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Author Q&A Feed

Will you be a character in a book someday?

August 21, 2012 | Pamela | Comments (0)

If you like to write, you might want to warn your friends that the stories they tell you might end up in print someday.  That's how I got my inspiration for writing I'll Be Watching -- in a restaurant, over hamburgers. 

     BurgerSee, my friend Marilyn met us all one evening for burgers.  When I say "us"  I mean me, my husband Rob, and our two big kids Cecilia and Drew. We're all big Marilyn fans.  Well, Mar would get to talking and she'd have the best stories to tell. 

  This time, we were chowing down on burgers and fries and she asked Rob,

    "So how's the farm in Saskatchewan?"  And Rob says, with a mouth full of food,

    "Oood."  And Mar says,

    "You know my dad grew up in Saskatchewan."  And I say, with a french fry poised to enter my mouth,     "Oh, I didn't know that." 

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Kung Fu Comic Madness Kagan this Wednesday

August 19, 2012 | Thomas Krzyzanowski | Comments (1)

Infinite kung fuDon't forget!

This Wednesday is your chance to comic it up with super-artist Kagan McLeod at the Parkdale Library. So bring your pencils and stop on by!

Parkdale Branch (1303 Queen Street W.)
Wednesday, August 22
4:00-5:30 pm

Q & A with the amazing Mr. Kenneth Oppel!

August 14, 2012 | Alice | Comments (0)

KennethoppelSo you guys. I got to ask Kenneth Oppel some questions about this series that has me so fascinated!

And here's what he had to say...

While This Dark Endeavour occurs in the real world, much of Such Wicked Intent happens in another realm. (I'm trying not to give it away here, readers!)    How different is it to write a setting that has no solid boundaries or reference point, and do you see the third book coming back to this world, or perhaps exploring another place or reality again?

It’s very challenging to write any kind of “other world” since so much invention is required – and also a kind of logic has to be established. There have to be rules, sources of power, limitations, so the reader can understand what is and is not possible in this new world. And you have to be consistent, or it’s just confusing for the reader. In its own way, the other world has to be as concrete as the physical world.

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Marina is Coming!

August 12, 2012 | Thomas Krzyzanowski | Comments (0)

Mind GapGhost rideDon't forget that this Tuesday is your chance to meet the supremely talented Marina Cohen at the Jane/Dundas library! Stop by for your chance to hang out with a seriously talented Toronto wordsmith.

Jane/Dundas Branch (620 Jane Street)
Tuesday August 14, 2012
2:00 - 3:15 p.m.

Barry Lyga Speaks! Meet the author of Mangaman

August 8, 2012 | Lamb | Comments (0)

Barry Lyga is the authorBarrylyga of a number of Young Adult and teen novels (The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl, Boy Toy, & Goth Girl Rising to name a few). Manga Man is his debut graphic novel. His books are exciting, fun and creative and we thank him for taking the time to answer a few questions for Word Out!

Was there any part of Mangaman that got edited out that you will like to share with us? 

I Manga Man wish there were! I wish I could tell you that there was something so awesomely cool and/or disturbingly depraved that we just couldn't let it go into print… But, alas, there's nothing. In retrospect, there are things I wish I'd ADDED to the book, but nothing was cut.

 

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Q & A with author Ally Carter!

August 3, 2012 | James M. | Comments (0)

Uncommon-Criminals-cvr-thumbWe had questions, and Ally Carter was kind enough to provide us with some great answers! 

The topic: her sensational novel, Uncommon Criminals which is our featured fiction work of the week. If you loved the book like we did the following questions should capture your interest and also give you a sneak peak for what Ally has in store for us in her next Heist Society novel...Perfect Scoundrels.

Q: As the title implies, Katarina Bishop is not your regular criminal, nor does she commit crimes for the usual reasons. How did you come up with the idea for such an unlikely yet captivating heroine?

Ally: Thank you!  The idea actually came to me when I was listening to an audiobook that had the line “I was like a cat burglar in my own house”.  Instantly, I knew I had to write a book about a girl named Kat who was a burglar.  That was the origin, but I knew that to be a loveable heroine she had to do these bad things for good reasons.  I’ve always been fascinated with the story of lost Holocaust art, and I thought that the best way to steal something would be to re-steal and what better items to go after than those that were originally stolen by the Nazis.

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Meet the Author - Sue Macy, writer of Wheels of Change

July 28, 2012 | Tara | Comments (0)

Wheels of changeWe thought you would like to find out a bit more about the author of this fantastic book so we asked Sue a few questions. She's eager to read what you have to say and answer any other questions you may have.

Q. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

A. I was born in New Jersey, just 10 miles from New York City, and have lived in the state all my life. I have always loved watching and playing sports. My dad used to pitch in the softball games in our neighborhood, with all the kids taking part. I loved to play, so I was devastated when I found out girls were not allowed to play Little League baseball. (This was in the 1960s.) I think I channeled my disappointment at not having many opportunities to play sports into my career writing about sports. It’s fantastic that girls today can play as many sports as boys, either right alongside them or in leagues of their own. But it’s important that boys and girls know that this equal opportunity is a fairly recent development and honor those pioneers who made it possible.

Q. What inspired you to write "Wheels Of Change"?

A. From my previous writings about women and sports, I knew that Susan B. Anthony had once said that bicycling did “more to emancipate women than anything else in the world.” I also knew that Frances Willard, another important feminist leader, had written a best-selling book in the 1890s about how she learned to ride a bicycle at age 53. Plus, I had read about two New York women who kept trying to outdo each other in the 1890s by riding 200, 300, 400, and more miles at a time. All that indicated there was a story to tell about women and the bicycle in the 1890s, and I was able to convince my editors at National Geographic to give me the green light.

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Q and A with Kendare Blake

July 20, 2012 | Cameron | Comments (0)

This weeks featured fiction author was kind enough to do a question and answer with us. The questions were developed by the North York Central Yag. So please take a moment and better aquaint yourself with the delightful author Kendare Blake.

1. The book is very much a teenage coming of age story but set within the realm
of the supernatural, both Cas and Anna have problems that they need the other to
overcome which is a very unique way of recreating the coming of age tale, was that your intention in writing the book? If not, how did the book begin?

I don't think I set out to do anything besides tell Cas and Anna's story. But you're right, it is a coming of age tale. The interesting stories, to me, are those where the characters undergo significant change. Mostly though, it started because I wanted to play the new Silent Hill but was too scared.


 2. The character of Anna is so fascinating as she is literally trapped in the house, trapped in time and trapped by her parents which is a very 1950's notion,
Cas on the other hand has way more freedom than more teens his age would have.
Did you intend to have this parallel between the two characters?

No, but I like the way you think. That's very true. The contrast between them. Yet in a way, they're both boxed in. Cas by duty, and Anna by a curse. Great question, great observation.
I foresee many excellent term papers in your future.

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Q&A with How They Croaked author Georgia Bragg

July 14, 2012 | Catnip | Comments (0)

How They Croaked index.aspxGeorgia Bragg comes from a family of artists and is an artist herself.  On her website, she says she has changed careers five times - among other things she has been a printmaker, a painter and a storyboard artist.  Georgia is now an author and talks about her non-fiction book How They Croaked - The Awful Ends of the Awfully Famous  below!  Here's more about the fascinating Georgia.

We asked Georgia some questions, here are her interesting answers! 

How long did it take you to write this book? 

It took eons. Just the proposal and the first three sample chapters took over a year and a half. Idea to finished product took about three years. Getting the right tone for the subject matter was challenging. It was hard to know if I was

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Audio exclusive! Q&A with Tempest author Julie Cross

July 10, 2012 | Catnip | Comments (4)

Tempest index.aspxWhen I picked up Tempest several months ago, I enjoyed one of my delicious 'lost weekends' when I do nothing but read - I barely put the book down until I was finished!  So I was absolutely THRILLED when I contacted Julie Cross and she enthusiastically agreed to be part of Word Out.  

If you love Tempest visit Julie's blog and check out the Tempest playlist.  And now - ENJOY!!  

Play audio for:

Question #1

Where did you get the idea for Tempest?

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