Off the Page
A blog on Canadian writing, reading, and everything in between
The Abortion Caravan: A Ragtag Army of the Willing
The Abortion Caravan, intent on bearding prime minister Pierre Trudeau in his den and removing abortion from the Crimina …
COVID–19 Teacher Diary: A New Way to Celebrate the Forest of Reading
Forest of Reading is Canada’s largest recreational reading program, celebrating Canadian books and authors. In the eye …
Big Fiction
Fall book season is exciting with its televised ceremonies and fancy galas, but spring is just as interesting, with regi …
10 Unapologetically Twisted Reads
Ten crime reads to help you discover why authors in Canada have their own hashtag (#ReadTheNorth), and deserve a place o …
Launchpad: Murmurations, by Annick MacAskill
Populating her poems with birdsong and murmurings of the natural world, MacAskill highlights how poets and lovers share …
COVID–19 Teacher Diary: Time to Slow Down, with Deborah Ellis & Richard Scrimger
This is the second pair in a series of interviews with a host of Forest of Reading authors interviewed by Erika MacNeil, …
Launchpad: One Earth: People of Color Protecting Our Planet, by Anuradha Rao
This is a book to be celebrated and shared!” —Elizabeth May
Launchpad: In Veritas, by C.J. Lavigne
“The perfect mix of incandescent writing and enthralling storytelling. C.J. Lavigne has given us something we can beli …
Avery Swartz on How to Win with Digital Marketing
Avery Swartz on why digital marketing matters now, what she's learned from her own missteps, and special advice for publ …
Launchpad: Grandmother School, by Rina Singh and Ellen Rooney
"How great a treat it will be to read this book in a grandmother’s lap."
Results for keyword: “roald dahl”
Author Profile: Sierra McLean, Ten-Year-Old Grand Prize Winner of theToronto Roald Dahl Day Story Contest
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Roald Dahl’s classic novel, James & The Giant Peach, Small Print Toronto invited young authors between 9-12 years old to compose a short story based on the scenario: "What would happen if James discovered the Giant Peach in today’s Toronto?" The panel of judges included Kelley Armstrong, Susan Kernohan, Adrienne Kress, Lesley Livingston, Mark Medley, Evan Munday, Kevin Sylvester, Vikki Vansickle and Janet Somerville. A Toronto Roald Dahl Day celebration took place on October 23rd at The Gladstone Hotel, where Sierra McLean was announced as the grand prize winner. To read her winning entry “James Goes To The R.O.M.”, please visit the online home for YA author and blogger Kat Kruger.
I had the privilege to chat with Sierra about her writing practices and the life of this burgeoning young author.
Julie Wilson: Sierra, congratulations on winning the Toronto Roald Dahl Day Story Contest! How did you come up with your idea for "James Goes to the R.O.M."?
Sierra McLean: I didn't really come up with it until I had written most of the story. In fact, that's what I do with most stories that I write. I come up with a basic idea, and then add to it as I go along. I find it a brilliant way to do things!
Before I write a story, I alwa …
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Author Profile: Sierra McLean, Ten-Year-Old Grand Prize Winner of theToronto Roald Dahl Day Story Contest
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Roald Dahl’s classic novel, James & The Giant Peach, Small Print Toronto invited young authors between 9-12 years old to compose a short story based on the scenario: "What would happen if James discovered the Giant Peach in today’s Toronto?" The panel of judges included Kelley Armstrong, Susan Kernohan, Adrienne Kress, Lesley Livingston, Mark Medley, Evan Munday, Kevin Sylvester, Vikki Vansickle and Janet Somerville. A Toronto Roald Dahl Day celebration took place on October 23rd at The Gladstone Hotel, where Sierra McLean was announced as the grand prize winner. To read her winning entry “James Goes To The R.O.M.”, please visit the online home for YA author and blogger Kat Kruger.
I had the privilege to chat with Sierra about her writing practices and the life of this burgeoning young author.
Julie Wilson: Sierra, congratulations on winning the Toronto Roald Dahl Day Story Contest! How did you come up with your idea for "James Goes to the R.O.M."?
Sierra McLean: I didn't really come up with it until I had written most of the story. In fact, that's what I do with most stories that I write. I come up with a basic idea, and then add to it as I go along. I find it a brilliant way to do things!
Before I write a story, I alwa …
