It’s been a long slow process since I first pitched my idea for a kids’ non fiction book on homelessness to the publisher who published my eight children’s fiction books.
In January 2019 if I recall.
Between my editor and I, we have finally decided on the title and subtitle Seeking Shelter – Challenging Ideas About Homelessness (though it might still change!). Today I finished what I hope will be the final text revisions – and made it to the desired wordcount. I have had a glimpse of the illustrator’s sketches and colour palette (I love them!). And next week I will finalize the photo package from which the designer will select as they lay out the book.
The publication of the book is still a year away – October 2021 – when it will join others in Orca Book Publishers’ THINK series of mid grade non fiction books on social issues.
Meanwhile, homelessness continues to be a serious issues in many communities. More programs and services are being developed all the time. People and organizations continue to come up with innovative ways to address the issue and help those affected by homelessness. And every day there’s something new in the news – locally, provincially, nationally or globally –
about it.
It’s hard to keep up, and even harder to include everything I would have liked to include in the book.
So this Facebook page is where I will post anything and everything that I think is relevant to the book or the issue in the next year. If you’re interested, I hope you will Follow it. And if you’re around in the fall of 2021, I hope you will be around to help celebrate this book – a labour of love and deep commitment.
All photos: L Peterson
25% of author royalties will be donated to the Nanaimo Unitarian Shelter,
– offering overnight respite from the streets for more than ten year –
where I was privileged to work for more than 2-1/2 years.