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blue_lotus13All in all, it was extremely successful and fun.
I got there about half an hour before the reading, and was greeted by a wall display of my book, complete with a little bio. My parents and I were also floored by my end cap display, which featured a large poster of the book cover. We even took pics of the three of us standing beside it, which I will post soon.
I felt the love during the reading, as about 50 people showed up. I was so busy greeting to and talking to people that I didn't manage to keep count of everyone who came. It was a great crowd. There were a ton of people from high school that I hadn't seen for years, my high school French teacher, my neighbours, a ton of family friends, the entire cast of my McGinty Mondays writing group, some assorted writing friends, Prosad/Aaron's mom, and a bunch of other people, including some I didn't know. I got to read in a little nook in the store, which was nicer than reading in the cafe. In retrospect, I should have read a few more poems, but I always want to keep things short, so I didn't. Then I answered questions from the floor and signed books. It was quite an event for me and I felt really loved and supported!
The next day, I got up and went to Bishop James Mahoney High school. I probably haven't been inside the school since I graduated. It looks pretty much the same except the halls are all tile, and the nooks have been removed and replaced with lockers. THere are more computers, and an ESL classroom on the second floor. The library has been renovated. The only teachers that are still there are Mr. Griffiths, and Mr. Elder.
I met up with the librarian, Marion Harder, who was incredibly nice, and wandered around the library, waiting for the students. I spoke to the Advanced Grade 12 English students, who were all really cool and nice. Their teacher, Mrs Meyers, had told them all about the book and read them a few poems. I was wearing my haiku shirt, so I told them what it said on it, and one kid said, "Thank you for just reading it. It saved me from staring at your boobs."
I read a bunch of poems to the kids and then they asked a lot of really intelligent, interesting questions, like if I always wanted to write a book, and how long it had taken me, and if I'd gone on a book tour. One kid asked the story behind the poem "love after the bomb", which required a long explanation of real life and made up events.
Mr. Griffiths' daughter was in the class and she asked me if her dad had had his sweet mullet when he taught me. She was really cute.
I then had the kids do a writing exercise, and their teacher asked some of them to read their poems out loud, and they were all very creative and good.
At the end of the session, one kid presented me with a card and pen and gave me a hug. It was a really nice feeling and a successful visit.
I got there about half an hour before the reading, and was greeted by a wall display of my book, complete with a little bio. My parents and I were also floored by my end cap display, which featured a large poster of the book cover. We even took pics of the three of us standing beside it, which I will post soon.
I felt the love during the reading, as about 50 people showed up. I was so busy greeting to and talking to people that I didn't manage to keep count of everyone who came. It was a great crowd. There were a ton of people from high school that I hadn't seen for years, my high school French teacher, my neighbours, a ton of family friends, the entire cast of my McGinty Mondays writing group, some assorted writing friends, Prosad/Aaron's mom, and a bunch of other people, including some I didn't know. I got to read in a little nook in the store, which was nicer than reading in the cafe. In retrospect, I should have read a few more poems, but I always want to keep things short, so I didn't. Then I answered questions from the floor and signed books. It was quite an event for me and I felt really loved and supported!
The next day, I got up and went to Bishop James Mahoney High school. I probably haven't been inside the school since I graduated. It looks pretty much the same except the halls are all tile, and the nooks have been removed and replaced with lockers. THere are more computers, and an ESL classroom on the second floor. The library has been renovated. The only teachers that are still there are Mr. Griffiths, and Mr. Elder.
I met up with the librarian, Marion Harder, who was incredibly nice, and wandered around the library, waiting for the students. I spoke to the Advanced Grade 12 English students, who were all really cool and nice. Their teacher, Mrs Meyers, had told them all about the book and read them a few poems. I was wearing my haiku shirt, so I told them what it said on it, and one kid said, "Thank you for just reading it. It saved me from staring at your boobs."
I read a bunch of poems to the kids and then they asked a lot of really intelligent, interesting questions, like if I always wanted to write a book, and how long it had taken me, and if I'd gone on a book tour. One kid asked the story behind the poem "love after the bomb", which required a long explanation of real life and made up events.
Mr. Griffiths' daughter was in the class and she asked me if her dad had had his sweet mullet when he taught me. She was really cute.
I then had the kids do a writing exercise, and their teacher asked some of them to read their poems out loud, and they were all very creative and good.
At the end of the session, one kid presented me with a card and pen and gave me a hug. It was a really nice feeling and a successful visit.
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no subject
Date: 2007-09-20 06:11 pm (UTC)