>EEEEE, I've been Memed!

>My friend, Deborah Lynn Jacobs (aka The Reluctant Blogger) has written to me, "By the way, I've tagged you for a meme. The rules are here: http://dljacobs.livejournal.com." What? Huh? Tagged me for a meme! I don't know what this memes? Oh, apparently the rules are that "each player lists 8 facts/habits about themselves. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning before those facts/habits are listed. At the end of the post, the player then tags 8 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog."

I just want to point out that Bill Gates will be giving everyone who "memes" a million dollars. That's right he's giving his money away. I wouldn't pull your leg on something as serious as that. He will also be handing out options to some really hot stock and the deed to some ocean front land in Saskatchewan.

My 8 facts/habits:

1. I am male. At least I was last time I, or my doctor, checked.
2. I once had a dog named Blue. She was a Blue Heeler. That's a type of dog (in case you didn't read the first sentence).
3. I was born in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada. No that does not give me special powers. It did raise my IQ, but only slightly. It has something to do with the water there.
4. I don't drink coffee. Why? Because it's evil. I mean just look at it. It's so...dark and if you stare long enough it's like looking into the mouth of the cave that leads to Hades. It smells nice, though.
5. I was hit by a car once while I was out biking. Well, bumped is more like it. But I did break my elbow and tore ligaments in my arms and knees (yes, I was wearing a helmet). I hold no grudge against the driver. Well, except for when my elbow aches. It affects how long I can play video games. Really, the tragedy!
6. I have written twenty books. Only eleven have been published. The first six were practice. Really, I practiced too much at the beginning. Wait, 6+11 only makes 17. Oh that's right, the other three are written but not published yet.
7. The Edmonton Oilers are my favourite hockey team. The Saskatchewan Roughriders are my favourite football team. If they ever play a game against each other my head will explode.
8. I've only read the first Harry Potter book.

These are the people who are lucky enough to be tagged by me. I am sure that is what they are thinking exactly at this second. I wonder how many are plotting revenge?

http://www.susanjuby.com/outthere.shtml
http://runnerland.blog.com/1846791/
http://faerie-writer.livejournal.com
http://quiller77.livejournal.com/
http://haworth-attard.livejournal.com/
http://vincentsakowski.livejournal.com/
http://aprilhenry.livejournal.com
http://libba-bray.livejournal.com/

>Miscellania and other destinations

>Well, not exactly physical destinations. More just destinations of the mind. I was just thinking about re-writing (I'm going over my next book for the billionth time). Cutting is still the hardest thing to do. I have a way to get across that psychological barrier of amputating your prose. I open another file, which I usually title "extra stuff" or something clever like that. Then anything I cut, I just paste it into that file. That way I don't really feel like I'm throwing it away. When I get "done" the book (okay, perhaps I should say "sick of the book") I go through the file. By that time I find I've lost my emotional connection with the items I've cut. Most of them, anyway. The good ones I sneak back in.

Totally different topic, last Monday I went to John Paul II School in North Battleford to booktalk Megiddo's Shadow to a parent/offspring book club. There were about twenty people there, adults and their daughters or sons, ranging from grade 8-12 or so. There's something exhilirating about seeing both generations together talking about a book. I could go to one of these events every night. Especially because they had cookies!

The Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz award was awarded yesterday. Sadly the $5000.00 prize didn't go to Megiddo's Shadow. I feel sorry for my book. It's seems to be always a bridesmaid, but never the bride. : ) The award did go to Deborah Ellis's I Am A Taxi. She's a marvelous writer, I highly recommend her work. Now I'll have to go out and pick up this book of hers! Check out the announcement. The children’s picture book prize was awarded to Scaredy Squirrel (Kids Can Press) written and illustrated by Montréal author Mélanie Watt.

Finally, I've joined both Facebook and Jacketflap.com recently. It's interesting the people you meet in these places. Facebook is particularly addicting. Of course it's good for writing to communicate with people, right? Right? Wait, I better go update my site to "Arthur is working on his blog right now."

Ciao for now,
Art

>IQ Launch 2

>I now know the secret to getting people out to book launches. Nanaimo bars! Yes, offer them free Nanaimo bars and they will arrive at your launch in droves. Droves! Here I am launching Invasion of the IQ Snatchers at Mcnally Robinsons in Saskatoon. Yes, me talking.

How boring, you think. Well...yes. But not with Nanaimo bars. They make everything (even me) interesting. Guaranteed! Look at the rapt audience.

Be sure to give the audience the Nanaimo bars after you're done reading. Otherwise they might leave early. It was amazing! It was wonderful! It was!!!! Can you tell I've had too many Nanaimo bars? I think I'm coming down from the sugar high. Uh...oh.

Art

>Tree Awards

>I'm just back from Toronto where the Forest of Reading awards were held. Imagine 4000 young readers, about 30 authors, a posse of volunteers, and a passle of organizers all packed into Harbourfront. It was quite the event! Each of the "Tree" awards was represented (these are reader's choice awards for the province of Ontario--schools sent participating students to the ceremony). Megiddo's Shadow was up for the Red Maple Award (for grade 7 and 8 readers). I met thousands of readers and other authors including Gayle Friesen and Clem Martini.

And Sheree Fitch and Marsha Skrypuch.

We then were led to our "signing stations" where we authors sat and signed books for our fans for over an hour. I wrote my name about a billion times. Well, that's what it felt like. And here's Hadley Dyer and Clem, as we waited to go to the outdoor stage for the ceremony

It was like waiting for a concert. We could hear the crowd roaring and roaring and roaring. I did take time to take a snap of Eric Walters. This pic proves that he's not quite as tall as the CN tower. Though, he did leap it twice that day just for a warm up.

And here's the inimitable and unstoppable John Wilson.

They put our names on placards and led us to the waiting crowd.

And what a crowd! Here they are all saying cheese!

It was a rush to hear all their cheering. Eric Walters' book We all Fall Down was the winner (Megiddo was the runner up). But as Eric said, there were no losers that day because everyone was reading. Plus we all got free lunch. Really, what could be better?

Cheers,
Art