Mr. Karp Goes to Hong Kong

So the other day I opened a package left at my door to find six copies of 'Mr. Karp's Last Glass.' In Chinese. For a moment I thought I was dreaming.

In fact, the good people at Groundwood had simply forgotten to tell me that the book was being published in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macau by Pan Asia Cultural. Well, it was a nice surprise.

Brotherly love...most of the time

My new picture book is out and it's called "Book of Big Brothers." The funny, slightly crazed pictures are by the award-winning artist Luc Melanson who lives in Laval, Quebec.

Here is how I wrote this book:
One day I was sitting with a pad and pen, playing around with ideas for a new picture book. I found myself writing down a true incident that happened with my brothers (the day we lit a tree on fire). Then I wrote another and another. They were all pretty good--which one, I asked myself, would make the best book? I couldn't make up my mind and so I decided to stick all of them into a single book. Instead of being about one particular event, the book really became the story of our brotherly friendship.

CBC Childrens' Book Panel

I always look forward to CBC Radio's childrens' book panel--that is, when I manage to catch it. Well, I missed the one in June where Michelle Landsberg and Ken Setterington chose their favourite books for this summer's reading. Ken put no less than two of my books on his list of five: 'The Big Swim' and the forthcoming picture book, 'Book of Big Brothers.' I suppose it isn't my place to say that Ken has impeccable taste.

You can see all the picks at:http://www.cbc.ca/thenextchapter/2010/06/.

While we're at it, I owe Michelle Landsberg thanks for introducing me to the late Grace Paley at Harbourfront several years ago. Afterwards, I ran into Grace a few times and became rather chummy with her, as she no doubt was with just about everyone. Kind of felt like talking to my bubby--that is, my grandmother. I've been re-reading her great short stories lately and I'm glad to have a chance to mention them.

Going ape for the story form

When I was a kid we had a subscription to 'National Geographic.' My favorite articles were about Jane Goodall's experiences among the chimpanzees in the Gombe Stream Game Reserve by the shore of Lake Tanganyika. I loved the photos of her reaching out to some enormous male chimp or making friends with a new infant. And I think, well, that I was a little in love with Ms. Goodall.

That's the source for the short story "My Life Among the Apes" which was published recently in the excellent journal 'Taddle Creek.' (I suggest you all subscribe!) A link to the story can be found here:


http://www.taddlecreekmag.com/my-life-among-the-apes

The magazine also posted "Valentine's Fall" on its recommended reading list. "A damn good book" was the verdict. No wonder I like the magazine.

'Ten Lessons' A Silver Birch Express Honor Book

Today at the Silver Birch Awards 'Ten Lessons for Kaspar Snit' was named a Silver Birch Express Honor Book! (Yes, that deserves an exclamation mark.)

And did I like being cheered by hundreds of kids? Yes, I did.

Thanks so much to everyone who organizes these great awards, to the teachers and librarians who run the program in their schools, and most of all to all the kids who read the books. Cheers to you!

I've been visiting a lot of schools in southern Ontario and will be going to a few more before the school year is out. What a treat to be able to meet so many kids in person and talk about books. Yup, being an author feels pretty good today.

Frye Festival

On Monday I head off to the Frye Festival, a literary festival in Moncton. This will be my first time at the festival, and in New Brunswick (the last maritime province I've yet to visit). I feel pretty lucky as a children's author because I get to read not only at the festival, but in schools too. Meeting lots of teachers, kids, and the volunteers who drive authors around (always the nicest people, and deeply informed about where they live), I get a much better sense of the place. Should be fun!

They're saying nice things about "The Big Swim"

The first reviews of "The Big Swim" are coming out and they're rather nice. Publishers Weekly writes, "Fagan perfectly captures the summer camp experience" and calls the book "satisfying and charming." CM Magagine calls it "a thoughtful exploration of how children judge each other and the bonds of friendships." The review in Quill & Quire is also very good but I read it standing in a bookstore, too cheap to pay for it, so I don't have a copy to quote from.

The image, by the way, doesn't come from the book. It's from the cottage we borrowed last summer.