Rock and Roll!

Whew, what a morning!  Oh wait…where I sit it’s actually mid-afternoon.  In any case, I feel like I’ve been around the world and back.  In a way, I have.

I began the day sending family members safely and properly prepared here, there, and there, and then settled myself into story—my “now” book.  Like one or two of my others, this one is set in Canada’s Northwest Territories.

In between writing bits I also managed to sort details for a launch, and a possible research trip.

The launch is for Two Foot Punch, my previously mentioned teen sports thriller which features parkour, a sort of “extreme running” you most certainly have seen on film, even if you are not familiar with the name.  It should be arriving at my door any day now, and will be launched on November 15—eek!  Oh sorry…I’m not actually worried, or anything.  I just can’t believe the date is almost here.  After all, November 15 is only a few days more than three weeks away—eek!

I am so excited about what we have planned that I can hardly stand to wait…which is why I suppose it’s a good thing I spend quite a lot of time sitting.

Once again, McNally Robinson Grant Park in Winnipeg will host the event (drop me a note if you’d like an invite).  This time, besides the usual author reading and anecdotes, we will have a demonstration by the Winnipeg Parkour team (http://www.winnipegparkour.com ), for which I am extremely grateful.  These very nice—and very fit—young people helped me out quite a lot with my book research.

Following the demonstration, and during the mingling, munching, and book signing, we will have another treat.  I’ve just received permission from two extraordinarily talented Mikes (Mike Christie and Mike Smith), producers, directors, and writers at Carbon Media (London, UK), to show a portion of their most excellent parkour film, Jump Britain.  Hurrah! It features Sebastien Foucan, one of parkour’s acknowledged founders, and a few of his friends, as they fearlessly “tackle some of the UK’s most iconic sites.”  Perhaps we should also prepare a batch of popcorn.

Besides my “now” book, and my “three weeks from now” book (eek!), I’ve also been thinking ahead to my next project, which will be a second book in my Junior Canadian Ranger series for young readers—a sequel to Racing for Diamonds.  For this one I hope to get up to Tuktoyaktuk, Nunavut, for a bit of research.  I’ve just sent off a letter requesting travel sponsorship.  Cross your fingers and toes for me.  If all the planets are properly aligned I may be heading up to the Arctic coast in January.  A very dark, very cold January.  Woo-hoo!  Can’t think of anything more exciting than that.

Except maybe my next launch…which is only a few days more than three weeks away—eek!