ADVERTISING ME!

breaking the ice with my audience, eases the stress and assures me I am among friends...

January begun very well with a slew of advertisement for my performance of The Griot's Journey at the Friends of Waterloo Region History-telling Series. It must have been fuelled by the explosion of enthusiasm at the New Year. I was on local TV, on the Daytime program on the 6th, and the following week, thrice on radio in the Kitchener-Waterloo area. Then there were two newspaper features. The first appeared in the Waterloo Chronicle and the second extensive story was written by Valerie Hill for both the Kitchener Record and the Guelph Mercury. What a blast of advertisement! I am still receiving comments and compliments, face to face and on email as I go about my life in Guelph. Now for something that will send positive vibrations via my book "Between Sisters", Candawide and to the USA and all over Africa! What did you say? Keep Hope Alive :-))

Happy New Year from Between Sisters, the M.P. and me

Here is a photo I took with my M.P. Mr. Frank Valeriote and his daughter. They honoured me by coming to the book launch for Between Sisters on December 4, 2010. For 2011, I am hoping for tremendous momentum for my book, Between Sisters, and for myself as a novelist. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Guests at the "Between Sisters" book launch

Janet at the launch....

It was nice to see old friends at the book launch, many of whom had encouraged me in my pursuit of the longer form in one way or another. Anne had lent me her house so I could write without interruption, Neena always asked how the work was going every time I went to eat at her restaurant, Bollywood Bistro. Martha had critiqued some of my writing as had Stephen Henighan, who is also a novelist. There were old friends and family, as well as new friends and acquaintances. There were the priceless ones who always generously support everything I do and there were also people I didn't yet know. My M.P., Mr. Frank Valeriote, showed up with his daughter, which was a grand gesture, because he had received very late notice from a friend of mine. I had met Frank Valeriote M.P. here and there at events in Guelph and it was nice of him to come.

Celebrating Between Sisters 2

21 Planes by John Wood www. johnwoodphotography.biz

My emcee, Mary Baxter was warm, welcoming and charming . She kept the program running flawlessly with the right mix of formal and personal anecdotes. The drum songs were lovely, lending a rich foundation to the entire event, reminding everyone of West Africa, where my story is set. My son's band 21 Planes, gave the event the youthfulness that I wanted as the book reads in the voice of a teen, albeit a girl. Also my interest in the young adult genre had been stirred up by the books that I had read with my "son-parent" book club to which most of the band members had belonged, in their early teens. The music was good, with flavours contrasting yet meaningful and complementary all at once.

Celebrating the book in Guelph Ontario.

www. johnwoodphotography.biz

The book launch for Between Sisters went well. I booked our church auditorium to announce my book to Guelph and then I planned the program. I wanted it to be festive. I wanted to give my guests a good time and I wanted to celebrate it with significant people who had made contributions toward my literary process and progress, so I sent out my e-flyer to people on my list and hoped for the best. I went shopping for refreshment, and packed my table cloths, cups and serviettes ready for the day. I postponed writing for most of the week just to keep that vague feeling of stress away. It worked. For me, it's always best to focus on one thing at a time.
The day came. The set up was simple enough and a few friends showed up to help. There was a book sales table in the foyer, an author signing table in the next room where the refreshment was to be served and the auditorium for the book launch. My son's rock-ish band, 21 Planes arrived to set up and test their euipment. My husbands drumming group arrived with drums ready to play. At three o'clock my friends arrived.

TO BE CONTINUED....like a Nollywood movie:-)

You can still find my books at The Bookshelf, Guelph, Chapters, Guelph, WordsWorth, Waterloo, A Different Booklist, Bathurst, Toronto, The Smithsonian--- African Exhibit in D.C. and bookshops in North America may have it or order in at your request. There is also Amazon.com. "Between Sisters" is a good read for all, and a significant story.

Book Launch: Sign Surprise

I am still processing my book launch on December 4th....BETWEEN SISTERS. It was such a heady experience for me. The event was held at 3Watson Rd South at the auditorium of the River of Life Church. Here is a photo of me beside the sign that heralds the event, as one enters Guelph by the east. This was Pastor Bob Radford's surprise for me.

LAUNCHING BETWEEN SISTERS: December 4, 2010, Guelph

I am very excited to launch my book "Between Sisters," published in both hardcover and paperback, by Groundwood, House of Anansi Press. The date for my event is December 4, 2010 at 3 Watson Road South at the River of Life International Fellowship, at the intersection of York and Watson Rd South. The time is 3pm-5 pm. This book has been a labour of love and learning for a period spanning two and a half years. I will be talking about the book and my intimate connection to it. I will be selling and signing copies. Please be there to buy your own copy and purchase one for a friend. You will not regret it.
The story is set in urban Ghana, where Gloria, a sixteen year old struggles to find her way forward into the adulthood of her dreams as she is beset with the perennial problems of family poverty, difficulties in school, temptations in town and the true meaning of relationships.
This book is full of the flavours and aromas of Ghana but deal with universal themes that anyone can relate to. It is a step forward in African literature as pertaining to the Young Adult genre and also African Canadian literature. It is definitely well worth reading by youth worldwide and all those who have some interest in Africa, developing countries and the girl child.
Please come and celebrate with me. We have a wonderful program planned to give you a boost for December!