Recipient of an Ontario Arts Council Grant for Writers

I am honoured to announce that I have received an Ontario Arts Council Grant for Writers. This grant will help support the creation of my latest YA novel.

My current manuscript might still be in the early stages but these grants really help move it forward. Organizations like the Ontario Arts Council are imperative in supporting Ontario writers to create new works. I encourage other writers to look into literary grants and apply if you meet the eligibility criteria.

While I work on my latest manuscript, you can check out my first YA novel, The Book of Sam, which is available wherever books are sold.

If you’re in Toronto, here are a few of my favourite local bookstores.

Queen Books

Another Story

Book City

Canadian Review of Materials Recommends The Book of Sam

The Canadian Review of Materials recently reviewed The Book of Sam. If you’re unfamiliar with this website, its mission is to review books for kids and young adults by Canadian authors and/or Canadian publishing houses. It’s an amazing resource for educators and librarians.

Here’s a snippet of what they had to say:

Rob Shapiro has created an action-packed coming of age story that will suck readers in with its charming characters and bountiful plot twists. The true charm of Shapiro’s story, however, is balance. He has managed to write a story that is balanced between character development and plot as well as action and rest. Sam’s development from a scared and shy teenager into a brave person of action is just as important as the action of the story, and the two rely upon each other to advance. In addition to this, the story is exciting and fast-paced, but not without its pauses for the characters to stop and open up to each other. Sam and Hollinshead’s burgeoning relationship is a delight to read, and these pauses are part of what allow the characters to develop in the way they do.

Check out the full review here.

The Book of Sam - Book Giveaway from Once Upon a Line Podcast

⭐️INSTAGRAM CONTEST ⭐️

Enter to win a signed copy of The Book Of Sam (Dundurn Press) courtesy of Once Upon A Line podcast. This is a really amazing new literary podcast that interviews readers about that one line in a book that stuck with them or maybe even changed their lives. The first episode—featuring myself, duh—is out now.

TO ENTER:
All you have to do is follow @onceuponalinepodcast and tag a friend.

This book contest closes soon so be sure to enter today!

Discussing my YA Novel, The Book of Sam, on Two Podcasts

Want to hear me talk about everything from The Book of Sam to Jules Verne to whether Spice World is actually a good movie?

I was a guest on the Once Upon a Line podcast with the wonderful host, Rosie Fernandez. We talk about the book passage that changed my life in some way. I chose a line from Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea by the little known Jules Verne.

Click here to listen to my conversation with Rosie, and be sure to check out future episodes of this very cool literary podcast.

I also had the honour of being a guest on Pandemic Pedagogy with Dr. Samantha Cutrara, a history education strategist who is working to change the way history is taught in Canadian classrooms so that it reflects Canada’s past, present and multiculturalism. It’s an important and inspiring read that I can’t recommend highly enough.

Give a listen to my conversation with Dr. Cutrara here. You can buy a copy of her book here.

The Power of Fantasy for Young Adults

I recently wrote a blog post for Dundurn Press arguing the validity of fantasy stories for young readers. I know YA fantasy has always been a popular genre but I can’t help but think of how timely it is in 2020, now that the world has gone pear-shaped.

YA fantasy is often labeled as escapist fare but I see it as something more powerful and even necessary. To me, it’s always been a way to cope with a changing world.

Here’s the blog post. I hope you enjoy it and don’t forget to share it!

That Feeling...

It’s a long road from sitting down to write a novel to seeing it on bookstore shelves. But if you can make it, there are a ton of great moments:

• A publishing house making an offer

• Signing your publishing contract (remember to use a cool pen)

• Working with your editor

• Seeing the cover design

Another moment is when you finally get to see your novel, which was once merely a word document, as an actual book with a spine, cover and back cover.

I recently opened a box to find my author copies laying in packing paper. These are the copies that a publisher gifts the author. I had briefly seen my novel at a book signing in January but this was the first time I got to really feel it between my fingertips and flip through it. It was the first time I read the printed words of a story I spent years writing. It felt strange but it’s something I’ll remember for a long time.

For whatever reason, each book was warm. I like to think they shot out of a printer and landed right in a nondescript box and was then sealed shut. But, most likely, the delivery truck was driving around the city on a hot day and that heat warmed the box.