Last night I had a great time at the latest Orca book launch, held at Vancouver Kidsbooks. I love going to book launches (especially when they are not my own!). No pressure, get to hang with my friends AND have someone read to me? Not to mention the added bonus of heading home with an awesome stack of new reading material.
Last night was no exception. I had a little trouble with the *&$# bridges, which meant I was 20 minutes late for pre-launch sushi with Meg, but once I'd met her, scarfed a little sushi and headed over to the bookstore, all traffic issues waned as the fun began.
Five authors (including one author-editor) were fete-ing their new novels, of whom are two my especial pals, so it was a great night for me.
I enjoyed listening to excerpts from Kim Denman's new novel SPIRAL, and Robin Stevenson's TEN THOUSAND SHADES OF BLUE, (I meant to high five Robin for her excellent taste in chromatic titles -- but I forgot...) as well as editor/author/emcee Sarah Harvey's THE LIT CLUB.
Meg Tilly read from her new Orca Soundings novel FIRST TIME.
Of all the pictures I shot, this one is my favourite -- Meg is standing to one side, quietly waiting her turn as she is introduced. Then of course, when she takes the stage, she disappears into her character and we were all pulled into the white Toyota Echo along with Hayley and her friend Lyn. I NEVER miss a chance to listen to Meg do a reading. She is magical.
Shelley Hrdlitschka captured the audience in her own way, discussing the parallels between the world of Unity in her new novel SISTER WIFE and those of Bountiful, a polygamous community, long a source of controversy in British Columbia. She wrote her story from the varying points of view of three separate characters, but it is Celeste, the young girl destined to be married at 15 whose voice captured me.
I cannot wait to read these two novels.
And, of course, the beast must be fed, so a few more books made it into the TBR pile that teetered on the car seat beside me all the way home. I bought DEATH BY LATTE, by Linda Gerber (have already had to promise to read fast and send to my girl, as she is a huge Aphra fan...); Cory Doctorow's LITTLE BROTHER (because, hey -- I've been a boing-boinger for more than a year now. I was going to hold out until it came out in paperback, but...well, I'm weak); Karen Autio's new sequel to SECOND WATCH called SAARA'S PASSAGE and Sherman Alexie's THE ABSOLUTELY TRUE DIARY OF A PART-TIME INDIAN (just 'cause I've wanted to read it since it came out).
Now, if you'll excuse me -- I have some reading to catch up on...
~kc
