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January 3, 2012 6:47 PM
I <3 Mail
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I have to admit, there are many difficult things about making your living as an author (sporadic pay, less-than-stellar reviews, long, solitary hours, etc.). But thankfully, all of these are mostly offset by all the incredible bonuses this career has to offer (creating work you love and are proud of, not-so-bad reviews, long, solitary hours, etc.).
But probably one of my absolute favourite things about being an author is getting mail from readers. Knowing that one of my books has moved a young person to the point where they’ve made the effort to get in touch is definitely made of awesome.
Last week, I got a big package of fan mail from a book club near Ottawa called ‘Tween the Lines’. This group of kids had read LURE as their fall book pick and they’d sent me some great letters, questions and artwork. My own children and I sat together on the couch, opened the package and poured through all of it. At ages 9 and 6, my little ones are book-lovers too and watching their faces light up as we looked over the fan mail was incredible — seeing how proud they were of their mom and watching the spark of inspiration flickering in their eyes. Yeah, it sure makes all the difficult parts of this job worthwhile.
No — thank you, dear readers! Please keep those wonderful letters coming!
January 3, 2012 11:05 AM
Happy Blank Document!
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To me, starting a new year is kind of like a opening up a fresh new document on a computer — so filled with possibilities and potential. Listen carefully…can’t you just hear the energy crackling in the air?
As we all know, real life is often stranger than fiction. So whether you’re writing a new manuscript, facing a new adventure in your life, or making resolutions for change, here’s to each of us filling 2012 with strong characters, exciting plot twists, beautiful metaphors, a good dose of romance, and some mighty fine resolution.
xoxo
January 11, 2011 8:52 PM
2011 Upcoming Appearances
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So nice to be busy! It’s shaping up to be an eventful new year - if you’re in the Toronto or Ottawa area any of these days, come on out and say hi!
January 14, 2011 - I’ll be speaking at the CLA special one-day workshop on Libraries and Teens and discussing my latest novel, LURE.
Time: 11:30am
Place: The Capital Hill Hotel and Suites 88 Albert Street, Ottawa, ON
February 4, 2011 - I’ll be signing lots of books for lots of librarians at the 2011 OLA Superconference in Toronto.
Time: 11:00 - 11:30am
Place: Metro Toronto Convention Centre
and then directly over to the annual CANSCAIP Mass Book Launch
Time: 12:00 - 2:00
Place: Expo Theatre, Hall C
February 11, 2011 - I’ll be signing copies of LURE at Reading For the Love of It - Canada’s largest annual reading conference.
Time: 10:30am
Place: The Sheraton Centre in downtown Toronto.
March 23, 2011 - I’ll be speaking at the ‘I Haven’t Read the Book’ Club Workshop series for teenage girls (Organized by Mable’s Fables and Small Print Toronto
Time: 6:30 pm
Place: Mable’s Fables 662 Mount Pleasant Road, Toronto, ON
Hope to see you there!
October 23, 2010 11:15 PM
Drumroll please...
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Ladies and gentlemen, the winner of the fantabulously free copy of kc dyer’s new YA novel, FACING FIRE is…..
Shari Green!!!
YAY - congrats, Shari!! Kc will be contacting you soon for information on where to send your book.
October 19, 2010 9:41 AM
Notes From WordFest
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Monday, Oct. 18, 2010
Phew - what a whirlwind this week has been! It’s Monday morning and I’m just catching my breath after three days of presentations for Wordfest in Calgary and Banff (note - this thin Rocky Mountain altitude doesn’t help the breathing thing).
It all started last Tuesday evening when I flew from Toronto to Calgary - chasing the sunset for much of the flight.
By the time I landed in Calgary we’d lost the race, it was too dark to see anything. And as it turned out, I was way too busy to really see much of the city aside from our lovely hotel, The Fairmont Palliser:
And some street art on a sunny walk along scenic Stephen Ave. on Thursday afternoon.
It all went by in a bit of a blur, but here’s a quick numeric summary of it all:
So over 3 days in Calgary and Banff, I presented LURE 5 times. - 4 of those times with superstar of kidlit, Kenneth Oppel. That’s about 1000 eager kids, 500 autographs signed, 300 bookmarks given away, 100 questions answered, 70 hands shaken, 50 photos posed for, 3 meals skipped for lack of time, 2 signing pens completely drained of ink, and 1 thrilled and overwhelmed author (that would be me).
As you might imagine, presenting with Kenneth Oppel was a huge treat. I knew he was a big deal, but I guess I hadn’t realized quite how big until this trip. When we walked through crowds together, kids would clap and scream and call out his name. Honestly, it was almost like I was touring with a rock star. But he’s a nice guy who’s somehow managed not to let his crazy success go to his head. So yeah, I felt lucky to be riding along on those famous coattails.
I was pretty certain that none of the kids packing our presentations were coming to see Deborah Kerbel.
Excuse me…Deborah who?
But after hearing me speak about LURE, the kids were clearly taken with the real-life ghost story theme of the book. After our first presentation, Ken Oppel turned to me and said: “Did you just sell more books than me?” Yeah, baby…I did (just that once, mind you). And by the end of the third presentation, I’d sold completely out of LURE! A mad scramble for more copies ensued (too bad I hadn’t packed any of my own).
On Thursday night, after a full day of presentations, a small group of kidlit authors packed our bags and moved on to Banff. We drove into the Rockies at dusk and the view of the mountains was spectacular.
Since arriving at the Banff Centre, I’ve met so many great book-ish people. The graphic novel duo of J. Torres and J. Bone, award-winning author Sharon McKay, renowned editor Barbara Berson, PB powerhouse Ruth Ohi, Aussie MG mystery writer Richard Newsome, French author Susie Morgenstern, agent extraordinaire John Pierce, and literary phenom Jane Urquhart to name a few.
No more presentations now…just time to hang with the other artists, soak up the view, and of course, catch that elusive breath. Sorry…did I mention the view?
Today, the sun is shining in Banff and the Rocky Mountains are covered with a light dusting of snow. A perfect day to open up a fresh document and start something new…
October 17, 2010 11:35 AM
A Visit From Darby
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Today there’s a special guest on my blog - Darby Christopher from A WALK THROUGH A WINDOW is visiting to tell us about her new book, FACING FIRE! Read to the end for a chance to win a copy!
Hey Darby!
Shhh!
You hear that?
um, no…
Listen…what is it?
A scratching branch? A creaking gate?
You’re scaring me, Darb…
Yeah — yeah, that’s all it is. No worries. No worries at all.
Okay…phew!
Hello, Readers of Deborah Kerbel! My name is Darby Christopher…and I’m here to talk about ghosts.
If you’re familiar with Deborah’s new book LURE, I’ll bet you’re interested in ghosts. And today you’re in luck. Why? Because I’m a bit of an expert, actually.
Since the adventures in my very first book, A WALK THROUGH A WINDOW, I learned I’ve got a talent. Not for haunting…necessarily. No. But it does seem I’ve picked up a knack for travelling through time…
When a person travels through time, some really odd things start to happen. No shadow, for one. No strength. No walking through walls either, mind you — but how does total invisibility strike you?
You’ve got to admit, it’s an interesting possibility.
Today, I’m here to celebrate the launch of my new book. It’s called FACING FIRE.
FACING FIRE picks up the story of what happened to me after the magical summer that you may have read about in A WALK THROUGH A WINDOW. And if you’re interested in a whole new way at looking at how people came to live in Canada, you might consider taking a look.
You can learn more by peeking at my new book. Find out more about it - and the author - at www.kcdyer.com
Or better still, would you like to win a copy as a prize? If you leave comment on this post, Deborah will put your name into a draw to win a free copy of the new book - FACING FIRE. And if you actually link to this post somewhere else [like in another blog, or facebook post or even a tweet] we’ll put your name in for the draw for BOTH of my books. Go for it!
By the way, if you’re into looking for prizes, [especially if you like making videos], check out my blog HERE at Darby Speaks. I have an AMAZING contest going with some totally fantastic prizes. And if you like twitter, you can follow all the latest on the contest and the blog tour and launches @DarbyWalking.
See you there.
Soon as I figure out just who is clanking those chains…
~Darby
Thanks, Darby. And if you want to win a copy of her new book, leave a comment on this post. Contest ends on Oct. 23.
October 4, 2010 9:53 AM
LURE - Book Trailer #3
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Just in time to get you all freaked out for Halloween, here’s the 3rd and final spooky book trailer for LURE, which is officially out now and should be on the shelf at your favourite bookstore. And just in case someone else has grabbed the last copy, you’ll be able to find it online at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Chapters/Indigo :-)
BOO!!
September 24, 2010 8:12 AM
LURE Book Trailer #2
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The second book trailer for LURE is ready to go.. Watch below…if you dare ;-)
And don’t forget to look for the third and final book trailer to land next week!
September 17, 2010 9:38 AM
LURE!!
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A big box full of crisp new books arrived on my doorstep yesterday - aaah the sweet smell of fresh ink! And so, with the cutting open of cardboard, another book is born! And it’s already blazing a trail out into the world - copies are in stock at Amazon Canada and should be arriving on your favourite bookstore shelf soon.
Review: And on the heels of Lure’s birth comes it’s first awesome review from CM Magazine who has pronounced it to be: “Highly Recommended…exciting to the very end.” Click on the CM link to read the full review.
Contest: And as if that’s not enough to get you excited, we’re having a Lure CONTEST too! Teen writers who are interested in crafting their own ghost story can enter to win a story critique from yours truly, a ghostly prize pack of books from Dundurn Press (retail value: $150.00), AND will have their story printed in an upcoming issue of What If? Magazine! How cool is that? For more details and info on how to enter, check out the Lure Ghostly Short Story Contest website.
Launch: If you live in the Toronto area and want to come join me at the Lure Launch party, here’s your invitation. We’re launching Lure on the evening of Sat. Oct. 30th (the night before Halloween, of course) at the Thornhill Village Library - the old haunted house where the book is set. There will be cake and a ghost tour and a chance to get your copy of LURE signed as well as to win a prize pack of spooooky books. Best of all, it’s all FREE! Interested? Call (905) 513-7977 ext. 5522 to register - spots are limited so reserve yours soon!
Really hope to see YA there!!!
WordFest: For those of you in Western Canada, I’ll be dropping by your neck of the woods chatting about Lure next month when I visit Calgary and Banff for WordFest. If you’re in the area, please come out and say hi!
Book Trailer: As I mentioned, Lure is out just in time for the Halloween season - perfect for those of you who enjoy a spooky read. Or, as my publicist would say, “a book that goes bump in the night”. How spooky are we talking? Check out this video, the first of three creepy trailers for Lure. Watch for the second trailer, coming next week!
BOOOO!!
April 9, 2010 10:08 PM
Interview with YA author, Jill Murray!
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Hey everyone - as a special treat, I have the fabulous Jill Murray visiting my blog today!!
Born in Toronto and raised in Montreal, Jill Murray is the author of two contemporary urban novels for young adults: Break On Through (2008), and Rhythm and Blues (2010), both published by Doubleday Canada.
A enthusiastic member of Canada’s Kid-lit community, Jill is also the brainchild behind Y-Eh.net…a blog tour circuit for Canadian YA authors. In honour of her visit to my blog, I thought I would ask her some questions that all relate to the themes of my newest YA novel - Girl on the Other Side.
So, Jill…
What were you like in high school? Would you identify more with Tabby (rich, pretty and the most popular girl in her class) or Lora (smart, timid and target of bullies)?
I was definitely more of a Lora. Head down, eyes on the prize of eventual freedom, my survival strategy for high school was to go to the library and wait it out. That or hang around the halls loudly singing showtunes with my merry band of misfit buds. I think we were so strange, we bonded permanently then— many of us (not that there were actually that many of us) are still friends today. And we can still sing the entire score of shows The Music Man, and The Phantom of the Opera from memory. (Though I try not to.)
Two pairs of very different shoes are featured on the cover of GIRL ON THE OTHER SIDE. If you really think about it, shoes can say a lot about what’s going on in a person’s life. What is your favourite pair of shoes and what do they say about your life?
For years now, every time I go to the store to buy a new pair of sneakers, no matter how many pairs I like or try on, the one pair that really fits and feels good is always some variation of a “lightweight approach runner.” Never mind that I live in the city, where there are few opportunities to spring from a kayak and sprint up a rock face, or that I’m mainly going to wear them on smooth sidewalks, or to dance class, I think these shoes speak to my off-road approach to life.
In GIRL ON THE OTHER SIDE, the thing Lora treasures most in life is her collection of books. And for Tabby, it’s her dog, Sam. What is your treasure in life and why?
My own brain. I think I can survive almost anything and make myself adjust to almost any environment. I’m adaptable, and I attribute this to the enormous flexibility, versatility, and self-rewiring powers of the grey matter we all get to carry around in our skulls. All my “favourite” things are tools— for building, cooking, writing, and all kinds of creating, but this also points back to the brain. I think this is one of the fun parts of being human.
What is the biggest struggle you’ve faced? Did you feel you had to keep it a secret? How did/do you manage to cope with it?
OMG my answer to this one is also “my own brain.” I get depressed sometimes, and I I have to work hard to get happy and stay that way. I don’t keep it a secret, but depression is insidious in that even if you talk about it, it’s always a little bit invisible or incomprehensible to others, and in those times when you feel things you barely understand yourself, it’s like being alone with an enormous mystery.
If you could go back and give your high school self one piece of advice, what would it be?
Everyone lacks confidence about something, and that’s what makes them act shy, stuck-up, belligerent, self-obsessed, bossy, flirty, friendly, clingy, silly, smiley, jokey, loud, quiet, nerdy, judgmental, cliquey, theatrical, serious, flaky, pushy, slackerly, nervous, and even over-confident. The moment when you look for the good in them may be the moment they start to see the good in you. True though, you might have to look REALLY hard.
For more information about Jill and her books, visit her website. And be sure to check out her brand new book, Rhythm and Blues!
March 10, 2010 8:42 AM
Celebrate This!
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There’s a happy feeling in the air, along with all the fabulous spring weather we’ve been enjoying in Toronto this past week. So much good publishing news to boost our spirits - shiny new books fresh from the press, grants, new contracts, covers, and award nominations - I just had to get my writing buddies together for a celebration. My fabulously talented peeps (Helaine Becker, Mahtab Narsimhan, Marina Cohen, and Helene Boudreau) made the trek to Thornhill last night for some pink champagne and a toast to all our hard work. Cheers to Books!!
February 4, 2010 9:54 AM
Upcoming Appearances
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February’s shaping up to be a pretty busy month for me - if you’re in the Toronto area, come on out and say hi!
February 10, 2010 - I’ll be speaking at the Toronto meeting of CANSCAIP (the Canadian Society of Children’s Authors, Illustrators, and Performers) about my latest novel, Girl on the Other Side and how I broke into the publishing business.
Time: 7:30pm
Place: The Northern District Library—Second Floor 40 Orchard View Blvd. (Just north of Yonge & Eglinton.)
February 11, 2010 - I’ll be signing copies of Girl on the Other Side at the Reading For the Love of It - Canada’s largest annual reading conference.
Time: 11:00am
Place: The Sheraton Centre in downtown Toronto. Booth #308
February 26, 2010 - I’ll be signing lots of books for lots of librarians at the 2010 OLA Superconference in Toronto.
Time: 11:00 - 11:30am
Place: Metro Toronto Convention Centre Booth #414
Hope to see you there!
January 14, 2010 3:00 PM
You're Invited to a Triple YA Book Launch!
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This coming Saturday at Indigo Books, Yorkdale Mall, Toronto, I’ll be launching my latest YA, Girl on the Other Side, along with fellow awesome YA authors Marina Cohen and Mahtab Narsimhan. If you’re in the Toronto area, we’d love to see you at our launch! Please click on the attachment for all the details. YA event flyer1.pdf
October 26, 2009 12:21 PM
Contest Announcement!!
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It’s officially ON!!
The details for my awesome contest to celebrate the release of my newest YA novel, Girl on the Other Side, are finally available!!
Go here for all the details and good luck with your entries!
Can’t wait to give away the big prize!!!
October 20, 2009 10:46 PM
Busy Booky Week
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Okay, so I admit it…my life is pretty much ruled by books. Which, of course for an author, is a wonderful thing. The past week, my time has been especially busy with booky stuff that I wanted to share here (because let’s face it, why else do I have a blog?)
It all started last Thursday when I wandered into my local library and was stunned to see a full wall devoted to moi and my upcoming NaNoWriMo teen workshop on Oct. 27th. I was so thrilled, I whipped out my camera and started snapping away. How ridiculous was it to be standing there taking a picture of my own picture? But I had to do it so I could have some evidence to show my mother. And you guys, of course. So here it is.
Then on Sunday, I took my 7 year old to see Patricia Storms present her adorable new picture book, The Pirate and The Penguin at the awesome McNally Robinson book store in Toronto. Patricia and her husband Guy acted out the story (costumes and all) to the hilarity of all the kids and parents who had crammed in to watch. It was such a great performance! Here are some cute pics of the Penguin trying to snarl like a Pirate.
And on my way out of the store, I spied a whole rack of shelves devoted to books that have been banned over the years (including To Kill a Mockingbird, which the Toronto District School Board is threatening to ban, yet again). My son was shocked to see one of his favourites (Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone) included with the others.
I thought it was a tres cool way to highlight the odious practice of book banning. What do you guys think?
October 13, 2009 10:02 PM
Happy Birthday to my Newest Baby!
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When the big brown box arrived at my door last Friday, I knew my newest creation had arrived. ‘Girl on the Other Side’ was finally here — just over two years since the idea for the story had first come to me. I couldn’t wait to hold it in my hands!
But instead of tearing into the box, I showed remarkable self-restraint and waited for my kids and husband to be there so we could share the moment together. After all, it’s not every day that a new book is born, right?
My kids were thrilled to peek into the box and ‘be the first’ to touch the stack of smooth, fresh covers. My 7 year old son, a budding bookworm, hugged me and tearily exclaimed how proud he was that “Mummy is an author”. Those few little heartfelt words from my son were higher praise than any reviewer could ever write about my books!
Once we finished flipping through the pages…we moved to the kitchen to toast ‘Girl on the Other Side’ properly. After all, doesn’t every birthday girl deserve her own cake?
October 10, 2009 2:45 PM
Toronto Rocks with YA/MG Authors!
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Do you have any idea how many kidlit authors live in the Toronto area?
Well, before last Monday, I didn’t either. But it turns out, there are a whole bunch of us! I know this because Claudia Osmond (author of the newly released ‘Smudge’s Mark’) recently rounded us up for a night drinks, chit-chat, and shop-talk at a pub in Toronto.
Here are some pics from that night (sadly, my camera was low on batteries so there’s only 3). Lots of names you probably already know and others to watch for in the very near future.
Adrienne Kress, Lesley Livingston, Stacy King, Megan Crewe, Debbie Ohi, Helene Boudreau, Mahtab Narsimhan, Claudia Osmond, Marina Cohen, Cheryl Rainfield, Nelsa Roberto, and our lone guy - Andrew Tolson.
Oh, yeah…and me.
Here’s to Toronto Kid Lit authors!!!
August 21, 2009 9:56 PM
What a great night!
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Thanks to everyone who braved the tornadoes and floodwaters to come out to the YA book event at McNally Robinson last night! The lights went out a couple of times, but we kept reading right through. Too bad my new book isn’t a ghost story — it would have been perfect!
Huge thanks to my writing peeps, Marina Cohen, Mahtab Narsimhan, and Helaine Becker for showing up to lend their support. As promised, here are some pics from the night.
August 16, 2009 1:26 PM
It's a Girl's Prerogative to Change her...Shoes
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So, how many of you make last minute wardrobe changes before heading out the door for an important event? Yeah…me too.
Well, did you know that book designers do the same thing? There’s a cute new pair of shoes gracing the cover of my upcoming YA novel, Girl on the Other Side. I think this new pair is a fabulous choice! Do you guys agree?
August 13, 2009 10:42 AM
Hey, what are YA doing next Thursday night?
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LIve in the Toronto area? Love YA? Then come on out to the sparkly new McNally Robinson bookstore at The Shops at Don Mills to hear YA authors Eric Walters, Deborah Kerbel and Shaun Smith talk about their novels and the writing life.
While there, you can pick up signed copies of their books, ask the authors a question or two, and check out Toronto’s coolest new indie bookstore. (Voted Toronto’s best bookstore by Toronto Life magazine!)
August 12, 2009 8:07 AM
Teens are Taking over the World!
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Read this in ‘The Globe and Mail’ yesterday morning:
“[B]y one measure we truly are a teenage species at this moment,” Andrew Revkin blogs for The New York Times. “There are currently about 1.2 billion humans between the ages of 10 and 19. Some demographers have recently concluded that this so-called ‘youth bulge’ could well constitute the largest single generation that will ever exist…”
Dude! No wonder YA is so hot right now!
July 8, 2009 10:36 PM
Calling all Teen Writers
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If you’re lucky enough to live in Vaughan (you know…the city above Toronto) then mark your calendars for next October 27 when I’ll be giving a writing workshop for 12 - 18 year old to help prepare for NaNoWriMo.
Interested? Awesome!
More deets here.
July 2, 2009 8:57 PM
Book Trailer for 'Girl on the Other Side'
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Check out the book trailer I put together for my upcoming YA, ‘Girl on the Other Side’.
June 9, 2009 1:47 PM
Mackenzie, Lost and Found was just recommended by The Canadian Children's Book Centre!
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See attached for the full review…
April 24, 2009 2:11 PM
Announcing...
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…the fabulous news that my next YA novel, Girl on the Other Side, will be published this coming fall by Dundurn Press! And here’s the awesome cover (isn’t it gorgeous??)
To read a synopsis of Girl on the Other Side, just go here
April 24, 2009 11:04 AM
When We're Not Writing....
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Every now and then, authors switch off their computers and crawl out of their writing caves. And on these rare occasions, we often find ourselves doing booky-type stuff…such as hanging with other authors (and sometimes editors).
Here’s a pic of me and Silver Birch Winner, Mahtab Narsimhan at a recent school presentation for her award-winning book, The Third Eye.
And here’s one from a CANSCAIP mentor’s dinner. Left to right are authors Helene Boudreau, Marina Cohen, myself, and Helaine Becker. Standing behind us is Dundurn’s editor Michael Carroll.
April 10, 2009 8:49 PM
The Blog Tour Continues...
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April is shaping up to be a busy month on the tour! I’m hopping around the blogosphere like crazy! Be sure to check out the following sites for interviews, Mackenzie reviews, and giveaways:
April 7 - Interview @ The Compulsive Reader
April 7 - Review @ Katie’s Bookshelf
April 12 - Review @ Carol’s Bookluver’s Review
April 14 - Guest Blog @ Reader Rabbit
April 16 - Interview and Bookmark Giveaway @ Katie’s Bookshelf
April 16 - Interview and Book Giveaway @ Carol’s Bookluver’s Review
April 20 - Chatting @ YA Fresh
April 23 -26 - Review, Interview, Contest @ The Book Muncher
Phew! I’m exhausted just looking at that schedule. Now I need a nap!
Hope you’ll all visit me on my tour and say hi!
April 8, 2009 4:36 PM
A Book Trailer for Mackenzie, Lost and Found!
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Wow! The wonderfully fantastic Tirzah (The Compulsive Reader) has created an awesome book trailer for Mackenzie, Lost and Found!!
And be sure to check out my latest interview at her blog, The Compulsive Reader
March 11, 2009 10:09 AM
Blog Tour!!
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I’ll be popping up in lots of places around the blogosphere this Spring, doing interviews, guest posts, and giving away some signed copies of Mackenzie, Lost and Found as well as some FAB bookmarks! So come by for a visit at any of all of these awesome YA blogs:
March 12 - Guest Blog and Book Giveaway at The Story Siren
March 14 - Interview and Book Giveaway at Sarah’s Random Musings (and be sure to check out Sarah’s review of Mackenzie on Friday, March 13th).
Watch for more blog tour dates to be announced soon with:
and more…
Now it’s off to pack my virtual suitcase!
February 14, 2009 6:48 PM
Valentine's Day Thrills
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I’m a sucker for a good romance. So, in honour of St. Valentine’s Day, I thought I’d post a (slightly abridged version) of one of my favourite romantic scenes from Mackenzie, Lost and Found. It’s the one where Mackenzie and Nasir talk and touch for the very first time.
Remember? Here’s an excerpt to refresh your memory…
We spoke! Oh my God! We spoke!
I stumbled up the street towards my apartment, praying my legs wouldn’t give out on me. My head was spinning, my heart was racing, my lip was sweating and there was a hot prickly feeling making its way up the back of my neck. I felt like I was going to faint. I sat down on the curb outside my building and put my head between my knees, willing myself to calm down as my mind went over the details of what had just happened.
Relax, Mack … relax! Get a grip on yourself!
But I couldn’t relax. I was a mess. A quivering, sweating, hopelessly romantic mess. The Arab boy and I finally spoke. Actually, we did more than speak: we touched. Well, he touched me. Oh my God, just thinking about it was making my stomach do flip-flops! It all started out so normal. I walked in to his store, picked out my daily pack of gum, and took it up to the counter to pay. I could feel those brown eyes of his studying me as I fished around in my purse for some money. He glanced around to see if anyone was watching, then leaned over the counter towards me.
“I see you in here a lot. You buy a lot of gum.”
My heart skipped in my chest. His voice was deep and smooth and, although he spoke with an accent, his English was perfect. Just like I’d imagined it would be.
“Um, well — it’s sugar-free, so my dentist doesn’t mind,” I stammered stupidly.
Great, Mack! Why don’t you tell him about your last fluoride treatment while you’re at it?!
He didn’t say anything; he just stared at me. Damn it! He must think I’m an idiot.
“Um, my name’s Mackenzie,” I said to ease the silence.
“Mack-en-zie,” he repeated. The way he said it sounded more like “Muck and Zee,” but I didn’t dare correct him. It was kind of cute.
“Nice to meet you, Muck-and-zee,” he said, flashing a smile of beautiful white teeth. “I’m Nasir. Nasir Hadad.”
“Hi,” I said shyly, willing my face not to blush a second time.
Nasir leaned forward a little more until we stood so close, I could hear his breathing over the hum of the ceiling fan. He smelled nice — like fresh laundry and toothpaste. For a split second I thought for sure he was going to kiss me. I hesitated while my brain toyed with the possibility.
Is this too early for kissing? Should I let him or should I push him away? What would Hailey Winthrop do in this situation?
I knew the answer even before I finished forming the thought. She’d kiss him. I closed my eyes, opened my lips, and waited. But then he spoke instead.
“Is your skin real?” he whispered. “Can I touch it?”
My eyes flew open. Was he joking? I was used to people teasing me about my skin, not asking to touch it. I smiled and waited another second for him to laugh — but he didn’t. He was serious.
“Um, okay.” I nodded slightly and held out my arm. But instead, he reached for my cheek. I gasped softly as his fingertips connected with my skin. I know it sounds totally cheesy, but the best word I can use to describe how it felt is electric.
His hand lingered there. I could feel his fingers trembling as they rested on my face. I wanted to tell him that it was all right. That he didn’t have to be nervous. That he could keep them there for as long as he wanted. But I’d lost my voice. And I’d lost my senses, too.
Suddenly, the door opened and a customer walked into the store. Nasir tore his hand away, scooped up the shekels on the counter, and practically hurled them into the cash register. He looked so guilty, like a kid caught sneaking cookies before dinner.
“You’d better go!” he whispered, pushing the package of gum towards me.
I felt guilty, too, even though I wasn’t exactly sure why. I nodded, turned on my heels, and fled out the door, up the street, and to the steps of my apartment. My cheek was still tingling on the spot where he’d touched me. I couldn’t get his face out of my head.
Ohmygodohmygodohmygod!
Slowly, I lifted my head up from my knees and took a long, deep breath. I thought about the return ticket I still had tucked away in my room upstairs. The three-month mark of our move to Israel was just two days away.
And then I thought about those incredible brown eyes. And the feel of his fingers on my face.
Okay … so maybe I’ll hang around this country a little bit longer.”
Phew! Even though I wrote it, this scene still gives me goose bumps everytime I read it.
So now it’s your turn…let’s hear about your most thrilling literary love scene.
January 21, 2009 4:20 PM
Who Are Those Kids?
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Since Mackenzie, Lost and Found debuted in November, I’ve had many people comment about the cover.
“Striking…powerful…hypnotic…completely made of awesome.”
These are just a few of the words that have been used to describe the photo of those two faces gazing out so intently from the cover of my book.
And then inevitably, the question comes: “Who are those kids?” Well, the short answer is…I have no idea. But here’s the scoop on how they got there.
Last spring, my editor asked me to send him any ideas I had for the cover of the book. I suggested a few images…a desert scene, a grouping of broken pottery shards, a shot of the Arab Market in Jerusalem. I even sent along a cover mock-up I’d created from an istock photo. Here is what it looked like:
In the end, a young designer at Dundurn named Courtney Horner found a photo from istock featuring two kids who looked remarkably like my characters and used it for the cover.
Were they models hired for a photo shoot? Or just two ordinary kids captured in a candid moment? I don’t know. Will they ever know that their faces graced the cover of my book? Your guess is as good as mine. But one thing’s for sure….their faces make a much more dramatic cover than the desert picture I suggested.
And these two kids, whoever they are, are captivating readers around the world with their haunting stares.
November 24, 2008 3:27 PM
Party Pics!
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My proud parents recently threw a little celebration party for me and Mackenzie. I had a total blast signing books and feeling very author-ly! Here are some pictures from that day:
November 10, 2008 7:35 PM
Knock, knock, knockin' on Oprah's door....
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What happens when one friend bids on a charity auction prize for two tickets to ‘Meet Oprah Winfrey in Person’ … and wins? If you’re like me, you hold your breath and send out a little prayer to the powers of the universe.
please take me…please take me… 
And then, when your friend decides not to attend the event and instead, offers the tickets to another friend as a gift? You collapse on your office floor in a teary heap of self-pity.
After a minute of crying, a light bulb went off in this writer’s head and I peeled myself off the floor. Hey, Oprah loves reading…right? And I’m an author…right? Even though I’ve missed my chance to meet her, maybe my book still could…
I called up my fortunate friend and, after congratulating her on her brilliant stroke of luck, made my request. She eagerly agreed. Today, I’m happy to report that Mackenzie, Lost and Found will be hand delivered to the Mighty Oprah Winfrey herself this coming Wednesday. Will she read it? Will she like it? Consider it for her coveted ‘book list’? Or cast it aside without so much as a glance? Your guess is as good as mine.
Stay tuned…
October 31, 2008 7:18 PM
A New Book is Born...
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I thought it would be a fitting way to start my blogging career with the arrival of my new book - fresh off the presses and so new that the smell of ink rushed up into my face as I cracked the cardboard box open.
It was a bit like a birth of a new child in a way — this creation that I’d been quietly cultivating was now completely formed and ready to show its face to the world. Except when my two flesh-and-blood children were born, I was surrounded with people — doctors and nurses, my husband right beside me, family members outside in the waiting area. The room was ringing with cries of joy (from the grown ups) mingled with cries of terror (from the babies).
By contrast, my book arrival unfolded with much less fanfare. There was a ring of the doorbell, an electronic signature, and I was left alone to meet my new ‘baby’ for the first time. I took a picture to remember the moment. Here she is - her name is Mackenzie, she’s 251 pages long and, since she arrived on Halloween, she’s a Scorpio - just like me!
