Saturday, June 30, 2007

Happy Fuzzy Poster Feelings

**Warning!***Happy Fuzzy Feelings Below

One of the nice outcomes of the Red Maple Awards was that they hung up a gigantic big huge white sheet of paper and asked young readers to sign it for the author. It arrived in the mail a few days ago. And I tell you, it's a great inspiration to have a whole sheet full of encouragement from readers.


Yep, every once in awhile I just glance at it and then keep on writing. It's like having your very own cheerleading squad shouting over your shoulder as you write (without the noise or stomping sounds). It's an instant rush of inspiration.

Of course, though, one of my favourite lines on the poster is on this pic:

See it? It's the one that says, "Sorry, didn't read it, too long!" Ha, at least you took the time to write out your apology anonymous non-reader. You and millions of other people haven't read the book. Billions actually. Anyway, I really appreciate the comments and the work of the librarians and other behind-the-scenes people at these sorts of functions. This kind of happy fuzzy stuff wouldn't happen without them.
Speaking of happy fuzzy, just received the CCBC Our Choice magazine and am happy to report that Megiddo's Shadow was awarded a star. This issue lists all the recommended books from last year. Yay!

I better go before I start getting maudlin and lose my tough-guy-from-the-west image.

Art

Monday, June 25, 2007

Silverwing Came to Visit my House

Well just the other night our household had a visit from Silverwing (or Shade, to be precise). My wife was awakened by a flapping sound and thought that something had briefly bumped her face. With her keen eyes she spotted an object on the blind that was much larger than a moth. She immediately vacated the room. Where was I? Sleeping in the basement because I had decided it was too hot to sleep upstairs. I had a very restful sleep. In the morning I was met with, "There's a bat in our house! There's a bat in our house!"
It somehow became my job to rid the house of the bat. But, of course, I've read the Silverwing saga and I knew that this was just some poor bat that was lost trying to find its colony or fleeing blood-sucking bats named Goth. So I googled "how to catch a bat in your house." Assuming you want the bat to live (I couldn't hurt poor little Shade), tennis rackets are out. It suggested a wet towel to throw over the bat wherever it lands, gloves (so you don't get bit), and a container (a pail) to trap it in if it is attached to the wall. I gathered my implements and went all through the upstairs. Not a bat to be found. But I certainly opened every drawer or door gingerly.
Not much else could be done, so we continued on with our lives and went out for the evening. When we returned my wife went into the house first and shouted, "There's a big bat in the main room!" I suggested she shouldn't panic and peeked around the corner at which point I shouted, "That is a big bat!" I sweated a lot and dialed 9-1-1. Well, okay, I just backed away slowly. I then gathered my bat catching tools, and went outside and opened the window (hoping the bat would just fly out, but apparently Shade wasn't being co-operative). Then I crept back in and started to look around. The bat wasn't flying anymore so, I deduced that it must have landed (See, aren't I a smart hunter?). I spotted a black thing on our blind.

"Shade," I said, "Shade go home. Get out of my house. Go visit Kenneth Oppel. He's in Toronto. That's only about 10000 wingbeats from here." Shade didn't budge.

So I realized I had to capture him myself. I took my handy pail and walked half way across the room and had a sudden bout of primal fear. At that point I took two steps back and said to my wife, "It turns out, I'm a chicken." Then we laughed and laughed. I don't think that was news to her. My wife's next words after that were, "don't wreck the blind." As if the situation wasn't complex enough! I got a sudden burst of bravery from some other dimension. I walked across the room, banged the pail over the bat, and it began flapping around inside and going "scree scree scree." My wife slid a lid over the pail and shortly afterward I had the bat outside. I left the open pail next to a tree (I'd read bats prefer to climb trees and drop to fly, taking off from the ground is hard for them). And that was the last we saw of Shade. So far. Oh, here's another close-up of his face

He looks familiar doesn't he? Now where did I see that face before?

Isn't it enough that I read the books? I don't want the real thing. That's why I'm a reader!
Oh, how did the bat get into our house? Uh, because I'd taken the screen off the window to look out at our eavestrough a few nights before (we had a downpour, more rain in a day that we usually have in a month). The screen was off for about an hour. So, uh, I guess it was all my fault.

I didn't wreck the blind though.

Art

Thursday, June 21, 2007

I got 800 tattoos

The Villainology tattoos are here! The Villainology tattoos are here! Yes, my publisher sent a package of tattoos to hand out to fans, friends, strangers, bus drivers and hula hoopers. They can also be used as currency in Belize!
Here's the tattoos on my desk.

All you do is add water, peel off the paper and voila, you're tattooed. Here's one of the tattoos on a chicken leg:

Okay, that's really my arm. And it does look like I have jaundice, but that's just the lighting. I forgot to put my automatic-bicep-enhancing lens on my camera. Here's a close up:



These things stay on forever. Well for at least a day. It's the perfect way to advertise!
And people said being a writer would be boring. Ha! I say! Ha!

Art

Thursday, June 14, 2007

EEEEE, I've been Memed!

My friend, Deborah Lynn Jacobs (aka The Reluctant Blogger) has written to me, "By the way, I've tagged you for a meme. The rules are here: http://dljacobs.livejournal.com." What? Huh? Tagged me for a meme! I don't know what this memes? Oh, apparently the rules are that "each player lists 8 facts/habits about themselves. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning before those facts/habits are listed. At the end of the post, the player then tags 8 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog."

I just want to point out that Bill Gates will be giving everyone who "memes" a million dollars. That's right he's giving his money away. I wouldn't pull your leg on something as serious as that. He will also be handing out options to some really hot stock and the deed to some ocean front land in Saskatchewan.

My 8 facts/habits:

1. I am male. At least I was last time I, or my doctor, checked.
2. I once had a dog named Blue. She was a Blue Heeler. That's a type of dog (in case you didn't read the first sentence).
3. I was born in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada. No that does not give me special powers. It did raise my IQ, but only slightly. It has something to do with the water there.
4. I don't drink coffee. Why? Because it's evil. I mean just look at it. It's so...dark and if you stare long enough it's like looking into the mouth of the cave that leads to Hades. It smells nice, though.
5. I was hit by a car once while I was out biking. Well, bumped is more like it. But I did break my elbow and tore ligaments in my arms and knees (yes, I was wearing a helmet). I hold no grudge against the driver. Well, except for when my elbow aches. It affects how long I can play video games. Really, the tragedy!
6. I have written twenty books. Only eleven have been published. The first six were practice. Really, I practiced too much at the beginning. Wait, 6+11 only makes 17. Oh that's right, the other three are written but not published yet.
7. The Edmonton Oilers are my favourite hockey team. The Saskatchewan Roughriders are my favourite football team. If they ever play a game against each other my head will explode.
8. I've only read the first Harry Potter book.

These are the people who are lucky enough to be tagged by me. I am sure that is what they are thinking exactly at this second. I wonder how many are plotting revenge?

http://www.susanjuby.com/outthere.shtml
http://runnerland.blog.com/1846791/
http://faerie-writer.livejournal.com
http://quiller77.livejournal.com/
http://haworth-attard.livejournal.com/
http://vincentsakowski.livejournal.com/
http://aprilhenry.livejournal.com
http://libba-bray.livejournal.com/

Friday, June 08, 2007

Interview about Monsterology

Today I'm interviewed here! http://www.joelleanthony.com/

It's short and...well not sure if it's sweet!

Art

Saturday, June 02, 2007

Miscellania and other destinations

Well, not exactly physical destinations. More just destinations of the mind. I was just thinking about re-writing (I'm going over my next book for the billionth time). Cutting is still the hardest thing to do. I have a way to get across that psychological barrier of amputating your prose. I open another file, which I usually title "extra stuff" or something clever like that. Then anything I cut, I just paste it into that file. That way I don't really feel like I'm throwing it away. When I get "done" the book (okay, perhaps I should say "sick of the book") I go through the file. By that time I find I've lost my emotional connection with the items I've cut. Most of them, anyway. The good ones I sneak back in.

Totally different topic, last Monday I went to John Paul II School in North Battleford to booktalk Megiddo's Shadow to a parent/offspring book club. There were about twenty people there, adults and their daughters or sons, ranging from grade 8-12 or so. There's something exhilirating about seeing both generations together talking about a book. I could go to one of these events every night. Especially because they had cookies!

The Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz award was awarded yesterday. Sadly the $5000.00 prize didn't go to Megiddo's Shadow. I feel sorry for my book. It's seems to be always a bridesmaid, but never the bride. : ) The award did go to Deborah Ellis's I Am A Taxi. She's a marvelous writer, I highly recommend her work. Now I'll have to go out and pick up this book of hers! Check out the announcement. The children’s picture book prize was awarded to Scaredy Squirrel (Kids Can Press) written and illustrated by Montréal author Mélanie Watt.


Finally, I've joined both Facebook and Jacketflap.com recently. It's interesting the people you meet in these places. Facebook is particularly addicting. Of course it's good for writing to communicate with people, right? Right? Wait, I better go update my site to "Arthur is working on his blog right now."

Ciao for now,
Art