Virtual Book Tour

The Summer Before the Storm and I are embarking on a virtual book tour Nov. 1. Every weekday until Dec. 7, someone will be reviewing the novel, and interviewing me or posting one of my half-dozen guest blogs on theirs. Ten books will be given away during the tour as well. For more information about the novel, visit my website, where you can read sample chapters, see reviews and readers' comments, and so forth.

Below is the blog tour list. Many thanks to Teddy Rose of Virtual Author Book Tours for arranging this! I will also be following the tour on my Facebook Page.

Books and Needlepoint  Nov 1 Review
Books and Needlepoint  Nov 2 Guest Post & Giveaway
Broken Teepee Nov 2 Review
Bags, Books & Bon Jovi Nov 5 Review
BookNAround Nov 6 Review
Historical Tapestry Nov 6 Guest Post
Griperang’s Bookmarks Nov  7 Review & Giveaway
To Read or Not to Read Nov 8 Review
To Read or Not to Read Nov 9 Guest Post & Giveaway
ReadingPenguin Nov 9 Review
PopcornReads.com Nov 12 Review
Bassgiraffe’s Thoughts Nov 13 Review & Giveaway
West Metro Mommy Nov 14 Review
Celtic Lady  Nov 15 Review
Celtic Lady Nov 16 Interview & Giveaway
Bodice Ripper Novels Nov 16 Review
The Eclectic Reader Nov 19 Review & Giveaway
Book Dilettante Nov 20 Review
No Wasted Ink  Nov 21 Interview
Em Sun Nov 22 Review
J.A. Beard Nov 23 Interview
Blue Book Case  Nov 26 Review
My Devotional Thoughts Nov 27 Review
My Devotional Thoughts Nov 26 Guest Post & Giveaway
Book Lover’s Library Nov 28 Review
Butterfly-o-Meter Books  Nov 28 Excerpt & Giveaway
Peaceful Wishing Nov 29 Review
Peaceful Wishing Nov 30 Guest Post & Giveaway
Stitch, Read, Cook Dec 3 Review
Stitch, Read, Cook Dec 4 Guest Post
Sweeps4Bloggers Dec 5 Review & Giveaway
Mom In Love With Fiction Dec 6 Review
M. Denise C. Dec 7 Review

Libraries Forever!

As a lover of books and someone who (having librarianship qualifications) spent years volunteering and working in school libraries, I’m always delighted to hear good-news stories about libraries prevailing despite local government cutbacks. It came to my attention yesterday that the citizens of Walker’s Point on Lake Muskoka have done something rather amazing – they banded together last year to save their library. With almost 200 members, it is now completely managed and staffed by volunteers.

I’ve treasured these venerable places since I was a child wandering among the silent, lofty corridors of books in our elegant Carnegie library. I know that there were always plenty of other people around, but I have this sense that I was often alone in the slightly dim and mysterious aisles populated with adventure and humour and tragedy, each book waiting to invite you into its world. Was that the mischievous Cat in the Hat peeking around the corner? And surely that was brooding Heathcliff whom I just glimpsed out of the corner of my eye. I loved the weight of the books I was hauling home, excited to climb into them as soon as I could. Just as good, was sitting at the polished tables doing research for a school project, lingering late into the evening in that special place where books were cherished and respected.

So when I was asked by the Walker’s Point Community Library if I would be willing to donate three of my novels I was happy to do so. Honoured, in fact, that they liked the two Muskoka Novels they already had and wanted more. It’s exciting to see your books on a shelf, with the possibility that they will touch the hearts and imaginations of those who choose to delve into them.