Ramp Rats makes Best of ’08 List

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

rrcovthumg2This 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!

Soccer Sabotage Cover

Published on February 13, 2009 in Soccer Sabotage. 0 Comments

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Check out the cover for Soccer Sabotage, the latest latest book in the Graphic Guide Adventure Series, which will hit the stores this spring.

Nadia and Devon from Wild Ride are back! Nadia is playing for her local soccer team, and they have made it all the way to the national tournament—against some very determined opposition. Unfortunately, Nadia’s challenges don’t just come from her opponents but from her teammates as well. After their coach is injured in a suspicious accident and the threats against the team mount, it is up to Nadia and her younger brother Devin to pull the team together and take a run at the championship. Another Wild Ride!

Also check out a preview of Ramp Rats added!

Ramping Up the Rats for the Holidays

Published on December 13, 2008 in Ramp Rats. 0 Comments

rrcovthumg2Apologies for the lame post title and for the long silence of updates around here. My new career as a an elementary teacher is keeping me busier than ever. But that’s not stopping word getting around about the latest book in the Graphic Guide Adventure series: Ramp Rats.

Published in October, it’s receiving great reviews from places like Canadian Materials Magazine who have this to say:

Ramp Rats is a fun graphic novel with a unique storyline which incorporates many attractive features for many types of readers. The characters are believable and well-developed, while the situations are so common that most readers will be able to identify with many of them. Combined with a lot of useful information about skating, as well as helpful guidance about bullying, Ramp Rats is a worthwhile read for young readers.

The September 15 issue of ALA Booklist also thought Ramp Rats was a winner:

Aside from the action-packed story, great characters, and colorful artwork, this graphic novel adventure includes an array of practical skateboarding tips for beginners. The story also delivers a deft message about standing up to bullies as it depicts Benny’s growing determination and self-confidence.

Very happy that Marcus and the Ramp Rats crew are being welcomed onto the kids book scene both in Canada and the US. All the Graphic Guide Adventure books are available at your local book store or online at the Orca Book Publisher website.

Soccer Sabotage gets colour

Published on September 10, 2008 in Soccer Sabotage. 0 Comments

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While I’ve been busy writing Media Makers, Book 4 of the Graphic Guide Adventures series, my illustration partner, the fantastic Michael Deas has been busy drawing the art for Book 3: Soccer Sabotage. Over the weekend, my editors at Orca Book Publishers sent me Mike’s pencils in full colour and they’re looking great! We run a high security facility around here, so I can’t show you the roughs but has put together a very cool Soccer Sabotage banner – it’s the one at the top of the post. Pretty cool, huh?

You’re going to have to wait until 2009 (I know, I know – it says spring 2008 on the banner – we’re working on that!) to get your hands on Soccer Sabotage. But Book 2 in the GGA series, Ramp Rats, hits bookstores in October and is already getting good reviews – which I’ll get up once I have the first draft of Media Makers into Orca – see how it all works in cycles?