When my first book, Running Toward Home, was published by NeWest Press in 2006, it was launched at McNally Robinson in Calgary. You may remember that fine store which, unfortunately, had a short life in Calgary.

A Crack in the Wall was launched in 2008 at Owl’s Nest Books. That beautiful store in Brittania Plaza became the launch pad for my next three books as well. I’m forever grateful to Michael and Susan for the warm welcome they extended, and that the current staff continue to extend . On November 27^th we’ll once again crack open the bubbly.

Shadowpaw Press in Regina has turned my manuscript of stories into a beautiful book. Elephants in the Room will be released on November 17^th and is available for ordering now. https://shadowpawpress.com/product/elephants-in-the-room/

I’m delighted that the Calgary Public Library lists the book as “on order” and reservations are open.

Launch is a fancy word, invoking ocean liners and cruise ships, not the vehicles I imagine when I think of my books going out into the world. Sail boats would be lovely, but I’m realistic enough to be happy with row boats that get where they’re meant to go. Or buses that know the road maps well.

At a book club where the members had read Running Toward Home, someone wanted to know “What happens next?” I seem to have a preference for open endings. My response was to ask what she thought was going to happen next. “Nope,” the woman said, it was my job to finish the story. Even when I cooked up a metaphor that I thought was pretty clever, she didn’t quite buy in. I told her that I imagined a bus—old school bus for that first book—driving away from my house, young Corey kneeling on the back seat, waving goodbye. Me shouting, “Good luck! I hope the world is kind to you!” The book was no longer mine. It belonged to the readers, wherever they were.

Elephants in the Room has too many passengers for a row boat. But the bus has seats for the fourteen narrators of the stories and some friends. Who’s driving? Charlie, Eldon, Justin, Erica, the whole messy bunch of them who’ve been living in my mind, as well some of their friends. Plodding along behind, of course, are the ghostly elephants.

I hope you’ll come help me open the doors to that bus. There are books in the luggage compartment.

Launch at Owl’s Nest in Calgary November 27^th 7:00 PM

I’ll be in conversation with Lori Hahnel

Audrey’s in Edmonton December 2^nd 7:00 PM

Astrid Blodgett has kindly agreed to introduce me