The first of many tales!

And now I shall tell the tale of the Texas Book Festival (Nov 3 - 4). Finally. After all this time.

It was awesome! But you are going to have to forgive me, I forgot my camera for this trip. I do have a few photos courtesy of others, but not as many as I would have liked. Sorry.

Anyway.

I arrived in Austin and was picked up by this lovely woman named Charlotte in one of the biggest white cars I have ever seen. Seriously. Very very big. Now I'm not doing this whole, everything in Texas is bigger thing, Austin didn't come across as stereotypical Texas at all and I have to say I was a bit disappointed to have only seen one cowboy hat my whole visit. But this car, it was huge. Anywhere it would have been huge.

Where was I?

Ah yes. I was driven to the hotel and soon after I met up with Katie Finch (publicity with Weinstein Books and a very lovely lady) to go to this party in honour of the festival hosted by Eddie Safady in his private home.

OMG. This guy's home (and it is this particular event that makes me very sad I didn't have my camera with me). This is a guy who decided he'd like to live in downtown Austin, and so converted a building on one of the main streets into his private residence. The place is three stories tall. Has a rooftop patio complete with an infinity pool. He'd opened up the whole house so that we walked through his bedroom and bathroom and went through his drawers (just kidding folks, just kidding - his drawers were locked . . . again just kidding! Didn't even try to snoop, I'm a good girl!). All the rooms were just stunning. Absolutely stunning, the whole place. And there's a wall on the bottom floor lit by fluorescent pink lights.

So no pictures of its amazingness. I do however have a lovely photo taken on his patio of me, three lovely librarians who helped organise several of the events (Alison O'Reilly, Nichole Chagnon and Michelle Beebower), as well as authors Perry Moore, and April Lurie:



So the house was packed, and considering it was a big house, that's saying something. I got to meet Padma Lakshmi who is another author with Weinstein Books (Tangy Tart Hot & Sweet), as well as the utterly gorgeous model/actress/host of Top Chef (and ex-Mrs. Rushdie). She was very sweet, but we didn't get to chat long as I was being taken away to participate in one of the events for the festival which was called "Not For Required Reading" and took place at this awesome movie theatre where they bring you food and drinks and stuff to your seats.

I was on the panel with a number of other authors:

(Right to Left: Jacques Couvillon, Cynthia Leitich Smith, Perry Moore, Neal Shusterman, April Lurie, Me, Brian Yansky, and Sherman Alexie. photo courtesy of Oops . . . Wrong Cookie)

First we went down the panel and talked a bit about ourselves and then read from our books. I wasn't expecting to read from my book, and I couldn't think of a bit short enough so that when they got to me I said that I was unprepared and so I was just going to open my book and read whatever page was in front of me. It turned out okay.

Then we were asked some very silly questions (ie Coke or Dr. Pepper?). And then we signed books.

I had arranged to meet my friend Sean, who I went to LAMDA with and who now lives in Austin with his wife, for drinks after. And it was so cool to see him again! It's so weird how several years can pass, but it can feel like nothing at all.

The next day I met up with Katie again and we went to watch Carl Bernstein give a talk about his new biography about Hilary Clinton, very interesting. Then it was my turn, and I joined April Lurie and Cynthia Leitich Smith again for our "Tough Girls" panel. The room was packed and it was so cool because the whole event took place in the capitol building so our panel was located in a room that I am sure judges or something usually use because we were sitting at this curved desk with these little microphones and I felt like I was in some 1950's movie and doing something . . . political. But I wasn't.

The panel went well and I got to talk about children's books to adults, which is very refreshing as there is a lot to say about the nature of writing children's books that isn't necessarily directed towards kids (not to say that talking about it with kids isn't great as well, just different).

After the panel we signed some books in the tent and then that was it. Katie and I went to the airport, hung out a bit, and then went our separate ways.

The whole weekend was just lovely. The weather I am told was unseasonably warm (and by that I mean hot), so I got to wear my summer dresses one last time. The festival was so well organised, I got emails weeks in advance prepping me for the panels I was to do, and once I was there everything worked like clockwork. And Austin itself is just such a lovely city. It's a very arsty town, and the people are just so warm and lovely.

A really fab trip.

Just wish I had pictures of it.

Sigh.

Prelude

I am almost back in the blogosphere. Not tonight though because I am pooped.

However I just had to share . . . drum roll please . . . .

Timothy and the Dragon's Gate is finished!

Okay, finished is a relative term. I still have to do edits with my editors and stuff, but as of last night I have emailed off the manuscript to my agent and editors and I am thrilled.

Seriously.

Wasn't sure I had it in me. I've been working on this book for almost a year now. It's been on my mind longer than that. Heck, I even had the stereotypical sleepless nights because of it.

And it's finished.

Sort of.

Relatively.

And I am pooped.

Rehearsal Pics

I'm so sorry I'm not posting these days. The deadline for Timothy draws near and rehearsals for Macbeth have gone into overtime (I play Third Witch and Gentlewoman) as we open on Wednesday. But I thought I would post some pics I took at Thursday's rehearsal, 'cause, I dunno, I think they're cool and interesting. Since I took them, none are of me (except for the last one where I am queen of the streetcar. It was weird, four of us caught the streetcar home that night, and no one was on it, and no one boarded it later on. It was our streetcar. So of course we took pictures).

Enjoy!

Several of the cast preparing for fight call.


Lucy our fabulously glamorous stage manager.


John (our Macbeth) standing under a viking poster. Total accident, but awesome photo op.


Some of the lads prepare for battle!


Watching other people fight.


Chris also watching other people fight.


Casey preparing to be a witch.


Lesley (our Lady Macbeth - and writing buddy whom I've mentioned often here and have posted pictures of from our adventures in New York) reads a letter from her hubby [that would be Macbeth].


Lady Macbeth welcomes Duncan the King to her home. She's going to have him killed a few scenes later. Naughty.


Actors resting and waiting for their scenes.


Macbeth unsure he wants to kill Duncan. Lady Macbeth assuring him he does.


Empty streetcar photos. John, Peter and Lesley - posing for an album cover.


Me as queen of the streetcar with my flunkies - John and Peter.

Another brief visit with some news

Not that anyone has asked, but I have imagined that some people may wonder why I keep the Temp part of "The Temp, The Actress and The Writer". I haven't temped in over a year. Seems silly. Well. One reason is because temping was a part of my life and had a lot to do with both my acting and writing careers, so it doesn't feel quite right doing away with it.

Also it is really tough finding a good title. And "The Temp, The Actress and The Writer" is a good title.

And on that note. . . . and brilliant segue . . . . I would like to announce that I have a title for my next book (or at least the American title, it may yet change in the UK) . . . ready for it . . .

Timothy and the Dragon's Gate.

I like it very much.


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Next bit of news. I will be speaking at the monthly breakfast held by The Writer's Circle of Durham Region this Saturday. Here is all the info if anyone is interested.


Lastly can I say that I really miss you guys? - and I have much to share (Hallowe'en stories, pictures and of course the tale of the Texas Book Festival). But I simply have to focus on the writing right now. I hope to be with you all very very soon though!

Big sloppy kisses!

I must leave you all for a time!

And I am sorry as ever to do it, especially now that I have met so many of you in the comments section of the post below (thank you so much for indulging me everyone, it was really cool).

But I am drawing near, very near, to my deadline for book 2 and I really need to focus all writing energy on that. So it will probably be two weeks, or so before we meet again, but trust me I will be thinking of you all often!

Big sloppy kisses!

As the Caterpillar said . . .

I saw this on another blog a couple months back and after a few people introduced themselves in the comments section in the last post, I thought it could be a cool idea.

By using my lovely Statcounter, I know there are more of you out there than usually comment. Now I know it isn't international de-lurking month (or was it week, day?) but I have always been a very curious person, as well as someone who really likes meeting new people, so I thought, if you all didn't mind, that maybe you could come out of the shadows, just for this post. You are not obligated to comment all the time or even ever again (as I can imagine that pressure could be there once you have commented once), but just this once . . . could be neat.

So who are you (as the Caterpillar in Alice in Wonderland would ask)? Do you write and if so what? Anything else that we would find amusing, interesting, or scratch our chins in contemplation over? Come on my lovely readers . . . step into the light . . .

A Really Special Day

So yesterday was that book launch/reading/signing thingy for Alex at Indigo at Yorkdale that I was telling you all about and it was pretty darn amazing.

My mom and dad basically organised the whole thing, aside from a few mentions here, a mass email and an invite on Facebook, I did basically nothing. They had made postcards, and invited all their friends and extended family. You know, you invite 50 people in the hopes 10 will actually come, that sort of thing?

But what happens when almost everyone you invite shows up?

But back to the start of the tale.

My mom picked me up from my place and we drove up to Yorkdale Mall for around 1pm. For those not in the know, Yorkdale Mall is one of the biggest in the city, and slightly outside of downtown so there is a massive parking lot surrounding it. And on the weekends, the place is packed. Like unbelievably so. It's sort of hard to describe just how packed. Anyway, this matters to the tale later on.

We went up to the children's book section of the Indigo to meet with Wendy who is in charge of the section as well as doing these book launch things. She's done quite a few in the past (in fact almost exactly a year ago we'd been to the book launch of a friend Rona Arato's book Ice Cream Town, and Wendy had helped organised that one as well), and is extremely enthusiastic. I had actually met her at the Scholastic dinner and had a lovely chat.

So with the help of many other fine Indigo staff, along with my aunt Betty who showed up soon after with veggies and dip, and Denise from Scholastic (who even brought me a pen to sign books with), we set up the food and coffee tables and chairs, and the sound system. People were slowly arriving (my good friend Lisa's mother Sabrina arrived early and helped us set out the cupcakes in a very artistic manner). And they just sort of kept coming. And coming. And suddenly I went from, "Eh this is all old hat by now, I've done many readings already" to complete terror as the numbers grew. Fortunately it was a very loving crowd, consisting mostly entirely of family and friends. But it was still pretty overwhelming.

Just before things got started two of my friends showed up dressed as pirates. Let me tell you, I live a strange life that I can have friends who happen to be in the neighbourhood dressed as pirates call me and ask if they should stop by. Of course I said yes (one of them, Scott, had been with me at Word on the Street, the other, Adrianna, added a nice feminine quality. Well as feminine as a pirate can be really . . .)!

Eventually it got to a point where we just had to get things started or people would start to get restless so I signalled Wendy and she gave me just a lovely introduction. Then my pirates carried me over to the table where I began my reading. Silly thing, started talking at the mic, thanking everyone for coming and got completely overwhelmed and started to cry. I was so not expecting that, but when you are staring out at a crowd of people who are all there because they want to show their support, friends, family (all my grandparents and their siblings and their children and cousins and and . . . ), along with several Scholastic folks, well it's a little hard not to feel a bit overcome.

Nonetheless I recovered I think rather admirably, and did my reading.

Afterwards I signed books for I think an hour, the line was long and I had to chat a bit with everyone, as I knew almost all of them. It was a bit too bad that I couldn't talk and hang with them for longer, but I still think the whole thing worked out really well.

As things were clearing out, one of my friends mentioned that two of my friends had been driving around the parking lot for half an hour (told you it was packed) which was why they were late and so I stuck around to wait for them. They showed up as we were cleaning up and I was so grateful that despite it all they still came. So they gave me a high five, we chatted for a few minutes, and then they left. What a way for them to spend a Sunday afternoon!

And then it was over, an hour and a half after it had begun. That's what people call a whirlwind!

Special thanks to everyone at Indigo, you guys were amazing and so helpful! The Scholastic folks, Denise who helped set up, and all the others who showed up just to show their support! All my friends and family, and of course my mom and dad, but (daddy I'm sorry) especially my mom, who really did organise everything - coordinating everything with Scholastic and meeting with Wendy, not to mention getting all the food and decorations, it really was her party! Thank you so much!

Also, I wanted to add that I got to meet Heidi the hick and her hicklettes and it was AWESOME! I love the blogosphere. And can I tell you that it is very odd she likes to hide her face like that because it is a very pretty face and should be shared with the world. Anyway, Heidi, it was great to meet you!

And last but not least, to the Ironic Gentleman, thank you very much for the flowers and survival kit. It was a complete surprise when Wendy presented me with them! (though I really am dying to know who you actually are, so PLEASE tell me!)



It was a pretty darn good day.

And now. . . pictures!!

My friend Ashley showing you all the food table.

My lovely focus group, Heather, Wendy and Harry.

A section of the crowd all paying rapt attention to my amazing reading.

Me rapt-ing my amazing audience.

Me signing and feeling rather overwhelmed.

Me and Wendy (from Indigo) and my two fab pirates!

Political Rant

Yes politics and religion, best not to talk about in polite company, and an odd thing to find discussed on a blog devoted to acting and writing. But I have been feeling very strongly about a recent vote we had here in Ontario and just had to share my opinion with y'all.

I hope you don't mind the digression.

On Wednesday we had a provincial election (we elect Premiers here in Canada). But that isn't really what has got me a bit peeved. What has got me a bit peeved, is that at the same time as we were electing a party to run the province, we were having a referendum. And this is what gets to me, because this referendum was incredibly mismanaged.

First off, very few people knew there was a referendum happening in the first place. I've heard people say things like, "And then there was this extra piece of paper . . . "

And Second, people really did not understand the issue. Which is understandable because watch me try to explain it to you now. The referendum was a vote for whether or not we should change the current way we elect members of parliament. The new version was called MMP: Mixed Member Proportional.

Let's have Wikipedia explain what that is:

"In this system, a voter casts two votes - one for a candidate (or 'local member') and one for a political party. The local member is elected in a first-past-the-post style election and represents the electoral district, while the political party vote determines, in conjunction with the number of elected local members belonging to each party, how many list members a party receives. A list member is a candidate on an ordered list that a party issues before the election; if the MMP formula determines that a party can have more seats than it won locally, it receives a "top up" number of list seats. Under this new system, the Legislature would have 129 seats: 90 local members (70% of the Legislature) and 39 list members (30% of the Legislature)."

Basically there are two ways you can vote (okay I am sure there are more, but for my purposes . . . ) One is you vote for the person you vote for, and whoever gets the most votes wins. Makes sense. This is called "First Past the Post".

BUT, what is John Smith gets 51 votes, and Annie Doe gets 49? Well yes John Smith technically won the election but almost half the population wanted Annie. And then what if in other ridings the same thing happens, and occasionally Annie's party wins some seats, but not as many as John, so that it is still possible that in the end, Annie could have actually had MORE votes than John despite his win.

The "Popular vote" decides the election by actual number of votes cast per party and in such a case, Annie would have won.

The MMP new way of voting would have combined the two ways of voting.

Okay, so there are pros and cons and I have seen sites devoted to why you shouldn't vote for MMP and why you should. I'm not saying MMP is the answer or even what people had to vote for.

My point: Very few people knew there was a referendum, and those that did, didn't understand what the heck the question was about. I know of people who went into the booth, looked at the question and went, "Well I don't know what all this is about, I guess let's just keep it as is" and that was why they voted the way they did.

This was the first referendum Ontario had had in 83 years!! And no one understood, or cared, or even knew about it!

And I put the blame on the media (sure they are an easy target but hear me out). I know every detail of Britney's custody battle, but darn it if even I can explain the MMP thing clearly (and I understand it!)! They tried, there were some television ads that told people to go to a website to read about it (yeah . . . right . . . people are going to do that . . . ), but the MMP thing should have been there all the time, being shoved down our throats so we were getting sick of the topic. Instead . . . well instead it was barely a blip on the radar.

So we get a really pathetic referendum. Yes on the surface: the people voted no. But that isn't what happened. The people voted "I don't know" or "what are you talking about?"

And that's just sad.

Political rant over.

Thank you.

And yet more links . . .

Okay so I'm just showing off now, but in case any of you are interested:

I was interviewed by Allie Boniface over at her blog: Allie's Musings

Also I mentioned how in St. Louis I did a radio interview with the head of the Big Read by phone, well I found the link here. It is around twenty minutes long so be warned . . . .

And now I am getting ready to do a reading at Rosedale Heights again. I really enjoyed my first time back in February, the kids were really supportive. Fingers crossed it's just as great thing time!

And the Adventure continues . . .

Okay. So the whirlwind which was this extra long week has finally come to a close. Not that there still isn't quite a bit coming up in the near future, but man, I have to say, I'm pooped.

Also it isn't exactly like this extra long week was particularly painful. It was, dare I say it, down right pleasant, and as always there is much to share. So, let's get sharing!

The week continued with Wednesday, many weeks do tend continue this way, nonetheless . . . Wednesday evening was the Scholastic Canada dinner at the Gardiner Museum (a ridiculously convenient location for me to get to). It was really lovely, and I got to meet many another author and bookseller. But the highlight for me would have to be getting to chat with Gordon Korman. I loved his books growing up, and when I was little could not get over the fact he was first published by Scholastic at 12. We spoke a bit, can't really remember about what as my internal dialogue was, "I'm talking to Gordon Korman, I'm talking to Gordon Korman, OMG I am talking to Gordon Korman!" And then he signed a copy of his latest book, Schooled, for me, and then . . . tee hee . . . I signed a copy of mine for his kids!

Then I flew out the next day to St Louis Missouri to attend the Big Read Festival.

Toronto being consumed by a thick fog off Lake Ontario. Cool huh?

St Louis was hot. And I was told, unseasonably so (though as I write this Toronto is having its hottest Thanksgiving on record, so I guess it is happening everywhere). I spent the first night hanging out in my room, and then going to bed early as I was visiting schools the next day.

The next day proved to be even hotter, and I was very proud of myself that I had packed so well for the trip - that is summer dresses etc. So I met this lovely woman, Lisa from Left Bank Books who was going to be driving me to my first location, down in the lobby and she informed me that we had to wait for Peter Brown. Now for those of you who have read a lot of this blog, you will remember that Pete is my artist pen pal from New York who is the author and illustrator of the Chowder book series (his latest, The Fabulous Bouncing Chowder just came out). I knew he was going to be at the festival, but I didn't know when I'd see him so it was so cool that we were being driven around together.

We drove to Pete's school first, dropped him off, and then continued to Central Elementary where I got to speak to a gym full of kids. I spoke. I read. We did a Q and A, and it was really fun. The kids were very enthusiastic, as were the teachers (one of them had been reading my book to his class, which was so cool!).

I was supposed to do a radio interview next, but the person who was supposed to pick me up got lost and then ran out of time so had to go to the interview without me. But fear not, the amazing Lisa managed to still get me on the air via telephone. Now it is rather difficult to do a radio interview by telephone. You have no idea if they can hear you, if they want you to stop talking . . . really odd. But I think it went well, and it was pretty fun!

Then I was picked up by a Big Read volunteer Lauren, and we went for lunch, and then she drove me over to Maplewood-Richmond Heights Elementary, where I had to do three presentations in a row. I was concerned how overwhelming the experience might be, but the kids were so enthusiastic, and really sweet, and they all wanted my autograph (yes some rock stars sign certain body parts, I sign backpacks). I wound up having a wonderful time.

Then I was driven back to the hotel by one of the teachers and I just lay on my bed in utter exhaustion. Pete, his girlfriend Vinnetta, and I had considered going site seeing in the afternoon, but it turned out that he too had had a heck of a day so instead we agreed we'd just go for dinner. We went to this really great tapas restaurant called Bar-celona, get it get it? We showed up around 6:30pm and got a seat on the patio. We must have come just at the right time because maybe half an hour later the place was packed and there was a long line waiting to get in. It was such a nice night, the sort of night you totally forget about the weather because it is the perfect temperature.

Pete and Vinnetta at the tapas bar.

We parted ways a couple of hours later, Pete was doing his thing at the Big Read at 9am so he needed to crash, and I watched some tv in my room and went to bed.

I had to check out of the hotel at noon, so I stored my bag in the lobby and went for a brief meander around the Big Read, saw Dorothy Hamill talk in one of the tents, and then met up with the other two authors - Sharon Shinn and Vicki Grove - who were on the Girl Power Hour panel at 2pm with me. I was nervous because I had no idea what I was going to talk about but fortunately neither did Sharon or Vicki. We chatted a bit, figured out a game plan, and then were introduced. We each talked and read for 15 minutes, and then answered questions.

Then it was off to the airport for a long trip home by way of Charlotte and a slightly uncomfortable taxi ride back to my apartment where the driver informed me that this was his first day back after three years. You see he had gotten into a head on collision and spent 3 months in a wheel chair and still got anxiety attacks. Yes it is impressive how well he recovered, and really horrible what happened to him . . . but I don't really think I need to know those particular details of the driver who is navigating his way along the newly slicked roads from the storm that just passed.

But I made it home safely, and have lived to blog about the tale here today.
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Just a reminder that this coming Sunday (October 14th) at 2pm, I am doing a book launch/signing/reading thing at Indigo at Yorkdale Mall here in Toronto.

Also I apologise for the lack of me on Etalk. I keep getting bumped so I can't really tell you when I'll be on. However that interview I did for Space, while it hasn't aired on TV yet, you can listen to some of it on the Space Podcast here - just scroll forward just past the halfway mark (though you can listen to the whole thing, the Space podcasts are pretty cool).

I've been a busy girl!

And rather remiss at posting! But I am sure you will all forgive me once I share with you the details of the week I am having right now.

The week actually started on Friday for me when I was flown out to Providence Rhode Island for the NEBA Trade Show. The plane I was in - 18 seats. Yes. One row of nine seats, an aisle, and another row of nine seats. And no flight attendants so that the co-pilot announced: "If it's too cold or too warm or anything, just knock on the door and let us know!"

Oh and also propellers attached to the wings that were so loud you really couldn't talk to anyone.

The whole plane. I was sitting in row one. This is it folks.

And the view from my seat. The cockpit. Yup, I was practically flying the plane myself.

Anyway, I get into Rhode Island, and a driver is waiting for me holding a sign with my name. He was a really nice guy, used to be a prison guard, and we had a lovely chat. Then I arrived at the hotel, had some room service and then went to the trade show to sign books.

I'd been slotted in for 2:30pm and while I didn't have a huge line like the other authors next to me, I signed consistently for the full half hour. It was fun, and the people I met were really nice.

Then I went back to my hotel and continued to watch the America's Next Top Model marathon I had been watching over lunch (and by marathon I mean a marathon of episodes from a few seasons back, not a marathon with models running or anything, though I think that could be quite amusing, especially if they were doing it in high fashion. And heels.). Then I got ready for dinner with some bookbuyers etc.

Artsy picture of me in my hotel room.

I met Katie and Camille (from Weinstein Books) along with Vincent (Vincent Lam, a fellow author who I talked about back at the BEA thing, he won the Giller, the big book award here in Canada, and is now being published by Weinstein in the states), and we all walked over to the restaurant. We sort of stood around waiting for people to show, and then when they did we had a really lovely time. Amazing food, and everyone was chatty (though I have to say when I started on about Shakespeare, I kind of took over the conversation for a while. Gave a bit of a lecture really - ah well).

Then the next morning Vincent and I flew home (he's from Toronto too) together, in the SAME PLANE (same pilot and everything). And my parents drove us both home from the airport (my parents really like giving rides to people).

NEXT

The next day was Word on the Street, a book festival that happens in Toronto once a year that takes over an area of downtown by the university.

My name on the list of authors reading!

I was doing a reading at 5:30pm, which is right at the end of the day and I was worried I wouldn't have an audience. So I had asked some of my friends if they would mind dressing as pirates and wrangling an audience together. My friends really like being pirates. They have their own costumes, and weapons and did their job brilliantly well!

But before the reading I met up with my publicist girl person Jessica at the Scholastic booth and she showed me to the VIP section for authors (yes. I know. VIP. Me.). Which is when she had to go back to work so I was all alone feeling silly, and finally just had to jump in the midst of a group of guys who were standing chatting right next to me. They were all very nice, two of them are artists (of the graphic novel variety) and gave me a copy of each of their books - Infinite Kung Fu by Kagan McLeod, and Monster Cops by Chip Zdarsky. I have to say after a quick perusal of the books, the gents are pretty darn talented.

Then I met up with Sherri Vanderveen, author of Belle Falls (and someone I had met on AW) and her friend who is also an author. We chatted about writing, and the crazy world that is our industry, and had a really lovely time. Then I had to go meet my pirates (who had been roaming about the event promoting my reading - darling boys) and go to the Children's Reading Tent.

My pirates totally pulled through for me. When I sat down there weren't that many people there, but my pirates had gone off to do a sword fight and then bring the kids over to me, and they totally did! So I was thrilled that I actually had kids to read to and not just my family (who also turned up and of course it was great that they did, but I mean . . . you want the kids, that's after all for whom the book was written!).

I did the reading, I think it went very well, and then signed a few books. And then that was it. And I was pooped.

NEXT

THEN . . . . yesterday I had two TV interviews. And I was terrified. Yes I am an actress, but playing yourself is really different and scary. Also I had never done a TV interview before, so I was worried I'd just go on, or talk to fast or . . . Anyway, in the end they both went well (I mean, I had a good time, I have no idea what the finished product looks like or anything) and if any of you guys are in the vicinity check out ETalk on CTV at 7pm tomorrow (Wednesday), and SPACE sometime next week (the podcast should be up sooner - I'll link to it when the time comes).

I'm not sure if I am brave enough to watch them myself though.

ALSO

MY BOOK OFFICIALLY CAME OUT IN CANADA YESTERDAY!!!! And yes there is something anti-climactic about it seeing as I've seen it in the bookstores for a week now, and have signed many of the copies, but it's still pretty darn cool. So there were some celebratory drinks last night as well.

So that's what I've been up to so far!

Tomorrow I am going to a dinner at the Gardiner Museum hosted by Scholastic, and then on Thursday I fly out to St Louis Missouri for the Big Read Festival. So you see, I truly am a busy girl! And I hope you can forgive my poor blogging habits of late!

xoxox

Guess what's finally made it to Canada!

Note how well my friend Joanna manages to indicate both the sign at the top and the books on the bottom - a natural book model!

She did it so well, I just had to join her!

And yes you saw correctly, it's on the Best Kids Books Ever table (though, let's be honest here folks, where else should it be put really?)!

Yes it may be a week early, but Alex is starting to find its way to bookshelves here in the country where I was born and raised and live in and love so much!

And my friend Joanna and I just had to track them down! Of course when we did I made a point of signing all 12 copies that they had, and then Joanna had to walk by the shelf and pick up one of the books and say loudly, "Hmm this looks good!"

It was totally amazing. Felt more real I think than any of the releases so far, simply because I am in the correct country this time. And mom and dad also managed to make their way downtown to check it out later that same afternoon! They were happy. Really really happy.

Sigh. Life ain't so bad.

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On another note I am going to be signing books at two different festivals this weekend for anyone in the vicinity.

The first will be this Friday at the New England Independent Booksellers Association Trade Show in Providence, Rhode Island at 2:30pm.

The next, at Word on the Street here in Toronto (Queen's Park), this Sunday at 5:30pm (I'll also be doing a reading, as well as a signing, and I have a couple pirate friends who will be hanging out with me as well!).

Also, I'll totally remind everyone of this closer to the date, but October 14th, which is a Sunday (and not the Sunday of the long weekend for those Canadians out there), I am doing a reading/signing/mini-launch [though we are not allowed to call it that] thing at Indigo at Yorkdale Mall at 2:00pm. There will be food and beverages [of the non-alcoholic variety], very kid friendly the whole thing, and it should be a really good time, so please do come along if you are in the neighbourhood!

A Really Lovely Review

Just wanted to link everyone to a really lovely, and well written, review over at BuddyHollywood.com written by Alice Loweecey (who is an author in her own right). So check it out: Review

And also if you are in the mood here's another good one at Amazon.

People may not always see it, but there is a real skill required to writing reviews. Many just summarise the novel without offering an opinion, or others just offer up opinion and you have no idea what the book is about. And some people just don't know how to string a sentence together. These two ladies not only get it right, they manage to do it in a relatively concise and clever manner (and they like my book, which is simply a mark of their excellent good taste!).

Props ladies, serious props.

Alex and the Ironic Gentleman out TODAY in the States!

Yes all, today is the official release date for Alex and the Ironic Gentleman in the U S of A!! So exciting!!! And of course I am totally in the wrong country for it! So again I request pictures of your glamorous selves and the American version of the book, and if anyone can get a shot of the book in store that would be awesome!!

Also, for those of you who have read the book, I am sending people over to Barnes and Noble and Amazon to write such oh so fabulous and glamorous reviews (cheeky of me, I know - I would do it myself but I think that might be a conflict of interest, besides I'm not so sure how generous I'd be towards myself . . . did you ever get those teachers in school who asked you to grade yourself? Man I hated those . . . anyway . . . ), so if you feel up to it, or are bored at work, or need an opportunity to procrastinate from writing . . . I would be so grateful! Thank you!

Ooh, even more exciting . . . I was also interviewed over at the Writerly Pause, so go check it out! We had such a good time, such a lovely group of people, and genuinely excited about books (some being authors in their own rights). Thanks guys so much again and, as Pat put it, you rock!

Now for a few more pictures of lovely readers!

First we have Heather [and her cat], a fellow Canadian and part of my original focus group when I needed help editing the book. Look how intensely she reads, it's because I am sure she is reading a very intense moment (not posing for the camera at all . . . ).



Then we fly across the ocean to Germany where I present to you all the first evidence that, yes, the German version of my book does exist in hard copy, and yes still has the world's best title. Holding said tome is Mira, the daughter of a friend of fellow AWer Sharon! Doesn't she look thrilled to be in possession of my book (and isn't she just adorable! And doesn't my book look HUGE in her hands?)!




I really love these pictures, so please keep them coming! And of course I won't post anything without your permission - but come on, who doesn't want the fame that comes with being featured on The Temp, The Actress, and The Writer? Exactly!

The Agent, The Minder and The Editor (and Me!)

Okay get cozy because it's time for another long tale!

So I have just returned from the UK and I had a lovely time! The first half of my trip was devoted to seeing old friends and visiting old haunts. I also got to go for lunch with my agent Julia at an amzing Italian restaurant. It was so great to see her again and to talk shop. But I also just like hanging out with her as we always have a fun time together. And we always seem to go for good food as well. Go us!

During this time I did make a point of seeking out my book in a bookstore as as we all know I hadn't had the privilege of walking into a bookstore and seeing the book on my shelf. So now to add to all the photos of other people with my book, may I present me with my book!




And me and my friend Sarah looking thoughtfully (and slightly suspiciously at my book):




It is a slightly surreal experience walking into a store on the other side of the ocean and seeing your book and your name on the shelf. Also it's kind of wonderful!

Okay back to story. The second half of my trip was devoted to the book and stuff. On the Monday night I was moved into a beautiful hotel, The Montague, right around the corner from the British Museum, and a truly awesome room.

Yes no one else was in the room and yes this was taken on a timer.

Here are more pictures of truly awesome room. From many angles.

Bed with very high ceiling and canopy

Little desk nook area with railing and stairs.

The stairs.

View from bathroom up towards nook.

After a lovely evening which involved a visit to the Museum, a conference call with my American editor, the most awkward dinner ever where I was the only person in the whole dining room and the wait staff kept peeking around the corner to check up on me, a bath, and watching City Slickers, I woke up bright and early the next morning to meet the lovely Alyx from Scholastic for our trip to Manchester.

Can I say, it is odd having a minder. I have always considered myself pretty independent and stuff, but I have to say when you have someone else taking care of all the details for you, you really start to feel helpless without them. And I mean I was only with her for two days. Imagine being super famous with an entire entourage. Kind of makes you understand a bit better how those superstars can make really big mistakes when on their own. Kind of. Sort of. Not really though (speaking of mistakes, can I say the thing that has got to me about that whole Britney Spears performance fiasco, aside from how sad it was, was how everyone was calling her fat. I'm sorry, she might not be as skinny as she was, or as toned, but she is simply not fat. And I am angry about that. Ehem.)

Anyway . . .

We get on the train and head up to Leicester. On the way we chat a bit, she's really cool, and I constantly look over her shoulder at her typing on her Blackberry.

"Who are you writing to?"
"What are you writing about?"
"Who are you writing to now?"

Actually one of the people she was writing to was Philip Pullman with whom she was organising stuff with regards to the film release of "The Golden Compass" based on his book series "His Dark Materials" (the trailers look gorgeous! As does Daniel Craig who is in it). That was pretty cool.

Then we arrived in Leicester and we went to the Borders there where the greatest class of kids were waiting for us. Some even dressed as pirates! So I talked to them about how I wrote the book, read a little (the fencing scene, and I demonstrated some of the positions for them), answered some questions, and then signed some books.

Action shot. Yes even my hair gets involved.

I think we all had a pretty fun time. I know I did, and the kids seemed to laugh a lot.

The whole thing had been organised by this girl Ria who had contacted me through this blog and I have to say she was just amazing, and big thank you to her once more, the whole event was just lovely.

Me and Ria.

Then Alyx and I were back on the train for Manchester where she helped me prepare a ten minute little talk for the book buyers. When we arrived I got to hang out in my hotel room for a bit, kind of get a second wind. Here is a picture of the hotel room.



And then Alyx came and fetched me and we went to a hotel right across the street where some Scholastic folks were doing a presentation of the winter/spring line-up to the book buyers and where I would talk for the last ten minutes (as they are releasing my book in paper back in the spring). So I went in at the end of the talk and spoke for ten minutes, and I think actually managed to speak for just ten minutes. I was so proud of myself! As we all know I have the tendency to just go on and on . . .

Then we had a lovely dinner with the book buyers (who were all really nice and enthusiastic), and then off to bed again.

Next day Alyx and I went around to sign stock in Manchester. Signing stock is basically going into a store, signing books, and then leaving. It isn't like a proper sit down signing or anything. Then we returned to London (a 3 hour train ride which is about as much time it takes to get to my cottage in Canada, but in the UK is crossing the country), and signed some stock in London before meeting up with my editor Elv, and agent Julia, for an evening of dinner and theatre. I had suggested Spamalot, and I have to say it was rather good. Some of the jokes didn't quite work (as in they would have made more sense on Broadway as opposed to the West End) but it was really funny, lived up to the movie, and definitely ended better than the movie did. Oh and for any Coronation Street fans out there, you know evil Charlie? The one who just was so horrible to all the women on the street? He played Lancelot!!!! When he bowed he got boos, and I'm pretty sure it didn't have anything to do with his performance (he was pretty good), just that he was evil Charlie!

Julia my agent, Alyx my minder, and me pointing at programme by way of indicating we were at Spamalot. It is important to point at things like that, otherwise indicating becomes much more difficult.

Checked into new hotel. Room looked like this.




Next morning had an editorial meeting with Elv which went really well (and she seemed very excited about Timothy!) then we went for sushi.

Elv contemplating Sushi.

Then back to the Scholastic offices.

Me and Elv at Scholastic

View from Alyx's office (of King's Cross St Pancras).

I answered some questions on this online community for schools thing called Superclubs Plus. All the kids had read the book and I had like 8 pages to get through (which I couldn't actually get through so the girl who was helping me said she would email me the rest of them) and then a telephone interview with Nikki Gamble of Writeaway. And then I went with my new minder Camilla (Alyx had to go to Eastbourne and help prepare for her sister's wedding) to Harrods where I signed yet more stock. And even though it was just a stock signing they set up a pretty red table for me.

Camilla and Me and little red table of books.

And then I learned about "sign, line and date." Do you know what that is? Cause I had no idea. The woman at Harrods had to explain it to me. Evidently a book is more valuable if the author has signed their name, dated it and . . . written the first line of the book into it.

??

Do any of you guys know why that is? I was thinking maybe it went back to when manuscripts were hand written initially, so that when the printed edition came out you would have a mini-version of the original copy. But I don't know it that's right.

Anyway did it for 40 books. Was very proud of myself. I also know the first line of my book off by heart now.

And then that was it! I met with my friend Heather in the evening for dinner and Harry Potter movie. Returned to the hotel to get up bright and early to get to the airport the next morning.

It was a great time, but really quite tiring. Still I want to thank everyone at Scholastic for their wonderfulness, I felt very well cared for indeed.

And it's quite nice to be back, physically in Canada, and also virtually here on the web! There ain't nothing quite like home really.

Phew. I did it! I finished the story! Now I have to go upload all the photos. Sigh, a blogger's work is never done!

A Quick Jump Across the Pond

Hey all!

So I will be doing one of those hiatus things again as I go across to the UK for 10 days to see old friends and promote the book. Mostly industry stuff, but I will be doing two public event thingys if anyone is in the neighbourhood and wants to say hi:

Tuesday 11th Sept - Leicester
11am - Schools Talk @ Borders Books and Music

Wednesday 12th Sept - London
3pm - Signing @ Waterstones in Harrods (Knightsbridge)

Of course you can all be guaranteed of pictures and the world's longest blog entry upon my return. Until then, I shall miss you all as I ever do, and as Red Green would say, "Keep your stick on the ice!"