Celebrating P.D. Workman’s Bookiversary:
Author reading from latest release
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+ Press Releases
P.D. Workman Wins 2016 Best Fiction Award from the In the Margins Committee
CALGARY, ALBERTA Mar 15, 2016
Last year, PD. Workman placed on the 2015 In the Margins Top Ten Best Books for Teens award for Ruby, Between the Cracks, the story of a tough-as-nails teen, Ruby Simpson, who is running from her past.
This year, Workman was thrilled to be notified that she had not only placed on the Top Ten list this year, but that she was being awarded first place for best fiction of 2016 for Tattooed Teardrops. Isabella Modra says that Tattooed Teardrops is “A realistic and beautiful story filled with suspense, heart-breaking friendship and loyalty that will keep you reading until the very end.”
In the Margins Book Award and Selection Committee, (ITM) a committee under the umbrella of Library Services for Youth in Custody (LYSC) agrees! For the second year in a row, Calgarian P.D. Workman’s work has been selected as validating, illuminating, and humanizing teens who have been marginalized by society.
ITM’s goal is to find the best books for teens living in poverty, on the streets, in custody – or a cycle of all three. They identify quality, age-appropriate resources for librarians and library workers to share with the teens in urban, lockdown, homeless shelters and other non-traditional venues for teens living in the margins.
“This is our third year of highlighting self and small press published books that validate, illuminate and humanize those living in the margins. We bring true diversity to bookshelves and libraries by reading, reviewing, debating, soliciting teen feedback and awarding honors for these titles,” says the Committee. “The majority of our list may be unknown to you or have gotten little attention in traditional reviews, but are hits with our teens. This is a statement for the need for more of us to look for and highlight diverse books.”
P.D. Workman has become ‘a household name’ at some of the facilities represented by the ITM as she continues to produce hard-hitting but sensitive books that speak to teens and adults alike. “It’s really exciting to have my work recognized like this,” Workman said. “I really appreciate the ITM for all of the work that they do in promoting literacy and curating books for youth in custody. I want these kids to know that they’re not forgotten or worthless. My heart goes out to them.”
P.D. Workman can be reached at pdworkman.author@gmail.com or 403-808-2550. Full media kit at https://pdworkman.com/media
Tattooed Teardrops is available in hardcover ISBN 9781926500409 or softcover 9780993768750 or 9781926500294 and is available on Kindle, iBooks, Google Play, and Nook.
“I don’t plan on getting in any trouble.”
Tamara had thought that when she got out of juvie, things would be easier. But before long, it seems like her life is spiraling into chaos.
If she can’t prove to her probation officer that she is innocent of the allegations against her, she’s going back to prison, and Tamara just can’t let that happen.
Download full press release here.
Calgary Author Wins “In the Margins” Book Award
CALGARY, ALBERTA Feb 4, 2015
P.D. Workman’s tough-as-nails protagonist Ruby Simpson is running from her past. Readers are falling in love with Ruby as she battles gangs, drugs, depression, and more in her bid for independence and happiness. “You know it’s a great book when you have to keep reminding yourself that the characters are not real people. I really cared about Ruby, and she gave me some bad moments. I desperately hoped her story would have a happy ending,” says Hazel Grusendorf. Nichole Betourney adds: “‘Ruby, Between the Cracks’ really put me through the wringer and I actually had to put it down a few times because I needed to return to reality… There was no chance I was going to stop reading until I knew how the story ended! …I seriously can’t wait for book two!”
In the Margins Book Award and Selection Committee, (ITM) a committee under the umbrella of Library Services for Youth in Custody (LYSC) agrees! Today they announced their top ten book titles for 2015, which included Workman’s novel “Ruby, Between the Cracks”. Calgarian P.D. Workman is one of two Canadians who placed on the list. The other is Ashley Little of BC, with Anatomy of a Girl Gang.
ITM strives to find the best books for teens living in poverty, on the streets, in custody – or a cycle of all three. They identify quality, age-appropriate resources for librarians and library workers to share with the teens in urban, lockdown, homeless shelters and other non-traditional venues for teens living in the margins.
“We are thrilled with the second year of this important work finding relevant books for our communities that validate, illuminate and humanize those living in the margins. We have a great list, bringing to national attention books that add to diversity in our collections and world,” said Amy Cheney, Chair of ITM. “The committee members and I are excited to share these books with you for those living and interested in the margins of society.”
I was excited when I was informed that Ruby had been nominated for In The Margins best books for teens; and humbled and thrilled when it made the top ten list.
Workman expressed her gratitude to the ITM for their inclusion of Ruby in the top ten. “I am so honoured to have one of my books selected for this award. I took at look at the other nine books selected, and they all look so good. I’m delighted to have Ruby showcased side-by-side with them. I was excited when I was informed that Ruby had been nominated for In The Margins best books for teens; and humbled and thrilled when it made the top ten list.”
P.D. Workman can be reached at pdworkman.author@gmail.com or 403-808-2550. Full media kit at https://pdworkman.com/media
Ruby, Between the Cracks #1
ISBN 9780992153953
Available through all major retailers
If you asked Ruby, she’d tell you she’s happy with her life. She’s tough and independent and doesn’t depend on anyone else. The road that has led her here has not been easy, and she’s blocked a lot of it from her memory.
But things aren’t as rosy as she would have everyone believe, and the road ahead of her is filled not only with gangs, drugs, and depression, but other challenges that Ruby hasn’t even imagined.
Download full press release here
Calgary author publishes nine books in a year
CALGARY, ALBERTA October 7, 2014
P. D. Workman has been writing novels for three decades, but you may not have read any of her work. Up until a year ago, she had not sought to have any of them published. That all changed in October 2013, when she published Looking Over Your Shoulder, a mystery novel about a jewel heist with a main character with paranoid schizophrenia. Since then, Workman has published six more books, with another to come out later this month, and a ninth in December.
But that’s not all. When Workman sat down to catalogue her novels last year, she had written forty-two. She has written several more since that time.
“My plan is to write at least three books per year, and to publish six per year.” At that rate, it will take Workman fourteen years to get her entire backlist published. “The older stuff takes a lot more work to edit and get ready for publication than my recent work,” Workman confides. “I’ve grown a lot as a writer and learned a lot more about the craft in the last few years. Some of my older works need extensive rewriting before they are ready for publication.”
Writing three new novels per year may sound daunting, but Workman shrugs it off. “I generally write a 100,000-word novel (about 350 pages) in about 21 days. Of course that’s just the first draft; it still needs to go through several drafts after that, then proofing, formatting, etc. So three or four a year is pretty comfortable when I’m rewriting and editing at least three other books a year. Publishing and marketing also take time.”
Most of Workman’s published work is young adult contemporary, though there are a few more adult books to come. In describing her work, she says: “Generally, I write young adult and suspense fiction about mental illness, addiction, and abuse.” Workman’s subject range extends to other disabilities, homelessness, foster care, crime, poverty, and other social issues.
“I want to shine a light on the lives led by kids and adults outside the mainstream. And I want to do it in an engaging and entertaining way. It’s one thing to read a headline or infographic or even listen to a lecture about kids in foster care being abused. It’s another to immerse yourself in Ruby’s story and to see the world through her eyes. Or through the eyes of Henry, Justine, Steven, Tamara, or Bobby. They expand your experience and become a part of you.” Workman goes on to say: “By becoming aware, we start to make small changes within our spheres of influence. Those little changes add up, and can change the lives of real kids and adults who have previously been marginalized.”
It’s a tall order, but Workman appears to be up to the challenge.
Download full press release here.
+ Pictures
Please include the these credits on all of the following photos:
Photo: Kayce Abalos Style: Fiona McAllister