Buy a Book For Someone For Christmas Event

For a number of years, I have wished someone would organize a book sale before Christmas. I pictured dozens of Alberta authors and illustrators gathering at some hall or multipurpose room, sitting at tables, while book lovers arrived en masse to purchase signed books.

This year, I stopped waiting for someone else to do it. When Tamara Van Biert, Stony Plain Public Library director, offered to host an event to celebrate the release of my book Day Trips From Edmonton, I suggested inviting other authors, as well as illustrators, to join us in what became the Buy a Book For Someone For Christmas Event.

Emails to members of the Writers Guild of Alberta, Young Alberta Book Society, Writers Union of Canada, and the Canadian Society of Children's Authors, Illustrators and Performers (CANSCAIP) yielded a fantastic response. The Stony Plain Reporter ran a story on the event and more creators contacted me to take part. I continued to receive calls from interested authors two days before the sale and accepted nearly 30 participants from Stony Plain, Spruce Grove, Parkland County, Beaumont, Wetaskiwin, Edmonton, and Calgary. Authors and illustrators represented almost every genre.

We set up our books, decorations, and bowls of candy by 5:00 pm, December 1 and waited to see if anyone would come. Does anyone besides authors, illustrators, and librarians think autographed books make great gifts? Yes! The response was heart-warming. The library filled with delighted book lovers, carrying arm loads of books as they stopped to meet new authors, admire illustrations, and plan their Christmas giving. Adults, teens, and children crowded around tables to ask questions, share ideas, and talk books.

The Edmonton chapter of a charity that promotes literacy endeavors in third world countries also took part, displaying colorful books with text in mutliple languages. Room To Read works to raise funds for education in developing countries. They publish books in the dialects of the regions they serve so that children may enjoy stories and improve their reading skills in their own languages.

The library staff took wonderful care of us. They helped set-up and take down tables, post signs, and even wheeled a cart of refreshements around to each table!

The event ended at 7:30 pm, with more than half of the participants and their partners regrouping at the Stony Plain Boston Pizza. Many expressed an interest in seeing the Buy a Book For Someone For Christmas Event become an annual event. Some wondered if it could be held in other surrounding communities or in Edmonton. It can as long as someone takes the initiative to organize! It was certainly worth it for the book lovers and book sellers who took part. We were so busy, we did not even have enough time to visit each other's tables for more than a few quick moments!

Participants included:

1. Joan Marie Galat


2. Marty Chan


3. Rita Feutl


4. Lyle Weis


5. Don Meredith


6. Caterina Edwards


7. Bob Stallworthy


8. Karen SpaffordFitz


9. Leanne Myggland Carter


10. Gail Sidonie Sobat


11. Molly Anne Warring


12. Debby Waldman


13. Roberta Laurie


14. Lisa Wojna


15. Roxanne Felix


16. Patricia Brine


17. Pat Nelson: Room to Read


18. Linda Kaszap


19. Ann Sutherland


20. Helen Rose


21. Tyler Enfield


22. Mike Boldt


23. Paul Napora


24. Barbara Galler Smith


25. Lynn Link

Some partipants' websites:

http://www.joangalat.com/
http://www.patriciabrine.com/
http://www.roomtoread.org/
http://www.kazmalia.com/
http://www.frontenachouse.com/
http://www.prairiedogpublishing.ca/
http://www.lisawojna.com/
http://www.donmeredith.ca/
http://www.gailsidoniesobat.com/
http://www.boldtmanstudios.com/
http://www.edgewebsite.com/

http://www.mollyannewarring.ca/

Olympic Reminisce

With the Olymics coming to Vancouver in 2010, I decided to share a reminisce relating to the last time the games were held in Canada. When the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics took place, I worked for a community radio station in Lac La Biche called CFWE FM, which also ran satellite stations in other northern communities. The 88 day Olympic torch relay included a trek through Ft. Vermilion, noteworthy as Alberta's oldest settlement, established in 1788 as a North West Company post.

I reported on the event and had the exciting experience of riding with national press representatives in an open cube-truck in front of the runner. At -50 degrees Celsius, the ink in my pen froze and a more experienced reporter advised me to always bring a pencil--a memorable recommendation that has served me well in my writing career.

The Olympic runner was honoured on a stage of snow but because it was so cold most attendees celebrated the torch relay in the community hall. It was exciting to be part of such a historic event, in Alberta's first community.

Day Trips from Edmonton Book Launch

I officially launched Day Trips From Edmonton June 20, 2009 at the Spruce Grove Public Library. About 30 invited guests attended, as well as some very welcome library patrons. It is always a pleasure to celebrate a new book surrounded by friends and family.

Attendees enjoyed cake, which was decorated with an edible image of the book cover. Communities and attractions mentioned in the book generously donated a wide assortment of door prizes from travel items, clothing, and lunch bags, to water bottles, gift certificates, cookbooks, and other promotional items. There were enough door prizes for everyone to win something.

Before signing books, I read a story about how the City of Wetaskiwin got its name, and delivered the following speech.

Day Trips From Edmonton Book Launch Speech

I guess you could say I’ve come down to earth with this book.

People ask, why did you write about day trips?

There are a number of answers. I love to picnic and explore new areas. I think it’s only right to know about the interesting things you can see near your home region, and I like the simplicity of not having to pack for overnight trips. I also like going home to sleep in my own bed at night.

While writing this book did take some research, I am very familiar with the areas it includes because I grew up mostly in Sherwood Park...and often traveled farther east and every other direction with my family. I lived north, in Athabasca and Lac La Biche...and drove between these towns and Edmonton many times. I’ve been living in the Stony Plain area and exploring here for the past 10 years...and we all tend to go south, so I have spent time that way as well.

Writing this book has given me the chance to describe a number of one-of-a-kind attractions:
· The Klondike Ferry Crossing, where you can ride a ferry in the prairie…and imagine the gold seekers of long ago
· The Red Deer ghost tour…(where one of the ghosts is a pig)
· The ribstones historic site… more than 1000 years old…and one of only nine sets of petroglyphs in Alberta
· The Alberta Honey Producers Co-op…right here in Spruce Grove…you can see how that delicious clover-flavored honey is processed, and
· only 10 minutes away…Wagner Bog is a more than 500 acre natural area. You can see a number of habitats not normally found together, as well as 16 of the 26 orchid species found in Alberta. Many are blooming right now.
· Em-te-town is a man-made ghost town that will take a full afternoon to explore, and finally…one of my favorites…
· the Beaver Hills Dark Sky Preserve, a place where it’s always dark at night…and a place where those Dot to Dot in the Sky books come in handy.

All these sites are within two hours of downtown Edmonton.

Day Trips From Edmonton also includes a list of best places for birders.

I describe designated important bird areas, certain migration routes, sanctuaries, and the Beaverhill Bird Observatory, where between 2000 and 4500 birds are banded every year.

You can take part in a birdathon or observe birds being banded.

I did this and actually got to hold a saw whet owl, one of those small owls that are about the size of a coke can.

Your journey should be as pleasant as your arrival at your day trip destination.

I hope reading tidbits of Alberta history will make your travel time even more interesting.

I hope that knowing what happened in earlier times along the way changes what you watch for and think about as the scenery goes by your car windows.

When you see the grey sagging pioneer buildings, imagine the first settlers choosing their homesteads according to the lay of the land…fertile soil, easy access to water, and eventually proximity to railway stops.

Notice the different habitats, watch for wild game, and think about how early pioneers depended on their skills to survive.

Look at the rivers, creeks, and lakes. Picture them as your only roads and imagine losing your way.

Think of how different things are today. We pay for the opportunity to get lost in a corn maze…and several are mentioned in the book.

Let Alberta history take you to a new place.

Even books classified as non-fiction can have stories in them.

One of my favorite day trip stories is about how Wetaskiwin got its name…

(Read pages 108-110 and pages 1-2: 1st, 3rd, and 4th paragraphs.)

Thank-you to the Spruce Grove Public library for hosting the book launch, especially Leanne Mygland-Carter and Nicole Lawson. I greatly appreciate your enthusiasm for my books and your participation in making it possible to launch the book here!

Thank-you to Whitecap Books for contibuting toward the launch and publishing the book.

Thank-you to my bookseller...my daughter Gina.

Thank-you to Marion Ferguson who will make sure everyone gets cake.

Thank-you to the communities who donated the more than 45 door prizes:
· the cities of Spruce Grove and Wetaskiwin
· the towns of Stony Plain, Gibbons, Morinville, Devon, and Barrhead
· the counties of Strathcona, Woodlands, and Beaver
· Watchable Wildlife Tours (in Strathcona County), Jack’s Drive Inn (here in the Grove), Jana Lapel of Christy Clown and Friends (out of Edmonton), and the Métis Crossing (near Smoky Lake)

Thank-you to Grant Wiens, for joining me on many day trips, proofreading the maps, and packing the most excellent picnic meals.

Thank-you to anyone who took pictures and might email them to me later.

Thank-you to all of you who came here to celebrate my new book with me today.

It means a lot to me to see you here.

I hope the book leads you down exciting new roads, and home again the same day…or night.

Astronomy Author Explores Locales Closer to Home

January 30, 2009, I attended the Canadian Author's Association-Alberta Branch workshop, Writing Elsewhere, Artfully, led by Marcello Di Cintio. Although I have already written and edited a significant amount of travel content, including tourism guides, safety advice, and foreign travel guidelines, I chose to attend this workshop to discover more about the craft of inserting one's own experience into travel writing.

Di Cintio made it clear that different work comes from writers who travel, as opposed to travelers who write. Although the Earth has been so fully explored, there are still endless stories to tell as writers who travel explore landscapes and discover the experiences of people around the globe.

My next book is a travel guide exploring the many things to see and do within a few hours of Edmonton, Alberta's capital city. Day Trips From Edmonton is scheduled for release by Whitecap Books in about April 2009.

Alberta is host to some of Canada's most stunning scenery, from aspen forests and farmland to wetlands and foothills. Many of the province's natural wonders, cultural treasures, historical sites and recreational spots are within a two-hour drive of Edmonton. Day Trips from Edmonton is a comprehensive guide to Alberta's best destinations-visit secluded, untouched natural areas or hotspots bustling with activities. It includes maps and photographs, and features an easy-to-follow format catered to suit the traveler's needs.

You will find helpful details that include:

• Recreation information
  
• Historical tidbits


• Popular events


• Information on flora and fauna


• Opportunities for further exploration.
  

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