OK, here I am in the little cabin in New Denver, B.C. Just about dusk. Raining pattering on the metal roof. Slocan Lake, which I see out my window here, is choppy and beautiful.
Came out west a couple weekends ago, first to Edmonton, where I took part in a panel organized by the Alberta Readers Choice Award people. Strange experience, but a lot of fun. Even if the champion for one of the other books dismissed Buying Cigarettes for the Dog as "fluff." Simone Lee, of Calgary's Pages Bookstore on Kensington, who has championed my book, was a blast to hang out with. And she acquitted herself well on the panel, which ended up splintering into a non-fiction-vs.-fiction wrestling match after award shortlistee Myrna Kostash fired the first volley over fiction's bow.
Three of the five shortlisted books are non-fiction.
You can still vote for me every two hours until midnight on April 30 right here! When we were last allowed a peek at the voting results, I was neck and neck for the lead with one other title. I need all the help I can get. The award was juried all the way from the 200-plus eligible titles down to the final 10 and then the final 5, but now it's this internet voting thing.
Meanwhile, got the news last night that Buying Cigarettes for the Dog has been shortlisted for two more awards, this time from the Book Publishers Association of Alberta's Alberta Book Awards! It's one of three titles shortlisted for Best Cover (thanks to Fidel Peña of Underline Studios) and one of only two titles shortlisted for Best Trade Fiction book.
The results of both the ABA and the ARCA will be announced on May 14. Have I mentioned you can vote for Cigarettes right here?
Great short visit to Edmonton, and the spent my first week in New Denver polishing off my novel so I can hand it in to the publisher. Also helped out a bit, as driver, two documentary filmmakers — Moira Simpson and Catrina Longmuir — who were here working with the New Denver students on an amazing doc project. This second week, I've begin working in schools: yesterday spent all day at Nakusp Secondary School, and today working with elementary school students at Lucerne.
It's always such a great experience.
Over and out.
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