School Libraries and Librarians

Just a note from Orca in the midst of our wonderful month of guest blog entries. We couldn’t pass this one up! National School Library Day was this Monday, and in the BC Legislative Assembly, MLA David Cubberley of Saanich South advocated for full time school librarians:

“Today is National School Library Day, a time to honour the role libraries play on the road to literacy and lifelong learning, to honour those whose calling it is to engage young readers. It’s also a time to ask whether, for the sake of literacy and the love of reading, we can’t do more to put a physical library with a skilled librarian within reach of every child in B.C. — not a 0.2 or 0.4 librarian, not a clerk to handle the book returns, but a living, breathing, full-time teacher-librarian.”

Hear hear! School librarians can make a big difference to young readers, whether they’re reluctant or eager. David Cubberley has the right idea; there should be youth librarians around to help every child in BC—every child in Canada—improve their literacy skills and get the chance to read many wonderful books.

(You can read the full text of Cubberley’s speech in the official transcripts of the legislative session.)

Turtle-turtle. Mmmm, Turtles!

Other than time to write (because there is never enough of it), something most writers yearn for at one point or another is space; a place to spread our writing stuff, and a door to close against everything else.

Once upon a time I had that. While we were living in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, I had an office with a door. A door on which I was able to tape a note saying “A closed door means I’m working,” and another saying, “That means do not disturb unless it is an emergency,” and yet another saying, “Needing a four letter word for a cold katabatic wind is not an emergency; neither is not being able to find your socks.”

Three years ago we waved goodbye to Sault Ste. Marie, and my office with a door, and moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba.

It took a long time for me to get comfortable. I don’t mean with the city! It really is lovely here, and every bit as vibrant, artistically and culturally rich, as a very nice man named Arthur Black once promised me. No, I’m referring to writing space. We live in a big old house—which I also love—with many rooms, but they are all filled up with family, and family type stuff. I’ve moved my desk from one corner to another, from the top of the house to the bottom, but have never found a space that I don’t feel squished, or in the way.

I suppose it doesn’t matter a whole lot. As I mentioned in my previous entry I’m quite used to being on the move. Depending on my mood, the light, or the degree of chaos bleeding out of one room or another, I will move from space to space, usually, and perhaps unfortunately, to a space in close proximity to my refrigerator. All I need is a table, or a couch, or a nice bit of floor. It’s worked so far, as I’ve managed to produce three books in this place, and have another few on the way.

Still, I long for a door.

Very soon, my wish could be fulfilled.

My friend Kelly, who owns the biggest and best used book store in the heart of Winnipeg’s Exchange District is moving buildings. In his new place he plans to turn the second floor into “Rooms for Writers.” Any who wish it can obtain a room with a door for a month, or longer; a sort of retreat where we can shut ourselves off and in for moments of focus, or mingle in hallways to share moans over cramped backs and necks, and then leave at the end of our work days. In exchange, we will pay money, or offer a certain degree of writer-in-residence services.

I think it sounds lovely, but wonder whether I will actually be able to uproot myself. Office, or no office, I am such a Hermit Homebody. Come winter, I like to wrap myself in a blanket, don my fuzzy slippers, and close the drapes.

Still…a real door. One that closes.

Tempting.

Ah, well. Kelly has not moved yet, so it’s not something I need decide for a while. For now, it is time to stop wishing, put my imaginary office in order, and get to work.

But first…I think I’ll make myself a snack.

Monday, October 22, 07

Hello Podlings!
My name is Anita Daher. This week I’m your friendly neighbourhood guest blogger.

Let us begin.

It’s 8:30, that perfect time of evening sandwiched between a frenetic day, and what is sure to be a zed-filled night. Actually, I am somewhat surprised I am not in a zombie-state already, but pleased. I hear zombies have some difficulty with keyboards, what with the way their digits tend to snap off at the knuckles. I need my digits to type, and would hate to muck up another keyboard.

I suppose I should tell you a little bit about myself. The official blurb talks about how I’ve been everywhere, man, and that’s true. Okay, not everywhere, but quite a lot of places. You might say I’m a bit of a where-wolf. Hahaha! No harm in getting in the Halloween spirit, hmm?

Where-wolf was I? Oh yes. Me.

I am one of those military brats you hear about. My mother and father were both with the Canadian Armed Forces, and so I caught the travel bug at a very early age. I was born in Summerside, on Prince Edward Island, where I enjoyed red sand beaches, and long walks from the base to town to buy candy. At least, that was my plan. I never actually made it all the way to town. It’s not that my little five-year-old legs couldn’t walk that far—I was determined enough to overcome anything—but the littler legs of my best friend Nancy refused to go past the ditch with all the tadpoles. She thought they were cute. Cute. Can you believe that? Cool, maybe. Do you think maybe she grew up to be a biologist? Perhaps she grew up to be a candy-maker. Now that would be cool.

My parents eventually left the Forces, but continued to travel Canada from airport to airport working for Transport Canada’s aviation division. As a result, I not only caught the travel bug, but also the aviation flew (which is much different from the avian flu). My first two books, Flight from Big Tangle, and Flight from Bear Canyon were born of my love of aviation, and my love of adventure.

Once upon a time, in that space in between tadpoles and life goals I worked in the aviation industry too. How could I not? I come from several generations of aviation nuts. In any case, time folded, and I turned a leaf. I left the aviation industry, and now write full time-though not about aviation. However my love of adventure continues, and always will, and that is what I continue to write, and always will. Last spring I launched Racing for Diamonds, a Junior Canadian Ranger adventure set in Canada’s sub-arctic. Two more nail-biting JCR adventures are on their way.

And soon, very soon, my sports thriller for teens, Two Foot Punch, will hit the shelves. I’m so excited about it! Have you heard of “parkour?” If not, you’ve gotta read this book. If you are already familiar with parkour, well, that’s all the more reason to read it!

That’s all for tonight. I hear a scratching at the door.and an ever so soft “snap.snap.snap.” I wonder who?

Zzzzzz
-Anita

Book Bites

Orca author Kari-Lynn Winters was interviewed last week on Book Bites for Kids, a series of interviews with children’s authors. She talked about Jeffrey and Sloth, Orca and life as a writer.

Listen to the interview here.

Celebrating my (and my character’s) Japan experience

Sugoi!* Manga Touch is officially launched! About forty people showed up at Burnaby’s Nikkei Heritage Centre to eat Japanese snacks, listen to me read from the book and talk about my experience of manga and Japan, as well as check out the exhibition of manga art at the centre’s gallery space.

Power Point talk (note my jacket made from pieces of kimono fabric brought back from Japan)

Eating and chatting

signing books

Shojo Manga exhibit

Visit my personal blog for a couple more photos and links to some behind-the-scenes stories.

*Sugoi is Japanese for “great” or “cool”