From the road: Week 2
Writing life: 95
Here’s an update from the second week of my book tour including stops in Calgary, Victoria, Pender Island, Galiano Island, Vancouver, Waterloo, and Bracebridge.
Calgary’s Wordfest
As always, Wordfest was amazing. I had two events and had a blast with the other writers and the readers in the audiences.
Leacockians Unite!!!!
As you can see from the photo below, the official title of this session featured four, count ‘em, four exclamation marks. That’s just how they roll at Wordfest. The panel included Emily Austin (a two-time Leacock Medal longlister), Will Ferguson (a three-time Leacock Medal winner in 2002, 2005, 2010), Natalie Sue (the 2025 Leacock Medal winner), and yours truly (Leacock winner in 2008 and 2015). There was to be no moderator for this session based on the belief that the four of us (friends all) should be able to keep the conversation and the laughter going for the 75 minutes of the event. So we mapped out a plan in advance.
We started with each of us reading from our books and spent the rest of our time asking relevant questions of one another about the life of a humour writer. Finally, we opened the floor for audience questions. In short, we had a great conversation, and there was some evidence the crowd enjoyed themselves too.
Extending your shelf life
My second session was a panel discussing the writing life and how our past experiences prepared us to be writers. The panel featured the legendary publisher/editor Anne Collins, Giller prize winner and investigate journalist Linden MacIntyre, the bestselling fiction and nonfiction writer, Merilyn Simonds, and yours truly. We were moderated by Wordfest Program Associate and freelance journalist Rita Sirignano.
We all knew each other at least a little, and that made the session flow quite smoothly. We had a very wide-ranging conversation about life as a writer and fielded several questions from the audience. And, as usual, we all had a few laughs along the way.
A visit to Victoria and the Gulf Islands
Victoria
We stopped in Victoria for a day to sign books at several different bookstores including the venerable Munro’s.
While in Victoria, I joined a favourite fellow writer, Trevor Ferguson, for dinner along with his wife, Lynne. I was reading Trevor’s novels years before I ever thought I might one day write one myself, let alone ten! It was so nice to spend time with them. I also had a drink with fellow Leacock Medal winner, Mark Leiren-Young. Always fun to reconnect with Mark.
I also did an interview on CBC Radio’s morning show with Gregor Craigie.
Pender Island
As I have done on two previous book tours, I gave an afternoon book talk on Pender Island, staying with good friends Paul Williamson and his wife Katherine Holmes in their wonderful home right on the water. Another good friend and writer Stewart Goodings joined us and we all had a great time. Thanks to Carri from Talisman Books for selling my books at the talk.
Galiano Island
After my Pender talk, Nancy and I rushed to the ferry to carry us over to the library on Galiano Island for a second book talk on the same day. We were warmly welcomed. After my presentation, the audience had many questions for me, and I signed some books. Jim from Galiano Island Books kindly introduced me and sold my books after the talk.
Vancouver Writers Fest
After a second, more restful day on Pender, we caught an early morning ferry to Vancouver where I had four events at Writers Fest. All of them went well and were really fun. But in the interests of space, I’ll just touch on the two main events for me.
Building suspense
I was on a great panel entitled Building Suspense alongside Giller shortlisted writer Eddy Boudel Tan, and the famous Brooklyn writer, Jonathan Lethem (of Motherless Brooklyn fame), moderated by my good friend and fine writer, Robert J. Wiersema. We each read from our books and had an interesting conversation guided by our expert moderator. Then the audience got into the act and asked some great questions. A book signing followed.
The afternoon tea
My second session was the famous Afternoon Tea event on the closing day of the festival. I was one of six writers to speak and read to the 230 or so people at this sold out event.
Waterloo
The day after we flew back home after ten days away on my western tour, I spoke in Waterloo, Ontario to a big audience at one of the city’s larger library branches. Many thanks to the library and to Words Worth Books—a really fine independent bookstore—for organizing the event.
Bracebridge
Two days after Waterloo, I found myself in Bracebridge, Ontario for another talk on The Marionette. Bracebridge Hall was filled to capacity as Chandler Jolliffe, owner of the Cedar Canoe Bookstores in Huntsville and Bracebridge interviewed me on stage for an hour or so. I read a brief section of the novel, responded to questions from the floor, and signed books afterwards. It was a great evening.
Bestseller update
There’s a limit to how many images I can include in a post, and I’ve already hit it in this one, so I’m limited to words when I report that after three weeks, The Marionette remains on all the Canadian Fiction bestseller lists. With the imminent arrival of Louise Penny’s latest blockbuster, we’re now at #2 on the CBC Books and Bookmanager lists, #6 on the Globe and Mail list, and #7 on the Toronto Star list. May it continue for a few more weeks!
Wrapping up…
I have a busy few weeks coming up, but later in November, I hope to return to posting content that isn’t exclusively about The Marionette! Stay tuned. Here’s hoping you’ll subscribe if you haven’t already, so you don’t miss future posts. It’s free and easy. See you in two weeks.
What a wonderful 2 weeks. Thank you for fitting Bracebridge in. It was wonderful to see you again. Congrats on another great selling novel.
Glad the tour is going so well Terry!