That’s it. Time to get out of the city. So, Algonquin Park here we come! I know what you’re saying. “But Liam, didn’t you almost get eaten by a bear in Algonquin Park, twice!?”
The answer is yes.
But, you know, when you’ve been twice visited by a black bear in the middle of the night, you figure, “Meh, it can’t happen a third time. Can it?”
If it does happen again, and considering I have a new wilderness adventure graphic novel coming out this fall, it won’t merely be a dangerous (and potentially deadly) encounter. It’ll be ironic as well.
So, I got that going for me.
In any case, I will see you all when we get back in a week.
No tag for this post.
posts that might have something to do with what I just said:
- darn bots can't compute - try the search up top for more posts
My comics talk at Fairview Branch here in Toronto was a hit, or as one participant said: “totally awesome!” About 50 kids crammed into the library’s meeting room for a fun-filled hour of Max Finder Mystery crime-busting and comic making. Thanks to Susan and Iman for helping make my visit a success.
But that was Wednesday. I know you’re all dying to know what I did yesterday. Well, I met fellow kids writer Marty Chan for a bit of lunch and author-type conversation. Marty is a writer across many media and I admire that. In addition to writing a series of kids books, he also writes for radio, TV and the stage. That’s why he’s in Toronto and not his home in Edmonton. His new one-person show, God’s Eye, will be read at this weekend’s Dim Sum Festival happening at the Harbourfront Centre. Admission is free and it’s suitable for kids, so bring the whole family!
It was a lot of fun to meet Marty and another step in me shedding my old hermit habits, which I think is called growth.
Ok, back to work for me. Deadlines to meet.
No tag for this post.
posts that might have something to do with what I just said:
- darn bots can't compute - try the search up top for more posts
Tomorrow might seem like an ordinary Wednesday to you, but did you know it’s the day the Max Finder Mystery Roadshow makes its triumphant return? It’s true!
If you’re in Toronto and got a hankering for see how comics are made, then come on out to the Fairview branch of the Toronto Public Library for 6:30 pm and all your comic dreams will come true! No word of a lie. (okay, maybe a few words but I’m not saying which ones.)
Thanks again to the TPL for inviting me to take part in their summer series of events. It promises to be a fun night.
No tag for this post.
posts that might have something to do with what I just said:
- darn bots can't compute - try the search up top for more posts
Published at July 10, 2007
in gaming.
A few weeks ago, I posted about a really cool set of images of people beside their avatars, the characters they play in various video games. Now, thanks to an overdue visit to Game Girl Advance, I’ve learned a bit more about the images, where they come from and the stories behind the people in the photos.
The photos are from a book called Alter Ego: Avatars and their creators, provides a bit of background on the whole project and its creators. But the really cool part is over at the New Scientist where they have a slide show with audio from the book’s author Robbie Cooper.
In the slide show, we learn even more about the people playing the games and the reasons for their choice in avatars. For instance, the man in the photo at the top is a university professor. He chose a young girl for his avatar because he sells stuff in game and finds that he gets a better price for his goods. That’s his story and he’s sticking to it.
If looking at the photos in my earlier post intrigued you, then I advise you to check out the audio slide show for an even closer look at these digital pioneers.
No tag for this post.
posts that might have something to do with what I just said:
- darn bots can't compute - try the search up top for more posts
Published at July 10, 2007
in life.
No, not my Max. This Max. As usual, he’s spot on.
Advertising is so pervasive is because everyone thinks it’s money for nothing: you put up some ads, you get paid, what’s the harm? The non-monetary side of the transaction can’t be measured. What’s the undivided attention of a twelve-year old worth? What’s the real cost of making our police dependent on ad revenue? What’s the final invoice on installing corporate patriotism in our kids?
Read the rest here.
No tag for this post.
posts that might have something to do with what I just said:
- darn bots can't compute - try the search up top for more posts
The school year might be over, but that’s not stopping the Max Finder Mystery Roadshow from hitting the streets this summer. In the coming weeks, I’ll be showing kids how comics are created at these great locations:
July 18th – Fairview Public Library. If you’re in Toronto come out to the Fairview branch at 6:30 pm for a special presentation of Behind the Panels: How Comics are Made. Drawing on my work from Max Finder Mystery, young comic fans dive into the world of comics to learn how the writer and illustrator work together to shape a rough idea and turn it into a full colour comic.
August 16th – Burlington and Brantford Book Camps. I’m really excited about this one, because not only will I be showing young writers how comics are created, I’ll be running a workshop that will let them do some creating of their own. Campers had to apply to be accepted to the camp and, from what I’ve heard, we’ve got a great bunch of young writers this year. Get more info on the camps here [.pdf]
Thanks to both the Toronto Public Library and the Burlington/Brantford Book Camps for inviting me to take part in their summer fun.
No tag for this post.
posts that might have something to do with what I just said:
- darn bots can't compute - try the search up top for more posts
The summer is really heating up, well maybe not for U-20 Canadian soccer team, but for me the writing deadlines are rushing forward at breakneck speed. The result? Not much time to blog around here. So, in advance, please forgive the impending silence.
But I did have a chance to get away from the soccer action and the computer long enough to have a coffee with Patricia Storms (aka the Queen of BookLust.) We met up because in a totally cool set of pleasant circumstances, she is illustrating my forthcoming book on democracy for Capstone Press. It’s rare that I even know, let alone live a few blocks away, from the illustrators I work with on my educational books. So, this was a great chance for me to get a sneak peak at her sketches for the vast amount of gag jokes I created for the book.
While I won’t comment on the quality of some of the jokes (you try coming up with 30 + jokes on democracy!), I will say that Patricia’s sketches look amazing. It was a real treat to see the little touches and flourishes a talented illustrator can add to your words to make them come alive.
If you want to get a glimpse at some of Patricia’s work buy her book 13 Ghosts of Halloween when it comes out in the fall or check out her illustration site. To get a close up look at the brain behind the pen, read subscribe to her fantastic blog, BookLust.
No tag for this post.
posts that might have something to do with what I just said:
- darn bots can't compute - try the search up top for more posts
Published at July 1, 2007
in life.
Wow, it was over a year ago that I wrote about writing to the whistle, when I spent last June working on too many projects while trying to catch too many World Cup Soccer games. With the U20 World Cup happening in Canada this year, it seems not much has changed. Well, one thing has changed.
This year, I actually get to see a game live and not on my ol’ rabbit eared TV. I’ll be there for the Canada v Chile game this evening – on Canada Day no less. Thanks to my pal Jay for snagging the tickets. It’s been a long time since I painted a Canadian flag on my face and screamed like an idiot. Actually, I don’t think I’ve ever done that. And I won’t be doing that tonight, either. But it’ll be a blast nonetheless.
Happy Canada Day all.
No tag for this post.
posts that might have something to do with what I just said:
- darn bots can't compute - try the search up top for more posts
recent comments