Signing the contract for the Athens Guide e-book
Here we are at the end of the year and on the brink of new
opportunities. 2014 has opened new doors
for me and I know, as I enter the New Year that the way is cleared for me to
follow. It’s going to be even more exciting than this year has been.
It all started last February when I received an unusual
phone call from Montreal offering me a trip to Egypt (which at first I thought
was a scam). It was true, though. I was offered a trip to Egypt by Egyptian
tourism to write favorable travel stories.
None of it seemed ‘real’ right through until mid March when the dream
trip came true and I found myself sailing down the Nile, crossing the Sahara,
lounging by the Red Sea, visiting the
amazing pyramids of Giza and finally, a specially arranged trip to Alexandria.
Visiting the Temple of Hatshepsut
Me and Alexander at Alexandria
You can read my Egypt blogs here: http://travelthroughhistory.blogspot.com
I was barely catching my breath from that amazing adventure
when, in August, my novel SHADOW OF THE LION: BLOOD ON THE MOON was published.
Wow! It had been a long, 15 year journey to finally see it in print. (Second
volume comes out in 2016). And the incredible thing was, it came out at the
same time the archaeologists in Greece announced the discovery of the huge tomb
in Amphipolis, which happens to be the setting in part of my story. I was so excited to get my book that a friend drove me down
to the States to pick up one she had ordered at Pt. Roberts. What an exciting
day that was!
The book has arrived!
My book, SHADOW OF THE LION: BLOOD ON THE MOON!
By the end of August I set off for England and Wales, first
to visit my relatives in Caerphilly and then to attend the Historical Novel
Writer’s Conference in London. While at the conference, who should I run into
but Margaret George, one of the famous historical writers who I had spoken to a
couple of years ago at the Surrey International Writer’s Conference. At that
time she had told me not to worry about the length of my novel, just to keep
writing it. (Her books are at least 1000 pgs long!). So imagine how surprised
she was when I spoke to her again and told her I ended up with a two-book
contract because my book was too long. She was very pleased and we had a nice
chat about our writing. (She said she is now being asked to keep her current
work in progress down to 400 pages!)
The statue of Alexander in Thessaloniki
Relaxing on the beach at Asprovalta
After my stay in London I headed for Greece. First I headed
up north to Thessaloniki to attend local poet/friend’s book launch (Manolis
Aligazakis is a Greek/Can award winning poet and will be reading at my book
launch in January). I spent a couple of days exploring Thessaloniki and then
headed for a few days by the beach at Asprovalta. My purpose for going there
was, it was close to Amphipolis and i wanted to see if I could visit the tomb.
So I took a taxi and the driver showed me all around. I’d been there twice
before but this time I was shown more archaeological sites including a distant
view of the famed tomb.
Distant view of the tomb, Amphipolis
Back in Athens I was warmly received by my friends as well
as some of the Greek people who had heard about my book (thanks to my friends
who had done some promo work for me!) So I was invited to do a reading at the
Athens Centre which included a nice reception in the courtyard. A good crowd
attended including people from the Canadian Archaeological Society.
At the Athens Centre.
After that I went up to Larissa where I had been invited to
present my book at a World Poetry Peace Conference. That was another special
event thanks to Ariadne Sawyer who had introduced me to Chryssa Velissariou who
heads World Poetry in Greece.
Young musicians perform at Larissa World Poetry Peace Conference'
Then it was time for some leisure, although I had work to do
for the Athens Guide e-book that I was working on so I spent a lot of time
checking out new places around Athens including some nice restaurants and wine
bars. Meanwhile also doing more book promo, going with my friend Dina to the
New Acropolis Museum library, Finnish Institute and checking out other places
that might be interested in my book. My
hostess at the Villa Olympia (Carole) kindly purchased 10 books so there
were some available to friends in Athens who wanted to purchase one.
My Friends in Athens
Dina and her family, the two Andreases and young A's girlfriend.
Zoe and me
Carola, Chris and Kim
The whole gang at To Kati Allo
Christina and me
The archaeology site, unearthing a memorial to Ajax.
Thanks to my friend Zoe, I was put in touch with the
principal of the American Community School in Athens and he was happy to
arrange a reading for me with the students. So I did two readings at the school
for two double-sized Grade 9 kids who were very receptive and appreciative.
The students gave me a beautiful silk scarf
I returned to Canada in October after a few days stop in
Germany to see my friend Patrick. He
arranged with his friends for us to go on a tour of the Rhine castles and we
also went to the city of Worms so I could gather more travel story material.
Patrick, Juergen and me
Since returning I have done a couple of book readings thanks
to my writer friend Eileen Kernaghan (we shared readings) and have made other
contacts including that of the Consul of Greece, Ilias Kremmydas, who will
sponsor my book launch in January.
After I returned I was also awarded an ‘inspired writer’s’
award from the World Poetry – a mini gold Oscar. That was another cause for
celebration! And in December I was invited back on Ariadne Sawyer’s World
Poetry radio show for another interview. (That was the second time this year!)
At the awards.
On the Air
My three morning classes “Write from the Heart” went well
this past term and will begin again in January as well as (hopefully) a couple
of night-school classes thru Langara. I am also doing one-on-one writing
coaching and plan to do a travel writing workshop at home. And, I was just
offered a job editing a non-fiction manuscript. So I enter the New Year with a
lot of interesting things to look forward to.
This year I published 22 travel articles. Got my book
published (volume one). Was elected president of the BC Assoc. of Travel
Writers. I joined the Canadian Author’s Assoc. and was accepted as a
‘professional’ writer. ( I will soon join the Writers Union of Canada too. ) Finished
the Athens Guide e-book for Hunter Publishing US and I look forward to lots
more writing in 2015. Mainly I want to finish my current work-in-progress
“Dragons in the Sky”.
You can order my book on Amazon.com or ask at your local bookstores
What I’m looking forward to most now is my official book
launch on January 14 at the Hellenic Community Centre, sponsored by the Greek
Consul. This is such an honour for me and very exciting!
Everyone is invited: 7 pm at the Hellenic Community Centre
4500 Arbutus behind the Greek Orthodox Cathedral.
Here’s to 2015! The
doors are opening wide! Let’s hope it’s another year of great opportunities and
success!
