It's amazing to look back on 2018, so many signings, library and school visits. The greatest privilege was to be able to visit with readers in Colombia for Norma Publishing, sponsored also by Canada Council Arts Abroad. Venganza Contra las Moscas was featured in the 20th anniversary essay writing contest and as a result, most grade seven students had read it.
Visiting a Bogota School for Venganza Contra las Moscas or Revenge on the Fly as it is known in CanadaI visited with at more than 16 schools as some classes traveled to a central location to meet me. The visits consisted of a talk with Powerpoint, translated by a teacher or student, a Q & A, autographing of books and photos and selfies. Unlike in Canada photos and hugs and even kisses are encouraged.Always, whether in Canada or Colombia, it's the one on one moments with readers that are so heartwarming.
Even if I have to sign a million books, I always take an extra moment to try and get a smile and a few words in with my readers.
When I walk into a bookstore with this vinyl cobra wrapped around my neck, you would be surprised at how many people freak.
“Does this snake look real to you? It doesn’t look real to me. His name is King by the way and he’s the star of The Snake Mistake Mystery.”
The young girl stares at me, gape mouthed. She steals an anxious glance back at her dad. Am I a danger stranger, can she talk to me?
She shakes her head slightly.
“Would you like an autographed bookmark?”
“We’re looking for a book,” the girl finally says.
“What kind of book?” I ask. “Maybe I can help.”
“Your book,” she answers. Apparently I spoke at her school. She’s not sure which in the Great Mistake Series she heard me talk about but I know it’s the one with King in it. When Mom joins us, she suggests they buy all three. Smart woman.
One of my favourite precocious readers, three year old Finley, my granddaughter, visits me at an Indigo Chapters signing.
We call them signings but most authors agree that beyond the dreamlike trance you go into when your writing is going well, the best part of our careers are the one-to-one experiences we enjoy with our readers. it always feels a little surreal to realize someone else will actually read our work; we’re sharing a very intimate creative experience with you after all. The bookstore signing is perhaps the easiest way to achieve this interaction.
That doesn’t mean it won’t be painful to sit at a table with piles of our book surrounding us and no one stopping by. Or worse people avoiding our glance. Some writers are introverts.
And while I am an extrovert and love meeting and chatting with new people, I do find the selling of my own stories awkward. So here’s what I tell myself. I am giving each child an encounter with a real live Canadian author.
This is an extraordinary opportunity for them, a cultural experience totally free to them. The book, or just an autographed bookmark, is their souvenir of the experience.
Mortie loves giving kisses a little too much. I have to restrain him from licking the public.
Sometimes it’s fun to share the limelight with a friend when you’re signing at a book store. Mortie is a gregarious Jackapoo who loves children and grownups alike.. He’s also my inspiration for Ping in The Great Mistake Mysteries as well as Finnigan in Revenge on the Fly or Venganza contra las mosques.
Warily watching for customers. Things can be a bit slow midday.
But then things pick up! Yay, a little girl who wants to talk books and pat dogs.
Making the big leap at home time. Mortie likes to browse the store a bit too.
George, Lydia and Madie visit me in the comfort of my own library courtesy of technology. I also get a great view of the Hazel Mackey Community Library ceiling.
Gosh it’s fun being able to chat with some bookclub readers of The Best Mistake Mystery all the way in Roberts, (population 1,651) Wisconsin. Our first scheduled meeting was delayed by the same wind and and rain storm so I was able to snail mail the librarian autographed bookmarks. On the new date the kids met Mortie, the inspiration for Ping in The Great Mistake Mysteries.
Worf, my brown granddog wasn’t availabl for the Skype visit. But Mortie was happy to visit Wisconsin bookclubbers.
We chatted about where ideas came from and I talked about writing block. (And suddenly nothing happens!) Then a few weeks later, I received actual snail mail thank you notes. So retro.
If it weren’t for the computers and miles between us, the experience itself was old school, an author chatting with her readers, almost one  on one. It’s how real reading connections are made.
Recent Comments