Hark the Herald Angel Sings!

Posted on October 2, 2011 by

Vicki Grant Teen FictionOh, 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 , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Don Aker is a saint.

Posted on September 18, 2011 by

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 | Leave a comment

October in Ontario

Posted on September 14, 2011 by

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.

Posted in Young Adult Fiction | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Why I’m happy

Posted on September 12, 2011 by

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.”

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Betsy’s Heart Swells with Pride

Posted on September 9, 2011 by


I’m always a bit worried about a new book until the first reviews come in. I’m breathing a little easier since I got this four-star write-up in CM Magazine.

“Vicki Grant has authored another wonderful young adult novel with lots of humour, interesting characters and twists and surprises in the plot…Betsy’s life has totally changed by the end of the novel, and so has her attitude. She has become a warmer and more accepting person. The transition isn’t easy, and Grant puts her main character through a variety of tests and learning experiences in the book. However, Grant does so with humour, compassion and empathy for the teenage world she has created. No doubt Betsy Wickwire’s Dirty Secret will join Grant’s other young adult novels on a variety of Canadian young adult literary award lists.”

Highly Recommended.

 

 

Canadian Review of Materials is an important source of information for teachers and librarians about children’s and Young Adult literature. You can read the complete review here.

Posted in Book for teenaged girls, Cross-over fiction, Teen fiction, Young Adult Fiction | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Betsy Wickwire: Before and After

Posted on September 2, 2011 by

She had a last-minute make-over – but Betsy Wickwire is finally here. The designers at HarperCollins struggled mightily to come up with a cover that suggested the novel might have a bit of comedy, a bit of tragedy, a bit of romance  and – perhaps oddly for a YA book – a certain amount of housecleaning too.

There was something I liked about that first cover. The dirty rag across Betsy’s face seemed to sum up her mortification quite nicely. There was a concern, though, that it wasn’t very inviting.

Hence the new – and permanent – cover with the bright pink heart-shaped sponge. How do you like it? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Posted in Book for teenaged girls, Cross-over fiction, Set in Nova Scotia, Teen fiction, Young Adult Fiction | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Gotta love HarperCollins

Posted on June 28, 2011 by

Not Suitable for Family Viewing, Vicki GrantA full-page colour ad featuring…me. It must have come as a terrible shock to most people just sitting down to read their Saturday morning paper – but I certainly appreciated it.

Thanks Leo, Liza, Melissa and everyone else at HarperCollins who made it happen. (And thanks, too, to my nephew George Grant for taking the photo.)

Posted in Manitoba Young Readers Choice Award, Red Maple Award Winner., Set in Nova Scotia, Young Adult Fiction | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Heading off to Lakefield Literary Festival

Posted on June 28, 2011 by


I’ll be doing something a little different on my holiday in the Kawarthas this year. I’m going to take a break from Scrabble, swimming and, of course, endless painting in order to return to civilization long enough to give a reading at the Lakefield Literary Festival (11:30 on Saturday, July 16).

Not Suitable for Family Viewing will be my ‘headliner’ but I’ll also be introducing a new YA novel, Betsy Wickwire’s Dirty Secret. (Hopefully, I might even have some actual copies of it in my hands by then…)

I’m paired up with the amazing Kevin Sylvester, author of The Neil Flambe Capers so it should be fun.

Hope to see you there.

 

Posted in Crimewriters of Canada, Funny Book for Kids, Manitoba Young Readers Choice Award, Mystery, Silver Birch Honour Book, Uncategorized, Young Adult Fiction | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

How to write right.

Posted on May 30, 2011 by

Kurt Vonnegut knew how to do it . What’s even better for struggling authors, he knew how to explain it. Check out these two short videos and hear the master himself. His tips are clear, concise, smart and funny.

The Shape of Stories

How to Write a Short Story

 

 

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Stellar News!

Posted on May 20, 2011 by

I just got word that Not Suitable for Family Viewing has been nominated for the 2012 Stellar Award, British Columbia teen readers’ choice award. Once again, it’s in very good company. Here’s the full list of nominees:

Shadow Boxing by Sherie Posesorski
thinandbeautiful.com by Liane Shaw
Dreamfire by Nicole Luiken
Living Outside the Lines by Lesley Choyce
My Parents are Sex Maniacs by Robyn Harding
Not Suitable for Family Viewing by Vicki Grant
Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston
Pop by Gordon Korman
The Gryphon Project by Carrie Mac
Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley
Swim the Fly by Don Calame
The Uninvited by Tim Wynne-Jones

Posted in Award Winner, Book for teenaged girls, CCBC Book Club Selection, CLA Young Adult Book Award, Crimewriters of Canada, Cross-over fiction, Manitoba Young Readers Choice Award | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments