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.

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!

It's 1903 and the ice cream is melting!

Me (in the rocking chair), Shawna Daigle (handing out crayons & art) at the CNE, Aug. 27/16. Photo courtesy CNE staff.

It's 1903 ... and the ice cream is melting! The CNE is the oldest continually running fair in Canada, it started in the late 1880s and has run during the last two weeks of August, ever since. 

Last weekend I was so honoured to read my newest book, Carter and the Curious Maze, (book 3, Weird Stories Gone Wrong), on the KidsWorld Stage there. Above is a photo of my fantastic illustrator, Shawna Daigle (who did all 22 illustrations, including the covers, for the series), and I getting ready. 

Ride the Switchback! (CNE archives, @1903)

The story is set on the CNE fairgrounds, and is about a young boy who travels back in time through a strange and magical maze. He visits three time periods all on the same spot: 1903 at the CNE, then 1813 during the Battle of York, and 1750 at Fort Rouille, a little-known French fur-trading post, which still has a memorial on the CNE grounds.

I read for about 10 minutes, taking kids back to what that very spot would have been like in 1903 ... they seemed pretty entranced. It was a dream come true for me, honestly. I've always loved the CNE, I visited every summer as a child, and took my own kids.

Carter in 1903, by Shawna Daigle

So to sit there and read my book, to those kids, in that place while the ferris wheel and midway rides went on behind me ... well it doesn't get a lot better than that for an author, I don't think.

I also read the book to summer camp kids a few weeks before, at Fort York, also amazing.

All to say, I'm totally lucky, and many, many thanks to the CNE staff, the Fort York staff, the Toronto Pioneer and Historical Society, and to my publisher, Dundurn Press, for helping me make it all happen.

Enjoy last week's blog post about the book and thoughts on Writing Historical Fiction for Kids.

To see more of Shawna's wonderful art, take a look at the Book Trailer.