Karin Adams is a children’s author and creative writing instructor. She is the author of five humorous novels for middle-grade readers, including the acclaimed Frostbite Hotel.
I was extremely fortunate to be invited for a second writing residency with the Grade 6 students at Gray Academy (plus, I got to see some familiar faces among this year’s Grade 7s, too!). The residency tied into the novel-study of an amazing book – “Stargirl” by Jerry Spinelli. The students thoroughly enjoyed the book and were eager to plunge into its themes and characters. I love it when a book lives beyond its own pages, don’t you? You feel as though you carry it inside you somehow. Stargirl certainly has this quality, and it was exciting for me to be a part of that “living story” journey with you.
What I looked forward to most about coming to Gray every day was how engaged and interested you all were in the writing process itself. We filled our time together not only learning tips and techniques for writing, but analyzing and appreciating how Jerry Spinelli brought his own story to life. Story is so much more than plot, isn’t it? It’s about drawing the reader in with the senses – not just the intellect. It’s about character conflict and using punchy, juicy words that show more than they tell, making you feel instead of simply witnessing…see? This is why I love writing!
We had so many wonderful discussions about writing as an art form – too many to list here. But one of my favourites was when you raised something that you have observed – that reading and writing can connect us to others and deepen our sense of empathy. WOW! I certainly learned a lot from your perspectives and see my residency at Gray as a time that I myself grew as a writer.
You did a great job on your stories, from first draft through final draft, with each iteration showing growth and development.
Brainsparking Words…More Words
I understand from your terrific teachers that many of you are using the techniques we practiced together – I’m so glad and honoured that I could play a part in your creative writing journeys.
I certainly hope we meet again – all the best until then!
The energetic and wonderfully creative students at LaVerendrye spent Monday, December 1 with us creating “Scraphic Novelties” – interesting pop-outs, puppets, sliders, box fold critters and objects that make Scraphic Novels special. It was our last session together until 2015. We will miss seeing your faces each day and the inspiration we received as we watched you develop your stories and Scraphic Novel ideas!
We were amazed and delighted by the novel creations in each class – check them out in this post! (Our sincere apologies to the Grade 5s – we ran out of time to put together and photograph a poster – EEK! You did AMAZING work and created truly ‘novel novelties’, especially in a shorter class time. Mme. Anita and I will be sure to do something special on our site to highlight your art work when we return in the New Year!)
My fellow artist Anita Lebeau and I are thrilled to announce the debut of our brand new arts program, Scraphic Novels! We are working with two schools this year – Ecole LaVerendrye and Ecole Margaret-Underhill. In fact, our residency at LaVerendrye is well underway, and it’s been a blast so far (we’re counting down the days until our return in February/March)!
Scraphic Novels are “a lively mash-up of creative writing, comic strips, graphic novels, and scrapbooking.” Through a series of writing and arts/crafts workshops, students develop their own original Scraphic Novels. READ MORE ABOUT SCRAPHIC NOVELS HERE!
The clever and super-fun books can also integrate with other subjects being studied (at LaVerendrye, students are making Scraphic Novels inspired by Animals and the 7 Teachings, Legends, Habitats; at Margaret-Underhill students will be bringing their knowledge of The Arctic to their stories).
Look for more posts in the coming months – we just couldn’t wait to start sharing the news!
Come on out to McNally Robinson Booksellers for the official Winnipeg launch of Frostbite Hotel by Karin Adams!
The event takes place on Sunday, January 18, 2015 at 2pm in the Atrium. What a perfect way to spend a frosty January afternoon! There will be a lively reading by the author (that’s me!), a Q & A, and a book signing and chance to mingle. It’s open to all – so please come and join me!
I’m already counting the days. Hope to see you there!
Hot off the press (or “cold” off the press?), Frostbite Hotel is the story of budding Grade 5 businessman Kirby Katz. Following in the bootsteps of his hero, hotel tycoon William T. Williamson, Kirby is determined to build a successful snow hotel empire at recess. But soon his biggest competition, The Bear and his buddies, are stealing all of his best hotel ideas – before he even gets a chance to act. Kirby suspects that there may be a spy among his own staff. Can Kirby handle the truth?
I’m so excited to be able to share Frostbite Hotel with you. It’s already getting great reviews online, and I’m most excited by the young readers I’ve been reading to in Manitoba schools who are giving the story two (winter-mittened) thumbs up! 🙂
The Rule: No TV, no computers, no video games. For one whole month! Chloe Lambert is so angry, she’s seeing red. But soon her fiery red turns to a simmering orange, and finally to a laughing yellow. In fact, Chloe even begins to wonder if life would be better if there were no more machines! But when something happens to her good friend Mr. Z., Chloe has to decide: Are machines good for us or bad?
Read an excerpt from No TV? No Fair!
CHAPTER ONE – The Rule
Zap!
Chloe Lambert’s mom switched off the TV. Chloe scrunched up her face as she stared at the blank screen. She was in the middle of watching her all-time favourite show, The Taylor Twins. Jake and Josh Taylor were just about to perform their latest hit song, “Heartbreak Summer”.
“We’re shutting off the television for one month,” Chloe’s mom announced. “Starting now.”
Chloe’s face suddenly became unscrunched. Her eyes got very wide. Her mouth dropped open. No TV for a month? She was so surprised, she couldn’t say a word. Her mom must be joking!
Chloe checked her mom’s face. She wasn’t joking.
Stomp. Stomp. STOMP!
Chloe’s older brother Mark stormed down the two steps that led into the family room. What’s he doing in here? Chloe thought. Mark still had seventeen minutes left in his turn on the computer. Chloe knew this because in exactly seventeen minutes, the computer was all hers. Mark slumped onto the couch beside her. His dark, messy hair hung in his eyes, but Chloe could still see the grouchy look on his face. Grouchier than usual, that is. Mark was thirteen and, according to Chloe’s parents, suffered from “perma-frown”.
Chloe’s dad followed Mark into the family room and stood in front of the TV beside their mom. Chloe’s parents were still in their work clothes. Her mom was dressed in a navy skirt and a white blouse, and her dark hair was pulled back. Her dad wore a grey shirt tucked into black dress pants, and had his glasses on. He usually only wore his glasses for work, and Chloe always thought they made him look serious. In fact, at that moment, both her parents looked like they meant business.
“We’ve made a family decision,” Chloe’s mom said. “No TV and no computer in our house for the next thirty days.”
What? Chloe’s mouth opened even wider. No computer, either? It was bad enough that Chloe had to live without The Taylor Twins, My Two Crazy Lives, and Rock School, just to name a few of her favourite shows. But they wanted her to give up her computer games, too?
“No fair!” grumbled Mark. “How is it a family decision? I’m a part of the family, and this sure wasn’t my decision.”
“What about me?” Chloe said. “I wasn’t even finished watching The Taylor Twins. And I was going to beat the last level of Swamp Creature Showdown 2 on the computer today.”
* * * *
…to find our what happens next, read No TV? No Fair! by Karin Adams
Who is “No TV? No Fair!” for?
I wrote this book for young readers, but I hope that parents will enjoy the story, too! With humour and heart, this book takes a look at what happens when a modern family decides to turn off their TVs and computers for a month. (Hint – everyone struggles at first, even mom and dad!). You’ll laugh and sympathize with ten-year-old Chloe, who goes from hating the rule (“no fair!”) to trying to convince her friends to unplug all of their machines. Will Chloe really give up technology forever?
Or, here are a few places where you can order online:
CANADA
USA
Worldwide
“No TV? No Fair!” is carried by most major booksellers around the world! To find an online seller in your country, or just want to see more shopping options, you can do a web search for “No TV? No Fair!” by Karin Adams.
Each summer in Ellis, Manitoba, Frank Derksen stages “The Legend of Cow Valley”, a play about an exciting town legend. Traditionally, the town’s grade-seven kids are the stars. This is all about to change when Mr. Derksen sells part of his farm to the government as a historic site.
There is no greater fan of The Legend of Cow Valley than Becky Kowalski, who has dreamed all her life of playing Catastrophe Cate, the show’s hero. When the play is going to close for good, charismatic Becky rallies her best friend Greg and the rest of their grade-seven friends to save it. However, Ms. Noring, the stern government official in charge of the new historic site, stands in the way of their plans. Worst of all, Ms. Noring is planning to stage a new play that the kids recognize instantly as an incredible flop.
With determination and plenty of hilarious twists and turns, Becky, Greg and their friends begin to practice The Legend of Cow Valley in secret and plan a surprise performance for the town. But with an adversary like Ms. Noring, can they really pull it off?
Read an excerpt from Lights! Curtains! Cows!
CHAPTER ONE – Curtains For Cow Valley?
Bang!
I slammed my locker door. “I can’t believe it!” I said.
“Get a hold of yourself, Greg,” said my friend, Mike Leduc. He glanced up and down the hallway, looking nervous. It was crammed with students hurrying to class.
“No more Legend of Cow Valley?” I asked.
“For the three-hundredth time, yes! That’s what my dad told me,” Mike said. “Now would you keep your voice down, Neufeld? I had to promise not to say.”
I lowered my voice. “He’s absolutely positive that Mr. Derksen is cancelling the show?”
“Yes,” Mike whispered back.
“This summer?”
He nodded.
“Even though it’s finally our turn to star in it?”
“I don’t think that has anything to do with it,” Mike said.
This was crazy! The Legend of Cow Valley was a play performed on Mr. Derksen’s farm every summer for only about the last gazillion years! It was a tradition in our town, Ellis, Manitoba, for the grade seven kids to be the cast.
“How can this be happening?” I wailed. “Every kid in Ellis waits their whole lives to be in Cow Valley. It’s practically the law!”
We were supposed to have auditions for Cow Valley in the school gym next week. Then, we were supposed to rehearse the play with Mr. Derksen and our drama teacher for the last few drama classes of the school year. Then, for the whole summer, we were supposed to perform The Legend of Cow Valley once a week on Mr. Derksen’s outdoor stage. How could it be cancelled this year, when it was supposed to be our turn? It wasn’t fair!
“My dad said that Mr. Derksen is selling part of his farm to the government,” Mike said. “They’re going to build a museum, or something.”
“A museum?” I asked. “Like a history museum?”
Mike shrugged. “I dunno.”
“But Cow Valley has lots of historic parts already!” I said, trying not to shout. The story of The Legend of Cow Valley takes place in Ellis over a hundred years ago. My mom said that like most legends, it wasn’t exactly a true story, but that lots of stuff in it was based on history. For instance, the play got its name from Ellis’ old nickname “Cow Valley” (because of all the cattle farms in the area, of course). Some of the characters in the play were named after real people who had lived in Ellis in the olden days. And then there is the outdoor set, which looks like a street from a cowboy movie. My dad told me that Mr. Derksen had studied black and white photos of Ellis’s Main Street from a hundred years ago when he built the set, to get the details just right. That was pretty “historic”!
“A museum won’t be the same. It can’t possibly be as fun as Cow Valley!” I said.
…
Who is Lights! Curtains! Cows! for?
I came across a terrific quote the other day from none other than Mark Twain. Since nobody says it better than Mr. Twain, I’d like to use his words to express who I think should read Lights! Curtains! Cows!:
“Although my book is intended mainly for the entertainment of boys and girls, I hope it will not be shunned by men and women on that account. For part of my plan has been to try to pleasantly remind adults what they once were themselves, and of how they felt and thought and talked, and what queer enterprises they sometimes engaged in.”
Mark Twain, Preface to The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, 1876
In other words, young readers – this book is for you! But parents and grown-ups, I hope you can join in on the fun, too!
Purchasing a copy of “Lights! Curtains! Cows!”
You can ask for “Lights! Curtains! Cows!” by Karin Adams at your favourite local bookstore. It is published by James Lorimer & Company Ltd. and distributed by Formac Lorimer Books in Canada, and by Orca Book Publishers in the USA. ISBN10: 1-55277-426-0 or ISBN13: 978-1-55277-426-7.
Or, here are a few places where you can order online:
CANADA
USA
Worldwide
“Lights! Curtains! Cows!” is carried by most major booksellers around the world! To find an online seller in your country, or just want to see more shopping options, you can do a web search for “Lights! Curtains! Cows!” by Karin Adams.
What’s all the buzz about? You can find out here! Check out these cool reviews and accolades for books by Karin Adams, author …
“Frostbite Hotel” by Karin Adams
Review from Ionia Martin on goodreads.com – November 12, 2014
“I thought this was undoubtedly one of the most original children’s stories I have seen in long time. Forget the standard lemonade stands and lawn mowing, the main character in this book is much more advanced in the world of business than that.
The characters are cute and the story flows well and keeps you giggling at the mishaps along the way. I think kids and parents alike will enjoy this story. Children will no doubt relate to the struggles of the main character to find his place within the schoolyard, and parents can feel good about their kids learning something from this book as well as being entertained…Recommended for teachers, parents, grandparents and anyone who wants to have a good time reading with the little ones in their lives.”
Review from Second Bookshelf on the Right – October 27, 2014
“If ever there was a book that’s perfect for budding entrepreneurs, it’s this one . . . I thought this was a pretty clever book. What better way to teach kids about the principles of (hotel) business than by inserting them into a novel? I liked that the lessons were incorporated in such a way that it doesn’t feel like a lesson book and feels more like a natural progression of the story . . . As for the ending, I liked that it championed cooperation, not only in business but also in life.” (Marianne Reyes, Reviewer at Second Bookshelf on the Right 2014-10-27)
Review from Bill Baker – Published on Amazon.com – October 10, 2014
“Kirby learns a lot about what really works to make a success in this really cool fast and super imaginative read!”
“No TV? No Fair!” by Karin Adams
CM Magazine – November 19, 2010
“Chloe is a likable character, and her good humour, mood swings, and enthusiasms are presented in a realistic and sympathetic way. The dynamics of the family ring true, and complications appear reliably throughout to move the story forward…As a teaching aid for debating the role of technology in our lives, No TV? No Fair! is a useful book for young children.”
Resource Links – December 1, 2010
“There are some funny moments in this story—mom gets caught watching TV by the kids and has to the do the chicken dance. Adams describes this scene perfectly, capturing Mom’s embarassment and good humour. I was laughing by the end as well…A fun and thought-provoking addition to the library.”
“Lights! Curtains! Cows!” by Karin Adams
From “Booklist” (review by Miriam Aronin)
“In Adams’ debut novel for children, a group of seventh-graders works together to save a beloved local tradition. Greg, Mike, Becky, and their friends are just old enough to act in their Canadian town’s signature summer show, “The Legend of Cow Valley.” Unfortunately, a pompous government official is trying to replace the show with a dry historical production. The young actors take charge and try to bring back the original play. The characters are older for a middle-grade story, but the plot is simple, and the kids deal with challenges in basic, straightforward ways. In the end, it takes enthusiasm, teamwork, and perseverance to carry the day, as well as the fact that no one can resist a play that culminates with a herd of cattle stampeding across the stage. The often silly humor of this Streetlights book may prove equally irresistible to readers. Grades 4-6.”
CM Magazine – January 15, 2010
“The theme of connecting to the past and experiencing it as vibrant and alive is emphasized throughout, in an upbeat way, not at all pedantic. This lively story of a small town tradition is a warm, fun and engaging read. Recommended.”
Resource Links – December 1, 2009
“Young readers will connect to these friends who together work to maintain a beloved tradition.”
Yes – a blizzard is the best image I can think of – a swirling storm of terrific thoughts, questions and ideas! I was invited to R.F. Morrison school for a visit with the Grade5/6 class. After reading a chapter from my new book Frostbite Hotel , the flurry of ideas, questions and comments began! From amazing connections you made between yourselves and the story, to phenomenal predictions about what might happen next (always keeping ‘conflict’ in mind, like all good writers should!), to insightful questions and comments about the writing process itself, we had an awesome whirlwind of a time together. (Whew – have I used enough ‘wind’ and ‘snow’ imagery?)
It was truly a delight to spend some of the afternoon with you all (I felt I could have stayed all day, but I’m sure you had other tasks to do! 🙂 ). I enjoyed seeing some familiar faces from classes I had worked with a few years ago during an Artist Residency (I remember your folktale and creative character projects very well…). Others I was meeting for the first time yesterday but felt we got along right away. I hope you’ll agree with me that no matter what our ‘backstory’ together was, the time was comfortable and lots of fun!
I was quite honoured when you asked me to read another scene and then another chapter from Frostbite Hotel. As an author, it is such a wonderful feeling when you discover that your story captures the imaginations of your readers. I read and write because I enjoy imagining and living in other ‘worlds’ (even if they look like our own) – the fact that you wanted to spend time in Kirby, Marvin, Jeannie (and even The Bear’s) world means a lot to me. If you go on to read Frostbite Hotel yourselves, please let me know what you think!
Last but certainly not least, I was so impressed and excited by all the independent reading and writing that seems to be going on in this group. A few of you told me about (and even showed me!) the writing you are doing on your own time. That is so exciting – enjoy the process, enjoy creating, and keep going with it!
Thank you for the invitation to your classroom. Till we meet again!
Last week, I was so excited to be invited to visit the Grade 5s at Constable Finney School! They had read No TV? No Fair! and had worked hard on projects inspired by the story. They tracked their screen time, and challenged themselves to reduce it, too – to see what it felt like (just like the Lamberts from the book!). Not always easy, but I’m so proud of all the effort (and how cool that a story can affect real life!).
I was telling some of the students that when I wrote No TV? (not all that long ago), smartphones hadn’t become quite as big of a deal they are today. I wonder how the parents and Mark would do with the challenge if it was also focused phones? (I don’t think Chloe in Grade Four would have a phone yet…do you? Maybe I’m wrong!).
Here is a screenshot (taken with my smartphone – ha ha!) of the wonderful charts the students prepared tracking their screen time:
Another pic:
And yet another shot highlighting story-inspired art work. Check out the great character faces and character ‘coat-of-arms’. Isn’t it all awesome? YEAH!:
Speaking of art, students went on to perform a drama based on Chapter Seven of No TV?…”BUSTED”. The acting and narrating was so inspired and delighted us all (I had tears in my eyes from laughter!). There were some great props, too and of course…THE CHICKEN DANCE 😉 I know you worked hard rehearsing, and it was terrific!
Our visit ended with a discussion about the writing process (great questions!) and a reading from Frostbite Hotel (hope you let me know what you think when you read it!). Thank you for inviting me to spend time with you. Keep reading, writing, and…till we meet again!
The latest from Karin Adams. ‘Put your feet up but keep your boots on!’ …
Each summer in Ellis, Manitoba, Frank Derksen stages “The Legend of Cow Valley”, a play about an exciting town legend. Traditionally, the town’s grade-seven kids are the stars. This is all about to change when Mr. Derksen sells part of his farm to the government as a historic site.
