I arrived in Winnipeg at noon for the AGM of The Writers Union of Canada. It promises to be interesting with a joint meeting with the League of Canadian Poets. The Keynote intro to the conference was very movingly presented by Gregory Scofielf, a Metis poet, in the form of a long poem. Many upcoming meetings in the next two days or so. Looking forward to...
Also walked to the Forts today. Feel as if I am in Winnipeg now.
June 2. Indeed it was an interesting time! Perhaps I will write about it in more detail when I get back to Toronto. At the moment, I am preparing for readings in Winnipeg and Saskatoon, both at McNally Robinson Bookstores.
Thursday, May 28, 2015
Friday, May 15, 2015
Great News! Contender for the Exile Writers CVC Short Fiction Contest. 2015
Just learned that I am on the long list for the Exile Writers Carter V Cooper Short Fiction Contest prize, one of the EmergingWriters so honoured! Such a thrill. Fingers crossed that my story, Oh, the Stars! makes it to the shortlist. All shortlisted stories get published. And, what the heck...T'would be nice to win, too. There is not only honour associated with this prize, but also $$$.
Saturday, April 4, 2015
Life of a Writer: Promotion: New Business Card. 2015
I had this business card done at Staples from a generic design. I rather like it and hope it attracts some attention for my latest novel, Would I Lie To You? You can see the cover design in the upper right hand corner.
Some aspects of promotion are FUN!
Monday, March 16, 2015
Oshawa Book Club. 2015
What a delight to read and discuss my book with a book club where all the members had already bought and read it! My friend, Gloria, belongs to an Oshawa book club in the city where she used to live. Although she now lives in Toronto, she continues to be a member. The other women traveled into Toronto for the meeting, hosted by Gloria, where we all ate a superb lunch before talking about 'Would I Lie To You?'
The women wanted to hear me read something from the novel, so we started with that. I could skip around because it would not give away the plot. So I did, interspersing that with asking them questions and answering theirs. It is fun when the readers know the book intimately and have opinions. For instance, one or another expressed dislike for Emily in the early pages. I said I hadn't liked her either until later. She seemed somehow snobby to one woman. I asked what she/they had thought as they encountered what she thought of the main character later. By then, they could see why she had not initially liked Sue.
Oh yes, they agreed. Emily had actually been very perceptive. They wanted to talk about the secrets each partner had concealed from the other. And how these secrets had been preserved in the past through generations, but were coming out in this one.
One woman did not like the psychic. Not because she did not like psychics, but she did not appreciate that as a married man, he was having an affair.
"Men!?" I said somewhat facetiously. But then, "What did you think later?"
And once again, he seemed to appeal to her more by then. Once they knew him better and the situation, he became more likeable. Although I don't necessarily think readers ought to like my characters. There are times when I don't myself. They are who they are. After a while, they develop in spite of me. As do stories!
Just thought I'd let you know!
The women wanted to hear me read something from the novel, so we started with that. I could skip around because it would not give away the plot. So I did, interspersing that with asking them questions and answering theirs. It is fun when the readers know the book intimately and have opinions. For instance, one or another expressed dislike for Emily in the early pages. I said I hadn't liked her either until later. She seemed somehow snobby to one woman. I asked what she/they had thought as they encountered what she thought of the main character later. By then, they could see why she had not initially liked Sue.
Oh yes, they agreed. Emily had actually been very perceptive. They wanted to talk about the secrets each partner had concealed from the other. And how these secrets had been preserved in the past through generations, but were coming out in this one.
One woman did not like the psychic. Not because she did not like psychics, but she did not appreciate that as a married man, he was having an affair.
"Men!?" I said somewhat facetiously. But then, "What did you think later?"
And once again, he seemed to appeal to her more by then. Once they knew him better and the situation, he became more likeable. Although I don't necessarily think readers ought to like my characters. There are times when I don't myself. They are who they are. After a while, they develop in spite of me. As do stories!
Just thought I'd let you know!
Saturday, February 28, 2015
UPCOMING READINGS FOR 'WOULD I LIE TO YOU?' 2015
Hello Friends and Colleagues:
If you are living in or visiting the town/city of any of the following readings, please come out to hear me read from my new novel, Would I Lie To You? I look forward to seeing you there. And let's chat!
I enjoy doing readings, meeting with book clubs and just generally meeting with people, answering questions, exchanging ideas, etc. Please feel free to contact me at: marylou.dickinson@gmail.com.
I have listed a couple of private events without any details just to let you know you can organize something similar if you wish. Just get in touch and we will go from there.
The events:
[Tues. March 10. Oshawa Book Club meeting in
*Weds. April 15 6 p.m. Paragraphe Books,
2220 McGill College Avenue,
MONTREAL.
*Thurs. April 16 6:30 p.m. Yellow Door
(bet. Pine and Prince Arthur).
MONTREAL $6 at the door.
*Saturday. May 2 day time. BookCity.
More details to follow.
[Weds. May 12th TORONTO Private home celebration of friendship and the book] .
*Tues. June 2 7:30 p.m. McNally Robinson,
Travel Alcove, Grant Park,
1120 Grant Avenue
WINNIPEG
*Thurs. June 4 7 pm. McNally Robinson,
Travel Alcove, 3130 8th St East
SASKATOON
*Sun. Oct 4th 7:30 p.m. Lit Live Reading Series
Hamilton Home Grown
HAMILTON
* Public events
When further events are scheduled, I will update and resend the list.
If you are living in or visiting the town/city of any of the following readings, please come out to hear me read from my new novel, Would I Lie To You? I look forward to seeing you there. And let's chat!
I enjoy doing readings, meeting with book clubs and just generally meeting with people, answering questions, exchanging ideas, etc. Please feel free to contact me at: marylou.dickinson@gmail.com.
I have listed a couple of private events without any details just to let you know you can organize something similar if you wish. Just get in touch and we will go from there.
The events:
[Tues. March 10. Oshawa Book Club meeting in
Toronto. Private]
*Weds. April 15 6 p.m. Paragraphe Books,
2220 McGill College Avenue,
MONTREAL.
*Thurs. April 16 6:30 p.m. Yellow Door
Reading Series.
3625 Aylmer(bet. Pine and Prince Arthur).
MONTREAL $6 at the door.
*Saturday. May 2 day time. BookCity.
Bloor West Village,
2354 Bloor St West. TORONTOMore details to follow.
[Weds. May 12th TORONTO Private home celebration of friendship and the book] .
*Tues. June 2 7:30 p.m. McNally Robinson,
Travel Alcove, Grant Park,
1120 Grant Avenue
WINNIPEG
*Thurs. June 4 7 pm. McNally Robinson,
Travel Alcove, 3130 8th St East
SASKATOON
*Sun. Oct 4th 7:30 p.m. Lit Live Reading Series
Hamilton Home Grown
HAMILTON
* Public events
When further events are scheduled, I will update and resend the list.
Monday, February 23, 2015
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