Weekly word count: 5237
A pretty good week. Not only did I make my word count but I also crossed something off my household to-do list. I'd promised my 15 year old that we could repaint his room. He'd chosen his colours (a lovely Hunter's Green with a sage for the trim and doors). This week we got it all done.
It's such a nice feeling being able to actually say something is done. It feels like I've had a lot of things on my lists for a very long time and I haven't been making much progress.
I'm also looking forward to the kids heading back to school soon. Next week, both kids will be at camp, which will hopefully give me some more time to make progress on writing. And then the last week of August will probably be busy with getting the back-to-school stuff.
Then it's the most wonderful time of the year... :)
The other big thing I'm looking forward to is Fan Expo next weekend. Not only are there tons of awesome guests (like Jason Momoa and Brandon Fraser) but I've never been to the Toronto event before. It's going to be so exciting to get to meet new readers and hang out with the MythHawker folks.
The only question is whether or not my books will arrive in time from Ingram... (I have stock but I'd ordered some more, just in case.)
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Showing posts with label upcoming events. Show all posts
Showing posts with label upcoming events. Show all posts
Monday, 19 August 2019
Thursday, 4 October 2018
All Your Genre Faves are the Worst: Loving Problematic Art
This week's post was inspired by the two events that sandwiched it: Banned Book Week and a panel that I'm doing at Can-Con: All Your Genre Faves Are The Worst. There's a real challenge when we look back at our favourite shows, movies and books. Stories and characters that were absolutely pivotal to our experience haven't always aged well, so what are we supposed to do when we recognize the flaws in our favourites?
Molly Ringwald wrote a powerful essay about her own conflicted feelings about The Breakfast Club and Sixteen Candles. Both stories feature developed female characters and looked at the challenges of the everyday teen experience. A lot of people felt those movies were the first time their voices had been heard and the films launched Molly's career. But they also used racial stereotypes as a punchline and portrayed sexual harassment as part of the courting process. (In Sixteen Candles, the drunk girlfriend is traded to the horny nerd and when she wakes up, she is enamoured of him and the implication is that they will start dating. And in The Breakfast Club, Bender looks up Claire's skirt and it is implied that he touches her inappropriately and by the end of the movie, they're dating.)
For myself, I used to love Ender's Game and Pastwatch by Orson Scott Card. Since then I've become more aware of the author's own homophobia and bigotry and seen how that seeps into the stories (male on male attacks that happen in the bathroom, a "cured" homosexual character, and solving the problems of colonialism by Christianizing the natives before Columbus shows up). I now no longer can enjoy those stories but they did have an influence on me that I can't ignore. There were good messages in them: the power of working together with people you can trust, authorities don't always tell the truth and it's up to the individual to do their own research, true understanding and compassion comes from understanding someone's story from their own point of view, and it's worth sacrificing your own comfort to right the wrongs of the past. But in my view, those good messages don't overshadow the negative ones. (And it's possible to find other, less problematic examples of stories with those same positive messages.)
We rarely call for books to be banned because of the hatred they promote or the hurtful insidious messages they include. In fact, you're far more likely to hear people championing their personal favourites and classics as somehow immune to any criticism. People dismiss concerns as irrelevant because the author didn't know any better or because the art should be separated from the artist. In fact, the books that tend to be targeted for banning are the ones that would encourage compassion and understanding by exposing readers to different points of view. I don't think I would support banning hurtful books, but I certainly would want to make readers aware of the issues within them. There's a difference between choosing not to promote a particular work and calling for it to be completely removed from the shelves.
I've recently begun watching the original seasons of The Simpsons with my son and I'm finding myself having to interject to tell him that some of the jokes are hurtful and not funny. It allowed us to have conversations about how sometimes comedians and storytellers use negative stereotypes for a quick laugh but that has a real impact on the people listening.
Sometimes it really does seem as if everything is tainted. The people who were raised up as heroes and role models keep getting revealed as predators and bigots at worst or indifferent to others' suffering at best. The stories that I used to read or watch over and over have negative messages about a wide variety of people. It can feel hopeless and make anyone with compassion question whether it's possible to escape.
Here's my point of view on the whole matter: the first step is to be aware of the flaws. Don't dismiss the potential harm just because a story was personally important or because it's a tradition.
The next step is one that will have different results for everyone: decide whether or not the flaws outweigh the positive. That's a personal decision and it may change depending on where a person is and what they're going through.
The last step to continue to acknowledge the flaws and the impact those flaws have on people. That might mean not recommending the story to anyone else but continuing to enjoy it privately. Or if it is recommended, including a content warning so that no one is caught by surprise. And as part of the acknowledgement, do frequent reality checks to make sure that the stories aren't reinforcing unconscious bias and your actions.
Art comes from people and that means that it's going to come from problematic people which means it's going to contain problematic aspects. Art is a reflection of culture, society and viewpoints, and that means it reflects the good and the bad. Expecting art to only be compassionate, encouraging, and uplifting is probably not entirely realistic. But at the same time, we shouldn't give up on that as a goal. Most artists create art because they have something they want to say, a message they want to send out into the world and thus share a little piece of wisdom or compassion. I still believe that stories are what will make the world a better place.
Previous post: Hidden Diamond: Carey Decevito, her paranormal romance series Essence Extracted and Getting Into The Male Point of View.
Related posts: Why Books Get Banned and Separating Art from the Artist
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Molly Ringwald wrote a powerful essay about her own conflicted feelings about The Breakfast Club and Sixteen Candles. Both stories feature developed female characters and looked at the challenges of the everyday teen experience. A lot of people felt those movies were the first time their voices had been heard and the films launched Molly's career. But they also used racial stereotypes as a punchline and portrayed sexual harassment as part of the courting process. (In Sixteen Candles, the drunk girlfriend is traded to the horny nerd and when she wakes up, she is enamoured of him and the implication is that they will start dating. And in The Breakfast Club, Bender looks up Claire's skirt and it is implied that he touches her inappropriately and by the end of the movie, they're dating.)
For myself, I used to love Ender's Game and Pastwatch by Orson Scott Card. Since then I've become more aware of the author's own homophobia and bigotry and seen how that seeps into the stories (male on male attacks that happen in the bathroom, a "cured" homosexual character, and solving the problems of colonialism by Christianizing the natives before Columbus shows up). I now no longer can enjoy those stories but they did have an influence on me that I can't ignore. There were good messages in them: the power of working together with people you can trust, authorities don't always tell the truth and it's up to the individual to do their own research, true understanding and compassion comes from understanding someone's story from their own point of view, and it's worth sacrificing your own comfort to right the wrongs of the past. But in my view, those good messages don't overshadow the negative ones. (And it's possible to find other, less problematic examples of stories with those same positive messages.)
We rarely call for books to be banned because of the hatred they promote or the hurtful insidious messages they include. In fact, you're far more likely to hear people championing their personal favourites and classics as somehow immune to any criticism. People dismiss concerns as irrelevant because the author didn't know any better or because the art should be separated from the artist. In fact, the books that tend to be targeted for banning are the ones that would encourage compassion and understanding by exposing readers to different points of view. I don't think I would support banning hurtful books, but I certainly would want to make readers aware of the issues within them. There's a difference between choosing not to promote a particular work and calling for it to be completely removed from the shelves.
I've recently begun watching the original seasons of The Simpsons with my son and I'm finding myself having to interject to tell him that some of the jokes are hurtful and not funny. It allowed us to have conversations about how sometimes comedians and storytellers use negative stereotypes for a quick laugh but that has a real impact on the people listening.
Sometimes it really does seem as if everything is tainted. The people who were raised up as heroes and role models keep getting revealed as predators and bigots at worst or indifferent to others' suffering at best. The stories that I used to read or watch over and over have negative messages about a wide variety of people. It can feel hopeless and make anyone with compassion question whether it's possible to escape.
Here's my point of view on the whole matter: the first step is to be aware of the flaws. Don't dismiss the potential harm just because a story was personally important or because it's a tradition.
The next step is one that will have different results for everyone: decide whether or not the flaws outweigh the positive. That's a personal decision and it may change depending on where a person is and what they're going through.
The last step to continue to acknowledge the flaws and the impact those flaws have on people. That might mean not recommending the story to anyone else but continuing to enjoy it privately. Or if it is recommended, including a content warning so that no one is caught by surprise. And as part of the acknowledgement, do frequent reality checks to make sure that the stories aren't reinforcing unconscious bias and your actions.
Art comes from people and that means that it's going to come from problematic people which means it's going to contain problematic aspects. Art is a reflection of culture, society and viewpoints, and that means it reflects the good and the bad. Expecting art to only be compassionate, encouraging, and uplifting is probably not entirely realistic. But at the same time, we shouldn't give up on that as a goal. Most artists create art because they have something they want to say, a message they want to send out into the world and thus share a little piece of wisdom or compassion. I still believe that stories are what will make the world a better place.
Previous post: Hidden Diamond: Carey Decevito, her paranormal romance series Essence Extracted and Getting Into The Male Point of View.
Related posts: Why Books Get Banned and Separating Art from the Artist
Blog homepage
Thursday, 20 September 2018
Banned Book Week and Persisting Beyond Margins
For the second year, I'm participating in a special charity event for ALSO, a local charity that supports adult literacy programs. On September 22nd, me and several other local authors will crawl out of our comfort zone to be in public to talk about our favourite topics: books.
I've never quite understood why there are so many calls to ban books. And it's been even more of a mystery why such a wide variety of books get attacked in this way. I love books. They're a way to expand my awareness by exposing me to ideas and lives different from my own. Not to mention, they're fun! So why do so many people get themselves tied into a knot.
This year, my curiosity was too much. I decided to start looking into it and what I found was depressingly bleak. There seem to be a few specific reasons for banning that keep coming up over and over in the lists: the book features queer characters, diverse characters, encourages people to question authority, or deals with alternate realities. To me, those are a check list of things I want to read but for some, it strikes them with terror.
Most requests to ban books seem to come from various fundamentalist Christian groups who see these books as an attack on themselves and their faith. (And just to be clear, these groups are a minority of Christians and I'm sure that many Christians would have a problem with the version of their faith as portrayed by these groups). In the view of these groups, anything that might encourage anything other than blind faith and obedience is a threat.
And as a result, they will never know the vicarious thrill of tessering across the universe, or flying in a spaceship, or riding a unicorn, or any of the other wonderful and exciting adventures that books have opened up to me. They will never learn to see the world through someone else's eyes and thus increase their compassion for those who are different or who have lived different experiences. And to a point, if they don't want to do that, if they would rather stay in their narrow world bounded by fear, that's their choice.
What they don't have is the right to make that choice for anyone else. They don't have the right to look at a book and say "This scares me" and insist it be destroyed or locked away. They don't have the right to deny people the chance to experience stories of others like them and others who are completely different.
So I am proud to be part of Banned Book Week and part of the ALSO fundraiser. And if you'd like to support freedom of expression and helping adult literacy, or even if you'd just like to enjoy an evening of books, food, wine and conversation, please join me on Saturday for Persisting Beyond Margins. And if you'd like to know more about my chosen banned book, A Wrinkle In Time, and why I feel it's a great story, please check out my Heroine Fix on Margaret Murray and the value of an angry heroine.
I've never quite understood why there are so many calls to ban books. And it's been even more of a mystery why such a wide variety of books get attacked in this way. I love books. They're a way to expand my awareness by exposing me to ideas and lives different from my own. Not to mention, they're fun! So why do so many people get themselves tied into a knot.
This year, my curiosity was too much. I decided to start looking into it and what I found was depressingly bleak. There seem to be a few specific reasons for banning that keep coming up over and over in the lists: the book features queer characters, diverse characters, encourages people to question authority, or deals with alternate realities. To me, those are a check list of things I want to read but for some, it strikes them with terror.
Most requests to ban books seem to come from various fundamentalist Christian groups who see these books as an attack on themselves and their faith. (And just to be clear, these groups are a minority of Christians and I'm sure that many Christians would have a problem with the version of their faith as portrayed by these groups). In the view of these groups, anything that might encourage anything other than blind faith and obedience is a threat.
And as a result, they will never know the vicarious thrill of tessering across the universe, or flying in a spaceship, or riding a unicorn, or any of the other wonderful and exciting adventures that books have opened up to me. They will never learn to see the world through someone else's eyes and thus increase their compassion for those who are different or who have lived different experiences. And to a point, if they don't want to do that, if they would rather stay in their narrow world bounded by fear, that's their choice.
What they don't have is the right to make that choice for anyone else. They don't have the right to look at a book and say "This scares me" and insist it be destroyed or locked away. They don't have the right to deny people the chance to experience stories of others like them and others who are completely different.
So I am proud to be part of Banned Book Week and part of the ALSO fundraiser. And if you'd like to support freedom of expression and helping adult literacy, or even if you'd just like to enjoy an evening of books, food, wine and conversation, please join me on Saturday for Persisting Beyond Margins. And if you'd like to know more about my chosen banned book, A Wrinkle In Time, and why I feel it's a great story, please check out my Heroine Fix on Margaret Murray and the value of an angry heroine.
And if you'd like to check out my own fantastical stories about a secret society of superheroes living among us, the first book in my lalassu series, Revelations, is currently on sale for 99 cents US on all platforms.
Monday, 30 July 2018
Weekly Update: July 22 to 28
This week's accomplishments: I got all of the query requests out from the speed pitch sessions and I painted my bathroom.
I sent out six full manuscripts and three partials. Thus far, I've gotten one rejection back, but still keeping my fingers crossed for the others. I'm encouraging myself that she read it quickly and got back to me quickly, so she was at least intrigued by the concept. Though I now find myself wondering what didn't work about it.
This experience has brought to light one of the biggest differences between independent and traditional publishing. With independent publishing, an author puts their work out there and works to find the audience who wants to read it. With traditional, the author needs to find one crucial fan first: either an agent or an editor. It's a more intense process with fewer opportunities for success, but bigger results when it works out.
But I don't have time to brood. This week is Romancing the Capital and I have been looking forward to it for the last year. I can't wait to see everyone and have a chance to share my books with the readers!
I sent out six full manuscripts and three partials. Thus far, I've gotten one rejection back, but still keeping my fingers crossed for the others. I'm encouraging myself that she read it quickly and got back to me quickly, so she was at least intrigued by the concept. Though I now find myself wondering what didn't work about it.
This experience has brought to light one of the biggest differences between independent and traditional publishing. With independent publishing, an author puts their work out there and works to find the audience who wants to read it. With traditional, the author needs to find one crucial fan first: either an agent or an editor. It's a more intense process with fewer opportunities for success, but bigger results when it works out.
But I don't have time to brood. This week is Romancing the Capital and I have been looking forward to it for the last year. I can't wait to see everyone and have a chance to share my books with the readers!
Monday, 23 July 2018
Weekly Update: July 15 to 22
Weekly word count: still on break
This week was the RWA National Conference in Denver and I have had the most amazing time.
I met my Twitter buddy, Olivia Dade (who writes lovely books) in real life. And I met many other amazing women and authors.
On Friday morning, I did three rounds of speed pitching and managed to pitch to four of the five people that I was really hoping to pitch to. And all four have asked for me to send them the full manuscript, along with another request, which makes five in total. I also have several requests for a partial. It's a very heady feeling to know that people are interested in the story I've written. I'm doing a final read through and then I'll be sending it out to those who have asked.
On Friday afternoon, I was a part of the Indie signing. I brought five print books and a hundred ebooks to give away. I was mentally braced to come back home with them, but I only have a few cards left for the ebooks. People were very interested and I've got to give another shout out to Streetlight Graphics for their awesome cover which drew people right in. (Literally, since I watched at least a dozen people start to walk right past my table, catch sight of the cover and then beeline over.)
I picked up lots of awesome books. Enough to keep me in happy reading for at least the next few months.
And I had some great meals and conversations with new friends, old friends, and, of course, my ORWAn ladies. All in all, it has been a fantastic week. I'm ready to head home though. News from the home front is that things have been going well. My youngest is off to his grandparents' cottage for the week and the oldest's burn is healing well (next doctor visit today). The animals have missed me, particularly our cat Neelix who likes to pounce on my feet first thing in the morning and our dog, Lynyrd, who is used to having me around the house all day.
But the fun isn't over yet! Romancing the Capital comes up in a week and a half and I will have my Beyond the Furrowed Brow workshop on the Thursday and my Basics of Burlesque event on the Saturday. And I'll be at the Giant Book Signing along with a bunch of other awesome authors (Saturday, 4-6, at the Holiday Inn in Kanata Centrum). I am really looking forward to it.
This week was the RWA National Conference in Denver and I have had the most amazing time.
I met my Twitter buddy, Olivia Dade (who writes lovely books) in real life. And I met many other amazing women and authors.
On Friday morning, I did three rounds of speed pitching and managed to pitch to four of the five people that I was really hoping to pitch to. And all four have asked for me to send them the full manuscript, along with another request, which makes five in total. I also have several requests for a partial. It's a very heady feeling to know that people are interested in the story I've written. I'm doing a final read through and then I'll be sending it out to those who have asked.
On Friday afternoon, I was a part of the Indie signing. I brought five print books and a hundred ebooks to give away. I was mentally braced to come back home with them, but I only have a few cards left for the ebooks. People were very interested and I've got to give another shout out to Streetlight Graphics for their awesome cover which drew people right in. (Literally, since I watched at least a dozen people start to walk right past my table, catch sight of the cover and then beeline over.)
I picked up lots of awesome books. Enough to keep me in happy reading for at least the next few months.
And I had some great meals and conversations with new friends, old friends, and, of course, my ORWAn ladies. All in all, it has been a fantastic week. I'm ready to head home though. News from the home front is that things have been going well. My youngest is off to his grandparents' cottage for the week and the oldest's burn is healing well (next doctor visit today). The animals have missed me, particularly our cat Neelix who likes to pounce on my feet first thing in the morning and our dog, Lynyrd, who is used to having me around the house all day.
But the fun isn't over yet! Romancing the Capital comes up in a week and a half and I will have my Beyond the Furrowed Brow workshop on the Thursday and my Basics of Burlesque event on the Saturday. And I'll be at the Giant Book Signing along with a bunch of other awesome authors (Saturday, 4-6, at the Holiday Inn in Kanata Centrum). I am really looking forward to it.
Monday, 25 June 2018
Weekly Update: June 17 to 23
Two weeks left until Ad Astra (July 13 to 15) and my book launch for Judgment on Saturday, July 14th from 3 to 5. I'll be answering questions and serving cookies. And I'll also be in the vendor room for most of the conference.
Three weeks left until I'm on my way to Denver for RWA 2018. I've got my stuff ready for the indie signing on Friday, July 20 from 3 to 4 and my pitch ready for that same morning. (Friday will be a terrifying but exciting day, which means that Friday night, I will be in my relieved-have fun mode)
Six weeks left until Romancing the Capital and my workshops on non-verbal communication and the basics of burlesque (PG-13 only and it'll be a no cameras allowed workshop), as well as the giant book signing on Saturday, August 4th from 4 to 6.
And then... quiet. Which I am also looking forward to. Sometimes it feels as if 2018 has been a full-tilt kind of year. But when I look back at what I've accomplished, I feel pretty proud of myself. (And also slightly like I need to be a better boss to myself... with more appreciation and less disappointed face.)
The next two months are going to be intense. But also, very cool.
Monday, 21 May 2018
Weekly Update: May 13 to 19
I'm moving into the final draft stage of Deadly Potential (by which I mean the final draft before I'll let someone else start reading it, there's going to still be lots of revisions on it). When I begin working on a manuscript, I only have a very rough idea of where everything is going to go. I used to have a detailed outline, but often two-thirds of it would get tossed as I found more promising ideas. So now I start with five or six key plot points or scenes that I know I want to hit, and I only outline for the next few chapters. Gradually I build up the story until things start to get shaky, then I prune it back and move forward.
I've done two major prunings so far on Deadly Potential and now I'm far enough along that it was time to map out the entire thing. So I made detailed notes on what had been written, what subplots I want to keep (and which I want to toss), and then came up with a detailed chapter-by-chapter outline of the entire book. I'll be able to keep about 70-80% of what I've written, but it's not going to be in the same order and location as before. I'm effectively starting at the beginning but I should still be able to get everything done before RWA Nationals in July.
The chapter by chapter author commentary for Judgment is done and I'll be putting that up either today or tomorrow.
And I'm excited to be getting everything ready for Limestone Genre Expo this weekend. I've got a lot of good panels and a book launch for Judgment (there will be cookies and I thought I'd open it up for an informal Q&A). My print copies have shipped from Createspace, so hopefully they will get here before Friday. I'm getting really excited about getting to share it with everyone.
Monday, 25 September 2017
Weekly Update: September 17 to 23
Weekly word count: 3300
As I write this, I'm in Cambridge on a training trip. It's a lovely small city in southern Ontario, near Toronto. And I'm trying to deal with the fact that our air conditioner has failed back at home, leaving us to scramble to find somewhere suitable for the cats to stay until we come back. Luckily, I've got some very good family and friends who are helping us deal with it long distance.
I'm getting my presentations ready for Persisting Beyond Margins and ORWA, on Thursday and Sunday respectively. And I've been working on Judgment, which is coming along nicely.
Back to work.
As I write this, I'm in Cambridge on a training trip. It's a lovely small city in southern Ontario, near Toronto. And I'm trying to deal with the fact that our air conditioner has failed back at home, leaving us to scramble to find somewhere suitable for the cats to stay until we come back. Luckily, I've got some very good family and friends who are helping us deal with it long distance.
I'm getting my presentations ready for Persisting Beyond Margins and ORWA, on Thursday and Sunday respectively. And I've been working on Judgment, which is coming along nicely.
Back to work.
Thursday, 21 September 2017
Too Dark for Children: Lois Lowry's The Giver
Ever since I was asked to participate in ALSO's Persisting Beyond Margins event on September 28th, I've been doing a lot of thinking about banned books and why people ask for books to be banned.
In the case of Lois Lowry's The Giver, the number one reason why people want it banned is because they feel it's too dark for the intended audience (10-12). The story is about Jonas, a young boy in an egalitarian society where everyone's birthday is celebrated on the same day with the same presents. He is about to turn Twelve, the age when children are apprenticed to their adult assignments. The decisions are made by the Council.
Normally, this would be a story about an underclass revolution or showing the horrors of having one's life determined by others, but Lowry's book is different. The people of Jonas's community are actually happy. The kids are pleased with their assignments and the Council has obviously done a great deal of work based on the child's personality and skills. Families discuss their feelings every evening. Food and medicine are available on demand. There's no poverty or abuse. It's the happiest dystopia that I've ever seen.
It's only when Jonas is assigned to be The Receiver that he begins to understand the flaws in his society. The Receiver holds the memories of the society before this one (our world). He or she uses them to deal with unexpected problems. Those memories can be transferred to the new Receiver.
Jonas remembers love, hate, war and laughter. He begins to see colour. He realizes the price of complacent conformity is a flattening of the emotional experience. People experience contentment, not happiness, and irritation, not anger. He finds himself more and more isolated as the story progresses. But the tipping point comes when he learns that the Ceremony of Release, which is done to underdeveloped infants, and the old, is actually a euphemism for lethal injection. He's horrified when he realizes that the baby in their household will be released and escapes into the night.
The story is dark. There's no promise of a happy ending, no sign of a revolution. Just one boy trying to understand how his world can be so different from the one that everyone else experiences.
That's the part that I feel is so valuable for children. It introduces the concept that what they experience might be different from what others experience, but it doesn't mean that it's wrong. It introduces the concept that adults can lie to them and that comforting euphemisms can gloss over horrible things. It can serve as the start of a discussion about the dangers of an "equal" society (ie, where everyone is forced to be the same) and the nature of happiness.
When my children were young, I was deeply annoyed by the constant "everything is fine" riff in children's shows. If something was destroyed, all was forgiven with a smile or a song. If someone was being a bully, all they needed was an invitation to friendship. Everything always works out with very little effort. The optimistic message is helpful for children, it makes them feel safe and encourages them to make social efforts. But it's not a true depiction of the world.
At ten to twelve, children can begin to understand the complexity of the world. Lowry's book is well written and introduces several difficult topics. I think that those who complain that it is too dark are indulging in some wishful thinking about both their children and the world in general.
I've never been a fan of banning books, especially controversial ones. (Although I admit that I've been tempted to ban some horribly written and trite books.) Books are a way to live dozens or hundreds of lives, giving insight into cultures and experiences that would otherwise remain unknown. Readers tend to be more tolerant, more thoughtful and more curious than non-readers. They're exposed to different ideas, making them less likely to accept things at face value. Limiting the number or types of ideas isn't helpful. The real solution is to expose them to more and then encourage them to think and talk about what they've read. Recognize their reactions and thoughts and have discussions. Teach them to recognize convincing lies and euphemisms.
Next week, I'll be at Heartwood House (404 McArthur Avenue), enjoying some wine and cheese, as well as some amazing authors and books. The ticket money goes toward supporting adult and family literacy, so it's a good cause. Please consider joining us on Thursday, September 28th from 7 to 9. It looks like it's going to be a lot of fun, but it's also an opportunity to stand up against imposed silence. I hope to see a lot of Ottawa people there and hopefully we'll have a sold out event.
In the case of Lois Lowry's The Giver, the number one reason why people want it banned is because they feel it's too dark for the intended audience (10-12). The story is about Jonas, a young boy in an egalitarian society where everyone's birthday is celebrated on the same day with the same presents. He is about to turn Twelve, the age when children are apprenticed to their adult assignments. The decisions are made by the Council.
Normally, this would be a story about an underclass revolution or showing the horrors of having one's life determined by others, but Lowry's book is different. The people of Jonas's community are actually happy. The kids are pleased with their assignments and the Council has obviously done a great deal of work based on the child's personality and skills. Families discuss their feelings every evening. Food and medicine are available on demand. There's no poverty or abuse. It's the happiest dystopia that I've ever seen.
It's only when Jonas is assigned to be The Receiver that he begins to understand the flaws in his society. The Receiver holds the memories of the society before this one (our world). He or she uses them to deal with unexpected problems. Those memories can be transferred to the new Receiver.
Jonas remembers love, hate, war and laughter. He begins to see colour. He realizes the price of complacent conformity is a flattening of the emotional experience. People experience contentment, not happiness, and irritation, not anger. He finds himself more and more isolated as the story progresses. But the tipping point comes when he learns that the Ceremony of Release, which is done to underdeveloped infants, and the old, is actually a euphemism for lethal injection. He's horrified when he realizes that the baby in their household will be released and escapes into the night.
The story is dark. There's no promise of a happy ending, no sign of a revolution. Just one boy trying to understand how his world can be so different from the one that everyone else experiences.
That's the part that I feel is so valuable for children. It introduces the concept that what they experience might be different from what others experience, but it doesn't mean that it's wrong. It introduces the concept that adults can lie to them and that comforting euphemisms can gloss over horrible things. It can serve as the start of a discussion about the dangers of an "equal" society (ie, where everyone is forced to be the same) and the nature of happiness.
When my children were young, I was deeply annoyed by the constant "everything is fine" riff in children's shows. If something was destroyed, all was forgiven with a smile or a song. If someone was being a bully, all they needed was an invitation to friendship. Everything always works out with very little effort. The optimistic message is helpful for children, it makes them feel safe and encourages them to make social efforts. But it's not a true depiction of the world.
At ten to twelve, children can begin to understand the complexity of the world. Lowry's book is well written and introduces several difficult topics. I think that those who complain that it is too dark are indulging in some wishful thinking about both their children and the world in general.
I've never been a fan of banning books, especially controversial ones. (Although I admit that I've been tempted to ban some horribly written and trite books.) Books are a way to live dozens or hundreds of lives, giving insight into cultures and experiences that would otherwise remain unknown. Readers tend to be more tolerant, more thoughtful and more curious than non-readers. They're exposed to different ideas, making them less likely to accept things at face value. Limiting the number or types of ideas isn't helpful. The real solution is to expose them to more and then encourage them to think and talk about what they've read. Recognize their reactions and thoughts and have discussions. Teach them to recognize convincing lies and euphemisms.
Next week, I'll be at Heartwood House (404 McArthur Avenue), enjoying some wine and cheese, as well as some amazing authors and books. The ticket money goes toward supporting adult and family literacy, so it's a good cause. Please consider joining us on Thursday, September 28th from 7 to 9. It looks like it's going to be a lot of fun, but it's also an opportunity to stand up against imposed silence. I hope to see a lot of Ottawa people there and hopefully we'll have a sold out event.
Monday, 18 September 2017
Weekly Update: September 10 to 16
Word count: 5000
Feeling very good about where things are going... until I looked at the calendar this week.
OMG! I have two back to back events coming up and lots of stuff scheduled for the next 6 weeks.
On Thursday, September 28th from 7 to 9, I'm participating in ALSO's event: Persisting Beyond Margins, reading from banned books while enjoying some wine and cheese. It's a fundraiser for adult literacy and people will get to see me tongue-stumble while I read. What's not to love?
Then on Sunday, October 1st from 2:30 to 4, I'll be doing the ORWA monthly workshop. By popular demand, it will be Beyond the Furrowed Brow: How to make your characters say it all without speaking a word. It's a look at how to use non-verbal communication in your writing.
Then there's Can-Con on October 13-15. This is a fabulous conference and one of the best organized I've ever been to. If you like speculative fiction, this is your stop. From hard-core sci-fi to alternative histories to fantasy to the paranormal, they've got it all (including me!). I'll be giving away chocolate and buttons and having a weekend draw.
Once Can-Con is done, I will be most gratefully enjoying a week on a southern beach with several RWA ladies for a writers' retreat. With luck, when I come back, I'll be able to report that Judgment is nearly ready to go to editing.
And, oh yeah, I've got a business trip for my other job starting next week. (Don't worry, I'm scurrying back to Ottawa for Persisting Beyond Margins.) I'm bringing my laptop and hoping that I won't be too horribly exhausted to write at the end of the day. (Since my bosses would probably not be impressed if I tried to quietly do it while I'm supposed to be paying attention during the day.)
And, and, AND, I need to get my kids' Halloween costumes done. I usually sew and hand-craft them but I'm starting to think that this year will be a store-bought kind of year. Which makes me sad, but if buying them a costume ruins their life, I probably wasn't doing so well on the whole mothering thing anyway.
I'm starting to think I should set up a Paypal betting system for when I'll collapse of general exhaustion. Good odds on anything before November 1st!
Feeling very good about where things are going... until I looked at the calendar this week.
OMG! I have two back to back events coming up and lots of stuff scheduled for the next 6 weeks.
On Thursday, September 28th from 7 to 9, I'm participating in ALSO's event: Persisting Beyond Margins, reading from banned books while enjoying some wine and cheese. It's a fundraiser for adult literacy and people will get to see me tongue-stumble while I read. What's not to love?
Then on Sunday, October 1st from 2:30 to 4, I'll be doing the ORWA monthly workshop. By popular demand, it will be Beyond the Furrowed Brow: How to make your characters say it all without speaking a word. It's a look at how to use non-verbal communication in your writing.
Then there's Can-Con on October 13-15. This is a fabulous conference and one of the best organized I've ever been to. If you like speculative fiction, this is your stop. From hard-core sci-fi to alternative histories to fantasy to the paranormal, they've got it all (including me!). I'll be giving away chocolate and buttons and having a weekend draw.
Once Can-Con is done, I will be most gratefully enjoying a week on a southern beach with several RWA ladies for a writers' retreat. With luck, when I come back, I'll be able to report that Judgment is nearly ready to go to editing.
And, oh yeah, I've got a business trip for my other job starting next week. (Don't worry, I'm scurrying back to Ottawa for Persisting Beyond Margins.) I'm bringing my laptop and hoping that I won't be too horribly exhausted to write at the end of the day. (Since my bosses would probably not be impressed if I tried to quietly do it while I'm supposed to be paying attention during the day.)
And, and, AND, I need to get my kids' Halloween costumes done. I usually sew and hand-craft them but I'm starting to think that this year will be a store-bought kind of year. Which makes me sad, but if buying them a costume ruins their life, I probably wasn't doing so well on the whole mothering thing anyway.
I'm starting to think I should set up a Paypal betting system for when I'll collapse of general exhaustion. Good odds on anything before November 1st!
Thursday, 24 August 2017
The Secret Benefits of Writing Groups
Lots of people can tell you why joining a writing group is helpful: networking, sharing warnings and advice, mentorship, critique partners, access to workshops and lectures, etc. It's a big list but there's one that tends to get glossed over.
Sharing the crazy.
Writing is essentially solitary. It's disappearing into imaginary worlds with imaginary friends and trying to make that seem real and cool and like a valuable contribution to society as a whole.
So when writers get together, there's a relaxing of tension. We understand each other. We can laugh about the ridiculous lengths we've gone to while trying to find a name for a character or a reasonable excuse for why two people have been stranded in an isolated cabin. We can share the characters, stories, and writers who have inspired us. We can brainstorm, share a shoulder or raise a glass.
And then, when we walk out, something amazing happens. The job seems easier and the weight of it sits lighter on our shoulders than it did before. The creativity is flowing faster and more smoothly. We're eager to get back to typing and sharing the stories rattling around our brains.
This year, I missed ORWA's regular meetings between March and June (we take the summer off). And while I had my own issues to cope with, not having that monthly connection contributed to the slowing down and eventual halt of my ability to write.
In August, there was RTC (Romancing the Capital) and then last weekend, I arranged an informal lunch for ORWA members. Both ended up being a major re-zap to my brain. I'm still dealing with the same limitations that I was in April and May, but I'm writing more and I'm more confident in what I'm writing.
I've heard a lot of excuses for not joining a group: fear of rejection, fear of cliques, fear of plagiarism, too little time, too much money, too far, bad timing, doing fine on my own, preferring online... the list goes on. But I would highly encourage everyone to give it a try. There is something freeing about being among people who get our brand of crazy.
I'm going to push ORWA here, because I've done other groups and I've found them to be the most supportive and helpful. Our next workshop is Sunday, September 10th from 10 to 4. (It's actually two workshops with Alicia Rasley: Emotion without Sentimentality and Intensive Pacing. $20 for one or $30 for both.) For those considering taking the plunge, go ahead and give it a try. Maybe you'll find that our crazy is exactly what you've been looking for.
Sharing the crazy.
Writing is essentially solitary. It's disappearing into imaginary worlds with imaginary friends and trying to make that seem real and cool and like a valuable contribution to society as a whole.
So when writers get together, there's a relaxing of tension. We understand each other. We can laugh about the ridiculous lengths we've gone to while trying to find a name for a character or a reasonable excuse for why two people have been stranded in an isolated cabin. We can share the characters, stories, and writers who have inspired us. We can brainstorm, share a shoulder or raise a glass.
And then, when we walk out, something amazing happens. The job seems easier and the weight of it sits lighter on our shoulders than it did before. The creativity is flowing faster and more smoothly. We're eager to get back to typing and sharing the stories rattling around our brains.
This year, I missed ORWA's regular meetings between March and June (we take the summer off). And while I had my own issues to cope with, not having that monthly connection contributed to the slowing down and eventual halt of my ability to write.
In August, there was RTC (Romancing the Capital) and then last weekend, I arranged an informal lunch for ORWA members. Both ended up being a major re-zap to my brain. I'm still dealing with the same limitations that I was in April and May, but I'm writing more and I'm more confident in what I'm writing.
I've heard a lot of excuses for not joining a group: fear of rejection, fear of cliques, fear of plagiarism, too little time, too much money, too far, bad timing, doing fine on my own, preferring online... the list goes on. But I would highly encourage everyone to give it a try. There is something freeing about being among people who get our brand of crazy.
I'm going to push ORWA here, because I've done other groups and I've found them to be the most supportive and helpful. Our next workshop is Sunday, September 10th from 10 to 4. (It's actually two workshops with Alicia Rasley: Emotion without Sentimentality and Intensive Pacing. $20 for one or $30 for both.) For those considering taking the plunge, go ahead and give it a try. Maybe you'll find that our crazy is exactly what you've been looking for.
Monday, 5 September 2016
Weekly Update: August 28 to September 3
Weekly word count: 2100
After a week of hard work, Inquisition is ready for the editors and the two short stories are ready to submit to the Behind the Mask anthology. Not a lot of new writing, but I still feel a sense of achievement.
I should be hearing about the results of the I Heart Indie contest soon, which should be fun. I even got my official badge to use.
I've been getting ready for Can-Con. I'll be in the vendor room on Friday from 5 to 7, Saturday from 10 to 5 (with a brief exception) and Sunday from 10 and 4 with chocolate and free swag to give away. And books to sell, for those who are interested in such things.
I'll also be doing several workshops:
Friday at 9: Non-verbal body language and emotional expression. Find new ways to express your characters' emotions.
Saturday at 1: a reading from Metamorphosis. I'm terrified of public speaking so come and watch me sweat. I've been practicing so I won't stumble over my own tongue.
Saturday at 8pm: Is this the Golden Age of Superhero TV? Don't have time to watch all the awesome offerings from DC and Marvel? Don't worry, I've done it all for you and I'll share all the goodies. Warning: there will be spoilers.
Saturday at 9pm: The Do's and Don'ts of Writing Erotica. I may not be an erotica writer but I am an erotica reader and I'll be sharing my thoughts for those looking to get into this lucrative genre.
Looking forward to seeing everyone there.
After a week of hard work, Inquisition is ready for the editors and the two short stories are ready to submit to the Behind the Mask anthology. Not a lot of new writing, but I still feel a sense of achievement.
I should be hearing about the results of the I Heart Indie contest soon, which should be fun. I even got my official badge to use.
I'll also be doing several workshops:
Friday at 9: Non-verbal body language and emotional expression. Find new ways to express your characters' emotions.
Saturday at 1: a reading from Metamorphosis. I'm terrified of public speaking so come and watch me sweat. I've been practicing so I won't stumble over my own tongue.
Saturday at 8pm: Is this the Golden Age of Superhero TV? Don't have time to watch all the awesome offerings from DC and Marvel? Don't worry, I've done it all for you and I'll share all the goodies. Warning: there will be spoilers.
Saturday at 9pm: The Do's and Don'ts of Writing Erotica. I may not be an erotica writer but I am an erotica reader and I'll be sharing my thoughts for those looking to get into this lucrative genre.
Looking forward to seeing everyone there.
Monday, 11 July 2016
Weekly update: July 3 to 9
Weekly update: 4150 words
It was a rough week to get things done. I had a bunch of appointments and errands which had to happen before I left for San Diego. I also had to make sure my presentation was ready for the workshop.
I ended up taking two hours to write on Saturday since I had less than 2000 words done at that point. I'm glad I did since I was starting to get into an overwhelmed "I'm no good" head space and it was a good reality check.
I'm looking forward to the Romance Writers of America conference, even if the idea of leaving my family for a week is nerve-wracking. It's going to be an intense experience. I've been told to prepare for a whirlwind of activity but thus far, everyone seems very positive.
I'm hoping to get a chance to network with other writers, learn from the workshops and have a good time. I've never been to San Diego and I'm hoping to get a chance to see some of the city as well.
It was a rough week to get things done. I had a bunch of appointments and errands which had to happen before I left for San Diego. I also had to make sure my presentation was ready for the workshop.
I ended up taking two hours to write on Saturday since I had less than 2000 words done at that point. I'm glad I did since I was starting to get into an overwhelmed "I'm no good" head space and it was a good reality check.
I'm looking forward to the Romance Writers of America conference, even if the idea of leaving my family for a week is nerve-wracking. It's going to be an intense experience. I've been told to prepare for a whirlwind of activity but thus far, everyone seems very positive.
I'm hoping to get a chance to network with other writers, learn from the workshops and have a good time. I've never been to San Diego and I'm hoping to get a chance to see some of the city as well.
Monday, 23 May 2016
Weekly Upate: May 15 to 21
Weekly word count: 4100
It's been a rough week for writing this week, but I managed to chug through. I've been working my way through a knotty plot point for the main confrontation in the middle of Inquisition. I know where I want to go, but it's taking me a number of rewrites to figure out the best way to get there. I think I've figured it out and now hopefully I can start moving forward a little faster again.
I had a great research evening looking into Mexican culture, food and festivals. I was grateful to discover that my initial research was on track, but I'd missed a few points of emphasis. Lesley and Rosa were both very gracious and open about their experiences and gave me some great material that I can use for Inquisition.
I've also been working on getting my swag together for Prose in the Park on June 4th. I've been trying to decide whether to go with Hershey's kisses (could be tricky if the weather is warm enough to soften the chocolate) or chocolate heart-shaped snap cookies, more weather resistant but won't let me offer people "a kiss from a pretty lady". I suppose I could offer them my heart, but it's not quite the same.
The national Romance Writers of America conference is coming up in July and I want to have something to put in the Goody Room. I can't afford really cool swag so I was thinking of getting new postcards done up for Revelations with Deborah Cooke's endorsement on them. I'll have to look into how much it would be to get 150 or so done up through Vistaprint.
It's been a rough week for writing this week, but I managed to chug through. I've been working my way through a knotty plot point for the main confrontation in the middle of Inquisition. I know where I want to go, but it's taking me a number of rewrites to figure out the best way to get there. I think I've figured it out and now hopefully I can start moving forward a little faster again.
I had a great research evening looking into Mexican culture, food and festivals. I was grateful to discover that my initial research was on track, but I'd missed a few points of emphasis. Lesley and Rosa were both very gracious and open about their experiences and gave me some great material that I can use for Inquisition.
I've also been working on getting my swag together for Prose in the Park on June 4th. I've been trying to decide whether to go with Hershey's kisses (could be tricky if the weather is warm enough to soften the chocolate) or chocolate heart-shaped snap cookies, more weather resistant but won't let me offer people "a kiss from a pretty lady". I suppose I could offer them my heart, but it's not quite the same.
The national Romance Writers of America conference is coming up in July and I want to have something to put in the Goody Room. I can't afford really cool swag so I was thinking of getting new postcards done up for Revelations with Deborah Cooke's endorsement on them. I'll have to look into how much it would be to get 150 or so done up through Vistaprint.
Monday, 7 December 2015
Weekly update: November 29th to December 5th
Weekly word count: 3800
Editing countdown: final polishing done, edits sent in
It's been nice to finish up with the edits for Metamorphosis and get started on Inquisition again. I've been in touch with a few correctional officers and from what they've told me, I'm rewriting my first three chapters. I don't think it will change where I want the story to go, but the framework I'd set up wasn't right, at least in relation to the parts in the prison.
ORWA had its' December meeting, with a great presentation on Scrooge's character arc in A Christmas Carol. For those who haven't read the book, the Muppet version is a great adaptation. Dickens really is a master of the 5 act structure. It's all set up perfectly: the introduction to Scrooge, the Ghost of Christmas Past, the Ghost of Christmas Present, the Ghost of Christmas Future and Scrooge's redemption. (Sorry, I know that's a spoiler, but I'm assuming most people are passingly familiar with the story.)
It was great getting to see everyone, even though I'm now starting to feel the nerves about my own workshop in January. (January 10th at 2pm at Centrepoint, Ben Franklin Place, if you're in the Ottawa area!)
2015 is rapidly drawing to a close. Overall, I think it's been a pretty good year and I'm proud of what I've accomplished.
Editing countdown: final polishing done, edits sent in
It's been nice to finish up with the edits for Metamorphosis and get started on Inquisition again. I've been in touch with a few correctional officers and from what they've told me, I'm rewriting my first three chapters. I don't think it will change where I want the story to go, but the framework I'd set up wasn't right, at least in relation to the parts in the prison.
ORWA had its' December meeting, with a great presentation on Scrooge's character arc in A Christmas Carol. For those who haven't read the book, the Muppet version is a great adaptation. Dickens really is a master of the 5 act structure. It's all set up perfectly: the introduction to Scrooge, the Ghost of Christmas Past, the Ghost of Christmas Present, the Ghost of Christmas Future and Scrooge's redemption. (Sorry, I know that's a spoiler, but I'm assuming most people are passingly familiar with the story.)
It was great getting to see everyone, even though I'm now starting to feel the nerves about my own workshop in January. (January 10th at 2pm at Centrepoint, Ben Franklin Place, if you're in the Ottawa area!)
2015 is rapidly drawing to a close. Overall, I think it's been a pretty good year and I'm proud of what I've accomplished.
Monday, 2 November 2015
Weekly Update: October 25 to 31: Photos of Can-Con
Weekly word count: 1100
Editing countdown: 10 chapters out of 23 (3 last week), deadline December 9th
I was relatively pleased at myself for managing to make my editing goal. I'm still falling short on my weekly word count goals, but hopefully I can improve that soon.
This weekend was Can-Con and I had a fantastic time. A big shoutout and thank you to the organizers, Derek and Marie, for putting together a great conference. It was my first time having a vendor table at a big multi-day event and I think it went great. I sold out of almost my entire stock. I only came home with one book.
But the real fun came with the people I met. Unfortunately, I always think of getting photos after the fact! So I want to give a shout out to my neighbours, Tyche Books and the Ottawa Browncoats. Tyche had Pat Flewwelling and Lisa Toohey at their table and those ladies were a hoot. We had a lot of fun luring people to our tables with free candy.
And it was a real pleasure hanging out with my fellow ORWAns and tablemates, Eve Langlais and S.M. McEachern.
Editing countdown: 10 chapters out of 23 (3 last week), deadline December 9th
I was relatively pleased at myself for managing to make my editing goal. I'm still falling short on my weekly word count goals, but hopefully I can improve that soon.
This weekend was Can-Con and I had a fantastic time. A big shoutout and thank you to the organizers, Derek and Marie, for putting together a great conference. It was my first time having a vendor table at a big multi-day event and I think it went great. I sold out of almost my entire stock. I only came home with one book.
But the real fun came with the people I met. Unfortunately, I always think of getting photos after the fact! So I want to give a shout out to my neighbours, Tyche Books and the Ottawa Browncoats. Tyche had Pat Flewwelling and Lisa Toohey at their table and those ladies were a hoot. We had a lot of fun luring people to our tables with free candy.
And it was a real pleasure hanging out with my fellow ORWAns and tablemates, Eve Langlais and S.M. McEachern.
Nathan Bourgoine and I got to share some funny comments and tweets at the Police Procedural workshop. He's a hilarious guy and I loved his Where's Waldo costume. And I met my first fan, a reader who picked up my book in June and wanted to tell me how much she enjoyed it. It made my day!
I enjoyed being part of panels for Portrayals of Autism in Popular Fiction, sharing my favourite authors on the Romance Readers Panel and talking about my publishing journey in New Revenue for Self-Published Authors.
And one lucky person who stopped by our table will be winning a free set of ebooks. I can't wait to find out who.
I can't say enough about what a great time I had and I'm looking forward to coming back next year.
Monday, 19 October 2015
Weekly Update: October 10 to 17: Cover Reveal Day
Weekly word count: 1500
Weekly edit countdown: 3 chapters out of 23
I made my editing goal but not my writing goal. I'm still pleased with my progress though.
But enough stalling, it's time for the big reveal:
Love it, love it, love it! Full congratulations to Streetlight Graphics for another job well done. I can't wait to see this cover on my actual book!
I'm also beginning my giveaway for a $20 Amazon card. It runs for this week only, so enter now!
I'm also getting into the final preparations for Can-Con in two weeks. I've got my swag-bags packed and my fellow tablemates, Eve Langlais and S.M. McEachern and I, are preparing a surprise for everyone who stops by our table. The schedule is up and I'll be sharing on 3 panels: New Revenue Sources for Self-Published Authors, Romance Reader's Panel and Portrayals of Autism in Fiction.
Weekly edit countdown: 3 chapters out of 23
I made my editing goal but not my writing goal. I'm still pleased with my progress though.
But enough stalling, it's time for the big reveal:
Love it, love it, love it! Full congratulations to Streetlight Graphics for another job well done. I can't wait to see this cover on my actual book!
I'm also beginning my giveaway for a $20 Amazon card. It runs for this week only, so enter now!
I'm also getting into the final preparations for Can-Con in two weeks. I've got my swag-bags packed and my fellow tablemates, Eve Langlais and S.M. McEachern and I, are preparing a surprise for everyone who stops by our table. The schedule is up and I'll be sharing on 3 panels: New Revenue Sources for Self-Published Authors, Romance Reader's Panel and Portrayals of Autism in Fiction.
Monday, 5 October 2015
Weekly update: September 26 to October 3
Weekly word count: 2000
Not my best week but considering how much overtime I ended up doing in my day job to catch up, I'm not going to be too hard on myself. This week will be better.
We had a great presentation at Ottawa Romance Writers this weekend, a representative from the Ottawa Public Library came to talk to us about how to add books to the collection. It's relatively easy for those who have traditionally published books but for self-published, it's a little trickier. I got a chance to speak to her about Revelations and discovered that it may not have been rejected. The English fiction acquisition supervisor has been away on maternity leave. She asked me to email her and she'll let me know where things stand. (Yay!)
There is also apparently a Suggest to Purchase form which Ottawa Library card holders can complete if there is a relatively new book published in the last two years which they would like to see added to the collection.
I also began ordering my swag for Can-Con and I'm tempted to get so many things. I'm trying to keep things simple and affordable though. I'm putting together little treat bags for the trick or treating on Saturday. I'm really looking forward to it.
I'm getting antsy about getting my developmental edits back for Metamorphosis. I'm reminding myself to have realistic expectations (I will not receive back a manuscript which says either "You are a writing god!" or "Don't quit your day job!"). I'm looking forward to finally getting to share it with everyone and it's hard to wait through this process, even though I know it will result in a better book.
Not my best week but considering how much overtime I ended up doing in my day job to catch up, I'm not going to be too hard on myself. This week will be better.
We had a great presentation at Ottawa Romance Writers this weekend, a representative from the Ottawa Public Library came to talk to us about how to add books to the collection. It's relatively easy for those who have traditionally published books but for self-published, it's a little trickier. I got a chance to speak to her about Revelations and discovered that it may not have been rejected. The English fiction acquisition supervisor has been away on maternity leave. She asked me to email her and she'll let me know where things stand. (Yay!)
There is also apparently a Suggest to Purchase form which Ottawa Library card holders can complete if there is a relatively new book published in the last two years which they would like to see added to the collection.
I also began ordering my swag for Can-Con and I'm tempted to get so many things. I'm trying to keep things simple and affordable though. I'm putting together little treat bags for the trick or treating on Saturday. I'm really looking forward to it.
I'm getting antsy about getting my developmental edits back for Metamorphosis. I'm reminding myself to have realistic expectations (I will not receive back a manuscript which says either "You are a writing god!" or "Don't quit your day job!"). I'm looking forward to finally getting to share it with everyone and it's hard to wait through this process, even though I know it will result in a better book.
Thursday, 28 May 2015
Prose In the Park Coming Soon
It's only a little over a week to go until Prose in the Park, the Ottawa Literary Festival (June 6th). I'm going to be with the Ottawa Romance Writers at their table, selling copies of Revelations and giving away my recently acquired swag.
Things get started at 11 am for the public and go until 6 pm. We're at the Parkdale Park which is near the corner of Parkdale and Wellington.
This is going to be my first big promotional event and I'm quite excited about it. After careful consideration, I've decided to price the paperback of Revelations at $ 15 each, which is cheaper than the $ 16 on Amazon and people won't have to pay shipping. I'll also be giving away little buttons with quotes from the book. I've ordered 20 copies of the book which are now sitting in my closet.
My only regret is that because I'll be at the table all day, I won't get a chance to actually go and listen to the speakers and panels. John Farrow is doing a book launch at 2, there's a sci-fi panel at 12 and a panel on First Nations literature at 3 followed by a graphic novel panel at 4. Maybe I can convince one of my fellow ORWAns to watch my stuff while I take a look.
If you're in the Ottawa area, I hope you'll take the time to check it out.
Things get started at 11 am for the public and go until 6 pm. We're at the Parkdale Park which is near the corner of Parkdale and Wellington.
This is going to be my first big promotional event and I'm quite excited about it. After careful consideration, I've decided to price the paperback of Revelations at $ 15 each, which is cheaper than the $ 16 on Amazon and people won't have to pay shipping. I'll also be giving away little buttons with quotes from the book. I've ordered 20 copies of the book which are now sitting in my closet.
My only regret is that because I'll be at the table all day, I won't get a chance to actually go and listen to the speakers and panels. John Farrow is doing a book launch at 2, there's a sci-fi panel at 12 and a panel on First Nations literature at 3 followed by a graphic novel panel at 4. Maybe I can convince one of my fellow ORWAns to watch my stuff while I take a look.
If you're in the Ottawa area, I hope you'll take the time to check it out.
Monday, 20 April 2015
Weekly Update: April 12 to 18: Romancing the Capital Photos!
Weekly word count: 0, nada, zilch. I concentrated on promotion and got my Goodreads Giveaway set up as well as my $ 20 Amazon Gift Card giveaway. A little disappointed since I hoped I would still be able to find time to write but it was not to be.
Romancing the Capital was everything I hoped it would be. The buzz from the various authors was that it was a great conference with lots of opportunity to mingle with readers.
Romancing the Capital was everything I hoped it would be. The buzz from the various authors was that it was a great conference with lots of opportunity to mingle with readers.
Lots of people were at the event but it never felt crowded or hurried.
Another friend, Reece Butler and her Kilts and Cowboy series.
Another friend and ORWA Member, Mandy Rosko.
And the highlight of my weekend! Best-selling author Deborah Cooke/Claire Delacroix asked for a copy of Revelations to read! I'll keep you posted on what she thinks!
And to top it all off, I won a gift basket with some books and chocolate (and a few other things I won't mention on a PG rated site). ;)
It was great and I am very much looking forward to next year.
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