Posts Tagged ‘book signing’
Fun Book Tour Events
Posted on: October 15, 2017
- In: Books | Events
- 47 Comments
As you could see from my previous posts, I had a wonderful time back in Canada visiting family and friends. But the trip was also to promote my books, more specifically my latest release, Amanda in New Mexico – Ghosts in the Wind. I had a lot of fun at the pre-planned events and thought I would share them with you.
I was invited by the Vancouver Public Library to be a workshop leader at their annual one week Writers and Book Camp held at the main branch, downtown Vancouver. This is my favourite library and I was honoured to be able to share some of my writing knowledge with the eager participants. These 9 to 13-year olds were serious writers. I created a workshop called Writing – It’s More Than What You See. We discussed how using all the senses makes writing more effective. I also spoke about how I use photographs to inspire my writing and gave them examples. I showed them one of my pictures and had them write for fifteen minutes, using as many senses as possible. Then they shared their work. I was amazed at what they produced in such a short time. The participants said they enjoyed the workshop and learned a lot. I had so much fun delivering it.
The Vancouver Public Library, an amazing building built to look like the Colosseum
A ‘place of books and learning
All set up and ready for the eager students
I then went on to Calgary where I did a presentation and book signing at the Shawnessy Branch of the Calgary Public Library. The event was well attended and I sold all the books I brought along! The staff were incredibly friendly and helpful. Another great experience.
Display at a Calgary Library
Some attentive listeners at the presentation
Some of the attendees were cousins. So great to see them.
Next stop was Coles Indigo Bookstore in my hometown, Medicine Hat. I saw so many folks I hadn’t seen for a long time, former neighbours, childhood friends, relatives and even my first landlady from fifty years ago. I sold out of books!
As you can see, I had help.
Back to BC where I held my book launch at Albany Books in Tsawwassen. This bookstore has been so supportive of me and other local authors over the years. The staff are fantastic. Even though it was a sunny Saturday, the last long weekend of the summer, many people came out to chat and buy books.
With my amazing publisher, Michelle. She is like a fairy godmother and makes all this happen!
Book launch for Amanda in New Mexico: Ghosts in the Wind
I was invited to do a presentation at a BC Association of Travel Writers MeetUp where I spoke about How to Turn Your Travels into a Series of Travel Adventure Books to a sold-out crowd. Everyone enjoyed the PowerPoint presentation and many great questions were asked. Great to see many travel writer friends and meet new people.
Since I was leaving after the first week of school, I was only able to visit one school this time. It was my sixth time to do a presentation at Holly Elementary in Surrey. The students there are huge Amanda Travels fans and some of the grade sevens even dropped in as they wanted to hear what Amanda was up to. I enjoy visiting this school with students from diverse cultures. They loved the theme of the latest book and when I showed them the trailer for Amanda in New Mexico, they stood up and clapped!
Presenting to a captive audience of about 100 at Holly Elementary School
As always, they asked many good questions.
My last event was a book signing at Indigo-Chapters on Granville Street in Vancouver, the largest bookstore in BC. It was a dream come true to hold an event at this bookstore. Many people stopped by my table to chat and buy books. There are many new Amanda fans now. I sold all but two of the books in stock. Happy days.
A friend helping out at the book signing
Signing books at Indigo-Chapters, another dream come true.
A fabulous sign in Indigo Chapters
I got to spend time in libraries, bookstores and schools, my favourite places, as well as meet some amazing people. It was a lot of work but well worth it.
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Spending Time in Bookstores
Posted on: April 1, 2012
- In: Books | Writing
- 26 Comments
“The Bookshop has a thousand books,
All colors, hues, and tinges,
And every cover is a door
That turns on magic hinges.”
This may or may not surprise you but I love spending time in bookstores! So in spite of having a tough week at work learning a new computer system amoung other stressful things, I had an enjoyable Saturday chatting with book lovers and signing my books at Black Bond Books at Guildford Mall in Surrey, BC
It was fun to be surrounded by books and treated well by the wonderful staff. One high school girl who aspires to be an author herself one day, dropped by and had many questions. I wished her well and told her to hold on to her dream. I brought Ali Baba the camel and Pedro the pony with me. The kids love them. I still can’t believe I can spend a day in a bookstore and people will come to see me and buy my books. If this is a dream, please don’t wake me up.
Don’t I have just the most adorable fans!
Sunshine on the Sunshine Coast
Posted on: July 28, 2011
- In: Travel | Writing
- 8 Comments
I was invited by Dale Jackson of Blue Waters Books to do a reading and signing of my Amanda adventure travel books at her wonderful bookstore in Madeira Park on BC’s Sunshine Coast last Saturday. I had a fabulous time and was treated very well by Dale and her staff member, Amanda. To my delight, I discovered Amanda loves to read and travel and comes from Calgary originally! How serendipitous is that?
The weather had been cool and cloudy, but that Saturday the clouds rolled away and we were greeted with glorious sunshine. I travelled up the evening before with my good friend Jayne. We caught the ferry at Horseshoe Bay and after a pleasant 20 minute crossing, drove up the coast to Sechelt where we stayed with a mutual friend, Roberta, in her new home overlooking the ocean. A five star hotel would not have been as perfect.
Many people stopped in the bookstore to say Hello, listen to me read a chapter from each book and some even purchased a book or two. Among the visitors was George Connell, a local writer and actor, a young girl who had already read the Amanda books and wanted to meet me and have her copies signed, as well as many other friendly, local book lovers. The bookstore is so cozy and welcoming it was such a pleasure to spend a few hours there. Dale carries a great selection of BC books and current best sellers for all ages. One entire wall was dedicated to the presenters at the upcoming Sunshine Coast Festival of the Written Arts. http://www.writersfestival.ca I feel honoured to have my Amanda books available at this remarkable store.
As I left, Dale said, “You brought some sunshine to the Sunshine Coast.” That made my day! There is nothing like a local independent book store to make you feel good and entice you to want to read everything on the shelves. Please support local bookstores and, if you are ever in Madeira Park, stop in and say Hi to Dale and Amanda at Blue Waters Books. http://www.bluewaters.ca You will be so glad you did.
