Alberta's Minister of Education re-announces school building projects that were already in the works for a year. Do you think the re-annoucements might have something to do with his recall petition? Hmm.

With all these recall petitions, you get the feeling the UCP knows the end is near and is going to scorch the earth and make off with whatever they can carry in their greedy hands before then?

It's #PromptMyStory Tuesday. Time for another story starter to get kids excited about writing. "Today, it snowed Corn Flakes." #edusky

Tell me you've never herded cattle without saying you've never herded cattle.

When someone contacts me to do a free in-person author visit, but ghosts me when I quote my fees and suggest virtual as an option, it makes me think they wanted a warm body and not me.

Tuesday rolls around for another #PromptMyStory. Teachers, if you're looking for a way to motivate your students to write, here is this week's prompt. "In my wildest dreams, I never imagined the search for my missing sock would lead me to Area 51."

Last day of the school week. First day of snow. The ballet of chaos in my virtual Kindergarten session was off the charts.

ime for another #PromptMyStory to motivate kids to write. "The Swiss cheese at the back of the fridge has grown four moldy legs, but what really bothers me is the deformed eye that keeps winking at me." #edusky

Halloween! Time to stock up on my favourite candy for the trick-or-treaters, then turn out the lights and pretend I'm not home so I can eat all the candy myself.

The cynic in me thinks that Danielle Smith and the UCP want us to pay attention to their over-the-top use of the notwithstanding clause in the teachers' strike, because like magicians, they are misdirecting us from noticing the gerrymandering they're doing right now.

Upside of getting cataract surgery is that I can see where I'm walking at the local gym's showers. Downside? I can see what I'm walking on. Ew.

Almost forgot it's Tuesday. Time for another #PromptMyStory to motivate kids to write. Here's this week's prompt: "The leaves that fell from my tree bounced like superballs all the way down the street to the house that no one is allowed to visit on Halloween." #edusky

If my math is right, Forever Canadian's signature count is roughly 25 percent of the voter turnout in the last Alberta election. Or in UCP numbers, about half of the bots they're currently deploying to discredit the signature count.

Tossing in a notwithstanding clause and pushing the back to work legislation quick enough for Danielle Smith to fly off to Saudi Arabia seems... I struggle to find a diplomatic word for it... Authoritarian? Cruel? Dickish?

Only in Alberta would a party that holds a slim majority of seats decide to double-down on playing only to their base while alienating the rest of the province. #InterestingTimes

Starting the week off with a bit of good news on the book front. My novel Izzy Wong's Nose for News has been nominated for a Red Cedar Book Award, which is a readers' choice award out of BC. Congrats to all the other nominees! www.redcedaraward.ca/fiction-nomi...

I demand that the vote for the new Alberta license plate be tabulated by hand, preferably by the brain trust who came up with the revamped rules for municipal elections.

The UCP wants to introduce legislation to vet who is allowed to run for office in Alberta. They want only those who truly care or are serious about serving their riding. I can't help but notice that they left out "ethical."

In the same week, the AHS #corruptcare report is supposed to be delivered, Danielle Smith announces new license plates with the motto Strong and Free. We could waste our energy mocking the plates, but then she will have succeeded in distracting us. Instead of new plates, why not a new premier?

Holidays always mess with my schedule. Almost missed #PromptMyStory Tuesday. Here's this week's story starter to help kids get creative. "The furnace just kicked in for the winter, and I swear I hear giggling coming from the vents."

It's #PromptMyStory Tuesday. Time for another story starter to help motivate kids to write. "The turkeys have learned to fly and they're angry about Thanksgiving. Run!"

Smith paid for ads promoting the government's side of the labour dispute with teachers, offered $150/week to cover childcare for Alberta parents, made curriculum worksheets for families to use, and now she's locked out teachers. What part of her actions says she's ready to negotiate with the ATA?

You have three weeks to sign the Forever Canadian petition which is a message to Danielle Smith that Albertans don't want to separate. Volunteers are set up in many communities across the province. Use your voice (or in this case, pen) if you believe in unity! #Alberta

Heard that I had to check out HK BBQ Master in Richmond. Glad that I listened. Yum.

It's #PromptMyStory Tuesday! Time for another writing prompt to motivate kids to be creative. Here's this week's idea. "I overheard my cat talking to the neighbour's dog this morning, and it sounded like there's a master plot to take over the human world." #edusky

You know the students are engaged during a #virtualvisit, when they're lined up at the camera to share their ideas. Today's session was a wild one where I could barely keep up with the kids' ideas.

Loving the fall temperatures. My cats find it too chilly at night and are now sleeping with me. #Caturday

We’re excited to launch our tool that helps you find out how the candidates running for mayor and city council in Edmonton align with you on the issues that matter most. blog.taprootpublishing.ca/2025/09/26/t... #yegvote #yegcc #yeg

Loved doing a math/LA #virtualvisit with a group of eighth graders. The kids were quiet at first, but by the end, they were shouting their guesses.

I'm getting anxious about upcoming school visits in Alberta. Not sure what's going to happen with the labour negotations. If I'm nervous, I can only imagine how teachers feel right now. Sending positive thoughts to all those in the classrooms.

Today, it's been a month since my cataract surgery. Three things I noticed. 1. I can see well in good light; not so much in dim light. 2. Everyone says I look different. 3. I'm amazed at how much crud my glasses blocked.

If you're waiting for the muse to inspire you, there's a good chance she's stuck in traffic, so you'd better start writing without her. #kidlitchat

Favourite moment of today's #virtualvisit was watching the transformation of eighth and ninth graders from "we're too cool for book talks" to "I want to see that play you wrote!" #schoolvisits

Advice to my younger introverted self who just wanted to stay in my creative hermit-cave & CREATE: Don't wait 'til after you're published to learn how to do presentations / public speaking / self- & book-promotion. Yes, even YOU can learn, even if these things terrify you right now. #KidLitChat

Today's adventure in #virtualvisits. I did four sessions for younger kids at an Edmonton school. My favourite moment was watching one kid's mouth drop open when I "teleported" to the school. I'm pretty sure it was the same kid who asked in the Q and A, "How did you teleport to our school?"

It's Tuesday! Time for another #PromptMyStory to movitate kids to be creative. You can write, draw, or tell the story from this writing prompt. "The room reeked of skunk, but all I could find were roses growing out of the floorboards. What happened here?" #edusky

Well, that was fun. Thanks for the conversation, all. Almost felt like old times on the platform that shall not be mentioned. Have a great week! #KidLitChat

Weirdly, I recharge by taking on a different creative project. I've been obsessed with video editing, which works a different part of my brain and has fed into my creativity as a writer. #kidlitchat

Since it is Tuesday, it is #kidlitchat day! We #kidlit loving folk gather here on Bluesky at 9PM Eastern/6 PM Pacific every Tuesday and chat away. We all think you should join us. No pressure or anything... but give it a try! Hope to see you then....

Upside of cataract surgery: I can see without glasses. Downside: I have to redo all my headshots and video clips with me in glasses.

It's Tuesday! Time for #PromptMyStory, a story starter to help students get creative. Here's this week's prompt: "I woke up to the sound of my dog speaking English. When I tried to ask how this was possible, the only thing that came out of my mouth was 'Woof.'" #edusky

Ready to step up your school visit game? Authors and illustrators, the CCBC is offering webinars to help you level up. Here's what's coming up.

Still room in the Canadian Children's Book Centre webinars. Want to level up your school visit game? Check out one or all of these four webinars. bookcentre.ca/blogs/indust...

Check out this article from the one and only @martychan.bsky.social! Marty was a Forest of Reading nominee last year and shares his behind-the-scenes experience at our incredible annual festival. accessola.com/view-from-a-... @onlibraryassoc.bsky.social @forestofreading.bsky.social

It's Tuesday and the start of the school year. Time for another #PromptMyStory. "You can enhance one of your senses to superhuman levels. What is the sense you want to enhance and how would you use it?"

I live in a province where the premier is more worried about a book getting into schools than measles or Covid. Argh.

Kid 1: Why is your mom so mad about what books go into our library? Kid 2: Dunno. Hey, she's protesting at the school. Let's go to my house and check out what's on the web.

Have webcam, will travel virtually to schools around the world. I'm booking virtual author visits and writing workshops for the new school year. Interested in what I can do? Please give me a shout. #virtualvisit #schoolvisit #edusky

Love that my cats take shifts hanging out with me. Minnie sleeps with me at night and Hugo follows me during the day.

Some stories are feral cats that need a lot of coaxing to warm up to you, but those stories are the ones that are most rewarding.