Fundraising for CHEO November 20th

Mark your calendars, open your hearts and wallets

The nice people at Ottawa Independent Writers will once again raise funds at their book fair for the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario.  A raffle for a basket of books donated by The Dundurn Group will take place with all proceeds donated to CHEO. In past years the raffle has raised between $200 and $300 for CHEO. 

You are invited to drop by the Ottawa Authors & Artisans Fair 2011 to purchase raffle tickets and browse the tables of local talent. 

Admission is free.

Date:    Sunday, November 20, 2011
Time:     10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Place:     Jack Purcell Centre, 320 Jack Purcell Lane (at Elgin) Rm 203
Details:  http://www.oiw.ca/events.php

 

Sorry, they won't be selling raffle tickets prior to the event.  They want people coming down to the fair in person to buy them and... to visit the authors and artists at their tables. 

Our gal Florence T Lyon will be there, promoting the Ebook version of her novel "The Year of the Rabbit".  Do drop by to pick up some info and a coupon code that will save you money on a gift purchase - until December 24, 2011. 

See:  http://www.yearoftherabbit.ca.

Thanks!

Once upon a time...

I enjoyed watching the premiere of Once Upon a Time on CTV last night.  


A pretty blond lady named Emma sees her life change forever when the son she gave up for adoption 10 years earlier finds her on her 28th birthday.  He keeps referring to this magical fairy tale book that he carries around.  When Emma takes him back to his parents in "Storybrooke" (of course) strange events occur.


I thought it was pretty clever how the story flipped back and forth between the fairy tale existence and modern times. Finally, we got to see how Prince Charming and Snow White got together, married (nearly ruined by the evil queen).  Wait a minute... wasn't that in Sleeping Beauty or... was it the birth of their daughter?  


Anyway, as in many a tale, there is a child that soon turns out to be the hero and saviour.  Emma was that child, thrust into the modern dimension after being hidden in the magical wardrobe.  Wait a minute...  Aren't they mashing fairy tales here?  What were their writers smoking or were they just getting lazy?   


Didn't we all grow up reading fairy tales and later, reading them to our own children?  They are great escapes based on tried and true formulas.  Usually things work out well in the end.  Emma and I have a few things in common.  I like to believe in happy endings but due to life challenges, I have become a little jaded about meeting my prince in shining armour.  


- - -


In my novel, The Year of the Rabbit, we learn that Matthew Fletcher had been adopted.  We also learn about a teen pregnancy and the struggles faced by the two families involved.  I like to think it has a happy ending.  

Power of Laughter

I like to laugh.  I need laughter in my life and am a strong believer in the health benefits.  I like watching stand-up comedians on TV.  I like watching funny videos with my family.  What I don't like is if it's at someone else's expense.  That's just not nice...


I figured that it was about time I uploaded something to my YouTube account. I thought and thought what would be worthy to share with the world.  Then one of my favourite entertainers gave me an idea.  

You can read more about Geneva Tabby's influence on my writing in this blog post.  

Thanks for stopping by.  Chin up.  Keep smiling.

T

Vacationing and my train of thought

A few weeks ago, I took a much-needed vacation and little trip to a nearby city. I had planned this for months.  


I rode the train there and back.  A couple of relatives joined me for a few days so we could enjoy time together and get caught up with updates on each others' lives.  We even went to see a live theatre performance.  We ate well.  We drank wine and raised our glasses in good cheer.


The train rides were relaxing.  I watched the colourful landscape as it streamed by or I read a book. I also took time to record events, feelings and strings of poetry in a jot journal.  I was able to satisfy a yearning to travel by train and recall fond memories of vacations past.  


Trains are a common occurrence in my novel The Year of the Rabbit.  Trains provide entertainment for children who counted box cars during lazy summer days.  Trains brought people to visit.  They also took people away.


When I returned home to Ottawa and later to work, I was greeted by a pile of email and requests for my attention.  I took a methodical approach in attending to the issues of most importance.  I also took inventory of who or what  I wanted to keep in my "backpack".


I was tickled to learn that people had seen one of my posters about the novel and they wanted to purchase a printed copy of the book.  I was sad to mention that I did not yet have time to produce the second printed edition.  Perhaps some miracle will work its way in to my schedule this fall!


Perhaps also a miracle will occur in repairing or replacing the family Mac which bit the dust about the same time as Steve Jobs passed away.  Strange coincidences…  


My writing urges will have to be satisfied by limited sessions on my son's Macbook Pro or by sitting in quiet reflection and starting on another blank journal.  :o)  But how would you enjoy my deep blonde thoughts if I hibernated away in my solitary pages?  


One thing I made sure of when I returned to the daily grind... I started plans for my spring vacation.  


Thank you for reading this far.  If you like my writing style, you may enjoy reading The Year of the Rabbit, a novel about fate, family and forgiveness.  Sample some excerpts and enjoy feedback from people who read the earlier print version.  I'm pushing the Ebook version with a special discount until October 31, 2011.  No trees were harmed ;o)


T