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Q. Are the characters in your
books based on real people, or do you just make them up?
A. None of my characters are
based on people I know. They all came out of my imagination.
By the time I am finished a book, however, I really do “know”
them. I live with them in my head for a long time. I know the
things they like, the things that drive them crazy, how they
feel about the other people in their families, even what they
like to eat. That's the only way a writer can make their characters
“real” to their readers.
Q. Why do you write for children?
A. Some of my favourite people
are children. I find them fascinating, and I love their honesty
and openness. I was very lucky to grow up in a big, happy family.
We had no television when I was a child, but there were lots
of fun things to do – hikes and picnics in all types of weather,
games to play, books to read. I remember going for drives in
the family car and all of us singing at the top of our lungs.
I often go back to those years when I am writing.
Q. Why did you write a sequel
to Treasure at Turtle Lake?
A. I knew before I finished Treasure
at Turtle Lake that there would be another adventure for
Paige and Joel. For one thing, I wanted to know how Molly would
fit into the family. Then there was the question of the new
house, and whether or not Joel's relationship with his stepmother
would improve. I had enjoyed those characters and just wasn't
finished with them yet. The result was Trouble at Turtle
Narrows.
Q. How can I become a writer?
A. Read, read, read. And write,
write, write. You should read the type of stories you'd like
to write. But mostly, I believe you become a writer by writing.
You need to know how to spell, of course, and how to write a
proper sentence. But, in the end, after the grammar lessons,
you have to get down to putting the words on the page. Look for
opportunities to practise your writing. Check any magazines
for young people at the library to see if they publish children's
writing. Once in a while you may even discover a writing competition
that you could enter. (That's how I started.) Write letters
to the editor of the local paper. Perhaps the editor is looking
for someone to start a column of school news. Small newspapers
are great for this sort of thing. Does your school or youth organization
have a newsletter, online or otherwise? Maybe you could write
a short article for it. Always ask the editor first what sort
of material he/she is looking for. And don’t give up. Believe
in yourself, and keep writing. You can do it! |
Biography
Margaret Louise (Peggy) Dymond was born in Toronto,
Ontario, the second in a family of five children. Shortly after
her birth, her father joined the Canadian military, and as a result
of his frequent postings over the years, the children were raised
in numerous towns and cities in Quebec, Ontario and Manitoba. The
longest posting was in Winnipeg for four years.
Peggy has enjoyed writing all her life. She won
first prize in an essay competition when she was in Grade four, and
it was the encouragement she received from her family and teachers
that made her decide she would become a writer. Her earliest pieces
appeared regularly on the back page of "Canadian Girl" in
the 1950s - a Sunday School paper published by the United Church.
It was in Trenton, Ontario that Peggy was finally able to put down
roots. She and her husband Wayne have raised three children and are
the proud grandparents of eight.
As well as being the bookkeeper for her husband's
business, Peggy worked for nearly 17 years as a part time librarian
for the County of Prince Edward Public Library. After her children
were all in school, Peggy started writing freelance for the newspaper
in Trenton. She has also had published poems, stories and articles
for both adults and children and has helped research and write three
books of local history. Her own book of non-fiction, "The Movie Years," the
story of Trenton's early film industry was published by Mika Publishing
in 1989. The research gathered for that project also provided background
for "A Circle in Time," her second novel for children.
Bibliography
Short Stories, Poems, etc.
- “Up, Up and Away.” Toronto: The United Church Observer.
October, 2006.
- “Grandpa’s War.” Toronto: The United Church Observer.
November, 2005.
- “Just Like Me”. Owen Sound: Buzz, April, 1987
- "Wilbur Wilson’s Woolly Winter’.Owen Sound: Buzz, Nov.
1986
- "Only a Stable" (short play). Toronto:
Dept. of Stewardship Services, United Church of Canada, Dec. 1985
- “A House for Tina”. U.S.A.: The Friend, April 1982
- “Marcy McEwan Has Red Hair”. U.S.A.: The Friend, Nov. 1978
- “Night Canoe” (poem). U.S.A.: Guide Magazine, March 1978
Books
- Growing Up Ivy. Toronto:
Dundurn, 2010
- Trouble at Turtle Narrows. Toronto:
Napoleon, 2008
- Treasure at Turtle Lake. Toronto:
Napoleon Publishing., 2007
- The Path Through the Trees. Toronto:
Napoleon Publishing Inc., 2005
- The Deep End Gang. Toronto: Napoleon
Publishing Inc., 2003
- Finding My Own Way. Toronto:
Napoleon Publishing Inc., 2001
- Sky Lake Summer: Toronto: Napoleon
Publishing Inc., 1999
- A Circle in Time. Toronto: Napoleon
Publishing Inc., 1997
- Help Wanted: Wednesdays Only.
Toronto: Napoleon Publishing Inc., 1994
- The Movie Years. Belleville:
Mika Publishing, 1989
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