This, the new Burlington Performing Arts Centre, makes a great setting to read Burlington’s newest children’s author, Jennifer Maruno’s Warbird.  While the publisher was Napoleon, that press has been digested by Dundurn. I bought the book from my favourite bookseller A Different Drummer and then strolled over to this beautiful new building and read while my husband took photos for his architecture photography classes.  For once I really read the book in the location I picture. (In 1647) 10 year old Etienne swaps places with an orphan in order to escape farm life and explore like his hero Champlain.  His adventures cause him to see and experience things that finally make him turn around and go home.   I remember learning Canadian history in grade 5, fur traders, Indians, Jesuit priests having their hearts eaten by Iroquois (frankly the most exciting part).  How wonderful it would have been to have read Warbird instead of our history texts.  This would be a great book to read before visiting the historic park Sainte-Marie among the Hurons.

The TD and The Canadian Children’s Book Centre know how to make an author feel special. Even if you’re not nominated, this year I don’t even have a book, out but the speakers always thank all of us for enriching kids’ lives and all

the spectacular little entrees and drinks and special touches, like this tophat escort helps make me feel celebrated. I had read the John Spray winner, A Spy in the House. Congratulations to Y.S. Lee and her beautiful baby. Can’t wait to read The Glory Wind by Valerie Sherrard. She beat out so many spectactular GG winning authors, her book must be fabulous. I’ve read some of Susan Hughes animal chapter books so was happy for her win in non-fiction. I Know Here is the picture book winner–we heard the illustrator Matt James speak at CANSCAIP and he was a riot. The big win went to Erin Bow’s Plain Kate. I really love her hubbie James writing so I wonder if there will a family talent connection. Has to be I guess. Hope they invest the win wisely and yet have tons of fun too.

For a long time I’ve wanted to visit Saint Mildred’s Lightbourn School.  Sometimes in co-ed schools I feel like I’ve let the boys down because I’ve written female protagonist stories.  Teachers have said to me “Girls read anything, but boys won’t read anything with a girl main character.”  I don’t believe every piece of fiction should be tailored to try to get boys to read. That kind of marginalizes girls. Allow male readers the pleasure of nonfiction if they don’t enjoy following a narrative. Invite male authors in one year, and female the next to get a balance. 

  In any case, finally yesterday I had the opportunity to visit. It was a wonderful afternoon with some two hundred young readers and potential writers.  The girls asked some great questions, too.  I hope to visit them again.

Thank you Burlington Public Library for hosting, not only another successful literary event: Sally Armstrong’s The Nine Lives of Charlotte Tayler evening, but for all the great programs and support you give writers as well as readers. I heard BPL’s Andrea Gordon say over 500 tickets were issued and the One Book, One Burlington celebratory night needed to move locations from a fairly large venue at Central’s auditorium to Port Nelson United Church where the beautiful stained glass windows and subdued lighting created a wonderful atmosphere for Sally’s inspiring talk. Sally spoke about the connections between history and identity and the power of women’s stories. Women can create peace. Several audience members identified themselves as Charlotte’s descendants and Sally said when she approached her computer each morning to write her story, it was as if Charlotte were waiting. After watching her sign books to her audience, I

said goodbye and Congratulations, Charlotte. Thanks again Burlington Public Library for supplying me with wonderful opportunities that have launched my career as a writer, saved my sanity as a parent, enriched my children as readers and entertained and enlightened my whole family.

Much of where I think would be a great place to read is not where I actually do.  Here’s where I would have liked to have read The Tiffin a very moving story of the lives changed when a message goes astray in one of those large metal lunch buckets used to deliver hot lunch all over Bombay. Kunal is the perseverant orphan who searches for family through the story and ultimately finds it, maybe not exactly in the shape and form that he wanted it.  I fancy myself as an empath which sometimes makes me take on a story too much so I found it hard to handle what beggars go through in India.  I have a 10 year old grandson with some east Indian in his background and I can too easily imagine different circumstances for him.  Pretty sure children can handle the difficult parts better than I did.  This is a powerful story.  And why I wanted to read it here is not just because of the water.  I love to be close to a lake or ocean for ultimate Zen.  But here I am close to the spirit of the girl who is inspiring my next story.  I’m waiting for her to answer my questions.  It’s easier if I’m reading a good story.

PS As soon I clean off my desk, I hope to post a close up of The Tiffin.  Or maybe that little girl stole it.