Pre-Launch Jitters, But it All Worked Out

Reading from my book

my launch flyer created by one of the Tavistock Library staff

The night before my book launch, I had everything ready to load in the car—boxes of books, my notebook to record sales, reading copy with pages marked, several pens for signing (in case one quit), a tablecloth for my book table, and my book rack. I fell asleep easily, knowing those things were ready to go.

I woke close to two a.m. with some sore muscles and my mind whirling. What if people don’t show up who said they were coming? This was our home town audience with friends from the city coming too. The editor of the weekly newspaper had indicated his willingness to come too.

Eventually I went back to sleep. The morning of the event, I signed the whole lot of books that I was taking along; I could personalize any as requested. We were ready with time to spare. My husband had his favourite little camera ready, and the tripod. We set out for Tavistock.

From Oxford County Library

We arrived early. The library was fairly quiet as I set up my rack and books. I waited near the door so I could greet my guests as they arrived. It was getting close to 11, and no one was there yet except the library staff and a few other patrons. I felt like a kid at a birthday party, waiting for her friends to arrive. But this was after all a Saturday morning, a day when people want to go a little slower. 

Where are they? I wondered. Close to 11, people started to arrive, in singles, in twos and small groups. Our eldest daughter, son-in-law, and two happy little children arrived, the small ones showing me a truck and a doll they’d brought along. Their smiles told me they were pleased to be in this interesting place.

We started a little late and more people trickled in. One guest had to leave at the end of my first reading. More came and the chairs filled. The children played in the house centre during the readings. I needn’t have worried for those who planned to be there had come.

A pleasing place for a book launch

The reading went well, allowing for people to reflect on what I’d read, or laugh when there was a place of humour. My husband took a video and my publisher, Glynis Belec, of Angel Hope Publishing, had her cell phone poised. Then the editor of the weekly paper, Tavistock Gazette, arrived about the end of my question and answer time. I hoped I had answered people’s questions to their satisfaction when I was called away for a special photo with the librarian.

During the social time, we had more conversations. Deb Schurink, Chief Librarian, and her staff  had set out an attractive table of refreshments for guests to enjoy. I signed and sold books and enjoyed the company of those who had come. Our family was waiting for us over at Quehl’s. We’d have lunch together before heading home. 

shelves behind me had interesting items on them too

I was pleased with the way the event had gone and that my guests seemed to enjoy themselves, pleased too with the varied supporters and the library staff who prepared for the launch. Thank you to all who came to make it such an enjoyable launch.

Carolyn Wilker

https://www.carolynwilker.ca/books/

 Photos and video by Glynis Belec and the Oxford County Library. Thank you.

Meeting the Unexpected--Carolyn R. Wilker

From The Guelph Enabling Garden website- Brian Holstein telling to an audience in the garden

This morning was planned months in advance—Tea and Tales, at The Enabling Gardens in Guelph. I was on deck with Jay Wilson, who is no stranger to theatre, with his puppet Prometheus. That the story telling was happening outdoors was just one of the features, in the beautiful Riverside Park in that fair city.

Several things have come into play over the last month and a half. One, that the crowd of seniors and others has multiplied over previous years so that there have been a hundred or more at any one telling. Maybe celebrating the 10th anniversary of Tea and Tales had something to do with it, or that the organizer, Brian Holstein, and his crew from Guelph Storytelling Guild did a lot of work to advertise the events. It may be the  first year that they used Facebook, but they also put up posters around town and promoted it to Baden Guild, of which I am a member, and any other people they knew who might be interested in the event.

When you have an outdoor event, you need to recognize that the weather can affect it. Today started out cloudy and overcast, meaning I could look into my audience’s faces without the need of a sunhat or sunglasses. It’s not really unexpected that there could be clouds and the chance of rain—sometimes a big chance—yet we started out with sunshine and a cool breeze coming off the river. Other Friday mornings this summer, the gathering located itself under one of the picnic shelters, but not this time. We hoped the rain would hold off just long enough. And before the stories began, we receive a blessing from a First Nations member who reminded us we were telling on what was truly native soil.

From Brian Holstein's photos of Tea and Tales

I’d asked to tell second since my friend Doris was coming from work in Kitchener and would be a bit late arriving, and so Jay took his place at the mic after introductions. I would follow him, to tell the second half of the hour.

Probably a good thing Jay went first as he had a laptop beside him. He used it for sound effects when he worked with Prometheus and also background music for a poem he recited that had been written by John Galt, founder of the city. His half hour was quite entertaining, and rain would not have been good for his laptop.

 past storytelling adventures- Open Doors Waterloo 2012

I began with a humorous short anecdote to follow up Jay’s serious ending to a historical tale, then followed with a folk tale, "Old Joe and the Carpenter," from storyteller Pleasant DeSpain. Then a personal story and another from childhood. I’d asked Brian, the host, to give me a signal concerning time, and he did. Not at 10 and 5 as we had planned, but at 5 minutes because of the raindrops that had already fallen.

Several people had put up their umbrellas, but I had the canopy of the tree that helped for part of my performance. The clouds threatened to give way. I offered one last short story and a woman came and stood by my side with her umbrella open, to protect me. I kept on telling, in spite of light rain, and finished the last story, another folk tale, "The Theft of Smell," by Pleasant DeSpain from his collection Tales of Wisdom and Justice.

As in storytelling today, there are often surprises, such as the small brown rabbit that hopped out of nowhere and right across the stage area as I told. I paused briefly as other eyes followed the rabbit's path, then resumed my story. A fellow storyteller said it reminded her of Snow White when the animals all came out when she appeared. Kind of neat that it happened.

Surprises in life happen often, in family and in community, some of them not so pleasant, with long-lasting effects, than at other times. But today's surprises were not hard to take. With God’s grace that holds us and his presence when we need it, we can handle the weather, even in a beautiful garden.

“Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love.”  2 John 1:3  NIV

www.carolynwilker.ca

where my stories began

                       

 picture book available now from my website

Piece by piece—Carolyn R. Wilker

I’ve always admired the craftsmanship that goes into quilting, especially those quilts that look like works of art. Like the quilts auctioned off at the Mennonite Relief sale each spring.  My style, up to the last quilt project, has always been hand stitching around the design elements of a fabric panel.

My eldest daughter asked if I would sew a quilt for their new baby’s crib.  She wanted a fairly simple design that wouldn’t take me endless hours to complete, but with colours that match the baby’s room. One day before Christmas, we went to the Creative Sisters Quilt Studio in Kitchener. A young woman named Jemcah helped us find suitable fabrics. We had a lot of fun playing with the fat quarters, arranging the colours and patterns.  When we came upon the design she liked best, my daughter took out her cell phone and snapped a picture.

I found a background fabric. “What do you think of this?” I asked. The large pattern mirrored one of the small print squares. My daughter loved it. Jemcah and another shopper I happened to know helped us to figure out the amounts of fabric to create the design. I was getting excited about sewing it.

            My goal was to have the quilt done before the baby was born. Like carpentry, one measures several times and cuts once. Unlike carpentry, the fabric had to be washed first. I got it done in time, enjoying the process and the final product. It gave me the itch to try something else, eventually.

quilt on baby's bed

 

A particular quilt shop is offering the chance at making a mystery quilt. You get all the fabric at once and the first set of instructions. Each month, the shop sends a new set of instructions until you have the whole set.

I was thinking of signing up, but with Write Canada conference coming up and being on faculty, I didn’t know if I should take on an extra project, so I decided to wait.

 Good news came on Monday—the deadline has been extended to June 20^th.  After conference, I really could drive out to Shakespeare and pick up my packet. Hmm.

 I can choose from a main colour in red, blue, brown or some other colour. Then someone at the quilt shop will choose coordinating fabrics in light and dark to go with it. What colour shall I choose? What will this quilt look like when it’s done. Ah, but that’s the secret.

The newsletter promised that the pattern only requires basic cutting and piecing skills. So what is there to worry about? Except that I like to see what I’m getting myself into and have that next book to finish.

What does quilting have to do with faith? At first glance, unless you sew, it may not be immediately obvious. It's about the stitching together of many parts. In our faith, we have to do our own stitching. Not literally, but we put the pieces together out of what we know and learn. We may have guidance of a pastor or parent, but we don’t just get it handed down from our parents. We have to do our own work.  

 A small child can only handle the simplest concept, such as “Jesus loves me, this I know.” Sing the song as young as three or four for the first time—or much later. Even adults often grapple with that one when troubles crop up.

As we grow, though, we start to “get it,” especially at the “head” level. It can take awhile for it to reach our heart, and if we’re brave, we ask a whole lot more questions and try bigger leaps of faith, just as I’m considering with this mystery quilt. Maybe.

This may be a lesson for me too. I’m not sure this is the right time for me to take on such a daunting project. Writing is a piece by piece project too, in a way. A collection of poetry or chapters for a book, created one at a time.

 There will be other quilting projects to tempt me come fall and winter. This summer I plan to write and spend time with family and friends. And garden.

 Until next time, remember, whatever you’re learning, to build it carefully, piece by piece.

 

Carolyn R. Wilker is a southwestern Ontario based writer and editor with an interest in gardening, sewing and, of course, her family. www.carolynwilker.ca

Creativity in us—Carolyn R. Wilker

On the weekend I spent an enjoyable day with two friends at “Christmas in Paris”—an event we had never attended before.

I’d heard about it and decided it would make a good day trip. Doris and Amanda’s schedules were free and so we set out Saturday morning for Paris (Ontario, that is). Driving country roads instead of main highways, we watched the panorama of trees with coloured leaves, many still on the tree and the ground carpeted with more.

We’d done our research before setting out. For a toonie, paid at any location, we gained admission to all six locations, the proceeds going to the “non-profit organization (Kindred Spirits Artisans) and help fund these wonderful events the public enjoys every year.”

 The website invites us into the festivities with these words:
 

Our vibrant community shares the joy of the holiday season by opening our homes and hearts! Participate in a unique shopping experience and select your gifts from the work of our artist and artisans!

Kindred Spirits Artisans of Paris began as an incorporated organization of people who share common interests in raising “the profile of the arts in the local community.” Founded in 1990, local newspapers announced the initiative of people “from a variety of artistic disciplines as a cultural renaissance,” an event that has continued over the past twenty-three years.

We arrived under heavy skies and the likelihood of rain, but at first it was just chilly. We’d be indoors and out so rain did not much matter, for the spirit was bright and the houses and buildings hosting the events were decorated gaily, reminding us that Christmas is indeed coming. For those who wanted to do Christmas shopping, it was a perfect opportunity to purchase handmade crafts from the artisans. Having been a craftsperson myself, I'm always interested in seeing how artists combine materials to pleasing effect.

 I hear it coming—Christmas is so commercialized. And it is, but for us that day, it was simply an opportunity to go somewhere together, see the works of wonderfully creative people who live in the community and surrounding area. We were not disappointed, although too many scented items precluded me from wandering and looking inside one large venue at the golf course, but I invited my friends to see what they could find while I enjoyed the outdoor scenery from the raised verandah.

Over all the six sites, we saw glasswork and creative stitchery, beadwork, wreaths, metalwork, ornaments, silk scarves, and so much more. I marvelled at the ingenuity of many of those artisans—the pictures made with wool roving, felted and embroidered to make a natural scene; and gourds that had been dried and made into ornaments. Among all those items, I found some special treasures—ornaments, a winter wreath and art card—to bring home.

 In the middle of our tour, we sat talking over lunch in the main part of town, and then looking around in the stores, and by this time it had begun to rain.

Thinking on the array of beautiful things made by those artisans reminds me that God invested the same creative expression in us that he himself did in creating us. Our creative gifts are meant to be used, whether with words or artistic forms. Celebrate that creativity this season and all year long and share it with others as a gift from our creator.

 

 

Carolyn R. Wilker, editor, storyteller and author of Once Upon a Sandbox

http://www.carolynwilker.ca/