Author Archives: Deborah Hodge

Writing Inspiration…

In case you’re wondering where I am next week, I’ll be on the wild west coast (see above) getting my annual dose of writing inspiration. What could be better for a writer than miles and miles of beach to walk, and long hours for reading and contemplation?

Perhaps I should mention that my lovely, lively family is coming with me. There may not be quite as much reading and contemplating as I’m imagining. Aren’t families grand? 🙂

Happy Summer, everyone!

Choo Choo!

Thanks to my friend, Shaun, for taking this photo at Pier 21 in Halifax on his recent trip to the Maritimes. It’s good to see my book is travelling around the country. All Aboard!

Martha in the Mirror

Renee Norman, is the talented author of a new book of poems titled, Martha in the Mirror. The subject of the poems is Martha Quest, the famous protagonist of Doris Lessing’s books. Renee uses Martha in her poems to reflect upon motherhood, love and loss, and other female experiences.

Last week, I went to the launch for this book and am so pleased to have attended this event. It turned out to be one of the best launches I’ve been to. Not only did Renee read her poems, she invited 3 other poets to share their poems with the audience. We were able to close our eyes and spend an hour immersed in words, sounds and images.
I didn’t know many people at the event, but my long-time publishing pal and children’s poet, Robert Heidebreder, turned up. So we sat together and chatted about books and the publishing industry, and also about how much we loved poetry and how we seldom take the time to hear it.
I don’t get to all the launches I’m invited to, but I will make a point of trying to attend more. What a great way to reflect on words and books, and toast the success of friends in the publishing world. Congratulations, Renee!
Cheers!

Quiet on the Blog

I just noticed that my previous blog entry was weeks ago and wondered where the time went? Then I remembered…

Blog activity takes place in inverse proportion to book writing activity, and of late, book writing has been taking up a lot of my time. We are at the stage where we are writing cover copy and making small text adjustments to match the photos (also in final selection stage), and basically wrapping up all the tiny details before my most recent book heads off to the printer.
I love this stage because it’s all about fine-tuning and getting the best possible book. (I much prefer it to the first draft stage, which is just HARD.) In this stage, it’s exciting to see the work of previous months come to fruition. I also know it won’t be long until I am holding the new book in my hands and that makes it all very exciting!
Back to the fine-tuning now. Wish me luck.
Cheers!

Favourite Childhood Book

Several times in the last couple of weeks, I have been asked what my favourite book as a child was. Although I could easily answer: All of them! (because I was an avid reader who devoured almost everything to be had in book form), there are a couple of books that stand out.

One is a novel titled: The Nine Questions by Edward Fenton. I still have my copy of this wonderful book, given to me by my grandparents on my 10th birthday.

It’s the story of Willie Boy who wakes up one morning and is told he must leave the old woman who has cared for him most of his life. She gives him an ancient watch, a tattered hunting cap, a tarnished silver whistle and a warm feather bag — items she has kept for him since he was brought to her door as an infant, years ago, by a frightened young woman.

The old woman tells him it is time for him to seek his father and his fortune in the Weaver’s Country, far away. Willie Boy sets off on a journey that takes him through many magical and fantastical places, where he always encounters a dark and troubling underside. At each place, he faces an evil villan who changes identity throughout the story and relentlessly tries to take Willie Boy’s possessions from him.

Willie Boy makes friends with lovely Gabriella and a group of kind animals who come to his rescue when he is in danger. They travel with him to a foreboding castle in Weaver’s Country, where Willy Boy must answer the Interrogator’s Nine Questions that will decide his fate.

Wow! What a great story. It’s a compelling mix of magic, realism and suspense — a perfect book for a 10 year old avid reader. A big thank you to my grandparents, who always knew the right gifts to give me.

Now that I’ve taken the book off the shelf to look at, I plan to read it again. Fingers crossed the story has held up over time.

Literiffic Day

A big thank you to the students and staff, especially teacher-librarian Karen Ferguson, of Moody Middle School for inviting me to your fabulous Literiffic Day. It was good to meet you all and speak to audiences who clearly love books as much as I do.

Also presenting today were fellow authors, Glen Huser, Diane Tullson, and Dan Bar-el.

Thank you for the Moody Middle School coffee mug and pens, both of which will get extensive use in my office over the next few months. They are perfect gifts for a writer.
I would have loved to take part in your school-wide Jeopardy game today. It sounded like great fun.
Take care, have a wonderful summer and keep reading!
Cheers!

No Moon

I’ve just finished reading No Moon, the latest novel from talented author, Irene Watts. It’s the story of 16 year old Louisa Gardiner, employed as a nanny, who sails on the Titanic with her two young charges.

I won’t tell you what happens but I can say that it is a lovely book with a well-told story and interesting historical detail. I know that Irene travelled to Halifax to visit the Maritime Museum and study the Titanic catastrophe. Her research clearly paid off — we learn a lot about the social order of the time and how this played out in who survived the sinking of the mammoth ship.
Even though it is a brand-new book, Irene has already received some excellent reviews, including a starred review in Quill and Quire. Well done, Irene!
If you’re looking for a great read, pick up this book. I highly recommend it.
Cheers!

Sneak Preview!

I opened the mail today and found an advance copy of my newest book, due to hit the stores in August. Very exciting!

To research this book, I spent a year visiting an organic, cooperative farm in the Fraser Valley. Not only did I learn a lot about sustainable farming, I came to LOVE organic butter (something of an occupational hazard for a sedentary author).
A big thank you to Brian Harris, the wonderful photographer for this book! Check out his website here.
Cheers!

More on Literacy for Life

The Literacy for Life Conference was inspiring!

The organizers, John Barton and Judy Ostrander, newly retired school principal and vice principal, gathered together an amazing group of people to share books and ideas on literacy. It was the fifth conference they have successfully organized.
About 4000 Saskatoon students and their teachers were invited to the university campus to hear authors speak. The organizers were excellent fundraisers and managed to get the wide support of their community and business leaders in order to host the conference. This allowed all the students to attend at no cost to themselves. Wow!
I was one of the authors kindly invited to speak, and was impressed by both the organization of this massive event, as well as the genuine enthusiasm and interest we encountered from all of our audiences.
Over the courses of two days, I did 8 presentations and each of my audiences probably held 250 students and teachers. Thank goodness, I had developed a slide-show presentation and was given a microphone. Otherwise, I would have been thoroughly intimidated! There was no need for nervousness, however. Every presentation I made was received with warmth and kindness. Thank you, Saskatoon students and teachers!
Also on the program were authors: Frieda Wishinsky, Marie Louise Gay, Marsha Skrypuch and 5 others, including illustrator, Bill Slavin. It was so much fun to spend time with the other presenters, and really learn from each other (and share lots of laughs).
Our hosts provided us with the legendary hospitality that the prairies are so famous for. We dined at a huge banquet, ate a catered dinner at one of the host’s homes, and had a third dinner at a wonderful “Eaton’s Catalogue House” on a farm just outside the city. This was a house that was ordered out of the catalogue in the early 1900s and shipped in pieces on the train. When it got to the farm, it had to be assembled. The house was still in excellent condition and we dined on farm-fresh food, including homemade bread and butter. Mmm…
As a gift to the presenters, each of us received two pieces of beautiful art from talented Saskatoon students. One of mine was a wonderful portrait of me with a huge smile, drawn by Samantha in Grade One. The second piece of art was a detailed etching of prairie grain elevator by Benjamin in Grade Six. They are gifts that will find a place of honour in my home. Thank you, Samantha and Benjamin!
I will remember this conference fondly. I was sad to leave the people, but glad to come home to the sunshine. Even though it is mid-May, it was snowing in Saskatchewan! 🙂
Cheers!


Dear Saskatoon Students, Staff, Teachers and Organizers of the Literacy for Life Conference,

Thank you for an amazing week in your city! It was wonderful to be in the midst of your legendary prairie hospitality and to meet so many people who love books.
I could not have had a better time.
With my sincere thanks and best wishes,
Deborah