Well, the votes are in and on May 5, 2017, I got a big surprise, and even bigger thrill, when Touch of Gold won the Hackmatack Children’s Choice Book Award for English Fiction. I’m so grateful to have been part of the Hackmatack Literary Program, especially the seven school visits I made to the Annapolis Valley and Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, to talk about my book and the writing life. The students I met were so welcoming and enthusiastic, and had such thoughtful and interesting questions and comments. It was a life-changing experience. Here is a photo of me with the wonderful students at one of the schools, Maupeltuewey Kina’matno’kuom (Membertou School) in Membertou, Cape Breton. I had the honour of being the first Hackmatack author to visit this Mi’kmaw school. Wela’lin!

Now, after all the excitement, I’m once again hard at work on my second novel, the one mentioned in my last post that’s set at a horseback riding camp in Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia. Thanks for visiting, and please check back for more news soon!