News and Notes from the Field

….can anyone NOT guess exactly which word this penguin is using? http://youtu.be/rZjM97kj8Rc Today’s the launch of the Fox Talk blog tour! Visit Mother Daughter Book Reviews for the launch post, and Books Direct for my first author interview. I ... Read More  

If you could have any superpower, which one would you pick – speed, x-ray vision, telekinesis? I’ve got the power of invisibility, and I can tell you, it’s not what it’s cracked up to be. Probably because in my case, ... Read More  

Amy’s Marathon of Books began January 1, and as promised, I’m going along for the ride. I’ll be reading 13 Canadian teen books, one from each province and territory in the country. Here’s my schedule so far: Nova Scotia ... Read More  

It’s no secret that caffeine is a major food group for writers, and my favourite source is chocolate tea. The current contents of my tea cupboard:   organized in descending order of caffeine content, because the scientist in me ... Read More  

From 1-4 this afternoon, I’m taking part in a “pet expert” event at Pet Valu and Groomingdales in Bedford, Nova Scotia, and rather than thinking about foxes and domestication, which I should be doing to prepare, I’ve spent all ... Read More  

I have just submitted my second manuscript of the week and I’m completely knackered. Proper posting will resume on Saturday! Hope you’re all hanging in there. :) Read More  

How about you? Are your decorations still hanging on like the Ghost of Christmas Past? I hope I’m not the only one!  Read More  

Today’s post isn’t mine – it belongs to paleontologist Dr. Matt Bonnan, who graciously gave me permission to share it here. There is a ton of very cool stuff on his blog The Evolving Paleontologist, and you should definitely ... Read More  

So you know how when you take a picture of someone, you (or someone standing close to you) is sometimes reflected in their eyes? Forensic scientists are working on a technique for identifying bystanders based on this reflection. The ... Read More  

First – apologies for the weirdness over the previous week. Hackers hit the site December 29, but since the back end was working, I didn’t realize there was a problem until I tried to post Thursday. Fortunately, I had ... Read More  

Things have been pretty lame quiet around here, due to a looming January 13th deadline, although I did treat myself to two whole days off over Christmas and Boxing Day. Though I’m not sure it counts as time off ... Read More  

In the spirit of cutting myself a break at this hectic time of year, I’m stepping away from the internet for a couple of days. Regular posting schedule resumes January 2. Thank you so much to everyone who supported ... Read More  

It’s the winter solstice today – the shortest day of the year – a day of transition and rebirth. The earth is turning from darkness back into the light, and so it’s a day of hope. A promise that, ... Read More  

A couple weeks ago I got an email from the Canadian Children’s Book Centre about Amy’s Marathon of Books. Inspired by Canadian icons Terry Fox and Rick Hansen, Amy plans to read 356 young adult books by Canadian authors ... Read More  

…and I really wish this commercial was still on TV, because every time I see it, I fill up with both laughter and tears. At this hectic time of year, take a moment to slow down and look at ... Read More  

Last week I talked about my enduring Christmasy love for the Muppets – today I want to share a lesser-known but equally-brilliant Christmas album: Beary Christmoose. I will never forget the day I discovered this Christmas fruitcake of a ... Read More  

So I’m browsing through the kid’s section at Chapters today, and I see a man, mid-thirties, staring at the shelves with the kind of panic I well remember from my former life as a bookmonger. Naturally, I eavesdropped: Salesperson: ... Read More  

I’ve loved orcas ever since I first read Kilroy and the Gull, by Nathaniel Benchley. It’s about a young killer whale who’s captured and taken to an aquarium. He makes friends with a seagull named Morris, and together they ... Read More