Kristin Butcher... has novel ideas

Pull out the suitcase -- I'm off again!

This time I'm bound for Toronto and the Silver Birch Gala. Pharaohs and Foot Soldiers is a nominee in the non-fiction category. I was nominated for the Silver Birch only once before, way back in 1998, when The Runaways was a regional winner in the fiction category. It was my first nomination for any award (first book too), and it was a fantastic experience. Back then the gala was held at St. Lawrence Market, and the memory that stands out most about the event was the number of young people who were there. It seemed as if there were thousands, and the line-up of kids wanting to get their books autographed seemed to go forever. This time around the festivities are at Harbour Front Centre on Lake Ontario, and I'm anxious to see what that's like.

Speaking of The Runaways, a Winnipeg school has just purchased a class set from me. The book went out of print two years ago, but teachers are still using it in their classrooms, and that makes me feel great. I was wondering what I was going to do with all the copies I was hoarding.

It's officially out there, people -- The Last Superhero.

My first copy arrived in yesterday's mail. The rest will follow shortly. The distributor likes to get the books off to the bookstores first (I have no problem with that), so the rest of my share should arrive within the next week. Then I'll be mailing them off to family.

I love it when the new books come out. This is #17 for me, so you'd think it would be old hat by now, but I still get that rumble of giddy excitement in my stomach when I hold the published book in my hand for the first time. 

Just one more reason why I love my life. 

Gosh ... it's hard to believe the whirlwind of activity surrounding the BC Book Prize nomination for Return to Bone Tree Hill is over. But it was sure fun while it lasted. My book didn't win the big prize, but I'm okay with that. There were a lot of very talented writers and fantastic books that also didn't win, so I'm in very good company.

I would like to thank everyone who emailed, sent cards, and posted encouraging messages on my Facebook wall (I still can't get onto Facebook, but I receive wall posts as emails). That was really great. I would also like to thank the people who came to the 'ball' -- the awards' dinner, actually -- to cheer me on in person. I really appreciated the show of support, and we all had a really good time. It was so good to see people I haven't seen in a while and to catch up on what everyone is up to. 

Government House, in conjunction with the West Coast Book Prize Society, put on a fabulous event. All the speakers were entertaining, the proceedings moved along at a good pace, Steven Point was a gracious host, the decor was beautiful, and the food was scrumptious. According to my friends, Julie Lawson and Dayle Gaetz, the washroom was pretty impressive too. 

So now it's time to move on. (sigh) I have books to write, class visits to prepare for, and just enough time to unpack my suitcase, do my laundry, and repack for the Silver Birch Gala in Toronto.

I love my life. 

Fifteen author presentations in seven days. Our little troupe visited Terrace, Kitimat, Hazelton, Prince Rupert, Prince George, Smithers, and Quesnel. Most days found us climbing into the van (our second home) at 8 o'clock in the morning and crawling back to our hotel rooms at 10 o'clock at night. It was hectic and exhausting, but soooooooo rewarding and so much fun.

My partners in crime were three other BC Book Prize nominees: Kari-Lynn (not Carolyn, not Kari-Ann, and most definitely not Kerry!) Winters, who is a finalist for the Christie Harris Illustrated Children's Book Award; Cathleen With, who is vying for the Ethel Wilson Award for adult fiction (this is her first novel and already she's among BC's literary elite!); and Michael Turner, who is up for the same prize as Cathleen (Michael has been nominated for the BC Book Prizes FOUR times and he even won once!) Our driver, organizer, and general go-to guy was Bryan Pike, the Executive Director of the BC Book Prizes. So, as you can see, I was in some pretty good company.

We visited schools during the day, fitting library, museum, and bookstore readings in between and in the evening. We heard each other's readings so many times that when Michael lost his place one time, Kari was behind him whispering the next sentence. Kari's presentation was interactive and involved silly hats, noises, and actions. Her intention was to get the audience involved, but sometimes they were shy, which meant we other authors had to step up. I personally played the part of a bug, a fish, and a raindrop. Michael had a soft spot for the part of the horse, and by the time the tour was ending, he had the role down pat.

The school visits were fantastic! Whether I had an audience of 25 (that only happened once) or 80 (that was pretty much the norm), the kids were great -- attentive, enthusiastic, and amazingly insightful. I was asked many questions I'd never been asked before, which was both refreshing and impressive.

When we weren't presenting or driving, we were sightseeing. While in Kitimat, we drove out to the Haisla Village and visited world-renowned carver, Sammy Robinson, in his workshop. We just sort of popped in uninvited, but he graciously showed us around and answered the kazillion questions we had. Jewellery and wood pieces alike were all beautifully crafted, and I was totally envious of his private upstairs studio with it's ocean and mountain view.

In Hazelton we visited K'san, a heritage village museum. The longhouses weren't open for us to view (wrong season), but the paintings on the exteriors and the many and varied totem poles were impressive just the same. In Houston, I snapped a photo of the world's largest fishing rod, and in Prince Rupert we visited two now-defunct canneries, one of which has been restored as a museum.

Perhaps the most fun though was riding in the van. Being in close quarters with four witty people was a riot. My stomach ached from laughing. I learned a lot too. Mostly what I learned was how much I don't know. And there was always music. Bryan had an endless playlist. Whatever songs we asked for, he had them. The Flight of the Conchord song/skits were hilarious too. Kari and Bryan saw a spirit bear, there was an eagle lunching on a dead deer, and a fox. We all had a great time, and the miles just slid away.

Many thanks to the West Coast Book Prize Society and all the wonderful sponsors that made the tour possible.

And now, on to Government House and the Awards Dinner. Wish me luck.

Today is run around like a chicken with my head cut off day, because I leave bright and early tomorrow morning for the Northern BC tour, and as usual, I have left everything to the last minute. (How like me.)

So, I am simultanously doing laundry, cleaning bathrooms, vacuuming, preparing meals for my husband so he doesn't starve in my absence, amassing my bag of performance tricks, and packing (lightly, I am told) my clothes for a week away.

This is going to be a fantastic trip, and you can read all about it on the BC Book Prize website, because all of the nominees will be blogging about it there. So please check in now and again to find out how we're doing.

TTFN.

Lucky me! I'm off to Northern BC, courtesy of the West Coast Book Prize Society. As part of the BC Book Prize program, organizers send nominated authors to various parts of the province to introduce hungry readers to their books. I shall be travelling with Michael Turner and Catherine With, both nominated for the Ethel Wilson Award, as well as Kari-Lynn Winters, who is nominated for the Christie Harris Award. We'll be on the road from April 11 - 18 and visiting Terrace, Kitimat, Hazelton, Prince Rupert, Prince George, Quesnel, and Smithers. I just know this is going to be a ton of fun.

I hadn't realized what a big deal the BC Book Prizes were until I was shortlisted for one. Not only is there the tour, but there's also a Soiree for the public at the Listel Hotel in Vancouver to kick off events, and, of course, the gala itself -- at Government House no less! Finally, I'll get another chance to wear the formal I bought for my son's wedding in 2005! Please cross your fingers that I don't spill any food down the front as this is a fancy sit-down dinner with white linen napery. (Thank you Thistledown Press for purchasing my ticket -- my publisher has been very generous in promoting Return to Bone Tree Hill.)

Three writing friends from Campbell River are travelling down to Victoria to provide moral support at the gala. Thank you, Dayle Gaetz, Jocelyn Reekie, and Heather Kellerhals-Stewart. I'm trusting they'll be on their best behaviour and there won't be any shrill whistles or bawdy hoots. (Thanks to everyone else who has called or emailed to wish me well.)

I would be lying if I said I wasn't getting excited. Dayle tells me I need to prepare an acceptance speech in case I win.

GULP! I hadn't even thought about that.

It's awful and then it's good. Life seems to go like that. Tuesday was a painful day, waiting for the resolution to my car crash debacle. I know this demonstrates my own flaws, but I get very impatient with other people's ineptitude. In hindsight, I have to say that the insurance adjuster was terrific, as were the folks at the insurance agency in Campbell River where I went to sign off on all the paperwork. Bottom line: I have my new car and I'm good to go.

On the other hand, Thursday was a tremendous day. I got royalties in the mail from two different publishers -- money is always an upper, and I found out that Return to Bone Tree Hill had been shortlisted for the Sheila Egoff BC Book Prize. It's quite an honour even if you don't take home the $$. One of my editors emailed an interest in publishing the third book in the Zach & Zoe series in the spring of 2011, and a publisher at another house expressed interest in a book proposal I'd submitted.

Nothing is written in stone, but it's all encouraging, and in this job that's all you can hope for.

Today I was interviewed by a local radio station about my BC Book Prize nomination and I barbecued a fantastic T-bone steak for supper.

Like I said -- it's all good.

Like everyone else in Canada, watching the Olympics has become part of my daily routine. My favourite events are the short-track speedskating races. I especially enjoy the relays -- a sort of civilized roller derby on ice. The skaters weave themselves in and out of the action like commuters getting on and off a busy freeway.

It reminds me a bit of life. The constant circular movement is the ongoing activity of the world. The individual skaters are like 'Everyman', pushing through the crowd to establish a place for themselves. Sometimes they get a boost and sometimes they get bumped.

That's kind of where I am in my own world right now. Lots of good things are happening, but I'm having to deal with some not-so-swell stuff too.

First of all, about a month ago, the publisher pulled the plug on my secret societies book. I understand the rationale for it, but I put a lot of work into that project and was really disappointed to see it canned. But I knew moping wasn't going to help, so I got to work on a partial manuscript for a picture book story I've had on file for years. Surprisingly, I even finished it and sent it off to a publisher. If my picture book track record is any indication, it will probably be returned, but nothing ventured, nothing gained.

After that I got to work researching and plotting the historical murder mystery fantasy I want to write. Because that process doesn't require any actual writing, it was like taking a much-needed break. I also pulled out my art supplies and got to work on some paintings -- something I've been planning to do for ages but have just not gotten around to.

Then last week I received an email from one of my editors, informing me that Zach & Zoe and the Bank Robber has been nominated for the Diamond Willow Young Readers' Choice Award, and asking if I was planning to write another book for the series. Sweet! I had an idea for a story, but for various reasons had been procrastinating about pursuing it. This nomination was all the motivation I need, so I whipped up a chapter outline and whisked it off to the editor. Now all I can do is wait to see if the editorial staff like it. In the meantime, Zach & Zoe: Bully and the Beagle was reviewed in today's edition of CM Magazine and received a 4-star, highly recommended review. I can't ask for more than that.

Everything is on schedule for the April release of The Last Superhero, and I'm excited for it to see daylight. That book was a long time in the making and had several incarnations before it actually became the story it is now. On another writing front, I received my revision letter yesterday for Cheat, a novel for reluctant readers that's due out in the fall. The changes asked for aren't as onerous as I'd expected, so that is a major relief. I should be able to meet the March 5th deadline no problem.

Also it looks like I shall be able to attend the Silver Birch gala in Toronto in May. Author visit bookings have started to dribble in, which means I'll be able to pay for my flight.

On the downside, I crashed my car on Tuesday. It was the other guy's fault, and neither of us was hurt, but it was a nasty collision. The whole front of my vehicle is gone. So now I'm carless in Campbell River. Though I haven't had official word from the insurance company yet, I'm pretty sure it's a write-off. And I so loved that car!

I have my first Skype visit (to a high school class in Minnesota) coming up on Monday, and then on Friday I'm presenting to a couple of Grade 8 classes in Victoria. Both are events to look forward to, but I woke up this morning with the start of a head cold, and that is not a good thing when you have to be energetic and talk for an hour or two.

I could go on, but I'm sure you get the idea -- and besides, today's Olympics are about to start.

We are in the Age of Technology -- there's no doubt about it. Cell phones, Ipods, MP3 players, DVD's, Kindle, Wii, Blue Tooth, huge flat screen TV's and, of course, computers to name just a few household innovations. Even we dinosaurs find ourselves immersed in technology. The fact that I have a website and this blog, and that I shall be presenting to high school students in Minnesota next week via Skype are proof.

So when the organizers of The Forest of Reading Awards asked nominees to create a short video promoting their nominated books, I took a deep breath and agreed to do it. How? I had no idea. I knew I could take videos with my digital camera, and I thought I might be able to do something with the camera built into my computer, but I had no clue how to proceed. The content wasn't a problem; it was the process that was a mystery.

Upon mentioning this to my writing group, one member said that her fourteen-year-old grandson (Michael Stevantoni) was an amateur movie-maker, and she would ask him if he was interested in helping me out. He was! Yahoo!

We had a preliminary meeting to set up a plan, and then two days later we did the actual filming. It was such a relief to leave the HOW of it all up to someone else. I had checked out a few of Michael's creations on YouTube and was confident he knew what he was doing.

The filming took about 2 hours. The editing took another day. And then Michael uploaded the finished video on to YouTube for the world to see. It will soon be embedded on the promotional website for the Forest of Reading too. And after that? The Sundance Festival, I'm sure!

In the meantime, go to YouTube and check it out. Here's the link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnJPGA_GySs

At the moment you'll have to copy and paste this into your browser, because I don't know how to activate the link. I'll have to get my computer guru son to do that for me. (Don't act surprised. I told you I was a dinosaur.)

I made the three-hour drive to Victoria Sunday afternoon in order to attend the BC Book Fair at the Laurel Point Inn. I was one of four authors on hand to introduce an upcoming book at the Monday morning Authors' Breakfast. Not only that, but I was up first, which is a bit daunting when you're presenting at an event you've never before attended and therefore have no clue how to proceed. On the other hand, I got to speak to the audience while it was still fresh and attentive. (To be perfectly honest, the group was attentive throughout the whole program.) Let's hear it for booksellers!

It was the first time out of the gate for The Last Superhero (Napoleon Publishing), which is scheduled for release in April. I wrote this book a few years ago, so it's a relief to see it finally see daylight. Basically it's a story about bullying, fighting for what you believe in, friendship, loyalty, and getting along. It has a moral, but it doesn't overwhelm the story, and there are enough laughs to balance out the drama.

Thanks to my publisher for submitting my name for the event. Thanks also to all the booksellers who attended.