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.

The first day of a book review tour for Fearless Destiny

My first review stop on this tour is at Room with Books.

It is the Christmas season and I slept in. I knew this review would be up early, but sometimes it is easier to sleep rather than face comments about a book I have spent years and hours researching, writing, editing, and sending it out on its own into the world.

With coffee in hand, I had a wonderful surprise. “I am very pleased to offer Fearless Destiny by Annette Bower five steaming hot cups of Reviews by Room With Books coffee.”

Thank you Room with Books for your careful and thoughtful reading of Fearless Destiny.

One well placed ‘No’ changed Tiffany’s life. When Will is in her life she finds a way.

Visit Room with Books.com . There is a chance to win a GC but also a chance to read about other authors and my fabulous review as well.

From the bottom of my heart.

A Reading A Reading by any other name is fun

It finally arrived.

It finally arrived.


I had contacted the assistant librarian: Rob Kowaluk at Brandon Public Library and asked if I could read from Woman of Substance and if Elizabeth McGill could read a selection of her published short stories. We agreed on a date in the future, which was September 27, 2014. Neither of us knew it would be Culture Days but it was a beautiful weekend to be part of this event.

My voice sounded as if I had laryngitis and because the library didn’t own a sound system, I rented a microphone and amp from B Sharp in Regina. I wanted to provide the audience with a good listening experience.

Betty McGill reading from her short stories.

Betty McGill reading from her short stories.

Elizabeth (Betty) McGill read from stories about growing up on a farm in Manitoba. The crowd enjoyed Betty’s enthusiastic portrayal of the times.
One of the questions at the end of our readings was to Betty asking when she was going to have all of her stories in book form. I promised I would help Betty look into the possibilities.

Annette reading from Woman of Substance

Annette reading from Woman of Substance

After the reading a woman came up to me and told me that she had received a copy of Woman of Substance as a gift for a presentation she had given on behalf of the Kidney foundation to the Beta Sigma Phi of Brandon. I was thrilled and even more so when she told me she enjoyed the story too.
An author does not know who will hold her book.

All in all it was a wonderful day.

The Readers’ Summit is coming. The Readers’ Summit is coming

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Regina Public Library

Regina Public Library

Created to encourage a culture of reading in Regina, this exciting
event offers enthusiastic readers a chance to share their love of reading through
lively discussion. All events take place at Central Library, in downtown Regina.
Seating is limited. Call 306.777.6120 to register.
A Mystery Reading in Honour of
the Saskatchewan Book Awards
THURSDAY April 3: 7:00 – 8:30 pm
(For adults)
2nd Level Mezzanine
Watch for the mystery reader’s identity to
be announced on March 12th!

Yann Martel: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yann_Martel
What is Stephen Harper Reading?
FRIDAY April 4: 7:30 – 8:30 pm
(For ages 19 and over)
2nd Level Mezzanine
Seating is limited. Doors open at 7:00 pm.
(ID may be requested.)

Dianne Warren: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dianne_Warren
Cool Water
SATURDAY April 5: 11:00 am – Noon
(For teens and adults)
Program Meeting Room 1

Alice Kuipers: http://www.harpercollins.com/author/microsite/about.aspx?authorid=32799

40 Things I Want to Tell You
SATURDAY April 5: 1:00 – 2:00 pm
(For teens and adults)
Program Meeting Room 1

Yann Martel: Beatrice & Virgil
SATURDAY April 5: 3:00 – 4:00 pm
(For teens and adults)
Program Meeting Room 1

Annette Bower: http://www.annettebower.com/

Woman of Substance
SUNDAY April 6:1:00 – 2:00 pm
(For teens and adults)
Program Meeting Room 1

Gail Bowen: http://www.gailbowen.com/

The Gifted
SUNDAY April 6: 3:00 – 4.00 pm
(For teens and adults)
Program Meeting Room 1

I am featured as the September Writer

Lake Winnipeg Writers' Group

Every month The Lake Winnipeg Writers’ Group features an author and I am September.

Drop on over to: http://www.lakewinnipegwritersgroup.com/writers.html

And after you have scanned my special page look around at the other members of the group.

I first discovered the LWWG when a writer friend brought to my attention their call for stories for an anthology. I submitted Many Tongues and this story received honourable mention for adult fiction.

My friends and I went on a road trip to Winnipeg to the launch of

Many Tongues is in this anthology.

Many Tongues is in this anthology.

There are opportunities out there to have your work read. You just need to look and have friends who share with you.