Blog no. 218
Last week was pretty busy. I’ve had some busy times in the past, but that last run was just the start of something that someone terrible might try to add ‘mageddon to the end to make a ridiculous portmanteau. January was hectic, February is going to be crazy sauce. Even taking away my increased weekly word count, I’ve had to stay on my toes, planning, re-planning, and ultra-scheduling to get it all to fit. Now, I don’t want to sound like I’m complaining. It’s the busy times that will lead to my writing as a job dream to become a reality. It’s just busy enough to worth mentioning. Strangely, this week is pretty straight forward. Perhaps the eye of the storm?
The first two events of 2017 were both readings. I did a bunch of those last year, but I can’t even remember when the last one was. It’s been a while.I was pretty rusty and told myself that I should really get some practicing in. I even considered reading from Uninvited Guest, a story with three characters to juggle (two of them women). I tried it out a couple times but the voices and the length made it too much of a challenge for now. In the end, I really didn’t get in as much practicing as I’d like. I only managed one run in before each event. Shame on me. Still, I think I pulled it off. The first reading was organized through Urban Farmhouse Press, who is running a whole series at the Riverside Library. Adventure Worlds Press got a whole night to our self, but we had to invite a few friends to help us fill in the gaps (and it is currently just Christian and me). Horror author and long time WOW’er Mick Ridgewell read for us, as did writer and historian Dave Rocha. The event was better attended than I expected for a Wednesday night. Not a bad start to the year.
Next was a reading at The Goodwill Bookstore. I haven’t done much on the east end, so it was nice to have an event out there. This time it was myself, Christian, and romance author Jessica Gouin. It was her first time too, so I felt I had to really bring it for that event. I remember my first reading. I pretended to not be nervous, but my shaking hands betrayed me. She did a good job, and hopefully it will be the first of many. Again, the attendance was limited. My brother actually brought a couple friends, doubling the audience. They were really supportive though, and we sold a few books, so, not bad. If you missed both readings, there is a recording of the reading at The Goodwill Bookstore, but the quality is a little—cellphone-y. It’s not bad for what it is, and they managed to get all three of us reading, which is awesome! Check it out on their facebook page along with other authors who took part on other days.
Really though, you want to get a good, clear version of me reading. I know it. Good thing I also had a radio/podcast interview. You don’t get to see my face, but that may be a good thing. Hardcover, a literary podcast in my area, invited me to do the interview when I asked them if I could. The two hosts, Brittni and Peter, have been doing it for a while now, and I listen to it when I remember that it exists (which is actually reasonably often). It’s a neat show with a laid back feel and really good sound. They work out of their own studio and did a heck of a good job trying to make me sound good. I was a bit under the weather that day too, so it got the extra deep gravel going. 
The podcast is also broadcast on the local University, CJAM. Don’t let that fool you, CJAM has been a great local station from way before I went to the school, and it’s been a long time since then. The interview is on their website, and I have a reading in there too. It’s not the same one from the other recording, but they are both from Slow Hallway, so you get a good chunk of the story listening to both.
I’ve wanted to do audio stuff with Adventure Worlds for years and plan on getting more done myself soon. For now, I’m getting in as much writing as I can before February, when the real craziness starts. Up next, I’m taking part in a local recording of CBCs Grownups Read Things They Wrote As Kids. Tickets are available, and there is no guarantee I’ll get on the show, so it may be your only way to hear it. Following that is a string of trips, including a Toronto reading with ChiZine, the summit, and another big project I’ll announce soon. So, if you are in Toronto and want to see me read, and also big authors involved with ChiZine, your chance is coming. For now, back to writing. I’ve got to finish this crime story!
Ben Van Dongen 