Hill Spirits — An Anthology

Last winter, the Spirit of the Hills writers' group to which I belong decided to publish the first anthology of our work. It would be our way of celebrating "October is Arts Month" in Northumberland County.

Now the book has arrived, an attractive paperback, published by Blue Denim Press. For more information, please go to the publisher's website  http://www.bluedenimpress.com/hill-spirits.php

Hill Spirits contains a wide variety of short stories, poems, and art from twenty-one Spirit of the Hills contributors. My own contributions are a prose piece I think of as a kind of reverie, called "Summer Sojourn" and a short story, a murder mystery, entitled, "The Good Neighbour."


The book is being launched in grand style this month and next at several different locations in the area — Cobourg, Port Hope, Colborne, Brighton, Norwood, Trenton, as well as at The Rivoli in Toronto.

A few of the contributors will be reading from their own creations at each of the launches. I am among a group reading on October 28th in Brighton at an invitation-only luncheon. Please contact Lighthouse Books (613 475 1269) if you'd like attend.

I'll also be reading here in Trenton on October 30th at the Arts Quinte West Gallery at 7:00 p.m. Here is the poster with all the information you'll need to attend this event. I hope to see you there!

Launching Laura Secord

In the past, I've had books released without any type of launch, but never have I had a book with two launches. I feel very privileged that this is going to be the case for my latest, Laura Secord: Heroine of the War of 1812. 

The following invitations are for everyone, but depending on where you live, one venue might be better than the other. For those in the part of Ontario where I live — the Quinte, Northumberland, or Prince Edward Country regions — the Prince Edward County Library and Archives is hosting a launch of the book at the Wellington Library, 261 Main St. in Wellington on Sunday, May 27 at 2 p.m. There will be a reading, book signing, a chance to chat, and some light refreshments.

For those who live in the Brockville, Prescott, Ottawa area the Spencerville Mill Heritage Fair is hosting the launch at the ArtScene Gallery at 11 Spencer St. in Spencerville on Friday, June 1 at 5 p.m. The organizers are calling it a launch and soiree. There'll be a meet and greet, a short reading, a book signing, and some light refreshments.

My launch here is part of the Spencerville Mill's Bicentennial Heritage Fair, June 1–3, a whole weekend of activities on a War of 1812 theme. Here is the link: http://www.spencervillemill.ca/bicentennial-heritage-fair.html  Click on "Schedule & Map" for more information. On Saturday, June 2 , I'll be signing books at the mill on Water Street from 1–2 p.m. 

Everyone is welcome to come to these Bicentennial celebrations. Come in costume and you'll fit right in. I'll be wearing a Regency period "everyday" dress, a style that Laura herself might have worn.

Pictures from Book Launch

Here are a few pictures (in no particular order) taken at the launch of my latest book, Mary Pickford, Canada's Silent Siren, America's Sweetheart. 


My cousin and two of my three sisters came to congratulate me after the launch. It was great to see them.

After viewing one of Mary Pickford's silent movies, The New York Hat, the crowd heads to the refreshment table and the line-up along the far wall where they wait for me to autograph their books.

 This is me, reading one of the sections I chose from the book. I was thrilled at the size of the turnout, and sorry for those who ended up having to stand. Thank you to everyone who came to show their support, and to the Quinte West Public Library (Trenton) for hosting the event. Book sales were handled by Kathy Collins from J&B Books in Trenton.

The book is available from your favourite book store. If you don't see it on the shelf, they're happy to order it for you.

Book Launch Success

Mary Pickford, Canada's Golden Girl

On Saturday, November 5 at the Trenton Library we launched Mary Pickford, Canada's Silent Siren, America's Sweetheart in fine style. I couldn't have asked for a better turnout.

We had expected about twenty-five (with my fingers crossed!), and we easily doubled that number, having to set up extra chairs. In the end, it was standing room only. Obviously, Mary Pickford still draws a crowd!

This is the way the program went. After a brief introduction I read several short selections from the book, tossing in a bit of necessary detail in order to link the pieces. A few questions and a bit of discussion followed.

Afterwards we showed The New York Hat, one of Mary's short silent films, available now on YouTube. It proved to be a big hit, with plenty of chuckles over the rather predictable plot. It is, after all, almost 100 years old. The film is considered to be one of Mary's best shorts, and was the last one she made for Biograph. It proved to be a good example of Mary's acting style, the way she used subtle, natural body movements.

The library generously provided the crowd some light refreshments while they stayed to chat, and I was kept busy autographing books and smiling for the camera. 

So, the book is now officially launched! Go, Mary!

One Day in the Life of a Writer

Early in the morning my writing day seems full of promise. I will accomplish a lot this day because there are no scheduled interruptions -- no meetings, no appointments, no luncheons (as pleasant as that might be).

I will write 1000 words, email some updates to a couple of associations where I have a web page, send out more invitations for my upcoming launch of the new book, prepare some advertising posters, and do final revisions on the first two chapters of the next book.

A good plan. But, mid-morning, when I turn on the computer to re-read the biography of William Lyon MacKenzie that I need for the present writing project, I get distracted. I read my email, reply to those that need some response, forward a couple of emails that make me laugh, and take a look at what's going on with Facebook while I'm there.

So, how did I do, overall? I managed to write more words than I planned, I looked after most of the updates, emailed more invitations. But in order to do that I had to phone a couple of friends for email addresses and we got talking . . .

Another brand new day. This morning I finished those revisions on the first two chapters. And here's that blog post I promised. Now I need to plan for what I want to accomplish today. It's good to have a plan.

Such is life. For this writer, anyway.