I met Paul Toffanello in Timmins about 10 years ago. Timmins is a bustling mining town in northeastern Ontario and I was there partly at his behest. He was director of education of the large regional Catholic school board and one of his literacy specialists had invited me to be the guest of honour at her annual young writers workshops. 
I spent a day giving workshops to groups of teachers and novice authors, as well as an illustrated talk to all the attendees. It was all similar to the talks I give across Canada (and occasionally beyond), except for one detail. The education director sat in on nearly every session and then Continue reading →
Boisterous Neil and timid Adam, 12-year-old best friends, head off to Camp McAbre for the first time with distinctively different attitudes.
Only $3.99 on iTunes and Amazon.
Neil is excited by the thought of several days outdoors with a hundred other kids while Adam hates everything about camp except for the presence of attractive schoolmate Ally. Yet as the days go by, Adam becomes a super camper while Neil is dogged by bad luck that puts him in conflict with the creepy camp director, Charles Atrom.
A bit of late night sleuthing leads Neil into a series of abandoned mine tunnels and glimpses of a ghost who may be responsible for Neil’s troubles.
Perfect for readers aged 10-13.
Written by former teacher (and camp counsellor) Paul Toffanello, Popchuck’s Ghost is aimed at preteens with a love for adventure and ghostly encounters. The story will ring true for everyone who has attended a summer camp. The setting, in fact, is based on a real camp in northern Ontario that was built next to a network of abandoned mine shafts that were strictly off-limits to campers and counsellors alike. (Paul declines to reveal the source of his background information on caves and mine drifts.)
Available starting July 25, 2013.
Available as an ebook on Amazon and Apple’s iTunes bookstore, Popchuck’s Ghost is a gripping read that will leave kids laughing and shivering.
