Spring has sprung, and with it, my new novel is now out of its packing box and into the hands of readers. As an author, this is a vulnerable time. While my editor and three preview readers have read the book, how will everyone else respond? I can picture heads bent over the book, but I can’t see if there are smiles or frowns. And if I did see them, would I know what they meant? Reading is so personal. All of us with our likes and dislikes. But when a story is done it’s time to let the characters stretch their legs and wander. I hope you enjoying roaming with them. Do let me know.
Book Launch, PR & Marketing
On March 28th, family, friends and colleagues gathered at Verity to help launch The Acquisition of Elizabeth Grace. On April 9th sixty more dropped by at our Meet the Author night at TYPE BOOKS Forest Hill Village. On April 4th and 10th, two smaller groups gathered, organized by friends. A big thank you to Joyce Ho and Alex Hahn. These nights are the first of many events we have lined up, and a sincere thanks to all who helped and joined in. I’m enjoying the mix of small intimate groups and larger venues – my head spins in both with all the great questions being posed about my novels and about the writing process.
Over the past month PR opportunities have been sprouting up. Many have come through Sasha Stoltz, RE:BOOKS’s PR consultant. The first was a radio interview with LA’s Nexlegacy Radio. I was excited and nervous, but then the host, Charlie Madison, was the most relaxed soul, with such a soft kind voice (made for radio!), and our half hour flew by. It was so much fun. The next couple of interviews involved TV and streaming and twice my seven year old computer rolled it’s eyes up at me and froze. A big thank you to my son Patrick, for jumping in both times with his high powered computer. In particular, the “What She Said” interview with Candace Sampson was memorable. She’s a super smart woman, with a wide array of interesting guests, and is someone I now follow.
Curiously, magazine interviews (digital and print), often take the form of them sending me questions and I write out the answers. As a writer, those questions can take me down the rabbit hole for a few hours as I try to capture my response with the best words possible. At first I thought it was odd to be given full control of my response, but I’m finding it’s a sure way of not being misquoted. I had a couple of Globe & Mail interviews in my previous business life where the writers had an angle they wanted to present as they came into the interview. This resulted in my words being shoved around to fit the message they wanted to present. No risk of that happening right now, which I appreciate.
What I find interesting in this PR journey, is that that two exceptional opportunities have come through friends reaching out and making introductions. A big thank you to Angel Harding for introducing me to the Toronto Public Library Foundation. I was invited to be one of their forty authors being hosted at Biblio Bash, the Toronto Public Library’s Annual Gala on April 25th. And another big thank you to Alison Bowen, who connected me to Leslie White and Cynthia Heyd of Twin-Agers. In April, they profiled my transition from forty years in the financial services business to a novelist with two published books and one in the works. You can access that profile here.
Launching The Acquisition of Elizabeth Grace
Thanks to all who joined us at Verity and TYPE BOOKS Forest Hill Village. I enjoyed listening to your voices – a steady hum punctuated by laughter as many of you met new friends and reconnected with others from long ago. It has been an unexpected bonus to see so many friends all in one place, and to inevitably learn so many of you know each other. Thanks to all of you for your kind support.
New Year’s Eve Sequin Dress
Within he Acquisition of Elizabeth Grace, Elizabeth Grace appears in a sequin dress at the New Year’s Eve party in Oaklawn Park Hotel. This early 1960’s dress inspired that scene. I bought this at a vintage store over ten years ago for a ROM Gala. Both my daughter Jacquie and I have enjoyed wearing it. A big thank you to the mystery model, who jumped in to help me show this dress “off the hanger”. I’m truly blessed with the best of friends.
Scone Update:
In my search around Toronto for the perfect scone, I’m learning it really depends on how much butter and sugar you prefer. For me, I love the combination in Gerrard St. Bakery’s lemon and black currant scone. Their blueberry, chocolate chip and walnut, and savoury scones are equally fantastic!
Coming up in CREEMORE
Saturday April 27th – In celebration of Canadian Independent Bookstore Day, Rina Barone of Curiosity House Books has invited author Barbara McLean and me to join her for a book signing, giveaways and cake! All are welcome. If you will be in the area, please do stop by! I’ll be there 11am to 1pm.
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