The Friday Society Book Launch Info!

So it has finally been decided and the book launch for THE FRIDAY SOCIETY will be . . .

December 7th, 2012  at The Gladstone Hotel (doors open at 7pm and reading is at 7:30pm).

And all of this so wouldn't be possible without the help of the amazing Chris Reed at Small Print Toronto and Adam Smith from Steampunk Canada (oh, and I guess Penguin Books have kind of sort of been awesome too).  These two gents have helped me find a venue space and book acts, and let me tell you, it is going to be a FANTASTIC evening.

We'll have a demonstration of Bartitsu (the first mixed martial arts technique, invented by Sir Edward Barton Wright back at the turn of the century - uh, not the most recent turn, the one before that) by members of the incredible stunt team Riot A.C.T.  We'll also have some amazing Steampunk props/inventions on display courtesy of Mr. Smith himself and R. Phinius Bodine.  The book trailer will have its premiere public screening, and of course, I, Adrienne Kress, will be doing a reading.

Huzzah!

Dress in your Steampunk finest (or whatever you feel like, but know you won't be out of place either dressed up all Steampunky, nor will you be the only one in street clothes), and be prepared for a delightful time.

(for tips on how to dress Steampunk using items from your existing wardrobe, check out my post here)

Also all ages are welcome!

And in honour of the occasion, here's the poster I designed for it (click for a larger version):

The I Haven't Read The Book Club – MEGAN CREWE, with ADRIENNE KRESS

Next Wednesday I will have the distinct pleasure to participate in an event featuring young adult author Megan Crewe.  I will be introducing her and interviewing her, and running a writing workshop based on her latest novel THE WAY WE FALL.  The event is free, and yes, consider this my invitation to you all to come.

I will, of course, remind you all closer to the date so you can make sure to come, but I wanted you to know now because Small Print Toronto, the organisers of the event, are running a contest where you can win a signed copy of THE WAY WE FALL, and contests are awesome.  Visit Small Print's event page for more details (scroll down a wee bit and you'll find information on how to enter).

Here is the information about the event itself:

THE I HAVEN’T READ THE BOOK CLUB  – MEGAN CREWE, WITH ADRIENNE KRESS

Wednesday April 4 – 6:30pm-8:15pm
Toronto Public Library, Northern District
40 Orchard View Blvd, Toronto
FREE  (Space is limited - Advance Sign-Up Encouraged)

And here is a little blurb about the book itself (it's truly a page turner):

It starts with an itch you just can't shake.  Then comes a fever and a tickle in your throat.  A few days later, you'll be blabbing your secrets and chatting with strangers like they're old friends.  Three more, and the paranoid hallucinations kick in.

And then you're dead.

When sixteen-year-old Kaelyn lets her best friend leave for school without saying goodbye, she never dreams that she might not see him again.  But then a strange virus begins to sweep through her small island community, infecting young and old alike.  As the dead pile up, the government quarantines the island: no one can leave, and no one can come back.

Those still healthy must fight for the island's dwindling supplies, or lose all chance of survival. As everything familiar comes crashing down, Kaelyn joins forces with a former rival and discovers a new love in the midst of heartbreak. When the virus starts to rob her of friends and family, she clings to the belief that there must be a way to save the people she holds dearest.

Because how will she go on if there isn't?

Poignant and dizzying, The Way We Fall is the heart-wrenching story of one girl's bravery and unbeatable spirit as she challenges not just her fears, but her sense of what makes life worth living.

Toronto's Roald Dahl Day!

As those of you who have read my books might have guessed, I'm a wee bit of a Dahl fan.  The first third of ALEX was meant to be a bit of an homage to his work (especially the Daughters of the Founding Fathers' Preservation Society).  I love his whimsy, I love his dark side, I love his character names.  And I adore me some Vermicious Knids (is there a better creature name out there?  I think not):

And so I was totally honoured when I was asked to be a guest judge for Toronto's Roald Dahl Day!  It's happening this Sunday, and I figured I should maybe post the event info here on the off chance some of yous might be interested.

Here you go!  (and I hope to see you there!)

Sun Oct 23; 11-4pm $10 (All Dahl Pass)
The Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen St West

For the past five years, Roald Dahl fans throughout the United Kingdom have been marking the renowned children author’s birthday by celebrating Roald Dahl Day. Toronto fans finally got to join in the fun last year, when Small Print Toronto staged the first-ever Roald Dahl Day celebration in Canada.

• This year, as the focus of our second annual Roald Dahl Day event, we’re planning a bumper crop of activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Dahl’s classic novel, James And The Giant Peach.
  
• “The Giant Peach Hunt” will give teams of two or more people a chance to use their wits to win cool prizes as part of a literary scavenger hunt.
  
• Poet David Hickey will launch his new picture book, A Very Short Something (Biblioasis) – a tale about bubble-gum that would make Willy Wonka smile!
  
• “The Giant Peach Bubble Contest” will establish which local Dahl fan can blow the largest bubble after chewing peach flavoured gum.
  
• Director Henry Selick’s stop-motion adaptation of James And The Giant Peach will be presented on a full, cinema-sized screen.
  
  

‘What would happen if James discovered the Giant Peach in today’s Toronto?’  

   
We invited writers 8-12 to craft a short story (max 1500 words) based on the scenario of James, a lonely orphan in today’s Toronto, discovering a peach as big as a house filled with human-sized friendly creatures.

An all-star panel of judges  - including CBC Radio host and author Kevin Sylvester, authors Kelley Armstrong, Adrienne Kress, Lesley Livingston,  Evan Munday and Vikki Vansickle,  Susan Kernohan Director of Young Voices at the Toronto Public Library, Mark Medley, Book Editor at The National Post, and Janet Somerville, English Teacher,  Royal St George’s College - will read aloud the top entries and award prizes at this year’s Toronto Roald Dahl Day celebration on Sunday October 23rd., at the Gladstone Hotel.

The grand-prize winner will be published by Book Madam & Associates Magazine, a community hub dedicated to discussing all elements of the publishing industry, sharing stories and leading by example.

Renowned author Kenneth Oppel has prepared a video address to the contestants. At the age of fourteen, Oppel sent a story he wrote to Roald Dahl. Dahl was so impressed he told his own literary agent to get it published. Oppel says that the experience gave him the confidence to think he could have a career as a writer. 

Will one of the young scribes in our Roald Dahl Day story contest turn out to be the next Oppel (or even Dahl)? If an orphan and his creature-pals can sail a giant peach across the Atlantic Ocean, anything is possible.