Author Archives: Deborah Hodge

Spring Thoughts and Puffins

Today is a gloriously sunny day on the west coast after a long, wet, chilly winter and early spring. It finally feels like the weather is turning in the most wonderful way. Sunshine, blossoms and the promise of new growth is all around. Hooray!

On that note, I am thinking about my fast-approaching upcoming title called The Tufted Puffins of Triangle Island. Karen Reczuch and I have once again collaborated on a book of nature and ecology for the young reading crowd and we are thrilled to see the fruits of our hard work. Karen has created beautiful images!

As I look forward to spotting the book on library and store shelves, I’m thinking about the spectacular tufted puffins that are flying to Triangle Island – right now! – to lay their eggs in deep burrows on the steep cliffsides of this rugged place. I wish I could be there to see them! But Triangle Island is off-limits to the public and restricted to a handful of scientists and researchers who visit the island each summer. I will have to close my eyes and imagine I am there!

This image shows a springtime scene of tufted puffins who have just returned to the island from a winter at sea. Soon they will be busy digging out their burrows, laying their eggs, and raising their chicks. Wish them luck! And a cool ocean with many small fish to eat.

Spring Books with Groundwood

Spring is officially here and Groundwood Books is showing off their new works of the season. I’m thrilled to have my upcoming book The Tufted Puffins of Triangle Island as part of this wonderful collection.

Although Tufted Puffins is not being released until August, I am already very excited about its arrival. It is the first title in a new series “Wild by Nature” that Karen Reczuch and I have been working hard on over the last couple of years.

As is our way, the two of us have had adventures in the creation of this book and the ones that will follow. What fun it has been! And so interesting, too!

Puffins!

Although it is a few months away from being available in stores, I am happy to announce my new book that will be here soon: The Tufted Puffins of Triangle Island!

It is the first book in a new ecology series “Wild by Nature” that Karen Reczuch and I have been working on. We are very excited about it!

You will meet a pair of beautiful birds, with long golden tufts, as they prepare a burrow and lay a single egg on the steep cliffside of Triangle Island — a rare and protected habitat off the northwestern tip of Vancouver Island.

The tufted puffins will raise their baby in this wild and remote place, until it is ready to leave the nest and live at sea. If Triangle Island remains undisturbed, and the ocean stays cool, clean and full of fish, these marvellous birds and their babies will continue to thrive and grow.

Writing or Illustrating Children’s Books

Are you interested in finding out about how to write or illustrate a children’s book and get it published? Do you live in Vancouver area? If so, you may be interested in an upcoming event at the Vancouver Public Library, Central Branch, on Tuesday, March 11 at 6:30 pm.

WRITING AND ILLUSTRATING KID’S BOOKS: THE INSIDE STORY.

Listen to a panel of professional children’s authors and illustrators and find out how they broke into this exciting and competitive field, and built their careers. Ask them anything!

Find out:

  •  How to improve your writing
  •  How to find a publisher and submit your work
  •  What agents do
  •  What to look for in a book contract
  •  What the financial rewards are

The panelists include: Nikki Bergstresser, Hayley Lowe, Cynthia Mackey, Kirsten Pendreigh, and Pam Withers, and the discussion is moderated by Ellen Schwartz. All are members of CWILL BC, the Children’s Writers and Illustrators of British Columbia.

The event takes place at VPL, Central Branch, on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm. It’s a joint event between the library and CWILL BC, and it’s always a wonderful, informative and entertaining night! I highly recommend it!

The One and Only Question

My dear friend and long-time colleague, Norma Charles, and her daughter, Andrea Charles, have a lovely new picture book: The One and Only Question, illustrated by Ken Daley and published by Groundwood Books.

It tells the story of Zeke’s first day at his new school and how his head is filled with one big question: What will he do when they call him the N-word like they did at his old school?

As little frustrations mount during the day—a boring class, a mustard stain on his favourite shirt— Zeke is prepared for the worst when a classmate approaches him in the schoolyard. But it’s not to bully him—it’s to spread kindness. Told with compassion and sensitivity, this story of a child finding safety and friendship in the classroom will help educators address racism-based bullying.

Ken Daley’s vibrant illustrations bring warmth and humour to the story, while showing hints of what makes this new school a safer space.

The One and Only Question will prompt young readers to ask questions of their own about how to handle bullying — while also encouraging conversations about everyone’s right to a safe learning environment.

The book includes an author’s note explaining the authors’ personal connection to this story, as well as a list of suggestions about what to do about racism-based bullying to help educators, caregivers and victims.

Congratulations, Norma and Andrea! It is a wonderful and important book!

Wild Baby Animals

My daughter was visiting early childcare centres in Powell River last week and was happy and surprised to see my book, West Coast Wild Baby Animals on display. Fun to see the little eagle stuffie beside it, too!

It made me very happy to see that small children of the area will have the opportunity to read and learn about the charming creatures of our beautiful west coast. My favourite part of being a writer? Knowing that my books have found their way into the hands of young readers!

January Thoughts

January can be a long month, with weather that is cold and dreary, so what’s a writer to do? Read more and write more! Bundled up inside the house and finding inviting words on the page is a lovely pastime. Wishing you a happy January and many good books to read!

And if you need a bit of January inspiration, here’s a quote (in the spirit of the month) from poet and essayist, T. S. Eliot:

“Every moment is a fresh beginning.”
— T.S. Eliot

Happy New Year!

We made it through another lovely (hectic!) holiday season, and I am grateful for the good times with family and friends. As 2025 begins, I am looking both forward and back. I am excited about three upcoming books that I’ve been working hard on – and include two books in a new series and a little board book. (More about those later.)

While going through some files recently, and in the spirit of looking back, I came across a photo, taken some years ago, of beloved writer friends and I at a colleague’s book launch at Vancouver Kidsbooks. I remember it being a wonderful evening of meeting up with friends and extending our warm congratulations to our colleague.

In memory of that evening, and with gratitude for the dear writing friends I’ve made over the years, I am sharing the photo here. From left to right are: Glen Huser, the late Irene Watts, Linda Bailey and I.

Happy New Year to you all!

Stories Come Alive

In a happy circumstance, I was delighted to be invited to include my story, Bear’s Winter Party, to become part of an annual online Advent calendar, created by the UK charity Roundabout Dramatherapy. It is an organization that works to transform the lives of vulnerable people with mental health issues through the use of dramatherapy.

My book was selected for December 23, and yesterday I got to watch the wonderful actor Nicola Martinus-Smith bring the story and characters to life with her lovely reading of it. If there are young children in your circle, they might enjoy watching the video, as well as seeing the festive stories for the other days of December.

Wishing you and yours a very happy holiday! Cheers!

Warm Winter Wishes

As the year draws to an end, I am feeling grateful for many things: family, friends, a warm home and a stack of books to read and write.

I adore these sweet little Douglas squirrel babies in their cozy nest, staying warm and dry in the ancient tree of the coastal rainforest. What a lovely place to be! This charming illustration is from our book, West Coast Wild Rainforest, full of gorgeous paintings by Karen Reczuch.

Here on the west coast, we will be having a green holiday — no snow on the horizon as yet. Wherever you are, snow or no snow, I wish you a warm, cozy and happy holiday season.