Event Planing - Part 3

I can't make up my mind how many book signings to have in October. At first I thought I do 3, one in each location in Durham Region (Oshawa, Ajax, Pickering). I thought the more places I had it the better chance we'd have at raising money for the Denise House.

But now that I think about it, I was thinking maybe it would just be better to have one big main event at the Oshawa Centre. I'm afraid that people I know will come to the first one (makes sense) and then maybe the others will have a really small turn out which won't attract anyone passing by to come over. Crowds draw people.

Also, if someone from the Denise House is coming to speak (which we are discussing the possibility) then they won't really want to go to all three I shouldn't think.

On other notes, I need to start looking for some stuff I want to have (a big jar for any other donations people may want to leave, a guest book, bookmarks, etc)

I finally got my Event Request form from Chapters/Indigo and have started filling it out. I'm hoping to do it at the beginning of October. I think the 5th. I'm not sure yet what time to do either. How long do these things go on?

Bliss (a poem)

Oh how I must paint

the image of perfection before me

I watch the sweet slumber,

the whisper of her breathing,

the scent of soft skin and dreams

She stirs ever so slightly 

and I hold my breath 

so as not to disturb her

Time stands still

Oh how I could watch

the tiny angel that is

my daughter
forever.

Update: Poetry In Motion

Seriously?!?!?!?!? So I'm looking for a kit of magnetic words and after looking on Amazon, I decide I'm going to check out other options. I do a Google search of 'Magnetic Poetry'. And what should pop up first but a site called Magnetic Poetry. Upon clicking on it I discover not only do they sell the kits BUT.......

.......YOU CAN PLAY ONLINE AND USE THEM!!!!!!!!!

SAY WHAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTT???!?!?!?

Oh my goodie goodie gosh! It's literally Christmas in JULY!

SAVE!

Poetry In Motion

I used to go on poetry.com when I was a teenager and enter poetry contests. It was a great site and had useful stuff too like a rhyming dictionary. But the best thing they had was called the Poetry in Motion contest. Everyday there were a whole bunch of words (much like those magnets you can buy) and you had to write a poem using so many of the words.

Even when I wasn't entering the contest, I would go to the site and choose a bunch of words as a writing exercise. It was awesome and so helpful to keep myself writing, practicing.

Sadly even though the site still exists, Poetry In Motion doesn't. It was a great tool and I really miss it. It was my go-to when I had writer's block. Perhaps I should order a set of those magnets...

Event Planning - Part 2

So as I mentioned, I'm in the midst of planning my book signing. And I got the most of the steps checked off my list. But here is a refresher:

1. Choose a Theme
2. Choose a Location
3. Alert the Media & Get the Word Out There
4. Prepare to Talk
5. Sign & Sell

So as for a theme, I thought about this good and hard. Honey, I’m Home is a story about a woman living with spousal abuse. Although my book is fictional, I am aware of the sad truth that domestic abuse is not. I included information at the back of my book for people all over the world who are in Katie's situation and are looking for help. I am also aware that this is not enough, so I am looking to do more.

Because October is National Domestic Violence Awarenessmonth, I have chosen to do my book signing during this time. I will also have information about Domestic Violence in hopes to raise awareness on this subject.

I was shocked to discover that in Canada, one woman is murdered by her domestic partner every six days. And that Durham Region has only four shelters, and at those shelters there are only 83 beds total available for women and children in emergency situations. That is one bed for approximately every 7,326 people in Durham (according to 2011 census population stats).  This statistic breaks my heart.

One of those four shelters in Durham is called The Denise House. I was first introduced to The Denise House years ago when my church, Kingsview Untied, was holding it’s annual Outreach Walk-a-thon. I was much younger at that time and only really understood that it was a shelter for abused women. But during my research on this topic, I discovered so much more than that, I was amazed by all the wonderful programs and resources you offer there. I was touched by the story of Denise Penny and why the shelter was renamed to honour the memory of her.

To coincide with my book signing and Domestic Violence Awareness Month, I will be donating $1 for every book sold in the month of October to The Denise House.

Though the date is not yet set, I am happy to be doing something to help women out and I hope my readers will feel the same way too.

Looking for Reasons to Write

I just wanted to say that as a writer it is important to keep your passion alive by practicing.

"Practice, Miss Bennet. Practice. You can't do enough of it."
Lady Catherine de Bourgh, Pride & Prejudice (1940 version movie)

I am consistently trying to find ways to keep practicing. Journaling of course is a great way. But it's more fun to find other little ways. Today I wrote a little poem on the memo section of a ziplock bag in my husband's lunch as I was packing it:

Roses are red, my eyes are blue,

I'll never love anyone as much as you!

Lilies are pink, your eyes are brown,

My life gets better with you around!

Planning an Event

Really starting to play my first book signing, before I thought it would be a book launch but it was hard without knowing when the book was actually going to be released. So book signing it is. I mean, the only difference is one happens right when the book is released, the other can happen anytime.

I've done a lot of reading on a lot of websites to see what kinds of things you need to have for this sort of thing. There is of course, more information for a book launch but I'm using those resources too.

You just need to follow these "simple" steps:

1. Choose a Theme
2. Choose a Location
3. Alert the Media & Get the Word Out There
4. Prepare to Talk
5. Sign & Sell

Oh, is that all? Piece of cake right?

I started off with the ones that seemed easiest to me.


3. Alert the Media & Get the Word Out There
I've built up a list of local "media to alert" so once the date is set I can let them all know. As far as "getting the word out there" this day in age I can't see it being too hard of a time, I can use word of mouth and my Facebook page as well as the media.

4. Prepare to Talk
It wasn't very hard for me to choose a part of my book to read. Most sites recommend a few pages for sure, if not a whole chapter. So I decided to read something from the beginning of the book so as not to give away too much. Chapter 3 - The Face In The Mirror really sums up how Katie is feeling and demonstrates Tom awful behaviour.

5. Sign & Sell
There isn't much I can do here but come prepared with books and a pen (or two) in hand. If people are interested in purchasing then I will be happy to sign them!

Now as for a theme, uh isn't my theme my book? And location? I'm a first time author, I'd love to hold it at Chapters, or a library I guess.

To Blog.. Or Not To Blog?

...That is the question.

I'm a writer, an author.
(You should know all this if you've found your way here from my book links, or came here to find out information about my books. But I feel like it must be said aloud...well you know what I mean)

So yes, I am a writer, you would like that a Blog is the perfectly designed internet invention for someone like myself. I journal. I scribble. I write... but do I...blog?

No, not yet anyways. But maybe I should. I spend enough time on my laptop anyway, why not blog a little here and there (here a blog, there a blog, everywhere a blog blog!)

Sorry, I should mention I am also a stay at home mum (or SAHM) so you'll probably have to get used to my quoting or referencing children's stuff... and all movies, songs, books etc. I tend to do that a lot.

But what could I have to blog about that someone would actually want to read about? Surely not my day, it barely holds interest to my mum when I tell her about it. Not my ideas, because sometimes ideas are simply, well just ideas. Thoughts that may or may no make sense, and may not even amount to something, or may amount to something in which case, shouldn't I keep a secret... like to surprise you all when my next book comes out?

So what will I blog about? We shall see... but you have been warned!