'Thing-Thing' a Quill & Quire Book of the Year

More end of the year accolades for Cary's picture book, Thing-Thing. It has been chosen as one of the 'Books of the Year' by the editors of Quill & Quire magazine. To see the entry please go to:

http://www.quillandquire.com/books-of-the-year-2008/article.cfm?article_id=10386

'Thing-Thing' on Globe and Mail's ten best list

This past Saturday Sussan Perrin, the Globe and Mail's children's books reviewer, offered her list of the ten best children's books of the year. On the list is Cary's picture book, Thing-Thing.

To see the whole list, visit:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20081206.BKKIDD06/TPStory/Entertainment/Books

Do you speak Dutch?

We thought you might want to see the Dutch cover of Cary's book, Ten Old Men and a Mouse, illustrated by Gary Clement. It was recently published in Holland.

Manitoba photos

Here are just a few photos of the displays that the kids made in their schools for Cary's visits during Children's Book Week. Thanks to all the teachers, librarians, organizers, and especially the kids for making Cary feel so welcome. It was a great time!

The Horn Book Newsletter

Horn Book, the highly respected American journal devoted to children's books, has an online newsletter that can be subscribed to for free. The latest issue (November 2009) highlights Cary's latest picture book, Thing-Thing, illustrated by Nicolas Debon. (The book was already reviewed in the journal.)

To see the November issue, and to sign up for a subscription, go to:

http://www.hbook.com/newsletter/index.html

Manitoba bound

On Sunday, November 16, Cary will be off to Manitoba for Children's Book Week, sponsored by the Canadian Children's Book Centre, TD, the Canada Council, the Ontario Arts Council, and others. He'll be doing no less than sixteen talks and readings, at schools and libraries in Winnipeg and also Morden, Winkler, Altona, Morris, and Gross Isle. This is a great opportunity to see another piece of the country and meet lots of kids, not to mention the many librarians, teachers, coordinators, and volunteers who make the week possible.

The poster for the week (as shown in the picture) is by Barbara Reid.

Quill & Quire profiles Cary

In the better late than never department, here is a link to a profile of Cary published in the January 2008 issue of Quill & Quire, the Canadian book trade journal. The title of the piece, "The Juggler," seems quite appropriate.


http://www.quillandquire.com/authors/profile.cfm?article_id=9752

'Thing-Thing' on TPL's First and Best List

Cary's latest picture book, Thing-Thing, has just been named to the Toronto Public Library's 2008 First and Best List. This is an annual list of ten titles that have been judged the best for introducing young kids to books.

And in case you didn't know, the Toronto Public Library system is the second busiest in the world, after Hong Kong.

See the whole list at:
http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/new_arc_08nov06_first_best.jsp

The Writer Speaks

The web site teachingbooks.net asks authors to talk about the origin of their names. Cary was asked to contribute and the mp3 is now available to hear at:

http://www.teachingbooks.net/pronounce.cgi?aid=1684

If it sounds as if he is speaking a bit slowly, that's because he was worried about the quality of the telephone line.

My New Shirt nominated for the Blue Spruce Award

Cary's picture book, My New Shirt, illustrated by Dusan Petricic, has been nominated for this year's Blue Spruce Award. The award is voted on by kids in Ontario schools and the winner is announced in the spring. A lot of kids will get a chance to read or hear the book in their classrooms, which makes this award special for all the nominees.

Cary is reading at the International Festival of Authors in Toronto

The International Festival of Authors is now on in Toronto and the line-up is an exciting one. You can see the schedule and book tickets online at:
http://www.readings.org/?q=ifoa

Cary will be talking to kids and adults both about where stories come from and will be reading his latest picture book, Thing-Thing. His reading is on Thursday, October 30 at 12:30 p.m. in the Brigantine Room, 235 Queens Quay West. For ticket information you can also call 416 973-4091.

My New Shirt a Marilyn Baillie finalist

"My New Shirt", with illustrations by Dusan Petricic, has been named a finalist for this year's Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award. The great thing about this award is that it is presented to both the author and the illustrator. For a list of all the finalists see the Canadian Children's Book Centre website.

Vancouver International Writers Festival

Cary will be attending the Vancouver International Writers Festival in the third week of October.

He'll be doing two readings/talks, one to older kids (who will hear a selection from Ten Lessons For Kaspar Snit) and one to younger (who will hear the latest picture book, Thing-Thing).

Cary is thrilled to have been invited. This is definitely one of the good parts of the job.

Recent short story publications

For those who like their fiction short, Cary has published a number of stories in journals recently. He is working towards his third story collection but his first in fifteen years (not counting a reprint).

"The Floating Wife" was published in The Antigonish Review, issue #147. It is a story that draws on his long-time interest in conjuring (that is, magicians). It is available online at:
http://antigonishreview.com/bi-147/147-fiction-cary-fagan.html

"Berlin" was published in Grain, Vol. 35, Number 4 (spring 2008). It was inspired by a visit to that city that Cary made to visit his partner, Rebecca, who was living there for several months.

"I'm Not Italian" was published in The Dalhousie Review, 88.1 (Spring 2008). It was written in one sitting in a cafe in Spoleto several years ago. On that same trip, Cary visited the fountains of Rome that would appear in his kids' novel, The Fortress of Kaspar Snit.

"Shit Box" was published in Taddle Creek, Vol.X No.2 (Summer 2007). It reflects Cary's interest in music these last years; instruments seem to pop up in a lot of his fiction these days. It was a finalist in the National Magazine Awards. The story can be found online at: http://www.taddlecreekmag.com/shit-box

A brief introduction

This is not intended to be a "blog" in the usual sense of an online journal. Instead, it will be a place to list recent publications, upcoming readings, and other news about Cary Fagan's work, both for adults and children. The name comes from Cary's cousin, Ellen, who used to call him "Carrots" when they were kids. Why she called him that he never did know.

Welcome

Welcome to this space. Here, you'll find news about readings, publications and prizes.