My name is Lena Coakley and I love children's books. People often ask me why, and then I find myself fumbling around for an answer. It's not that I don't know. It's just that people don't realize what a deeply personal question that is. Usually I say that I have never been able to sink so completely into a book as I did when I was ten years old. If you want a longer answer, check out the speech I gave at the launch of my first children's book, On the Night of the Comet.

• Fall 2008
  Keep a look out for a lot of new things happening at CANSCAIP, the Canadian Society of Children’s Authors, Illustrators and Performers. Soon to come: a monthly podcast—hosted by me—with interviews of many of Canada’s best known children’s artists. And don’t forget to sign up for the Packaging Your Imagination conference in Toronto on November 1st!
• Spring 2008
  What a busy winter!  Most of my time has been spent revising my first novel, but  I’m also happy to announce that I have a new job title at CANSCAIP, the Canadian Society of Children’s Authors, Illustrators and Performers www.canscaip.org.  I am now the Administrative Director!  Sounds cushy, don’t you think?  Plans for CANSCAIP's Packaging Your Imagination Conference—our day of workshops on writing and illustrating for children— are well on their way, so mark the first Saturday in November on your calendar.  In March, I was pleased to serve on the jury for The McNally Robinson Book forYoung People Awards.  Oh, and I got a grant!  Kids Can Press had the good sense to give me a Writers’ Reserve Grant to work on my second book.  Guess that means I have to finish that first one!  Happy Spring, everyone!
• July 2007
  For anyone interested in writing or illustrating for children, I highly recommend CANSCAIP's Packaging Your Imagination conference held every November in Toronto (www.canscaip.org/pyi.html). They've got their brochure up already and it seems like it will be another great year. Featured speakers include Susan Juby, Janet McNaughton, Barbara Reid and my wonderful editor at Orca, Maggie deVries. Fantasy goddess OR Melling will be the key-note speaker.
• June 2007
  On June 23rd, I'll be attending the SCBWI conference in Barrie, Ontario (www.scbwicanada.org/east). Hope to see you there!
• April 2007
  I will be doing a number of readings in Southern Ontario this spring, but unfortunately none of them will be open to the public. Please contact me if you'd like me and my gargoyles to come to your school!
  
  Congratulations Hadley! Johnny Kellock Died Today by Hadley Dyer has won the Canadian Library Association's Children's Book of the Year Award. Hadley and I are in a writing group together, and—can I just brag—I am the second person listed in the acknowledgements, right after her Mom! Sniff. I feel like a proud midwife.
• February 15th 2007
  I will be reading my picture books for Family Literacy Night at St. Joseph's Catholic School in Oshawa, Ontario. Join us at 1200 Summerwood Heights at 7:00 for a post-Valentine's day celebration! Author Hadley Dyer will also be reading.
• January 2007
  Happy New Year! Thank you to everyone who asked to be kept updated about the Sue Alexander Award. No, I didn't win. That honour went to Carole Estby Dagg of Everett, WA. for "From Mica Creek to New York City, One Step at a Time." Congratulations fellow SCBWIite!