My next middle-grade novel is a codebreaking book. The staff at the publishing house is having so much fun, even the book designer turned my dedication into a code to be solved. Love it when the team plays along.

Some people ask why I keep doing virtual presentations. This is one reason.

It's Tuesday! Time for another #PromptMyStory to motivate kids to write. "Today, the colour red disappeared from the world. I shuddered to think what colour would go away tomorrow."

Check out my feature article on: BEYOND THE BOOK - Building Author Income Through Speaking Engagments. Thanks to authors @martychan.bsky.social Sade Smith Mireille Messier for their advice to those looking to build extra income. For some - writing books isn't enough to pay the bills. Thoughts?...

For fans of middle-grade mysteries, I'm adding one more to the mix. This Thursday, I'm launching Izzy Wong's Drama Disaster. Join the virtual launch for fun and prizes. Here's the link to register: cilc.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Woohoo! In a little over a week, I'll be launching my latest Izzy Wong book. If you want to be a part of the fun, register now for the virtual launch on June 4. #middlegradefiction cilc.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

It's Tuesday! Time for another #PromptMyStory in help teachers and parents motivate their kids to write. "I tried grandpa's hearing aids, and they didn't help him hear. They were a communicator so that someone could give him instructions on how to spy on humans."

For teachers looking to celebrate Asian Heritage Month, I'm doing a free virtual session on Chinese folktales. It happens tomorrow (May 26) at 11:00 am MT / 1:00 pm ET. It's an interactive session best suited for K - grade 3s. Register here: arapahoelibraries.bibliocommons.com/v2/events/69...

"I'm going to make them an offer they can't understand." #ReferendumMovieLines

"Life's like Danielle's referendum question... you never know what you're going to get." #ReferendumMovieLines

"I'm just a premier standing in front of a separatist base, asking them to love her." #ReferendumMovieLines

You’ve reached the Alberta referendum hotline. If you want to separate, press 1. If you want to have a referendum on a referendum to separate, press 2. If you want to stay in Canada, press €¥+%\_><{!,<£^.

Wow! I'm humbled that the Red Maple Readers kids committee selected Curse of Heartwood Academy as a recommended book for teens to check out. Also, the Silver Birch committee recommended Izzy Wong's Nose for News for younger students (grades 3 - 6). forestofreading.com/wp-content/u...

Danielle Smith and the Separatists is the '80s new wave band no one needed to hear.

Almost forgot the #PromptMyStory for this week. Here's a story starter to motivate your kids to be creative: "I thought I was looking at myself in the mirror, but then my reflection winked at me."

I'm launching my latest middle-grade mystery novel June 4. I'm hosting a free virtual launch on June 4 for anyone who loves mysteries. You can register for the launch here: cilc.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Thanks for the all the birthday wishes! I had a wonderful day of cakes and treats. In honour of another year survived, here's this week's #PromptMyStory. "You get one birthday wish. What is it?"

It sometimes gets tiring when I hear people say virtual visits don't work for students. They do, but you have to put a lot of work into it. It's a metaphor for life. You get out what you put in.

Note to self: If I ever write a book on how to write, do not disparage the very community that might want to buy my book. In other words, avoid the Mac Attack.

It's time for another #PromptMyStory Tuesday to inspire kids to write. Here's this week's story starter. "The cop showed me a picture of the missing kid. I didn't recognize the name, but the photo was of me."

“The Alberta Elections leak is a nothing burger. Who cares if voter info was released,” posted the anonymous account based in Uruguay.

In honour of CCBC Book Week, here is this week's #PromptMyStory. If you could make a request of a kids author (alive or dead), what would be the story you'd want them to write about you?

The start of CCBC Book Week is always a blast. Canadian authors tour schools across the country. I'm doing the virtual tour and already visited students in Ajax and all across BC this morning. My favourite moment was watching one girl's eyes pop wide open everytime I did a tech trick.

Brad Fraser wrote some iconic stage plays and has given much to the theatre community. Now he needs some help. If you can donate, great. If you can't, please share this. gofund.me/06f2657e9

Have your kids been reading Forest of Reading books? 📚 Kids can vote for their favourites at any neighbourhood library until April 30. Stop by your local branch and take part! Learn more: buff.ly/diSI6RX

Danielle Smith sounds like the restaurant server who gets everyone's order wrong then blames the diners for misreading the menu while she pockets the tips that were meant to be shared by all the staff and claims their boss said she earned it.

For any teachers/librarians looking for author visits and writing workshops, I have a few openings left in May, and I'm starting to fill my schedule for the next school year. I can do in-person within the Edmonton area and virtual for any other city. #schoolvisits

What troubles me about today's politics is that a certain ilk of politician has decided that their rise to power is an endorsement to do anything they want, and they have become impervious to shame, devoid of compassion, and dismissive of the rule of law.

Yeesh. Early morning start for a virtual visit to Quebec. Remember the early days of using Zoom when no one could make their audio work? We eventually got things working, but I felt for the panicked teachers hovering around their computers.

Today's partisan is the guy who has held a grudge against a classmate since high school, and believes he'll settle the score at the next high school reunion only to realize that no one other than him and the jock who peaked in grade 11 has shown up.

It's #PromptMyStory Tuesday, which is my attempt to encourage students to be more creative. Here's this week's story starter: "I don't know why my brother kept texting me the same emoji for the last hour, but when I looked at my screen closely, I realized the emoji was my brother."

It's been a while since I did an in-person author visit. I was tickled when one teacher came up to me after to say she remembered my book talk... from when she was in fifth grade.

Looking for a perfect weekend listen? I give you my conversation with @martychan.bsky.social - a playwright, mystery writer, YA author, and raconteur, with his smart analysis of some of Alberta’s current political madness. #AlbertaUnbound #abpoli #cdnpoli #yeg #Edmonton #Alberta

For writers and those interesting in the craft of storytelling, the early bird deadline for the Writers' Guild of Alberta conference is Friday, April 17. Register now and save a few bucks. I'll be doing a panel about the business of being a writer.

It's Tuesday! Time for another #PromptMyStory to motivate kids to write. "The weird thing wasn't the music coming from my compost bin. It was the fact that the carrots on the kitchen counter started dancing to it."

I’ve been meaning to have author and playwright @martychan.bsky.social on Alberta Unbound for ages! Here he is, at long last. We talk about Bill 28, book bans, Chinese-Canadian identity, and the racism resurgence. #ableg #abpoli #yeg #Edmonton #yegarts

When Mickey Amery gave himself immunity as Justice Minister, he had to be anticipating the news that broke this week. The UCP has no moral centre.

When someone with the nuclear codes writes "a whole civilization will die tonight," I don't think you can dismiss it as hyperbole. I sure hope someone with a spine is left in his cabinet, but the number of ill-fitting shoes tells me otherwise.

It's Tuesday! Time for another #PromptMyStory to help teachers motivate their students to write: "My in-home security camera revealed my dogs doing something that made me afraid to go home."

The sad thing about Alberta separatists crowing about reaching the threshold of petition signatures while ignoring that over 400,000 Albertans signed a petition to stay is this likely means they'll never admit they are in the minority. They'll just whine, bully, and rage while businesses ghost us.

I expected the UCP government to ignore the Forever Canadian petition numbers, but come on, legacy media. You want to go ga-ga over the separatists claiming they hit the lower threshold Danielle set for them, but you won't put into context what FC did with less time and a higher bar?

For any parents looking for an activity to keep their springbreaking kids entertained, here's a #PromptMyStory. Get them to write a story from this story starter. "This year, spring actually broke. The sun has been missing for three days. What happened?"

Only one spot left for my free online workshop on writing suspense (April 7 at 6:30 pm). This session is for adult learners and I'll give a glimpse into how I developed The Bone House. You can register here: www.reginalibrary.ca/attend/progr...

I spent all of yesterday afternoon building a tech trick for my virtual visits today. I loved watching the pure shock and genuine joy on the kids' faces.

It's Tuesday! Time for another writing prompt to help kids get creative. #PromptMyStory "The last ship leaving the dying planet had room only for two more passengers, but there were three of us. How were we going to decide who would stay behind?"

I'm teaching a Zoom writing workshop for adults April 7. The Regina Public Library and the Saskatchewan Writers' Guild teamed up to make this a free online session. You don't have to live in Saskatchewan to attend, but you have to register here: www.reginalibrary.ca/attend/progr...

A fan of my books has asked for some help in an online poll. The voting ends today (Friday) at 3:30 MT, but if you have it in your heart to help. Please vote for Goeldi's Monkey. sites.google.com/epsb.ca/abmm...

In my dystopian novel, governments make decisions based on opinions rather than statistics, media outlets report gossip instead of facts, and people will do anything for clout. Oh wait, you wanted fiction. Never mind.

Scene from the local gym shower: "Sir, I really wish you weren't so thorough drying off." "Why do you care?" "Because you're using my towel."

Shrinking is my fav comedy series because so many of its cast are connected to other series I loved: Happy Days, How I Met Your Mother, Scrubs, Abbott Elementary, Cougar Town, Just Shoot Me, Hot in Cleveland, and the Drew Carey Show. Throwing in Indiana Jones to the mix doesn't hurt either.