It’s that time of year – time to promote community spirit and a love of western history!
I’m signing books at Indigo Chapters bookstore in Market Mall, Calgary on July 8th. Please stop by for a smile and an autographed copy of FLIP, FLOP, FLAPJACK, if you are in the neighborhood. It’s an award-winning children’s picture book that tells the origin story of the Stampede pancake breakfast. Added bonus – the family’s pancake recipe!!
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!!
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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.
The wise saying goes, “It takes a village to raise a child…” but when it comes to launching a book, I believe this also applies. It certainly did for mine. I cannot express my gra…
June 30, 2016
91 guests assembled for the launch of my debut YA novel, The Art of Rebellion, published this spring by Rebelight Publishing (Canada). Many of my friends contributed their creative talents to decorate and prepare for the event – flower bouquets made out of book pages? Miniature Eiffel Towers? No problem, thanks to Lanice Jones, Rona Fluney, Maureen Boudreault, Diane Standing, Carole Atkinson, Vicki Keller! Alix Ehrler, created the spectacular book launch cake.
Friend and satcheler, Jane Senda (see teagarden-satchels.com) created aprons featuring the book cover, unveiling them the night of the launch. We missed you, Jane. Thanks for modeling the aprons – daughter Maryse, son Luc and spa sister Sandy Kemmet!
Ninety plus hungry guests for the evening? No problem – our son Lucas Johnson agreed to cater the event. Far from daunted, he’s now considering offering a personal chef service (contact him through this website for now).
Just like a Parisian cafe, the chalkboard menu greeted guests at the door.
Luc’s food was fabulous, as anyone who attended could attest to. Arctic char bar – char flown in from Iqaluit personally by Lanice Jones, who also created the French pastry madeleines (when she’s not saving lives as a doctor). French macarons also came from our kitchen, in large part created by Maureen Boudreault. Here’s a sampling of the food we enjoyed:
A Parisian cafe-style awning highlighted the entry table (designed by Barb Lawrence) which displayed stacks of my books tied up with ribbon, as well as a draw basket filled with goodies. The awning, made by super-talented friends Maureen Boudreault and Dave Loader, is actually cardboard, covered by awning fabric, and really set the tone for all the decor for the night.
Inspirational speaker, wellness coach and uber-friend, Joyce Sunada, was the MC for the evening (see http://www.joyfulendeavours.com). She kept things moving along smoothly, solving minor emergencies and mishaps without my knowledge. About 2 hours into the night, champagne was served and guests asked to gather outside on the lawn. Along with the draw for the gift basket, I read three separate passages from the book, cut the cake and signed copies of my book.
Whew! The last guests left after 2 a.m., after helping with clean up (Thank you Inge Leahy, Joyce Sunada and Sandy Kemmet!!) It was a great night, thanks to the many family and friends who showed up in support. Now – a breather before organizing public readings and signings this fall.
Brenda Joyce Leahy 