This will be a busy week! I attended Word on the Street on 21st September in Lethbridge. It is my fourth visit to that particular location for this event and as always have so much fun meeting readers and new authors. My publisher, Dream Write Publishing attended and I assisted with their table.
There were several authors, I wanted to catch up with from last year: Krysta MacDonald, Jenna Greene, and Bianca Rowena. I was pleasantly surprised to find another author, Natasha Deen, whom I had not seen in quite a while.
We were fortunate that the weather was a balmy +21 (unlike last year when we froze!) as it is a outside canopy event. There was lots to see and many presentations and speakers too.
With that event over I could not sit on my laurels, as I have another event this Saturday 28th September – Words in the Park. So it was home late Monday night, unpack and reorganize. You can imagine my excitement when I found a box of books waiting for me. These are the long awaited sequel to The Rython Kingdom. So many readers wanted a sequel and I spent quite a long time (to my readers frustration) pondering what that story would entail. Now it is here: Rython Legacy – the sequel.
I hope to see you this Saturday – Agora, Community Center, 401, Festival Lane, Sherwood Park, Alberta. 10 am – 4 pm Free admission with local authors galore, music, story telling, treats, games & interactive sessions and prizes too. A family friendly event with something for everyone.
How do you prepare for a book event? Can you share tips/knowledge/experience?
I happen to have two book events this month, which is exciting. The first one is Word on the Street in Lethbridge 21st September.
I have attended this event several times before and accompany my publisher, Dream Write Publishing. It is an outside event so there is the added preparation for any weather condition – wet, cold or hot. We have experienced all of them at this event, unsurprisingly as September weather in Alberta can be changeable to say the least. As always given the opportunity we have extended our weekend to four days so we can explore the area – back roads and hamlets missed by the highway A to B drivers.
The second event is Words in the Park, Sherwood Park, which is my official launch date for the anxiously awaited, Rython Legacy – the sequel to The Rython Kingdom. I have two tables at this event as I now have eight books to display plus promotional items. It was difficult last year so I will have to do mock-up’s of the full display and take photos so I can get it all set up with looking too cluttered. As I write in three genre’s I am thinking the display will be grouped in age sections. I have summaries of each book, which helps buyer’s to peruse the story lines. Each section will have different coloured table cloth – which worked well last year. I’m still planning obviously. I have found multiple tiered stands are a great way to increase the amount of room I have to display.
Below is last’s year’s display.
I would love to see how you arrange your book event display’s – please share in the comments after clicking on the headline.
Apologies everyone, I did not post yesterday! It has been a super busy week (month so far). The items on my list seem to continue to grow.
Firstly, I have been promoting the launching of the sequel to my fantasy romance, Rython Legacy, I have proofed the finished product and ordered printed copies for Words in the Park on 28th September.
In addition as secretary of the hosting group, of said event, I have been replying and supplying promotional materials for the vendor applications. And contacting new authors to invite them to attend.
I went on a super four day writing retreat road trip to Lloydminster and discovered a new part of Canada as well as increased the word count on my steampunk novel by 12,440 words – happy author!
The next few weeks will be just as busy:
Board meeting to finalize planning of the event 10th September
Road trip with my daughter 14th & 15th September
Road trip and attendance at Word on the Street, Lethbridge 21st September (another long weekend as I will add the Friday & Monday for writing and exploring).
Preparation and mock ups for my tables at the event to show case all my books (8 in all)
Words in the Park 28th September
This doesn’t include twice weekly aquasize/walking and ‘normal’ life chores etc LOL
How’s your month shaping up?
Are you going to a book event? Why not share the details?
My writing has been rather a ‘mixed bag’ this week – continuing with my YA novella, creating the next issue of the newsletter for the Arts & Culture Council, and work on the ghost writing project, as well as preparation for my speech/presentation on Saturday. In all a good writing week.
Last night’s writers meeting prompt was fun we had ten minutes to write a short story or poem – the title was The Reluctant. Someone who is reluctant to leave or enter something or somewhere. This was my response:
Tom touched the door handle then released it, then touched it again. His nervousness increased and at the third touch he was conscious of his sweaty palm. Just do it – its going to be fine! Breathing deeply he grabbed the handle with as much resolve as he could. It turned slowly releasing the catch. A sudden fluttering above him broke his fierce concentration and he uttered a squeal. Dumb bird get out of here. As Tom turned to face the door again he saw it was ajar – his teeth chattered as his fear increased. What is in there? Why did I say I would go in?
Giggling from the hedge reminded him why – to be in the gang, you had to walk inside and inside for ten minutes. Tom felt Rod, Gary and Sam’s eyes on him. I have to do this or they will forever tease me.
With a deep breath he pushed the door open, walked inside the gloom and shut the door behind him. Dust flew in every direction, old tattered curtains billowed at the glass-less windows and broken furniture lay scattered around him. Graffiti across every wall was evidence of other intruders. He stood still unable to move but determined to make the ten minutes and be part of the Grant Street Gang.
Books: I am tantalizing close to the end of this novel, in truth I don’t want it to end. I love the characters in both modern and period eras. A parallel love interest in both has me turning the pages as well as the dread that something awful will happen soon.
I have been given a book to review and bought one from a young author on Saturday, these will be added to my pile.
My review: I read the whole story last night – it is captivating. You have excellent world building, intriguing characters and plot. Love the design – it so unique. Thoroughly enjoy it! Looking forward to the next installment.
I attended Word on the Street on Saturday in Lethbridge with my publisher, Dream Write Publishing. We arrived rather too early to set up as the organizers were only just putting out the tables and chairs at the time we were informed we could set up. However, it wasn’t long before we saw our allocated tent was ready and we proceeded to arrange our display. With nearly 90 titles now published, we have to allot books to each event now – a time will come when we might need to invest in a half tonne truck! http://www.dreamwritepublishing.ca/
With my new romance novel, The Twesome Loop showing for the first time in public, the day was extra special for me. I even sold a couple of copies – even better!
The day was chilly but we maintained our cheer chatting with the many visitors and fellow authors in our tent.
The Sunday and Monday were mostly relaxing, reading and some writing although mine was mainly a blog post, creating a new title for my YA story and reading up on a potential freelance project.
Books:I did manage to spend time reading this fascinating and lovely book but did not finish it quite yet.
Mandy Eve-Barnett's Blog for Readers & Writers 