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!
I think Wildhorse Jack would be chuffed to discover his story has been on the bestselling books list in Calgary for another week! I know I am, so thank you, everyone who has purchased a copy! And these lists don’t include the sales from Amazon, Chapters Indigo or books sold on the publisher’s website. Flip, Flop, Flapjack is into a second printing, so the news is spreading. And that means readers. And readers are the reason I write books!!
I’ve had the pleasure of taking my picture book to several area schools now, and I admit to loving it! We’ve done readings for full school assemblies and for small, intimate classes of 20 students. We also presented to over 60 schools through the Calgary Public Library virtual author visit program, LITCON. Invariably, the students know more than I expect about historic Calgary and area. FLIP, FLOP, FLAPJACK is set in 1923 – 100 years ago, but also deals with sportsmanship and community spirit.
I ask the students if there was electricity 100 years ago, whether there were NHL teams, cars and airplanes, movie theatres and elephants (that last one’s a trick question!) They have thoughtful questions and answers, and listen well to the story. I attribute much of that to preparation by the teachers, that’s much appreciated. In most cases, I’ve sent a Teacher’s Guide in advance so they can prepare their classes and it really shows. I sometimes have my two oldest grandchildren with me to help dramatize the story (Isaac, left and Abigail, right in the above photo), and the kids love having someone near their age act out the story. Isaac also adds lots of hockey trivia to the discussion. 🙂
If we’re lucky, the book’s illustrator, Melissa Brugelmans-LaBelle, joins me for the school visit. She talks to the students about being an artist and gives a short drawing lesson. The results have been dramatic – every student can draw a horse by the end of the lesson! It gives the students a lot of confidence and hopefully inspires them to draw more and more.
Twice, local TV stations have filmed the readings. I’ve been impressed by the camera work, and all the editing the crew does before it is aired. The GLOBAL TV news clip was less than 2 minutes, yet they had filmed over an hour of reading, interviewing, etc. I watch TV news clips with a greater appreciation, now.
I had none of this in mind when I wrote this story, but I’m loving the adventure!
“I love it!” from my youngest – and most adorable – reader, Annabel.
More professional reviewers – but no more important – feel the same:
“A fun read for Calgary Stampede fans. The playfulness of the text is emulated in the artwork of Melissa Bruglemans-LaBelle [who] obviously understands how to capture the colour and liveliness of the Stampede.” — Helen Kubiw, CanLit for LittleCanadians reviewer and blogger
“It was lovely to have [Brenda and Melissa] kick off our Read-A-Thon. Students and staff enjoyed listening to her story, Flip Flop Flapjack, and were very engaged.” — Gwen Devetten, Vice Principal, St. Maria Goretti School
GLOBAL TV journalist Gil Tucker and crew taped my reading of FLIP, FLOP, FLAPJACK! to the Grade 2 class at Calgary Classical Academy. That interview was telecast tonight (May 15) on Global TV’s Calgary News at 6 p.m. While the picture book was the star of the show, I think the students really stole the show with their cowboy hats and bandannas! Congratulations to Miss Walker’s Grade 2 Class! Wildhorse Jack and I think you are awesome.
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.
Brenda Joyce Leahy 