April 20, 2010 1:00pm.
On the afternoon of April 20, I’ll be presenting Zorgamazoo as part of the Keep Toronto Reading Program, hosted by the Toronto Public Library. The month-long event features “author readings, literary lunches, wine tastings, and visits from CBC TV’s Kids’ Canada host Patty Sullivan.” So yeah, a bunch of stuff.
My event takes place at the Palmerston branch of the TPL, a couple blocks west of Bloor & Bathurst (please contact the branch for more details).
February 11, 2010 10:00am.
On the morning of Feb 11, I’ll be signing copies of Zorgamazoo at the annual Reading for the Love of It Conference. The two day event is at the Toronto Sheraton Centre. If you’re a local teacher or a librarian (or a teacher-librarian), please stop by the Penguin booth and say hello!
Good news everyone: Zorgamazoo won a spot on the list of Children’s Choices 2009!
Each year, 12,500 school children from across the U.S. choose their favourite books from 500 nominated titles…so I’m uber-honoured to find my little black book is among those selected. HUGE thanks to the Children’s Book Council and the International Reading Association for running the event — not to mention including me. Thanks!
In case anyone is interested, I just did an interview with a blogger who goes by the moniker, WriterGirl. Swing by to find out how I crack writer’s block, what obscure novel I think more people should read, and what four line rhyming poem best describes me. Er, can you say, “hastily scribbled limerick?”
It’s been a regrettably long time since I uploaded any audio. But fear not, poeteers (or whoever’s reading this), because here comes some more…
Chapter 5 of Zorgamazoo is now up, making it acoustically simple to follow along at home. Here’s part one:
For the rest of chapter five, as well as the preceding chapters one through four, click here. In the meantime, happy listening!
A couple weeks ago I blogged about how flabbergasted I was to see a whole school’s worth of 4th and 5th graders reading Zorgamazoo in their classrooms — and doing language arts projects featuring the book. (I will freely admit there’s a distinct feeling of gratification that comes with seeing your book land smack in the middle of somebody’s formative years. Crazy). Well, get this:
It happened again.
Last week I visited EJ Sand P.S. in Thornhill. Apart from being a wonderful school, it also happened to be the site of lightning striking twice…in the form of the very same illustration activity I saw perviously (clearly, it’s some sort of curriculum milestone / bench mark / sine qua non).
Anyway, here they are: pictures of Morty, Katrina, scenes from the book, and even a lovely, lovely welcome sign. Hotcha!
HUGE thanks to EJ Sand P.S. for making me so welcome! I had a terrific time!
Finally came into possession of a few snapshots from the Halloweener event hosted by Penguin Canada and Mable’s Fables bookshop. Those in attendance heard spooky readings from Sean Cullen (who also played host), Matthew Skelton and myself.
Incidentally, it was a special pleasure to meet Sean (I spent my high school years giggling at his surreal stream-of-consciousness comedy. Little has changed).
Another highlight was the young lad in the audience who was suspiciously preoccupied with questions about diarrhea. All three of us picked-up on this and transformed said preoccupation into a productive running-gag. But don’t worry, it was apropos; I’m sure we all know from experience that too much candy can have peculiar effects on one’s poo. (It was Halloween, after all. Talk about spooky).
Window Dressing.
Wouldja believe it? A marquee!
Heathens, repent (and kindly ignore the horns).
Did I mention the horns are real? Believe it.
LtoR: me, Matthew Skelton, Sean Cullen, The Corpse Bride, Rorschach
Lotta little black books.
Last week, I visited Britannia Public School in Mississauga. At the entrance, I was greeted by a small placard, propped up on a metal tripod. Welcome Rob Weston, it said…
Wouldn’t it be grand if every day could start like this, I thought, I’ve never had students make me a welcome banner before! In the front office I met the librarian and I immediately thanked her for her school’s thoughtfulness.
“Oh, yes,” she said. “I should show you some of the other projects.” (Other projects?)
Imagine my surprise when I was told all the 4th and 5th graders were reading Zorgamazoo in their classes — and doing visual and language arts activities featuring the book. On the way up to the library, where I was set to do my presentation, there were whole bulletin boards devoted to drawings of zorgles and other creatures from Zorgamazoo! (There were even a bunch more welcome signs!)
Needless to say, I was flabbergasted. In a very good way. So let me send out a very hearty, very heartfelt thanks to the staff and students of Britannia Public School…for utterly making my day.
February 27, 2010 2:00pm.
I’m very excited to have been invited all the way to Colorado by the Pueblo City-County Library! Over several days, I’ll be doing a number of special events, culminating with a public reading and discussion at Robert Hoag Rawlings Library on Saturday, February 27th.
If you’re an elementary school teacher from the Pueblo area, please note that I’m also doing educational events (including a poetry contest!) on the 25th and 26th. What’s more, the library is offering free copies of Zorgamazoo to participating classes! Click on the flyer below for full details:
December 7, 2009 7:00pm.
I’ll be the guest speaker at the Write2Xpress Awards Night in Oakville, where prizes will be awarded to winners of the Annual Write2Xpress Teen Writing Contest.
The evening takes place at Iroquois Ridge High School, 1051 Glenashton Drive in Oakville. For more information, please contact the Oakville Public Library.
