ItB次元官网网址檚 not the first book of Troy WilsonB次元官网网址檚 to be rejected.
The Gordon Head authorB次元官网网址檚 latest title to hit shelves in stores, libraries and classrooms is The Sinking of Captain Otter, released this month by Owl Kids Books.
ItB次元官网网址檚 WilsonB次元官网网址檚 third book published in three years, and the first he first sketched as a six year old in Grade 1 in Port Alberni.
In it Captain Otter and Butterbeard (a butterfly) bond over leaving their natural roles in wildlife to be pirates.
B次元官网网址淚t amounts to being the first picture book of mine that was ever read by a teacher aloud in the school, period, and my classmates loved it,B次元官网网址� Wilson said.
That meant a lot to Wilson and encouraged his passion for storytelling and drawing.
B次元官网网址淵our parents and teachers were good at giving you praise, but this was the whole class, laughing, and I didnB次元官网网址檛 realize at the time how big an impact that really had,B次元官网网址� Wilson said. B次元官网网址淚t was a sneak previewB次元官网网址� it gave me the idea that B次元官网网址榟ey, this is something that can be done.B次元官网网址� Maybe in Grade 1 I didnB次元官网网址檛 know I wanted to be an author when I grew up, but I did know shortly thereafter.B次元官网网址�
(Inset photo: Wilson with the 1977 version and 2018 version of Captain Otter. Travis Paterson/B次元官网网址 Staff)
In 2004, Wilson achieved his dream of being published, and to great accolades, with Perfect Man. Based on a boyB次元官网网址檚 preoccupation with retiring superhero Perfect Man, the story is a heartwarming tale that weaves big dreams with humour and even satire. Despite positive reviews, Wilson couldnB次元官网网址檛 get his sequel to Perfect Man published.
While touring schools in 2005 to read Perfect Man to classrooms, he had the idea to also bring his Grade 1 version of Captain Otter to show kids that achievements like his are possible. That led Wilson to pitch an updated version of Captain Otter, which was first rejected in 2005.
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Wilson then endured a decade-long gap until Scholastic Canada picked up his pitch for . Last year Wilson was published with a short story in Chirp Magazine and then the hardcover Liam Takes a Stand. He has two more titles coming in spring and then summer of 2019.
Admittedly, his initial 2005 pitch for Captain Otter wasnB次元官网网址檛 B次元官网网址渧ery good.B次元官网网址� Luckily, his latest pitch was interesting enough, and illustrator Maira Chiodi was B次元官网网址渕assively important.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淲hile her hand-done art does fit well with my Grade 1 art, itB次元官网网址檚 far more important to me, and readers, that her art fits well with the homemade/handbuilt ships in the current Owlkids book,B次元官网网址� Wilson said. B次元官网网址淗er gentle, adorable, whimsical style helped soften the B次元官网网址榗annonballs-a-blazingB次元官网网址� portions in a way that more realistic art wouldnB次元官网网址檛 have done.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淭o know that the book came from a boyB次元官网网址檚 imagination, and that after so many years it B次元官网网址榗ame to lifeB次元官网网址� again through my work is a great great honour and also a big responsibility,B次元官网网址� Chiodi said. B次元官网网址淭royB次元官网网址檚 story is still very current and very appealing to children because, well, it was written by one. But also, the reason why is so actual is because it talks about love, friendship and empathy, things that we are all in much need of these days.B次元官网网址�
Wilson will visit his old school, John Howitt Elementary in Port Alberni, to officially B次元官网网址榣aunchB次元官网网址� The Sinking of Captain Otter on Oct. 25. ItB次元官网网址檚 the same school where Mrs. Eivindson, his Grade 1 teacher, spelled out the title cover for his book. (They were once reunited on CBC RadioB次元官网网址檚 GO following the publishing of Perfect Man.)
The is available at Bolen Books, Amazon online, at Chapters/Indigo and other book stores.
