Countdown Week
I ’m now in my last full week at home in Surrey, British Columbia and I’m hoping the weather will stay mild for the ENTIRE trip south. I definitely don’t want a repeat of last year. I left a couple of days late because of a wicked snow and ice storm in Seattle. The weather still wasn’t good when I left and I got caught in lots and lots of slow moving traffic through Seattle/Tacoma and ended up staying in a hotel right off the highway and drove much longer than anticipated. I drove in the dark – something I never like to do. Was grateful to be off the road. In Grant’s Pass, Oregon I was just heading out when I discovered an oil leak and decided not to go over the two mountain passes, Siskyou’s and Mount Shasta, with...
Another busy day…..
A nother busy day in the middle of a busy week. I am delighted that my books and bookmarks will be featured in a display case in the Newton Branch of the Surrey Library for the month of April, 2012. I think it’ll bring renewed interest in my books and my lecturing and library events are great events. I get to entertain and tell my stories and the library works on getting the people there. A match made in heaven. When I turned my computer on yesterday afternoon I learned that the article I sent off to the Surrey Art’s Council contest won Honorable Mention so I’ll be picking up my certificate today and since my 10 copies of Chicken Soup for the Soul arrived yesterday I’ll be shipping out my first order along with a signed copy of Diana...
Surrey International Writers’ Conference – Last Day
A s for the last day of the conference it was like the other days….and I’m pleased to say that I made my table money on all three days. First time for that. My new line of bookmarks seems to be paving the way for a fresh look at my books and people definitely did stop to check them out. I sold a total of 17 of the beauties along with a few books, a couple of mini reads and several pairs of earrings made from the same beads as the bookmarks. By the time I packed and got home mid-afternoon I was exhausted and felt I deserved the rest of the day off so I took a mid-afternoon nap. I LOVE those. I’m one of those people that a 20-minute nap refreshes me. Monday I had an appointment with the Newton Branch of the Surrey Library. In April, 2012...
3rd Day is a Charm
 This will be my third day at the Surrey International Writers Conference and up until very late in the afternoon yesterday I had sold only bookmarks. I was okay with that because the first day of bookmark sales paid for the table for the three days – money is money after all. The last sale at my table was for 2 of my little mini reads and one bookmark. Good – I was happy with that. At the author’s signing in the evening I wasn’t really expecting any sales but, of course, we can always hope. I sold one bookmark as soon as I sat down and my last sale of the day was to a playwright. Earlier in the evening he was talking to my tablemate – Bruce Dowbiggen – a journalist of Calgary and after Bruce left and I was packing...
Surrey International Writers’ Conference
I always look forward to the 3rd week of October and this year it’s from the 21st to the 23rd of October for the Surrey International Writer’s Conference. Even though I’ve been there several times now I always combine it with Thursday evening at Chapter’s Book Store in Strawberry Hill, Surrey for an evening listening to several authors read their work. I try to sit front row center. I’m also the first one with their hand up to ask a question or two. Diana Gabaldon, one of my VERY favorite authors, is always on hand. I have attended a couple of her classes at the SIWC. I have listened to her reading at Chapters every year and was absolutely stunned recently when I looked at her website. I really thought that once you make...
October News and Views
O ctober definitely has shaped up to be a winner. Although the Surrey Arts Council craft show turned out to be a bust I did make my booth money back and for this neighborhood that’s all I can really expect. I won’t be doing many events in Newton. I did hear again from Chicken Soup for the Soul and I should be receiving the 10 copies of O Canada within the next 2 weeks. I can also purchase case lots (20 in a case) at half price but I’ll pass that.   I am so excited and I think I have finally realized WHY it is so exciting. Normally I write the book, get it edited, contact my computer guru Brion from www.bookcreatives.com for the cover. Then I print, bind and flog. It’s non stop work, work, work. Chicken Soup for the Soul...