K.C. Dyer's Blog, page 2
July 26, 2015
You Otter Be Reading...
Sorry.
But hey -- had SUCH a great time meeting the lovely Samara and other readers at Otter Books in Nelson. I mean -- it seriously was the BEST. And anyone who builds a window like this one...
...is ACES in my opinion.
Samara created a magical atmosphere, [naughty] readings were held, books were sold and So. Much. Fun. Was. Had.
Top it off with a good natured Kilt-wearing man, who posed [complete with flip-flops] for this shot:
...and you KNOW it was a blast.
Thank you Samara for being the cutest kilt-wearing bookstore host EVER!
[Samara is on the left of this collection of kilt-wearing beauties...]
After Nelson, I took a trip to Radium BC, and there with the blessing of Radium Public Library's head librarian Jane Jones, I met up with a group of young writers by Skype, from their location in Surrey Public Library. Technology bringing writers together! If you have a young writer in the neighbourhood who would like to join in, you can contact Carmen Merrells at Surrey Public Library -- those kids are ready to wrestle the written word into submission!
The FINDING FRASER Book Tour Extravaganza continues tomorrow morning with a gawdawfulearly [7:15 am!] appearance on the CTV morning breakfast show in Calgary. Then from 11 am until 4 pm, I'll be at the Signal Hill Indigo in Southwest Calgary, signing books and telling stories. As always, wear your kilt or knitwear and win a chance at a prize!
Come join me...?
More soon...
~kc
July 23, 2015
Tender Pender [Island]
A loverly time was had at the wonderful Talisman Books & Gallery on Pender Island. Though I was there for FINDING FRASER, of course, I had a big group of kids [local, and from the UK] come to hear a reading. Since it was so hot, I gave them a taste of Darby's first adventure from A WALK THROUGH A WINDOW, where she ends up watching the very first peoples come to Canada via the land bridge once known as Beringia.
Chilly fun!
Bookstore owner Melanie was terrific and made me feel very welcome, as did the wonderfully warm Glenys Powell and her husband Wynne, who have had a place on Pender forever. They came to meet me at the store, bought me lunch, and Glenys even dropped by later to help drum up sales for me.I'm so lucky to have such lovely friends!
[Glenys IS indirectly responsible for FINDING FRASER, actually, as it was her daughter -- the lovely writer Kathy Kenzie -- who laughed when I told her the idea I had for the story originally....]
Anyway, I am left with warm memories of Pender Island as I head off to the next stop on the FINDING FRASER Book Tour Extravaganza -- Nelson BC, and Otter Books.
I'll be there Friday night, and I've already told book seller Samara that we are going to have a rollicking time!
Also? On this leg of the journey, I'll have some company. People have been asking to see THE kilt from the cover of the book. When it's at home, here's where the kilt can be found:
I'm thinking a mummy in the front seat might mean -- HOV lane possibilities?
See you soon, Nelson!
~kc
PS Sarah, your hand-knitted hat is coming on tour with us, too!
July 20, 2015
FRASER crosses the water
Powell River is up next, at the marvellous Breakwater Books. Sean and Ruth are eclectic owners -- they run the bookstore...and have a farm on the side. But most importantly?
Fudge.
WHY DOESN'T EVERY BOOKSTORE HAVE FUDGE?
It's crazy.
Had a great time with the Breakwater folks and those who came by to pick up a book. Including this gentleman...
Now, I've sold a bunch of books already, but this man...this man is the FIRST James Fraser I have signed a book for.
Clearly -- he was in the mood to celebrate!
I made sure his wife walked away with a 'Found My Fraser' pin!
So, the visit to Powell River was a demonstration of kindness from first to last. Sean offered to collect me from the ferry, meaning I could save the money it would cost to bring my Jeep over, and just pay the walk-on fee. Then he plied me with tea and fudge and offered goodies from his cafe. I chatted with writers and farmers and tourists while selling books, and then Sean drove me back to the ferry when it was time.
Except it turned out it wasn't time. I'd forgotten it was Saturday, and the ferry I was planning to take was off the schedule. But one of the BC Ferry workers kindly offered shelter for my books and giant poster, so I hiked back into town to find a place to work. And after asking directions from Debbie -- a stranger I met on the street -- she bought me a cold drink and drove me to the nearest Tim Horten's so I could avail myself of the wifi.
Kindness at every turn!
Thanks again to Debbie for rescuing me, to Breakwater Books for hosting me, and to all the lovely readers -- including Mr & Mrs. James Fraser! -- who bought my books.
Next stop -- Pender Island!
More soon...
~kc
July 18, 2015
Flogging Fraser, Day Two
Campbell River is beautiful. The third largest town on Vancouver Island, built by loggers and fishers, and I caught it on a gorgeous summer day. Since I was early for the signing, I walked around, read the historical plaques dotting the downtown and hung out with this guy for a while.
The event today was at Coho Books, a lovely little store on the main drag of Campbell River. Many thanks to Pirkko for making me feel so welcome!
The signing was awesome. I sold a bunch of books, got to chat with a dear writer friend [thanks for coming to see me, Shari Green!] and got to talk about writing and books in a lovely setting. Next stop is a quick trip over to the Sunshine Coast and Powell River, which means it’ll be a two-ferry day.
In the meantime, things are unfolding elsewhere, as upcoming destinations are getting ready for the FINDING FRASER tour arrival.
Check out the window in Otter Books! Nelson – I’m coming for you July 24th!
More soon…!
~kc
July 16, 2015
Anatomy of a Book Tour: Day One
I'm hot linking to my phone here, so this is going to be short.
How can you tell this is a Canadian book tour?
Cause I'm sleeping in a B&B with a canoe over the door...
In Nanaimo, en route to my first gig at Coho Books in Campbell River tomorrow. The Campbell River Mirror wrote a lovely little piece here,
...so I hope that means that readers will be out in droves, all wearing their best kilts and scottish-knitwear-in-summer to come meet me.
I'll sign your books! I'll sign your knitwear! It's going to be all kinds of awesome.
And if you can't be in at Coho Books Campbell River tomorrow, I have a few other stops planned...
July 18, 12-3 pm, Breakwater Books, Powell River
July 20, 1-3 pm, Talisman Books, Pender Island
July 24, 6-8 pm, Otter Books, Nelson, BC
July 27, 11-4 pm, Indigo Signal Hill, Calgary, AB
July 30, 7-9 pm, Audrey's Books, Edmonton, AB
Aug 4, 7-8 pm Misty River Books [at the library], Terrace, BC
Aug 5, 7-9 pm Hazelton Library, Hazelton, BC
Aug 6, 11-3 pm, Books & Company, Prince George, BC
Aug 7, 11-3 pm, The Open Book, Williams Lake, BC
Aug 12, 11-3 pm, Armchair Books, Whistler, BC
Aug 13, 11 - 4 pm, Bookland, Vernon, BC
Aug 14, 1-4 pm, Mosaic Books, Kelowna, BC
Aug 15, 9-1:30 pm, Hooked On Books, Penticton, BC
And then... I take a little break before starting up again in September. Crazy, eh?
But you know what? The tour is already off to a GREAT start, because Shawn, the very kind owner of above-noted Canoe-festooned B&B, insisted on buying a book to keep in his bookcase here.
What a warm welcome to Vancouver Island!
See you tomorrow in Campbell River?
More soon...
~kc
July 14, 2015
Vancouver Island, here I come!
The Finding Fraser Tour is kicking it's shoes off and heading to the north end of Vancouver Island this week, with stops at Coho Books in Campbell River on Friday and [after a quick ferry ride] Breakwater Books in Powell River on Saturday. Then it's another ferry [or two!] and down to Talisman Books on Pender Island to start next week.
We've just about got the entire tour firmed up here, and when it is, I'll post. But in preparation, today I chatted with Warren Andrew of 97.9 'The River' about the crazy that's about to be unleashed on Campbell River.
I can't find a way to load the audio file here, so... unless you were in Campbell River today, you're just going to have to take my word for it!
More soon...
~kc
July 11, 2015
Tour Update
Hiya.
The FINDING FRASER Book Tour Extravaganza is about to take flight! I'm excited, because it's going to take me to a number of locales in British Columbia and Alberta I have never visited before.
I'll post a final itinerary before I leave next Friday, but right now it's looking like I'll be visiting
Campbell River
Powell River
Pender Island
Nelson
Calgary
Edmonton
Hazelton
Terrace
Prince George
Williams Lake
Whistler
North Van
...and more!
I'll be visiting independent bookstores, Chapters stores and libraries, holding reading events in some locations, signings in others.
I'd love to meet up with any readers along the way!
Please come out and say hello.
I'll post more specific dates and times as we get a bit closer, but if you live in or near any of the locales noted above, let me know! I'm also trying to fit a few more library and book club visits in along the way.
For any tour-planning questions, you can reach me at LionsMountainLiterary@gmail.com. I'd love to meet you while I'm on the road!
More soon...
~kc
June 25, 2015
Kindness...
So, today, one of my readers received a copy of one of my books in the mail. This, while generally a reason for me to celebrate [I love seeing my books in the wild!] was something pretty special.
You see, this reader has had a few setbacks lately, and had mentioned them briefly in a note on Facebook. This brief mention was noticed by another of my readers, who promptly connected with the first reader and made sure she had a copy of the new book winging her way.
My takeaway? Some people are just awesome.
More soon...
~kc
June 23, 2015
Audio Book!
Thrilled to announce that I've just signed a deal with Tantor Media to produce an audio book of FINDING FRASER!
I'm really excited about this. Tantor is an imprint of Recorded Books, which is the largest audio-book creator in the world.
This means FINDING FRASER will be available on audio book on-line, in stores and in libraries beginning THIS summer!
Anticipated release date is August 11th, which will fall right in the middle of my FINDING FRASER Summer Book Tour Extravaganza.
The audio book will be narrated by the lovely , who has wide experience in the field. She's an actor and independent theatre professional, and I couldn't be more thrilled to have her reading Emma's adventures out loud.
More details on the tour as they develop. Right now we are booking events in British Columbia and Alberta for July and August. Feel free to be in touch if you'd like me to swing by your local bookstore!
And finally, many thanks go out to all the readers who have embraced Emma and her wacky adventures -- FINDING FRASER has just passed 400 reviews on Amazon, and in addition to being an Amazon #1 Best-seller in Romantic Comedy, has also become a Kindle All-Star book!
More soon...
~kc
June 19, 2015
Fraser...Found?
Heigh ho!
To celebrate a month since FINDING FRASER debuted on Amazon, and a week since the official paperback launch, we've opened a special new page on the FindingFraser.com website.
[If you haven't visited yet, this is Emma Sheridan's blog site, and a jumping off point for all things story-related.]
I've spent the past month talking with people on Facebook and Twitter; through my blog and on email, who have read the story and loved it. SO many readers relate to Emma's need to throw off the trappings of daily life and to run away in search of a fictional hero!
But you know what? Lots and lots of readers have already found their hero, and are eager to share their stories too. So, here's your chance!
Fraser Found is a place to share your stories of finding your own hero. And here's a little incentive for you. The wonderful romance writer CJ HUNT has donated a copy of THE OUTLANDISH COMPANION to give to one of our contributors. So here's what we'll do... we'll put your name in the draw for the book and a collection of FINDING FRASER swag if you are among the first 100 contributors.
HERE is the page. Ready? Set? Go!!!
[And if you haven't found your own Fraser yet -- here's where you can find Emma and join her on her journey!]
I'm excited to read your stories! And, as always,
More soon...
~kc
