Marianne Jones's Blog, page 3

December Dreamin’

 

 

 

Having fully recovered from their trip to Toronto, the Peachies are gearing up for this weekend at the December Dreams show at the Thunder Bay Coliseum! They are offering a special deal for Christmas while supplies last–a free Peachy Keen with every copy of “Great-Grandma’s Gifts.” Of course, that means they will be saying goodbye to some of their siblings, but they will keep smiling, knowing that each one will be making a child happy.

 

Also available at a special pre-Christmas price will be Thunder Bay’s first humorous cozy mystery: “The Serenity Stone Murder.” Find out why best friends Margaret and Louise are taking a break from attending a “Discover Your Inner Goddess” conference to tail suspects all over the city of the Sleeping Giant and home of the Persian. Will you figure out whodunnit before they do?

Hope to see you this weekend!

Tiny T.V. Spot

I was surprised a week ago when someone attending the Toronto Inspire Book Fair told me she had seen this spot from Thunder Bay Television News. A relative in Sudbury also saw it. TBT News gets around! Here’s the link:  http://www.tbnewswatch.com/video/2yjU66hw5gI/TBT_Newshour_-_November_15,_2014  The spot is 7 minutes in. Just move the bar to halfway.

Three More Sleeps!

Peachy Keen is thrilled to be going to the Toronto Book Fair this weekend with 25 of his cousins! They will be at the Split Tree Publishing Booth helping to promote their favourite children’s book, Great-Grandma’s Gifts. No matter how many times they have heard this story, they never tire of having it read to them.

The story’s author, Marianne Jones, will be travelling there, too, to read the book at the Convention Centre on Front Street Friday morning. It is the first event of its kind in Canada, and everyone is beyond excited. Three more sleeps!

 

Feeling Like a Celebrity

Monday morning I had the joy of reading “Great-Grandma’s Gifts” to three different classes at Hyde Park School. I’ll admit that even though I am a retired teacher, I still feel a bit nervous before meeting a new group of primary children. JK and SK students have a tendency to be distractable and restless. Would my story about a sewing grandmother be sufficiently entertaining for them?

I had been invited by Karrie Ukrainec, the school’s library technician, to share my book with the students. “Great-Grandma’s Gifts” is the featured book for the first half of November at Hyde Park. Karrie outdid herself in preparation for my visit. When I walked into the school, the display case in the entrance showcased two of my mother’s (the great-grandma of the story) quilts, as well as some of the dolls and toys she had made for her grandchildren. A t.v. screen hung in plain view, announcing my author’s visit, with my picture and the cover of “Great-Grandma’s Gifts.” As if that wasn’t enough, the bulletin board outside the library also displayed pictures and announcements about my visit. What a welcome!

My nerves quickly dissipated with the arrival of the children. They were attentive, engaged and delightful. Even the ones who were initially restless got into the story and became involved in asking and answering questions afterward. The time flew by, and after the third group waved goodbye, I was feeling pretty pumped. One of the teachers came back to tell me that a boy in her class announced that he was going to be a writer, and began work immediately on his first book.

I can’t thank Ms. Ukrainec enough for doing such an amazing job of preparing the school for my visit. With that kind of enthusiasm, I won’t be surprised if Hyde Park nurtures a tiny army of enthusiastic readers and writers.

I have an interview on “Jem’s Books”! Here it is:http://...

I have an interview on “Jem’s Books”! Here it is:

http://wp.me/p2WiHJ-yx

Author of the Week

I’m Author of the Week on Lizzy the Writer’s blog! Check it out http://www.lizzythewriter.com/author-...

Guest blog post by Debbie Okun Hill

Debbie Okun Hill, author of Tarnished Trophies, published by Blacck Moss Press, was in Thunder Bay in September. In her blog, `Kites Without Strings,`she talked about Thunder Bay, the literary community here, and Prince Arthur`s Landing. Here`s what she had to say.http://okunhill.wordpress.com/2014/10/18/in-thunder-bay-poetic-words-on-waterfront-benches/

Warning! Poets at Large

The good citizens of Thunder Bay should be on the alert for “Poetry Bombers” commiting random acts of poetry this week. They can be identified by their distinctive orange jumpsuits and their propensity to travel in groups, showing up in public places, where they surprise innocent bystanders with readings and songs. Yours truly plans to infiltrate their ranks this Friday to learn more about their motivations and their effects on listeners. They have already been spotted this week at city council, Lakehead University and Victoriaville, among other place. Informed sources say that they may appear at Calico Coffee House on Bay Street in the early afternoon and The Bean Fiend on Algoma between 3 and 4:30 p.m.

Promoting Books With Pablo

This past Saturday I was at Cole’s Intercity launching The Serenity Stone Murder. Student volunteers and teachers were there as well, raising funds for books for Kingsway Park School Library. Here I am, hanging with Pablo, the Kingway Park Panther.

Answers to Burning Questions

What are two nice church ladies doing at a Goddess Conference? And why has the manager of the Thunder Bay Casino been murdered? Will the gardener of St. Stephen’s serenity garden ever return the love of Mary Carlisle, the church organist? Find out in The Serenity Stone Murder, a kinder, gentler murder mystery that leads best friends Margaret Bain and Louise Gagnon on a hunt through Thunder Bay in search of clues. Launching Saturday, October 4, at Cole’s in Intercity, from noon to 4. Don’t miss it!