Graphic Guide Adventures

Trailers, awards, meltdowns & food fights

Published on August 23, 2009 in Food Fight, Media Meltdown, Ramp Rats, Soccer Sabotage and Wild Ride. 0 Comments

With Media Meltdown hitting bookstores in a few weeks, I thought it was high time to get you caught up on other GGA news and give you a sneak peak at what’s next after Mike and I have melted the media (don’t worry we’ll put it back together.)

Soccer Sabotage scores a trailer

Soccer Sabotage, Book 3 in the Graphic Guide Adventures series, continues to win readers across the country. To help spread the goals and the news, the great folks at Orca put together a trailer for the book. Check out the Soccer Sabotage Trailer and share it with your friends!

Ramp Rats lands Shuster Nomination

Ramp Rats, the Book 2 in the Graphic Guide Adventure series has picked up some new fans over the summer months. Although Bounce and Pema’s biker gang-busting grindfest has been out for a few years, the comic aficionados at the Joe Shuster Awards have nominated Ramp Rats for their 2009 Comics for Kids award. Mike Deas and I are in with some great company, so thanks to the Joe Shuster folks and good luck to everyone nominated.

While Ramp Rats is winning friends and Soccer Sabotage is climbing the charts over at youtube, the Book 5 in the Graphic Guide Adventure series is getting ready to take on the net itself!

Media Meltdown on its way

Media Meltdown beams its way to bookstores in October 2009 and it’s set to change the way you look at your TV, game system and even the streets around you.

Combining more fast-paced adventure and mystery while uncovering the inner-workings of modern media, Media Meltdown is perfect for gamers, writers, readers and jammers everywhere.

To celebrate the launch of the book, we’re putting together a Media Meltdown website at h ttp://mediameltdown.net/ filled with games, drawing tips, avatars and wallpapers to download and ways for you make a difference in your media-packed world.

Once again, illustrator extraordinaire Mike Deas has brought my words to life with his amazing artwork. Check out Mike’s post at the Graphic Guide Adventures website for a sneak peak at some of the illustrations and stay tuned here for news when mediameltdown.net goes live in a few weeks.

But wait! There’s more . . .

But is that all for the Graphic Guide Adventure series?

No way!

I’ve spent the last few months scribbiling away at Book 5 in the series: Food Fight. Due out in Spring 2010, Food Fight reunites readers with Devin and Nadia, as they stumble into a fresh mystery about not-so fresh food. As they track down clues and chase suspects, the kids learn the truth behind the food we all eat. Can’t say much more, but I’m very excited for this one too. Food Fight is now in Mike’s hands and he’s working his magic. Will reveal all when the time is right.

In the meantime, keep reading and enjoy the final weeks of summer!

Media Meltdown -Coming this Fall!

Published on July 26, 2009 in Wild Ride. 0 Comments

I just received the advance reading copy of Media Madness, its great to see all put together. I have also posted some location concepts and the character lineup.

When Karl Reed, Owner of Oasis Developments, tries to force the sale of a local fruit farm—through whatever means necessary—Pema, Bounce and Jagroop decide to expose him through the media. Little do they realize that when it comes to the news and the advertisers who make it possible, the truth is not always part of the story and nothing can be taken at face value. While learning about media consolidation and the power of money over truth, Bounce, Pema and Jagroop decide to take on the developers and the media.

Back from Hackmatack

Published on May 9, 2009 in Wild Ride. 0 Comments

Just got back from Halifax where I spent the last few days touring the province, visiting schools as part of the 2009 Hackmatack Children’s Choice Awards. I had a great time meeting kids from many schools, talking to them about writing comics and reading.

The awards cermony was a lot of fun and hopefully I’ll have photos very soon. Congratulations to winning author, Jennifer McGrath Kent and her action adventure Chocolate River Rescue. Like Wild Ride, it’s packed with survival skills and adventure, so it’s definitely added to my ‘must read’ list and I suggest you add it to yours too.

Thanks to all the kids who read and voted in this years awards – we couldn’t have done it without you!

Ramp Rats makes Best of ’08 List

Published on February 22, 2009 in Ramp Rats. 2 Comments

This just in: Ramp Rats named to the Resource Links Best of List for 2008! This is very cool news for a couple of reasons. First, it’s always nice to have your work linked with the word “best” and second, it’s another sign that educators and book people are welcoming graphic novels into the realm of “stuff that is good for young readers.” Included in the list are some really good titles from fantastic Canadian authors. I’m honoured to included.

I say it’s another sign, because the first book in the Graphic Guide Adventure series, Wild Ride, is nominated for the 2009 Hackmatack Children’s Choice Award. This isn’t new news, but it is to my knowledge the first time a graphic novel has been nominated for one of the “Tree Awards” (Silver Birch in Ontario and more varieties in other provinces.) Sequential art FTW!