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