Gearing Down

For the time being my memoir-writing class has been put on hold.  Only 3 people signed up and that’s not enough for a class so my second contract has been canceled.  I’ll resume teaching mid-September when I return from my book tour and will continue until a week or so before I leave for the winter mid-November.

I’ve been gathering all my bits and pieces for my camper and I’ll start loading within the next week or so. Since I won’t have television for the summer I’ll be bringing along lots of books to read and pass along.  I’m sure that my mini read on Morocco will be finished while I’m up there (and my graphic designer – Brion at www.bookcreatives.com already has the cover design in mind)  and have decided on another – probably about the Canary Islands.

Before I head for BC’s interior for my book signing and lecture tour, I have to head down to my storage unit in Blaine, Washington to import another load of books because I’m running out.  I have been putting it off, and putting it off because the people at the border have me intimidated….but I must get over it, bite the bullet and if they yell because I’m too slow on their computer, too bad. I need the books.

I have been invited on a FAM trip called the Langley Farm Circle Tour and it was so much fun last year I want to go again.  It’ll take place on June 2nd and if it’s anything like last year we stop at many farms, wineries, plant shops and take home a ton of stuff – and someone else chauffeurs us around.  Love it.

With the help of my Tuesday’s writing group, I have prepared a letter for ten of the (local) libraries.  I’ll be sending along my brochure and my press release with the covering letter in the hopes of getting lectures for Fall 2010 and/or Spring 2011.  I am so much happier doing an entertaining lecture on my travels or a class in publishing/promoting than sitting around a store doing a signing – although I do love talking to the people passing by…..most are very friendly especially in the smaller towns.   I recently did a travel lecture for a woman’s group in Maple Ridge called I Assist You and it’s been so long since I did a lecture that I actually forgot how much I enjoy it.

And so the days are passing – actually galloping.    Joei