Probably not the best time to be writing this, as I’m in the grip of pre-travel anxieties, but I’m hitting the road and doing some readings in Ontario and Newfoundland this September.

First up, I’ll be on the bill for the first LitLive reading of the fall season in Hamilton. I had such a great time at GritLit a couple years back, and I’m hoping to see some familiar faces at the SkyDragon Centre.

The following week, I’ll be heading to Newfoundland, a trip I’ve wanted to take for many years. I don’t have all the details yet, but I’ll be doing a reading at the Ship Pub on the evening of September 11th. Exciting!

After that, I’ll be heading to Kent Cottage, where I’m honoured to serve as the Landfall Trust’s Writer-in-Residence. Two weeks of glorious writing solitude, broken only by walks and talks in the community of Brigus. If you’re in the neighbourhood, please come and visit. I hear the nearest grocery store is quite a ways away, so if you bring food, I’m more likely to let you in!

I was fortunate enough to read at this amazing reading series earlier this year during the Olympics—it was so much fun, I think I went every week! And what wasn’t to love: great crowds, brisk book sales, and a relaxed, congenial atmosphere (the kind where people actually stood around and had a drink and talked afterwards). I know, right?!

So I’m double-delighted to be a part of it all over again, this time on Wednesday, November 17th. One of the things I love about this series is that it puts writers together from various genres, performance styles, and levels of experience. And it works out great. It’s like being at a big tasty buffet—there might be something there that you love, something that you don’t, and something you’d never heard of…but can’t wait to go back for seconds.

Here’s the part where I was going to say “c’mon down and eat your fill of great writers,” but that just sounds weird. But come anyway, because it’ll be awesome.

The Series' Facebook page is here.

Busy, busy, busy—there’s been a lot going on the last few weeks. On October 16th, my family and I headed up to the Whistler Writer’s Festival. It was a beautiful weekend, and the drive up was wonderful, although I had to put my faith in my car-sickness wristbands to keep me on an even keel.

Once there, we settled down at the elegant Aava Hotel, where the bulk of the Festival took place. My first order of duty was the panel discussion on e-books, at which my daughter’s latest book report subject (the rather hefty Drood) was my key prop in my argument for keeping the book as a lovely, papery tactile object. The discussion was most interesting, and I’m happy to report that it never got so boring as to turn to money. I also attended a panel hosted by Lisa Richardson, who gave us all ideas and inspiration for using social media to our advantage. Look at me, Lisa—I’m blogging! Are you proud of me? How ‘bout now?

During the dinner break, we gathered at Pasta Lupino in the village. Yum. After dinner we all headed to the Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre for the evening’s readings, where I was among the 10 readers/performers. Amazing talents on the stage from start to finish. Which is good, because after a huge plate of spaghetti and a glass of wine, listening to anything other than top-notch readers might have resulted in a wee nap.

The evening ended with the writers hunkered down at Fitzsimmons Pub. Cheap pints (it’s off season in Whistler!) kept some of us there until closing time… Special thanks to event host Stephen Vogler and his lovely wife Peggy for helping me and my new pal Russell Wangersky find our way back to the hotel and not get eaten by bears.

Next up is the Vancouver International Writers and Readers Festival. I was expecting to be an interested observer there, but it turned out I got an invite to read! So I’ll be doing my thing at The Afternoon Tea this Sunday. Check out that lineup—I am playing with the big kids at this incredible event! I hope some of you can make it (ticket details are on the VIWF website), as it’s sure to be a face-melter. So many neat readings—if you don’t check out at least one or two, then we’re totally breaking up.

To kick off the festival, I attended the Literati Gala at the Four Seasons on October 18. I talked to a lot of super-nice people who support the festival (thankyouthankyouthankyou) and drank my share of the reception’s signature cocktail—Singapore Slings—double fisting them at one point, so keen were the wait staff. Shouts to Samid, the charming server who bought my book! Afterwards, a few of us broke in the hospitality suite on Granville Island. We came up with some good ideas to take to Dragon’s Den. Artistic Director Hal Wake might have missed his calling as an inventor…but I can’t say more, for fear he’ll ban me.

This festival, held October 14th to 17th, 2010, celebrates its ninth year with one heck of a lineup. I’ll be delivering a double-whammy on Saturday the 16th, first with a panel discussion on “The State of Book Publishing Today”, and then an epic evening reading alonside superstars like Caroline Adderson, Brian Bett, and so many more. Best of all, the event is emceed by my old pal Stephen Vogler, whom I’m sure is just itching to buy me a beer. Go here for more info, including a PDF of the complete festival program, and how to purchase tickets. See you on the mountain!

Cross your fingers for good weather, and come on out to the Vancouver Word on the Street festival on September 26, 2010. How great is it? Pretty darn great! It’s arguably the most fun you can have for free, with tons of awesome readers, events, and exhibitors. I love seeing familiar faces year after year, as well as finally getting to chat face-to-face with people I’ve often only “met” online. I’ll be reading from The Devil You Know at the “Canada Writes” tent at 1:20 (right after my friend Chris Meades) and I’ll be happy to sign a book for you or just say hi. See you there!