Cristy Watson's Blog - Posts Tagged "reluctant-readers"

My latest YA novel, Living Rough, has arrived! I opened the box yesterday and now need to finalize the book launch(es)!!! Now that I have two books published, I can say it is still just as exciting to receive the next batch...

Please join me on October 27th, 2011 for the launch of 'Living Rough' (Orca Currents). The event takes place at the Pelican Rouge Coffee Shop (15142 North Bluff Road, White Rock, BC) and doors open at 7pm, with the reading and author talk beginning at 7:30pm. Copies of 'Benched' and 'Living Rough' will be available for purchase through Kidsbooks.

Door prizes and activities for teens! Please bring a canned good for the local South Surrey/White Rock Food Bank. Hope to see you there!

On November 17th, 2011 four authors will launch their new YA novels for reluctant readers. Christy Goerzen, Nikki Tate, K. L. Denman and Cristy Watson will be on hand to read from their newest works and to answer questions about the books, the writing process, and becoming published. Refreshments will be served.

This event takes place at the South Surrey Kidsbooks: 'The Boulevard at South Point Exchange', 15033 - 32nd Ave (604-541-9939). Doors open at 7pm! Bring your teens and youngsters for a great evening of fun! To find out more about these authors, visit the Orca Book Publishers site: http://www.orcabook.com/showproducts....
and http://www.orcabook.com/showproducts....

Just had two great author visits to LLED classes at UBC for Teacher-Candidates. The audiences were wonderful and asked great questions on the art of writing and on the targeted audience of reluctant readers. Shared a new web page from Orca with them, as well: http://orcabook.com/reluctantreaders/...

BE SURE TO JOIN US:
Surrey Reads and Writes
I will be reading at 2pm on Level 1 in the Youth/ Children's section - hope to see you there!
http://www.surreylibraries.ca/5459.aspx

Excited and thrilled to be one of the featured authors in January's Text2Reader Language Arts program for students in grades 6-8! Thanks to my wonderful editor, Melanie Jeffs, to my awesome publisher, ORCA books, and to LearnNowBC!! Check it out here:
http://text2reader.com/t2r/welcome

Thanks to my wonderful editor, Melanie Jeffs at Orca Books, my new YA hi-lo novel will be published in the Spring of 2016. This is my first time signing a book contract when the MS is not finished. Over this holiday break I worked hard and now have three chapters to complete by my deadline of April 15th. I can do it! I can do it! I can do it!

Thank you to all the folks who entered my recent Goodreads Giveaway Contest. I was shocked to discover that over 1,000 people entered the contest. WOW! I do need to apologize to the five winners for the delay in getting your books to you. The novels just arrived and were sent on August 31st. Thank you for your patience and I hope you enjoy the read!

To the remaining contestants, I hope you pick up a copy of EPIC FAIL and I hope you enjoy it, too. I have six books now, all aimed at a YA hi-lo audience. The novels are great for getting young people 'into' reading and they are a wonderful resource for students learning the English language. Librarians say that my books are flying off their shelves - this is great news to hear as an author!

August 1st was the US Release Date for LOCKED UP, one of four books in a box set by Lorimer Publishing: http://www.lorimer.ca/sidestreets/sid...

Karen Spafford-Fitz's PUSH BACK is in the series, as well as COLD GRAB by Steven Barwin, and ON THE RUN by Marilyn Holman. In September, Steven Sandor's, SPIN OUT will be available. While these books have been out in Canada individually, I am excited to see that they will be part of a series in the US. Having books that are accessible to all teens is so important and I am thrilled that Lorimer supports these books with realistic themes that youth can relate to and dig into with reading levels to suit all readers.

Just in time for the US release, Kirkus Review had this to say about the series: "Each of these stories focuses on remorse, forgiveness, and change. Most of the titles feature ethnic diversity... and the stories highlight important subjects such as treatment within youth detention centers and difficulties experienced by immigrants. High-action, high-concept stories for reluctant readers who want grit. (Fiction 12-18)."

There was a great turn-out for my local book signing at Chapters Indigo and I know they still have copies available for purchase. You can also find these titles at our publisher (follow the link above) and at Amazon: https://www.amazon.ca/s?k=lorimer+sid...
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=lorimer+si...

Change needs to occur in our juvenile system in both Canada and the US and these stories highlight some of what brings young people to these places and sheds hope on the future.