Saturday 30 July 2011

Festival of Words Launch of To the Edge of the Sea

On an appropriately hot and sultry day in Moose Jaw at the Festival of Words, Sat July 16, 2011, John A and I had our official launch. The crowd sang merrily to the Canadian Boat Song as John Lent and David Sealy led them on. Many thanks to all who came out, to Donna Lee and Sarah of the Festival of Words, and John Lent for doing triple duty: editor, introducer, choir master.
      Many thanks to Shelley Banks for the photos - and wait for the live singing to be posted soon!





Saturday 23 July 2011

Dragonflies in my backyard

My friend Shelley has posted some pictures and notes on our Regina dragonflies, some in my backyard and some in hers. Lovely breezy summer day on the Prairies.

http://latitudedrifts.blogspot.com/2011/07/meadowhawk-dragonflies-in-regina.html

Thursday 7 July 2011

Latest news and updates on To the Edge of the Sea

Here are the latest reviews and notables and news on the novel that I thought you may be interested in.

The book will have its official launch at the Festival of Words in Moose Jaw on Saturday July 16 at 5:00 p.m. in the Upper Lobby of the Moose Jaw Cultural Centre, 217 Main Street North, above the Mae Wilson Theatre.
Each year the Festival launches a new book and this year it will be To the Edge of the Sea. The Launch is a free event and there will be refreshments, books to buy, signing and even singing, not necessarily in that order.

To the Edge of the Sea was also just posted as New and Notable for Canada in Belletrista which celebrates literature written by or about women writers from around the world.  http://www.belletrista.com/2011/Issue11%20/nandn_8_canada.php

Heather Allen of the Penticton Western News said It’s obvious that McDonald loves intriguing, obscure and humorous historical details. She includes many discovered while poring over history books, old newspapers and even a copy of Mercy Coles’ diary tucked away in the P.E.I. archives.    
       To the Edge of the Sea has a dream-like quality and is playfully poetic. McDonald follows a historical narrative, but is just as interested in language, symbols and metaphors. If you enjoy the writings of authors such as Michael Ondaatje and Sheila Watson, then this is an interpretation of Canadian history that you won’t want to miss.”  http://www.bclocalnews.com/entertainment/124821074.html

Bev Green of Prairie Books Now said, “I was particularly taken with the cinematic quality of the novel and the vividness of its setting. Kudos to you for capturing this important story in our country's history!”  Bev’s whole review will be available latter in July.

Christopher Moore, who has written about Canadian history for many years and won both the Governor Generals Award and the Mr. Christie award, has blogged my novel and points out that I have used the well known diarist Mercy Ann Coles as one of my main characters.
     It was a thrill to meet Chris Moore at The Writers Union of Canada Conference and AGM in May as I used his nonfiction book, 1867 How the Fathers Made a Deal as one of my constant reference books.

I have begun to do some blogging on Christopher Moore’s History Blog – on my latest interest – Expo ’67. Don’t think I’ll ever lose sight of 1864 and 1867 though! Check out the cake (thanks to my intrepid mother, Audrey McDonald)!

I’ll have a GoodReads.com Author page up shortly (as soon as they fix the spelling of my name ... ahh the many ways and permutations that one can spell and combine Anne and McDonald, with ‘e’s and without, with ‘a’s and without, capitals or not ... ).

That’s the news so far!