Nostalgia for Writing Events Past

 Although my most recent manuscript isn’t yet on the brink of publication, I am giving some thought about how best to bring it to an audience.  Thinking back to how I publicized my earlier books, I became aware of how the opportunities have decreased in number.  This is not a problem for Margaret Atwood or Danielle Steele, but it is for those of us published by small presses. 

    In days gone by, when I was teaching writing courses as part of a seniors’ program at a community centre, I held a couple of book launches in the auditorium of the building which were well attended by participants in the program and other aspiring writers. Since I have retired from teaching, this option is no longer available, and to be honest, with Covid-19 and other respiratory illnesses lurking around, I hope that this community centre has put some of its programs on hold.

    In the past, First Unitarian Church on Cleary Avenue had an “Arts Night.” One Friday evening a month, they held readings by a writer, a visual artist and a musician.  I was guest speaker several times over the years and always enjoyed the programs.  I believe this program is on hold indefinitely for Covid-related reasons and also because one of the organizers, a wonderful woman named Joycelyn, retired from it.

    One of the last events held in March, 2020 at the Emerald Plaza branch of the Ottawa Public Library was a program for International Women’s Week organized by myself and Ainalem Tebeje, at which we presented our then-latest novels - in her case, "My Love Story in Broken English," and in my case, "Votes, Love and War." Covid-19 hadn’t yet struck in full force, but we were aware that it was coming. I remember the husband of one of my friends clearing his throat, and his wife saying to him, jokingly, “Don’t cough!” - implied was that people might think he had the virus.

    Pre-pandemic, I remember being invited to speak to a writers’ organization about one of my Canadian historical novels about women, and it was fun, and the audience was very knowledgeable about the ups and downs of writing - but they were not so eager to purchase copies of my book because they had their own books to try to promote.

    In 2022, another writers’ group, which was meeting via email, asked me to write a short article about my book, "A Girl Should Be," which was posted on their website. Thank you, Media Club.

    Many authors rely on social media to promote their books, and, if email and Facebook still count as social media, I do too, to some extent.  As a baby boomer Luddite, I have a healthy suspicion of social media based on what I’ve heard.

    Luckily I have some other ideas as to how to make my forthcoming book available, but it still makes me sad to reflect on these shrinking options.

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