You're invited to a a book launch for Kristy's new novel: Touching Grass

Hi, Brian.

I'm excited to announce the launch of my second book for kids ages 8–12! You might remember this one – I came up with the concept at one of your writing retreats and our Friday Intensive class reviewed parts of it.

My book launch will be held in Saskatoon on Tuesday, September 9 at 7pm at the Indigo 8^th street location. I'm looking at ways to livestream it and will post those details on my socials once they are available. 

The book will be released on the same date wherever books are sold. Anyone interested can preorder a copy here. 

All the best,

Kristy

Note: If you’re interested in joining us for a writers’ retreat, we have one coming up in Muskoka in time to enjoy the fall colours. Details here.  

For details of upcoming Intensive writing classes see here.

Touching Grass by Kristy Jackson
  illustrated by Rhael Mcgregor

From the author of Mortified (shortlisted for the Governor General’s Award and a finalist for the Silver Birch Award!), Touching Grass is a funny, heartfelt middle-grade novel about a young gamer who is sent to “touch grass” at a Dene First Nation culture camp

Tristen would do anything to avoid going outside. The bugs sting, the snakes are poisonous, the heat will kill you if the cold doesn’t, and bodies of water? Forget it. Tristen likes it best indoors, deep in his online world where it’s safe, with his online friends. Something he has a hard time with IRL.

But Tristen is in trouble at school again, and the principal is threatening to kick him out of this third school in two years. His mom believes the answer is to get Tristen off the games and in touch with nature and his Dene roots. This means Tristen has to spend a week to a culture camp in the wilderness. It’s his worst nightmare!

And at first it is a nightmare – no internet, no phone reception, no Bepsi! – and Tristen has no idea how to do any of the skills the other kids seem to do easily. But soon, with some surprising new friends and a few patient teachers, and a little help from technology, Tristen begins to think he might be able to hack this nature stuff after all.

“Reminiscent of Ruby Slipperjack's Little Voice and Lee Maracle's Will's Garden, Touching Grass is a story readers are going to love. If you're a fan of the Joey Pigza series, you'll feel right at home with Tristen with his innocent heart and sizzling energy. I loved every part of his journey. Wow. What a fun read.” –Richard Van Camp, author of The Lesser Blessed and Beast.

Rhael and Kristy

Kristy Jackson is the author of the Governor General's Award-shortlisted middle-grade novel Mortified. Though Quick Brown Fox reads may know her best from our Friday morning classes. Kristy’s work draws inspiration from her Cree and German background and her long list of embarrassing moments. 

Kristy is the mother of two boys and a communications professional who has spent many years working for Dene communities. Kristy runs a program that delivers books to children in seven remote Indigenous communities in Canada and volunteers for a non-profit dedicated to improving literacy in her community.

Rhael McGregor is a Métis and two-spirit/queer comic artist based in Winnipeg. Since 2018, Rhael has been passionately telling stories in which they hope all readers can see themselves. Their work includes illustrations and stories published by Iron Circus Comics, Quindrie Press, and HighWater Press, along with several self-published works. Rhael McGregor loves winter, sweet treats, and doing beadwork for family and friends.

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See all of Brian’s upcoming weekly writing classes, one-day workshops, and four-day retreats here.

See more books by your fellow authors here (and scroll down).

And remember, you can pre-order Touching Grass here.

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