Boiled Cat is launched. I’ve managed to get another book proposal in to my publisher for a little novel I call Stupid. Now it is that time of the  year when I start prepping my classes.
I work all summer. I teach at various summer camps such as WordsWorth, DramAntics, and RIO. And what do I teach? Writing of course. But not just any writing. I like to use play to teach. So in my classes we play  writing.
That probably sounds strange. I mean how do you play and write at the same time. Well, it’s pretty easy. I think of the lesson I would  like to get across, be it incorporating more senses into one’s work, or learning to pump more tension in to an action scene. Then I think of a way to get bums out of seats and up and moving. Bringing the lesson to life.
For senses I’ve done blindfolded hiking and  tasting/smelling/touching/hearing crazy stuff. For tension I’m thinking of firing live water guns at my students while they run around trying to write in  a notebook. Not everything I do works. But I do try everything. And even if it  doesn’t work 100 percent, we have fun and writing comes off as a positive  experience. Which is success in my book.

So Boiled Cat is launched! What a fun night. MJ Diva and Thrashadactyl rocked it out. I read. Books were signed. And I got to connect with people I haven't seen in a long, long time. (That's what happens when you lock yourself away to write)!
Now I'm on to new adventures. I'm doing art for the Boiled Cat book trailer. The STICK IT TO THEM Boiled Cat sticker contest is launched - go to the Boiled Cat website for info on that (www.boiledcat.com). Stickers are free so contact me to get some. I'm putting together classes for the THREE camps I'm teaching at this summer. I've also been invited to be a panelist for the When Words Collide conference in August. In November I'll be the Writer in Residence for Open Book Toronto. And during all this I've pitched a new book to Lorimer SideStreets called Stupid. If that makes it through all the hoops, I'll be working on a new book soon. I also plan on getting How To Be A Super Villain sold as soon as possible and finding an agent for February. The amount of work I have to do is endless, however I look forward to all of it. I hope you'll all stick with me on my adventures. Who knows where this road will take me but it looks like fun!
Oh, yeah, one more thing - there's new pictures on the corkboard and, as usual, they all link somewhere. Have fun with them!

The Boiled Cat book launch is only a week away! I'm so excited. I've already received some great feed back on the novel. Not only for Boiled Cat, but also Touch, my SideStreets novel that came out in the same month. Both will be on sale at the launch. It's going to be so much fun. I really am looking forward to it. If you're in the Calgary Area drop on down and party with me!
Here's the details:
Boiled Cat Book Launch, April 25, Doors at 6:00, Start time 7:00, New
Black Centre 919 9 Ave SE  Calgary, doors at the back. All ages.

Time sure flies when you're working your butt off. The Boiled Cat book is out. Touch, my new book from Lorimer SideStreets is also out (both in the same month) and now it's time to party. The Boiled Cat book launch will be held on April 25, 7:00 PM at the New Black Centre in Calgary, Alberta (Doors at 6:00 and entrance at the back of the building). MJDiva (rock and blues) and Thrashadactyl (thrash metal) will be performing. Boiled Cat books (and all my SideStreets books)will be available for purchase and I will be there reading and signing. It will be a fun night - so head on down. I will also be announcing a really fun Boiled Cat contest. You could win your own Boiled Cat t-shirt from the Boiled Cat shop. So stay tuned for that announcement.

I've gone through so much working on Boiled Cat. I've had learn a lot, worked like I've never worked before, and done things I didn't think I had the ability to accomplish. But it's been worth it. I've never had as much fun as I've had this past half year. From building the HUGE www.boiledcat.com site - to learning how to create a Kindle e-book I've really grown as a writer.
I had two books come out this spring - both I'm super proud of. Touch is one of the best books I've written to date. It's about a hacker who, in the first chapter, takes down the schools system with a cute electronic sheep hack. Boiled Cat came out shortly after. It's about a punk rock singer trying to run from his past but learning that to keep the family he's worked so hard to get - he has to stand and fight. Both very different books, but similar in that they both have strong male teen characters and have a lower level of reading. I always try to make my books accessible by youth who have difficulty reading. After all I did when I was a teen and dyslexia isn't something you can concentrate your way out of.
Anyway, I hope my books go over well. But really, I write what I want to read. That way, at least I enjoy the results.

I'm finally almost done the Boiled Cat website - and just in time. The book should be out within weeks. I have a t-shirt shop set up. I've read proofs, both hard copy and online. I've made numerous phone calls and dealt with a multitude of interruptions. I've read 15 pages of legalize to understand all the things I was signing. I think I get it. I think I've made good decisions - but sometimes I wish I could peek forward to see if I've done everything right.
Then again, maybe not.

After over thirty or more hours of editing, long days, and bleary eyes, I have finally uploaded the final draft of Boiled Cat to the publisher, Createspace. It's a print on demand publisher run out of Amazon. So far Boiled Cat seems to be on schedule for a big launch some time in late March or early April along with its huge and interactive website and Boiled Cat store full of t-shirts and books.
On the other hand, in less than two weeks my other book Touch will be hitting the shelves and virtual shelves of the online book stores - put there by Lorimer Sidestreets. It's due out March first and can be pre-ordered right now. http://www.lorimer.ca/childrens/Book/S/32/2491/Touch.html
Both, though different books, have teen characters willing to fight for what they believe in. And while one does it through hacking (Touch) and the other does it through punk rock (Boiled Cat). Both boys aren't the type to back down from a fight.
You can check out more about each book by visiting their pages on this site - Boiled Cat and Touch.

I'm having so much fun creating the website for Boiled Cat - my self-published book due out this spring. It's a good thing I like what I'm doing, I've been working on it for about two months with another one or two to go. The site is over thirty pages and none of the pages are short. Each page has a good five to twenty links leading to bands, games, videos, articles, and pictures. Yesterday I wrote thirty band notes. You know, those little scraps of paper you find between the seats after a trip with a really random phrases on them. The kind that makes you laugh - or raise your eyebrow. Anyway, my bed was covered with them after I scanned them all in. I've been writing articles too. Not to mention doing the final edit on the novel itself. I used up all my black dalek sticky notes doing that and had to use some blue ones too - but I want this book to be perfect. That said, I'm pretty sure I'll miss stuff and there will be one or two little mistakes. It probably wouldn't matter how many times I went over it. But back to the website - I think the best thing about creating this site is listening to the music. For every place the band visits in the book I've linked to local punk bands. Some of these guys and girls are amazing. I discovered that Houston has the most incredible music scene. I think I'm going to be buying a lot of new punk rock when this is all said and done. I hope I make some fans for the bands too. I mean this is really what the Boiled Cat website is all about - sharing things that interest me and exploring all the great things in the world that are related to punk rock.

Have a non-reader on your Christmas list? Not a problem. Lorimer SideStreets has a whole list of books for that kid who has trouble reading, doesn't like reading, or just doesn't have the time. These short books with great stories and low vocabulary make reading easy and fun.
I have published three books through them - Schizo, Hook Up, and coming out this spring - Touch. Also coming out this spring Boiled Cat - a self published punk rock book with low vocabulary and a great interactive website. 
Books, they could be the solution you were looking for.