Holiday Book Pairings

December 11, 2008December 11, 2008 | kirsti

It’s that time of year again! No, not the last minute-run-around-like-a-crazy-person-trying-to-put-a-lid-on-work-before-the-onset-of-holidays-so-you-can-avoid-having-to-bring-your-laptop-to-the-family-dinner time of year. It’s the time of year for book pairings. It’s become an annual thing (this being the second year – so it’s official). CWILL BC members have helpfully contributed to a list of their books paired with a thematically similar item which is located on the CWILL BC blog.

Might I suggest that this list deserves a look? If only to ease the stress of this ‘holiday’ season when it comes to gift buying. (It won’t help you with your workload though. Or with keeping the cranberry sauce off your keyboard.)

If you’ll excuse me, I’m off to decorate my desk with garlands of festive invoices and colourful rough drawings. I might even throw in a spreadsheet for good measure. They’re so pretty at this time of year.

Oh, and remember to request a seat at the table that’s closest to an outlet. There’s nothing worse than running out of battery power before the end of the main course

Hatching Loons

June 13, 2008June 13, 2008 | kirsti

I’m all set for the CWILL BC 2008 Spring Book Hatching tomorrow.

In Vancouver tomorrow and looking for somewhere to take the kids? Stop by the Vancouver Public Library Central Branch between 1 and 3pm. There will be a whole lot of kids book authors and illustrators set up in the lower level, just itching to talk about their books and sign coveted Spring Book Hatching passports. Age groups from picture books up to young adult/teen novels are covered.

Spring Book Hatching

May 23, 2008 | kirsti

Spring Book Hatching poster

I’ll be taking part in this CWILL BC book event in June with my most recent illustrated book Looking for Loons (Jennifer Lloyed, author). There is more information about this fun, kid-friendly event in the press release on the CWILL BC blog.

Just One More Book!! podcast

January 2, 2008January 2, 2008 | kirsti

I recently took part in a podcast about children’s books along with two other local authors (and illustrator). More about that over here.

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What to Give?

December 11, 2007January 4, 2009 | kirsti

The Phoenix on Bowen Cat | Canon 40D| 50mm 1.4

Give a book! CWILL BC authors and illustrators make it a bit easier with themed book pairings over at the CWILL BC blog. The wonderful idea was borrowed from MotherReader and given a British Columbian twist.

I was visiting Phoenix, the bookstore (and more) on Bowen Island, when I came across a bunch of books I remember from when I was a kid. I just had to buy them. I’m not sure how to adequately express this, but reading them today, as an adult, I realised that I was enjoying them on two levels – for how my adult mind appreciated the writing and the illustrations and for the way my child mind suddenly swam to the surface when I saw something familiar from a long time ago. I loved these books in a totally different way when I was a kid, unhampered by the 31 years of experience that influence me today. Seeing them again today I got back a bit of what was wonderful about childhood. Not only did I recall the book, I remembered where I was when the book was read to me – details about the house we lived in at the time. I remembered what I felt about the book, how my parents read it to me, what my favourite pages were, what pages my brother liked best and what it was like to be able to finally read it to myself. It seems that I’m getting all sentimental and nostalgic in my adult age.

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The Phoenix on Bowen Cat | Canon 40D | 50mm 1.4

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Spring Has Sprung, the Books Are Hatching

May 17, 2007 | kirsti

The Children’s Writers and Illustrators of BC (CWILL BC) is having a spring book launch event for 2006/2007 titles.

Join Alison Acheson, Dan Bar-el, Dianna Bonder, Vivien Bowers, Della Burford, Kristin Butcher, Linda DeMeulemeester, Maggie de Vries, kc dyer, Lee Edward Födi, Dennis Foon, Diane Haynes, James Heneghan, Melanie Jackson, Heather Kellerhals-Stewart, Cora Lee, Shar Levine, Ainslie Manson, Adrienne Mason, James McCann, Victoria Miles, Max Newhouse, Cynthia Nugent, Jacqueline Pearce, Louise Phillips, Ellen Schwartz, Sima Elizabeth Shefrin, Shannon Stewart, Tiffany Stone, Joan Betty Stuchner, Diane Tullson, Kari-Lynn Winters & Pam Withers when they launch their new books this June.

More information will be posted soon on the CWILL BC blog.

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Getting Published Panel at VPL

January 28, 2007January 28, 2007 | kirsti

Getting Published
Everything You Always Wanted to know about Getting Published as a Children’s Book Writer or Illustrator is a panel that takes place every year at the Vancouver Public Library. Co-sponsered by CWILL BC, the panel features 6 CWILL BC writers and/or illustrators who will answer your questions about getting published as a children’s writer or illustrator.

February 19, 2007
Alice MacKay room
Lower Level
Central Library
350 West Georgia St. Vancouver
Admission is free
All are welcome.

The panelists this year are:

Kirsti Anne Wakelin, illustrator of A Pod of Orcas: A Seaside Counting Book
Linda Bailey, author of Stanley’s Party and Ancient China
Shar Levine – “The Science Lady” author of Smart Lab – Secret Formula Lab
Glen Huser, author of Skinnybones and the Wrinkle Queen
Ellen Schwartz, author of Stealing Home
Kathryn Shoemaker, illustrator of A Telling Time