Imagine, to our delight, we were invited to two events in the small community of Port Hope, Ontario. But don’t let its size fool you. This is an energetic place with lots to do and see. Our first stop was Furby House Books
We enjoyed our time spent at Furby House Books for #Authors4Indies Day. Thank you so much!
with our hostess, Lou Pamenter. We particpated in #Authors4Indies Day…with a bang. We helped a grandmother buy some picture books and suggested other authors’ books to customers. Lou’s staff – Janet and Gareth were wonderful showing us the ropes and gave us our initiation with A for Authors ‘selling’ badges. Lou made sure our books were located at the front of the Store! Thank you kindly, Lou.
Thank you Lou for the display of the Paige Maddison Series at the front of the bookstore! 🙂
We enjoyed our time spent from 11 am to 12:30 pm and Lou surprised us with lunch! 🙂 How wonderful it was and delicious. Thank you Lou!
The Legend of William Furby, Father of Journalism in Port Hope. Rub his head and you will gain success in everything to do with paper and ink.
Window Display. Love the umbrella! 🙂
Lee and J.R. point out Canadian author Margaret Atwood and Paulo Coehlo’s books. 🙂 Two family favs.
Next we were off to the the Mary J Benson Branch of Port Hope Public Library. Arriving early at 1:20 pm, we were shocked to see a reserved parking space for us!
Did we feel special with our reserved parking spot, J.R.? You betcha. Thank you Alexandra.
That started things off brilliantly. Thank you so much! We set up early as Blue Eyes, Sasha Grace and our new banner for the Paige Maddison Series requires attention. After meeting our hostess, Alexandra, staff member Nicki, and library enthusiast, Ashleigh, we took a short stroll along the Ganaraska River and watched as several men fished in the river. It was a lovely, sunny day. By the time we returned at 2 pm, there were at least 6 people seated and waiting for the readings to begin.
Nicki welcomes us as Alexandra, our hostess, helps us set up. Thank you so much to both of you!
Our first attendee arrives. Thank you Ashleigh for your enthusiasm and interest in the Paige Maddison Series.
J.R. and I at Port Hope Public Library for National Youth Week.
It was J.R.’s first public reading. My husband, Kevin, was the Master of Ceremonies and introduced us followed by his reading of the synopsis for Wake Me Up Inside. Then I read my favourite scene, J.R. read his.
You nailed it J.R. Matheson. Great reading from Destiny’s Gate. Loved your favourite scene from the novel. Congratulations.
Kevin read the synopsis of Destiny’s Gate followed by our readings from the novel J.R. and I co-authored. What a moment it was!! J.R. nailed his readings. It was followed by questions and we gave out the guardian angel pocket charm hand-crafted by Muskoka Pewter to each participant in honour of National Youth Week. Thank you kindly for having us. The staff are wonderful and it is a beautiful Carnegie built library, c1912.
We returned at 3 pm to help sell books at Furby House and we were happy that author Plum Johnson was there for a book signing. Thank you for signing your novel They Left Us Everything. And we met the late Farley Mowat‘s wife, Claire Mowat.
Here we all are at #Authors 4Indies day. Can you believe Claire Mowat, wife of the late Farley Mowat, and Plum Johnson were chatting. We surprised them. 🙂 Thank you for the nice time spent together. 🙂 And thank you kindly Claire for signing our books on behalf of Mr. Mowat.
She is lovely. J.R. bought two of Mr. Mowat’s books – The Curse of the Viking Grave and The Dog Who Wouldn’t Be, from bookseller Plum, and Claire Mowat signed them on behalf of her late husband. All the while, a gentleman was browsing the store and looking through many books. I walked up to him and asked if I could help him find anything. He replied he was waiting for his daughter who was in a dance competition and was happily browsing the bookstore. I explained what day it was #Authors4Indies Day and I was an author trying to sell print books in honour of Independent bookstores. He snapped, “Show me what you wrote.” I showed him the display of our series and explained what it’s all about. He smiled and said, “I’ll be right back!”
I made a sale for Furby House Books. Didn’t think it would be our book, J.R. Matheson! I was trying to sell from the non-fiction selection.
Staff member, Gareth, promptly said, “Come on Lee and sit behind the sales desk. You can sell him your book.” Well, I did! Thank you Gareth.
Thank you for your kindness, Lou, Janet and Gareth! We will return anytime.
It took me back to working in The Oxford Book Shop many years ago. I signed the book to his daughter Molly who had just turned 16. We hope she did well in the dance competition. What a wonderful Father!! Thank you again for buying Wake Me Up Inside. And so our day ended in Port Hope, Ontario. We thank everyone who hosted us. We’ll be back (picture Arnold Schwarzenegger) 🙂 J.R. Matheson at the Port Hope Public Library Might I add, I’ve had my Mother’s Day present early this year! Thank you J.R. for the best day together. And aren’t we lucky that your Dad, my husband Kevin, is there for us every step of the way! Thank you Kevin for your support, always.
And at Kevin’s insistence, Lee and J.R. have one last photo of the day taken. Happy and fulfilled today, we are. 🙂 Until next time, Port Hope! Many thanks to our personal photographer, dear husband and father, Kevin. We love you!!! xxoo
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