What was I thinking? (Or worse – saying?)
Posted in Book for teenaged girls, Cross-over fiction, Funny Book for Kids, Set in Nova Scotia, Teen fiction, Young Adult Fiction
Tagged book for teenage girls, Canadian teen fiction, Hadley Dyer, HarperCollins, IFOA, International Festival of Authors, Lynne Missen, Picton, Romance, Set in Nova Scotia, YA fiction
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Taking the mystery out of mystery writing. (I hope.)
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
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.
Uh-oh.
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.
Posted in Book for teenaged girls, Cross-over fiction, Funny Book for Kids, Set in Nova Scotia, Teen fiction, Young Adult Fiction
Tagged book for teenage girls, Canadian teen fiction, funny book, HarperCollins, Lauren Conrad, Romance, Set in Nova Scotia, Teen fiction, Toronto, YA fiction
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Betsy Wickwire proves seaworthy.
Thanks to Woozles and everyone else who helped launch Betsy Wickwire’s Dirty Secret in style.
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.
Posted in Book for teenaged girls, Cross-over fiction, Funny Book for Kids, Set in Nova Scotia, Teen fiction, Young Adult Fiction
Tagged book for teenage girls, Book Launch, Canadian teen fiction, Don Aker, funny book, Hadley Dyer, HarperCollins, Home Truths, Jessica Scott Kerrin, Jill MacLean, Lisa Harrington, Lynne Missen, Martin Bridge, Rattled, Romance, Set in Nova Scotia, Stephens Gerard Malone, The Fifth Rule, The George Wright House, The Titanic, The Writers Federation of Nova Scotia, YA fiction
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The Launch of Betsy Wickwire and The Titanic
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.
Posted in Book for teenaged girls, Cross-over fiction, Funny Book for Kids, Set in Nova Scotia, Teen fiction, Young Adult Fiction
Tagged book for teenage girls, Book Launch, Canadian teen fiction, funny book, HarperCollins, Mable's Fables, Ottawa Writers Festival, Set in Nova Scotia, Teen fiction, YA fiction
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Betsy Wickwire goes to Ryerson University.
There is nothing authors like better than to see their books get a celebrity endorsement – which is why I was delighted to come across this photo of my dear friend/editor Hadley Dyer at Toronto’s Word on the Street.
Yes, that’s Betsy Wickwire Hadley has by the spine. And, yes, Hadley did have a few good things to say about it. To wit:
“Dyer says one of HarperCollins bestselling young adult novels right now is Canadian author Vicki Grant’s Betsy Wickwire’s Dirty Secret. The novel is a comedy about a girl who starts a cleaning service and finds love, friendship and self-worth without any fairies, zombies or vampires.”
(The good part is that bit about there being no fairies, zombies or vampires.)
You can read the whole article here. And you can find out more about Hadley Dyer and her own stellar writing career here.
Posted in Book for teenaged girls, Cross-over fiction, Funny Book for Kids, Set in Nova Scotia, Teen fiction, Young Adult Fiction
Tagged Best Books for kids, book for teenage girls, Canadian teen fiction, funny book, Hadley Dyer, HarperCollins, Mable's Fables, Set in Nova Scotia, YA fiction
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Hark the Herald Angel Sings!
Oh, what a lovely review Betsy got in this morning’s Chronicle Herald. Here are a few of the highlights:
“Betsy Wickwire’s Dirty Secret deserves to be on award lists.”
“Not Suitable (for Family Viewing) is a hard act to follow but Grant proves up to it with this totally fresh take on the pain of romance and the courage it takes to grow into your own person.”
“With its powerful mix of hilarity, drop-dead-clever writing and utter empathy for her characters, look for Vicki Grant to appear on award lists again this year.”
Wow. Amazing what a couple good editors can drag out of me. Thanks to Lynne Missen and Hadley Dyer at HarperCollins Canada.
(Here’s the complete Chronicle Herald review.)
Posted in Book for teenaged girls, Cross-over fiction, Funny Book for Kids, Set in Nova Scotia, Teen fiction, Young Adult Fiction
Tagged book for teenage girls, Canadian teen fiction, funny book, Hadley Dyer, HarperCollins, Lynne Missen, Mable's Fables, Romance, Set in Nova Scotia, Teen fiction
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Don Aker is a saint.
At least he is in my books.
He’s agreed to join me for my session at Word on the Street this coming Sunday, thus sparing me the agony of speaking by myself (and probably to myself as well.)
We’ll be talking about our new books, our approach to writing and – no doubt since it’s Don and I and we ALWAYS end up talking about stuff like this when we get together – the more spiritually crushing aspects of the Kid Lit business. (You’ll laugh, you’ll cry…)
Sunday, September 25
Canada Young Adult Book Stage
Maritime Museum of the Atlantic
3 pm
You can find out more about Don’s “highly recommended” new novel, The Fifth Rule, here. Or go to Don’s website for in-depth insight into his books, career and charming goatee.
Posted in Young Adult Fiction
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October in Ontario
The dates, times and venues aren’t all tacked down yet but my trip to Ontario is shaping up quite nicely. Here’s the way it looks at the moment:
October 24 and 25: Ottawa Writers Festival
October 26: Toronto for a Mable’s Fables event
October 27: Picton with the International Festival of Authors
October 28: Sunderland and Cannington Library Visits
I’m stopping at various schools and libraries along the way and may still have some openings. If you’re in any of the above communities (or nearby) and would be interested in a presentation, please get in touch with me here. I’d love to drop by.
And if the fall doesn’t work for you, I’ll also be in Toronto for the OLA Superconference on Thursday, February 2. I’ll be booking school and library visits in the GTA during that week.
Why I’m happy
I haven’t officially launched Betsy Wickwire’s Dirty Secret yet but the reviews are starting to roll in. Here’s a nice one from librarybound.com:
“Canadian Vicki Grant provides a very funny young adult novel, with some of the most memorable characters emerging from a refreshing and unpredictable plot.
The most noteworthy character is Delores, a tiny, opinionated, well-read, flamboyantly dressed powerhouse who barges into Betsy’s life. If a young adult asks you for a funny novel, offer them this one.”
Posted in Young Adult Fiction
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