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Changes are brewing here at the lake. Yesterday, the ice went out! It's always an exciting time to see the open water again each spring.

To mark the occasion, here's a bit of an "ode to ice" collage from this past winter and previous years.

My 2017 was epic. A little too epic.

I had three new book releases, I was nearly killed by a tick from the Writing Barn in Austin Texas, and I'm still struggling to recover.







And on JANUARY 2, 2018, my next book releases:



ÌýThis is possibly my favourite book in the series because I got to write in a wintery setting, it's a little inspired by my own family, and it has a wolverine in it - the coolest animal ever.
Also --- Avalanche! is my first book to receive a STARRED REVIEW from
Wolverines everywhere are cheering!

"A content-enriched page-turner with surprising depth." -- Kirkus Reviews Starred Review

If you , just let me know and I'll send you a signed custom bookplate and other fun SWAG as a thank you.Ìý

I wasn't able to do as much reading this year as I normally do. (or travelling) My brain was out of order for several months. But I did find some favourites to mention:
Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor Ìý- gorgeous prose as usualDaughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller - spunky, funny heroineA Promise of Fire by Amanda Boucet (note: I didn't care for the second book in the series as much)Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling - unusual main character in MG
What were your favourite reads of 2017?Ìý

Once again, I'm sitting on some news. I'll hopefully be able to share soon.Ìý
Thanks for reading!

Making its film debut - the FALCON WILD book trailer has just soared in.Ìý
Head to Twitter where there's a giveaway for a CLASS SET of copies. To enter, retweet the mini version of this trailer. Ends SEPTEMBER 19 - which is RELEASE DAY! Enjoy!

With three new releases this year, plus battling a major health issue (a tick-borne illness from the Writing Barn in Austin, Texas last February) I haven't been able to do any kayak expeditions at all. We've been on zero trips - so no awesome photos to share. But I hope in the future I'll be back to normal.

In the absence of awesome photos, here are some other awesome things:



1. ÌýI now have for the fall - filling fast! These are all free this year, but when the Ìý slots are gone, they're gone.

2. ÌýMyself and Christine Krones, editor for the SURVIVOR DIARIES, were interviewed for along with Lauren Tarshis for her I SURVIVED series.ÌýÌý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý (yes, this actually happened!)



3. Here'sÌýwhere I talk about growing up with a reserved family, living off-grid, and more.



4. COMING SOON -- I'll be unveiling the film debut of my next LIVE ACTION trailers for Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýFalcon Wild and Sled Dog School.Ìý


5. ÌýNot quite awesome thing: my dog cut both front pads of her feet so badly she needed stitches. This is what she thinks about the situation

Hard covers are here!

Congrats to:
Beth CharlesJaden KeithDiane WolfeJenny Fry
I'll be sending you books!Ìý
Very exciting news - a big box filled with hard cover copies of Survivor Diaries Overboard! arrived at my house. Such fun to open and smell and feel. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt has done an amazing job with all the covers of this series, I'm just thrilled.Ìý
They also created a very cool game on their Survivor Diaries page of the Middle Grade Mania website. Got check it out!ÌýÌý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýÌý





I'll hopefully be announcing tour plans soon.ÌýFor now:Ìý

JULY 15, 2017 I'll be signing at Chapters Indigo in Sudbury, Ontario.Ìý
Stay tuned for more.Ìý

It has been a while since I posted anything here.

Though, you may have noticed the change of scenery to the header - if you have time, head over to my brand new website to see new and fun information. Hope you like it!


The reason for my long silence - my life was somewhat upended in February when I returned from a workshop at the Writing Barn in Austin Texas. I was bitten by an unknown insect (along with several other workshop attendees) and became gravely ill. To be honest, I've been struggling in silence with this for almost three months. It's scary news to post about, mostly because I'm a joyful person - and I like to talk about happy things here.

So far, my test results have come back positive for Lyme Disease and Bartonella. But I'm on treatment right now, and I'm hopeful to make a recovery soon.


Now, ON TO HAPPIER THINGS....


Ìý


I've just realized it's less than two months away from the start of release season for me!

SURVIVOR DIARIES - OVERBOARD! comes out July 4
I have a shiny ARC to send to a lucky winner randomly selected from comments. I'm also giving one away on my Facebook page.

Also up for grabs is as an ARC ofÌýFALCON WILD releasing September 19.ÌýI'm thrilled to tell you this title is a JUNIOR LIBRARY GUILD SELECTION for fall 2017!Ìý
Let me know in comments which ARC you'd like, and how to get hold of you if your name is drawn!

It feels like I've been sharing a lot of new covers here lately. I still can't believe how lucky I got last year selling so many books. But there are no guarantees that I'll keep selling books - so I'm going to enjoy it while I can. And hope hard that these little books do well.

I'm so thrilled with each and every one of these covers of my upcoming series,
SURVIVOR DIARIES, Houghton Mifflin HarcourtCover art by Owen Richardson

I'm thinking I need to make framed prints for my office. Has anyone ever done this? I've been blessed by the cover gods.

These books are illustrated inside too by Jani Orban. Can't wait to share them with you.

On Sale July 4, 2017On Sale January, 2018

On Sale July, 2018On Sale January, 2019

I'm pleased to finally be sharing the cover for my new dogsledding novel coming out October 3, 2017. The story is about 11-year-old Matt starting his own dogsledding business for school. It somehow combines math and dogsledding - not sure how that happened since I really disliked math as a kid.

The publisher took great care to try and get this cover right - they went through three different versions that were eventually turned down by their sales team, and bookstore reps. Certainly the most involved process I've seen yet. This last version, they decided to hire the cover artist, Jennifer Taylor.


Hope you like the final product.

In stores October 3, 2017, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

I'm so incredibly excited that this little book is about to be set free!

FALCON WILD has been years in the making, and I can't wait to share it with you. The amazing cover is not quite final - but it's another gem by Cliff Nielson, who also did the cover for ICE DOGS.

I'm a very lucky author!

FALCON WILD comes out September 19, 2017

From the back of the book:
Thirteen-year-old Karma is lost in the backcountry of Montana with her falcon, Stark, and a runaway boy named Cooper.ÌýBoth Karma's and Cooper's mettle is tested by mountain terrain, wild animals, severe weather, and their own waning hope as this edge-of-your-seat adventure story vividly portrays the special bonds that can form between humans and animals.Ìý


I'll be giving away a copy here closer to pub date. Stay tuned!Ìý

For me, the best part of writing was the day I got to see the cover for the first time. It's an anxious feeling wondering what the cover art will look like for a story that has been years in the making. Characters who have haunted your thoughts and been with you for so long - finally about to come to life as someone else sees it!


I'm so happy to reveal the first cover in my new series for reluctant readers -Ìý


Stay Calm. Stay Smart. Survive.Ìý
In episodeÌýone of the high-stakes Survivor Diaries series, a whale tour offÌýthe coast of the Washington goes horribly wrong.ÌýTravis and Marina will have their grit and teamwork tested to the extreme.ÌýPerfect for fans of Lauren Tarshisâ€� I Survived series.
Coming July 4, 2017
pre order the book:


The next cover SURVIVOR DIARIES - Avalanche! Is stunning. Can't wait to show you that one.Ìý
To recap, here are my next releases coming out in 2017
Survivor Diaries - Overboard! July 4, 2017
Falcon Wild - September 19, 2017
Sled Dog School - October 3, 2017
Survivor Diaries - Avalanche! January, 2018
Check the for more information on these upcoming novels!