Friday, September 30, 2005

Bjorkdale and Monsterology

My first reading of the season was at Bjorkdale Saskatchewan, about 2 1/2 hours drive north east of Saskatoon (where I live). It was worth the drive! I grew up in a village like Bjorkdale, so it felt like I was coming home. And the students laughed at the Monsterology bits that I read. People actually laughed! On top of it all I was treated to a wonderful home cooked meal and cake and whipped cream. Really, is there a better life than a writer's?

Art

Monday, September 26, 2005

New website, PODCASTS galore, and bloopers...

Whew!! It's all I can say! I have a brand new look to my website. It was designed by Derek Mah, the genius artist behind Monsterology. Take a cruise around it and tell me what you think, especially if there are any links that don't work. I feel kinda brand new!

Also the latest YA Writing Podcast is up: It's tips on writing really hilarious prose. You'll laugh until your head falls off.

And last but not least the latest Monsterology audio interview is up, a discussion with Baba Yaga, the oldest living witch: And there's a blooper, too!!

Art

P.S. this is my new Icon...kinda cartoony and fun, eh?
My New Icon

Sunday, September 25, 2005

Which books to give away???

I'm just going through my bookshelf which is way, way, way overstuffed with books. Each one has some sort of memory attached to it. But I need to clean, to straighten it all up. It takes forever because I read bits and pieces of books deciding which ones to keep. I keep the ones signed to me, of course. And the childhood ones. But what about the rest? It's such a laborious process. Though I'm giving a bunch to my nephews so it helps to picture them enjoying the books...

Art

Monday, September 19, 2005

Ideas?

It's a pretty consistent question that we writers get all the time. But just walking around yesterday made me realize how ideas are just everywhere...and character. Like there's the guy in my neighborhood who rides his bike backwards, all the time. Sometimes he's just going in circles. Why? Is he proud of himself? Did he never learn the proper way? Or is it some magical thing where if he goes fast enough he'll go back in time? See how ideas can just spring out of something you've read. What about the other guy who's always walking his dog? Or the blind woman with the seeing-eye dog? She's out every day rain or shine. I don't know these people, but I know that I can make up stories about them...and maybe at some point one of those stories might end up in a book.

Saturday, September 17, 2005

My First MONSTER podcast

It's my first Halloween Monsterology Podcasts
These are a series of podcasts featuring interviews with Frankenstein's Monster, Dracula, and more!


Monsterology #1: An Interview with Frankenstein's monster. (Sept. 17th, 2005)
A frank and juicy podcast interview with Frankenstein's Monster. Don't call him Frank!!

Sunday, September 11, 2005

#5

My 5th podcast episode is up. The 5th podcast shows you how to write the next Harry Potter! Learn everything you need to know in just 3 minutes and 51 seconds!

Click the above link or point your podcast gathering software (like iPodder) to: http://feeds.feedburner.com/ArthurSladeWritingForYA You can subscribe on iTunes, too, just search for "arthur slade" under podcasts.

Art

Saturday, September 03, 2005

Episode#4

My 4th podcast episode is up. Only 3 minutes long--it's a discussion with myself about the importance of reading work aloud as part of the editing process.

Click the above link or point your podcast gathering software (like iPodder) to: http://feeds.feedburner.com/ArthurSladeWritingForYA You can subscribe on iTunes, too, just search for "arthur slade" under podcasts.

Art