Writing Classes in North Calgary - October/November/December

Superstuff! - Classes with Northern Hills Community Association at Cardel Place - October 20, 27, November 10, 17, 24, December 1, 10.00 am to 11.30 am

In these sessions, children create their own unique superheroes, with powers, extended families and one or more archenemies. They will create a detailed biography of the character, complete with an origin story, facts about their superpowers and weaknesses, their secret identity, headquarters, arch enemy and more. Students will draw their creation, create a cover for a comic book and write a short piece describing the hero’s origin tale, plus an action packed, concise newspaper story, complete with an attention-grabbing headline, about a recent battle the hero had with the main villain.

Classes run on October 20, 27, November 10, 17, 24, December 1 from 10.00 am to 11.30 am and  are held at Cardel Place, 11950 Country Village Link NE, Calgary AB.

Call 403 226 6422 for further details. Costs are $50 for Northern Hills Community Association and $75 for non members. Payment is due at the time of registration.

Britain's Colourful Pub Signs Part Two at Dark Roasted Blend

Check out my article, British Pubs, Signs of the Times, Part Two,  at Dark Roasted Blend.

In Part One, the article explored the colorful and often bizarre pub signs featuring royalty, nobility, religious iconography, occupations and trades, legends and ever-popular sporting activities. Part Two looks at how Britain’s great military heroes of the Napoleonic Wars -- Lord Nelson and the Duke of Wellington -- have many pubs named after them, as do significant ships,famous land and sea battles and literary figures. Some much less reputable characters from British history, such as pirates and common criminals, are also immortalized on pub signs, and the article also features some of the more bizarre names that appear across Britain.

Dark Roasted Blend is among the finest locations online to find the weird, the wonderful and the fantastic, crammed with great articles, stunning photography, plus fabulous new content appears daily.

Huge Airborne Aircraft Carriers at Dark Roasted Blend

Check out the latest article at Dark Roasted Blend, entitled Huge Airborne Aircraft Carriers. 

We’ve all heard of aircraft carriers, but not all of them operate on the surface of the water. In fact, some are actually airborne themselves and date back to the early pioneering days of flight. An airborne aircraft carrier, sometimes known as a carrier aircraft, is one that is capable of carrying other, smaller aircraft. Usually, these are massive planes, but in the early decades of the twentieth century, huge airships were used in attempts to perfect the concept of an airborne aircraft carrier. The gargantuan Zeppelin type sky-borne vessels were used to launch and then recover fighter planes during the 1920s and 1930s.    

Dark Roasted Blend is among the finest locations online to find the weird, the wonderful and the fantastic, crammed with great articles, stunning photography, plus fabulous new content appears daily.

Writing for Children and Young Adults - Classes at Mount Royal University, September/October 2012

Writing for Children and Young Adults. New evening classes at Mount Royal University in Calgary from September 19 to October 24, 7 pm to 9 pm. 

Explore the process of writing books for children and young adults aged 8 to 12. Focus on structure, character development and research, and their importance in your stories. Examine how to turn a creative story idea into a marketable, finished manuscript.

Register here at the Mount Royal University website.

Great Review of The Time Camera

Here's a review of The Time Camera in CM Magazine published the Manitoba Library Association

excerpt:

“It’s a camera,” Lydia said.

“It’s not a type I’m familiar with,” Jake said.

Like any digital camera, it had a screen on the back, but there were more buttons than usual. The controls were unfamiliar to Jake. “I can’t even tell which of these buttons is supposed to turn it on.

But as Jake tried pressing different buttons, the screen suddenly activated. “Okay,” he said, “let’s see if it works.”

Lydia stood in front of the desk. Jake aimed the camera at her and took a picture. However, when he pressed what looked like the display button, a different image appeared on the screen. It was not Lydia. Eleanor was standing where Lydia should have been, working at her desk.

“That’s weird,” he murmured

Lydia Chamberlain’s mom was a scientist who died while trying to conceal a secret from her research partner. The explosion that took her life consumed her confidential paperwork, but her laptop and camera were protected. They were in a safe place. When Lydia and her friend Jake find these items years later, they discover the danger behind her research in time photography involved someone they trusted. The pair try to conceal their discovery from ‘Uncle’ Magnus, but it’s impossible to hide a secret from someone when that person can also manipulate time.

      With a turn of a camera knob, Albertan author Simon Rose (The Alchemist’s Portrait, The Doomsday Mask) takes readers back to the past and into the future. When Jake and Lydia have the camera in their possession, they see the impossible; Paris in the eighteenth century; a crime before it’s about to happen, and someone who’s already dead. There are no illustrations in this book, but the chapters containing excerpts from Eleanor Chamberlain’s research highlight the suspenseful moments. This story will have children thinking about the good, and bad things, that could happen in a world where time travel is possible.

Recommended.

Tanya Boudreau is a librarian at the Cold Lake Public Library in Cold Lake, AB.

The Sorcerer's Letterbox and the Mystery of the Princes in the Tower - Part Eight

More Reader Comments and Reviews

Here are some other comments by satisfied readers of The Sorcerer's Letterbox.

"I think your book is excellent and it also has lots of adventure in it. Once I got into it, I felt like I was in the story."

"I like your book because it’s full of suspense and it’s really good!"

"Your book rocks!"

"I enjoy the way you describe the words. You get a really good picture in your head."

"I think your book is amazing."

"Your story was great, excellent, amazing, fantastic and every thing that doesn’t mean boring."

"Your book is the best. You feel like you’re there."

"I just finished reading your book last night. I thought it was awesome! It was very exciting. It was easy to imagine the characters as real people. Where did you get this idea?"

Vote for The Time Camera for The People's Book Prize

The Time Camera is now a showcased title for the 
summer collection for The People's Book Prize in 
the UK this year. Please vote for The Time Camera 
before August 31. You can learn more about The 
People's Book Prize and register to vote for The Time Camera here.

The Time Camera - Synopsis

The massive explosion in which Eleanor Chamberlain died at her 
research laboratory was widely seen as a tragic accident. Or was 
it the perfect crime? 


Two years later, Jake and Lydia discover a mysterious camera, capable 
of taking pictures of the distant past and more ominously, of the future. 
As they uncover the shocking truth and learn of secrets that someone 
will kill to protect, Jake and Lydia are soon propelled into a deadly and 
desperate race against time in order to save the future.

Writing Classes in North Calgary - October/November/December

Superstuff! - Classes with Northern Hills Community Association at Cardel Place - October 20, 27, November 10, 17, 24, December 1, 10.00 am to 11.30 am

In these sessions, children create their own unique superheroes, with powers, extended families and one or more archenemies. They will create a detailed biography of the character, complete with an origin story, facts about their superpowers and weaknesses, their secret identity, headquarters, arch enemy and more. Students will draw their creation, create a cover for a comic book and write a short piece describing the hero’s origin tale, plus an action packed, concise newspaper story, complete with an attention-grabbing headline, about a recent battle the hero had with the main villain.

Classes run on October 20, 27, November 10, 17, 24, December 1 from 10.00 am to 11.30 am and  are held at Cardel Place, 11950 Country Village Link NE, Calgary AB.

Call 403 226 6422 for further details. Costs are $50 for Northern Hills Community Association and $75 for non members. Payment is due at the time of registration.

Writing and Publishing Your Children's Novel, University of Calgary, Saturday, October 13

Each year, the Continuing Education department at the University of Calgary serves over 20,000 lifelong learners and offers thousands of courses taught by more than 1,000 instructors – all experts in their fields.

Writing and Publishing Your Children's Novel - Saturday, October 13

This workshop deals with getting started as a writer for young readers and the subsequent path to publication. You will examine the writing process from initial concept through to the finished manuscript, including how to turn ideas into stories, story structure, developing characters, the creation of outlines and the importance of editing and revision. You will also examine ways to research publishing houses where you can submit your work, cover letters, synopses and sample chapters.

Learn more about the Writing and Publishing Your Children's Novel workshop and how to register here

Awesome Vintage Ambulance Cars at Dark Roasted Blend

Check out the latest article at Dark Roasted Blend, entitled Awesome Vintage Ambulance Cars. 

Ambulances of one kind or another as a mean of transporting the sick or wounded have been around for centuries, for both soldiers and civilians. World War I saw motorized ambulances replacing the various horse-drawn types that had been used previously. Ambulances are a reasonably familiar sight on the streets to most of us these days, but this article at Dark Roasted Blend takes a look at some vintage emergency vehicles from days gone by.

Dark Roasted Blend is among the finest locations online to find the weird, the wonderful and the fantastic, crammed with great articles, stunning photography, plus fabulous new content appears daily.

Totalitarian Architecture of the Third Reich at Dark Roasted Blend

Check out my article at Dark Roasted Blend, entitled

Totalitarian Architecture of the Third Reich

Fascist and communist governments in the first half of the twentieth century both created monumental architecture, largely to intimidate their people and showcase the regime's strengths. In a totalitarian system such as existed in Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945, the government attempted to control every aspect of daily life. It used architecture to some degree to achieve this, to firmly establish its authority leaving no doubt as to who was in charge. One of the chief aims of Nazi architecture was also to reflect the beliefs of National Socialism, celebrate the German national identity and glorify the idea of the master Aryan race.

Dark Roasted Blend is among the finest locations online to find the weird, the wonderful and the fantastic, crammed with great articles, stunning photography, plus fabulous new content appears daily.

YouTube - The story behind the story of The Time Camera

Learn more about the story behind the story of The Time Camera on YouTube. 

"The massive explosion in which Eleanor Chamberlain died at her research laboratory was widely seen as a tragic accident. Or was it the perfect crime? Two years later, Jake and Lydia discover a mysterious camera, capable of taking pictures of the distant past and more ominously, of the future. As they uncover the shocking truth and learn of secrets that someone will kill to protect, Jake and Lydia are soon propelled into a deadly and desperate race against time in order to save the future."

Learn more about The Time Camera right here on on YouTube. 

Writers Help and Advice: Coaching Program for Writers

Writing is by nature a solitary occupation and can be a lonely business, without the benefit of hordes of cheering fans on the sidelines. A professional writing coach is someone with whom you can consult, ask questions, send your work to and receive constructive feedback, a guide to help you with your writing as you try to build your career as a professional writer. A writing coach can help you conquer a stumbling block, help you to regain momentum and get back to your writing or make a start on a new project. 

My coaching program is designed to help you progress as a writer. You decide what you want to work on during a personalized, one on one relationship. For example, I can be your coach for just one month or we can establish a month-to-month arrangement, depending on your schedule and expectations. Just a few examples of topics we can cover during the coaching period are point of view, creating characters, developing dialogue, story structure, editing and revision, marketing and promotion and submissions to publishers. However, I am very flexible and happy to discuss your own unique requirements and areas where you feel that you may need the most help. 

In addition to coaching, on my website you can learn more about my other services for writers, such as online workshops for adults, manuscript evaluation and online workshops for children and young adults.

Vote for The Time Camera for The People's Book Prize

The Time Camera is now a showcased title for the 
summer collection for The People's Book Prize in 
the UK this year. Please vote for The Time Camera 
before August 31. You can learn more about The 
People's Book Prize and register to vote for The Time Camera here.

The Time Camera - Synopsis

The massive explosion in which Eleanor Chamberlain died at her 
research laboratory was widely seen as a tragic accident. Or was it 
the perfect crime? 


Two years later, Jake and Lydia discover a mysterious camera, capable 
of taking pictures of the distant past and more ominously, of the future. 
As they uncover the shocking truth and learn of secrets that someone 
will kill to protect, Jake and Lydia are soon propelled into a deadly and 
desperate race against time in order to save the future.

The Sorcerer's Letterbox and the Mystery of the Princes in the Tower - Part Seven

Reader Comments and Reviews

Here are just a few of the comments readers have made about how much they have enjoyed The Sorcerer's Letterbox.

"Your book is the best !!!!!!!!!!! I wished it never ended! "

"I really enjoyed your book It’s so exciting."

"The Sorcerer's Letterbox was the best book I have ever read in my whole entire life."

"'This book is one of those novels that you would want to read over and over again.'"

"I love the Sorcerer's Letterbox. It's so exiting."

"How did you get such magical ideas for your book. I thought your book was very creative and amazing."

"Your book was so good I could not put it down!"

"Thank you for writing such a great book!"

Great Review of The Doomsday Mask in Midwest Book Review

“The Doomsday Mask" is a thrilling page-gripper of a mystery that has 12- year- old Josh and almost-14-year-old Erica scrambling with their grandfather, an adopted Canadian survivor of WW II Germany, in a race for clues to construct and protect the Mask of Kulkaan to prevent it from being used for evil world domination purposes by the corrupt Crystalline Order.

In a race against time and history, the two sleuths adventure fearlessly with their grandfather in locations ranging from Niagara Falls and Santa Marta, Mexico in the present day, to the lost island of Atlantis 10,000 years ago. Danger lurks everywhere as does the course of history and even prehistory.

Juvenile readers from 10-14 will be spellbound by "The Doomsday Mask," and they will learn a bit of interesting world history and paleontology along the way. Although "The Doomsday Mask" may be considered to be science fiction fantasy/adventure, it is solidly grounded in facts of known prehistorical events and speculates from these logically.

Midwest Book Review, December 2009

The Sorcerer's Letterbox and the Mystery of the Princes in the Tower - Part Six

Reviews of The Sorcerer's Letterbox

"This is a great book for kids who like both fantasy and history ... Rose includes terrific details from 1483 (all the while keeping the language accessible for young readers) that might just inspire kids to check out some history books from the library. An entertaining read, with a great feel-good twist at the end."

Cincinnati Family Magazine

"As with the best timeslip fantasy, the author's obvious zest for interesting historical detail is transformed into both a compelling story and an exciting adventure ... a delightful book, and one that has a rightful place in every library in the country."

University of Manitoba CM Magazine

"Simon Rose has managed to deliver another satisfying read with The Sorcerer’s Letterbox"

The Calgary Herald

"Intended for children, this book will also be enjoyed by all grown up fans of Harry Potter"

Avenue Magazine

"A well-written, suspenseful time travel story sure to keep readers engaged till its very clever ending."

BC Parent