The Authors - Part 2B

LEC: What aspect of TD Book Week (or your travels) are you most excited about?

ALISON ACHESON: I am so excited about going to my Mum’s hometown, Kapuskasing, and seeing my wonderful Great Aunt! My mum left that town when she was ten, and somehow the idea of going into the school and seeing children of the ages that she was when she lived and grew up there...well, it feels like a gift. And I get to see my step-grandkids at the close of the tour. AND I’ve been very busy with teaching adults and quite a number of editing projects in the past year, so the thought of being in the midst of groups of young people has great appeal. I love the energy from such times! Stories, kids, and family. Doesn’t get better!

EILEEN COOK: I am so excited to have a chance to meet and talk with readers. Writing is a very solo activity. A lot of time is spent at your desk alone, wearing yesterday's yoga pants, and trying to figure out what is supposed to happen next. It will be great to be all dressed up in grown up clothing and talking to more than imaginary characters. I'm also an immigrant to Canada and just recently obtained my citizenship so I'm thrilled to have a chance to see another part of this country.

ALAN CUMYN: I have never been to the Yukon before. I grew up on stories of my dad traipsing around Canada's far north as a prospector when he was a young man, and some years ago I was able to take my own family to Alaska for a trip to visit a friend. I was literally unprepared for the stunning beauty, the quality of the air, the light, the view of the mountains, rivers, glaciers... I feel really fortunate because my books have brought me some wonderful travels, all across Canada and even to some very far-flung places like Indonesia. It's been a dream of mine to see Canada's far north and to meet people who live there, and what a joy it will be to share my work and swap stories!

CHRIS MCMAHEN: I’m excited about meeting enthusiastic young readers, teachers, librarians, and other book fanatics in another part of the country. I have mostly toured in my home province of British Columbia, so I’m really interested to see the take young readers from another part of the country have on my books.

ROBERT RAYNER: The most exciting and interesting part of Book Week for me is simply the thrill and privilege of meeting and talking to readers and young writers about books and stories. Also – I like visiting new places, and schools and libraries in them, and I love the whole world of school. From a selfish point of view Book Week acts as a kind of counter to the strange, solitary business of writing in which you finish a book and it sails off into the world and, for no-name writers like me, you’re never sure, apart from the occasional email and letter, if anyone is actually reading it –until events like Book Week reveal a whole host of real live readers!

JUDY ANN SADLER: I love meeting, speaking to and crafting with children, and I will get to do that over and over again as I tour Saskatchewan, a province I've never visited before.