My Other Writing
One of my favorite short stories to read aloud is “Toe Jam,” and it appears in Thistledown’s 1998 anthology, Opening Tricks, edited by Peter Carver. It’s the story of a kid who gets his big toe stuck in the vacuum cleaner and rescuing him becomes a community event. Based on my own true and harrowing experiences with the power head of the family Electolux, the story shadows my own personal saga (fire department and all!).
Photo Taken by Lisa Landrie Shutterbug Photo
Publications:Children’s Books
Wild Orchid Sequel, Red Deer Press, title pending 2010
Something to Hang On to (YA short story collection, Thistledown), pending 2009
The Moon Children (junior fiction novel, Red Deer Press), 2007; shortlisted for a Saskatchewan Book Award; long-listed for the Children’s Book of the Year by the Canadian Library Association; shortlisted for the Ontario Library Association’s Silver Birch Award, 2009
Wild Orchid (YA novel, Red Deer Press), 2005; shortlisted for the Canadian Library Assoc.Young Adult Book Award and the Manitoba Readers’ Choice Award; starred selection from the Canadian Children’s Book Centre; shortlisted for a Saskatchewan Willow Award and the Ontario Library Association’s White Pine Award; listed on the New York Public Library’s Recommended Books for the Teen Age, 2007
The Keeper of the Trees (junior fantasy novel, Ronsdale Press), 1999; shortlisted for a Saskatchewan Book Award
Spider Summer (junior realistic fiction novel, ITP Nelson), 1998
Daddy Longlegs at Birch Lane (Smithsonian picture book, Soundprints Press), 1997
Poetry:
Broadcasts: “Recursives,” CBC Radio, 1993 (20 min.); “Voices from the Stars,” CBC Radio, 1988 (20 min.); “Weekend Anglers,” CBC Radio, 1987 (20 min.)
Anthologies: Fast Forward, Hagios Press (2007), Listening with the Ear of the Heart, Coteau (2003); bite to eat place, Redwood Coast Press (1995); Coming Up for Air, Cranberry Tree Press (2002); Do Whales Jump At Night? Douglas & McIntyre, 1990; also: Grain; The Prairie Journal; Western People; Prairie Jungle; Contemporary Verse II; Harvest; Freelance; Transition; Holt&Rinehart Readers; The Auteur; Dandelion; Trout; Zygote; Scholastic Readers; Prentice Hall
Children’s poetry: “Menu from the Bug House Family Restaurant,” Scholastic, 2007; “Menu from the Bug House Family Restaurant,” Canadian Poems for Canadian Kids, Subway Books, 1996; also: Do Whales Jump at Night? Douglas & McIntyre; Prairie Jungle, Coteau; Holt & Rinehart Readers; Prentice Hall Readers
Short Fiction:
2008 Junior short story “Higher Ground,” Scholastic Canada
2005 Adult short story “Foil Butterflies” (winner of Saskatchewan Writers’ Guild Short Fiction Competition, 2004) broadcast by CBC Radio (Between the Covers; Gallery)
2003 Adult short story “Queen of Hearts” produced by CBC’s Gallery 2001 Y.A. short story “Old Wives’ Lake” in Ronsdale’s historical fiction anthology Beginnings (a Canadian “Our Choice” Award Winner)
1999 Adult short story “Looking for Marielle Barnes”on CBC’s Gallery
1998 Junior short story “Toe Jam” in Thistledown’s anthology Opening Tricks
1998 Adult short story “Over the Line” broadcast on CBC Radio
1998 Junior short story “Higher Ground” in Beach Holme’s historical fiction anthology Winds Through Time
1996 Junior short story “The Dragon Tamer” in Thistledown’s anthology Takes (winner of the CLA award)
Research Contributions:
Refereed texts and journals:
“Stories in the Wind,” Journal of the Association for Research on Mothering 10(2), October, 2008
“Breaking Stereotypes with Children’s Fiction: Seeking Progagonists with Special Needs”, article in the International Journal of Special Education (23-1-2008)
“The Development of Metacognitive Strategies in Early Readers”, chapter in Horizons of Literacy edited by Wason-Ellam, Blunt & Robinson (1995) Winnipeg: Canadian Council of Teachers of English Language Arts
“The Metacognitive Reading Strategies of Five Early Readers” article in Journal of Research in Reading (18-1-February 1995) Oxford: Blackwell/United Kingdom Reading Association
“Five Early Readers Solving Problems: A Case Study” article in Reading (29-2-July 1995) Oxford: Blackwell/United Kingdom Reading Association
Other refereed:
“Portrayals in Literature of Characters with Special Needs”: paper presented at the International Conference on Education, Honolulu, 2006
“Breaking Stereotypes with Children’s Fiction”: article published in Abilities Magazine, February, 2006
Non refereed:
Monthly Book Reviews (children’s lit): The Saskatoon Star Phoenix: 1995-2008
Review of The Moon Children, CM Magazine, Volume XIV, Number 6, 2007 Featured Profile, CM Magazine, Volume XIII, Number 9, 2006
Review of Wild Orchid, CM Magazine, Volume XII, Number 10, 2006
Seminal research reports on the topics “Response to Literature” and “The Reading Process” for Saskatchewan Ministry of Education Curriculum, 1990
Other representative work: Articles and book reviews for Owl Canadian Family, 1999; The Saskatoon Sun, 1997; The Saskatoon Free Press, 1997; humour for Western People and Canadian Living, 1996-1998; bi-monthly columnist for The Family Connection, 1990; Masters Thesis: “The Metacognitive Reading Development of Five Early Readers” (1991)
Other Awards and Grants:
2008: Canada Council for adult novella Foil Butterflies
2007: Canada Council for new YA manuscript Falling for Henry
2005: Saskatchewan Arts Board Grant for Wild Orchid
2006: Saskatchewan Arts Board Grant for The Moon Children
2002: Dr.Stirling McDowell Research Award, Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation
2001: Second Prize in the Ontario Writers’ Guild Poetry Contest for “On the Diving Board"
1996: Saskatchewan Writers’ Guild Major Award for adult short story “Over the Line”
1995: Saskatchewan Writers Guild Major Award in the Children’s Literature Category for poetry collection The Bug House Family Restaurant