Sunday, December 9, 2012

Writing for Children and Young Adults - Classes at Mount Royal University January/February

Writing for Children and Young Adults. New evening classes at Mount Royal University in Calgary from January 16 to February 20, 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 is available after November 13 here at the Mount Royal University website.

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Writing Classes in North Calgary - January and February


The Future is Now - Classes with Northern Hills Community Association at Cardel Place - January 5, 12, 19, 26, February 2, 10.00 am to 11.30 am 

These classes examine how the pace of technological change has rapidly accelerated in recent years, how research could benefit mankind and explore what kind of scientific breakthroughs may occur in the coming decades. Participants will imagine future developments that could transform our way of life, before designing a magazine or newspaper advertisement, plus the scripts for a TV and radio commercial, for their products. They will also imagine themselves living in this incredible environment and create a journal describing a typical day in the future. 

Classes run on January 5, 12, 19, 26, February 2, 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 members and $75 for non members. Payment is due at the time of registration.

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Writing and Publishing Your Children's Novel, University of Calgary, Saturday February 9


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

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Coaching Program for Writers


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.

Monday, December 3, 2012

Peculiar Postage: Unusual Stamps from Around the World, Part Two at Dark Roasted Blend


Check out the latest article at Dark Roasted Blend entitled Peculiar Postage: Unusual Stamps from Around the World, Part Two. 

A while ago, Dark Roasted Blend took a look at examples of strange and noteworthy stamps from around the world. This article is another fascinating examination of some of the more peculiar, quite unusual, slightly odd and downright weird postage stamps from around the world.

Since philately and stamp collecting are somewhat specialized fields of study, this article doesn’t examine postage stamps in terms of their financial value to collectors. Instead, this is just a selection of some of the more unusual and often very strange postage stamp designs that have appeared in various countries over the years.

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.

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Presentations and Workshops


I offer a variety of presentations and workshops at schools, covering such topics as where ideas come from, story structure, editing and revision, character development, time travel stories, history and research, plus many other aspects of writing and publishing. I have some suggestions for presentations and workshops, but am always pleased to work with teachers and librarians to build sessions best suited to your students. Each of my novels also provide ideas for classroom projects and you may find some suggestions on the Study Guides page on my website. 

Contact me for details of fees and availability for school presentations and workshops.

Friday, November 30, 2012

Unusual, Intriguing Water Towers at Dark Roasted Blend


Check out the latest article at Dark Roasted Blend entitled Unusual, Intriguing Water Towers. 

Water towers can be found in many parts of the world, in all kinds of colours, shapes, sizes, decorations and designs. This time at Dark Roasted Blend takes a look at just some of these fascinating structures, from the vintage and historic to the unusual, intriguing and simply bizarre, including some water towers that have even been turned into houses.

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 January/February

Writing for Children and Young Adults. New evening classes at Mount Royal University in Calgary from January 16 to February 20, 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 is available here at the Mount Royal University website.

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Author in Residence


For my Author in Residence program, I can be at your school for a week or longer. This allows me to cover topics in much more depth than would be possible during a regular author visit. All bookings of a full day or longer will also receive a complimentary set of my seven novels for the school library. This special offer is valid until May 31, 2013.


Each of my novels provide ideas for classroom projects and you may find some suggestions on the Study Guides page on my website. 
I have some suggestions for presentations and workshops, but am always pleased to work with teachers and librarians to build sessions best suited to your students. 
Contact me for details of fees and availability for my Author in Residence program.

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

School Programs - Free Books for School Libraries


I offer a variety of presentations, author in residence programs and conduct workshops for children at schools. All bookings of a full day or longer will receive a complimentary set of my seven novels for the school library. This special offer is valid until May 31, 2013.
I offer a variety of presentations for grades three to eight, but can work with grades one and two as well. I cover such topics as where ideas come from, story structure, editing and revision, character development, time travel stories, history and research, plus many other aspects of writing and publishing.
I will present to around one hundred students at a time, although we can also look at workshops with smaller groups or individual classes.
Each of my novels provide ideas for classroom projects and you may find some suggestions on the Study Guides page on my website. 
Contact me for details of fees and availability for school presentations.

Monday, November 26, 2012

Online Workshops for Children and Young Adults


With my Online Workshops for Children and Young Adults, through a series of e mail assignments, details of which are available here, we explore where ideas come from and how to turn them into stories, basic story structure, plot development, creating characters, developing dialogue and more to help develop writing ability. A set of workshops can be started at any time. Following registration, all assignments are sent by e mail and are completed at your own pace, to be sent to me by return e mail. There is no time limit and participants may take as long as they wish to complete their full set of workshops.

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Monster Machinery at Dark Roasted Blend


Check out the latest article at Dark Roasted Blend entitled Monster Machinery. 

This article takes a look at some of the largest vehicles and machines ever constructed, including huge excavators, enormous tunnel boring machines, colossal trucks and massive cranes. 

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 and Publishing Your Children's Novel, University of Calgary, Saturday February 9


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

Saturday, November 24, 2012

New Non-fiction Titles - U.S. Armed Forces: Marine Corps



The U.S. Marine Corps has served in every armed conflict in which the United States has been involved. Marines engage in military operations, peacekeeping missions, and provide humanitarian aid. This is an AV2 media enhanced book. A unique book code printed on page 2 unlocks multimedia content. This book comes alive with video, audio, weblinks, slide shows, activities, hands-on experiments, and much more. Published by Weigl Publishers in July, 2012.

You can learn more about U.S. Armed Forces: Marine Corps, as well as my many other non-fiction titles, on my website

Friday, November 23, 2012

New Non-fiction Titles - Tim Hortons


Tim Hortons Inc. is a Canadian restaurant company best known for coffee and donuts, although it does sell other beverages and food items as well. Tim Hortons is the largest fast food service business in Canada and has more than locations than McDonalds. Part of Weigl’s Canadian Business series, in which books focus on Canada’s iconic companies, exploring their history, marketing, and contributions to the Canadian and international financial scene. Maps, graphs, and timelines are interspersed with informative text to provide a clear understanding of how each company operates. 
Published by Weigl Publishers in Fall, 2012. You can learn more about Tim Hortons as well as my many other non-fiction titles, on my website.