Book Launch at BookLore April 26, 2010

April 26 was the second of our book launches for Stories of Prayers and Faith. We had so much fun that Gloria suggested we do a second book. The few authors in the book that were there heartily agreed. No one has just one story to tell.

We are gearing up for our next book launch at Chapters in Guelph on May 15, 2010 from 1-3pm.

What an exciting thing to be a part of!

Meet The Authors Day at Eramosa Eden

What a beautiful day we had yesterday. The weather was sunny and warm, the company was interesting and amazing, and my copy of Stories of Prayers and Faith is filled with signatures of other authors. All of the people we met yesterday were interesting and the story in the book was not their only attempt at writing. Some, like Laura Masciangelo, have pubished books or articles.

Laura and her partner Brian were a lot of fun. She adored my kids (who adored the cats and didn't pay much attention to the adults) and gave them an autographed copy of her book to read.

Gloria and Alberta provided food and a fabulous setting for the meeting. The rest of us made our own entertainment and made some new friends. I am looking forward to re-reading the book now that I have faces to put with the stories. It will give the pieces a whole dimension they did not have before.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Meet the Author day, especially Gloria and Alberta Nye.
This is the beginning of more interesting things for every one of us.

Slow and Steady wins the Taste Buds

I'm used to writing novels and painting pictures one small step at a time. Sometimes it's agonizing to know what the finished product will look like, but your hand can only move so fast. I had the pleasure last night of walking my fourteen-year-old son through cooking a three course meal. As I am prone to do, he chose recipes that were way over his beginner head. That didn't deter him.

He made up his shopping list and did the shopping (with a little help but that was mostly to pay!). Yesterday afternoon, he and I got out all the things he would need to make this meal. I have to admit I was a bit sceptical. He chose four interesting recipes: Cheese Bites, Parmesan Potatoes, Drumstick Cake, and Ginger-Orange Glazed Chicken. The cake he made Saturday. On Sunday, for 2 1/2 hours, he minced garlic and ginger, zested oranges, chopped potatoes and created a masterpiece.

Slowly and surely, all the bits and pieces came together to create a meal that even the pickiest eater in our house enjoyed. My son proud as he should have been. He even impressed his uncle, a chef.

So why am I talking about cooking in a blog devoted to writing and art? Cooking, as my friend Laura reminds me, is an art. One step at a time, you take something that might be nothing on it's own, but when blended or sauteed or mixed it can become something wonderful. Just like words and paint.

My son says he wants to be a lawyer or a teacher. After this weekend, he may consider a new vocation.