It’s been a long time between posts.
Lots of good reasons. We’ve had two weddings in October, two daughters marrying two great guys. They’ve been fun and inspiring, and a chance to re-connect with people who matter.
I’ve been doing interesting work for The Tyee, BC Business and Douglas Magazine.
We - Jody Paterson and I - have been looking ahead to new Cuso International placements in Nicaragua.
And there has been ‘the book.’ The real title is Dead Ends: BC Crime Stories, but for a long time, as I laboured away, it was just ‘the book.’
It’s my first, published by the team at the University of Regina Press. I researched and wrote about 40 B.C. crimes from the 1860s to today. I knew the stories would be great, and the characters fascinating. But I didn’t anticipate that the crimes would reveal so much about us and our history.
The book was released Sept. 29, and I’ve been trying to figure out, as a first-time author, how to get people to read it. (Munro’s Books listed it among more than 1,200 new releases in September, which sets out the challenge rather starkly.)
On Thursday, at the Bard and Banker pub in Victoria, there’s an official launch party. It will be low key. We have the comfy Sam McGee room. I’ll talk a little bit about writing the book. Copies will be on sale for $20, with $8 going to Cuso International and Casita Copan, an amazing project to support homeless kids and struggling families in Copan Ruinas, Honduras, where we spent more than two years. But it doesn’t matter if anyone buys books. There’s a piano, if you want to play.
Mostly, I hope people will show up and talk to each other. I have almost 400 Facebook friends. Jody has 1,805. I don’t know who they are. But it would be interesting if we all got together for a few hours, especially as we head to Managua in less than two weeks.
We have the room from 6:30 pm to 9. Come on down.
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5 comments:
Is the book going to be available in local bookstores as well? I'd love a copy, but can't make the Bard and Banker that night.
Good luck to both of you on your next adventure!
Hello Anon 12:22;
Yes, Munro's, Bolen and Tanners have them at the moment. Chapters and Amazon online too, of course.
And thanks for the good luck wishes
Sorry to have missed the launch yesterday...we're off for a few days being buffeted by the winds and waves in Tofino.
I'll pick up a copy once we're back in town.
All the best.
DEAD ENDS: BC CRIME STORIES is the perfect example of everything that's wrong with publishing in today's world. Anyone with the notion--talent or not--can write a "book", then contact a place like the University of Regina Press ("publisher" of this fine volume), and unleash this mess on an unsuspecting world. And then we wonder why no one reads anymore. Why should they? If this is the kind of stuff they're being subjected to.
Used to be a real writer had to learn to WRITE before they could get published. Now, all you need is a couple thousand dollars and you got yourself a book. Talent? Who needs it? Skill? What for? Learning to write? Are you kidding me? Forget about it, I've got this here manuscript and an address I can get it printed, I'mma be one of dem novelists. Riches, here I comes!!!
It's enough to make aspiring writers want to give up seeking legitimate publishing venues. Please don't. Just be sure to write better than this guy. God knows it won't be difficult.
When you strip Paul Willcocks down, pun intended, you find nothing more than a phony. What makes him so great is a mystery to me. This man is a fraud, a cheap and lousy opportunist.
To Anonymous at 1:58 PM:
Ain't it great when you can don the Cloak of Invisibility and post hateful rants like you did? You've chosen some nasty nouns and adjectives to describe Paul.
A few more come to my mind when I read your "anonymous" post: cowardly being right up there at the top of the list. Only it's not Paul I'm thinking of.
Raymond Graham
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