Riverside Books and Still Alive
Tag: Ukrainian
London: Still Alive launch and Vyshyvanka Day
It was a wonderful event last night in London Ontario. Many thanks to the volunteers and organizers from London UCC and the London Ukrainian Centre. It was great to see the students and educators from Woodstock’s St. Sophia Ukrainian school as well!
Still Alive book event at Koota Ooma!
Svitlana and Maple Hope Fdn
Paulette had been telling me for months that I needed to meet her friend Svitlana Kominko, the founder of the Maple Hope Foundation, an organization that emerged in 2014 when the founders met during solidarity marches in Vancouver for the Euromaidan Revolution. We met for dinner on Friday night and talked for hours. I have such deep respect for Svitlana and all that she and her team have been able to accomplish to assist Ukrainian mothers who have lost their children during war. Do check out her website and donate if you can. I wish we had got a photo of us together! Here’s a pic of Svitlana, scooped from her facebook page. What an emotional way to end an amazing week. I flew home the next morning.
Friday: Signing at Book Warehouse on Main
After my last school session and on my way to returning the rental car, I stopped in at Book Warehouse on Main to autograph their stock copies of my books. The traffic was heavy and where I parked wasn’t exactly great, but the books are signed! LOVE independent bookstores. They are an author’s best friend, and readers’ best friend!
Friday afternoon: my last bookweek visit at Sherwood Park
My final school visit for Book Week was on Friday afternoon at École Sherwood Park ES. Students had so many interesting questions and observations about writing, world history, the war in Ukraine, and dyslexia. Often, by Friday afternoon, students are tired, but these young readers were animated and interested. Thanks so much, Patricia Laursen, teacher-librarian!
Friday: A wonderful welcome at Highlands Elementary
I had been in correspondence with Linette McNeil, Highland’s teacher-librarian, for several weeks. She had been searching for copies of my Dear Canada novel, Prisoners in the Promised Land, but could only find used copies. Nearly all of my 30 years of books are still in print, but this one currently isn’t. However, a few years ago the Toronto Ukrainian Canadian Congress ordered a special print run in softcover to give as a graduation gift to grade 8 students in Toronto Ukrainian schools. I received some author copies. I brought Linette two of them, and in lieu of payment, she made a donation to the Canada-Ukraine Foundation.
What a lovely surprise I had when I got to the school!
Students were very engaged and asked lots of questions. In the background is my grade 4 report card — the first one — when I was failed.
K, who escaped from Mariupol when the the 2022 attacks began, was in the audience and stayed after to introduce herself. She asked if she could get her sister M out of her class so we could meet and get a photo. A very emotional meeting.
These are the students who introduced me. I’m always impressed with students who are able to get up in front of a big group of their peers and calmly deliver their words.
We got a group pic too!
Thursday in Pemberton
I was back at Signal Hill in the morning on Thursday and had the opportunity to speak with grade four students. They were very engaged and had lots of questions. In the afternoon, I presented to grade nine students at Pemberton Secondary School. Nicole was also the teacher-librarian for this school! I am impressed and amazed by how many hats she wears! With older students, I like to talk about the process of writing a book, including research and challenges, getting it published, what happens then. We also discussed the need for accurate information, even in fiction. Often grade 9s won’t ask questions, but these students weren’t at all shy and asked away.
Wednesday: Nicole Benes: a librarian of many hats!
I had two sets of grade 6 and 7 students on Wednesday April 29 at Signal Hill ES in Pemberton. Both sessions were in the morning and the kids were fantastic. Teacher-librarian Nicole Benes is amazing! Not only did she organize these sessions, and the ones for tomorrow, but she was taking a bunch of her students on a bike ride midday!
The afternoon was open, so I got some fresh air and took in my stunning surroundings.
And look at this matcha latte, made with care by the barista at Mount Currie Coffee! It was as delicious as it was beautiful. I bought a package of locally roasted coffee as well so I could make coffee in my hotel room each morning. I had brought some with me, but had run out. (I bring my own filters, pour-over cone, and mini-kettle — obsessive, I know)
Tuesday: first up: Lynne Valley ES!
The last time I did a book tour for CCBC’s Canadian Children’s Book Week was way back in 2014 when I toured Quebec. Before that, I toured Alberta in 2008 and Manitoba in 2002. It’s always a great opportunity to interact with students and educators that I’d never otherwise get to meet. I was at the school about thirty minutes early — I hate being late!
Teacher Librarian Kate Montgomerie greeted me with an enthusiastic smile and told me all about her fundraising efforts to increase her book buying powers. As she talked, she rearranged the library for my presentation, chatted with students, set up my power point. First up were grades 6&7 students, and the next were grades 5&6. I talked about why I write what I write, and my own struggles as a student. They were full of interesting questions and comments.
