So say Author A in Carstairs, Alberta is a really good copy-editor, but needs time away from her rambunctious children to write in peace. And Author B over in Waskesiu, Saskatchewan has this gorgeous little cottage in the woods that will be vacant for a week, but also has a manuscript that needs editing.

What do they do? Why, log onto Facebook, of course! Cause that’s where they’ll find the Talent Swap for Canadian Writers, which allows writers to trade favours (and make friends). They find each other, they swap, they both go on to snag fat book deals AND get on Oprah! It’s that simple. Well, almost.

Now, I personally am looking for a writing retreat on a beach in Belize. And in exchange for it? I’m willing to walk your dog.

Takers? Anyone?

- The publishing industry is in an unprecedented state of upheaval.

- Print books are dying out. Actually, they’re already dead. They just doesn’t know it yet.

- There has never been a more exciting time to be a writer. Ready or not, the wild ride has begun!

However, I have discovered some excellent novels. And I want to pay particular homage to Mal Peet’s Keeper, which my class will be exploring in a few weeks. This book contains three of my very favourite things: soccer, magic realism, and South American jungles. I was in heaven. Keeper is a fast-paced tale of a clumsy teenaged boy who, while exploring the jungle near his village, finds a soccer goal and a mysterious man in soccer garb. The man proceeds to coach the boy, shaping him into El Gato, the greatest keeper ever. It’s a mysterious and exciting read, with a great surprise at the end. Highly recommended.

One of my favourites is Anne Enright’s #1: “The first 12 years are the worst.” I kinda needed that.

Enjoy!

Ten Rules for Writing Fiction – from The Guardian

But maybe, just maybe the coolest event of all isn’t going to take place on a hill or in an arena or on stage. The coolest event of all is going to take place in the street. Specifically, downtown on Robson between Bute and Thurlow. Specifically, this Saturday at 4pm.

If you were to show up there at the appointed time, you might not notice anything other than Olympic fans mingling and tourists window-shopping. But then, you’d hear the first strains of a familiar song. What’s that? you’d think. “Dancing in the Streets” by Martha & the Vandellas?

Oh yes.

And then suddenly, you’d catch sight of a dancer. Right there in the street. Then another. And another. Doing a CHOREOGRAPHED dance! Yes! A flash mob! Taking over Robson Street!

Wanna join? Learn the dance here. Or get inspired by watching a flash mob at the Liverpool Street Station in London.

Or just come down and watch. After all, it doesn’t matter what you wear, just as long as you are there…

This flash mob brought to you by Imagine 1 Day.

I’ll warn you, Book 2 looks nothing like Book 1. Not a thing. But it’s still fun and eye-catching. That’s all I can say. We’re talking top-secret stuff here, people.

Oh yeah, and there’s a treasure map inside. Eeee!

And so, without further ado, the countdown…begins…now.

Can you imagine? Wheeeeee!

That is, my mother.

The time to set this manuscript free (or at least, pass it on to my agent) is coming soon. But right now, I’m reveling in that pre-send out phase, when it’s all bright and shiny and full of promise, and I can imagine it making scores of middle-grades laugh out loud, then head out to save the world, or at least the shrinking populations of Arctic caribou.

This, I think, might be my favourite part of novel-writing.

Take your time, Mom. I’m in no hurry.

Then, just days ago, we in Vancouver wept at the news of Duthie Books’s closure. Vancouver has so few independent bookstores, and Duthie’s had the greatest selection of all-time. And let’s not forget the colour-coordinated displays in the window on 4th Ave, which brightened many a rainy day.

And THEN, as if readers hadn’t had enough, today we got this: “Canadian literary, arts and scholarly magazines are likely going to die … as a result of new funding rules announced Tuesday by the Harper government.”

Is there no justice? Do small presses and bookstores no longer count? Is some love for the little people too much to ask for?

Seriously now.

This excellent novel tells the story of 12-year-old Natalie and her best friend Zoe, who is convinced that Natalie’s novel is good enough to be published. The girls even have an editor in mind: Natalie’s mom, who works for a big NY publishing company. Problem is, they can’t have her finding out that Natalie is the author. Hijinks ensue.

The School Story explains the publishing world in a way that’s fun, honest, and empowers kids to believe that they too can be authors. Fantastique!