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Posing for an author photo is hard! Posing with a dog even harder. But try posing with two dogs and have everyone looking the right way at the same time! At one point, both dogs jumped in the lake! Here are some outtakes:

Can you translate what this dog is saying?

And finally we got this:

The fantastic is generously giving away a FREE CRITIQUE of your entire manuscript!!!!

Get thee to her blog immediately!

What an opportunity. She is FABULOUS.


and for your entertainment, here's a 25-year-old photo of my kid brother dressed as SUPERMAN.



Your very welcome, baby brother. heh heh heh.

I saw this cool game on and thought I'd play along since I'm a huge offender of overusing the word LOOK

Do a search of your current wip to find the word look, then post a few paragraphs around that word.
Oy, I use that word too much!

here's my excerpt:

I peeled out of my sopping clothes, then wrapped myself in the blanket. It was silver. And crinkly.
            Dig offered his coat, but since he's sized like a twig, I couldn't even fit both arms in it and still drive. Which I had to do because Dig is a horror show of driving, putting everyone's life at risk. Trust me on that point.
            So I ended up wearing the jacket like a cape with it flapping out behind me as we sped down the trail back home. Did I mention I was draped in a silver blanket? Wearing my helmet with star stickers? And that's where we met Grandpa Morris coming toward us on his quad.
            Curses. I'm so busted. "Grandpa, this isn't how it looks ... " I trailed off when I saw his face.


Anyone want to play, leave me a comment if you are going to post so I can read yours!

photo credit
Where did this summer go?

Kayaking, reading, work, writing, fishing, laughing, writing conferences, hiking, new puppy, surfing, camping, dog walking, revisions, author questionnaire, boating, bar-b-q, author photo, swimming, movies, poison ivy. 

Two weeks left. How did that happen?

At last a realistic outdoor story for middle grades that shows why feeding wildlife, and owning a pet wolf is not a good thing.

I loved this novel by Polly Carlson-Voiles - edited by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt's Ann Rider. Who just happens to be my editor!

The author has done her research and educated as well as entertained, not an easy feat. I also appreciated how immersed I felt in the setting of the story which took place near Quetico - a park I've spent over 10 years canoeing and working in.


Another Houghton Mifflin Harcourt offering that I loved this month - Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers. Nuns. Assassins. History. Loved.


And lastly, I've just finished this true memoir of Susannah Charleson about working and training with search and rescue dogs. Absolutely adored this book. Susannah has a talent for writing about working dogs. You will fall in love with Puzzle, her Golden Retriever, from the moment she arrives home, knocking down plants and terrorizing the cats.

A kayak trip is not complete without a major wipe outBack from another epic kayak adventure - this one to the Slate Islands in Lake Superior and Neys Park.

Highlights include:

man-eating waves and wipe-outs = bruises, lost sunglasses, and a gallon of water ingested. But wicked fun!trout-infested waters allowing for delicious fresh shore-lunch served on rock platterscaribou sightings! Five in total, and one morning finding tracks less than a foot from our tenta rather bumpy paddle in confused 3' seas through the fog along massive cliffs along west side of Slates. Amazing! And scary as heck!EAGLES everywhere and a cool geological formation called shatter conefirst day Superior greeting us with style
Pic Island of Neys ParkI've just completed the 10 km open water crossing to the SlatesCaribou tracks

Caribou!view from the tentrod bent with 15 lb lake troutshore lunch


unfortunately, no photos of the wild ride along the cliffs in the fog. both hands needed for the paddle!
Amazing trip! Now back to work and writing.
Anyone else have good summer vacation stories to share?

has a new litter of cuteness.

They have a You Tube series called Puppy Paws that does a great job showing sled dog pups and describing the daily needs. Even at that age, their training begins.

Thing one - though more of a HE, is our latest addition with a cold nose and warm paws.

River the lucky lab
Someone had DUMPED this clever, sweet, funny boy, which was obvious by the ridge left where someone had removed his collar, and his behaviour like he was waiting for someone. He is also not a character that would run away.
He is FIVE MONTHS old! And all alone in a scary world. He was so covered in bug bites that he had an allergic reaction and swelled up like a monster puppy.
We've called him River (where we found him). He's quite a handful while he learns the house rules, but he makes me laugh every day.



Thing two - the by xuni.com. She is brilliant and fabulous. Highly recommend her.  Under the contact page you can join my mother and be on my mailing list!

Thing three - for news and announcements about ICE DOGS, and other projects in the works. It's a bit skimpy right now, but will soon be filled with goodies.

Normally I only blog when I have something interesting to say. I don't stick to a schedule for the sake of a schedule. And usually that means I post about once or twice a week.

But holy smokes - I've just noticed how long it's been!

So here's what I'm doing:

Revisions
ICE DOGS is kicking my butt with the final copy due in to my editor in September. Turns out, the work is NOT done once you've sold your manuscript. It has just begun.

Author Questionnaire
Once you sign with a publishing house, you normally get a multi-page document asking about you, your marketing plans, etc. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt is keeping me on my toes.

New writing
I've just completed a new outdoor adventure loosely based on my own experiences working as a Park Ranger for twelve years in Quetico Park. Stay tuned.

New website
In honour of my new book coming out, the fabulous Maddee of is creating a serious work of art for me. I can't wait to show you.

Work
Since I'm about to spill the beans on my new website, I'll say now that I actually have a full time job as a Conservation Officer. I've been busy protecting our natural resources (ie. in spring this usually involves the walleye run)

Play
I've been getting in lots of camping and fishing this spring. And I've been planning our next kayak expeditions for the summer. Please check back again for more rugged Lake Superior coastline photos and near-death tales of adventure.

My man last weekend while we trolled for trout. No fish were harmed in the taking of the this photo.

I haven't talked about Dogsled Dreams for a while, but felt the need to mention I thanks to Google Alerts.


Imagining my book being read out loud in a classroom,
and those kids actually liking it so much, they don't want the teacher to stop,
and then those kids reading it again ON THEIR OWN

and then having the totally awesome teacher,
who not only reads to her class, but also blogs about books,
take the time to post this about my little book ...

well, there are no words.


just smiles.