A writing workshop...for kids!

I'll be giving a writing workshop for kids at the Lillian Smith Library in Toronto and it's free. Here are the details: Writing, Your Own Way 4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. on recurring dates listed below 90 mins Lillian H. Smith Would you like to try writing a story, a poem, or even something from real life? Join award-winning author Cary Fagan in a fun workshop that takes your writing seriously. With Cary's guidance you can write a story in the form of a letter, a haiku, or just go your own way. For children ages 8 to 12. Space is limited. Registration begins September 1st in the branch or by calling 416-393-7746. Sophie's Studio was created to support early literacy, creativity and writing skills in young children thanks to a bequest from long-time library lover and user Sophia Lucyk. http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?Entt=RDMEVT18071&R=EVT18071

What I'm Reading # 2

"Not an unbeliever, sir, a free-thinker. Perhaps you've never thought about the difference. As a free-thinker I can believe what I like, when I like. I can commit you, in your sad situation, to the protection of God this evening, even though tomorrow morning I shan't believe he exists. As an unbeliever I should be obliged not to believe, and that's an unwarrantable restriction on my thoughts." Penelope Fitzgerald, The Beginning of Spring.

A new espresso chapbook

We (meaning Rebecca Comay, Bernard Kelly and myself) have just published a new chapbook under our espresso imprint. Fan Wu's 'Hoarfrost & Solace' is a beautiful and fascinating sequence, a series of translations from the Chinese that move farther from the original with each iteration. You can read more about it (and order it, if you like) at our website: espresso-chapbooks.com.

What I'm Reading #1

"There was something scary about watching an adult sleep. It was as if no one at all were in charge of the world." Kate DiCamillo, Raymie Nightingale

National Magazine Awards

"My Father's Picasso," a story published in 'Geist,' has been nominated for a National Magazine Award. Other fiction nominees include Russell Smith

, Zsuzsi Gartner, and Elizabeth Harvor. You can see all the National Magazine Award nominees at http://magazine-awards.com/39nominees.

Sudbury Reading Town!

I'm excited to be heading to Sudbury for the bilingual Reading Town literary festival. And honoured that the fest has chosen "Mr. Zinger's Hat" as the book to be read by the entire city--at the same time! I'll be seeing a student play based on the book, visiting schools, and...marching in a parade! Who says being an author means sitting alone at a desk?

The Grade One Book Giveaway Tour

At this very moment I'm travelling across the country with illustrator Dusan Petricic to celebrate the TD Grade One Book Giveaway program. Over 500,000 copies of "Mr. Zinger's Hat" are being distributed to every grade one student in the entire country. We've been to St. John's, Newfoundland and Halifax, Nova Scotia and we're on our way to Charlottetown, Montreal, Vancouver, Edmonton, Saskatoon, and Winnipeg. Thanks to everyone involved for making this happen.