Post-Launch Thanks

Great night last night, soon I might even sleep. Thanks to all that crowd who came and lifted a pint to the book's birth. Anyone looking for a copy should check out The Bookery/Sweet Relic on Signal Hill. Cheers.

One More Sleep . . .

. . till the Launch. Dusting off my $4.00 reading glasses and working out what exactly I'll read. Food is ordered, pint-lines are full. See you at The Ship Pub, Solomon's Lane, St. John's.

Launching: 1 week from Tonight!

. . and finally, a Launch!

The books are printed, the bookseller is poised, and the taps at The Ship pub will be polished. The St. John's launch of Firmament is on for Tuesday, March 29 at 7:30 pm. Stay tuned for all the details and mark the calender.

Kobo and Press-Time

We're back on Gaspereau Press's press (since last week) - meaning a launch in St. John's is imminent. Meanwhile, Kobo has an incredibly cost-effective download for those of you who like gadgets and can't wait.

Post-Andy

Andy Jones' unveiling of his Abbie's Table was a hometown hit. I survived the reading, and was surprised by a warm response. Wish I had books to sell, but I expect that Gaspereau (post-Giller) will have me launched and in bookstores soon.

Andy Jones' ABBIE'S TABLE

January 17 - February 19

Andy Jones -Artist Residency The Abbie Table Project

Andy Jones, one of Newfoundland's most well-known actors and writers, will have a month long residency at Eastern Edge during which he will continue to develop The Abbie Table Project, a collaborative work started in 2006. The centerpiece of the project is a 10' X 4' table inscribed with a personal story narrating the life of a Newfoundland family engaged in the salt fishery from the 1920's to the 1950's that has been "illuminated" by several dozen contributors. His residency at Eastern Edge will include "performances" of the table in the form of public readings and interpretive theatre pieces.

I'll be at Eastern Edge, reading from Firmament (some passages set in Andy's house in Caplin Cove) on Sunday, January 16 at 2 pm. Hope you can come out.

words in edgewise

Morgan Murray has kindly asked me to participate in his reading series Words in Edgewise on December 8. Anyone handy to Eastern Edge Gallery that eve should consider popping by. Here's the link to Words in Edgewise.

Unpressed Publishers

Standing firm in their values about what makes a book a Gaspereau Book, Andrew Steeves and Gary Dunfield have managed a compromise that allows a second volume of The Sentimentalists to hit the stands fast. The deal, which sees DOUGLAS & McINTYRE acquire rights for a trade back version, will allow many to run out to their local Chapters on November 19, while some of us wait for the Gaspereau edition to be printed. Full details at Gaspereau's Blog.

. . and here's how they do it

Lots of media banter about the way Gaspereau Press nutures and creates their books. There are those in the in the "industry" who have a hard time understanding their commitment to a particular craft, to guiding principles that see publishing as more than simply factory work. Slow-food or fast-food, which do readers, authors and book-lovers really want?

Here's how the do it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bHYorOBlcQ

Gaspereau's Giller

A young poet/novelist and an uncompromising publisher of the Country's best designed and made books took the Giller last night. While the industry scratches it's collective corporate head, raise a toast to the craft of language and economy of beautiful books.

the Ur-Copy

Back from the Wayzgoose in Kentville with the first copy of Firmament. Hope to launch soon as the Giller-frenzy and a very busy press can accomodate. Some images of the jacket and cover.