Glad to be meeting up with my writer friend Peter Dube for an evening of rocking readers! Pete will be reading along with Dani Couture and Shaughnessy Bishop-Stall. Monday, Feb 4, 7-9, at the Victory Cafe, 581 Markham St (south of Bloor, west of Bathurst.) It's a great series. Come out and support them.
HAPPY NEW YOU!
Here's looking forward to another great year!
My 2012 was rounded out by two trips to Havana, the first in January and then again this December. Both trips spawned book ideas, as well as articles on the lamentable state of LGBT rights in Cuba and on the country's outstanding success with its literacy drive. Fans of Bradford Fairfax will be pleased to know there is a series prequel in the works that has the intrepid Brad traveling to Havana. I've also been working on a literary novel that takes place during the Cuban revolution. Last month I visited several historic sites that feature large in both books, including the stunning Hotel Nacional de Cuba, now a World Heritage site, set on Taganana Hill overlooking the Malecon.
In November, I was in Palm Springs following a fun- and adventure-filled drive down the coast from San Francisco (yes, I was there the night the Giants won the World Series, in case you're a fan), where I was a featured writer at the Authors' Village during PS Pride. A great event!
Earlier in the fall, I learned from my new publisher that my first Dan Sharp mystery, Lake On The Mountain, was consistently one of Dundurn's top-selling ebooks. Thanks to those of you who made that happen! And just a reminder that Dan Sharp will return in Pumpkin Eater in spring 2014.
Last year I also had the pleasure of being a featured blogger on Unvailed.com, a site dedicated to the pursuit of ideas and the unfettered imagination. I hope to continue contributing to the site in future.
And finally, I just heard that a poem I wrote about the James Dean film Rebel Without A Cause has been selected for an upcoming collection entitled I Found It At The Movies, to be edited by Ruth Roach Pierson and published by Guernica Editions.
AUTHORS' VILLAGE PALM SPRINGS
I'm having far too much fun for a writer's festival, but
then this is no ordinary writer's festival. This is the Authors' Village at Palm
Springs Pride, where I spent the afternoon yakking with Violet Quill co-founder
Felice Picano (Twelve O'Clock Tales), celebrity photographer (and life
partner of director John Schlesinger) Michael Childers (Icons and Legends)
and Mark Abramson (California Dreamers.)
Later, with Michael, I attended the book signing at Just
Fabulous for Scotty Bowers, whose Hollywood tell-all, Full Service,
literally tells all when it comes to Hollywood stars and their sexual
proclivities. Can't wait to read it!
Following that, a celebrity fundraiser for HRC (Human Rights
Campaign) working for LGBT rights in America had me walking the lawn of a Palm
Springs mansion along with stars Zuzanna Szadkowski (Gossip Girl) and
Andrew Rannells (The New Normal), as well as looking around to find
Lorna Luft (aka Liza Minnelli's sister-sorry, Lorna!), who was said to be
somewhere in the vicinity.
PALM SPRINGS PRIDE
Howdy, all!
I finally made it to Palm Springs. I'll be featured in the Author's Village Sat, Nov 3 (1 pm) and Sun, Nov 4 (3 pm.) Drop by and say hello!
Weather is glorious (as always.) Can't wait to meet some of my favourite writers, including Michael Nava, author of the Henry Rios series.
This event is hosted, as always, by the generosity of Q Trading.
FUN ON CASTRO WITH THE GIANTS
I thought I missed the era for practicing civil disobedience on Castro. Turns out I was wrong. I was in a bar when the Giants won last night and a crowd spilled out onto the street and stopped traffic for an hour, while performing acrobatics and tossing toilet paper rolls over power lines. It was a happy crowd, I might add. Elsewhere in the city there were bonfires being lit and pandemonium ensued.
WELL, DID YOU EVAH?
What frills, what frocks!
What furs, what rocks!
That French champagne!
So good for the brain!
(Cole Porter)
Thanks to The International Festival of Authors and the fine folks at Dundurn Books for a very swell party at the Harbour Castle Hilton tonight.
COOL BRAZILIAN JAZZ
If you can picture Jimi Hendrix playing a mandolin and fronting the Pat Metheny Group then you have a vague idea of how the Hamilton de Holanda Quintet comes across. de Holanda's impressive virtuosity was on display last night at Toronto's Koerner Hall in honour of Brazil National Day. Thanks to my friends Peter and Arnon of Melohawk for the treat.
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