I have just stumbled across your site and am interested in your virtual tours. However, I don’t appear on a lot of blogs. I have one of my own and am featured on two others. How time consuming is the tour?

Absolutely the first thing on your to do list is to get out there and find places who would be interested in interviewing you, interested in letting you write a guest post for their blog or reviewing your book if you want to aim for blog promotion in your book marketing campaign.  Eventually family and friends' blogs run out and then you are daunted by the task of going to strangers for this.

That's where we come in.

We act as the middle man.  We find interested bloggers, arrange when the interview/guest post/review is to take place and make sure the information gets to you and then back to them before your tour begins.

Your job at that point is to fill out the interviews, write guest posts and get your book to the address your tour coordinator provides for you in a timely fashion.  The amount of time this would take?  The amount of blog stops you have and how fast you can work will determine that.  For some, it takes days and for others, they're on top of it and get the interview or guest post done quickly and sent back to the tour coordinator.  It all depends on your work habits.

If you are creating your tour on your own, add the time it takes to contact blog hosts and to promote the stops daily.  If you hire us, that time is cut dramatically.

Virtual book tours are fun, but there is a considerable amount of work to do to ensure that your tour runs smoothly, gets attention and creates a powerful online presence.

Do you have a question about virtual book tours?  Leave your question in the comments below and we’ll be glad to answer them for you!

Wood's concept: What if a mentally challenged man won the lottery?

Grabs, doesn't it? And it got me thinking that the "high-concept" concept doesn't only apply to commercial fiction.

Debut novelists on book tours are a relatively rare event these days, and even more rare is a paperback book tour, so I was curious about how her reading would differ from the likes of Phillip Margolin and David Guterson. There were less than 10 of us, but everyone except me had already read the novel. Ms. Wood was an energetic self-promoter, inviting random book browsers to sit down and have a listen.

Unlike the seasoned novelists I've seen recently, Ms. Wood didn't talk much about craft or process. I got the impression that she was so pumped by her extraordinary, maybe even surprising, success after years of unpublished toil that she wanted to talk about that instead. (I probably would, too, come to think of it.)

Some highlights:

1. What else could prop up hardcover sales besides word-of-mouth? It probably didn't hurt that Lottery was short-listed for England's Orange Prize and that actress Sarah Michelle Gellar bought the film rights.

The Internet is a strange, strange world. Apparently, the purchased film rights appeared as a factoid on a website somewhere, and Buffy-the-Vampire-Slayer fans everywhere sought out the novel.

2. Self-promotion: She handed out novel business cards in hopes we would pass them on and also signed bookplates to stick into our books. She participates in two or three book clubs a week via iChat or speaker phone (or are those the same thing?).

3. Lottery is her fourth written novel. Another example of patience and perseverence. Her first, second, and third written novels will be her third, fourth, and fifth published novels.

4. And she accumulated about 90 rejections with those first three novels! Patience and perseverence indeed!

5.  Where did her novel idea come from? She woke up early one morning with a voice in her head and this first sentence: My name is Perry L. Crandall and I am not retarded. She wrote the prologue immediately, and it didn't change much from first draft to published version.

What interested me is that her idea came out of her life -- it wasn't as random as a dream voice telling her to write it down. First, she's well-versed in disability issues through her graduate school studies and advocacy work. Second, her father won the Washington state lottery back in the 90s. Two distinct areas of her life melded themselves into a pleasing story idea. Gotta love the subconsious mind.

6. Best quote: "Writers are socially acceptable schizophrenics." I and I and I are down with this observation!

I found myself noting what NOT to do while on my imagined book tour.

Amiable and better looking than his author photos suggest, Guterson launched into a bit of a rant that had me puzzled: What was all this about his luxurious hotel room, the absurd bounty that comes with being born an American, and our "world system predicated on the exploitation of...." I found myself reading the jacket copy of his latest novel, The Other. Others were looking a little dazed.

I didn't disagree with his politics, but I was there to listen to a writer talk about his craft, his latest novel, his inspirations.

Lesson #1: Don't get too political out of the chute, and keep politics to a minimum in any case.

It was only after he'd gone on for a bit that he mentioned that he'd actually been describing the worldview of one of his main characters. Character development: now that interested me.

Lesson #2: Mention the connection to the novel before diving into deep topics; keep deep topics on point with novel.

After the reading, he was asked how he "overcame" the phenomonal success of Snow Falling on Cedars. Guterson began his answer with, "All human beings are always changing...." and rambled for awhile.

Lesson #3: Answer questions directly. Keep high-level mumbo-jumbo to a minimum.

Lest I sound too negative, let me hereby admit that I enjoyed glancing at Guterson's pretty face while noting down these cool tidbits:  

• On using significant others as readers: He noted that in the early days, his wife read too much into the writing -- as a negative indicator of their marriage, for example -- and that her sensitivity caused him anxious moments while writing.
• On this, his most autobiographical novel: The idealistic character mentioned above represents one aspect of Guterson, which conflicts with the part of him that enjoys luxurious hotel rooms. The novel is a fictional exploration of this "schism."
• On his bad reviews: He has plenty of positive reviews, but also bad ones. How refreshing to hear a novelist cop to bad reviews -- he didn't seem to care too much either. Still, that's gotta be hard. A thick skin is always good.
• On his ideas: His novel ideas often stem from things that cause him the most pain. (Jodi Picoult said much the same thing at her reading.)

And get this: He first got published by sending a set of 10 stories to three publishers (no agent!) with a letter that said something like, Dear editor, here are my stories if you want to publish them. Don't we wish it was still that easy?

Janeology has a book trailer, much like a preview for a movie.  Is this a new thing, or am I just stupid? Don't answer that.  Let me rephrase it:  Am I simply the last to know about book trailers??  Anyway, it's quite dramatic-- check it out!

Mary will be talking about the virtual book tour, how she got started, and if you're an author with a new or forthcoming title, you'll want to be sure to tune in to find out how you can have a spot at Blog Spot Book Tours.

It's a savvy new way for authors to reach their intended and new audiences...all in cyber space.

Please join us at 8 p.m. Eastern time at the Cyber Savvy show to hear about Blog Stop Book Tours.

Listen "Live" at 8 p.m. ← (click)

Now, if you can't listen live at 8:00 p.m. Eastern time because you're at the Spring WAH Expo, both Mary and I will understand, as Mary presented at yesterday's session, tomorrow, I'll be presenting and tonight there are two fabulous featured speakers.

You can listen to the archived podcast, which is usually available about an hour after the live broadcast here.

Copyright © 2008, Erika-Marie S. Geiss

Highlights from his talk:

1. Advice to writers: Don't rush the writing on your good story idea lest you peter out prematurely, get dejected, and subsequently set aside what is actually a solid premise. He sometimes develops his plots over years. For example, the premise for Executive Privilege came to him in the early 1990s. (The premise: Can a U.S. president be a serial killer? Hmm...I had a few thoughts on this!)

2. Initial novel ideas: His often revolve around a moral dilemma. For example, Margolin was formerly a criminal defense attorney, and one day he got to thinking about whether there existed a criminal so morally repugnant that he would refuse to defend him, only to have to anyhow. This is Gone, But Not Forgotten.

3. From idea to initial plot ideas: Sometimes, on the other hand, his initial ideas aren't so deep. His example centered around the image that came into his head upon watching a couple making out on a beach (on t.v.). He imagined a guy in SCUBA gear pulling the woman beneath the waves to kill her. (Gotta love his macabre imagination.)

First, he asks himself the journalistic basics--who, what, where, when, why, how--until he arrives at an interesting scenario that lends itself to conflict. Who is the man? (Judge) Who is the woman? (His mistress) Where are they? (Island paradise) Why? (Privacy) As far as the underwater killer goes: Why would the murderer kill someone in such a convoluted manner anyhow? Then, what does the judge do about his politically disastrous situation? Does he become the main suspect? And so on.

4. Plotting: Margolin is an outliner. He spends months on them, and they can be up to 60 pages long. I asked him whether his stories ever drifted from his outlines. Yep, indeedy. Sometimes the changes come while he's writing, sometimes as a result of the editorial process.

5. Relationship with publishing house: From what he said, it doesn't sound like his publisher intrudes too much on his process. Yet, the sales force may suggest title changes. The Courtyard Athletic Club became Ties That Bind, for example.

Or, his editor may point out weaknesses in his manuscript (as all good editors should). He mentioned the case of Proof Positive, in which his original draft contained a point-of-view character in the first chapter that didn't appear again (yikes!). He was flummoxed as to how to integrate this character into the rest of the novel until an assistant had a bright idea. He then spent eight hours a day for two weeks re-fashioning the novel.

6. Last but not least: My favorite quote of the evening, overheard before Margolin arrived: "I came because I heard rumors that he's dating my ex-wife." Now there's a potential story!

2008 BC Book Prizes Soiree photos are up in our flickr gallery.

The tour is in full swing which means that the touring authors have been busy adding to the BC Book Prizes tour blog. Click on over where you can follow along with the tour (and see where the best place to find a wifi signal in an old hotel is.)

Sidenotes:

~ Mysterious Mr. M, who often comments on this blog, shines me on for being a brown-noser. Not fair! I'm just over-eager! Seriously, these days, I'm all about researching the business-side of publishing, so I ask whoever I can whatever I can whenever I can.

~ I've lately decided to make a study of book-touring novelists. About how many pages do they read? What kind of reading selection? What kind of introduction? How do they deal with the questions? Do they crack jokes? Do they wander off the topic? And so on. Call me ever hopeful for myself.

So, I'd like to share a few tidbits from last week's book-signings.

JODI PICOULT. Latest novel: Change of Heart   (S.W.: She passed on a big "hello" just in case she didn't get a chance to see you in Seattle...)

First of all, I wasn't expecting the utter chaos. Over 200 readers gathered to hear her speak, and the book store gave out numbered tickets so that we would line up in orderly fashion for the signing. This is a woman whose latest hardcover print run topped a million copies! That's in the realm of Stephen King and his kind (now her kind also).

• She read from many sections but from one character's point of view. These snippets formed their own story arc, and she ended on the cliffhanger question that is the crux of the novel. It interested me that she mixed-and-matched from several sections; authors usually read the first chapter or from a couple of independent scenes.
• She obviously gets the same questions all the time, no surprise. I imagine most novelists have their anecdotes down pat. In fact, I remember a writer-friend telling me I'd better have some good stories to tell about myself -- even if I have to fictionalize them a bit to make them more interesting!
• She's a mom so adept at writing in 15-minute increments. Doesn't believe in writers block. "You can always edit a bad page, but you can't edit a blank page." Too true!
• I love this quote because it's so true about character voices inside our heads: "It's a very fine line between schizophrenia and being a published novelist."
• Starts writing when has a general idea -- usually a topic that stems from something she worries about -- and knows the twist at the end. Her mystery is how to get from A to Z. Does this mean she's not an outliner? I wished I'd asked...

LISA JACKSON. Latest novel: Lost Souls  (R.V. and J.D: Thanks! She answered my particular question about publicity...)

Jackson is a local author, and her reading was intimate. Interestingly enough, she didn't actually read from her latest novel. This was a first for me as an audience member. Our questions seemed to launch her off on different writing/publishing topics, and she rambled easily for the hour.

• She writes mysteries these days, but she started off as a Harlequin romanticist. However, her books are still shelved under "Romance" in the book stores. Why? Because of her long-time readers, because her backlist is so extensive that it's best to keep all her books together (for sales), and so on. Interesting, eh?
• I've mentioned the current paranormal trend. Well, seems Jackson is starting to dabble also. Her editor had suggested vampires and a story started to grow from there. She seemed bemused by her paranormal dabblings. She said her current novel is a "different kind of novel" for her. The next book will feature ghosts. Just goes to show...market forces...
• Ever wonder about those novels that seem to just end, just like that, disappointingly? She mentioned a novel by Laura Lippman and that deadlines are often the culprits. It's not that the novelist wouldn't like to take the time, she just doesn't have it. I can see this being a challenge for novelists on the one-or-more-book-a-year schedule.
• She writes a 50-70 synopsis before starting her first draft! But, she does veer off it. The closer she is to a deadline the closer she keeps to the outline. What interested me: Even given a detailed synopsis, she still doesn't know her characters until about 150 pages in. She finds beginnings hard for this reason. (Reassured me: I'm the same way.)
• Here's a new concept to me: "marketing up." She mentioned a paperback cover design that got "marketed up" from its hardcover version. This meant making it less "genre," which in her case, meant taking the woman off the cover. Also, the idea of wanting the cover to "pop" when the book is on the shelf amongst hundreds of others.

 I was a good student last week, wasn't I?

Catch CWILLers Meg Tilly (Porcupine), Kari-Lynn Winters (Jeffrey and Sloth) and Nan Gregory (Pink) while they tour parts of BC:

Kari-Lynn Winters (Jeffrey and Sloth) and Nan Gregory (Pink)
April 13-18, 2008
Terrace, Prince Rupert, Kitimat, Smithers, Prince George, Vanderhoof
Details - dates, times, locations

Meg Tilly
April 21-25, 2008
Trail, Nelson, Creston, Cranbrook, Castlegar
Details - dates, times, locations

You can also follow the authors on the BC Book Prizes Tour blog.

Kids Book Event
Our event at the Korean bookstore was indeed a massive success, but it sure didn't feel like that at the start! Even though James and I both have a great deal of experience in speaking at schools and stores throughout North America, this presentation was unlike any other. The Korean culture is one in which a great deal of respect and deference is shown to people older than yourself. As such, we found that there was no laughter or reaction during our presentations, even when we really craved it!

That's why I thought we were a flop until the presentation ended and we were suddenly swarmed by all the attendees. It wasn't that the audience didn't enjoy our presentation; it's just that they were too polite to react while it was in progress!

I have to say we then felt like a pair of kings, with kids and parents lined up out the doorway to get their pictures taken with us—and, of course, their very own autographed copies of our books.

I'd like to give the store a big thanks for hosting us and, in particular, to Joon-Hyoung Park, who helped arrange the visit.

CWC Writing Camp, Yongin, Korea
Speaking of Joon, he is the person who started The Creative Writing Society for Children (CWC) four years ago. CWC is a program in which we help kids write, illustrate, and desktop publish their own books. The program has become a huge success in Vancouver and the other reason for our trip to Korea was to our host our second-ever overseas young authors camp.

The last camp was in summer, so I can tell you that it was quite a bit colder this time! It's a lucky thing I brought a toque and scarf (I needed them)! It was -12 Celsius when we first arrived. For this Vancouverite, that's cold!

The intensive six-day CWC camp was attended by nineteen young writers, aged 9-15, and taught by myself and James McCann, with some much needed help delivered by Bo-Hyea Ok, who flew in from Australia. I would call Bo our "wrangler". It's hard to teach a large class, and Bo helped both James and I by giving some extra attention to individual students when we could not.

The theme of this writing camp was "adventure," and our young authors did a wonderful job of crafting exciting tales filled with mysterious plots, brave heroes, diabolical villains, and plenty of riddles and secret codes.

I think the highlight of the week was when James, Bo, and I created a treasure hunt for the students. In this activity, the kids broke into teams and had to chase clues around the campus, much in the spirit of the Indiana Jones and National Treasure movies. I don't think anyone realized how excited the kids would get during this hunt. Not only did their brains get a real workout as they tried to crack our riddles, codes and mind-benders, but their legs were burning afterwards too (apparently one must run a lot during a treasure hunt, even if one does not know exactly where one is headed to next).

The gang from the CWC camp.

....

As writers we are all somewhere in that process. Even though we may not have submitted our offerings for recognition and fame, we ultimately want someone to read it, right? I mean, we did have something to say. Somehow we are lead to believe that our book’s release date is the starting time and like a Domino Pizza delivery guy we are hell bent to deliver in 30 minutes or less. Is the clock ticking on our book’s relevance? Does the amount of time our books sit on the shelves before being noticed and appreciated by the masses diminish its poignancy? Don’t we all wish that we have written a classic and definitive novel in our particular genre that will receive steady sales that leave our publishers with no other choice but to go into a second, third or fourth reprinting?

New authors, especially those not use to running into that phone booth as a mere citizen of the creative world and emerging as a book marketing expert, are particularly concerned about their book’s shelf life. They may still be on hold with the publicity department trying to figure out what their publisher is going to do to help market their book for them or in the line at Kinko’s printing out a thousand homemade flyers.  What is a press release?

In Biblical times, Hezekiah, the King of Judah faced the end of his life. The prophet, Isaiah was sent to tell him, “set your affairs in order, for you are going to die.” A premature death was prescribed to Hezekiah. How does a man face his last and final days? Hezekiah had a mild breakdown, similar to the one many authors have when they think of the thousands of books in the bookstore, or worse, in their living room, that they have no idea how to move. Hezekiah didn’t accept the timeline given to him. It is written that on his sick bed, he turned his faith to the wall and prayed to the Lord, reminding Him at the same time of how faithful he had been.

“Father, remember the countless hours I have spent, writing, researching, editing and re-writing this novel. I got up every morning and completed my morning papers like Julia Cameron suggested in The Artist Way. I cut my ties to the literal and tried my best to show-not-tell as outlined in the Elements of Style, by Shrunk and White. Not to mention the money I spent in conferences, writer’s workshops and retreats. I understand its all part of the deal. The books are not going to sale themselves. Please don’t let them send my book back to the publisher. Please, Lord, I’ve got to make back my advance.”

The Lord heard Hezekiah’s plea and agreed he was indeed faithful to his craft. God promised he would heal him and added fifteen more years on to his life. Another fifteen. What could we do with another fifteen minutes of fame. Maybe we could truly make a coast to coast book tour. That might be just enough time for the producers at Oprah to unearth your book from the slush pile of perspective Oprah Book Club picks. Heck, you need that extra time just to explore the infinite possibilities of on-line marketing-the real new frontier.

So we can learn a thing or two from Hezekiah: don’t let critics mark the time of death for your book,  stay faithful to your craft, and take a kneel beside your laptop or PC, stare at that that wall cluttered with pin ups of character sketches, outlines and literary contacts and pray for mercy.

For example, here's the page for Lisa Solod Warren, who will be speaking at New Dominion Bookshop this Thursday. Conversely, if you want to avoid running into Joel Osteen, here's where he'll be appearing.

Missing feature: When you sign up, you can ask for emails to be sent to you, listing author appearances in your area. But I couldn't find an RSS feed for my zip -- that would be super handy.

Adrienne Mason

I will be teaching and touring this spring. On February 23, I'll be teaching Magazine Writing for Kids as part of SFU's Creative and Professional Writing program. The week of February 18th, I'll be touring schools in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows and from April 28 - May 1 will be visiting libraries in the Okanagan. On May 31, I will take part in Nanaimo's Bookfest. I'll be available for school and library visits the weeks before and after May 31.

Robin Stevenson
My first young adult novel, Out of Order, was released by Orca this fall and is in stores now. Out of Order recently received a great review in Canadian Materials: "Compelling, deftly crafted... This novel is impossible to put down." Resource Links calls it "a book that will please both teenage readers and those of us that want them to read."

I am thrilled to have three more books coming out with Orca in the spring of 2008: a juvenile novel called Impossible Things, a YA novel (in the Soundings series) called Big Guy, and a sports adventure novel called Dead in the Water. For more information about me and my books, please visit my website at www.robinstevenson.com

Ann Walsh

Horse Power the second in my Flower Power Series (Orca Currents) has just been released. In this adventure, the Flower Power Gang protest the closure of a small rural school. My creative nonfiction piece, Cariboo Gold appeared in Heart of the Cariboo Chilcotin, More Stories Worth Reading (Heritage House.) A launch at the Williams Lake Museum was well attended. I was featured in the Winter edition of B.C. Bookworld which includes an interview and my short essay about writing from the 'boonies.' My creative non-fiction piece about growing rhubarb (or trying to persuade it NOT to grow so plentifully) will be included in Heart of the Cariboo Chilcotin, Volume 3 to be released by Heritage House in Spring 2008.)

John Wilson

I survived a flat tire and a parking ticket in Toronto and a hotel fire and blizzard in New Brunswick to complete a three week book tour, the last week of which was for Book Week. Twenty-one schools, six libraries and fifty-one presentations, and all the while waiting to see if The Alchemist's Dream had won the GGs—it didn't, but it did win the Silver Medal in the Moonbeam Awards. I also heard that Where Soldier's Lie is up for the the Red Maple Award in May. Meanwhile work continues on a history of the First World War for young readers, Desperate Glory, scheduled for release from Napoleon Publishing in spring 2008, and a YA novel set in 13th century France, The Heretic's Secret (Key Porter, fall, 2008).

....

GoodMorning Friends -
  Thanks for stopping by the Reading Den - we are so very excited to be joined this morning by Barbara Worton, author of BedTime Stories, the short, long and tall tales of a sleepwriter.

rj: Good morning Barbara -

bw: Good morning to you RJ, and thank you so much for featuring me and Bedtime Stories on the Reading Den.:) You are quite welcome - we sincerely appreciate your taking the time, in the midst of all the holiday hustle and bustle to sit down and chat with us...so without further ado, we'll just jump right in.
rj:  Where did you grow up? bw:  I was born in Brooklyn, New York.  My family moved to Massapequa Park, NY, which is on Long Island, when I was five.  I lived there until I moved to Staten Island, New York with some girlfriends to finish my college education.
 
rj: I was moved by the "thank you" to your Mom for sharing with you the love of books and reading..*Was reading and writing an integral part of your childhood?
*During the early years, who was the most influential person in your life?

bw:  My mother did read me stories before I went to sleep at night, and once I was able to read by myself, she brought me to the Massapequa Library and signed me up for a library card.  She introduced me to The Bobbsey Twins, Nancy Drew and my love of mysteries.  Even when I was in my teens, she would go to the library and bring home books for me.  I read a lot of her favorites, but I'll never forget that when I was 14 years old, I was home sick with tonsillitis.  My mom said she was heading over to the library and would get me a book to keep me busy.  She asked me what I wanted, and I said, "The Spy Who Came In From The Cold."  Not really what she expected, but I did fall in love with John LeCarre and went on to read everything he has written.

rj: What was your favorite story or book as a child?
What was the first book you remember reading independently?

bw:  Alice in Wonderland was probably my favorite childhood story, but I also loved The Wind in the Willows.  I wish I could remember the first book I read by myself.  I'm not good with remembering those kinds of things.

rj: What do you like best about writing?
What do you like least?

bw:     Writing is a chance to say whatever I want to say, to give voice to the ideas bouncing around my head and to connect with my true self.  I love letting my imagination run wild.  You know, sometimes I think all writers are professional liars.  We have this ability to invent other worlds and realities.  It's fun to inhabit those worlds and realities, to go to the extremes of my reality and to give into the characters that I create.  Also, there's nothing more exhilarating than hitting a real creative streak.  I love when the words and story line just flow.  I hate when they don't, and sometimes, even in a peak creative moment, I'm very aware that the words that sound so brilliant today may end up on the so-called cutting room floor if whatever it is I'm writing takes a different turn.

rj: What has been the most surprising and/or challenging aspect of publishing the book?

bw:  I was in publishing in the 1970s and thought I knew a lot about the business.  Boy was I wrong.  Things have changed in 30+ years, so I had a lot to learn.  Publishing is hard work.  There are difficult decisions to be made every day, and it takes a lot of time to get a book out into the world and in front of an audience.  I've been lucky enough to work with Gail Kearns at To Press and Beyond.  We're old friends from college, and she was, in fact, the person who encouraged me to publish Bedtime Stories.  She's been there for me with all kinds of experience, resources and support.  She knows the publishing business.

rj: When writing the 3 pages, do you stay with the initial thought or if something new enters your mind do you change directions?

bw:  I start with the first word that pops into my head and just keep going.  I don't edit myself, so if my mind tells me it's time to shift direction, off I go.  Of course, that does mean that not all of the stories I sleepwrite are for publication.  That's okay.  I still fall into a delicious night's sleep when I've finished sleepwriting.

rj: With notebooks filled with sleep-stories, how did you decide which ones to include?

bw:  Some of the stories I've sleepwritten were not as fully formed as others.  Some of the stories were much too personal.  I know that probably doesn't seem possible if you've read Bedtime Stories.  Many of the stories seem very personal, and they are, but they are far more universal in their themes.  People have told me when they read the stories they feel as though I'm saying something they would have liked to have said or understand something very personal about them.  I like that.

rj: In addition to the release of BTS, you have also launched a new publishing company, "Great Little Books" - tell us a little about your plans, the kind of books readers can expect, etc.
 
bw:  www.greatlittlebooksllc.com is the place to go to read about our mission and plans.  We have four books on our publishing schedule for 2008.  My team--Linda Dini Jenkins, Dom Rodi, Gail Kearns --and I will be working hard, but we're hopeful we'll complete all the books we have in the pipeline.  We plan to publish fiction, children's books, short stories and nonfiction from new voices in traditional and new genres.  And we're planning to publish in new formats and across multiple mediums.  The lifestyle and self-help books we publish will grow out of the way people really live their lives and the support they need.  No hype.  No panic.  No lies.  Ultimately, we want to
build a community of our writers and readers, which includes reaching out to our readers for feedback, ideas and submissions.  It's our hope to publish a second book in the Bedtime Stories which would include stories sleepwritten by our readers.

rj: I understand you have plans to launch a line of Bedtime Stories merchandise...can you tell us about that?bw:  Yes, the products are in development now.  We're designing throw pillows, sachets, journals and pajamas.  Dom Rodi is in a creative flurry!  All of our products will pick up on the friendly sheep on the book's cover and the theme "I've earned my zzzzzzzs."  Once we have prototypes, we'll have them posted online on our store, and we hope people will like them.

;)
I'll be first in line for a pair of those PJ's - after good books & coffee - comfy pj's are an absolute necessity for me!
rj: What's next for Barbara Worton? For Great Little Books?bw:  I wish I had a crystal ball!  I do know that we'll be at AWP at the end of January. On February 11th, Linda Dini Jenkins, one of our editors, and I will be at the Short Pump Barnes & Noble in Richmond, VA . 
We'll be at the South Kentucky Book Fest, London Book Fair and LA Book Fair in April. In May, we'll be at an Arts Fair in Hoboken, New Jersey, and there are plans to do readings in New York, Farmingdale and Staten Island, New York, but dates have not been set.  
We're also focused on getting our next four books in the works, building sales for Bedtime Stories.  To launch the book, the Glen Rock Library hosted a Bedtime Stories Pajama Party, which was a huge success, and we're trying to bring these staged readings to other venues.  I guess you could say we're going to be very busy.:0
Wow - how exciting! We wish you the very best of luck with all your endeavors and we are definitely looking forward to the second installment of BedTime Stories, the new releases from Great Little Books - and of course, the "earn zzzz's merchandise."

Each time we have asked readers to send in questions or emails telling us what they would like to hear answered during author interviews these are always at the top of the list - so, here ya go! rj: What's the last book you read?
bw:     Exit Music by Ian Rankin

rj: What's the best advice you have been given about writing, becoming a writer and/or getting published?
bw:  Just do it.

rj: What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

bw:  Just do it--for yourself.  Don't dream about the final product, making the big sale, etc., etc.  Just write.  If you're dreaming of putting words on paper, you probably have a story to tell, so write it, and be prepared to revise again and again.  The act of writing and finishing what you want to write is its own reward.

rj: If given the opportunity to spend the day with any writer (living or dead) who would you choose and why?

bw:  John Irving.  A Prayer for Own Meany is my favorite book of all time.  I've ready everything Irving has written and think he's brilliant.  Reading his books, even though they touch on some of the most difficult aspects of human nature, fill me with joy.  It's almost impossible for me to describe all the "revelations" I have reading his books.  I laugh, cry--I know that sounds silly--and as I get to the last page of his books, I slow down my reading, I don't want the stories to come to an end.

rj: Do you have any final comments for our visitors today?

bw:  I'd just like to say thank you for reading this interview and for hopefully reading Bedtime Stories: The short, long and tall tales of a sleepwriter.  Not only is it a delightful collection of short stories, it also serves up my secret to getting a great night's sleep. I'm proud to say that we've been getting some great reviews--one from Reading Den, thank you--

Ed Begley, Jr., loved it, and the blog Headbutler.com recommended my book as a Holiday Buy on their December 18th post.  That was amazing. www.greatlittlebooksllc.com is the place to go to learn more about Bedtime Stories, our company and the kinds of submissions we're hoping to get.  I hope you visit the site.
 
CLOSING:
We want to take this opportunity to, again, say Thank You to Barbara for stopping by and talking with us today. This has been an informative, as well as, interesting hour and I hope you (the readers) enjoy the interview as much I did. Also, don't forget to check out our full review of Barbara's book -
  
BedTime Stories, the short, long and tall tales of a sleepwriter -

-- you can read it by clicking the typing kitty icon below.

Barbara Worton is a born storyteller. Sometimes provocative, sometimes hilarious, but always honest, the stories are mini flights of fictional fancy crafted around the ordinary objects present in our daily lives. Uninhibited, richly textured and beaming with a quiet brilliance that touches the soul, BedTime Stories gives you permission to set your imagination free and encourages you to find meaning in the mundane.
 
 When the merchandise line is launched and a date is set for the release of BedTime II - we will announce it here at the Reading Den - so drop by often ...

  & the long awaited sequel…  

Traveling to Charlotte, North Carolina from my home in upper East Tennessee, with my best friend of twenty years, to meet author Donald McCaig was an exciting, exhilarating, adventure. Although I was on the road almost 5 hours, (one way), it was a beautiful, crystal clear day — the route to Charlotte took me through the quaint downtown area of Boone, North Carolina, passing Tweetsie Railroad (which I had visited many, many years ago, at the age of three), as well as, several other gorgeous areas that I would love to visit again someday soon.

Arriving in Charlotte the traffic was quite hectic and a bit nerve racking as we were so very unsure of where we were going. Making last minute lane changes, across six lanes of zooming motorists to take the right exit is an experience I hope to never repeat again — however, I wouldn’t have missed this for the world. Finding our way past the Carolina Panthers stadium, the new Target store that appeared to cover at least 2 city blocks and numerous construction sites, we finally made our way into the historic area of town and home to Queens University.  The turn of the century, southern mansions were breathtakingly beautiful and made it difficult to concentrate on the traffic and the map. I could have spent hours driving around looking at the architecture on display in this area.

 !!!

Arriving early at the campus, we parked literally at that front door. However, our excitement about our parking good fortune was short lived as concern mounted when we found no posters or announcements about the event. As the minutes clicked by, my nerves began to get the best of me…as I feared the five hour drive may have been much-ado-about nothing. All was quiet inside the auditorium, as the university choir began practicing in an adjacent chamber room and the sound of their angelic voices drifting throughout the building calmed me somewhat. My best friend and I were in the middle of a conversation about what to do, when a gentlemen inquired about the name of the auditorium and the book signing. Wonderful - we are in the right place…it’s still on…we were just very, very early!

The Queens University campus is very attractive and Dana Auditorium (where the event was being held) was especially classy. This author event was sponsored by Park Road Books– voted Charlotte’s favorite bookstore, twenty years in a row! The owners of Park Road were on hand to set up, prior to the author’s arrival, answer questions and talk with readers. I was disappointed to learn the publisher of Mr. McCaig’s best selling civil war novel “Jacob’s Ladder” would not allow the book to be released to be on-hand at the signing. (So, this wonderful book is still on my wish list.)

I was fortunate to be introduced to Mr. McCaig upon his arrival at the auditorium. I enjoyed talking with several readers that reside in Charlotte and had a special conversation with a couple I hope to remain in contact with. Listening to Mr. McCaig read from Rhett Butler’s People was a real treat and the questions posed by those in attendance were presented in such a warm, welcoming way it felt more like a conversation between friends and that was wonderful. (Southern hospitality.)

Afterward, Mr. McCaig personalized and autographed my copy of his book and stood up to take a few pictures with me before I left for my long drive home. Of course, my route home was all interstate and eliminated many of the quaint cities we had seen on our trip over — but, after 10+ hours on the road and all the excitement, the thing I wanted more than anything was to get home, cuddle up in a comfy pair of pj’s, sip a warm cup of coffee and stretch out.

I can’t wait to see who I have the chance to meet in 2008.

Visit Event Sponsor: Park Road Books
Visit http://www.rhettbutlerspeople.com/

 Read Bio:  Donald McCaig’s biography

Donald McCaig’s Books (from Alibris)

The story behind Gone With the Wind:
http://www.gwtw.org/gonewiththewind.html

Margaret Mitchell

Margaret Mitchell House & Museum

Rhett Butler’s People in the news:

LA Times

Cap Cod Times

Books by Donald McCaig:

I had planned this adventure for several weeks and must admit I am a bit sad that it is over…  It was well worth all the hours on the road –I had the pleasure of meeting several wonderful people, as well as, the honor of meeting and talking with Mr. McCaig. Check back after the first of the year to read my “opinion” of the book.I hope everyone enjoyed reading about my road trip — drop me a note, I love hearing from you!

Happy Reading & Share the Magic! 

Your Friend & Resident 3Rs Reviewer, 
-RJ McGill

 Join us today, for our interview with Sheila Roberts as she continues on her virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book Promotion.

 Christmas is fast approaching and many of the women in the town of Holly are bracing themselves for stress, overwork, and little understanding or appreciation from the men in their lives. But then inspiration hits. Joy Robertson, Laura Fredericks, and their knitting buddies decide to “go on strike” and give the men an opportunity to see firsthand what it takes to make the holidays merry and bright. Soon other women are joining in and husbands all over town are getting a crash course in decorating, shopping, and what to wear to see Santa, and are searching frantically for an interpreter to translate the mysteries of holiday recipes. The men may just come to appreciate the holidays after walking a mall in their wives’ high heels. But maybe the women will learn something, too.

 Hi Sheila,
 
Welcome to Paperback Writer 
  
I just want to say how much I have enjoyed reading this book. Will you share with us how you came up with the idea for this book?

I'm so glad you enjoyed the book. I'm getting a lot of positive response from it so far. As with all books, it started with a little germ of an idea. What would Christmas be like if the men were in charge. Now, that is a scary thought!

  
Do you have a process for developing your characters?

I wish I could say I do. I think, often there is a little of me in many of them. What would I do if? How do I feel about? These kind of questions get the creative ball rolling.

Do you plan your stories first with an outline or does it come to you as write it?

I am a big believer in pre-planning. This doesn't mean I know every scene that is going to be in the book before I start writing it, but it does mean I have  pretty good idea of where I am going. It is like building a really good skeleton. If you've got a good skeleton you have something on which to hang the rest of the body.

 Do you know the end of the story at the beginning?

Pretty much.

 It is said that authors write themselves into their characters. Is there any part of you in your characters and what they would be?

Not in all of my characters, but in many. In my book BIKINI SEASON, which comes out spring of 2008 with St. Martin's Press, I wound up having to cut a character out of the story, and that was hugely painful because she was a lot like me.
What is your favorite part about this book?
My favorite part was writing Glen Fredericks's journey. I really enjoyed putting that character into all kinds of funny situations and watching him squirm. Writers really are rather sick people.
When in the process of writing your book did you begin to look for a publisher?

I already had an agent, and we didn't go on the hunt for a publisher until I had a finished, polished product.
What struggles have you had on the road to being published?

Writing is not a business for the faint of heart. I've had all kinds of ups and downs and written different things under different names. Rejection? Been there ( a lot ). Discouragement? Done that. But it's not always bad to get rejected. Some things we do as writers should be rejected. And those hard times and career bumps are often guidance in disguise. When a door shuts in your face, it doesn't necessarily mean you should quit. It means you're standing on the wrong porch.

 What has been the best part about being published?

Having readers tell me they enjoyed the book. That is a thrill.
What do you want readers to remember and carry with them after reading your novel?

I think for every book, the author has a different hope, a different goal. What I want most is for readers to enjoy this and have a good time. I would hope, too, though, that people learn to appreciate and enjoy the holidays, to make this special time of year just that, something special.
Do you have plans to write another book?

Book number two for St. Martin's is already in the pipeline and I am now working on book number three.
Would you care to share with us how the virtual book tour experience with Pump Up Your Book Promotion has been for you?

This has been great fun!

 Where can readers find a copy of your book?

It should be available in all the big chain bookstores like Barnes & Noble, and it's also available on Amazon.com
 
Do you have a website for readers to go to?

I sure do. I hope readers will stop by and enter my  ON STRIKE FOR CHRISTMAS contest. One lucky winner will receive Godiva

chocolates. You can also sign up for my free life improvement e-newsletter, Super You. Come see me at www.sheilasplace.com
 
Thank you, Sheila for sharing your book and characters with us today. It has been a pleasure and I hope you have had a successful virtual book tour.

Thanks so much for having me. Happy holidays!

Vivien Bowers:
CRAZY ABOUT CANADA WINS SCIENCE WRITING AWARD
My book Crazy About Canada, a children’s non-fiction book has won the 2006 Canadian Science Writers’ Association’s Science In Society Journalism Award in the Children’s Book category. The awards, announced on June 16, 2007, honour outstanding contributions to science journalism in the Canadian media during the 2006 calendar year. Crazy About Canada: Amazing Things Kids Want to Know is illustrated by Dianne Eastman and published by Maple Tree Press, in partnership with Canadian Geographic magazine. The book answers actual questions sent in by children from across the country, such as, “Why are beaver’s teeth orange?” or “Where does the water come from that flows over Niagara Falls?” or “What’s that hairy thing underneath a moose’s chin for?” It features two cartoon characters—myself and my sidekick, Morton—together we celebrate the notion of being curious, asking questions and tracking down information. This is the second time I have won this award. My previous title Crime Science (revised and re-issued in 2006 as Crime Scene) was honoured in 1997.A list of 2006 CSWA Science in Society Journalism Award winners can be found here.

For information about me and my books visit my website: www.vivienbowers.com

Kristin Butcher:
I have just signed a contract with Lorimer & Company. The new book will be coming out in the spring of 2008. It is called The Secret in Mr. Dotty's Garage and will be part of Lorimer's Streetlight Series. In October, I will be presenting two writing workshops. On the 13th, I will be doing an all-day session at Malaspina College (the Duncan campus) for those who would like to write for teens. The workshop is called Angst, Apathy, and Acne. Visit Malaspina's website or contact the college directly for more information. On October 20th, I will be part of a panel discussion in the morning, and leading a writing workshop in the afternoon. The day is sponsored by the Campbell River Arts Council and will be held at the Sybil Andrews Cottage on the Old Island Highway. My workshop will focus on the publishing process from idea through to publication. For details, check out my website: www.kristinbutcher.com

John Wilson:
My latest historical fiction for Young Adults, The Alchemist's Dream, is now in stores. Set in the 16th century against a background of plague, alchemy and exploration, it is a tale of guilt and obsession. The Alchemist's Dream tells the story of Robert Bylot and how he gets caught in the web of dreams and ambition that led to the horrific mutiny on board Henry Hudson's ship in 1611.

Shar Levine:
The following books of mine are coming out:

Becker&mayer! pub.
Smart Lab- Weird and Gross
Smart Lab - Science and Nature
Smart Lab- Human Body Challenge – coming soon
Smart Lab- Indoor Outdoor microscope – DM coming soon
Scholastic Super Power Microscope– DM coming soon

Sterling pub.
Extreme Balloon Tying – now in print
Ultimate Guide To your Microscope – has been delayed until January 2008

Mud Puddle pub.
Volcano book and kit - coming this fall

I will be speaking at the BC Teacher/Librarian Conference in October.

Ann Walsh:
My book Dark Times, an anthology of stories about teens dealing with loss, recently received high praise in a review in Canadian Literature (Spring 2007). Reviewer Lynn (J.R.) Wytenbroek concludes her review with "Ann Walsh has done a superb job of selecting the stories for this anthology; it is a truly excellent collection that will speak to both adults and young people alike about the many facets of loss and recovery from loss."

Eileen Kernaghan:
My new YA historical fantasy Wild Talent: a novel of the supernatural is scheduled for fall 2008 publication by Thistledown Press. It's set in London and Paris circa 1888-89.

Pat Godwin:
Pioneer Sounds, my children's non-fiction book in cartoon format, detailing life in the Lower Fraser Valley in the late nineteenth century, will be out about the end of September. It will be suited for the Grade 2/3 provincial curriculum and will be published by Blask Tusk Publishing Inc. For more information, see www.blacktuskpublishing.com.

Irene N.Watts:
Susan Perren of The Globe & Mail, had nice things to say about When the Bough Breaks my new children's novel published by Tundra books, August 2007: "Watt's keen eye for period detail, her vivid characterization and her estimable heroine make this novel a very affecting one."

Margriet Ruurs:
I will be speaking at the Vancouver International Writers Festival on Granville Island, on October 16 and 17 (together with Linda Bailey and Dennis Lee). My books include In My Backyard and Wake Up, Henry Rooster (shortlisted for the Chocolate Lily Award). www.margrietruurs.com

Joan Betty Stuchner:
I am taking part in one of the Writing Talks (Children's Books) at The Word On The Street (touch wood - preferably a nice, polished mahogany. I'm sure that's lucky for settling strikes.) It's at 3pm on Sept. 30th. Then in October I'll be in Sheffield England for a book festival called Off The Shelf. I'll be reading from, and talking about, Honey Cake, my recently published chapter book.

Pam Withers:
Just off the press is the ninth novel in my "Take It To The Xtreme" series (Whitecap Books): BMX Tunnel Run, for ages 11-14. The tenth and final book will be out in six months. Meanwhile, I'm working on a biography of the world's most extreme kayaker Tao Berman, due out in a year from Menasha Ridge Press. I'm also writing an Orca Currents (young adult) novel about a climber.
www.TakeItToTheExtreme.com

Kari-Lynn Winters:
I will be presenting my book, Jeffrey and Sloth, with Lori Lee Sherritt at the Word on the Street Festival on September, 30th, 2007. Her interactive presentation will begin at 11:50 a.m. in the Kids' Tent.

Two of my pieces have been published this month. Look for "Measure Me a Measurement", a poem created by Tiffany Stone and Kari-Lynn Winters, in this month's issue of KNOW Magazine and "Colorful Mistakes" in the on-line magazine for children entitled Fandangle.

Another story, "Extreme Rollers" was recently accepted for publication by ChickaDEE.
www.kariwinters.com

Sandra Diersch:
I have just signed a contract with James Lorimer for my 7th sport story. No Contact is a sequel to Home Court Advantage with ice hockey as the sport of choice. Look for it sometime next year. Also, I will be spending a lot of time in Mission this fall, visiting all 16 elementary schools. Look for pictures and comments on my website www.sandradiersch.com later this fall.

Diane Haynes:
AUTHOR DIANE HAYNES PRESENTS "JANE RAY'S WILDLIFE RESCUE SERIES" IN LOWER MAINLAND SCHOOLS
I'm booking presentations now for the 2007-2008 school year, and have five presentations/workshops available for teachers and librarians to choose from:

1. Flight or Fight (grades 4-7)
2. Crow Medicine (grades 4-7)
3. Animal Rescue! (grades 4-7)
4. Medicine Animal Journey (grades 4-12)
5. Animal Writes (grades 4-12)

These presentations can easily be tied to your curriculum units in social studies, science, environmental studies, social justice, literature and creative writing. Check the EDUCATORS section on my website for more details or contact me directly at janeraybooks[at]gmail[dot]com. Ten percent (10%) of all my speaking fees will be donated to the Haynes Scholarship for the Advancement of Animal Welfare at UBC. I look forward to hearing from you!

"ANIMAL INSTINCT" COLUMN IN BURNABY NOW NEWSPAPER LAUNCHED BY LOCAL AUTHOR DIANE HAYNES
With the support of Burnaby NOW editor Pat Tracy and the Wildlife Rescue Association of BC, I've launched a new monthly column in the Burnaby NOW called "Animal Instinct." Exploring everything from oil spills to anti-cruelty laws to the place we give companion animals in our day-to-day lives, the column gives me the chance to tackle subjects outside the realm of "Jane Ray's Wildlife Rescue Series" while still doing the work I'm passionate about: helping to make our world a better place for animals.
www.wildliferescueseries.com

Nancy Hundal:
I have just signed a contract with Raincoast for a picture book called Snowmen and Sandcastles. It will be out in October 2008.

Glenda Leznoff:
Although I work primarily as a writer I’ve always painted. On September 20th the Amelia Douglas Gallery (Douglas College, New Westminster) is launching my first major art show: "The Empress in Her Garden". The collection of 22 paintings is gardenesque in inspiration, full of colour and free-flowing movement. The cases will feature ceramics by Kinichi Shigeno. The opening is September 20th, 4:30 – 7:30, everyone is welcome. The show runs until October 26th.

Nan Gregory
This fall I'm very pleased to see my picture book Pink come out with Groundwood. It's illustrated beautifully by the Quebec artist Luc Melanson. I love this book because, though it's all about a little girl who longs for a pink doll, it's really about the power of art to break the chains of desire.

Nikki Tate:
Trouble on Tarragon Island has been causing me all kinds of trouble! Despite receiving a nomination for a Saskatchewan Willow Award, at least one Saskatchewan school (in Kindersley) has deemed the book inappropriate for children. Pulled from school library shelves, the novel will not be available for check out, even to children participating in the Willow Awards program. I've posted various media articles relating to the banning on my blog at www.nikkitate.blogspot.com .On Sunday, September 23rd from 2-4 pm I'll be participating in a "Wacky Families" panel at Cafe Fairfield. Other panelists include Karen Rivers, Dede Crane, and Nelly Kazenbroot. As the panel title suggests, the theme will be wacky relatives and how they get into books. Reading, music, snacks and laughs are also promised by Cafe organizers.

Lee Edward Födi:
I recently returned from teaching a creative writing camp for children in Yong-in, South Korea. This six-day writing-intensive workshop for talented young English writers was a massive success and I’m due to repeat the workshop in February 2008.

I’m pleased to announce that my book, Kendra Kandlestar and the Box of Whispers, has been named a finalist for the Mom’s Choice awards, with winners to be announced in NYC on October 13.

My new book, Kendra Kandlestar and the Door to Unger, will be released in October. You can peek through the Door, read the first chapter, and even view a 90-second book trailer by visiting www.kendrakandlestar.com.

Kirsti Anne Wakelin:
My newest picture book, written by Jennifer Lloyd and published by Simply Read Books, is out in stores now. Look for Looking for the Loons locally in Vancouver Kidsbooks and Blackbond Books, among others. It's a fall book chock full of wildlife.

I've posted a few photos of the illustrations as works in progress on my blog.

Check out kc dyer's blog for more cool pictures from the Terrific Teacher Travelling Road Show. So far the Road Show has travelled to Vancouver Kidsbooks on West Broadway and Edgemont Kidsbooks in North Vancouver, all to spread a little love (and a lotta chocolate and chat) on any teachers or friends of teachers who happen to wander by. CWILL BC authors James McCann and kc dyer are promoting their new books PYRE and MS. ZEPHYR'S NOTEBOOK by inviting teachers to share in a little appreciation for all they do to bring books by local authors into their classrooms.

James and kc have four more Road Show stops planned September 30 and October 1, at Chapters stores in Langley, Surrey, West Vancouver and the Vancouver Granville/Broadway stores. We'd love to see you there!

~kc dyer

....

And okay, I splurged on the shoes, too. And, um, the bag. As a working writer, 90% of my clothes are the kind of thing you wear to clean out the garage. The other 10% of my wardrobe looks more like this. And how did I earn this hot little number?

See for yourself. This is a shot of me at a booksigning--yes, a booksigning--at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. The day was organized around an air show, and there were tables and booths set up in the hangars along the air strip. I found myself sharing a table with an army ranger and his pet, Roxanne the Snake. The ranger wanted me to hold his snake. I said no. I hid behind my tower of unsold books. He insisted, so I told him I would only hold his snake if I sold all these books. (I never sell out at a signing.) But people kept buying books, and I was down to 3, so the ranger bought them all and I had to make good on my promise to hold his snake.

The snake seemed to like me. The ranger did not, because I told him his snake felt like a purse.

Anyway. Here I am with Roxanne, smiling through my inner silent screams of horror, earning any damn dress I want. For life. So there:

Note that this shot is slightly blurry. Why? Because Mr. Manly-Man Husband of Mine was standing about Note that this shot is slightly blurry. Why? Because Mr. Manly-Man Husband of Mine was standing about fifty yards away, too afraid to come closer, so this is with the zoom lens. And, I admit, I was not exactly holding still.

Diane von Furstenberg has to get her inspiration somewhere, right?

Shop on!

 Special bonus material--I spotted this on Story Broads:
I want a red dress.
I want it flimsy and cheap,
I want it too tight, I want to wear it
until someone tears it off me.
I want it sleeveless and backless,
this dress, so no one has to guess
what's underneath. I want to walk down
the street past Thrifty's and the hardware store
with all those keys glittering in the window,
past Mr. and Mrs. Wong selling day-old
donuts in their café, past the Guerra brothers
slinging pigs from the truck and onto the dolly,
hoisting the slick snouts over their shoulders.
I want to walk like I'm the only
woman on earth and I can have my pick.
I want that red dress bad.
I want it to confirm
your worst fears about me,
to show you how little I care about you
or anything except what
I want. When I find it, I'll pull that garment
from its hanger like I'm choosing a body
to carry me into this world, through
the birth-cries and the love-cries too,
and I'll wear it like bones, like skin,
it'll be the goddamned
dress they bury me in.

--Kim Addonizio

You'll be happy to know that the people in charge at Barnes & Noble are extreme book people. I had a very happy meeting with Tommy Dreiling, Antoinette Ercolano and Bob Wietrak in New York this week and I have to tell you, it's a treat to sit down and visit with people whose careers are dedicated to selling books. Dating myself: I was able to share with them the fact that I've been a B&N customer since before there were B&N stores. As a student, I used to order from the B&N catalog every month. Bob & Tommy have worked for bookstore chains nearly all their adult lives and know them inside and out. Antoinette, too, and she has visited some 500 of the 800 B&N stores. You can mention "Bellevue, Washington" and yes, she's been there. We are in very good hands.

And P.S.--I got to dine at two unforgettable restaurants: The Modern and Beppe. Not to be missed if you're in Manhattan.

For the complete list of readings and events, check them out on the BC Book Prizes website.

....

CPA Member and CAA Member Bernice Lever Reading Tour

April 19, Bernice reading at "Telling Tales", a monthly series on Bowen Island

April 22, Bernice is reading at North Shore Writers Festival, 2 pm on, at Capilano District Library.

May 5, Tony Dalton and Bernice Lever lead a workshop, "Writing- a Successful Business", at Accent Hotel in Victoria, BC  for the Victoria branch of CAA.

May 26, Bernice Lever is workshop lead, " Writing Memories & memoirs" on the Shuswap Writers Festival program  in Salmon Arm, BC. As so a small reading & some 'blue pencil' as well as own book promotion.

Her new 2007 Black Moss book -- launch date to come:  "Never a Straight Line" is her 8th the poetry book.  She has a few prose books, too.

Ontario CPA members may wish to hear me read -- LIT LIVE - ** June 3 in Hamilton, and 40th Anniversary Celebration of Richvale Writers in Richmond Hill, **June 7. This is a workshop group Bernice started in 1967--- and still strives in a supportive atmosphere.

Bernice is now Writer-in- Residence for the Vancouver branch of CAA { accepts  from members and non-members all types of manuscripts for editing and marketing advice }.

She now attends bi-annual meeting of PLR in Ottawa, so CPA members may hear her at Ottawa readings in ** June 9.

--------------------------------------

Bernice Lever  -  604-947-0017
RR1, B69, Bowen Island, BC   V0N 1G0
www.colourofwords.com
Canadian Authors Association www.canauthorsvancouver.org