Ladysmith Launch

First-time author, Rachel Dunstan Muller, launched her new juvenile novel, When the Curtain Rises, on St Patrick’s Day at Salamander Books in Ladysmith, British Columbia. With her family and friends in attendance, Rachel read from the book and thanked her husband and three teenage daughters for their unwavering support. She then signed books with her right hand, while her new baby, Anastasia, slept in the crook of her left arm.

Rachel (l) and editor Sarah Harvey (r) at the recent launch.

On the Air

Michele McMillan, CFRU 93.3 FM in Guelph is reading Grandpa’s Clock, by Rachna Gilmore, on Kids’ Time radio show on Saturday March 24. Listen live on radio (93.3 FM), on TV (Cable channel 948) or online (www.cfru.ca Stream 1 or 2). Or download an archived copy of the show by visiting www.cfru.ca.

CLA Book Awards

A number of recent Orca titles have been nominated for the Canadian LibraryAssociation’s annual book awards.

CLA Book of the Year for Children Award:

• The Cassandra Virus by KV Johansen
• Things are Looking Grimm, Jill, by Dan Bar-el

CLA YA Book Award

• Hello Groin, by Beth Goobie

Amelia Frances Howard Gibbon Award:

• Alphabetter by Dan Bar-el and Graham Ross
• A Sack Full of Feathers by Debbie Waldman and Cindy Revell

Where’s Walters?

Eric Walters, best-selling author of a number of titles including Boot Camp, an Orca Young Reader written with ex-NBA star Jerome (JYD) Williams, was in New York City recently for a “Behind the Book” event. Working with low-income students in New York City’s K-12 public schools, Behind the Book brings authors and their books into individual classrooms to build literacy skills and nurture a new generation of book readers.

New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age

Two recent titles have been selected for the New York Public Library’s Books for the Teen Age list for 2007. The library selects the best books published for teen readers in the preceeding year. All Sleek and Skimming, edited by Toronto librarian Lisa Heggum, an anthology of writing for older teens, was selected along with The Dream Where the Losers Go by Beth Goobie, the best-selling author of The Lottery and Before Wings.

• All Sleek and Skimming , 97815514335576
• The Dream Where the Losers Go, 9781551434551