Hitting the Road
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.