for the OLA Red Maple award in 2015.

And the booktrailer! The Strange Gift of Gwendolyn Golden

What kids think my characters look like...

Sydney, with her squid hat

"These kids are so excited by this story...eyes lighting up...great discussions and ideas are generated... great predictions. One day I hope you can meet these 'uber' enthusiastic students and deep admirers of yours." 
KU, Library Services, Ontario

Sometimes, when you're really lucky, you get to connect with a librarian or teacher, who loves your work and promotes it in their school.

Arthur, the lost boy, looking for his Mom

Yesterday I got a huge envelope of drawings from a wonderful librarian. She's been reading my books in her schools, and she has just finished reading an ARC copy of Carter and the Curious Maze (Aug. 2016) to one of her grade 3/4 classes. The pictures are so fun! It's hugely rewarding to see your story actually connect with kids, in a way that makes them want to draw pictures of your characters.

Cool Carter

Creepy Leaf Girl

Glam Sydney with her hat

So... here they are! Thanks all!

Mr. Green and his creepy green thumb!

the whole gang!

Here's a youtube video another teacher made: Kids talk about Carter and the Curious Maze

And some great early reviews of Carter and the Curious Maze to find out more:

CM Magazine (4/4 Stars, Highly Recommended)
Kirkus Reviews
Goodreads

And,of course, the creepy book trailer: Carter and the Curious Maze

Enjoy!

It really catches the reader's interest right away

"I really liked this book because it is full of mystery, action, adventure and scary parts...I also like how the book starts because it really catches the reader’s interest right away. I would recommend this book for anyone who likes ghost stories and mysteries." [Review by Brennen, age 11, grade 6]
--Canadian Teacher Magazine

What a great review for Myles and the Monster Outside, in the Jan/Feb 2016 issue of Canadian Teacher Magazine. I'm honoured that the young reviewer has chosen my book as his Kids Pick out of the many books he's read this month. Also, just noting that the other two kid reviewers this month chose Eric Walters books (Sleeper and Innocent). I'm in pretty good company!

Read the entire review: Canadian Teacher Magazine, Jan/Feb 2016
Read what American Library Booklist said (great things!)
Read the Kirkus Review or Goodreads reviews.
Here's the Book Trailer. Enjoy!

Introducing Carter and the Curious Maze

Book 3, Weird Stories Gone Wrong, Aug/2016

Really happy to reveal the cover for my next book, Carter and the Curious Maze.

The gorgeous cover art is by Shawna Daigle who has done all three beautiful covers and inside illustrations for the Weird Stories Gone Wrong series.

Carter and the Curious Maze is forthcoming August, 2016 from Dundurn Press.

Critics have had some very nice things to say about the series. Kirkus Reviews notably called the second book, Myles and the Monster Outside, a "carefully written Goosebumps from north of the the border."

So, this week my publisher has also been doing these fun Goosebumps read-alike twitter cards. To be compared to Goosebumps is a dream come true, I loved reading them to my kids, then they read them to themselves until the books fell apart.

Enjoy!

Draw a Monster Halloween Contest and Goodreads Giveaway

Spooooky enough for you? One of 6 illustrations from Myles, by Shawna Daigle

GET YOUR SPOOKY GOING!

In honour of Halloween and the arrival of my newest book, Myles and the Monster Outside, here are two great ways to win a copy!

Goodreads Giveaway

Enter now to get your chance to win 1 of 5 copies, in time for Halloween! Open to US and Canadian readers. Giveaway ends October 22/2015.

Draw Your Monster Contest

Available through libraries in Toronto, Newmarket and Aurora. Get a form from the library (in person or online), draw your monster and get a chance to win 1 of 5 copies, courtesy of Dundurn Press. All entries get a bookmark.
Newmarket Library
Aurora Library
Palmerston Library
Gladstone Library

Follow the fun on twitter: #drawyourmonster

Here's the Myles and the Monster Outside Book Trailer, illustrations by Shawna Daigle.

Get your Halloween spooky going!

Read a review of Myles and the Monster Outside, "a carefully written Goosebumps from north of the border": Kirkus Reviews

Happy Book Birthday to Myles and the Monster Outside!

Ages 8-12, IN STORES NOW!

Happy Book Birthday to my newest title, Myles and the Monster Outside, which officially launches today!

Book 2 in the Weird Stories Gone Wrong series (following Jake and the Giant Hand, 2014) this is a paranormal, road-trip thriller about Myles, an anxious 12-year-old boy on a long car trip to his new home with his travel-weary family. On their final night in the car, Myles starts to see, then hear, something following them out in the night.

A monster? A ghost? His fears made manifest?

Read Myles and the Monster Outside to find out!

Available in bookstores now
Read my Q&A about the book, writing horror for kids and more on my publisher's blog.
Kirkus Review: "a carefully written Goosebumps from north of the border ... a gentle but still shivery spook tale."
Goodreads Reviews
Book trailer featuring 6 spooky illustrations by Shawna Daigle and music by the author

On writing horror for kids

Two-book bundle now available

My new book, Myles and the Monster Outside, is coming out this week. I answered a Q&A about the book on Dundurn's blog. We talked about monsters, writing for kids, and more. Here's a taste:

"What was the hardest part of writing your book?

Horror for kids takes a deft touch. What’s too tame, what’s too spooky, how do you strike the right balance between scary and believable, plus provide a satisfying ending that’s not just a Scooby-doo reveal (not that there’s anything wrong with Scooby-doo)? 

Because Myles and the Monster Outside is a psychological, road-trip thriller (which may be a first for a children’s book), much of the spookiness comes from the late night, and the blurred line between what’s real and what’s imagined. I had to keep the tension high inside the car, too – a tall order!"

We talked about audience, readership and more. 
Click here for entire Q&A.

Here are some reviews of Myles and the Monster Outside:  Kirkus Reviews  Goodreads

And hey, the book is the Dundurn FB title page this week!

Myles and the Monster Outside is now available on Amazon.

Check out the fantastic Myles and the Monster Outside Book trailer (that's me playing an original composition on guitar, btw) with all 6 spooky illustrations from Shawna Daigle (who also did the amazing covers).

Creepy and well crafted art for Myles and the Monster Outside

Spooooky. Gorgeous.
And just a little weird!

I love the illustrations for my forthcoming book, Myles and the Monster Outside, book 2 in the Weird Stories Gone Wrong series. They're by Shawna Daigle, who also did the amazing covers for the series.

Here's a look at one of the inside illustrations. Myles looks out the car window, and sees an apparition looming above an abandoned farmhouse.

Ooooohhhh. I'm very lucky to have such a talented illustrator bring my words to life.

Also, thank you to 49th Shelf for including the book in their list of Most Anticipated YA Books 2015 this week.

For reviews and more:

KIRKUS REVIEWS: "A carefully written Goosebumps"

GOODREADS: "The perfect kind of ghost story."

BOOK TRAILER for Myles and the Monster Outside

Myles and the Monster Outside is forthcoming from Dundurn Press, September 2015. Please contact them for media copies, queries and further information.

Myles and the Monster Outside Gets Bundled!

Forthcoming October 2015

"A carefully written Goosebumps ... a gentle but still shivery spook tale. Readers who have made a big move will identify with Myles and his fears made manifest."
--Kirkus Reviews

What's better than one Weird Story Gone Wrong?
Two Weird Stories Gone Wrong! Now you can pre-order both Jake and the Giant Hand  and book 2 in the series, Myles and the Monster Outside, bundled together as ebooks (it's a pretty good deal too).

Early reviews for Myles and the Monster Outside, are really good so far. Here's what one NetGalley reader wrote on Goodreads:

" ... it's the perfect type of ghost story. It's weird, filled with foreboding and laced with the uncertainty of being seen through the eyes of extremely tired travelers in the middle of the night. This is a fun read for middle grade readers at any time, but it's an especially good choice for those eagerly anticipating Halloween!"

Tumble chicken, by Shawna Daigle

Thanks!

There are 6 fabulous illustrations by Shawna Daigle, too.
Just starting to think about spooky Halloween launch parties... stay tuned!

For an advance media copy, please contact Dundurn Press.
Myles and the Monster Outside BOOK TRAILER