Broken Keys Publishing's Blog, page 18

Up Next: Perfect Books on Elgin!

Did you miss me at Coles Billings Bridge Plaza?Not to worry!I'll be at Perfect Books, 258 Eglin Street on March 17th!

Book Signing @ Coles Billings Bridge!

As usual - thanks to the wonder staff at Coles Billings Bridge! - yet another great and successful book signing!As I've been saying since the The Faces of Ottawa Awards, 2018 is the year of the Indie-Author!Look who dropped by and showed their support!Brigitte Lord (author of the newly released We Live in the Shadows) and Melba McGee (author of 4/3: A Baby Boomer Memoir)

A Dark Corner of My Soul's New Home!

More exciting news! Local horror-author, dark poet and 2018 The Faces of Ottawa Awards finalist for Best Male Author, Michel Weatherall's book of poetry - A Dark Corner of My Soul - will now be carried and available at Coles Billings Bridge! Interested? You'll find it in the poetry section!

Brigitte Lord - Daytime Ottawa TV Live!

Looks like February is going to be the month of the local author on Daytime Ottawa TV, with Barb Avon on the 13th, Liam Gibbs on the 14th, and now - exciting news! - fellow author and friend, Brigitte Lord will be on today!She will be promoting her new book, "We Live in the Shadows". I just got my hands on a copy of this book only last evening and I'm excited to read it! "We Live in the Shadows" was compassionately written by Brigitte Lord to tell the stories of homelessness in our City and highlight the “street people, the vagabonds and the forgotten ones...our beautiful gypsies.” Don't miss her today on Daytime Ottawa TV with Dylan Black!

The Authors' Market

Are you an author from the National Capital area? This summer, promote and sell your books at the ByWard Market by reaching out to the thousands of locals and visitors we welcome every week! Come on your own or in pairs and the Byward Market will provide an outdoor covered space with tables and chairs for free!Attention all indie-authors! It may come as news to learn that the management of the Byward Market has changed hands, from the City of Ottawa to Marchés d'Ottawa Markets (Ottawa's Outdoor Markets).All activities and events were being reviewed, including The Authors' Market. After a successful meeting with one of the new Operations Managers it looks like The Authors' Market will continue (with possibilities of even larger potentials!) It is my hope to better network various local groups - and in conjunction with a possible radio-show platform, and working hand-in-hand with the new Authors' Market of the Byward Market - more and more of Ottawa's independent literary talent might gain better exposure! A task to all you indie-authors out there - show your support of The Authors' Market by making use if it! Register once its open! Take advantage of this fantastic location to promote and sell your books! And to all others: Support you local literary talent! Ottawa is rich! Contract: info@ottawamarkets.com

The Authors' Market 2018

Attention all indie-authors! It may come as news to learn that the management of the Byward Market has changed hands, from the City of Ottawa to Marchés d'Ottawa Markets (Ottawa's Outdoor Markets). All activities and events were being reviewed, including The Authors' Market. After a successful meeting with one of the new Operations Managers it looks like The Authors' Market will continue (with possibilities of even larger potentials!) It is my hope to better network various local groups - and in conjunction with a possible radio-show platform, and working hand-in-hand with the new Authors' Market of the Byward Market - more and more of Ottawa's independent literary talent might gain better exposure! A task to all you indie-authors out there - show your support of The Authors' Market by making use if it! Register once its open! Take advantage of this fantastic location to promote and sell your books! And to all others: Support you local literary talent! Ottawa is rich! The Author’s MarketThe ByWard Market and its Author’s Market regularly welcome regional authors from all horizons and different languages in order to promote their books. This initiative offers local residents and visitors a unique opportunity to meet local authors, discuss their work, receive an autograph or obtain a copy of their book. For more information contact info@ottawamarkets.com

Guest Speaker at CCWG

Wednesday, Feb. 21st, I will be a guest speaker at the Carp Public Library (3911 Carp Road, Carp, ON).I will be speaking on the topics of Ottawa's changing literary landscape, the rise of the indie-author, engaging local authors and networking writers' groups, venues, distribution, events and radio (exclusively featuring and promoting local indie-authors)!An open discussion will follow!https://www.facebook.com/events/57056...

Chameleon

I’ve never been fond of genres, categories, or anything that places something within a well defined box. Although I know (and known of) Danielle Allard, I have never really had the opportunity to listen to her music. (A fault of my own, procrastination is a horrible plight!) I believed she is categorized under the genre of ‘Folk’, so I had half expect such. Her album Chameleon surprised me. It was anything but what I expected. I realize Chameleon has been released (2+ years?) ago, but after picking up my copy just Saturday there was no way I could possibly simply sit back and say nothing.Allow me to comment on what are (currently) my favourite 3 tracks. (This only after the first 2 days of greedily devouring this CD).CrownI absolutely love that smoky, sultry horn/piano combo and background feel if this piece! This should most definitely have been a Bond-movie title soundtrack! What an awesome ‘feel’ and vibe Crown has!ShipwreckI listened to this track in the car while driving home from an book-signing event, alone, singing along - and I am only slightly embarrassed to admit - crying along with it.There are songs that touch the human heart, the human experience, and Shipwreck is definitely one of them. I think it is what makes Danielle Allard shine! We've all been there. We've all felt this kind of profound loss, and songwriters like Danielle with songs like Shipwreck brings it back, and in its own odd way, connect us.Not only does this track play with one's emotional heartstrings, listening to its rhyme and meter, it is most definitely a stunning piece of poetry as well.With lyrics like....Now I'm freeFree of your hold on meBut I feel like a foolA shipwreck on a barstoolOh I want to beThat only boatOut on the sea...I get choked up just typing the words as I play it on repeat!Careless WhisperWow! I'll give her this: She's got balls the size of church-bells! Scary song to make a cover of. With the golden vocals of George Michael, and a surprisingly fantastic cover by Metallica, Careless Whisper truly needed to be approached from a very different angle.But, never one to disappoint, she does it in flying colours! I absolutely adore the vibraphone/synthesizer, at times almost expecting background vocals to sing through it!Although I only mention 3 tracks from Chameleon, that’s not to say the other 6 are not worth mentioning. It’s just that - after only 2 days of listening - these are the ones I’m currently ‘stuck on’, obsessed with... call it what you will.Last December I had the fortunate opportunity to see Danielle Allard perform live at the Ugly Christmas Sweater Jam and heard a sample from her new and upcoming album - Passing Notes - due out, I believe, in April. She is currently in studio recording/editing. It is with greatly anticipated and bated breath that I await this new release! Check out Chameleon oniTunes

Interviews

RadioTelevision

Ottawans Are the Best!

The best thing about being an author are the fantastic people I get to meet!Sarah Scriver and Danielle Allard CKCU's Tony PriceDylan BlackJennylyn James and Kelly Norah Drukker Samantha EdensSimon Dulac & Jordon Dessertine of Rapido Books, Montreal (my printers)Fellow author (and sweetie) Nathalie Beaupré The incredible Laurie Stewart (of Corvid Moon Publishing)Jack Briglio - comic book writer and creator of Dominion Jack!!Roxanne McLaren of Another Chapter Publishing and author a numerous children's books!Metallica tribute band, Misery (pictured with Stu Ellis (lead guitarist) and Memnoch LeDiable (lead vocals)) Jeff Larocque of CKCU 'tic' of CKCU Kate Hunt (CKCU's Literary Landscape) Fan & beta-reader Nancy LaFlamme Ryoko Itabashi, traditional Japanese musician Roger's Daytime Ottawa host Dylan Black The fantastic and amazing Yasmin Asgarali (photographer), whose work appears in my latest novel, The Refuse Chronicles Fellow local author Liam Gibbs Mayor Jim Watson Councillor Allen HubleyCouncillor Marianne Wilkenson Retired hockey legend Doug Smith Daytime Ottawa Host Catherine Marion Friend Terri Mackey Olga Dwar Melanie Ruest (owner of Alice's Village Cafe in Carp) Creggan Daubeny, manager of Origin Trade on the Byward Market Friend Summer Breeze! Sylvia Corzato of Success in Steps Jessika Lacroix, photographer/artist/founder of NobaddaysHistorian and Maori-cultural expert Dr. Rongo Wetere (AND Maori!) and his wife Marcia KrawllThe incredible Lisa McCoy of Chapters Kanata! (promoting my latest novel, The Refuse Chronicles!)