Love Between the Sacred and Profane - The Book Launch

It was a special evening for me.  Thanks to Ben Nuttall Smith and the encouragement of the Canadian Authors Association executive, Hannah and her mother, Mida's, efforts, my first book launch, occurred.  Love between the Sacred and Profane, by yours truly was birthed.
St. James Anglican Church basement in downtown eastside Vancouver was the location. Fitting as this is also where Father Mathew's Community Outreach program originates. Father Mathew helps the homeless in the community, not just spiritually but emotionally and physically as well.  He's an inspiration.  I'm glad that I can share the proceeds from my book with his fine mission.
Ben Nuttall Smith  (www. bennuttall-smith.ca) orchestrated the event with a maestro's flourish.  I'd not been at a book launch ever so trusted his experience. He'd served the Canadian Authors Association for years, published many books, including "Secrets Kept/Secrets Told" and "Blood Feathers Holy Men" and this year was  President of the BC Federation of Writers. I enjoyed chatting with his lovely muse, Margot, psychologist and painter extraordinaire. I love her work and am delighted she likes mine.
Ben opened  with an introduction and reading my poem,   "Glorious Night." It certainly was that. 
I shared a little about  my mother's writing, then told how Karey Asselstine and I publishing the Vincent Massey High School, poetry magazine, Poison.   I think I mentioned Winnipeg's Wise Eye Coffeehouse too. I did say this church basement reminded me of the first coffeehouse I organized with friends in the basement of St. Vital Baptist church. I'd recited poetry in those coffeehouses and several of us would later share our tales of church basements. .
Dennis Bolen however, despite having worked across the street at the downtown penitentiary said, he was so happy to finally come into this church.  "I've always admired the architecture. It's considered one of the best examples of Art Deco Church Design. I was in New York looking at a book of modern architecture and there was this very same church I walked by everyday. "
Dennis would later read an earthy poem from his prison  social work years capturing the character of a crusty old ex convict meeting the young fresh new kid.  It's a masterpiece.  I  love his just published book of poetry.  Black Liquor.
I read, "New Year", first. It's nearly on us again and good to remember.   I next read "If the Budgies Could Be House Trained, which had people laughing.  Then I  almost choked on the sad love poem, "I Just Wanted to Write a Love Song about ".  I read  "London Remembering" too and only realized later, that of the six poems I read that night, three were  written for my ex wives, those beautiful brilliant unsettling women, my blessing and their penance.
Jean Kay, of "poemsthatinspire', read a couple of very inspirational Christmas poems.  Ben read some. too
Then there was time for finger food, cake and drinks. I was signing books happily and wondering whatever to say.   Aim, a fresh minted PhD, was taking pictures of everything.  Her husband, Marc Beaudry's company, Hexigeogroup had just taken off so those two were happy indeed.  Hannah was happy collecting money.  
It was wonderful to see George whose poetry so deserves publishing if only we could get him to stop being distracted by his grandchildren.  Robert, in from Hawaii,  and I talked sailing. Michel was there, probably having just climbed some mountain.  I really do hope Margaret is inspired to write poetry.  She's noticing it's a fun participation event these days.  Vivian came with her friend Mary.  I almost convinced Barb to play guitar and sing, maybe next time.
Ben had Dennis, Margaret and I join him in a 4 voice poem that really was a romp.
I read some more poems.  Having just defeated another 'flu',  I read the "The Common Cold' the definitive word on that terrible beast.
Ending with Fannegy Finn, I explaining how we'd needed a poem for teaching children's improvisational theatre in the park, years gone by, and this poem came to mind as a way to begin the story telling round we did with the children.  I can't say how many times I"ve recited it but still love it myself.
More book signing.  More socializing.  What  lovely people are people who like poetry.
I said if we'd mixed pole dancing and poetry,  we'd have had many more out but the quality of the gathering would have suffered.  It was an intimate gathering, just the right size for the church basement and thankfully there was enough food and drinks for all.  People came and went but most would stay. So many people kindly texted regrets but promised to buy a book or asked for it to be shipped COD.
It was a good time.  Gilbert liked it a lot having really worked the room for treats.
So that's what a book launch is.  Thanks to all.  I really must do more of these.
My collected short story book is in the works, due out in the spring so we'll do an encore.
I'm proud of Love between the Sacred and Profane.  Now to make the rounds of readings. Special thanks to all who came and especially those bought books. You didn't have to. But it sure was appreciated.
T

Love Between the Sacred and Profane Poetry Book, Cambodia

I am donating copies of my new poetry book, Love Between the Sacred and Profane, to libraries.  I decided to bring a few copies with me to do the same here.  I simply forgot and didn't seem to have time in Singapore or Kuala Lumpur. However, here in Siem Leap, faced with flying back to Canada, I finally contacted the local reading library in the Khymer Studies complex. I told them  I wanted to donate my new book.  It helped that there was a picture of me on the book cover.  Suspicion stopped immediately then and  the librarian expressed real appreciation.   Vandy, my driver,  liked this too an was kind enough to offer to take a picture. There  are not  a lot of modern English poetry books in this part of Cambodia yet everyone is learning English. .
Also I think it's called a photo op! The Canadian Authors Association would be impressed. Not only will I have a book, "launch', soon, I've already had a 'photo op'.  It really was fun and felt good.   Just like later in the day when I donated a small amount of  money to a fisherman's school to help pay for grade school  books.  Vandy had taken me on a walk in the fisherman's village and told me that some of the people really were poor.
Books are so important especially to the young.  I loved as a child going with my mother and brother every two weeks to the library to borrow more books to read.  I still love reading, though now I'm as often reading kindle as hard cover. I'm certainly I've always had access to books. Mostly I appreciate the support my family gave to reading.

Surrey International Writers Conference

I almost dare not blog about this penultimate event. No doubt massively published writers the world over have penned their experience.
I didn't attend the workshops.  Had I, I'd be a much better writer, no doubt.  I heard one American  leader was teaching how to get 'advances' when 'advances' bring 'sexual harassment' to mind  rather than anything monetary a writer might truly hope for. .  It was indeed a point of humour that one could be a respectable writer in Canada and not earn a living.  Writing has never been as lucrative, here as, say, dog sledding.  There are notable exceptions. But these have more likely gone abroad (or south).Theres  something vaguely suspect, almost un Canadian, about a writer that actually leaves the igloo.
I enjoyed the exhibits.  There were books and publishing companies and printers and paraphernalia.  I actually purchased an Anne Perry bag.  The Indigo bags lacked the  substance  hers had.   I also purchased Jack Whyte's latest book, The Renegade.  He actually sat at the table I'd randomly chosen at lunch.  I told him I'd just read one of his books last year and couldn't remember the name. It turned out to be The Forest Laird, a story of Scotland's Wallace, the precursor to the Renegade about Bruce. I'd also read his Knights Templar series.
So there I was at lunch with a lovely writer from the island and her two friends only to be joined by Jack Whyte. To make this table even more blessed, the great KC Dyer joined us.  I knew her from her dramatic informative presentation one evening at the Canadian Authors Association. One of Canada's foremost young people writers,  her latest book is Seeds of Time.
With these two great writers conversing across from me ,I focussed on the excellent Sheraton fare,  eavesdropping as if I was President  Obama  listening in on the conversations of  Germany's Chancellor and some other world leader.  Jack Whyte not only writes his marvellous historical fiction but sings as well, I learned.
It's actually surprising I heard anything because, when I arrived that morning, I'd found my own book, "Love Between the Sacred and Profane", sitting like the jewel it is on the crown table of  Island Blue printers.  Ben Nuttall-Smith, the President of the BC Federation of Writers had inspired me to put out another poetry book guiding me through the process.
My first poetry book, Caesarian Poems, had been more of a book for friends and family.  Influenced by poets Bernice Lever, Jean Kay and Lilija Valis of the Canadian Authors Association I wanted this book to be something for a broader audience.
Ben is a prolific writer whose published his books in a variety of ways as well as maintaining one of my favourite web pages.  His historical fiction, Blood, Feathers and Holy Men was a fascinating read.   Thanks to him and my assistant Hannah Pagarigan, my book happened. Now a collection of short stories is due for publication in spring.
Ben said it would be kind of like seeing a new born child.  It was. I confess I was mesmerized.  What a source of pride. My chest, not knowing cliche, actually burst (not quite like Sigourney Weaver and Alien, but kind of).  I picked the book up lovingly, from the table and declared aloud, to no one in particular,  this was "my" book.  I danced a jig in my inner world while outwardly maintaining  composure, (except for the silly grin).  
Well, that's why it's quite amazing I heard anyone else thereafter.  I  was surprised I was able to pay  polite attention to those around me. They couldn't possibly know the cost . I did notice though that our table wasn't the only table with published arthurs.  Anthony Dalton , the President of the Canadian Author's Association's table was a sardine can of authors.  As I looked about I saw one famous writer after another lurking here and there.  Some were stuffing the tasty Sheraton cookies into their jackets or skirt pockets, leftover habits from leaner years.  I learned that my Ed Griffin was a cofounder of the Surrey Writer's Festival. Just as I love Anthony's travel adventure writing I love Ed Griffins prison stories.
The workshop and key notes speakers were a list of whose who in writing.  KC Dyer was wearing a Michael Slade pin from his workshop.  I had the Anne Perry's bag.  My neighbour had Diana Gabaldon's latest book.
Bruce Hale was the luncheon speaker.  I loved his talk. Not surprising he's a children's writer. He had a joyful presence that so appeals to children.  He told how his first Chet Gecko book had followed a series of rejection letters. He learned to qualify rejection letters from never touched by human hand to a not so rejecting rejection letter.  His principle encouragement was perseverance. He encouraged writers to connect as well.  He began with an exercise of having each person contact another who they'd call in a week to report their writing progress. He humorously told of his own 'accountability' partner and how much he wrote the night before the call was due.  At the end he sang an uptempo delightful inspiring song about persevering when publishers don't respond.  It had everyone laughing and singing along.  A WAVE formed in the audience  and several participants held up lit lighters.  It was a great way to end a conference with everyone enthusiastic and motivated.
I talked to Carol Tulpar later.  She'd loved the conference which was helping her progress with her present book.
I'm now sitting here with boxes of my own books.     Now the book launch. Thank you all those organizers of the SIWC (siwc.com).  It was a great day of a conference. Next year I must attend the whole workshop.