There’s a lot of book buzz in The Big Apple this week! The largest annual book fair in the United States is being held May 23 to 26 in New York City. Commonly referred to as BEA, BookExpo America is the book industry’s premier trade show in the USA. Locations sometimes vary but each spring booksellers from across the country are provided with an opportunity to preview publishers’ upcoming titles, as well as take part in education and information sessions, author breakfasts and lunches, and other special events. Networking rules! In addition, authors, editors, librarians, buyers for book retailers, and the literati in general get to immerse themselves in a three-day bookfest visiting booths and exhibits and socializing with colleagues. Somewhere in that mix and amongst thousands of other books, The Bridge Club is being exhibited on a bookshelf and in catalogues. It’s a thrill and an honour! Perhaps one of these years I’ll actually get to be there as well. It never hurts to dream!
Click here to read about all of the exciting events.
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Let’s begin 2011 by answering some questions
Ok – the decorations have all been carefully put away for another year. The suitcases have been unpacked. The last of the shortbread has mysteriously vanished. It was a wonderful holiday season and now it’s time to get back to business.
THANK YOU TO ALL THE READERS WHO TAKE THE TIME TO WRITE TO ME. I CAN’T TELL YOU HOW REWARDING IT IS AND HOW MUCH I VALUE YOUR FEEDBACK AND YOUR STORIES ABOUT YOUR OWN GROUP OF FRIENDS.
I’ve decided the first challenge I’m going to tackle in 2011, from a very long list, is to answer some of the questions I’m receiving from readers about different characters in The Bridge Club. Today let’s talk about Cass!
Yes, her character in real life did in fact live on a sailboat on the other side of the Atlantic for eight years with the man in her life at that time. Her experience was very much as described in the novel and she and I spent many long hours talking and reminiscing as I developed the chapter. She did indeed make tapes and send them to us from time to time which we then returned to her. It was a fantastic way to stay connected and of course long before the days of computers. If only we had been able to Skype! The journey came to an end as described and she did meet her current employer a few years later when she worked as a cook on his yacht. Even though she made some very unconventional choices in her life, everything somehow worked out. Her relationship with her son is strong and he is a fine young man. To the rest of our group, in her real life the model for Cass really does exemplify the saying to “dance as if no one is watching”. She is proof that for some women, thinking outside the box is the way to go. It has certainly worked for her! If you have a dream, pursue it.
Thanks again Dan!
In the blink of an eye we are back in Toronto. The nine wonderful days in Whistler flew by. Christmas with some of our family out there was a very special time and Mother Nature co-operated by providing a magical winter wonderland. Ski conditions were fabulous even though the upper mountains were closed because they had TOO MUCH SNOW! Oh for that problem at our southern Ontario ski areas! Thanks once again to Dan and his very helpful staff at Armchair Books in Whistler Village for hosting a book-signing for The Bridge Club. It was a most enjoyable afternoon full of friendly, interesting people – locals and tourists alike. Great fun! More and more book clubs are discovering The Bridge Club and its many points for discussion. Thanks for letting me know!
The Bridge Club
Thanks for visiting my blog! It’s exciting to have a chance to let you know about my 
first novel, The Bridge Club. The printer’s proofs should arrive next week and for the first time I will actually get to hold the finished product in my hands. Crazy as it sounds, it’s kind of like having a baby and I’ve been pregnant for four years! Writing a novel does tend to get all-consuming. The Bridge Club should be available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Chapters/Indigo within the next few weeks. I’ve been fortunate to receive some great advance praise and hope you will find it a good read. My experience of self-publishing through iUniverse is a story in itself. What an education – but it’s all been good and an exciting ride! If you are on that bumpy road yourself, I would love to hear your experiences. There are some excellent websites on writing and self-publishing and I’ll add links when I get my act together on this blog and my website. I’ll be happy to add others you have discovered. The story is fiction but based on many of the experiences my real-life bridge club has lived through from our crazy days in the 1960’s through to the ‘zoomer’ years we share now. The shocking situation faced in the final chapter might happen to any one of us. Zoomer is a term I first heard used by a well-known Toronto media personality, Moses Znaimer, and I love it! Somehow it captures the energy that most of the people I know in my age group still exude. 65 years old – yikes! How did that happen so quickly? Never mind! Appreciate each day, savor what is good, deal with what isn’t as best you can, and move on, I say! The Bridge Club is first and foremost about the power of friendship. To me that’s one of the most important aspects of life and I feel so fortunate to have wonderful friends who help make my life rich and full. We laugh a lot and support each other as we share the ups and downs of this unpredictable world. I hope your life contains at least one true friend. I’m always happy to hear stories about strong, honest, friendships so if you want to share yours, please do. Young or old, crazy or serious, individually or within a group, club, or organization, there are good tales to relate. This I know. Right now I’m in the process of getting my website up and running and will get the word out when it is ready. I’ll include helpful links that offer information, advice, food for thought, and good ideas that in some way add positive vibes to our lives. Your input is always welcome! Of course there will be some bridge hands to play as well. Love the game! I’ve got tons to blog about so hope to see you back soon. Carpe diem! Time for me to see what today has to offer. May you make your day the best it can be!
