NOVEMBER NEWSLETTER 2011

Festive Greetings to everyone!

So hard to believe that Christmas is less than a month away and the New Year begins in just a little over a month. Where does the time go?

November has been a busy month for me. Three book-signings, tons of business cards into the hands of interested parties and hopefully future readers of my work. It is always said that 'slow and easy wins the race', well I'm hoping that old adage will prove true with me. Determination and drive are both required in this field, as well as luck, and I definitely have the first two and I'm certainly open for the last one.

>> My first signing of the November trio was at Pen Centre COLES in St. Catharines on Nov. 5th. Very festive settings as the store was kicking off the Holiday Shopping Season with loads of in-store interests and tons of great reading offers. I met many interesting people and had the opportunity to meet 3 ecentric sisters from the Central Unites States here visiting family. Delightful ladies who are looking forward to spending time with Joy Wychmere & Cullen Malone in Paris over the holidays :) People are always interesting to watch, but even more delightful to meet.

>> My second signing was at the lovely Seaway Mall COLES in Welland on Nov.19th. I shared this signing with celebrated Canadian Author Ernno Rossi, author of White Death  and Remember Crystal Beach, both historical genre. I was 27 years-old at the time of the Blizzard of /77 which White Death centers around. I lived in south-western Ontario at that time approx. 9 miles inland from the northern shores of Lake Erie, but the worst of that blizzard centered on the north shores of Lake Erie from Buffalo/Fort Erie stretching westward to Lowbanks. The houses along the shoreline were completely engulfed with snow, rooftops were barely visable and everything was brought to a complete stand-still for days. The path of the storm travelled inland many miles as well but the worst was along the shoreline. It was bad where I lived as well, roads plugged with snow, no-one going anywhere unless you had a snowmobile, but it wasn't to extent or destruction as it was in the east. He wrote a very interesting account of that unforgotten, devastating blizzard.

>> My third signing was at Fairview Mall CHAPTERS in St. Catharines on Nov.27th. A very pleasant Sunday afternoon indeed meeting many interesting people, discussing Passion in Paris  with them and in general thouroughly enjoying myself. The exposure a book-signing brings is a most important part of writing and presenting your work. It allows the public to put a face to the name which is connected to the titles of your work. I suppose this is where 'slow and easy wins the race' can be truly applied.

>> My monthly contest continues on my website http://www.rusty-blackwood.com for a free, signed copy of Passion in Paris: Connections to the Past,  and the winner of the November drawing is Amanda Markowitz of Springfield PA. Again CONGRATULATIONS to Amanda! The contest continues and the drawing is held on the 15th. of each month. You may enter as many times as you wish for it's always nice to hear from you and read your comments. Please note that your e-mail address is kept private and will not be shared under any circumstance.

>> IMPRESSIONS, my second collection of traditional and contemporary poetry is now available on http://www.amazon.com as well my own website. This 2nd collection contains many pre-published poems plus many new and I hope those who read them will be delightfully entertained. Poetry is an eceltic mix of emotions for both the author and the reader, and the avenues travelled can be a very touching journey, one which is long remembered.

>> Presently I have two new books waiting to make their debut. Through the Eyes of Innocene,  a 2nd. collection of children's short stories, as well the young at heart which contains previously published stories as well as new and interesting ones is sure to delight the imagination of the reader. The Misadventures of Derwood Tugbottom  is a short-story adult comedy sure to tickle the funnybone of anyone travelling its pages. Come on along with newly retired public offical Derwood as he bumbles his way to the colony of Canada to his new life in Anchors Away Retirement Centre in good ole Vine Haven on the Lake. Both of these titles are expected for release by Christmas or soon after and will be available at both Amazon, as well my website.

November is the time of diminishing daylight hours, cool days and frigid nights, trees settling in for a long winter's nap, and new and exiting book releases. Something to delight everyone. Hopefully you will take some time and check out my work as well.

Kind Regards,

Rusty Blackwood.