Okay, so yesterday I got a bit of a tough love lecture from a certain someone in the marketing department at a certain publisher (*cough* LeslieatOrca *cough*) who strongly suggested that I find the time to update my blog.

I know, I know, she’s right – I’ve been totally M.I.A! But I have to tell you, it’s been one hell of a month!

Right now I’m at a coffee shop in downtown Ottawa, taking a bit of a break from exploring the city that I’ll soon be calling home. In a couple of months we’ll be leaving the west coast after two great years and starting the trek back east, and so we’re here looking for a place to live. There’s been a lot to wrap my head around over the last few weeks. Preparing for the second big move in as many years. Getting ready to say goodbye to great friends and a great city that I’ve come to love.

I feel like I’m forgetting something…

Oh yeah, that’s it! WAY TO GO is finally out in the world. I’m a bonafide published author, and believe me, it’s kind of hard to believe. People are actually reading a book that I wrote!

I have a lot of thoughts to wrap up into words over the next few weeks. Thoughts about the entirely new set of concerns and excitements and challenges that pop up once your book hits the shelves. Thoughts about dealing with reviews, trying to keep your head above water in the wild world of online marketing, and the importance of picking up your pen and continuing to write, even – especially – on mornings when it’s difficult to feel inspired.

But that stuff can wait for a little while.

Right now, the most important thing is for me to say thank you.

In my acknowledgements, I was able to thank the many wonderful people who helped me along the road to publication. Now I want to throw out a HUGE thank you to all the people who have taken the time to read WAY TO GO and tell me what they thought. I’ve been overwhelmed with kind messages and emails, my Facebook feed has been full of great photos of people holding the book, and some of my favourite booksellers (I’m especially looking at YOU, Bookmark, Woozles, Munro and Bolen!) have been enthusiastically promoting it. I’ve also been interviewed and featured on some fantastic websites, and I truly appreciate all of those efforts to get my book some notice – I’ll link to them down below.

Writing is a solitary art – it’s can be easy to forget that eventually, if things go well, the book will head out into the world, and the power will pass to the reader. As Anne Patchett says (and which I’ve blatantly stolen from my editor Sarah’s email signature), “Once the book is written, its value is for the reader to decide, not for the author to explain.” How gratifying to hear from so many people that WAY TO GO has entertained and moved them in some way. I can’t imagine a better feeling.

I promised a bit of exciting news, but I’m waiting for the right moment to reveal it. Rest assured, it’ll be worth the wait! (Sorry Leslie! The picture of the pooch will have to tide you over

Interview with “Dreaming in Books” for their LGBT Voices Series

Interview with Teen Librarian’s Toolbox

Review and contest from Doodle’s Book Blog (Doodle did my very first review and she has been a huge champion of the book!!)

Shout out from my amazingly talented friend “Black Eyed Suzie.” (Seriously folks, click through to look at the dolls she makes, they are incredible!)

Review from “Keen Readers”

Review from McNally Robinson

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