For more than 20 years, I've been writing fiction for
young people. From picture books up to young adult novels, crafting these stories has been my niche as a writer.
But one day ... I had an idea for a non-fiction book, all about aspects of communication. I worked on various approaches for the concept for a long time. Years in fact. I even put together several samples and outlines and made some very feeble
pitches. (I didn’t know they were feeble at the time, obviously.)
Eventually, I recognized what the problem was. Writing it wasn't the issue -- I needed guidance with content and structure. Fortunately, I knew people who were experts on non-fiction. It was
time to find a partner.
I contacted Natalie Hyde, who has more than 100 books to her credit, the bulk of them being
non-fiction for young people. (Her fiction is fantastic too, by the way.) I ran
the idea by her, she liked it, and our partnership began.
We worked on an outline and sample. And we reached out to
artist David Jardine
He liked the project, and found room for it in his busy schedule.
Together with some sketch samples from David, we sent our
pitch to DCB Young Readers Publisher Barry Jowett and in what may have only seemed like an agonizingly long time we
had his answer. It was YES. (This would be a sadder story if he’d turned
it down.)
And now, it’s here, and my co-creators and I think YOU should read More than Words --
especially if you’re a young person, or even just a person!
Here's why:
Maybe you’ve never thought about it, but you are constantly
communicating, and with more than just words. Body language, hand gestures, facial expressions — they all have a
lot to say. Are you aware of the silent signals you may be sending? How do you read verbal and nonverbal cues from other people?
Through this illustrated book, you will learn how to communicate effectively —virtually and in
person —with more confidence and fewer misunderstandings. You’ll learn about
active listening, speaking skills, empathy, conflict resolution, critical
thinking, and more!
Then you’ll put your newfound
knowledge into practice through individual exercises and group activities that
will help you master your communication superpowers!
More than Words: Reviews and Awards
Quill & Quire: "MTW gives tweens practical advice on
polishing their communication and critical-thinking skills to improve
personal relationships and help them to be their best selves. This book could also guide neurodivergent
tweens as they learn to read verbal and non-verbal social cues, or coach
those seeking to overcome social anxiety."
Readers' Favorite: "the culturally sensitive approach ensures the content resonates with
readers from all backgrounds. I wish this book was standard reading in
every classroom. What truly
distinguishes this work is its profound message: communication
transcends mere information exchange – it's about fostering genuine
human connections in our society. This foundational understanding makes
the book an invaluable guide for anyone looking to strengthen their
relationships and master the nuances of modern interaction"
49th Shelf: "...a fantastic resource for teachers who want to scaffold speaking and
listening lessons for the year. This book is broken down into: body
language, talking tips, active listening and online communicating. My
favourite part are the individual and group activities at the end of
each chapter with challenges a teacher can use to specifically target
skills."
CM Magazine: "More than Words takes the complex topic, breaks it down into digestible chunks, and delivers an informative, fun read. ...presented in an easy to digest format with lots of bulleted lists and
the text broken up with ‘quick tips’, easily identified by ‘bright idea’
lightbulbs beside the text, providing fun facts and extra tips."
Writers Federation of New Brunswick Non-Fiction Award Shortlisted 2024
