I owe you an update!

Tomorrow is my second tv appearance, and I thought, geez I don't even think I gave an update after my first one.

So daytime Durham went great! Dena, the host was super friendly, as was her producer Sandi. I was nervous before going on but it wasn't too bad once we started. The link for those who want to watch it is on my website, but here you are!

Then I had my book signing on Sunday, which also was fantastic! I have such an amazing group of friends and family who came out to support me. I sold 22 copies of my book and together with other donations, raised $100 for the Denise House. I also had members of the congregation request me to be there next Sunday so they could buy copies. So that's amazing!

I really appreciate everyone's support for myself and the Denise House. I'll try to post tomorrow with an update after being on Talk Durham!

Lights... Camera... Action UPDATE

Just an update about my TV appearances, I can't believe they are coming up. Two more sleeps till I'll be on daytime Durham. I know there may be some people that aren't local that might be interested in watching them. You can watch daytime Durham online at http://www.rogerstv.com/page.aspx?lid=237&rid=2&sid=2325 which airs this Thursday, October 3rd at 11:00a.m. EST, or watch on Rogers TV Channel 10 or 63. This will be a 5 - 10 minute segment. 

Then a week tomorrow I will be on Talk Durham. This is also available online, at http://www.rogersondemand.com/tvshows/talk_durham and airs Wednesday, October 9th at 7:00p.m. EST on the same channel but I will be on for 30 minutes! A whole 30 minutes. Two of the workers from the Denise House will be on the show speaking about spousal abuse for the first 30 minutes. Then I'll be on solo. EEP!!! It's so exciting though.

I am so very thankful for the producers and everyone at daytime Durham and Talk Durham for helping me raise awareness.

On another note, I'd also like to thank my mum, grandma, and sister who helped me make about 150 purple awareness ribbons for my book signing event this Sunday.

Lights...Camera...Action!

Well loyal fans, I have some uber exciting news. I will be appearing on TV to promote my book. A local show called daytime Durham! On Thursday, October 3rd it is filmed LIVE at 11:00a.m. EST on Rogers TV channel 10/63. It also we be on again at 4:00p.m. EST. You can also check it out on its website

I am so excited and so grateful for this opportunity, but also so nervous! I think it's great timing with it being a few days before my book signing event. I hope it will allow me to reach a larger audience and in turn hope to raise more money for The Denise House.

The event planning is going well. I have my speaker from the Denise House booked (haha booked, get it?) I know my chapter to read. I printed my flyers today and will be posting them around the community.

Event Planning - Part 4

Ok first off I would like to apologize as it has been far too long since I have posted. I could give you tons of excuses but I will just be straight to the point is saying: Life Gets In The Way.

Now that we have moved past that, the date for my book signing has been set! Sunday, October 6th 2013 from 12:00p.m. till 2:00p.m. at Kingsview United Church in Oshawa!

I've made flyers and will be getting them printed today! And I'm going to have purple ribbons for people to wear, and I think purple balloons.

I'm getting nervous. I hope there is a good turn out, I really hope we can raise money for The Denise House.

There is more to say but my daughter just woke up, and well Life Gets In The Way!

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?

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.

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.