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Build Your Writing Career

2011-10-05T21:15:00.000-06:00

Building a writing career involves a multidude of skills. First you must master language. You need to be able to create distinct settings, build intriguing characters, write words that drip with suspense, and dialogue that makes readers feel like they're eavesdropping. Tackling these areas takes discipline but offer the rewarding feeling of expressing your creativity.

Once you've fine-tuned your writing, it is necessary to learn the business of getting published. This part requires developing the practical skills of writing the perfect query letter, researching publishers, and studying agents' submission guidelines. It takes perseverance, which keeps you busy, and patience, which is no fun at all. I help lead aspiring writers through this area by offering personalized consulting sessions.

Between formatting query letters, researching publishers, and beginning another writing project, consider enhancing your career by volunteering with a writing-related organization. My activities with the Young Alberta Book Society and other writing groups have been very rewarding. They allow me to connect with other authors, learn about publishers, compare publicity ideas, and explore many areas of this work-in-solitude business.

Volunteering during the annual Raise-a-Reader program provided the opportunity to connect with fellow authors and others devoted to improving literacy in Edmonton. We stood on Edmonton's downtown street corners, selling newspapers and collecting donations to support literacy programs in Edmonton. Some of these funds go to to support Young Alberta Book Society programs. YABS organizes the Taleblazer festival every October to tour authors, illustrators, and storytellers in schools and libraries throughout Alberta. Bringing kids into contact with creators is a great way to encourage reading and writing.

Volunteering with a writing, book, or literacy group offers a good break from writing while still allowing you to move your career forward. Alberta groups include The Young Alberta Book Society (YABS), the Writers Guild of Alberta, Canadian Society of Children's Authors, Illustrators, and Performers (CANSCAIP), Alberta League Encouraging Storytelling (TALES), SCBWI Canada West, Canadian Authors Association Alberta, Room-to-Read Edmonton Chapter, and many others.

You may be drawn to helping a literacy group, establishing a critique group, or joining a book club. No matter what group you choose, you are bound to learn useful to tips that move your own writing career forward.

Advice for aspiring authors

2011-09-16T11:25:00.000-06:00

Five things you absolutely must do to become an author:

1. Read great quantities of books, especially in the genre in which you hope to be published

2. Practice, practice, practice. The more you write, the better you will become.

3. Never think your manuscript is done after one draft: edit, edit, edit!

4. Research publishers before you submit, to ensure the publisher is interested in your genre. (Cookbook publishers don’t want to receive young adult novels.)

5. Take rejection in stride. Rejection letters mean you’re trying. Many fantastic books were rejected many dozens of times before a match was found.

Copyright or Copy Wrong!

2011-06-21T22:13:00.000-06:00

The Internet and other new technologies have dramatically changed the way copyright material can be produced and accessed. If you are a published author, type your name into a browser. There is a good chance "Google Books" will be one of the links that appears on your screen.

As well as listing your titles and showing your book covers, this site invites visitors to browse excerpts or sometimes the entire contents of books at no charge. In fact, the Google Books homepage brags that you can search the full text of more than seven million books.

Image courtesy of
Renjith Krishnan
FreeDigitalPhotos.net

What Google Books is less enthusiastic about discussing is that they have been scanning books without obtaining permission from copyright holders. As a result, people such as myself who would rather work on a manuscript than read legalese, must pay attention to numerous details relating to copyright. Sadly, it feels more like copy-wrong.

Considering the Canadian federal government’s eventual intent to amend copyright law, it becomes necessary to examine its claim to “protect and promote Canadian culture in the interest of Canadians and to ensure a domestic, as well as an international market, for Canadian cultural products.”

Is this really likely to happen, considering current laws and Google‘s somewhat successful bulldozer attempt to seize copyright?

As copyright holders, authors already have contracts that describe their rights in relation to what their publishers can or cannot do, along with reimbursement terms. Yet, intellectual property issues are becoming increasingly complex as technologies advance and methods of distribution take unprecedented and unpredicted forms. Many of us have seen contract clauses which demand authors agree to publication in any form that currently exists or may be invented in the future, without the benefit of any additional compensation.

The responsibility for keeping copyright policies up to date lies with the department of Canadian Heritage Copyright Policy Branch, which works with Industry Canada’s Intellectual Property Policy Directorate.

Creators negotiating copyright will do well to limit rights for specific uses and for limited time periods, largely because business models will continue to evolve. Future legislation will need to keep Canada on par with international standards by ensuring balance between the protections of creators' rights with consumers’ ability to legally access copyright material. It will necessitate better enabling Canada’s knowledge-based economy to take advantage of global Internet opportunities.

Protect Yourself
• In Canada, copyright protection arises as soon as an original work is created.
• International treaties ensure Canadian copyrights are protected in most other countries.
• Registering copyright provides owners with evidence of ownership.
• Canadian copyright typically lasts for the creator’s lifetime, plus 50 years running from December 31 in the year of death.

Learn More
• Media Awareness Network
• Copyright legislation
• Canadian Intellectual Property Office
• Google Book Settlement
• Access Copyright

The Importance of Book Ownership

2010-11-25T22:37:00.002-07:00

Alberta Author Book Fair 2010
As a child, I frequently rode my bike to the County of Strathcona Library and came home with a backpack of books. I remember the glorious luxury of having time to read a book a day. Another memory takes me to a toy store at the Sherwood Park Mall. I bought a book on birds that led to a lifelong interest in nature. It also helped me in my first paid writing job--a story I'll save for another day.

Book ownership is important, especially for children. Ownership reinforces the message that reading is a valuable pastime. Ownership motivates kids to read and read more frequently. What message do parents send if willing to purchase DVD movies but not books?

As children change and grow, returning to a cherished book is a nurturing experience. Books expose readers to new perspectives as well as offer entertainment. Unlike television and movies, books challenge the mind. Readers imagines scenes based on written words rather than acting as passive observers. If you are trying to encourage reading, expose the children in your life to all genres and styles of books.

"Parents who have books in the home increase the level of education their children will attain," reports Science 2.0 in its article Owning Books Makes Your Children Smarter.

The International Reading Association offers brochures to help parents, caregivers, and educators encourage reading. Topics include:

Getting Your Child Ready to Read
Supporting Your Beginning Reader
What Kids Really Want to Read
Reading, Writing, and Technology
Getting Involved in Your Child’s Literacy Learning

In 2009, the Stony Plain Public Library kindly hosted its first "Buy a Book for Someone For Christmas" event. We are repeating the event in 2010, but renaming it the Alberta Author Book Fair. It is sponsored by the Writers Guild of Alberta and the Stony Plain Public Library. This is the public's chance to meet new authors and familiar favorites.

Authors will sell and sign titles for both adults and children. Signed books make gifts that are extra special!

Alberta Author Book Fair

Monday, November 29

6:00- 8:00 PM
Stony Plain Public Library
4613 52 Avenue

Participating Authors:

Barbara Galler-Smith
Dar Renner
Eileen Bell
Roxanne Felix
Billie Milholland
Erika Knudsen
Joan Marie Galat
Karen Spafford-Fitz
Leanne Myggland-Carter
Linda Goyette
Lyle Weis
Marty Chan
Mike Boldt
Molly Anne Warring
Nicole Luiken
On Spec Magazine
Patricia Brine
Pauline Holyoak
Roberta Laurie
Tyler Enfield

Recommended authors in other parts of Canada:

http://www.jacobberkowitz.com/
http://www.claireeamer.com/
Cora Lee
Etta Kaner

Skypediving-Using Skype for Author Presentations

2010-05-22T11:33:00.010-06:00

When Whitecap Books published my first children's book in 2001, I looked forward to the opportunity to travel to libraries and schools to share its content and talk about how to become a good writer. My visits began in Alberta and eventually spread to other provinces. Every trip is exciting and I still enjoy face-to-face visits but excessive travel can become weary. Fortunately, a reluctance, difficulty, or inability to be away from home need no longer prevent authors from connecting with their audiences.

Enter Skype, an eBay company that uses voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) to send voice through the Internet. You can use this free service to make video calls to anyone else signed in and you can enhance the experience with instant messaging, file transfer, screen sharing, and other features. You can even download a program called TalkAndWrite (TAW) for Skype that allows up to 10 people on different computers to view, write, and work on a document at the same time.

Skype is great for school visits, readings at bookstores or libraries, and attending book club meetings as a guest author. Before my first virtual visit, I practiced with Toronto, Ontario author Mahtab Narsimhan, who wrote The Third Eye and The Silver Anklet. We discovered a number of things.

Good lighting is important and three point lighting is recommended. This involves using a key light, fill light, and back light to ensure a more three-dimensional video. You can also use book lights to improve the experience of using Skype on a laptop.

Backgrounds must not be cluttered. You need to avoid moving too quickly or making wide, sweeping gestures. And perhaps the most difficult part to get used to is the need to look at the camera rather than at the people engaging with you on the screen. I found it helped to put a sticky note near my camera reading "look here!"

Skype is an especially ideal tool for connecting with young audiences. Children and teens already use instant messaging and are comfortable with it. Shy students may find it a more comfortable way to ask questions.

One Skype visit connected me with a school in Erie, Pennsylvania. It was fun to see the students sitting on a rug in front of their Smartboard. I talked about why I wrote my books and told a story from Dot to Dot in the Sky, Stories of the Moon. When they asked me questions, it felt as if we were in the same room.

The instant text feature makes it possible for classes to to type their questions to the author, offering another style of interactivity and the option to create a permanent record of what is asked and answered. You can download programs that record your virtual visit and this provides the opportunity to create podcasts and video that can be posted on Youtube and other sites to raise your profile.

The Writers Guild of Alberta invited me to demonstrate the technology at the 2010 annual general meeting and mini-conference held in Edmonton. In a session titled Skypediving I shared a video call with Judith Graves of Cold Lake, Alberta. She is the author of Under My Skin. Using a projector so the audience of more than 80 could participate, Judith showed us her book and kindly demonstrated some of the habits to avoid when using Skype.

Remember to:

- make sure you consider time zones when coordinating a Skype session
- try to book morning slots to avoid times when the Internet is extra busy
- place your props close at hand before you connect
- make sure those involved understand your connection may be
temporarily lost during the chat
- decide how you will handle lost connections in advance

Avoid:

- making gestures above your chin, wider than your shoulders, or below
your mid-chest
- looking up at the ceiling when thinking what to say
- clothes that are all black, all white, or covered in large patterns or
geometric shapes
- sparkly jewelry that reflects light
- untrimmed mustaches that prevent viewers from seeing full
facial expressions

Books and technology do not have to compete. You can use Skype to celebrate the great
aspects of both. When people talk to an author, even remotely, they get to hear opinions and understand the book better. The interactivity triggers learning and insights on both ends, which is fun for the author and fun for the reader. And perhaps your audience's increasing familiarity with you will lead to a higher profile and greater book sales!

I hope you will invite me to visit your school, library, conference, or book club! Visit these sites to learn more about using Skype for author visits:

Earth Hour

2010-03-29T11:33:00.003-06:00

Who knew sitting in the dark could be so fun? It was a delight to celebrate an hour of darkness during Earth Hour Saturday, March 27, 2010. The sun set around 8:00 pm in Stony Plain, Alberta, making the sky only a bit darker at 8:30 pm.

I walked my bichon around the block and observed numerous houses without lights. It would be nice to believe they were celebrating too, but I suppose many were just not home. Wishing the street lights would go out, I returned home and noticed that sitting in the semi-darkness encouraged conversation. It forced me to stop dashing around trying to accomplish things.

Many cities reported electricity savings as people turned off their lights. Apparently candle use surged instead! I think the next step should be to encourage people to actually embrace the darkness. Go outside and observe the change from daylight to twilight to darkness. Look at the different shades of the sky, close your eyes and feel the air cool against your skin.

When it's dark, look for planets and stars and satellites. Imagine the stories ancient cultures once told when they looked up at the illustrated canvas of the night sky.

Mark your calendars for next year! Dark skies are important for animals and plants as well as those who love to view constellations and night sky phenomena.

2010-02-14T22:00:00.062-07:00

January 2010 saw me attend a writing conference that has long held my interest--the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI ) Conference in New York. It was a genuine delight to be surrounded by the more than one thousand children's authors and illustrators in attendance.

Participant's came from 45 States, as well as Canada, eager to learn about how to sell their work, connect with agents and editors, and create their best stories. I was lucky to know three other attendees and enjoyed spending time with Edmonton authors Debby Waldman and Mar'ce Merrel, as well as Ontario author, Marsha Skrypuch.

My schedule included very interesting sessions on writing picture books and non-fiction. The keynote speakers were inspiring, professional, and well-prepared. Anyone striving to learn about the business of getting published will benefit from this conference, held annually in New York. I look forward to applying the knowledge I gained and corresponding with the people I met.

New York City highlights included visiting the New York Public Library, which has a bookstore with an extensive selection of books on writing. The two lion statues that lay outside the library's front entrance are named Patience and Fortitude. I also visited the Brooklyn Public Library, which has a beautiful children's section with quotes from children's authors inscribed on the walls.

The 15.5 ton Willamette meteorite was a site to see at the American Museum of Natural History. The chronology of what's happened from the Big Bang to the present was also fascinating. Despite the city's bright lights, I was able to look up and see Orion, the Big Dipper, and the North Star. Other pleasant activities included walking on Broadway, watching a David Letterman Show taping, walking in Greenwich Village, and visiting Coney Island.

Visiting Ground Zero was a sobering experience. Across the street, St. Paul's Chapel displays the eight-month volunteer relief effort that took place after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Built in 1766, the church displays the pew of America's first president. George Washington, who worshipped here.

Buy a Book For Someone For Christmas Event

2009-12-04T17:21:00.009-07:00

For a number of years, I have wished someone would organize a book sale before Christmas. I pictured dozens of Alberta authors and illustrators gathering at some hall or multipurpose room, sitting at tables, while book lovers arrived en masse to purchase signed books.

This year, I stopped waiting for someone else to do it. When Tamara Van Biert, Stony Plain Public Library director, offered to host an event to celebrate the release of my book Day Trips From Edmonton, I suggested inviting other authors, as well as illustrators, to join us in what became the Buy a Book For Someone For Christmas Event.

Emails to members of the Writers Guild of Alberta, Young Alberta Book Society, Writers Union of Canada, and the Canadian Society of Children's Authors, Illustrators and Performers (CANSCAIP) yielded a fantastic response. The Stony Plain Reporter ran a story on the event and more creators contacted me to take part. I continued to receive calls from interested authors two days before the sale and accepted nearly 30 participants from Stony Plain, Spruce Grove, Parkland County, Beaumont, Wetaskiwin, Edmonton, and Calgary. Authors and illustrators represented almost every genre.

We set up our books, decorations, and bowls of candy by 5:00 pm, December 1 and waited to see if anyone would come. Does anyone besides authors, illustrators, and librarians think autographed books make great gifts? Yes! The response was heart-warming. The library filled with delighted book lovers, carrying arm loads of books as they stopped to meet new authors, admire illustrations, and plan their Christmas giving. Adults, teens, and children crowded around tables to ask questions, share ideas, and talk books.

The Edmonton chapter of a charity that promotes literacy endeavors in third world countries also took part, displaying colorful books with text in mutliple languages. Room To Read works to raise funds for education in developing countries. They publish books in the dialects of the regions they serve so that children may enjoy stories and improve their reading skills in their own languages.

The library staff took wonderful care of us. They helped set-up and take down tables, post signs, and even wheeled a cart of refreshements around to each table!

The event ended at 7:30 pm, with more than half of the participants and their partners regrouping at the Stony Plain Boston Pizza. Many expressed an interest in seeing the Buy a Book For Someone For Christmas Event become an annual event. Some wondered if it could be held in other surrounding communities or in Edmonton. It can as long as someone takes the initiative to organize! It was certainly worth it for the book lovers and book sellers who took part. We were so busy, we did not even have enough time to visit each other's tables for more than a few quick moments!

Participants included:

Joan Marie Galat

Marty Chan

Rita Feutl

Lyle Weis

Don Meredith

Caterina Edwards

Bob Stallworthy

Karen SpaffordFitz

Leanne Myggland Carter

Gail Sidonie Sobat

Molly Anne Warring

Debby Waldman

Roberta Laurie

Lisa Wojna

Roxanne Felix

Patricia Brine

Pat Nelson: Room to Read

Linda Kaszap

Ann Sutherland

Helen Rose

Tyler Enfield

Mike Boldt

Paul Napora

Barbara Galler Smith

Lynn Link

Some partipants' websites:

http://www.joangalat.com/
http://www.patriciabrine.com/
http://www.roomtoread.org/
http://www.kazmalia.com/
http://www.frontenachouse.com/
http://www.prairiedogpublishing.ca/
http://www.lisawojna.com/
http://www.donmeredith.ca/
http://www.gailsidoniesobat.com/
http://www.boldtmanstudios.com/
http://www.edgewebsite.com/

http://www.mollyannewarring.ca/

Olympic Reminisce

2009-07-25T14:40:00.002-06:00

With the Olymics coming to Vancouver in 2010, I decided to share a reminisce relating to the last time the games were held in Canada. When the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics took place, I worked for a community radio station in Lac La Biche called CFWE FM, which also ran satellite stations in other northern communities. The 88 day Olympic torch relay included a trek through Ft. Vermilion, noteworthy as Alberta's oldest settlement, established in 1788 as a North West Company post.

I reported on the event and had the exciting experience of riding with national press representatives in an open cube-truck in front of the runner. At -50 degrees Celsius, the ink in my pen froze and a more experienced reporter advised me to always bring a pencil--a memorable recommendation that has served me well in my writing career.

The Olympic runner was honoured on a stage of snow but because it was so cold most attendees celebrated the torch relay in the community hall. It was exciting to be part of such a historic event, in Alberta's first community.

Day Trips from Edmonton Book Launch

2009-06-22T13:55:00.022-06:00

I officially launched Day Trips From Edmonton June 20, 2009 at the Spruce Grove Public Library. About 30 invited guests attended, as well as some very welcome library patrons. It is always a pleasure to celebrate a new book surrounded by friends and family.

Attendees enjoyed cake, which was decorated with an edible image of the book cover. Communities and attractions mentioned in the book generously donated a wide assortment of door prizes from travel items, clothing, and lunch bags, to water bottles, gift certificates, cookbooks, and other promotional items. There were enough door prizes for everyone to win something.

Before signing books, I read a story about how the City of Wetaskiwin got its name, and delivered the following speech.

Day Trips From Edmonton Book Launch Speech

I guess you could say I’ve come down to earth with this book.

People ask, why did you write about day trips?

There are a number of answers. I love to picnic and explore new areas. I think it’s only right to know about the interesting things you can see near your home region, and I like the simplicity of not having to pack for overnight trips. I also like going home to sleep in my own bed at night.

While writing this book did take some research, I am very familiar with the areas it includes because I grew up mostly in Sherwood Park...and often traveled farther east and every other direction with my family. I lived north, in Athabasca and Lac La Biche...and drove between these towns and Edmonton many times. I’ve been living in the Stony Plain area and exploring here for the past 10 years...and we all tend to go south, so I have spent time that way as well.

Writing this book has given me the chance to describe a number of one-of-a-kind attractions:
· The Klondike Ferry Crossing, where you can ride a ferry in the prairie…and imagine the gold seekers of long ago
· The Red Deer ghost tour…(where one of the ghosts is a pig)
· The ribstones historic site… more than 1000 years old…and one of only nine sets of petroglyphs in Alberta
· The Alberta Honey Producers Co-op…right here in Spruce Grove…you can see how that delicious clover-flavored honey is processed, and
· only 10 minutes away…Wagner Bog is a more than 500 acre natural area. You can see a number of habitats not normally found together, as well as 16 of the 26 orchid species found in Alberta. Many are blooming right now.
· Em-te-town is a man-made ghost town that will take a full afternoon to explore, and finally…one of my favorites…
· the Beaver Hills Dark Sky Preserve, a place where it’s always dark at night…and a place where those Dot to Dot in the Sky books come in handy.

All these sites are within two hours of downtown Edmonton.

Day Trips From Edmonton also includes a list of best places for birders.

I describe designated important bird areas, certain migration routes, sanctuaries, and the Beaverhill Bird Observatory, where between 2000 and 4500 birds are banded every year.

You can take part in a birdathon or observe birds being banded.

I did this and actually got to hold a saw whet owl, one of those small owls that are about the size of a coke can.

Your journey should be as pleasant as your arrival at your day trip destination.

I hope reading tidbits of Alberta history will make your travel time even more interesting.

I hope that knowing what happened in earlier times along the way changes what you watch for and think about as the scenery goes by your car windows.

When you see the grey sagging pioneer buildings, imagine the first settlers choosing their homesteads according to the lay of the land…fertile soil, easy access to water, and eventually proximity to railway stops.

Notice the different habitats, watch for wild game, and think about how early pioneers depended on their skills to survive.

Look at the rivers, creeks, and lakes. Picture them as your only roads and imagine losing your way.

Think of how different things are today. We pay for the opportunity to get lost in a corn maze…and several are mentioned in the book.

Let Alberta history take you to a new place.

Even books classified as non-fiction can have stories in them.

One of my favorite day trip stories is about how Wetaskiwin got its name…

(Read pages 108-110 and pages 1-2: 1st, 3rd, and 4th paragraphs.)

Thank-you to the Spruce Grove Public library for hosting the book launch, especially Leanne Mygland-Carter and Nicole Lawson. I greatly appreciate your enthusiasm for my books and your participation in making it possible to launch the book here!

Thank-you to Whitecap Books for contibuting toward the launch and publishing the book.

Thank-you to my bookseller...my daughter Gina.

Thank-you to Marion Ferguson who will make sure everyone gets cake.

Thank-you to the communities who donated the more than 45 door prizes:
· the cities of Spruce Grove and Wetaskiwin
· the towns of Stony Plain, Gibbons, Morinville, Devon, and Barrhead
· the counties of Strathcona, Woodlands, and Beaver
· Watchable Wildlife Tours (in Strathcona County), Jack’s Drive Inn (here in the Grove), Jana Lapel of Christy Clown and Friends (out of Edmonton), and the Métis Crossing (near Smoky Lake)

Thank-you to Grant Wiens, for joining me on many day trips, proofreading the maps, and packing the most excellent picnic meals.

Thank-you to anyone who took pictures and might email them to me later.

Thank-you to all of you who came here to celebrate my new book with me today.

It means a lot to me to see you here.

I hope the book leads you down exciting new roads, and home again the same day…or night.

Astronomy Author Explores Locales Closer to Home

2009-02-01T15:02:00.024-07:00

January 30, 2009, I attended the Canadian Author's Association-Alberta Branch workshop, Writing Elsewhere, Artfully, led by Marcello Di Cintio. Although I have already written and edited a significant amount of travel content, including tourism guides, safety advice, and foreign travel guidelines, I chose to attend this workshop to discover more about the craft of inserting one's own experience into travel writing.

Di Cintio made it clear that different work comes from writers who travel, as opposed to travelers who write. Although the Earth has been so fully explored, there are still endless stories to tell as writers who travel explore landscapes and discover the experiences of people around the globe.

My next book is a travel guide exploring the many things to see and do within a few hours of Edmonton, Alberta's capital city. Day Trips From Edmonton is scheduled for release by Whitecap Books in about April 2009.

Alberta is host to some of Canada's most stunning scenery, from aspen forests and farmland to wetlands and foothills. Many of the province's natural wonders, cultural treasures, historical sites and recreational spots are within a two-hour drive of Edmonton. Day Trips from Edmonton is a comprehensive guide to Alberta's best destinations-visit secluded, untouched natural areas or hotspots bustling with activities. It includes maps and photographs, and features an easy-to-follow format catered to suit the traveler's needs.

You will find helpful details that include:

Recreation information
Historical tidbits

Popular events

Information on flora and fauna

Opportunities for further exploration.

Order from Amazon.ca

Part III - The Origin of the Dot to Dot in the Sky series

2008-12-20T21:45:00.005-07:00

Upon discovering the locations of many constellations, I began a quest to learn the myths associated with these star groups and returned to the library. Although I found many books on myths, few tied these stories to the stars. It was frustrating to review the many volumes that told stories about different mythological gods, goddesses, monsters, and heroes but failed to explain the context or family relationships of these characters. I read and read and read until my gaps filled, but the process was more complex than it needed to be. I still wanted a book that simply and clearly blended constellations with mythology.

Meanwhile, as a member of the Writers Guild of Alberta, I discovered that Whitecap Books was interested in acquiring nature related manuscripts. I turned my astronomy- blended-with-mythology idea into a proposal and eventually Dot to Dot in the Sky, Stories in the Stars was accepted for publication. The first book was released in October 2001 and became an instant bestseller in Canada. This initial print run sold out before Christmas of that year and has been reprinted twice since that time.

The series has grown to include:

Dot to Dot in the Sky, Stories in the Stars (2001)
Dot to Dot in the Sky, Stories of the Planets (2003)
Dot to Dot in the Sky,Stories of the Moon (2004)
Dot to Dot in the Sky,Stories of the Zodiac (2008).

Part II - Origin of the Dot to Dot in the Sky Series

2008-08-05T22:04:00.007-06:00

My wonder with the night sky stayed with me and as I grew up, I learned a few constellations along the way. First Orion, the Hunter, then Cassiopeia, the Queen, and Cepheus, the King.

A visit to the Edmonton Space and Science Centre (later called the Odyssium and today known as the Telus World of Science) gave me the opportunity to look through quality telescopes and ask volunteers from the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada all kinds of questions. On various visits over the years I had spectacular views of Venus, Mars, and Saturn, as well as Jupiter and its moons. I saw Comet Hale-Bopp, craters on our Moon, and even an asteroid!

Still fascinated by the constellations, I discovered their patterns are easier to find if you start with a star group you already know then jump dot-to-dot in the sky to the nearest constellation. My new method worked! Now I began to spot constellations more easily and frequently. What had been an erratic scattering of twinkling lights was now a black canvas filled with monsters, heroes, royalty, and creatures.

I began to wonder about the ancients cultures who had named the constellations. Why was there a dragon in the sky? Was there a reason so many cultures saw Ursa Major as a big bear? What possessed someone to name a constellation Furnace? I returned to the library looking for books that would explain the myths and legends associated with the night sky, starting with the Greeks and Romans.

You can see the experiences that led to writing the Dot to Dot in the Sky series evolved over many years.

Origin of the Dot to Dot in the Sky Book Series

2008-06-13T00:23:00.009-06:00

Where I live in Alberta, summertime skygazing means staying up late. Ever since I was a young girl, I looked up at the stars and wondered how the first constellations came to be named. Sometimes when a friend came for a sleepover, we snuggled down into sleeping bags spread on the backyard lawn. The evening was spent looking at the stars and searching for satellites, until mosquitoes, sleep, or the chilly air drove us deep beneath the warm flannel lining.

Long driving trips with my parents, who are also fond of late nights, meant many hours staring out the back seat window. Too dark to read--it was me, the pictures in the sky, my imagination, and--oh yes, those two people in the front seat.

Other times I spent winter evenings gazing up at the stars, bundled in a snowsuit, scarf, mittens, and hat, laying on my back and happy for the shelter of my snow fort walls. Able to locate the Big Dipper and Little Dipper, I wanted to know more.

I already had the How and Why Book of Astronomy, which inspired me with thoughts of becoming an astronomer. A visit to my own personal habitat--the Sherwood Park Library, found me carrying an armload of books home, ready to memorize the patterns in the heavens.

Alas, there were too many dots on the page and too many stars in the sky. An unsupervised child in the adult section, I had signed out text books far beyond my understanding. Stargazing sessions left me confused and frustrated. My method of counting stars in the constellation books and comparing them to the patterns I saw in the sky left me unsure of whether I was really seeing what I was looking for. Unaware of the impact of light pollution or moonlight, I eventually returned the books. But, the wonder of the night sky stayed with me.

Learning my way around the night sky was not forgotten, only postponed. All this is leading up to how I went from an uncertain, child sky gazer to the author of an astronomy book series.

...to be continued.

PS: This is my first blogging post. Please bear with me as I figure out how it works.