A Day in the Life of.... is there a typical David Poulsen day? Not really as any given day could include heading out the door to a rodeo or bullriding, presenting a creative writing workshop for Junior High students or researching and writing his next novel. And if none of those possibilities exist, David can generally be found at home in the Porcupine Hills relaxing on the deck, riding or trying to catch up on writing and fencing.

Spring, 2009 - Spring is almost over and there hasn’t been any (spring that is) yet. Still things are getting green, the nights aren’t quite as cold and out here in the Porcupine Hills the birds are building nests like crazy.

I just returned from the YABS Wordpower Tour—a weeklong celebration of writing, illustrating and story telling in and around Fort McMurray, Alberta. Suncor sponsors the week which sees eight of Alberta’s most talented literary artists presenting in more than 20 schools over the five days of the tour. I was the lone guy on this year’s tour and will be in therapy for some time. (Seven women and me—yikes!!) Actually it was an amazing week and I was honoured to have been chosen to be a part of it and to spend time with seven wonderful and amazingly talented women.

We’re into Rodeo/Bull Riding season now and I will be very busy with stops in Lethbridge, Prince Albert, Eastend, Saskatoon, Kamloops, Millarville and Rocky Mountain House as part of my spring/early summer run.

And, of course, I’m very excited about the arrival of Book 6 in The Salt and Pepper Chronicles. This one is called Shivers and Shakes and is set in this totally cool (and spooky) underground street in Edinburgh, Scotland called Mary King’s Close. The street actually exists and is called ‘the most haunted place in Scotland’. Guess who or what Salt, Pepper and annoying little brother Hal meet up with in that street!!

Still with writing—I’m delighted to have been selected to appear at this year’s Wordfest in Calgary in October. It is an international festival of writers in Calgary and Banff and brings together an unbelievable roster of great writers from around the world. Then in November I’ll be one of 29 writers, illustrators and storytellers who will be part of the CCBC’s Canadian Children’s Book Week. I don’t know yet where I’ll be touring but I do know it is one of the coolest weeks of the year and I’m already looking forward to it.

Well, I’d best be running along and checking on ‘Holly’ our palomino broodmare who is getting closer to having her first foal. There’s nothing more exciting than the arrival of baby horses—I’ll keep you posted.

Note: I was honoured to receive the 2008 Professional Rodeo Announcer of the Year award and a beautiful buckle donated by the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association.

... David

Site updated May 18, 2009