JOIN US! My grandchildren are helping me read aloud from Flip, FLop, Flapjack on September 1st, to kick off the Lions Rodeo. Free pancakes, games, live music, branding demonstrations and more. Don’t miss it!
Follow – up: Cochrane Now news gave us a great write-up and video story, following the pancake breakfast. Thanks!! https://youtu.be/dyqY1ixO53Y
Here’s some of our own pictures:
Yes – a genuine chuckwagon, brought here by the gents at Stockmen’s Memorial Foundation. It made an authentic backdrop for our readings from FLIP, FLOP, FLAPJACK!
These amazing friends and family members (plus a few camera shy folks) were responsible for our FLIP, FLOP, FLAPJACK PANCAKE BREAKFAST/BOOK LAUNCH. From left to right, standing – Lorne, Liz, Harriet, Dave, Wim, me, Connie, Sandy, Maureen, Maryse, Peter; front row Ayesha, Joyce, Jane, Lucas.
We had so much fun planning, designing, preparing and setting up for our guests. Approximately 140 folks (120 adults, 20 kids) took part in the fun – pancake breakfast, selfie photo booth, book sales, kids games, illustration demonstration and lesson, and a reading with cameo appearances by Maggie the badger, and my grandchildren Isaac and Abigail. My daughter Maryse and her husband Peter, and their five children, hosted us at their beautiful acreage west of Calgary. The weather couldn’t have been better – sunshine, no rain!
Some awesome local businesses were a big part of the event. Red Barn Books, who published FLIP, FLOP, FLAPJACK, and Ayesha Clough, the heart of Red Barn Books https://redbarnbooks.ca. Alannah and Trevor, owners of Lannie Rae Gourmet, https://lannieraegourmet.com/ donated all the pancake batter. Melissa Brugelmans-LaBelle, the book’s illustrator and artist behind Touch of Paint https://touchofpaint.ca/, displayed her coffee paintings that she’s famous for, and led children in a drawing lesson. Sarah and Rob, booksellers extraordinaire from Owl’s Nest Books (Calgary) http://www.owlsnestbooks.com/ came out and handled book sales.
We wanted to share some of the fun here with you, in case any readers are interested in how to launch a book with a Western theme. Here’s a taste of last Saturday’s event. YAHOO!!
I’m so thrilled to share the cover of my new picture book, Flip, Flop, Flapjack!, to be released this spring by Red Barn Books. I’m almost speechless, I’m so happy with it – so I’ll just let the cover speak for itself. More on the book, later.
REVEALED, a poetry anthology, contains poems written by patients in Alberta hospitals. One of my poems was chosen for this collection. But far more importantly, the anthology is a fundraiser for Artists on the Wards. That’s a fine arts program that runs in Edmonton hospitals and includes art programming by musicians, visual artists and literary artists. There is a great deal of scientific research that supports the healing qualities of the arts, something that those of us in the arts know intuitively. More information about Revealed, and the Artists on the Wards, and to purchase a copy of the book, can be found at http://www.friendsofuah.org/aow. And wouldn’t you love the cover to grace your bookshelves and bedside table?
The true story behind the inaugural 1923 Calgary Stampede pancake breakfast.
Thank you, Ayesha and team at Red Barn Books, for loving my story and taking a leap of faith with me. I’m excited to work with you and Lea and Hugh Rookwood.
For another great picture book, written by Ayesha and illustrated by Hugh, check out (and buy!!) “Howdy, I’m John Ware”, at http://www.redbarnbooks.ca.
Some good news today – one of my poems is being published in an anthology, to be released sometime this spring/summer. That’s about all I can say now, but good news has to be shared!!
Brenda Joyce Leahy 