When I first moved to the island people would ask me what I did for a living. After I told them I wrote for teens, they would invariably say: Have you met Iain Lawrence?

You see, Iain is not only an extremely talented writer, but he’s one of those “top of the heap” writers and our island is lucky enough to claim him. His book, Gemini Summer, won Canada’s Governor’s General Award in 2007. For those of you who don’t live in Canada, that’s pretty much equivalent to winning the National Book Award in the U.S. In other words, the BIG TIME.

The answer to everyone’s question (had I met him?) was no, which probably didn’t surprise anyone as Iain is the quiet type. I’ll admit it, I basically had to stalk him. I started by leaving a note for him at the library after reading some of his books and telling him how much I liked them. He was very polite when we did finally meet, but I think my exuberance and enthusiasm might’ve scared him a bit! One time he came into the library when I was there and I drew him into the conversation about Nevil Shute and the next thing you know, I had him reading Shute and we were friends after that.

Anyway, you’re probably wondering when I’m going to stop trying to make myself look cool because I know a famous author and get to the interview, but before I do, I have great news! Not only is Iain’s new middle grade book, The Giant-Slayer too fantastic for words, but he’s giving away a copy to one of you lucky blog commentors! Signed! Just leave a comment between now and Tuesday, midnight, 19 Jan. and you could be the winner (U.S. & Canada residents only).

The book is beautiful and just so well written I had to stop and digest it at times. It really grabs hold of you, and on top of that, I think it would be an excellent read aloud book to fifth, sixth, or seventh graders.

Okay, finally…the bio and interview!

Iain Lawrence studied journalism in Vancouver, then spent ten years as a newspaper reporter before he began to write fiction.  His thirteenth novel for young readers – The Giant Slayer, was published in November, 2009.  In 2007, he won a Governor Award for Gemini Summer, the story of a boy and his dog and his brother.

What were your favorite books when you were a teen?

I hoped to become a pilot, so I read a lot of books about flying, particularly the stories of the famous aces of the two world wars.  But the books I remember with the most fondest, and the most clarity, are ones that I had to read for school: The Great Gatsby; Great Expectations; Welcome to the Monkey House; Who Has Seen the Wind; On the Beach.  I wish I could thank the teachers who introduced me to those novels.  I didn’t appreciate them at the time, but I’m certain that they shaped my life.

What’s on your iPod or CD player?

I download episodes of CBC radio programs – usually Quirks and Quarks and As It Happens – and listen to them as I walk the dog.  Music isn’t very important to me, so my MP3 selections are pretty pathetic: Gary Glitter, Bruce Springsteen and the Beach Boys.

What’s the best piece of advice anyone ever gave you (or you learned from a book)?

“All storms pass.  ALL storms pass.”  I can’t remember where I came across it, though most likely it was in a book about sailing.  But it applies equally well to the problems of life.  I always say it just like this, just as I read it, stressing the first word of the second sentence.

What’s the riskiest thing you ever did and how did it work out for you?

I guess that would be my rodeo days.  For my first jobs after journalism school, I worked as a reporter on small newspapers in  BC’s northern interior.  I loved the amateur rodeos so much that I competed in three of them, trying to catch and saddle cows, riding broncos and the rangy cows that took the place of bulls.  My ambition was to earn a belt buckle, but instead I broke my wrist.

If you could live anywhere for a year, where would it be?

I think I would choose northern Scotland, maybe the Shetland Islands.  My mother was born in the Highlands, very near to Loch Ness, and I would like to see the places that meant so much to her, that I heard about so often that I can almost imagine I’ve seen them.

Do you speak any foreign languages?

Nein.

Do you make plans in advance when you travel, or just hope for the best?

I make basic plans, but they always change along the way.  So traveling is pretty much like writing.  I set out with a general idea of where I want to end up, and what I want to see along the way.  And when I stumble onto something unexpected, I’m more often pleased than disappointed.

What’s the coolest writing-thing that’s happened to you since you sold your first book?

I guess that would be reaching the million-copies-sold mark.  There was no announcement, no fanfare of any sort.  But it gave me a good feeling at a bad time.

Go on, give us some writing advice. You know you want to!

Read John Gardner’s “The Art of Fiction” and Jack Hodgins’ “A Passion for Narrative.”  Both are endlessly inspiring, though John Gardner’s thoughts on the writer’s duty are especially so.  My copy of his book has fallen apart, but I’ve become so attached to it that I refuse to replace it.

Thanks, Iain! Great to have you here. And to everyone else, don’t forget to enter to win! And read Iain’s other books. Let’s get him to Two Million! We’ll have a party here then! And in the meantime, drop by Iain’s very cool new website.