Launch Day Mystery Guest -- Revealed!

Today is my debut!

Yes indeed, yours truly -- Darby Christopher -- emerges from her cocoon tonight to greet the world from the pages of my new novel A WALK THROUGH A WINDOW.

In case you are interested in attending, here is the poster, one last time:
The time is 6:30 pm, the place is Kidsbooks in Edgemont Village (3040 Edgemont Blvd., North Van), and cupcakes will be enjoyed by all!

And to carry on the celebration even more, we have a feature interview today with a very special author.






Never one to make the same mistake twice, kc dyer has forsaken the bearded disguises of the past in favour of a butterfly today, if only to just stretch the whole cocoon analogy a leeeetttlle bit further.



And just who is the mysterious author behind those fluttery blue wings, anyway?



Let's have a look...

It's Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch! Prolific author, honouree of the order of Princess Olha and listserve mistress to the masses, she's authored eleven books. The latest, CALL ME ARAM just received a wonderful review in the Globe & Mail.

Darby Christopher: Welcome, Marsha! My story, A WALK THROUGH A WINDOW, is all about how different people came to Canada. Where were you born?

Marsha Skrypuch: I was born in Brantford, Ontario.

DC: And where do you live now?

MS: Brantford, Ontario.

DC: Okay -- so it sounds like you've lived in the same place all your life. But what about your family? Do you remember any special stories that you heard when you were a kid?

MS: The first stories I heard about why my grandfather came to Canada were pretty much that -- stories. I remember being told that he was a peasant whose owner was going to sell him for a chicken and a pig.

There is a grain of truth in the story. His family was tied to the land and had to work six days a week for the landowner and the church. At age 16, he was going to be drafted into the Austro-Hungarian army and he didn't want that. Ukrainians were used as cannon fodder in the Austrian army in WWI. He escaped to Canada, where he ended up being interned as an Austrian.


DC: That's quite a story! Now in my book, I get to have several adventures in the past. If you had a chance to walk through a window into the past, where would you go?

MS: 1520 Constantinople (now Istanbul)

DC: Whoo, that's pretty specific. Anyone special you’d like to meet?

MS: Sulieman the Magnificent. He was an amazing man. Very much a forward thinker.

DC: Plus he had a great name. But I wonder just how talented he was...like maybe he couldn't ride a skateboard, for example. I'm actually pretty sure there was no such thing as skateboards in 16th century Constantinople. But what about you, Marsha? Can you ride a skateboard?

MS: Yes.

DC: REALLY????

MS: Yes.

DC: Okay -- that is _so_ cool. So, besides skateboarding and writing books, do you have a secret skill or talent you’d like to share?

MS: I make Ukrainian Easter eggs. Check them out HERE.

DC: Wow. Those are truly beautiful. Marsha, can you tell me a bit about your latest project?

MS: I just finished writing Stolen Child, a historical thriller that will be coming out with Scholastic in 2010.

DC: An historical thriller, eh? I can't wait to read it. Of course, reading always makes me hungry. And when Gramps throws a little spare change my way, I’m personally pretty fond of red licorice. What’s your favourite treat?

MS: Mint ice cream.

DC: Hey, I like that, too! Marsha, if I want to learn more about you or your books on-line, where can I go check you out?

MS: www.calla.com

DC: Great! I see I can connect to your blog from there, too. Awesome. Thanks so much for joining me today, Marsha!

And if you'd like to win an autographed copy of Marsha's book DAUGHTER OF WAR, leave your name in the comments and you could be a winner. The draw will take place tomorrow night, Friday the 13th -- let's make it your lucky day!

~kc

Wednesday Wonder -- Revealed!

Who is this Wednesday wonder?

Nice 'stache!!!! And the whole braided beard thing -- Johnny Depp would be proud.

But, of course, Johnny Depp does not write books, so this is a MUCH more exciting guest today. Have you guessed her name yet?



Let's start with the unbearding...




Ah. MUCH cuter than Johnny Depp. It's Hélène Boudreau! Let's see what she has to say, shall we?

Darby Christopher: Welcome Hélène! A WALK THROUGH A WINDOW is all about how different people came to live in Canada. Where were you born?

Hélène Boudreau: I was born on a teensy island called Petit de Grat off the coast of Cape Breton. Petit de Grat was first settled by the Basque and the name of my hometown means 'little harbour, big fish'.

DC: Ha! Cape Breton is very near where my grandparents live, on Prince Edward Island. Where do you live now?

HB: I now live in Markham, Ontario, far away from little ocean harbours and big ocean fish.

DC: Landlocked! That's too bad, but I'm sure Markham is nice. Besides, Markham is pretty near Toronto, and that's my favourite city in the world. But can you remember any special stories about your family that you heard when you were a kid growing up on Petit de Grat?

HB: My grandparents had one of the first radios on the island, so they were in charge of reporting the weather for the fishermen in town. There is a rocky hill behind their house and on top of that hill were several flagpoles, visible from the harbour. When the weather report came in, they would climb to the top of the hill and raise flags, baskets and other signals to alert the fishermen around town of the upcoming weather. The ruins of that "Stormdrum" are still there and as kids, we spent hours climbing up, over and around the concrete base and remaining wooden timbers. The 'Stormdrum" became our pirate ship, airplane and clubhouse, plus it had an amazing view of the harbour and the ocean.

DC: That sounds like an incredible place to play. I guess it's pretty hilly there, though. Did you ever learn to ride a skateboard?

HB: I hope that isn't a requirement for participating in this interview. Otherwise, I'm in big trouble...

DC: It's all right -- sounds like you were busy doing other things. Besides writing books, do you have a secret skill or talent you’d like to share?

HB: Don't try this at home, but I can turn my eyelids inside out. Totally gross, but exceedingly entertaining.

DC: Okay, I so want to see you doing that! Maybe we can get a picture to put up on this blog! So, when you are hanging around, turning your eyelids inside out, what's your favourite snack to eat? I go for red licorice, myself.

HB: Speaking of licorice, what about those black pipes with the little red candy sprinkles on the 'lit up' part? Love those!

DC: Yep -- I definitely want a picture. Eyelids inside out, licorice pipe in mouth. Hélène, if you had a chance to walk through a window into the past, where would you go?

HB: I would walk through the porthole of the ship THE VIOLET during the deportation of the Acadians in 1758.

DC: Ooooh! That is SO cool! I have an Acadian friend named Gabe, and his story is going to appear in the sequel to A WALK THROUGH A WINDOW. Is there anyone special you’d like to meet?

HB: I'd love to meet my ancestor, Marguerite Gallant. She was an Acadian deportee, en route to France on THE VIOLET. When I first chose the name for the main character of my middle grade novel, ACADIAN STAR, I had no idea she shared the same name as one of my ancestors. Sadly, Marguerite Gallant drowned when THE VIOLET sank off the coast of Cape Breton, never making it to her destination. It would be fascinating, and frightening, to experience just a few moments on that ship. As long as I could walk back out through the same porthole, that is.

DC: You know, even if (very sadly) Marguerite didn't make it, a number of Gallants must have survived. It is a common surname in PEI, even today. Now, what can you tell me a bit about your latest project?

HB: My latest middle grade book, ACADIAN STAR, was published by Nimbus Publishing last fall. Here's the 411:

The Acadian Star competition is the biggest thing to ever happen in Meg Gallant's small Cape Breton town. Meg dreams of performing onstage with her best friend Nève. If they're lucky, they might even make it to the finals in Halifax. But Meg's weird old aunt, Tante Perle, has been acting stranger and stranger-and just before the finale of the competition, she whisks Meg away from everything she knows. Meg suddenly finds herself trapped in the time of the tragic Acadian Deportation-and she has to choose between escaping to her own time and saving a girl who looks remarkably like Nève. Why is she trapped in the eighteenth century? Will she be able to save this stranger, so quickly becoming a friend? And where does Tante Perle fit in with all this? This book for middle readers introduces us to contemporary Acadian characters, and also offers a young girl's perspective on the Acadian Deportation.

DC: Geez -- that sounds so cool. And I really have to introduce you to my friend Gabe. I think you guys could share a few stories! If I want to learn more about you or your books on-line, where can I go check you out?

HB: You can check out my website HERE, read the first chapter of ACADIAN STAR here and see me make a fool of myself, while soliciting Diet Coke endorsements HERE.

DC: Okay -- that is one of the funniest vlogs I have ever seen. You rock, Hélène! Or maybe I should say ...you walk.

HB: Thanks for inviting me, Darby! This was a lot of fun.

Now, if you'd like to win a copy of Hélène's wonderful book ACADIAN STAR, leave your name in the comments below.

But first -- go watch her vlog. Really. Just do it.

And stay tuned tomorrow for another mystery author to help celebrate the launch of my book A WALK THROUGH A WINDOW!

~Darby

Tuesday Mystery Guest -- Revealed!

Apologies for the late posting. But a few technical difficulties are not going to stop this blog -- nosirree.





Remember this face? If you've been reading kcdyer's blog, you will have seen it before. I'm not sure that she's actually ever been out in public like this, however...





Want to know more? Here's a hint -- she's the author of more than 20 books for children, and as a writer and a speaker, she swears she has the best job in the world.

Oh, heck, let's unmask and see what this mystery author has to say!




Hey! It's Deborah Hodge! I _love_ her stories.

Darby Christopher: Welcome, Deborah. I've been asking the authors I have been interviewing where they came from, and have been hearing a few surprising answers. Where were you born?

Deborah Hodge: I was born Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, an historic city on the Canadian prairies that gets its name from a Cree word: Moosegaw, meaning “warm breezes.”

Darby: That's weird. I always thought it was really named for the Moose's body part! Where do you live now?

Deborah: I live on the west coast of Canada in Vancouver, BC, near the beautiful mountains and ocean. Ahh... breathe in that fresh sea air!

Darby: I remember thinking that the sea air was kinda overrated when I arrived in my grandparents' one-lobster town, but I guess you're right. It kinda grows on you. So when you were growing up in Moose Jaw, do you remember any special stories that your family told?

Deborah: Like me, my parents were born in Moose Jaw, and they were children of immigrants and farmers. Some of my favourite stories are about my grandmother’s family, who were homesteaders in Saskatchewan.

I remember my grandmother describing prairie fires, droughts, dust storms, and blizzards as fierce as you’ve ever seen. She said that some winters the air was so thick with blowing snow, you couldn’t see a thing. During one of those blizzards, her father had to feed the hungry horses in the barn. To keep himself safe, he tied one end of a rope onto the doorknob of their house and carried the other end in his hand. When the horses were fed, the blizzard had become so severe that he couldn’t see his house from the barn, so he had to follow the rope with his hands to feel his way back home.

Darby: Holy Crow! It's like real life was an adventure for your grandparents! My grandparents like things to stay pretty calm, so until I met Gabe I relied on my skateboard for adventures. Can you ride a skateboard?

Deborah: No, I can’t skateboard, but it sure looks like fun!

Darby: It is! It's my not-so-secret talent. Besides writing books, do you have a secret skill or talent you’d like to share?

Deborah: I love to cook, and especially enjoy making homemade jam and pies. My secret wish is to enter a pie-baking contest at a country fair and come home with the first-place ribbon!

Darby: My Nan makes homemade jam. Delish! Of course, when Gramps throws a little spare change my way, I’m personally pretty fond of red licorice. What’s your favourite treat?

Deborah: I love Hawkins cheezies — the thick crunchy, cheese snacks in the orange and white striped cellophane bag. My second favourite are warm gingersnap cookies, fresh out of the oven. Mmm!

Darby: Uh -- anytime you want to invite me over, I think I can be available. I'm especially good at sharing cookies! In my new story, A WALK THROUGH A WINDOW, I get a chance to explore the past of a number of people who live on my grandparents' street. If you had a chance to walk through a window into the past, where would you go?

Deborah: I would go back to my grandmother’s childhood time on her farm in Horizon, Saskatchewan. I’m intrigued by the lives of Canada’s early homesteaders, and how courageous and hardworking they must have been.

I’ve featured the early prairie homesteaders in my Canadian history books, The Kids Book of Canada’s Railway and The Kids Book of Canadian Immigration. If you’d like to see a picture of my grandmother, turn to p. 28 in Canada’s Railway. She’s the young girl, Helen Bigler, in the upper left-hand part of the page.

Darby: Wow! I bet you would have liked to meet her! Anyone else special you’d like to meet?

Deborah: I’d like to meet my grandmother’s mother, my great-grandmother — known to the family as Grammie Bigler. I’ve heard many stories about her, especially about how brave she was when her young husband died in the influenza epidemic that swept through the prairies in the early 1900s. Grammie Bigler raised a family on her own, helped deliver the community’s babies, and nursed many sick people during the terrible epidemic.

Darby: I heard about that 'flu epidemic. It was a terrible time. Your great-grandmother sounds very brave. Can you tell me a bit about your latest project?

Deborah: I’ve just finished a new series of books, “Who Lives Here?” for 4-6 year old children. Some of the titles are: Rain Forest Animals, Polar Animals, Desert Animals, and Wetland Animals. The books take a playful look at how animals' bodies and habits are suited to the habitat in which they live. Pat Stephens is the amazing illustrator who gave the series its lovely look.

Darby: Those sound like fun. If I want to learn more about you or your books on-line, where can I go check you out?

Deborah: Please see my website at: www.deborahhodge.com. Thanks so much, Darby! It’s been a pleasure talking to you!

Darby: And to you, Deborah!

Now what did I tell you? This is one Canuck author! No wonder she was hiding behid that maple leaf. If you'd like a chance to win a copy of Debbie Hodge's book THE KIDS BOOK OF CANADA'S RAILWAYS, leave a comment below. Maybe you could tell her if you've ever been to Moose Jaw! If you win, you can look at a picture of Deborah's grandma!

The book draw will take place this Friday evening, with winners announced sometime after 8 pm. You can comment on as many blog posts as you like -- more chances to win!

Be sure to check back tomorrow for another mystery author.

~darby

Monday Mystery Guest

Here we are on a Monday morning. For some of you it is Spring Break, and to that I say -- hurray! I wish you fair weather and clear roads -- time to break out the skateboard. (NOT literally -- just take it out and coast around on it a bit, okay? No breaking involved...)









The first actual party-type launch of the new book A WALK THROUGH A WINDOW, (in which I play a pivotal role, she says modestly) is taking place this Thursday in North Vancouver, British Columbia. For details, check out leftwriter, the blog of author kc dyer.

She handles all my press.

I'm too busy interviewing authors, and today is no exception.

Check out this mysterious creature. The crown is a bit of a hint, because this author was not actually born in Canada OR the United States. She's recently published her first book for kids and has a second one ready to go, hot on the heels of the first. But this author has had ink-stained fingers for a lot longer than that. Let's unmask her first, and then find out more, shall we?


That's better! Please welcome Lois Peterson to my blog today.

Darby Christopher: Hi Lois! A WALK THROUGH A WINDOW is all about how different people came to live in Canada. Where were you born?

Lois Peterson: I was born in a small market town called Hailsham in Sussex, England. The only thing the town was known for then, was that it housed the factory that made rope for the hangman's noose. Now that hanging is abolished in England, the most interesting about Hailsham is that it still holds a livestock market - as it had done since the Middle Ages.

DC: Ooooo -- the hangman's noose is pretty creepy! So, where do you live now?

LP: I came to Vancouver in 1972 after living in New York for a year. I came to check it out. I never consciously made the decision to stay, but here I am. Now I live near the sea in White Rock, BC. Which is 4,752 miles from Sussex, or 7,647 km.

DC: Since you come from England, you must have heard some cool stories about your family when you were a kid. Can you tell me one?

LP: Because we don't all live close to each other, when we do get together we tell a lot of stories that we've all heard before - I think to reassure each other that we do belong together. My favourites are:

The Day Lois Ran Away from Boarding School in Her Housecoat
(I walked about four miles before I was 'retrieved' by a policeman whose car I tried to outrun - in my slippers. The story has been around so long, and I've made up so many versions of it, that I'm not sure anyone can really be sure what did and did not happen.)

The Day Grandad Was Stopped Going Home from Work By a Policeman.
He not believe Grandad lived in the neighborhood. (My grandfather's family was evacuated in the war from London to a very posh part of Eastbourne in Sussex - the family was a rough lot, so must have looked very suspicious and out of place.)

Why Bill Peterson is Allergic to Pears (that's my dad, and he's not!).

My Family Was So Poor We Could Not Afford to Have Parents - one of my father's many tall tales.

You can see we're a rather boring lot - no great dramas or adventures in our family. But we do love to tell the same stories over and over again, and contradict each other when we change the smallest details. When we're telling stories, our family motto is "All that follows is true. And that that isn't, ought to be."

DC: Well, maybe your adventures are of a more physical kind. Can you ride a skateboard?

LP: Oh, I wish! I was a whizz at roller skating when I was at boarding school - every night after supper about 40 of us would put on our skates and skate around the netball court. There was not much room for fancy footwork, but I could skate backwards really well. But that was a long time ago...

DC: I think skating backwards on roller skates is pretty adventurous! Do you have any other secret skill you’d like to share?

LP: I used to boast that I could knit, drink coffee, watch TV, read and smoke a cigarette all at the same time. I quit smoking years ago, and haven't had a TV since about 1995. But I could still do the other three things at once, I think. If I had to. If I could find my knitting needles.
I am very good at Jacks. Does that count? I can't think of much else.

DC: I played jacks when I was in PEI at my grandparents' house. I also had some other adventures there. If you were like me and had a chance to walk through a window into the past, where would you go?

LP: This sounds very odd, as it was a grim time. But I'd like to go back to the East End of London in Victorian times. I love to know how people lived - not the rich and famous, but working class people. And although they were hard times, there was a lot of community spirit and energy in the streets of terrace houses, street markets, churches and pubs. And working class children had a lot of freedom in those days, so I'd imagine they'd have many interesting adventures, especially around the docks where ships came from all parts of the world carrying exotic cargo.

DC: I'm kinda fond of the grim times, myself. Anyone special you’d like to meet?

LP: Grace Darling was a young Victorian girl whose father was a lighthouse keeper. During a bad storm, she persuaded him to rescue sailors aboard a ship that had run aground, even though the weather was far too dangerous to go out. She went out in the lifeboat with him, everyone on board was saved, and Grace became a heroine - known all over England, sung about in Music Hall songs. Apparently, she didn't do much very interesting after that, and died quite young. So I'd love to have the chance to meet her to find out what life was like after such a huge adventure, and how it might have changed her.

When I was thinking of writing a book based on Grace's story (there have been three or four already), my research yielded one bit of strange information - everyone on that ship that night were men, except one woman (it was carrying cargo - not passengers). The writer in me would also like to know who that woman was, and what was her story, too.

DC: Whoa -- that sounds really exciting! Can you tell me a bit about your latest project?

LP: I have a bit of a grasshopper mind, so I juggle several stories at once. One is called ELSIE AND THE SILVER RAIN about a young girl whose mother, during the Depression in Vancouver, signs up for a dance marathon for a chance to win some money - which the family badly needs. But as Elsie's grandmother would not have approved, her mother tells her and Elsie that she's going to stay with a sick friend in New Westminster. The story is about how Elsie finds out, and how her mother's deception and desperation changes her, and the rest of her family.

Another is a YA novel about a boy who is stalked by the man who accidentally killed his father.

And another is an adventure story set in the Marshes of Southern Iraq. I was brought up in Iraq, but never got to visit the Marshes. But I've always been fascinated by that part of the world.

My next book comes out in Spring 2010 - right now it's called THE BALLAD OF KNUCKLES MCGRAW but that might change. It's about a boy who mentally adopts the persona of a cowboy called Knuckles McGraw and has a horse called Burlington Northern.

DC: Burlington Northern...that's a good name for a horse, especially an Iron Horse! So, when Gramps throws a little spare change my way, I’m personally pretty fond of red licorice. What’s your favourite treat?

LP: Wine gums. Miss Stella in MEETING MISS 405 likes them, too. I'll send a bag of them to whoever wins the copy of my book.

DC: Yum! I may have to enter the draw, myself! If I want to learn more about you or your books on-line, where can I go check you out?

LP: My website is at www.loispeterson.net and I do write a blog at http://lpwords.blogspot.com/

DC: Thanks for joining me today, Lois.

Now you heard the lady. If you'd like to win a signed copy of MEETING MISS 405 and a bag of wine gums, just leave a comment, below. I'll do a draw on Friday, March 13th -- here's hoping it's your lucky day!

~Darby

Sunday Morning Mystery...Author

This most excellent disguise masks the face of today's guest author. She is the author of two beautiful books, (THE SECRET KEEPER and THE RUNAWAY PRINCESS) and has several more ready for publication.

And she, very sweetly, agreed to join the celebration for MY new book A WALK THROUGH A WINDOW by chatting with me today.



First, of course -- the great unmasking!






Darby Christopher: Here she is -- Kate Coombs! Thanks so much for coming today, Kate. Now, my story, A WALK THROUGH A WINDOW, is all about how different people came to live in Canada. You are American, I believe. Where were you born?

Kate Coombs: I was born in Spokane, Washington. My ancestors came to the United States from England, Scotland and Wales.

Darby: Where do you live now?

Kate: Burbank, California, but not everyone knows where that is, so I usually tell them Los Angeles.

Darby: Do you remember any special stories about your family that you heard when you were a kid?

Kate: Most people think it's pretty interesting that my six brothers and sisters and I are all adopted, and we're of different ethnicities. I have two Korean sisters, two part-Filipino sisters and a Samoan brother. My other brother and I are Caucasian. I remember one weekend when I was ten, my parents left us with a baby sitter and went on a trip. when they came back, they brought a ten-month baby boy -- our new little brother. We were so surprised! (The other times we knew in advance.)

Still, when I'm asked if it was different growing up in my family, I say "no"; we were just a bunch of kids. It didn't seem particularly unique to us.

Darby: That is so cool. So with all those brothers and sisters, you must have learned how to ride a skateboard, right?

Kate: Not in the least!

Darby: Okay, then, besides writing books, do you have a secret skill or talent you’d like to share?

Kate: I'm a world-class doodler. If the meeting I'm in is long and boring enough, I'll cover half a page or so with elaborate, interlocking designs.

Darby: I've done that myself, usually in Math class. But I'm bored, I get hungry. I’m personally pretty fond of red licorice. What’s your favourite treat?

Kate: Chocolate, chocolate, chocolate! I'm especially fond of peanut M&Ms and those Ferraro Roche Hazelnut thingies.

Darby: Hmmm. I'm beginning to detect a bit of a chocolate theme here, with all these writers I've been talking to. Now, Kate, in my story I have a special way to find a route into history. If you had a chance to walk through a window into the past, where would you go?

Kate: Most eras of the past were pretty unpleasant for women, but if I could just visit one, I guess I'd like to go to Shakespearian England.

Darby: That's a cool choice! Anyone special you’d like to meet?

Kate: As my answer indicates, I'd like to meet Shakespeare. He created so much amazing work that I'd love to talk to him about his writing -- his inpirations, his ideas, things like that.

Darby: No question he wrote a LOT of stories. What about you, Kate? Can you tell me a bit about your latest project?

Kate: I have four books in teh pipeline right now -- the next one to come out will be THE RUNAWAY DRAGON in September. That's the sequel to THE RUNAWAY PRINCESS. But the book I'm working on these days is about a high school girl witha unique power, and what happens when her ability gets her into a war with another girl who is a witch.

Darby: Oooo. I can't wait to read that! If I want to learn more about you or your books on-line, where can I go check you out?

Kate: Check out WWW.KATECOOMBS.COM Thanks, Darby!

Darby: Thank YOU, Kate! It's been great to chat with you today.

Now, if you'd like to win a signed copy of Kate Coombs' latest book THE RUNAWAY PRINCESS, put your name in the comments -- and you'll be entered to win! The draw takes place this Friday, March 13th -- so make it your lucky day and enter to win.

I'll be back tomorrow with another writer to share a chat with...and more chances to win books!

~Darby

Saturday Mystery Author

You may have seen this picture over on kc dyer's blog:





He may appear in scholarly disguise here, but I can tell you that writing is pretty important to this man.

In fact, he has writing in his blood.


This man is the son of a writer. He is married to a writer. And, as an avid follower on his blog of all the things his daughters get up to, there is no doubt in my mind that he is the father of a couple of would-be writers, too!

This is music to my ears, since I am the star of my own epic story. And since this guy and I both hail from the same city -- a city that turned 175 years old yesterday, I am dying to interview him.

Let's start with the unmasking....







And here he is! Mr. James Bow, author of a whole pile of books for young people. My favourites are the Unwritten Books: THE UNWRITTEN GIRL, FATHOM FIVE and THE YOUNG CITY. He is the son of writer Patricia Bow, and is married to writer Erin Bow. Erin and James have two beautiful daughters, Vivian and Eleanor.

Pay close attention, and you'll learn how you can win a copy of THE YOUNG CITY. But first...

Darby Christopher: Welcome James!

James Bow: Hello, Darby!

DC: The city you and I both love turned 175 years old yesterday. My story, A WALK THROUGH A WINDOW is all about how different people came to live in Canada. Can you tell me where were you born?

JB: I was born, I believe, at Women's College Hospital in downtown Toronto. I spent the next nineteen years of my life right downtown, which is why I didn't learn to drive until I was 23. Back then, I didn't need a driver's license to get where I wanted to go.

DC: But since then, you've left Toronto. Where do you live now?

JB: Since 1991, I've lived in Kitchener, Ontario. I moved here to attend the University of Waterloo, and I've stayed ever since.

DC: Well, that's not too far away, anyway! When you were a kid growing up in Toronto, do you remember any special stories about your family that you can tell me?

JB: There is the tale of my paternal grandfather (my father's father). He was born in 1900 and was sent to Canada by his parents in 1910 -- at a time when China was in revolution -- to live with an "uncle" in Montreal. At the time, his parents would have to have paid a $500 head tax in order to get him into the country, and from what we know, he never saw his parents again.

My grandfather is the reason why I can make some claim to being a third generation Chinese Canadian, even though I am three quarters European. He's the reason why my father and myself grew up just north of Chinatown in Toronto, why I have a Chinese name, and why I've given Chinese names to my two daughters.

DC: Whoa -- that is so cool. I can't believe people were charged a tax to come into Canada. Now, let's get down to the nitty gritty. It's my dream to skateboard down Yonge Street, which some claim is the longest street in the world. Can you ride a skateboard?

JB: No. Next question?

DC: That's okay -- I'll forgive you. Not everyone is as talented as I am on a board. But besides writing books, do you have a secret skill or talent you’d like to share?

JB: I'm told that I'm freakishly good at navigating. I love looking at maps, and playing around with Google Maps, and can usually find my way around a place after looking at a map for a while -- certainly after making the trip once.

DC: Sheesh. I sure could have used your skills one time when I ended up in the far North! So, if you had a chance to walk through a window into the past, where would you go?

JB: It depends on where the other end is. There are places I'd like to see and experience, and there are places I'd rather just read about. I would like to see how my home town developed, ride the streetcars before they went away; take part in the golden age of railroading. But for the most part, I'm happy where I am here, exploring the past through normal research.

DC: If you did go, is there anyone special you’d like to meet?

JB: I would not say no to shaking the hands of famous people like the President of the United States, the Prime Minister or the Governor General. But the people I'd really like to meet and share a meal with are all authors. And I'm getting to meet these people now.

I do wish that I'd had a chance to meet with Madeleine L'Engle before she died, to tell her how much of an influence she had on my work.

DC: Oh, I really agree! A WRINKLE IN TIME is one of my favourite books. After you get to know me a little, I guess the reason why is kinda obvious. Can you tell me a bit about your latest project?

JB: I'm currently working on a novel entitled "The Night Girl", which is about a young woman who finds work as a secretary for an employment agency finding work for goblins and trolls. I'm currently rewriting the story to get it into the best shape to submit. You can learn more about the story and my other projects at http://booksbybow.ca/

DC: That sounds awesome. I can't wait until it comes out! Listen, when my Gramps throws a little spare change my way, I’m personally pretty fond of red licorice. What’s your favourite treat?

JB: Good coffee. You might think that price doesn't make a difference, but it does. Our favourite brand is the Kicking Horse Pass organic coffee. It tastes much better than other flavours of coffee.

DC: Ha! I read about this kid named Darrell Connor once. She was a big coffee drinker, but maybe it was because she lives in Vancouver. I've heard they are all a little weird out there. I think I'll stick to licorice, myself. James, if I want to learn more about you or your books on-line, where can I go check you out?

JB: My official books website is http://booksbybow.ca/, which covers me, all of my books, and my upcoming projects. The official website for my Unwritten Books series can be found at http://unwrittenbooks.ca/

DC: Great! Well, thanks so much for stopping by today, James!

And if you'd like to win a copy of James Bow's latest novel THE YOUNG CITY, and see what the city was like back in 1884, just leave a comment and the book could be yours!

~Darby

We have our First Week Winners!

This is Maurice. To find out how to pronounce his name, how he got his name and why this isn't the ACTUAL Maurice, you'll have to head on over and listen to kc dyer's LONG (and apparently funny to only she and her sister, so why bother?) explanation on her blog.


Maurice is here for one reason only. He has brought me the names of the winners of this week's book prizes.

And he even has a SURPRISE Prize under one paw.

More on that, later.


Let's get to the winners, shall we?

Mystery author #1 this week was Jacqueline Pearce. The winner of Jacquie's book DISCOVERING EMILY is....Erika Lynn. Congratulations, Erika!

Mystery author #2 was Tanya Lloyd Kyi. The winner of Tanya's book GREAT CANADIAN GIRLS WHO ROCKED THE WORLD is....Diana Dang. Go Diana!

Mystery author #3 this week was Donald Calame. The winner of and advanced reading copy of Don's new book SWIM THE FLY (plus a limited edition swim cap!) is....Steph Su. Hooray Steph!

Mystery author #4 this week was Linda Gerber. The winner of an advanced reading copy of Linda's new book DEATH BY DENIM (which, I might add, _I_ have not even read yet!) is ...Kayla. Way to go, Kayla!

Now -- remember that SurPrize that Maurice has under his paw? It is a copy of A WALK THROUGH THE WINDOW, the amazing new story by kc dyer, starring MOI, also known as Darby the Magnificent. Apparently kc dyer is feeling generous, because she is also throwing in a copy of her last novel, MS. ZEPHYR'S NOTEBOOK, which is not starring, MOI, but I do have to admit is not a bad read.

And the winner of that special Paw Prize is....ca2ajs. And a very cryptic name that is, too. What shall we call you for short? Ca? CJ? Regardless -- congratulations to you ca2ajs!

Now, lucky winners, to claim your prizes, please email kcdyer at telus dot net (running the whole thing together and replacing the 'at' with an @ and the 'dot' with a .) with your mailing address, and she will send the signed copies of the prizes to you forthwith.

Meaning right away.

Maurice (pronounced Morris -- which you would know if you'd read kc dyer's blog by now) and I, the Magnificent Darby, will be drawing for more prizes NEXT Friday. In between now and then, I will have interviews with seven (count 'em, SEVEN) more astonishing and generous authors, who will be sharing copies of their books for our draw.

So make sure you tune in every day to read the interviews and get a chance to win some amazing books. Just leave a comment on the interview post of the author whose book you'd like to win, and your name will be entered into the draw.

It's that simple!

Today's mystery author -- just in case you need reminding -- was Nikki Tate, and you can still leave your comment on her interview to be eligible to win one of her novels.

Do it -- you'll regret it if you don't!

See you tomorrow.

~Darby

*photo displayed with thanks, subject to creative commons agreement, shot by SkyWideDesign and displayed on Flickr.