I’m off to St. John’s, Newfoundland, tomorrow for the Atlantic Book Awards. Betsy Wickwire and I are up against Gloria Ann Wesley, (Chasing Freedom) and Susan White (The Year Mrs. Montague Cried ) for the coveted Ann Connor Brimer Award.

In 1990, the Nova Scotia Library Association established the Ann Connor Brimer Award for writers residing in Atlantic Canada who have made an outstanding contribution to children’s literature.

The impetus for the award came from the late Ann Connor Brimer who was a strong advocate of Canadian children’s literature and saw the need to recognize and encourage children’s writers in Atlantic Canada.

The recognition is fabulous, of course, but the perks are what really excite me. I’m going to be joining fellow nominees at the Atlantic Book Awards ceremony in one of my favourite cities anywhere – gorgeous, fascinating, wonderfully peculiar St. John’s, Newfoundland.

Also up for the Ann Connor Brimer Award are Gloria Ann Wesley for Chasing Freedom (Roseway Publishing); Susan White for The Year Mrs. Montague Cried (Acorn Press).

Here’s a full list of the Atlantic Book Award nominees.

No. Not if you get to enjoy the warmth of the Ontario Library Association’s SuperConference. (What a corny line. Clearly, I’ll do anything for a segue.)

I’ve been invited with other winners of 2011 Forest of Reading Awards to make a little presentation. I’ll also be signing copies of Betsy Wickwire’s Dirty Secret so please come and join me at the HarperCollins booth. (I’ll post exact times when I know them…)

If you can’t make it to the conference at the Convention Centre, perhaps I could make it to your school. I have some openings for author visits on Monday, January 30 and  Wednesday, February 1. Anywhere in the GTA is fine.

E-mail me at v.grant@ns.sympatico.ca for details.

“Kudos to Canadian Vicki Grant for writing a truly hilarious book that’ll make you smile while defying all the tropes that often define this genre. The Betsy Wickwire in question is your prototypical beautiful popular girl who’s sent on a downward shame spiral – complete with working as a house cleaner in a horrible ‘dust bunny’ uniform – losing all of the things said popular gals value most: friends, love, and her coveted social standing. That is, until she meets quirky, larger-than-life outsider Dolores Morris, who befriends Betsy when she needs it most – and teaches her a thing or two about what’s really important at this young age. For real, everywhere I’ve looked and everyone I’ve talked to has had nothing but positive things to say about this genuinely funny, uncanny book that manages to make a rather simple concept feel fresh and fun.“

Betsy Wickwire’s Dirty Secret is available, as they say, at fine stores everywhere.

Here’s my most favourite part:

“Vicki Grant’s characters jump off the page. She shows an uncanny understanding of young people’s worries and emotions, the depression they often face, the self-esteem that frequently eludes them, and the acceptance they need most. This is a novel at once humorous, captivating and realistic. A multi-layered novel, a striking read.”

Plotting. Planting clues. Killing off your characters. I had to figure out how to do all that while writing Not Suitable for Family Viewing.

Now I’m giving away my trade secrets at an upcoming “Writing Teen Mysteries” workshop.

Thursday, November 17

5:30 to 8:30 pm

Woozles

1533 Birmingham St  Halifax, NS B3J 2J6

$35

This workshop is just for adult writers, I’m afraid. (If it goes well, I’d love to try one for teens as well.)

For more information or to register, contact Woozles.

I was on my way back from my rather wonderful ‘tour’ in Ontario (more about that later) when I spotted what I thought was a nice stack of Betsy Wickwire’s Dirty Secret at a bookstore in the Toronto Airport. It took me a horrified moment or two to realize it wasn’t my book at all but Lauren Conrad’s. Uncanny, isn’t it?

Lauren’s book has a heart-shaped candy on the cover. Mine has a heart-shaped sponge which looks like a candy. They both have a white background and hearts repeated on the spine. They’re both Young Adult novels. Lauren is a “television personality, celebutante and fashion designer” and I’m…Okay, I guess the similarities end there.

But back to the cover. Should I worry? Or is the similarity a good thing? Any chance a few Lauren Conrad fans might pick up my book by mistake and be converted? Stay tuned for updates.

I was thrilled with the turn-out. As well as my buddies from the bridge club, book club (s), neighbourhood and Writers Fed, I was graced with the presence of friends from childhood (Heather Booth and Leslie MacLean), my  university roomie (Nancy Price), some of my favourite teachers (Nancy Bowe, Diane Peach and Ruth Ann Luke) and of course a number of award-winning authors.

We raised a glass of very cheap wine to Don Aker (The Fifth Rule) and Jill MacLean (Home Truths) who had both just been nominated for OLA awards. Lisa Harrington (Rattled) was there with her beautiful daughter Lexi – and an announcement that she has a contract for her next YA novel. Stephens Gerard Malone (Big Town) was just getting his sea legs after his own successful launch. And Jessica Scott Kerrin (The Martin Bridge Series) even managed to bring her husband along. (That’s dedication.)

I’m very grateful – and flattered – to have had such a lovely crowd.

On Monday, October 17, Betsy Wickwire’s Dirty Secret will be launched at The George Wright House. This stately home at the corner of Young Avenue and Inglis Street in Halifax was bequeathed to the Local Council of Women after George went down with the Titanic. (Money raised from room rental goes towards the Council’s many good works.)

I just hope this launch turns out a little better than the Titanic’s did…

Betsy Wickwire’s Dirty Secret Launch

Monday, October 17

7 to 9 pm

The George Wright House

989 Young Avenue

Halifax, Nova Scotia

All welcome. Woozles will be there, of course, with books.