Doretta Lau – författare

Building on the success of the Journey Prize-shortlisted title story, the stories of How Does a Single Blade of Grass Thank the Sun? present an updated and whimsical new take on what it means to be Canadian. Lau alludes to the personal and political histories of a number of young Asian Canadian characters to explain their unique perspectives of the world, artfully fusing pure delusion and abstract perception with heartbreaking reality.Correspondingly, the book’s title refers to an interview with Chinese basketball star Yao Ming, who when asked about the Shanghai Sharks, the team that shaped his formative sporting years, responded, “How does a single blade of grass thank the sun?” Lau’s stories feature the children and grandchildren of immigrants, transnational adoptees and multiracial adults who came of age in the 1990s—all struggling to find a place in the Western world and using the only language they know to express their hopes, fears and expectations.

Steroids have been around for many years, but have come into public focus because of performance-enhancing use by athletes. Any benefits that athletes feel add to their performances are outweighed by the horrible physical and mental side effects and can lead to long-term health issues.

A provocative black comedy of mystery, hijinks, and absurdist despair set at the only theme park devoted to death, dying, and the afterlifeZita Chang’s job—marketing death for the twenty-first century—is just like everyone else’s entry-level position in a corporate machine. While she’s grinding away, she’s determined not to let her grief over the death of her father interfere with her work. But being a Nine Circles employee comes with perks: she can ask the Afterlife team to replace Siri with her dead dad’s voice so that he can give her the advice she never wanted when he was alive.Just when Zita feels the drudgery can’t get any worse, the Nine Circles calls an emergency meeting nine weeks before the park’s grand opening to drop a shocking bomb: not only has their executive director died under mysterious circumstances, but Zita and her coworkers are charged with programming his reanimated body to keep the launch on schedule. Can Zita pull this off? Why have a few other colleagues recently dropped dead too? And couldn’t this meeting have been an email?

Through this gorgeous book, your readers can learn everything from the broad scope of creating a look for the stage to the fine points of makeup and wig application. It includes tips on working as a team and how to plan on a budget. Everything an aspiring young costume designer or makeup artist needs to know.

In Music and Singing, readers can explore the musical side of the high school musical experience, from the musical audition to conquering opening night jitters. It includes tips for singers, accompanists, and musicians who are interested in getting involved in a high school musical performance but aren''t sure how.