Win free books with a 49th Shelf Giveaway and Colouring Contest!

Just back from a week in Paris (!) and I've got a few exciting free book contests for you.

First up, you could WIN a FREE COPY of OCULUM on the 49th Shelf Giveaway. Contest ends October 28th/2018.
One of 5 copies to be won, all you have to do is enter.

Enter to win OCULUM here: 49th Shelf Giveaway

Second, your child can win a copy of Blackwells and the Briny Deep in the Bloor-Gladstone Colouring Contest. Contest ends October 27th/2018. I'll be selecting the winners and doing a reading from the book that day at the library.

More info and how to enter the Blackwells and the Briny Deep Colouring Contest. 

Note: your child can pick up a colouring contest form at the branch any time between now and October 27th, or join us at the branch before 1:30 that day. Or just drop by to join in the library halloween festivities.

Hope you enter and win some books!

More about OCULUM on this Blog.
More about Blackwells and the Briny Deep on this Blog.

And also, a picture of me in Paris this week:

The author, October 2018

OCULUM is at Word on the Street 2018!

I'm signing my new middle grade dystopia, OCULUM, at Word on the Street 2018 in Toronto!  It'll be a great day for book-lovers, rain or shine, with lots of fantastic writers, publishers, and books, books, books. Hope you'll come find me and say hi!

When: Sunday, September 23/2018
Event: Word on the Street, Toronto
Where: Cormorant/Dancing Cat Books,
 Booth #236
Author Signing Time: 3-4 pm



Here's the schedule for the full day of signings at Cormorant/Dancing Cat Books, with more great authors
AND a special WOTS promotion, drop by and say hi!

OCULUM at the Chiaroscuro Reading Series, June 20th

It's Official! I'm reading from my new middle-grade dystopia, OCULUM, for the first time at the Chiaroscuro Reading Series in June.

Where: The Round Venue, 152a Augusta Ave, Kensington Market (Toronto)

When: Wednesday, June 20, 8:00-11:59

Website & More Info: Chiaroscuro Reading Series

I'll be joining fellow dystopian authors Kate Blair and Adrienne Kress that night, so please join us for a wonderful evening of reading and contemplating the future of humanity. Hope to see you there!

Bakka/Phoenix Booksellers will sell books during the event.

Read the first reviews of OCULUM:
CM Magazine, Highly Recommended
Goodreads

Mother of Miranda1 holding a peach for Mother's Day...

Mother of Miranda1 holding a peach ...
Cover Illustration by Emma Dolan

My new middle grade dystopia, OCULUM, has been arriving in bookstores and libraries all month! 

Since it IS Mother's Day weekend and the book tells the story of two sets of children and their Mothers (one set of Mothers are robots) both inside and outside the perfect, domed world of OCULUM, here are a few pertinent words from the Acknowledgements Page:

"This book began as a weird, vivid dream, in which mechanical arms tucked a human child into bed. I’m not sure whose arms they were (or whose child), but I did take inspiration for the Mothers in this story from parenting my own children, Sarah and Ben. Thank you to them for our bedtime ritual which always ended with a little extra tucking before the lights went out.

I’d like to acknowledge that the character of Grannie in this story is inspired by the heroic feats of grandmothers the world over, raising the next generation of children orphaned by AIDS, war, addiction or in the case of this book, the end of the world. I’ve also taken much inspiration from my lifelong friend Sarah, to whom this book is dedicated, who has fostered, adopted and supported many, many children over the years, all who needed loving arms."

Mothers come in many forms, I think, even robot form. In the case of this story, one of the main characters outside the dome of OCULUM is a 12-year-old boy named Mann, who happily carries the family's baby on their journey through their ruined world (and doesn't mind changing a diaper here and there, either). 

We all need loving arms from time to time, be they human or robot. Hug back and Happy Mother's Day 2018!

Oculum is available everywhere
Put your copy on hold at Toronto Public Library
Visit the Publisher's Website for Media Copies and more
More about Oculum on THIS BLOG