Category: author

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The 2013 Vancouver Writers Fest

VWF

The Vancouver Writers Fest turns reading into a community experience, bringing people together to share thoughts, explore ideas, and witness brilliant conversations.

Eric Walters‘ young adult novels have won numerous awards, including the Silver Birch, Blue Heron, Red Maple, Snow Willow and Ruth Schwartz Awards, and have received honours from UNESCO’s international award for literature in the service of tolerance. His most recent book is My Name is Blessing.

Stories in Good Company
My Name Is BlessingWednesday, October 23, 2013 – 1:00pm – 2:00pm
Waterfront Theatre
$17 / $8.50 for school groups
Suitable for grades K-3

Veteran children’s author Eric Walters has written more than 80 books that have won more than 100 awards, so you’re in for an afternoon of great storytelling and creative genius. Walters’ newest story, My Name Is Blessing, follows a young Kenyan boy whose disability turns out to be a blessing. He teams up with two other Canadian children’s authors, Dan Bar-el and Ashely Spires, who will entertain with stories about Binky the cat, who plots an escape from the vet, and Crispin, the scaly dragon who can’t even light his own birthday candles. Come and enjoy an hour in the company of good stories for the young.

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The 2014 OLA Forest of Reading® Nominees


Today, the Ontario Library Association revealed the nominated titles for the 2014 Forest of Reading® program. Tundra would like to congratulate the nominated authors and illustrators!

Blue Spruceâ„¢ Nominee:
Mr Zingers HatMr. Zinger’s Hat
Written by Cary Fagan
Illustrated by Dušan Petričić
Hardcover | 32 pages
ISBN: 978-1-77049-253-0
“Every child needs a Mr. Zinger – and his hat! – in his or her life…. Petričić’s illustrations change from loose, soft watercolors to sharply defined cartoon drawings when the two enter the realm of their shared fiction…. This book oh-so-softly brings across a sweet multigenerational message about sharing the power of imagination.” – Booklist

Silver Birch® Express Nominees:
When I Get OlderWhen I Get Older
The Story behind “Wavin’ Flag”
Written by K’NAAN and Sol Guy
Illustrated by Rudy Gutierrez
Hardcover | 32 pages
ISBN: 978-1-77049-302-5
“Somali-Canadian musician K’naan’s first children’s book tells the inspirational story of his immigration to Canada to escape the Somali War. K’naan uses accessible yet poetic language to draw in young readers, exploring his adjustment to Canada and how music kept him connected to his family. Gutierrez’s artwork powerfully conveys a new immigrant’s sense of alienation.” – Parents Canada

Red Mapleâ„¢ Fiction Nominees
The Reluctant Journal of Henry K LarsenThe Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen
Written by Susin Nielsen
Hardcover | 256 pages
ISBN: 978-1-77049-372-8
eBook: 978-1-77049-373-5
“…With fully developed adult and child characters and a solid sense of middle school humor, the author has crafted an insightful and nuanced novel about bullying and suicide, and familial love and resilience.” – Starred Review, School Library Journal

The Toronto Festival of Treesâ„¢ will be taking place on May 14-15, 2014 at the Harbourfront Centre. We will be there to cheer on our authors and illustrators!

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In Conversation: Robbie Robertson

01_In ConversationOn Tuesday, October 8, co-authors Robbie Robertson (Canadian Rock and Roll Hall of Fame singer-songwriter and guitarist for The Band) and Jim Guerinot came out to Indigo Bay and Bloor at Manulife Centre for a special event!

02_Robbie signing Legends Icons RebelsWe arrived extra early. You can see here that the publicity team is helping Robbie Robertson get through the stack of books and CDs that needed to be signed.

03_On stage with Alan CrossOn stage, Canadian broadcaster and music writer Alan Cross interviewed Robbie Robertson and Jim Guerinot about Legends, Icons & Rebels.

04_Line upA book signing followed, look at that line up!

05_Brian HoangOne of the talented illustrators, Brian Hoang, also came out to the event and got his book signed!

06_SignedWe’d like to echo Jim Guerinot’s sentiments, Brian Hoang’s art is spectacular! And we agree with Robbie Robertson, Brian nailed it!

Louis JordanYou’d have to see it for yourself. Here’s Brian Hoang’s artwork for Louis Jordan and Stevie Wonder.
Stevie Wonder

Thank you to everyone who came out to the event and thank you to the team at Indigo! We loved seeing these photos from bookverveca; indigogreenroom (2 and 3); pitre88; and thewalrus3030!

We’ve been hearing some great feedback from American Songwriter; Classic Rock Magazine; CTM Edge; Grammy.com; Huffington Post; IndieWire; JamBands; Kirkus Reviews; Metro News; MSN.com; Publishers Weekly; Shelf Awareness; The Telegraph; and Ultimate Classic Rock. Plus, you can listen in to the interview on CBC Radio’s Q with Jian Ghomeshi. Or, watch this segment on Global News!

It’s no wonder the book has been an Editors’ Pick for the month of October on Amazon, as well as a bestseller in the Composer & Musician Biographies, Children’s Music Books, and Children’s Musical Biographies categories!

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WordFest 2013

WordFestWordFest hosts year-round literary events in Calgary, Banff and Bow Valley featuring the world’s best writers. WordFest’s main event is a literary festival that features upwards of 70 writers from the local, national and international stage. The Festival has approximately 60 separate events and attracts an audience of over 14,000.

Monica Kulling has published over thirty-five books for children, including In the Bag! Margaret Knight Wraps It Up, selected by Smithsonian Magazine as one of the Ten Great Science Books for Kids. Her other two books in the series, It’s a Snap! George Eastman’s First Photograph and All Aboard! Elijah McCoy’s Steam Engine, both illustrated by Bill Slavin, were nominated for several awards. Kulling is also the author of the hilarious Merci Mister Dash! She presents Mister Dash and the Cupcake Calamity (Grade K-2) and Making Contact!, the latest of her biography series (Grade 1 – 3).

Monica Kulling Events

Mister Dash and the Cupcake CalamityMaking ContactOctober 16, 10:00 am – 11:30 am with Barbara Reid (Grade K – 2) – Buy Tickets
CPL – John Dutton Theatre,  616 Macleod Trail SE Calgary

October 17, 10:00 am – 11:30 am with Eric Walters (Grades 1 – 3) – Buy Tickets
Glenbow Museum – ConocoPhillips Theatre, 130 9 Ave SE Calgary

October 19, 11:00 am – Noon A Morning with Monica Kulling – Family Event – FREE
Banff Public Library, 101 Bear street

For more information about WordFest, you can visit their website, facebook page, twitter, and blog.

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Tuesdays with Tundra 34

Tuesdays with Tundra is a monthly post on our new releases. The following books are available today in stores and online!

Legends Icons and RebelsLegends, Icons & Rebels
Music that Changed the World
Written by Robbie Robertson, Jim Guerinot, Sebastian Robertson, and Jared Levine
Hardcover | 128 Pages | Ages 9-12
ISBN: 978-1-77049-571-5
Music industry veterans Robbie Robertson, Jim Guerinot, Sebastian Robertson, and Jared Levine invite young readers to share with them in celebrating twenty-seven musical legends. Short profiles chronicle personal stories and achievements of extraordinarily talented artists whose innovations changed the landscape of music for generations to come. Carefully compiled like any great playlist, the line-up features originators, rebels, and risk-takers across diverse genres. From Ray Charles to Johnny Cash, Chuck Berry to Bob Dylan, Robertson shares anecdotes about these artists and the influence they had on his own musical journey.

Mos MustacheMo’s Mustache
Written by Ben Clanton
Hardcover | 32 Pages | Ages 3-7
ISBN: 978-1-77049-538-8
Mo is a monster who just got a mustache. A big, black, beautiful mustache. Everybody likes Mo’s mustache. Now Knot, Dot, Nib, Tutu, Bob, Bill, and Ben all have mustaches too. In fact, soon EVERYBODY has a mustache! Why is everyone copying Mo? And how will he (and his mustache) ever stand out? A wonderfully silly book about style and individuality, sure to grow on readers who don’t have facial hair – and even those who do!

Old BearOld Bear
Written by Jane Hissey
Hardcover | 36 Pages | Ages 4-6
ISBN: 978-1-77049-481-7
Old Bear has been up in the attic for a very long time, but he hasn’t been forgotten. Bramwell Brown and his friends Little Bear, Duck, and Rabbit attempt to rescue Old Bear from the attic and bring him safely back home. A beautifully-illustrated classic picture book from popular author-illustrator Jane Hissey tells the familiar story of how a much-loved teddy bear is lost and finally found again.

Panic in PittsburghPanic in Pittsburgh
Written by Roy MacGregor
Trade Paperback | 176 Pages | Ages 9-12
ISBN: 978-1-77049-419-0
eBook: 978-1-77049-424-4
The Owls have been invited to Pittsburgh to compete in the biggest hockey tournament ever to be played on outdoor ice. The open-air tournament is to be held in the massive Heinz Field arena, home of football’s mighty Pittsburgh Steelers. But almost as soon as the tournament begins, Travis suffers a serious concussion, just like the injury that sidelined Penguins’ superstar Sidney Crosby. Travis is confined to his hotel room so his injured brain can recover. His memory is patchy, and he’s having some weird dreams. And when he stumbles upon an outrageous plot to steal hockey’s most coveted trophy, he can’t be sure if his mind is playing tricks or the danger is a terrible reality.

Pub Date Giveaway: In the comments below, please tell us which new October release of Tundra’s you would love to read and one lucky reader will receive their requested book! One request per person and please review our rules. This giveaway ends at midnight on Monday, October 14, 2013!

UPDATE: Congratulations to Rev Karen Harrison who won a copy of Legends, Icons & Rebels. Thank you to everyone who entered!

Tundra Book Group