What has this author been up to since April 23?

Leaving on a jet plane

I did a bit of travelling at the end of April and visited with my sister and her family in British Columbia. Even though we are in the same country, Canada is so very different from Europe with countries near each other. I left Regina at 6:10 one morning and flew to Edmonton.  I was to catch my connecting flight in Edmonton and then  arrive at my destination at 9:30 am. However, the plane circled Edmonton and couldn’t land because of fog, so we flew to Fort McMurray, topped up the fuel and flew back to Edmonton where I was booked on a later flight to Calgary and then to my destination in BC. I arrived safely but a little tired at 4:30 pm. My destination was the sixth city I had visited that day. Regina, Edmonton, Fort McMurray, Edmonton, Calgary, and finally BC. I read Doctoring the Single Dad by one of my favourite authors, Marie Ferrarella. I have to admit I purchased this book used at a church book sale. The author doesn’t benefit but the church does.

 

I love riding my bicycle.

While in BC, I received an early birthday present from my niece. I love bags to carry many things. This one held my printer which I had to take to the store for repair. The life of a writer!

 

 

 

 

 

I gave myself a birthday present and advertised in the May 10 issue of RWA e notes.

The short story collection Wanderlust, Stories on the Move was launched in McNally Robinson Booksellers in Saskatoon to about forty people. I have two short stories in this collection, Beating the Devil and Hello in There. Byrna Barclay wrote a script which dramatized a story by each contributor. The seven of us hired a director, Julianna Barclay, to help us perfect our performance presentation.

Reading from my story,
Beating the Devil

Anthology Contributors:
Byrna Barclay
Brenda Niskala
Linda Biasotto
James Trettwer
Shelley Banks
Kelly-Anne Riess
Annette Bower

 

 

 

Fearless Destiny was a nominee in the Contemporary: Sweet category in the In D’Tale Magazine RONE Awards.  I advertised and garnered votes from May 15-21 as this is the

The badge for Nominee

fans’ opportunity to vote and support their book and help it move into the finals. And my fans, family and friends voted. I crossed my fingers and toes that I worked hard enough to garner votes. It can be intimidating for people not familiar with online requirements to go through the registration process and vote. I thank each and everyone who took the time and assisted Fearless Destiny.

 

 

Wanderlust: Stories on the Move, was launched at the Cathedral Village Arts Festival on May 25, 2017 in the Artesian to a full house. Missing Byrna Barclay.

Six of the seven contributors performed their script to a full house.

On May 27, 2017 I went to Coles Bookstore in Brandon to sell and sign books.

I was captivated by the number of people who browsed in the bookstore. So very many customers purchase gifts.

I was invited and honored to be part Chapters/Indigo Regina to celebrate Canada’s 150 celebration.

A fantastic opportunity to celebrate Canada 150 with Regina authors.

My station to meet and greet customers was near the journals, notebooks and lovely writing paper and pens. I wanted to be the recipient of so many thoughtful gifts purchased by customers for those they held special in their lives.

On June 5, 2017, I discovered that Fearless Destiny did indeed final.

I’m so excited to have this opportunity.

I received this opening in my email letter: “CONGRATULATIONS!!! Your book is a finalist in the 2017 RONE Awards and has moved on to the final judging round. It is in the process of being read and rated by a panel of professional judges which will determine the winner of the “Best Indie or Small Published book of 2016”.

“Winners will be announced and presented at the RONE awards ceremony and gala on October 14th, 2017 at the Burbank Marriott Hotel and Convention Center in conjunction with the InD’Scribe Con and Book Festival (http://www.indscribe.com).  We sincerely hope that you will be able to attend this informative and fun conference, and the amazing RONE Gala Event Ceremony! It will be an exciting time for one and all, and we would love to see each and every one of you there!”

I also had an opportunity to visit a grain farm on the coldest day in May. I’m researching for my new novel.

I didn’t get too far away from the ladder that could take me down again.

 

And to bring this right up to date.

Karyn Good and I read at the Glenavon, SK Library Tea.

I’m reading from Fearless Destiny. Karyn Good read from Exposed.

And this is almost exactly how and what happened and I’m sticking to it.

Please join me next time I post and thank you so much for staying with me. If you check out my newsletter archive issues you will see more. Go to my home page and either sign up for my once a month newsletter or just hang out and read the old issues.

A Writers’ Retreat

Writer it's cold out here

Writer it’s cold out here

Shelley Banks http://shelleybanks.ca/,

Linda Biasotto (Sweet Life to be released by Coteau Books, spring 2014) https://www.facebook.com/lbiasotto and I made another pilgrimage to a place of quiet away from our regular lives so we can concentrate on writing. The funny thing about concentrating is that sometimes it brings up all reasons to procrastinate just like it does in our everyday lives except here we get to talk about them and we get to go back to the work with another insight or a confirmation that we are on the right track. And we don’t have to think about cooking, cleaning, or appointments. Our focus is creative writing.

When I first arrive at a retreat I feel as if I have the whole time and great projects will be completed. Gradually the words do meet the page but so do moments of contemplation open up. And discussions during meals or around a fire or even just staring out the window assist in building ideas that can add depth and breadth to story.

Before I came I had also embarked on an exercise program which dictates walking every day. I brought gear and walking poles but I couldn’t do it outdoors because of the extreme cold. Ever resourceful, I searched the Town of Lumsden and found the establishment of Fitness DownUnder http://www.fitnessdownunder.ca Lani, the owner, came and set up a couple of drop in opportunities. On my second drop-in session I couldn’t open the door and had to call Pip, another contact, who came immediately. I am so impressed with their friendship, the cleanliness and well-equipped gym in this small community. Fitness Down Under

Tomorrow is our last day at St. Michael’s Retreat http://www.stmichaelsretreat.ca/
If you are looking for a place to just be with your creative project give them a call, it might just be the place for you. stmichaels

Books I’ve read and enjoyed

I lose track of the wonderful books I’ve read. I always learn or reinforce things I’ve discovered through my reading.
I don’t want to rate books because both you and I learn very different things because of the life we’ve experienced. We bring ourselves to the pages, whether we are flipping pages or just swiping electronic pages.
These books cannot be in chronological order or even alphabetical because I don’t recall exactly when I read them, and I just want to record the hours I’ve spent with authors and characters. They will be recent, unless, I delve back into my past for a memory.

The Gifted, A Joanne Kilbourn Mystery, by Gail Bowen. http://www.amazon.com/Gifted-Joanne-Kilbourn-Mystery-ebook/dp/B00BH0VUE2/
I attended classes with Gail as my professor at the University of Regina. We have become friends in the Saskatchewan writing community. She graciously shares her thoughts about having and enjoying a writing career and she reads my books. http://gailbowen.com/

Dollybird by Anne Lazurko. http://www.amazon.com/Dollybird-ebook/dp/B00E5LCL9S/
Anne and I were in the same writing group for a few years. I read early versions of some of the scenes. I’m proud of Anne for accomplishing this dream of her first novel. http://annelazurko.com/

Perish Twice by Robert B. Parker. http://www.amazon.com/Perish-Twice-Randall-Mystery-ebook/dp/B000PC0S2S
No, I haven’t met Robert B. Parker by we are friends through his books. My friend Shelley Banks, http://shelleybanks.ca/ introduced me to Robert Parker years ago when we were discussing authors who wrote in a sparse and concise way. I enjoy Robert Parker’s books because of his writing technique. I am intrigued with his style as he writes Sunny Randall, his female protagonist.

The Regency Story book by Lesley-Anne McLeod. http://www.lesleyannemcleod.com/ Illustrations by Sba Koriel. http://www.amazon.com/The-Regency-Storybook-ebook/dp/B00F66PKTE/
Lesley-Anne and I are members of the Saskatchewan Romance Writers. Lesley-Anne has e published many regency romance novels. She was the lead behind the Saskatchewan Romance Writers anthology, Love, Loss and Other Oddities. http://www.amazon.com/Love-Loss-Other-Oddities-ebook/dp/B006D224F8/

Thats all for today. But of course not nearly all the books I’ve read in the last months.

Today is another day to add more books. I will open my library in my iPad book shelf.
To the Edge of the Sea by Anne McDonald http://totheedgeofthesea.blogspot.ca/p/anne-mcdonald.html
http://www.amazon.com/Edge-Sea-ebook/dp/B00CF2LV9K/
Anne McDonald facilitates Improv workshops. I have attended these workshops and found them extremely helpful in thinking about characters and their positions in the world. She also has a suggestion of “Just say yes.” When I have done this in my daily life, I usually have grand experiences.

Left Neglected by Lisa Genova. http://www.amazon.com/Left-Neglected-ebook/dp/B003UYUP26/ .
She is also the author of Still Alice. Genova is a neuroscientist. I enjoy her books because of my nursing background.

Half-Blood Blues by Esi Edugyan http://www.amazon.com/Half-Blood-Blues-A-Novel-ebook/dp/B00EKOLPE2/ . No not a friend or even an acquaintance, however I did hear her interview on CBC and was intrigued.

Stray Love by Kyo Maclear. http://www.amazon.com/Stray-Love-ebook/dp/B007HC3S7G/ Another book I heard about on CBC and again intrigued.

I also find inspiration in non-fiction.
The Normal One: Life with a Difficult or Damaged Sibling by Jeanne Safer, Ph.D. http://www.amazon.com/The-Normal-One-Difficult-Damaged/dp/0385337566/
I found this book insightful and was amazed how the experts in the field had not thought about siblings in their lives and how they affect personality.

The End of Men and the Rise of Women by Hanna Rosin. http://www.amazon.com/End-Men-Rise-Women/dp/B00D9TA4VY/
I am always interested in research about where women are placed in the world for my self knowledge as well as my characters.

Drift: a slow movement or variation

Presentation, Presentation, Presentation.

Presentation, Presentation, Presentation.

Does the photo catch your attention?
The title of the blog post?

Well how about an interview about me and Woman of Substance.
Shelley Banks invited me to her blog on February 14, 2014. http://latitudedrifts.blogspot.ca/2013/02/annette-bower-woman-of-substance.html

This was the same day the 20th Saskatchewan Book Award 2013 shortlist announcement was made. http://www.bookawards.sk.ca/images/stories/PDF_Files/ShortLists/2013/2013_SBA_Shortlist.pdf
I may or may not have advertised the fact that I submitted Moving On, A Prairie Romance for consideration.
Moving On, A Prairie Romance was among the 247 entries with 114 titles submitted across 14 categories. Alas, Moving On was not shortlisted but many wonderful Saskatchewan authors and publishers were.
I admit, I was sad but I reconciled and congratulated authors I have read and authors I’ve yet to read and forgot to post about my interview.

Therefore, this blog is a slow movement or variation about my appearance on Latitude Drifts http://latitudedrifts.blogspot.ca/2013/02/annette-bower-woman-of-substance.html as well as the slow movement and variation of a writer’s career.

Please also take some time and visit other writers on Shelley Banks blog.