Ramping Up for the Norfolk ArtsCo Author Fair

Well the Norfolk ArtsCo book fair is a week away (http://www.norfolkartsco.com/) and I certainly have been busy. This past weekend I did a book signing in a mall in Simcoe Ontario, at the Book Factory. Despite there not being a lot of people in the mall I did sell a few books and meet a few people so it was enjoyable. I am looking forward to perhaps going back to the mall around Christmas time.

For the book fair I have been very active in the process because I am the Promotions Director for the group and have been kept pretty busy. I am looking forward to it because there will be a lot of other authors there, and hopefully a lot of people who are in need of a book to read. Again the event is at the Lighthouse Theatre in Port Dover and will be going on from 9:30 until 5pm on both Saturday and Sunday.

I would like to sell quite a few books and am looking forward to doing a reading. There should be a lot of people there. I am also doing an in school event on the Friday before the fair so it should make for a long and productive weekend.

For those who stumble across this, check me out at http://www.theimagination.ca/

Thanks,

Matt

Close Call

Had some MAJOR computer problems today and thought that I not only lost book number two but a whole whack load of assignments for school. It was a very, very stressful experience. Luckily Mike, an IT wizard at Mohawk College was able to save some information off of my hard drive and allow me to put it onto a USB stick.

A good lesson learned is to always have your data backed up somewhere. You never know what is going to happen especially when it comes to computers. He figures it was likely a hardware problem but he hasn't ruled out a virus.

Unfortunately, the time I spent getting my computer fixed, was time I had put aside to work on a fundraising assigment, so I am now going to have to rush to get that done later. Ohhhh the joys of modern technology.

Matt

BOOK DONE!!

Well it has been a few months in the making but I have JUST, as of five minutes ago, finished book number two.

Well by finished I mean, finished writing it. There is still going to be a hefty, hefty editing process to follow, but still I am very happy to be done.

I found with the first book I finished the story and then wanted to add so many more little ideas, and things to show character personality that it took almost another month to really get it right. Book number two is longer, so I am thinking it may take longer, but I would like to commit a good chunk of time during my December holidays from school to get it right. So I am optomistic.

Other than that, I had a book signing today and sold 9 books at Eastgate Square in Hamilton. Not a bad showing for a couple of hours. I have the big author's fair in two weeks, and a book signing in Simcoe Ontario, coming up. It is a busy world, in the world of an author but I would rather have it busy than not. I also tried a new tactic today of having my fiancee Karen help by handing out flyer's promoting me being in the mall. I am not sure if we sold any more books as a result but it was worth a shot, and may be worth another shot in the future.

Keep on reading,

Matt

A Great Signing

I had a great book signing at the Limeridge Mall this past weekend. I was sitting at my table and trying to figure out some new ways to promote myself, and had in the past been talking with schools about doing some in school workshops. What was great, was minutes after I was thinking about doing in school workshops, a principal asked if I wanted to do a presentation in her school.

So hopefully some time in the next few weeks I will be able to go into the school, read a chapter of my book, do a little workshop and hopefully sell a few copies in the long run. As I mentioned in an earlier post. It is always great to do something different to sell the book and this is something I am very excited to do. I did a few workshops this summer at day camps and that was a really fun experience.

I am also deep into my second book. I have created a lot of new characters, worked on creating more character depth and have also expanded the book to be a lot longer than the first. Like my first book I plan on getting Mr. TJ Vogan to do the pictures. He did the pictures for my first book and some of the web images. I am really impressed with his work. Here is an example of Rob Bot. I think that he looks great and can not wait to see what TJ can do with the new characters.

I have also been working on teaming with the Kids Help Phone to give them a portion of my book proceeds from what I sell in school. For me I hope it sells more books obviously, but I do feel that the Kids Help Phone is a great organization. I have recently taken on the role of the communications chair in the Hamilton area and I am interested in working with them.

Leave a message and check me out at www.theimagination.ca ,

Matt

Norfolk Artsco

Well I joined an artists organization called the Norfolk Artsco which is located in Norfolk County. The group consists of 140 members. It is very important when you are in the art world, or in any industry to network, and help where you can.

The Norfolk Artsco has been around for a few years and has managed to establish 5 annual events that have a good community turn out and now has a 6th event that is an author's fair. I will be taking part in the author's fair the November 28th weekend in Port Dover, Ontario. I am hoping in the organization to meet other artists, take part in events where I can and also network. Also, I of course want to promote my book. I have also been named the communications chair of the organization so I should be able to make some solid journalistic contacts as well. I like the challenge of coming up with new and exciting ways to tell people about the organization, and am eager to find mediums that the organization has not used in the past.

Being a public relations student at Mohawk college, I am thinking that being a communication chair will help later on when I am job hunting. So there is another bonus.

I'll be sure to keep you up to date of my role with the Norfolk Artsco as things develop.

Matt

Up Coming Events

I am always excited to do book signings, but every now and then something different comes along. For example this past summer I did a lot of summer camps with kids ranging from 4-12 years old all over South Western Ontario. I enjoy these as something different than a traditional book signing because it allows for some creative feedback from the kids. I usually try to get them to draw a picture and write a story about it. "Try" is the key word as sometimes kids just do not have the patience. No matter what though, it is fun talking to kids, reading them part of my book, and interacting without there being any real emphasis on the selling.

That being said, there are also fun events that do include the book selling for example, a teachers appreciation day I took part in recently. A musician, a masseuse, my friend and artist TJ Vogan and myself all took part in the day in Guelph a few weeks back. It was fun because along with signing books, there was something else going on that put a real buzz in the air. We talked to a lot of teachers in the area, and learned things about them, and heard some fun classroom stories.

I am also looking forward to an author's fair I am taking part in this November 28th and 29th at the Lighthouse Festival Theatre, Main Street, Port Dover. It is being put on by the Norfolk Artsco that is an organization made up of local artists. They have actually talked to me about being their promotions director and it is something I am interested in. The things you get into by being an author and networking.

Anyways enough of a rant,

Matt

The Writing Process

Often people ask me how I wrote a book, or how I am writing my new book.

I think it is a different process for everyone but I can speak about my current process. The key for me is imagining (funny since my book is called the Imagi Nation) where I want it to go, and then trying hard to get it there. Seems easy, but it isn't always. Here are some of my notes on how to write.

Everyone talks about writers block, but my problem is more or less having trouble with writers motivation. At the end of a long day it isn't always easy to be creative or want to write, so that is the first step in my process. GET IN THE MOOD. Not everyone can write as a career, and in fact most book authors do not. So first you have to find the time to get the juices flowing.

As I mentioned above it is great to know where something is going and how to get it there. I have numerous brain storming sessions before I start to write, thinking about the general storyline, and then later how to create mini sub plots to keep readers interested, but also to advance the plot line. That is important. Everything should be building to something. I have been trying to leave hints and clues through out the book I am currently writing that will lead to future story lines and keep the reader interested. Not everyone may do so in such an obvious manner as me, but you want the reader to lose sleep over the possibilities of your story, and make them anxious to read on.

I like to sit down and actually map out where my book is going. Create a timeline of events and fill in the sub plots. I have heard this as being called the skeleton of a book. It is in fact the frame work that you will add the "meat" later on to.

Once you have written your outline, added to the outline and are happy with the outline; you are now able to write your book.

Once the book is done, is it really done? NOT A CHANCE! Reread, reread, and reread. Make changes where you can, and then put it on a shelf for a few weeks or even months if you are patient. Get it back out and reread it again. You will be surprised at things you may want to change. Then there is the fun process of getting feedback. Be interested in other peoples criticism and look for a lot of it. It will only make the end result that much better.

This is writing in a nutshell.

Matt