​    Maria Birmingham

Hackmatack Author Tour - May 2015

Posted: May 18, 2015

Two weeks ago, I was lucky enough to travel to New Brunswick for the Hackmatack author tour. The Hackmatack Children’s Choice Book Award is a reading program for Atlantic Canadian kids in Grades 4, 5, and 6. I hadn’t been to the East Coast in about a decade, so I was happy to go back. And I was glad for the opportunity to talk to kids about my book Weird Zone: Sports and about the process of writing.

 

It turned out to be so much more than I expected. On my first day, I visited the Moncton Public Library and had a chance to speak to a group of students in an after-school program. They were so eager and interested to talk about the book and their own weird sport ideas. The week was off to a great start!

 

The following day, I visited the Shediac Public Library and then the Salisbury Public
Library. For both of these visits, students from a nearby school walked to the library for
my presentation. By this point, I was starting to see a trend: East Coasters are lovely!

Every librarian I met was so dedicated to young readers and books. It was obvious
that they were genuinely excited to be involved in the Hackmatack program. The students

were also so engaged and interested. At the Shediac Library, a fifth-grade student came
up to me after the presentation and said: You did a wonderful job. I was so moved by his

thoughtfulness that I could have gone home right then. I couldn’t imagine anything

better than that.

 

My next stop was Saint John. (I was on a whirlwind tour of N.B.!) I had an awesome time

at the West Branch Library. The students were excited, and we even got into a great

conversation about my forthcoming book, A Beginner’s Guide to Immortality. They

wondered where humans will live if we are all able to live forever. Lots of fun!

 

For my final visit, I was lucky enough to meet a grade five class at Sussex Elementary.

The students had a procedural writing assignment based on weird sports, and they all
shared their own ideas for wacky sports with me. Finally, they taught me a fun (and tasty!)
gummy bear song to close things off. After that, I got a tour of the town from a kind local
librarian named Sarah. A great way to end the day!

 

The following day, I travelled with fellow nominees Tom Ryan and Gina McMurchy-Barber and Gina’s husband, Dave, to Halifax for the Hackmatack Ceremony. It was so great to listen to their experiences with writing books and to chat about life in general. The day rounded out with a walk in the Public Garden in Halifax and an author meet-and-greet. There I was lucky enough to meet more authors, including Brian McLachlan (who had us playing exquisite cadaver on napkins), Catherine Côte, Jill MacLean, and Sylvia Gunnery.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The final day rolled around, and it was time for the Hackmatack ceremony. I met my presenter – a grade-five girl named Rene, who had travelled from Truro. That meant she’d been awake since 5:30 a.m. – a dedicated reader! When it was time for my category, English non-fiction, Rene introduced me with a sweet speech and then I mumbled through some words. I am not a public speaker! Soon the winner was announced. I cannot begin to explain the sheer shock at hearing my name. I hardly remember what I said. Although I do recall getting a little choked up at the end when I mentioned my own kids. It was a thrill to be nominated for the Hackmatack and
have a chance to tour New Brunswick. And I am truly grateful for the award, especially because it is voted on
by the readers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After lunch, Brian McLachlan and I visited Woozles, Canada's oldest kids' bookstore -- located on Birmingham Street, I might add! We chatted with Lisa, who proved yet again how kind Maritimers are. After the visit, I shared a cab to the airport with author Linda Granfield. She was so lovely, and it was a pleasure to talk about books and her experiences in writing and touring, among other things.

 

Two weeks later, I’m so thankful I had the opportunity to go on the tour. It was a fantastic experience, and I’m especially glad to have been given the chance to meet so many amazing kids, teachers, librarians, and authors!