Dawn Bates's Blog: The Nomadic Author

Getting lost on Goodreads

Those moments when you make yourself a cup of tea and need a break from work and realise that you end up on Goodreads looking for new books to read...

And know, that as there is no way you can possibly carry any more books in your backpack that you just have to STOP reading about books your friends are reading!

With five books almost finished on the Kindle App of my phone, and another 5 beside my bed needing to be read, plus the one in my laptop bag and the one I have already finished, that's a lot of weight to carry.

"Get a kindle they shout!" but the thing is, after reading manuscripts all day on my laptop, the last thing I want to do is read a book on an e-reader.

The feel of the paper, the smell of the ink and paper combined and the sound of the page as we turn it, and the way the pages balance either side of the pages we are reading, there really is nothing else like it.

To not buy books is an act of will-power and discipline, and plus, I know that the next location I am heading to has a wonderful library of books which I can dive into over the 5 weeks I will be there.

And the other books I am reading and writing will be devoured whilst on the 7 day train ride through the Canadian Rockies from Coast to Coast, via Banff to do some skiing with my eldest son... well... I am going to try and ski - tobogganing is more my style.

How about you? Do you get lost in the recommendations and books your friends are reading?

And if you were going to recommend a book to me, what would it be and why?

Hello Canada!

Honestly, I have had no idea about what to write on this blog, but as I have just arrived in Canada and about to embark on my North American book tour, I thought ..

"You know what, why not share my journey of North America whilst on my book tour? Hmmm... I wonder if that would work?!"

Well, the only way for me to find out is to try, so here is the first entry of my blog here on Goodreads.

I am 6 days into my new life here in Canada and have already completed one catering event here - yep, a catering event!

Now, why on earth would I, an author, be doing a catering event?

Well, you see, my friend Chef Doris Fin and I will be hosting private and exclusive dinner parties as I travel across North America, dinner parties which will cover many of the topics in my books and will only be for open minded people who enjoy agreeing to disagree and having their view of the world turned upside down in the pursuit of knowledge and truth.

And you know what they say about working with friends, family, dogs and children... yep... be prepared! Or never do it!

Sitting here in the Greater Toronto Area, I am getting on with the business of organising events with libraries, sorting out accommodation until I can get my camper van which will take me across the whole of Canada, the US and Mexico - well that's the plan anyway!

Once I have completed all three countries, it is time to sell the campervan and switch to my yacht which will take me across the Mexican Gulf, around the Caribbean and then eventually through the Panama Canal into the wonders of the Pacific Ocean into Asia.

A grand plan and one I have been dreaming about for so long.

Will you all be joining me, meeting up with me along the way, whilst reading the weekly book reviews I write?

And hopefully the books I write and publish as a solo author, co-author and developmental author!

Only time will tell, and right now, I have some reading to do of What I Meant To Say, Edited by Ian Brown right here in Toronto!

Might give him a call actually... hmmmm...

Anyway, tea to drink, books to read and people to phone,

Until the next time folks, keep reading and learning!

Ciao for now,
Dawn :)