So Long February

Home from a week in Moose Jaw watching Lisa curl in the Scotties, our national ladies' championship. The girls brought home a bronze medal and Lisa earned second all-star lead, so a good week overall!

I visited the Multicultural Centre in Moose Jaw last Wednesday morning and spoke to a class of adult learners, mainly refugees, about writing and read from My Sister's Keeper. The Moose Jaw Optimists Club bought twenty copies for the classroom - Michelle Smith, the literacy coordinator told me that Moose Jaw is one of four cities that welcomes refugees and works to integrate them into the community. Thank you to Michelle, teacher Carol Moran and all the students for making me feel so welcome and asking so many great questions. A reporter from the Moose Jaw Express also sat through my presentation and interviewed me afterward so I look forward to reading Scott's article, likely this Monday as the paper comes out weekly.

Ted and I also drove to the Regina Chapters on Friday morning where I met the manager and some of the staff and handed out a lot of book marks. This Chapters had not heard of my books before so it was a good opportunity to introduce myself and get a few books in the store.

Moose Jaw is about 30,000 people and is about a 40 minute drive west of Regina. A working class Prairie town with friendly people and a sky that goes on forever. This was my second visit to the Prairies and I was again struck by the stark beauty of the landscape - and the flatness!
 

 There has been quite a bit of media this week for Butterfly Kills, including a good interview/review in the Kingston Whig Standard, which leads me to believe that I've successfully captured Queen's campus and the city. An interview with Omnimystery News was also posted and the National Enquirer posted a brief review, saying, "This taut novel combines police procedural and personal relationships to weave a twisting tale of suspense." A free book giveaway is available for Americans so I believe the review only went in th U.S. edition. Maybe if I was having George Clooney's baby, it would have made the Canadian edition too.

So, coming up on Saturday, March 7 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., I'll be signing copies of Cold Mourning and Butterfly Kills at Perfect Books on Elgin (between Somerset West and Cooper near Scrimm's Florist). Such a great store to visit - come by for a chat if you missed out on the launch and pick up some books to last you through the spring.

I leave you with a short interview posted on Dundurn's site a week or so ago as well as a fun blog post about who I would cast in a movie based on my books.

And now, a  second cup of coffee and back to working on my latest manuscript. Weekends go way too fast...

With the TSN crew at the Scotties in Moose Jaw - Vic Rauter, Cheryl Bernard and Russ Howard.