Tag: Dean Cooke

Vichnaya Pamyat: Dean Cooke

Devastated by the passing of Dean Cooke, who had been my literary agent from 1997 until his retirement in 2025. His impact on the book industry in Canada has been huge. For me personally, I don’t know how I would have survived as an author if it hadn’t been for his principled guidance. He didn’t represent many children’s authors but he loved my voice and he had a vision for my career. Every step of the way, he guided me through it. For his friendship, his guidance, his integrity, I am forever grateful.

Deal news: New Trilogy

I never thought I would be writing about a war as it’s happening. When the war in Ukraine began, I had been writing a companion novel to Winterkill, but had to set it aside. I plunged in to a project I had been working on for a long time: a novel set in the 1500s. Then Scholastic asked me to pivot. It took a lot of soul-searching, but in the end I realized I had to do this. The emotional pain of researching and writing these three books is nothing compared to what Ukrainians are enduring every minute, every hour. I invite you to step into the shoes of 12 year old Dariia and her twin sister Rada. Feel what it’s like to wake up one morning to your bed shaking from bombings. To have your country invaded by a jealous neighbor who doesn’t acknowledge your right to exist.