Here’s a couple of the visits I’ve got planned out for this May thanks to the Hackmatack Program.
May 7 8:50-9:50am I’ll be visiting the kids at Parrsboro Elementary.
Same day from 1-2pm I’ll be visiting the kids at River Hebert.
Then, next day on May 8 9:30 to 10:30am I’ll be visiting the kids at Cyrus Eaton Elementary in Pugwash.
Same day, from 1 to 2pm I’ll be talking to the kids in Amherst.
Then, that evening at 7pm I’ll be talking with guests at the Amherst Public Library at 7pm.
On May 9 I’ll catch a bus to from Amherst to the Halifax Airport where I will catch a plane and fly to Thunder Bay.
Can’t you hear Tommy Hunter singing out – “I am a travelling man…”
I’ll fill you all in on my Toronto activities in the next day or so.
******
I’ll arrive in Thunder Bay on May 9. Then – on May 10, I’ll be taking part in the Thunder Bay Festival. I’m looking forward to meeting some of the kids and telling a few stories. Unfortunately, it seems I’ll only have about fifteen minutes to present – but that’s one of the shortcomings of being an unknown act. Folks in Nova Scotia know that Steve Vernon brings the thunder and lightning that sparks up kid’s minds – but to the folks in Ontario I’m just dude with a funny-looking beard. There’ll be books sold and lots of public readings and autograph sessions – so I am still hoping to meet a lot of kids who will have already read SINKING DEEPER, thanks to the wonderful folks of the Silver Birch Committee. That’s the part that has REALLY got me excited. With over 3000 copies of Sinking Deeper circulating through the Ontario school libraries – thanks again to the OLA and the Silver Birch folks – that means an AWFUL LOT of Ontario kids will already have read and enjoyed my funky little yarn.
The Festival begins 9am and will continue to 2pm and then I’ll jump on a plane to Toronto – where I’ll find lodgings in the Hotel Novotel on the Toronto Esplanade.
I will stay in Toronto from evening May 10 to May 17th.
On May 13th I’ll be signing at TYPE BOOKS – 883 Queen Street West from 1pm.
On May 15th I’ll be attending an Industry Event – sort of meet and greet for the authors and publishers and attendees of the the big Silver Birch Festival award.
On May 16 I’ll be taking part in the Silver Birch Festival itself. I am still going through my notes and I’ll have more details as the time approaches.
Okay – so I have been gradually going through all of my back-up information and I see that I’ll be putting on a presentation of my full-length workshop on May 16 at the BRIGANTINE TENT – (love that name).
10:00 to 11:00am Brigantine Tent – See Steve Vernon, storyteller at large and author of SINKING DEEPER: OR MY HEROIC DECISION TO INVENT A SEA MONSTER. Steve has been telling stories and writing fiction for the last twenty years. Steve uses his high voltage storytelling to illustrate the basics of the story arc, choosing a voice and using simple hand-to-hands on storytelling technique – finishing off with a bone-chilling maritime ghost story. Steve guarantees a full hour of freestyle fun. Any education that happens to rub off during his entertaining antics is STRICTLY accidental!
I’m charging all my batteries and bring these lucky (unlucky) kids the FULL VERNON TREATMENT!
They won’t know what hit them!
I’ll be signing books from 1 to 2pm.
Further Festival info can be found at their website!
On May 17 I’ll be taking part in a Durham event where I will be meeting with a whole group of kids from two different schools in Durham county.
Then I’ll fly home and go to work the next day.
My main goal is to meet with as many kids, librarians and teachers as I possibly can. I intend to entertain and hopefully educate. In between all that I’ve purchased a brand new netbook and I intend to work on the draft of what will be my next YA novel – which I intend to see traditionally published within the next year or so. It’s high-time for a new Steve Vernon release through a traditional publisher.
I’m rushing this blog entry a bit because although I had intended to spend this whole weekend getting ready a broken kitchen tap and an emergency repair job necessitating the purchase of a brand new faucet set ate up about most of the day.
If the women don’t find you handsome they should at least find you handy…
yours in storytelling,
Steve Vernon
YOURS IN STORYTELLING... 