Well, it has been quite a month, and that’s putting it mildly.
First things first, you should know that I’m typing this on the Via Rail train heading to Ottawa. This weekend, I’ll be attending Can-Con, Ottawa’s premiere science fiction convention, mostly just schmoozing, attending the Prix Aurora Awards ceremonies, and seeing some old friends. My books should be available at Perfect Books’ booth in the dealers’ room, and I’ll be available to sign copies. If you’re attending Can-Con, I hope to see you there.
It’s been a very busy time at the Bow household, both for books promotions, book community events, and family stuff. Last weekend, I was in Montreal attending Scintillation 2019, a literary science fiction convention, and I had my books on display at the Argo Bookshop table. I even sold and signed a couple. It was a great event full of fascinating panels organized by a very dedicated group of grassroots science fiction fans. It’s a very different experience than the hectic crowds of Portland’s Rose City Comic Con, but it’s no less valid. We really do need to show our support for these grassroots conventions like Scintillation and Can*Con. They benefit us as a community, and they really help recharge the juices.
Erin and I also went down to the Canadian KidsLit Gala at Lula’s on Dundas Street West in Toronto, celebrating the winners of the Canadian Children’s Book Centre’s TD Literary Awards (Congratulations, Heather!!). There was jazz, dancing, conversation, and a chance for Erin and I to enjoy a decent hotel for the night.
And on top of all this, we are renovating our bathrooms. This has been long overdue, but that doesn’t make this change any less stressful. Still, we’re making good progress, and we managed to Kijiji our way to great savings on bathroom furniture and fixtures. Really, the largest cost of this renovation is going to be the labour, which is going well.
And, of course, there is the fact that Erin’s book, Stand on the Sky has been nominated for the Governor General’s Award for children’s literature. This is a big deal and everybody is so proud of her. It is truly an honour to be nominated for such an award and between this and Plain Kate back in 2010, it’s a great way to bookend this decade.
Erin’s nomination has garnered a lot of press, as have I. I know many of you already know about the e-mail sent to me by Canada Lands regarding the use of the CN Tower on the cover of The Night Girl. I won’t say much more than what we’ve already said in our lawyer’s letter in response, but standing up for myself would not have been possible without the staunch support of my editors and publisher, of Erin, and of the people at the SF Canada mailing list, particularly Cory Doctorow who gave me invaluable advice and put me in touch with good people. I have no idea where things are going to go from here, but I am pleased to have stood my ground, and to have achieved my (blogging) lifelong ambition of being featured on BoingBoing, and I heartily thank everyone who has supported me and has offered kind words.
My trip to Can-Con will be my last event around The Night Girl this year, barring surprises. I’m pleased that I’ve given this book that was 16 years in the making the best possible send-off it could hope to have. I still hope for positive reviews to come online, but starting Wednesday, I’ll be working at my first full-time job in years.
I signed on to be the writer at the Canadian Water Network. I will be helping this agency with its message and social media presence, and anything else that needs doing including editing white papers and other documents. I am pleased to have landed a job that allows me to write, but also allows me to call back to the urban planning education I received when I was a university student. I’m excited, as I feel it’s a good fit. I’ll still be writing fiction, but my bread-and-butter freelance time will now be taken up by the CWN.
This blog came off of hiatus to help launch The Night Girl. It had been on hiatus because other things needed attention. Life’s like that. And I expect that, pretty soon, this blog will be on hiatus again. I’ll put the final message back up when it is. I might come back, but only time will tell.
Thank you to everybody who has been reading this blog over the years. I’ve greatly appreciated the chance to write for you, and for the friendships we’ve made along the way.