Leanne’s not here, man

Though this blog may grow cold from neglect, fear not. I have a nice, warm, inviting place. Please visit:  http://authorleannedyck.blogspot.com I blog once a week…

I share my author journey (book reviews, writer festival reviews, short stories, and…)

And the ‘Guest Post’ page is stuffed full of articles by and interviews with some of the most interesting, generous, and knowledge authors I’ve ever meet. (Yes, I was that lucky.)

new blog address

I’ve been having tons of fun over on my blog–interviewing those in the publishing industry and sharing my author journey. And now I’m preparing to have even more. Big things are about to happen. And I want to keep you in the loop. So please visit me @ http://authorleannedyck.blogspot.com

Party at http://sweatercursed.blogspot.com

Nothing’s happening here, but over at http://sweatercursed.blogspot.com that’s where the party is–literally.

You are invited to my virtual book launch/party

Where:  http://sweatercursed.blogspot.com

When:  Monday, January 10th

Party all day and night

Why:  In celebration of the publication of my thriller

The Sweater Curse

Please bring food, drink and music

To do this, please leave a comment with your favourite party food or punch recipe,

or link to some rad tunes

Please help me spread the word about this party.

Thriller update

You may recall that I was working on a thriller –The Sweater Curse.

The Sweater Curse explores the birth, life, death and possible redemption of kick ass knitwear designer Gwen Bjarnson.

I was delighted to find an announcement regarding The Sweater Curse included on the Decadent Publishing blog…

http://decadentpublishing.blogspot.com/p/coming-soon.html

For more news, please visit The Sweater Curse blog

http://sweatercursed.blogspot.com

My plan is to blog continually for the entire month of November. Can I make it? Wish me luck.

Thriller thrills me

Currently, I’m up to my tail feathers in revising my thriller. The wise say, “The more you polish your manuscript the more it will shine.” And they are so right. Its gobbling up large chunks of my day but its time well spent. So, if you are wondering where I am now you know. How about you were are you spending your day?

Have you meet my friend Terrill?

It is with great pride that I tell you to click this link.

http://wondersinthedark.wordpress.com/2010/08/23/artist-and-nature-lover-terrill-welch-mayne-islands-resident-creativepotager/#comment-34323

My friend Terrill Welch, I’m so glad (and proud) I’m able to count her among my friends.

Terill will be exhibiting her fine art in the Mayne Island reading centre on September 3rd. Plan to attend.

Who’s side are you on?

Do you relish being in the middle of a couple’s disagreement?

Well, you’re in luck, here’s one.

Last night when I was sleeping I wrote a joke.

I just shared the joke with my husband and he says it doesn’t make sense.

What do you think?

Here it is…

Me:  Knock, knock

You:  Who’s there?

Me: Om, pa, pa. Om, pa, pa. Om, pa, pa.

You:  Om, pa, pa. Om, pa, pa. Om, pa, pa. Who?

Me:  Weren’t you at band practice?

Funny, right? : )

Visit me:  www.oknitting.com

A pictorial of Mayne Island’s Fall Fair

http://oknitting4.blogspot.com/2010/08/mayne-island-fall-fair.html

The Next Generation — a concert

Last night I attend a concert — a fundraiser for the Mayne Island school. Last night I was amazed, inspired and throughly entertained. Performing were the Mayne Island school alumni. These “kids” are rising stars. Music, laughter and applause filled the tent. I’m so glad I attended. All Mayne Islanders should be very proud of them.

However, the aspect of last evening that made me the proudest was my husband’s skill. For, you see, he was sound man. It was his skill in this area that made the evening run so smoothly.

Festival review

Laurie wrote:  Leanne – It’s August 9th. I’m waiting with anticipation to hear how August 8th went. I sure hope your throat cooperated.

I reply:  Well, it didn’t start off so well. I was still sick — coughing and sneezing.

The weather…let’s just say the island didn’t live up to its nickname — Sunny Mayne Island. It started raining on Saturday and didn’t stop raining until late Sunday afternoon.

It was to be an outside festival. The organizers were counting on the weather to cooperate so no alternative venues had been proposed. At the last-minute, they raced around the island trying to find accommodations. They found the community centre. It turned out to be idea accommodations.

Organizer Tina Farmilo wove together music and readings. She even participated in the dance portion of the festival. Native and non-native dancers spun the tale of southern gulf islands were settled.

In the beginning the stage is bare, except for a lone native drummer. He has a black and red native blanket drapped around his shoulders. The audience is captivated by his soothing drum beat.

In walks a white man with a solider’s uniform hung over his shoulder. He picks up a hammer and a stack. The native drummer continues to try to play, however, each beat is meet with a sharp hostel whack of his hammer on the stack. The scene deeply touched me.

The native drummer despairingly put down his drum, took off his blanket and left the stage. The solider hung up his uniform on a clothes line that hung on one side of the stage. He pulled a tin whistle from his back pocket and played an Irish jig. Then he left the stage.

As the musician played In An English Country Garden, on danced Tina in an apron. She danced over to the clothes line and hung up the apron beside the solider uniform. Then she left the stage.

As the musician played a Japanese song, on to the stage came a female dancer carrying a suitcase. She lay the suitcase on the floor, pulled out a silk rob which was adorned with beautiful Japanese embroidery and hung it up on the clothes line. The woman left the stage.

As the musician played a Hawaiian song, on to the stage came a male dancer carrying a suitcase. He laid the suitcase on the floor, pulled out a Hawaiian shirt, hung it up on the clothes line. The man left the stage.

A hush fell over the stage, on walked the native drummer. However, instead of a drum he carried a beautiful carving of a raven. He sat and captivated the audience with a native legend.

I was mesmerized. It was such an engaging way to recount island history.

Besides myself, six Mayne Island writers performed — Amber Harvey, David Burrowes, Toby Snelgrove, Helen O’Brian and Grant Buday. Visiting our island was multi-published mystery author Lou Allin.

I fortunate to perform with my friend Nan Johnston. I read a page from my work in progress — Maynely Hidden. Then Nan sang a beautiful song that fit the piece so well. Then I read from my soon-to-be-published (by Decadent Publishing) paranormal psychological thriller — The Sweater Curse. Then together Nan and I sang the Buddy Holly song That’ll Be The Day. I’m not a singer so I hammed it up and had a great time.

This morning I received an email from Lou. She wrote: ‘I really enjoyed your ‘duet’ and so did the crowd.’

Lou is organizing a mystery conference — Bloody Words. The conference will run from June 3 to 5, 2011. It will be held at the Hotel Grand Pacific in Victoria, BC. The guest of honour will be Michael Salde. The international guest of honour will be Laurie R. King. The local guest of honour will be William Deverell. For more information, please visit:  www.bloodywords2011.com