Category Archives: Independent Bookstore

A Shadow in the Past International Blog Tour Day 2 – Giveaway at Rebecca Emin’s Ramblings of a Rusty Writer and a stop with fellow Ottawa Romance Writer Maggie Jagger

The launch day party is over and all is well. Perhaps a few sair heids amongst the partygoers but otherwise everyone seems to be fairly decent shape.

Good thing because today one lucky person who visits Rebecca Emin’s blog is going to win A Shadow in the Past tote bag!

Isn’t it a thing of beauty! Measuring 47 cm x 39 cm x 12 cm, it’s big enough to carry all your important purchases. I recently used mine when I attended Scene of the Crime and it was large enough to hold an umbrella, sweater (being prepared for changing weather), our registration kits, my “Menopause is Murder” fan, the five books I bought and my digital SLR camera and case.

Leave a comment at Rebecca Emin’s Ramblings of a Rusty Writer for your chance to win!

 *****

And after my visit with Rebecca, I’m jetting across the ocean to stop in and visit with author Maggie Jagger in the beautiful Canadian province of Quebec where we’ll talk about writerly things and being fellow members of the Ottawa Romance Writers’ Association.

You can visit Maggie’s blog at http://maggiejaggerauthor.blogspot.com/

A Shadow in the Past International Blog Tour Day 1 – It’s launch day at loveahappyending.com!

LAHE logo

It’s launch day for A Shadow in the Past over at loveahappyending.com!

The champagne corks are popping like crazy here in celebration!

What can I say, these lovely ladies and gents know how to throw a launch party!

Come on over and join in the fun!

A Shadow in the Past International Blog Tour

Beginning on September 28th, I’m taking my debut novel A Shadow in the Past on a fifteen day international tour. Yes, I’ve already been to the physical launch in Kansas and still basking in the glow from that and hosted my launch in Brockville but I’m heading out on the road again – virtually.

I’ll be posting every day where I’ll be and there is always this post you can refer back to in order to find out where I am. So without anymore preamble from me…

Sept 28

loveahappyending.com

Sept 29

Rebecca Emin’s Ramblings of a Rusty Writer blog
One lucky visitor here will win A Shadow in the Past tote bag.

and fellow Ottawa Romance Writers’ Association member, author Maggie Jagger http://maggiejaggerauthor.blogspot.com/

Sept 30

Stephanie Keyes Fall Fantasy Authors Series

Oct 1

Nikki Bywater reviews A Shadow in the Past at Books4U

Oct 2

Rosemary Gemmell hosts me over at Ros’s Reading & Writing blog

Oct 3

Nicky Wells CentreStage
and fellow Ottawa Romance Writers’ Association member, author Maureen Fisher at Books by Maureen

Oct 4

I’m thrilled to announce that I’m being hosted by three members of my local writers group – Writers’ Ink

Joe Mossman
Christopher D. Hanna at My adventure in becoming a writer
and Dorothy Bush at Twisting in the Wind

Oct 5

Peggy Stanton’s – Looking Out
Janice Horton – Writer & Novelist

Oct 6

Shaz reviews A Shadow in the Past at Jera’s Jamboree
One lucky visitor will win A shadow in the Past mouse pad

Oct 7

Carol E. Wyer at Facing 50 with Humour

Oct 8

Patricia Sands at Everyone has a story…
Ashley Stoyanoff at The world of Ashley Stoyanoff and over on her Goodreads blog

Oct 9

Mandy Baggot’s Blog

Oct 10

fellow 4RV author Penny Ehrenkranz
Chris Longmuir at Chris Longmuir, Crime Writer

Oct 11

Lindsay Healy’s Little Reader Library

Oct 12

the grand finale over at Author Roast & Toast
where one lucky person will win a signed copy of A Shadow in the Past.

 

You can purchase A Shadow in the Past at the following links:
4RV Publishing: http://4rvpublishingcatalog.yolasite.com/robertson-king.php

Amazon.ca: http://www.amazon.ca/Shadow-Past-Melanie-Robertson-King/dp/0983801886/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1345048110&sr=1-1

Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Past-Melanie-Robertson-King/dp/0983801886/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1344434406&sr=1-1

Amazon.co.uk: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Shadow-Past-Melanie-Robertson-King/dp/0983801886/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1344434484&sr=1-1

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-shadow-in-the-past-melanie-robertson-king/1112348992?ean=9780983801887

and locally at Leeds County Books, 73 King Street West, Brockville, ON

Another Scene of the Crime Mystery Festival has come to an end…

After thunderstorms and chances of rain predicted for today, the weather cooperated and the sun stayed out all day. Best of all, it wasn’t as humid as its been in previous years so it wasn’t as uncomfortable inside the venues. It was great to renew acquaintances with fellow attendees from previous years and catch up with authors I’ve met on other occasions. And I met some new authors, too.

We left the mainland from the ferry dock in Kingston filled with anticipation of what the day would bring. What we didn’t know was Scene of the Crime was competing with a music festival.

My wee black car squeezed in between a Merc and a Mazda on the ferry dock on the mainland.
The windmills on Wolfe Island
Approaching the ferry dock in the village of Marysville on Wolfe Island

After a meet and greet with the authors and the Grant Allen award winning members of The Ladies Killing Circle, we made our way to the first venue (United Church) where four authors read from their works. Since we were there in plenty of time, I took the opportunity to buy some books.

Author Thomas Rendell-Curran
YA Author Y.S. Lee
Author D.J. McIntosh
Author John Moss
All of the authors and festival president Violette Malan

After a delicious church lunch, everyone had a chance to get their books signed by the authors and visit with old and new friends before making the trek to the Anglican Church where the authors we enjoyed reading from their works in the morning session, held a panel discussion led by author Vicki Delany.

D.J. McIntosh, Y.S. Lee, Thomas Rendell Curran, John Moss and Vicki Delany
Y.S. Lee answering one of the questions posed by Vicki

A Q&A session followed the author panel before we adjourned for a short break to allow the “ladies” to get into their glad rags and ready for their turn. The Grant Allen award is a handcrafted kaleidoscope. And normally there is only one presented. But since six lovely ladies make up the killing circle – six of these beautiful handcrafted items were crafted in the shape of a stick pen, all in presentation boxes in the shape of books.

The Ladies Killing Circle – Mary Jane Maffini, Linda Wiken, Barbara Fradkin, Joan Boswell, Sue Pike and Vicki Cameron
Mary Jane Maffini wrapping up the Ladies Killing Circle discussion before the presentation of the awards

Another delicious meal served up by the church ladies rounded up the day accompanied by the presentation of the short story contest winners (no, I didn’t enter this year… too tied up with edits for that) but I did tell people we sat with at various times throughout the day that my novel was coming out next month.

One of the books I bought today was the one that Y.S. (Ying) Lee read the prologue from. Well my husband was so drawn in to the story, that by the time we left the island, he’d read the first six chapters! That’s quite the achievement. Usually, he only reads tech manuals, computer books, magazines and newspapers. So him getting drawn into a novel is huge! Who knows, maybe eventually, he’ll pick mine up and read it.

With the music festival and the ferry schedule being interrupted to bring an ambulance across and back to the mainland again, things weren’t as orderly and on time as usual.

Normally, there isn’t a police presence on the island (so we heard) but when we got to the ferry dock, a police cruiser was parked next to the building. When the ferry approached, the officer driving pulled the car to the parking spot at the head of the queue.

Waiting for our ferry to the mainland
Fort Henry
Royal Military College or RMC as its better known by

All in all, it was a great day and I can’t wait until next year’s festival.

Thousand Islands Writers Festival Second Annual Storefront Writing Contest

The second annual Storefront Writing Contest sponsored by the Thousand Islands Writers Festival takes place on

Saturday, August 25, 2012

from 10:00 a.m to 4:00 p.m.

in

Downtown Brockville

So how does it work you ask? Well, it goes like this…

Rules of the Game:

  • Each designated storefront will host two or three contestants, each writing at a separate table.
  • Contestants will use a number in place of their name on their work to avoid judging bias.
  • Each contestant is given the same writing prompt supplied by TIWF at registration.
  • Contestants must produce a short story of no more than 2000 words, in a genre of their choice.
  • Contestants may use a laptop computer, typewriter or even write by hand in ink or pencil. If using a laptop computer, contestants must use a flash drive to avoid hardware conflicts during printing.

Mechanics

  • Entry Fee: $5
  • Entries must be submitted, along with the entry fee, by Monday, August 20. Download and print a copy of the entry form (use the button at the left).
  • Registration is held at the Brockville Public Library at 9:30 a.m. Saturday morning, where contestants will draw a location and be given the writing prompt.
  • Contestants will go to their designated writing location, where a chair and table will be set up. Electrical power will be available, if necessary.
  • Contestants will begin writing at 10:30 a.m. at the latest
  • Contestants must write a short story of no more than 2000 words, finishing no later than 4 p.m.
  • TIWF volunteers will be available from time to time to provide any help necessary to contestants.
  • Contestants must provide their own lunch and beverages during the contest.
  • When finished writing, contestants will turn in their writing at the Mill’s Grindstone Tapa Lounge on Water Street and join us for a post-contest social hour with refreshments.
  • Five judges will be given the entries on Monday, August 27 and be given three weeks to make their decision.

 

Registration on the day of the event takes place at the Brockville Public Library, 23 Buell St., Brockville at 9:30 a.m.

Entry Fee: $5
Entries must be submitted by Monday, August 20. Register early as space is limited.

Entry form can be downloaded from the Thousand Islands Writers Festival website at this link.

Leeds County Books has an online home…

Brockville, Ontario’s independent bookstore, Leeds County Books, now has a website, Facebook page, and online store.

Owner, Courtney Sadler, is hoping the online presence will result in more traffic at her King Street location which in turn will increase sales.

Leeds County Books believes in supporting local authors. Fiction authors whose names have graced the shelves here over the years include Maggie Wheeler, Mary Cook, Leo Brent Robillard, Andrea Cameron, Carole Reesor, Crystal Mazurek, Mary Higgins, Mary Mueller, Nancy Wickwire Fraser, Jeff MacMillan, Neville Johnston, and Dennis Stein. Non-fiction names include Russ Disotell, Don Ross, Glenn J. Lockwood, Ian Coristine, Brian Porter, David J. Wells, and the lists go on.

In addition to books by local authors and books of local interest, you’ll find national and international best selling authors, children’s books, greeting cards, and recently added items from Out of Print Clothing.

Leeds County Books is located at:

73 King Street West
Brockville, ON
K6V 2G5

Phone: 613-342-5728
email: read@leedscountybooks.ca
Website: leedscountybooks.ca
Facebook: Leeds County Books