by Sylvia McNicoll | Jun 11, 2010 | Sylvia McNicoll
On behalf of Today’s Parent Toronto, I was invited to a photo workshop designed to help you photograph children. The idea was that I could write about this for moms but the subtext was Kodak was showcasing its new products. Every writer there received a new camera (see below) to work with and (hurray) keep. Negrin Sairafi gave us helpful hints and demonstrated the new prezzie. I loved it. I used digital cameras as note takers for all my fiction and nonfiction writing projects.
We were at Riverdale farm, see the crazy flower horse, and I brought three year old William as we were encouraged to bring subjects.
These pictures were taken with my year old Sony. I haven’t uploaded any new photos from the Kodak because, ironically, I accidentally deleted them all. A little glitch in the ease in which you can do everything with this new model. I was sure I pressed “Picture” not “All” but maybe the red was highlighting All. Usually computers asked you incessantly if you’re sure, not Kodak I’m afraid.
by Sylvia McNicoll | Jun 10, 2010 | Sylvia McNicoll
The first few days back from Alaska and in between blowing my nose from an airplane cold, I wrote like crazy trying to sort out the sites of Toronto. I checked websites, talked to people, looked over event calendars, asked Today’s Parent people for some KidSummer sites, double checked neighborhoods and hours and prices, cut hours and prices because of space issues.
Readers don’t realize how much work is behind an article, sadly publishers don’t either. You only see the end result, you don’t see the mass of info that got sculpted into a slant.
Now I feel better and I’m onto writing a feature on Art Slade. It’s how I began my published career, writing about authors. First off I’m rereading as many of his books as I can get my hands on. A joy, really, no problem there. I’m also reading everything written on him. I’ve already been to one of his presentations with kids at a school in Newmarket, I’ve also seen him speak at launch and interact with a fan. Friday I will skype with him. I present in Saskatchewan all the time but just not conveniently in time for this piece. I’ll meet his new daughter( just arrived from China ) on a computer screen.
Then will come the hard part, sculpting it all into a slant. Watch for it in the Canadian Children’s Book Centre Magazine.
by Sylvia McNicoll | May 27, 2010 | Sylvia McNicoll
No internet for me on the Coral Princess, well I did pay for 15 minutes to wish my son a happy birthday but otherwise I un-addicted myself. It helped that I forgot my camera-downloading cord at home. I hate blogging without an image. The surprise gift on the cruise was an upgrade to balcony which meant not stop beauty from my bedroom window. Listening to silence as we drifted through Glacier Bay was inspiring and
eerie. Immediately below is a small iceberg broken from Mendenhall Glacier a short shuttle ride from Juneau. Incredibly I heard an explosion and actually saw one
break off while I was standing there. Next are views from the boat of Glacier Bay and from my window of Whittier. Last is a snapshot of Denali Mountain. It needs to be a bright clear day for the highest peak in North America to appear. We had perfect weather. Over so quick, like a dream.
by Sylvia McNicoll | May 9, 2010 | Sylvia McNicoll
I inherited a “staycation” feature from my fellow editor who became too busy. I love Toronto and always feel I should get to know it better so I started off on Harry the Hippo, an amphibious bus tour. Leanne, the tour guide, gave random trivia about Toronto like that the Royal Bank Building has $90 worth of gold dust in every window. No wonder bank charges are so high! The cool factor of course was when Harry splashed into the water off Ontario Place
We were pretty cold after our hour and a half tour, mainly ’cause we unsnapped the windows over the lake. After a hot soup, we headed to Harbourfront for a coffee with the dogs at the Pet Discovery Centre (Pawsway). Always fun to meet with animal people. No chihuauas in mini skirts today.
Then we headed for the AGO. Absolutely awesome in the true sense of the word. In the wooden atrium, there is a massive (sculpted )palm tree on its side, complete with roots. The exhibit is called palm Sunday. We also checked out the whimsical Bata Shoe Museum. I tried on some Elton John type shoes. We finished with the longest streetcar ride in the world ending in the Beach.
by Sylvia McNicoll | May 4, 2010 | Sylvia McNicoll
My writing job consists of three parts, one: writing novels which I consider the main part, two:talking about writing with students, there by exciting them to read and write and three: writing and editing for Today’s Parent Toronto. All of these jobs crisscross in lots of fun ways.
I visited Science North while I was teaching at Alexander Public School a couple of years ago with the idea of writing a travel feature on Sudbury and their great museums and instead wrote Slam Dunk Robot, a piece of fiction for grade twos, set in Science North.
So on the way home from Timmins and the highschool art day, I stopped in Sudbury to shorten the drive and meet up with other writers and storytellers Aubrey Davis and Bernice Hume to give them a lift home. To pass the time waiting till they were done their readings, I visited Dynamic Earth and Science North on a complimentary pass they so graciously granted me.
I used to feel guilty about asking for these when I didn’t know whether the visits would lead directly into a marketable piece of writing that would get them more visitors. Now I realize you can never tell where an idea will come from or what kind of story will evolve from it and so everyone shares in the gamble and process.
by Sylvia McNicoll | May 4, 2010 | Sylvia McNicoll
On April 24th Gisela Sherman (another great writer and good friend) hosted a welcoming celebration for my new grandaughter Violet Vivien McNicoll. Because the ladies who came seemed so much like fairy godmothers to Violet, I asked them each to write out their wishes for her, hoping that no 13th fairy would show. Now there is at least one wish missing so I hope that “fairy” will write me theirs so it is not lost for all time. Also the painting wish needs to be identified.
Because most of the attendants were writers, their take on the assignment varied. Here are their wishes:
Cathy Miyata: Expensive jewellery, opals and diamonds (I asked for specifics and this one is so juicey and decadent, it’s perfect
Grandmama Maureen: In your search to find love I hope, just like Mom and Dad you find it in an easy and obvious place. (This wish refers to the fact that Erin, Violet’s mom, and Craig, her dad and my son, saw each other a long time before actively seeing each other, if you know what I mean. Erin is Jennifer, Craig’s sister’s best friend. Complicated but they found love through family and friendship. A lovely wish.
I wish for Violet to have extreme skills in breakdancing and to be fluent in Mandarin. Auntie Robin
I wish for Violet to become an awesome Karaoke Diva Auntie Jen.
May your favourite colour be violet and may you use it in all your paintings.(I think this is Becca’s)
May you enjoy the company of many siblings and cousins.(This one’s mine and I made it because every Friday we have large family dinner gatherings that are loud, messy and hopefully fun for Violet. )
Vivacious
Intelligent
Outstanding
Love
Elegant
Ticklish Acrostic poem by Estelle Salata and her daughter Paula
I hope you read 11,000 great books! (including mineJ Gisela
We wish for you the ability to time travel and meet all the great McNicolls of the past. Jane and Wendy McNicoll (I agree with the sentiment behind this one. There are people who have passed on to a different leg of the journey who would have loved to meet Violet and give her their good wishes)
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