Frequently Asked Questions

When Is Your Next Book Coming Out?

I’ve just signed a contract with Raincoast Books for a picture book called Snowmen and Sandcastles, which will be published in October 2008. It’s a story about how kids and their great imaginations create art in every season. We’ve all seen snowmen in winter and sandcastles on summer beaches, but how about messages made of autumn leaves stuffed in wire school fences? I see this every year at my own school, and decided to include it in this book.

What Are You Working On Now?

I’ve just finished two picture book manuscripts. One is about Remembrance Day, and how hard that special day can be for kids to relate to. Luckily, children who live in Canada have never lived through a war. However, this can make it difficult to really understand soldiers’ sacrifices.

The other story is about the importance of believing in dreams, even when everyone around you doubts. Children are usually very good at this!

1. How do you get your ideas?

I get my ideas from all the kids around me - my own children, my nieces and nephews, the children I teach and sometimes kids at author readings. I am also inspired by memories of my own childhood, which was quite a while ago now, but doesn't seem that long at all! For me, there is nothing as powerful to write about as a personal experience.

Visit this page for more details about the ideas behind each of my books.

2. Which book is your favourite?

Often my latest book is my favourite. It's fun to read the new story to audiences, as I've read many of my stories so many times that I hardly need the books anymore! Also, I hope I'm becoming a better and better writer as I keep at it, so I hope each new book is a little better than the last one.

That said, Number 21 is a special favourite because it is about my real family when I was a girl. My Dad did most of the work on that one, I just wrote it all down many years later.

3. Do you get to choose your own illustrators?

I can certainly make suggestions about the illustrator, but in the end the editor decides on the illustrator. I get to see at least some of the art before the book is published, but mostly that part of the book is controlled by the illustrator, with some help from the editor.

I have always been very lucky with my illustrators - they've done a wonderful job. Clearly, they don't need my help at all!

If you have any other questions that you would like to ask me e-mail me at