Sad, but necessary, I think. If things get better faster than we expect, I imagine that solutions to take advantage will be found. In the meantime...

From Twitter:

https://twitter.com/CanConSF/status/1393231570673324044

From the convention website, care of co-chairs Derek Kunsken and Marie Bilodeau:

https://can-con.org/co-chair-message-cancon-2021/

It hurt to read this. It was expected. But it still hurts.

https://writersfestival.org/events/spring-2020/2020-spring-edition-cancelled

I've done volunteer duty from time to time with OIWF over the decades, promoted it over on Flickr (even when the guest of one evening or another later turned out to be not the best sort of human being), and I am still on good and friendly terms with the organizers.

Seeing this problem sprung on them, as it's been sprung on us all, hurts a lot.

I'll try to keep the word coming on what they're up to.

Going to the Mammoth Book Sale at the Ottawa City Archives this morning.

I'll check in later in the afternoon, okay?

I bought a new winter jacket and considered trying to get one of the older ones I have - a five-year-old one that I particularly like and want to keep using - repaired. A matter of a zipper and a button replacement, really.

Books I read for the first time on the weekend: Featuring the Saint by Leslie Charteris, and The Comeback by John Ralston Saul. The former being a collection of 1930's short stories featuring...who else?...and the latter being a continuation of Mr. Saul's thinking on Canadian/First Nations relations, noting what he sees as an ongoing revival of the First Nations' fortunes in modern times. I don't think he's wrong about that.

I went to the Small Press Book Fair, but as a visitor, not a publisher/writer/artist this time. Been feeling too worn down over the last while for that. Pictures were taken, things were purchased, and conversations were had. None were regretted.

Also, I've started looking at winter gift shopping (whatever each of us calls the Season) and making choices.

More as it occurs to any of us...

Go have a look if you like!

https://secure.flickr.com/photos/dwight_ew/sets/72157646508442951

It's at the Jack Purcell Centre, just off of Elgin Street. Look for the Starbucks and Elgin Street Elementary School and turn west at that intersection.

It runs from 10 AM to 4 PM this time.

Apparently, http://salgoodsam will be there for a good chunk of the afternoon as well. So you might want a look at his table.

I'll be offering fresh copies of Local Hero # 1, the remains of my Ashcan Sampler stocks from previous years, and whatever sketches you're willing to commission!

Which went pretty well. Not sure I should go into too much detail yet, but we'll see in due time. But expect me to be renting a table in the fall, barring miracles or disasters.

More on other stuff later.

I'll be running a table again this fall. Details on where and when here.


( Details on what I'll be selling after the cut! )

Yep, for the first time, I'll be doing sketch cards. Hoping to see lots of faces, new and old, this time 'round...

And I got home from the book fair a couple of hours ago.

It was a good session. Actually made back my table fee. Even better, sold a couple of copies of Kagemono: Flowers and Skulls, as well as a couple of Local Hero # 1. Wouldn't have minded moving a few more Ashcan Samplers, but that will come in due course.

Tired now. Good kind of tired.