Almost December and...

It's almost December and I'm still on the road.

I have traveled tens of thousands of miles in the last month alone. Treaty 7. Treaty 8. Cree8 Success, Conferences focusing on Aboriginal issues, literacy, reading...parenting... I've been back and forth from coast to coast to coast. It's almost Christmas and I have but two more weeks on the road then home.

I love my work...it's the travel that can be harsh. You'd think that being Canadians, a little snow wouldn't set us back and put us off track but does. A simple snow fall can (and often does) shut Calgary's airport down and the rippling effect of that is crazy. My flights have been cancelled, delayed, re-routed and almost always late. Travel...that's the hard part of touring.

The best part? ...This is it right here.. and in the picture shown here, my good friend Jason Jones from Red Gut in Ontario...Jason and the Junior Ojibway class. This is why I do what I do... This is what keeps me out there...

Holly Claus - the Harry Potter of Christmas

 

 

Hundreds of thousands, through my conference work, have heard me say that Holly Claus is my favourite Christmas book ever.

Hundreds of thousands have heard me say that Holly Claus is the Harry Potter of Christmas - a book that every family should have read...should have in their library to read and re-read at this time of the year.

If you have not experienced the magic of Brittney Ryan's New York Times best selling Holly Claus, consider this my gift to you.

Imagine a place in time where Santa would receive a letter from a boy asking what he, Santa, would like for Christmas. What if that letter contained the magic that would allow Santa and his wife Vivianna to finally have the child they have dreamed about for centuries. What would they name their child and how would the Christmas Princess deal with the curse that followed her into the land of the Immortals...the land of Forever...???


Canada... Holly Claus is a book for young and old alike. I first shared it with our daughter Victoria when she was six. I last shared it with her...last night... My 14 year old will tell you that her childhood was highlighted by two books - Harry Potter and Holly Claus.

When I asked if she had not outgrown these two classics, she simply answered;

"Dad, I haven't outgrown Harry and Holly. I grew up with them."

A quick November check in...

Early November and I'm home...for my dad's 95th on Tuesday, the 6th.

I've been on the road since...???...September. I've had a couple pit stops, one including son Etienne's wedding in San Fran. but I've been out there and everywhere. Other than conference work and schools, I was a part of an amazing book launch. Our Rainbow Crow was launched at Toronto's Arts and Letters Club . At the event, David Jean, my partner, sold the original drums from our book. Magical evening...

I have a month left before I'm home for Christmas...a favourite time for my family and me.

There is much to say and share but I don't want to miss a single opportunity to share a great list that United Library Services has just released: https://www.uls.com/ULS/email/2012/10/first-nations-list.html?utm_source=ULS&utm_medium=email&utm_content=displaylink&utm_campaign=2012%20First%20Nations

September Tour

I'm home packing and planning for my next tour...just having returned from two exciting weeks in Canada's far north.

I'm home from the NWT and Rainy River. I traveled thousands of miles and was just as many smiling faces.

In this picture, I am visiting my good friend Jason Jones and the intermediate Ojibway class in Fort Frances. This is one of a number of superb language programmes I'm witnessing from coast to coast to coast...small steps, but steps nonetheless!

First Nations schools still shortchanged

Reading for the sheer pleasure of it. Metis author David Bouchard says it's not happening enough in aboriginal communities and he thinks it's a barrier to success. Hear his conversation with Trail's End host Allison Devereaux.

The News Tribune: Ivan the gorilla dies at Zoo Atlanta

When I speak to audiences about great reads/about MUST reads, The One and Only Ivan always comes up. Friends, if you've not read it, treat yourself and those you love:

The News Tribune: Ivan the gorilla dies at Zoo Atlanta: News, weather, traffic, events and photos from the City Desk at The Seattle Times.

Summer report

For a touring author, summer is...???...hot especially when you choose to go to Florida in the month of July! Our family spent the first part of the summer in Orlando,Florida at Harry Potter World.

Victoria turned 14 this summer and that was her request. It was a wonderful/memorable holiday. We came home to focus on my father who at 94 is having some up and downs. Mom passed away in December and it's been hard on dad. Nevertheless, he's been amazing and... Vicki and Victoria also planned my birthday a little early as I'll be in the NWTerritories on the 13th of September. Their gift was to fly our cousin and very close friend Garry Stockdill to Victoria.

Garry lives in Yorkshire and getting him here without my knowing it was a challenge. I was sitting in front of the Olympics texting Garry (I thought). I looked up and there he was, standing on my terrace looking in at me?!? I have to admit, the feeling was almost sinister? What? How? When and where? Having Garry here with me for ten days was simply the best! Now, it's back to work. I have two new releases to share: Beneath Raven Moon and Rainbow Crow. They are both spectacular pieces of work for which I owe thanks to so many! I am very anxious to share them. And I'm working on three other exciting titles: Dreamcatcher and the Seven Deceivers; The Great Peace and The First Flute. In the world of a writer, we strike when the iron is hot and hope to hit the mark.