Canadian girl out and aboot

So I spent most of the morning hanging out with [Bad username or site: @ livejournal.com], before getting ready to take off. It would take me about an hour to get to the Harbourfront, so I left early and then wandered up Bay street and looked at Nathan Phillips square and part of Queen St West before getting on the streetcar to get to Harbourfront. It might be the time of year, but I didn't see a lot of trees and green in Toronto. I also think it's weird that people bike in the downtown area without helmets. Seems that helmet wearing is law in Vancouver, but not in TO. I find it odd.

Finally, I got down to Harbourfront, where I took pics of some of the waterfront. It was okay, but not as interesting as the Harbour in Vancouver. I was more excited to see some of the areas where they have the International Festival of Authors. After getting lost, I managed to find my way to the Pearl Harbourfront restaurant. I thought this was kind of a dumb name, until I got there and realized that we were having Chinese food! My comfort food! Deliciousness! There were a bunch of poets there and so I sat next to two very nice women and we ended up chatting all during the dinner and I had a good time meeting some of the poets and the judge. Most of the poets were teachers or publicists or media types of some sort, which was pretty interesting to me.

After we were done eating, we wandered over to Harbourfront in a group. One thing that was weird was that most of the other writers said I "looked familiar" and asked if they had read with me before. Because I live in Edmonton and not Ontario, I was doubtful and had to negate them. It was kind of funny. There were a few people from Guelph, Hamilton and Windsor, but the majority of people were actually from TO.

We were ushered into the Harbourfront room, and then 2 of us went backstage to use the greenroom bathroom and pick up some things. I got to sign the archive book, which was signed by all the authors that had gone to Harbourfront. So I got to sign a few pages after Sherman Alexie. (I squealed with excitement internally)

Since I didn't know anyone in the audience (my friend was going to come but her neighbour/friend had a heart attack), I felt really awkward, so I was hiding backstage until the actual event. We read in alphabetical order, so I was 8th. I think I did a good reading, and a lot of people told me that they enjoyed my work. It was a very eclectic evening and there was a lot of different work read. People were nice and I ended up chatting to another poet and her friend in the line for the bar. However, after the entire event, we had to stand around to sign books, and I just ended up feeling very awkward because most people seemed to know a lot of other people, since they were from TO, and I am not. Still, it was interesting and I met a lot of neat people and it was fun to read in another city. They still didn't tell us who "WON" but said a short list would be announced in the next couple of days. Last year they picked 6 poets to come back and perform, so it will be neat if I get picked. I'm not going to think about it any more though.

So to sum up- great reading, awkward standing around after. This is my weak point. I'm really good one on one or in small group situations, but I tend to feel a little awkward at parties or in large groups because I never know who to talk to.

Strangely, I am occasionally recognized in Edmonton. On Saturday night, Mari introduced me to a local newspaper editor, who recognized my name and knew that I had written a few things for his competitor. Another friend of hers said that I looked really familiar.

I also ran into a person a few weeks ago who had read and loved my book. I did not know this person at all, and was shocked and flattered, as I always am when this happens.

A few weeks before this, I was talking to a local author who recently published a book with my publisher.

Her- "You look really familiar. Have we met before?"

Me- Uh, I'm a Frontenac author too. You probably recognize my face from my book and the picture on the website.

(Heh)

*****
I think it's funny when people try to place my ethnicity without actually asking me about it. This happened at a bbq I was at on Saturday night.

Couple- Where are you from?
Me (guessing what they wanted to know)- Saskatoon.

Couple- (pause)- Um, what's your background? You look.... (awkward pause)

Me- (thinking that I should tell them about my education)- I'm French, German, English and my mother is half Chinese. My features come from my mother, but the colouring is all my father's.

I love telling people that I'm from Saskatoon when they ask where I'm from. I did this to one woman, and she told me that she had thought that I was from South America. Yeah, I'm an ass.

After being socially isolated for a while due to excessive work/school/writing, I decided that I needed to get out of the house. Thursday night I went to one of my favourite Edmonton venues, to attend the launch of Frontenac House 2009 Quartet series. There were more than 100 people in attendance, which was phenomenal. I got to hang out with my publishers and a bunch of poets and had a blast talking to people. Afterward, my publishers and two of this year's poets and I went out for some drinks and appies and I got a chance to hang out and visit which was ever so lovely.

Friday I decided that I WAS NOT GOING TO WORK, so I went to see Adventureland. I liked the movie and thought it was pretty good, but I hated the theatre that I went to see it at. I've never been to the South Edmonton Common theatre before, and probably won't go again for a long time. GOing there is a bit like trying to see a movie in a mall. Yuck.

Adventureland is pretty cute and believable. You'll relate to it if you've ever had a job that really sucked, but where you got to meet a lot of cool people. Plus everyone acting in the film is excellent; Kristen Stewart, Jesse Eisenberg, Ryan Reynolds, Martin Starr and Bill Hader. It's set in 1987 so there's some great fashion and music and Yo La Tengo does the soundtrack. Nice.

That night, Mari and I had plans to go to a local church Perogy supper featuring homemade perogies. It was pretty damn awesome. We ate lots of homemade perogies, talked to some seniors, and perused the garage sale. After this, we went for tea and then went to her place to cuddle with her dogs and watch "Son of Rambow." Now that my socializing is done for a while, I'm ready to go back to work.

Oh, and another item of note; I bought lipstick for the first time in about 12 years. I needed some for stage make up for my dance recital. I had to get the sales girl to help me find a good brand and colour. [Bad username or site: @ livejournal.com], you'll be happy to know that the colour is "Vintage Red."

2007 was a big year for me, mostly because I released my first book and moved. It wasn't an easy year, but in retrospect, there were a lot of amazing things that happened.

( month )

A week or two, I read a nasty and very mean review of all four of the books published this year by Frontenac House. I brushed it off, but it still stung like a pesky insect bite.

However, this morning, I found this review.

It makes up for the nasties.

All 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.

Okay Vancouverites,

There's been a problem with distribution of my book, so you have to order it directly from the publisher at editor@frontenachouse.com. You won't be charged shipping if you're in Canada.

I've been a pushy little writer this week.

1. I talked to Hal Wake, head of the Vancouver International Writers Festival, about getting to participate in this year's festival. I peaked his interest, and we chatted. He already has the book.

2. I called Arsenal, who have had my book proposal for a year. They seem to have misplaced it, but they're working on it. Since they are not moving fast enough for me, I sent the same proposal to McGilligan books this week.

3. I called my friend Pete who owns a little bookstore in Saskatoon, to see if he's stocking my book. It should be in soon.

4. The book is now available through McNally Robinson and was reviewed in the Saskatoon Star Phoenix this weekend.

5. I'm working on a gig in September at McNally in Saskatoon, and will have a gig here in Grande Prairie at the beginning of October with Dymph.

6. You can help me with my marketing. If you live in a city in Canada, please ask your library to get a copy of my book. I know that it is in the Grande Prairie Library system, but it doesn't seem to be in Saskatoon's or Vancouver's library systems. I haven't tried to access the other libraries yet, because that would make me look like a stalker.

We held our Grande Prairie launch yesterday at a really cool bookstore downtown called "The Rabbit Hole." It's a used bookstore, but they also stock a large number of records, comics and collectibles, and carry an excellent selection of cult books.

At about 5 minutes to 3:00, no one had arrived yet and we were beginning to get a bit anxious. Fortunately, people straggled in and so we ended up reading to a crowd of about 40 people, which was fantastic. Our publishers came up for the event, which was really nice.

After the reading, I went out for supper at Dymph's mom's house. Dymph's mom Bibi and her husband Derek are potters and own a farm out near Hythe. They live in this very amazing Japanese style house that Derek built, full of books and pottery and such. (Yes, as you can guess, I liked it.) They have 2 donkeys, 3 dogs and a cat. Derek is an amazing cook and we ate a fantastic Indian/Malaysian style meal. Guests could also attempt to cook naan bread in the tandoori oven, which was fun to watch. Rose and David (publishers) came, along with many artist friends, the Rabbit Hole dudes, and two of Dymph's kids. Dymph gave us a tour of the kilns, including a Japanese style aragama (sp?) kiln that is one of 12 in North America. All in all, it was a fun evening and I took a lot of pictures, which I will post soon.

Rose told me that some woman from Saskatoon wants to book me for a reading. I have no clue who this woman is, but it does mean that I could tour to Saskatoon at some point in the fall.

Okay, people in the US,

You can buy my book!

I asked my publisher and they do ship to the States:

editor@frontenachouse.com