Two of my best writing buddies, Laura Best and Jill MacLean.
DANCING WITH DAISY launch at the Wolfville Library, July 27th, with my childhood best friend, Brenda helping out.
Grade 5 & 6 students from Bluenose Academy out front of the Lunenburg Library. And the Library bought every single kid a copy of SAY WHAT YOU MEAN! Awesome.
Panel at Doris McCarthy symposium, University of Toronto, Scarborough, November 2018. All of us lucky enough to been residents at Fool’s Paradise, Doris’s former home.
With Tom Chapin who kindly came to the Lunenburg launch of TALKING TO THE MOON to sing his song, “Family Tree,” which is in the novel.
With Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on the beach at Keji Seaside. Lovely woman.
Accepting the Lillian Shepherd Memorial Award for Excellence in Illustration on Suzanne’s behalf (from award-winning artist Susan Tooke).
Atlantic Book Awards, 2017 – always nice to see your book among finalists for an award:)
January, 2017, with students at St. Michael’s School in Toronto – participating in DeMar DeRozan’s All-Star Reading Challenge – such enthusiasm!
Ollie craft for SKY PIG launch, May, 2016May, 2016 – SKY PIG launch, Box of Delights Bookshop, Wolfville, NS. (best indie bookshop ever!)Artist extraordinaire, Suzanne DelRizzo with Ollie.
At TD Book Awards Gala with Carol MacDougall, Winston Stilwell (Fitzhenry publicist), editor Peter Carver, moi, Kathy Stinson’s daughter, Kelly
Word on the Street, September, 2014 with Kate Inglis and Jessica Scott Kerrin (and Woozles:)
my growing collection of books …
At the Atlantic Book Awards, 2014, PEI, with Jackie Halsey and Jill MacLean (Jill won the Ann Connor Brimer Award, I didn’t:)
The Power of Harmony, Springhill launch, June 2013
Summer, 2016, with Shannon and Nova Scotia-born singer Anne Murray, whose voice I have always LOVED – so much that I made her a character in THE POWER OF HARMONY (and she signed a copy for me:)
With my elementary school music teacher, Miss Dill, who came to the Springhill launch and who was the inspiration for Miss Dill in The Power of Harmony:)
Book Birthday, The Box of Delights, June, 2013
Book Birthday at The Box of Delights, Wolfville, NS June 2013
Truro Daily News, November, 2011
At Rideau Hall with Canada’s Governor General, David Johnston, November, 2011
Charlie, September 2011
Doing some people watching at Chapters, Dartmouth
Jacob Deng and Hollywood humanitarian George Clooney (South Sudan)
Me, Jacob Deng and Cheryl Chen of Red Deer Press
Reading – knees knocking…
Listening to Dr. Dodds
Me with mentor, Gary L. Blackwood at Hare’s launch
Sister Nancy, friend Shelly Wright helping Jacob and I sign!
I can’t thank you enough for writing A Hare in the Elephant’s Trunk. As Jacob journeyed over far lands away from his home in the Southern Sudan, I took my time reading his adventures to let his spirit sink in. Today at Central Colchester Jr. High I gave a book talk, albeit briefly due to time constraints, but sufficient enough to inspire one students to come forward and borrow your book. Without my impassioned comments, I doubt he would have been interested. Interesting that I actually started my spiel with Ellen Hopkin’s Burned which takes place in a strick Mormon community in the USA. The book starts with a tribute, by the main character, to her school librarian and to the books her librarian recommends. I deftly tied in your book too as a marvelous example of how a library expands a person’s understanding of the world and also just a pure appreciation of literature. A marvelous day in the library!
So happy to hear about your day, Trish, and thank you for your kind comments. Jacob and I have been traveling around NS speaking/reading to hundreds of students this fall; he will soon leave for Sudan for two months. Did you notice I acknowledged librarians at the end of the book? Thanks again for your support and interest.
hi you may not remember me but i am one of the students from bell park that you visited last month… i finaly found your book and site for the book “a hair in the elephant’s trunk” !!!! i am definately am going to read it and show my family the site!
thanx i enjoyed your visit to my school!!!
Hi, Sarah: Thanks for checking out my site. Your school bought two copies of A HARE IN THE ELEPHANT’S TRUNK, so I hope you’ll get a chance to borrow a copy. I totally enjoyed my day at Bell Park, and I really appreciate you taking the time to get in touch.
This is a link to a review of my book, written by a high school student in Ohio, USA – it's amazing to see where books travel! Happy writing, reading and Happy Holidays!
Jan L. Coates - "What if...?" 
Jan,
I am a Library parent volunteer and Substitute Educational Assistant at Truro Elementary School in Truro, NS.
Our library is eager to explore technology and literacy by communicating with a Nova Scotian author via Skype.
Would you be interested?
I look forward to hearing from you,
donnalee williston
Hi, Donnalee:
I actually grew up in Truro – my niece, Georgia Mingo, is a student at your school. I’ve never done Skype, but I could try. What do I have to do?
Hello Jan,
I can’t thank you enough for writing A Hare in the Elephant’s Trunk. As Jacob journeyed over far lands away from his home in the Southern Sudan, I took my time reading his adventures to let his spirit sink in. Today at Central Colchester Jr. High I gave a book talk, albeit briefly due to time constraints, but sufficient enough to inspire one students to come forward and borrow your book. Without my impassioned comments, I doubt he would have been interested. Interesting that I actually started my spiel with Ellen Hopkin’s Burned which takes place in a strick Mormon community in the USA. The book starts with a tribute, by the main character, to her school librarian and to the books her librarian recommends. I deftly tied in your book too as a marvelous example of how a library expands a person’s understanding of the world and also just a pure appreciation of literature. A marvelous day in the library!
Trish
So happy to hear about your day, Trish, and thank you for your kind comments. Jacob and I have been traveling around NS speaking/reading to hundreds of students this fall; he will soon leave for Sudan for two months. Did you notice I acknowledged librarians at the end of the book? Thanks again for your support and interest.
hi you may not remember me but i am one of the students from bell park that you visited last month… i finaly found your book and site for the book “a hair in the elephant’s trunk” !!!! i am definately am going to read it and show my family the site!
thanx i enjoyed your visit to my school!!!
Hi, Sarah: Thanks for checking out my site. Your school bought two copies of A HARE IN THE ELEPHANT’S TRUNK, so I hope you’ll get a chance to borrow a copy. I totally enjoyed my day at Bell Park, and I really appreciate you taking the time to get in touch.
This is a link to a review of my book, written by a high school student in Ohio, USA – it's amazing to see where books travel! Happy writing, reading and Happy Holidays!
your welcome and i will be sure to read it… i cannot wait!!!
thanks 🙂