Last weekend I celebrated my first book signing at the Briercrest and District museum…how cool is that? Me? An Author!
Not only was this a very unique experience on its own, but I was fortunate enough to be allowed to sign my books in the heritage cottage dedicated to a successful local Canadian poet, Edna Jacques.
Edna had her first poem published at the age of 14 and became an internationally known writer and speaker.
Many of her poems were printed in readers and her best known poem, “In Flanders Now”, was placed in the chapel at Arlington Cemetery near Washington, DC. Not only did I feel like I was in pretty special literary company, at times, especially when I did my reading, I felt her encouraging presence.
Speaking of reading, that was also a first for me. I was not sure how I would feel about reading some of the unimaginable parts of Forever Kalei’s Mom to an audience, but I found I enjoyed it very much. It felt good to touch those moments from, well, a kind of an outside in way rather than an inside out way. By that I mean there was no anguish or clawing at my brain to find the right message, all I had to do was read the one that was already written.
While a part of my brain automatically kicked into editing mode as I thought oh, that word was not necessary or I could have written that sentence better, I soon forgot about that part as I got into the story. It felt important to bring life to the words without fussing about literary details and so I settled into storyteller mode like flies on honey.
The only difficult part was not stopping every now to expand on what was written. As I am a talker, I often find it easier to explain feelings and experiences verbally vs. always the written word and it was tough to stay on script. But outside of a few OCD editing moments — I just couldn’t help myself — I stuck pretty much to what was written in the book.
I am forever grateful to my sister-in-law Carol for arranging the signing. I am also smiling when I think of all the wonderful things people said about my work after reading Forever Kalei’s Mom. Because of them I feel like I am continuing to make a difference and will keep thinking and writing about life, death and more life until I have nothing left to say. I am laughing now for I can hear some of my friends saying, “Like that is ever going to happen!”
I will leave you with a few of photographs from that special day…
I wrote so much I had to concentrate!
Marti went to school with Kalei for a little while. That she remembered my daughter and took the time to come to the book signing touched me deeply.
Jacqueline has the kindest heart. Her support for my book event was as strong as her amazing spirit!
All in all, it was a very, very good Lifetime Ahead day:)
