Dreams do come true!!

Last weekend, December 19th and 20th was very exciting for me. I had my first live radio interview- on the Dutch station http://www.dutchtouchradio.com CJMR1320AM. It was quite a challenge. Even though I do speak Dutch, I've gotten a bit rusty over the years. Nonetheless, it was fun and marked the next milestone in my writing career.

On Sunday, December 20th, I was at The McNally-Robinson Booksellers where I had a book-signing, for my book "A Winter Solstice Celebration". The staff in the children's book department were wonderful and helped me every way they could.

Doing a book-signing event is a dream come true for me. As a young girl, whenever I thought of being a professional writer, I had a vision of me sitting at a table signing my books. Through the years, my vision just thrilled me. You can imagine how I felt when it really came true! Another exciting milestone in my journey of professional writing. My first book-signing was a huge success, thanks to all the interesting and friendly people -young and old- I met. Thank you all for your support and I hope you stay in touch so I can share my progress as a writer.

A Milestone on the Road to Professional Writer

In the past few weeks, my journey towards becoming a professional writer has exhilarated. Some very exciting events are starting to shape up for me.

One of them is that on December 20th at 11:30 am to 12:30 pm I will be signing my book, " Winter Solstice Celebration" at McNally- Robinsons at Don Mills and Lawrence. You are all invited and I hope to see you there!
To get more information check out this link
http://www.mcnallyrobinson.com/event-9270/Kids-Event:-DiDi-LeMay

Another exciting event is that I’ve been invited for a live radio interview on the Dutch radio.
Yes, I did say, Dutch! I’ll be speaking in Dutch! For those who did not know, I speak Dutch, as I lived in The Netherlands for 12 years. There, I founded a children’s theatre group. I wrote and produced the plays and the children were the actors. We preformed for seniors and other children as well as on special occasions in the small village I lived in at the time.

For all of you who do speak and understand Dutch, you can follow me on CJMR1320AM - http://www.dutchtouchradio.com.
For my English speaking fans, a translation will be done asap and will be posted on my blog and my web-site!

About two weeks ago, I hired a Social Media Consultant/Author Assistant, This was the best thing I could have done! I’ve been exploding onto the Internet at a large number of social network web-sites. Check me out on facebook, linkedin, goodreads, librarything and in the near future on Youtube, to name a few. We continue to develop more and more Internet Publicity.
If you feel that you need someone like that check out her web-site at www.theyppublishing.com

As you can see, all the events are shaping up to be another milestone on the road to becoming a professional writer!

Becoming a professional writer

It has been a few weeks now that my book
"A Winter Solstice Celebration" is in the book store.

McNallys -Robinson, in Toronto, to be exact. It is a very exciting event; one I hope will continue to develop momentum.

The day I delivered my books to McNallys was a very special and exhilarating one. I was giddy with anticipation of things to come. I had accomplished another step in my journey of being a professional writer. Excited, I took the rest of the day to wander around the city. I celebrated by treating myself. I had special lunch and while I sat in the restaurant, I remembered another unique day. The day I decided to become a writer.

When people ask me: "How long have you been writing?" I stare at them, and then mutter something incoherent like, "As long as I remember". This is true.

I remembered I wrote a story when I was in the 5th grade. I wrote about a girl, who in the middle of the night, woke up because she heard a noise. She could see the time was 3 am on her alarm clock. The curtains were not closed and the beam of the streetlight fell in such a way that it highlighted the face of the clock. The teacher did not believe I could have written in such detail................. I got an F.

There were other details in my story which the teacher didn't believe and therefore she failed me.

She thought I had copied it from somewhere. But, I was not insulted or even angry. I was happy. Happy that my story was so good and that day I decided I was going to write. Be a writer! And writing I did. I wrote about my adventures, I wrote about fictional characters and I wrote about other peoples adventures. I got inspired by life itself. Then, I would just pile into a folder with the hopes and dreams of -one day- becoming a professional writer.

Another distinctive day was the day that I decided to become a professional writer. It was a calm day. Nothing exciting or unusual had happened. I was shopping in my favourite store... the book store, when I stopped and looked around. All these books, all these writers. Suddenly, a thought started to percolate from deep inside of me.

"Hey, you write! You can have your name on a book cover! You can have your own book perched on a bookshelf in the book store. Why don't you get serious with your writing? Let people read what you have to say!"

For weeks on end, this thought kept popping up in my head. I tried to ignore it, but like a bad song you can't get rid of, it kept bubbling up into my thoughts. Very distracting!

So one day, I decided to pull out one of my manuscripts and update it. I rewrote, edited and honed it. That was the day it all began.

It was the best thing I could ever have done! Look what it has brought me! Look where I'm going!

The journey of getting "there" is a thrill. Who knows what the future holds.

I'm back again!

Hello Everyone,

It has been a while since I have posted a blog.
My only excuse is that time has passed me by.
I've been working very hard on my next book as well as developing my new web-site.
I've also been planning my marketing and PR strategies so that more children and their parents can hear about "A Winter Solstice Celebration" and its environmental message.

The development of my web site is coming along and will be more children friendly than the one I have now.
I hope to have it up by the the middle of April. I will certainly send a blog to you when we have the launch.

I am very excited to meet with a team of PR experts next week who are going to advise and help in this area.

Last but not least, I would like to introduce you to Freddy. Freddy is the character in my next book. He is a small sparrow who likes his french fries too much. He ends up too heavy and cannot fly. With his friends, Alfie, Jeanie and Robby he has a lot of adventures as they try to help him lose his big belly.

A Successful WEN First Annual Showcase!

Hi Everyone

The WEN First Annual Book Showcase was a great success. Thank you all for showing up and supporting me!

I would like to welcome all the new people who have signed up for my blog! I look forward to sharing my book adventures with you.

There were a lot of people to talk to and introduce my book to. The Showcase generated a lot of interest for "A Winter Solstice Celebration" as well as for my next book which I will introduce to you in the next few weeks.

We had TV coverage and once I know when it will air, I will certainly post it so that you can all watch.

DiDi

Book Showcase at the Gladstone hotel in Toronto

Very Exciting news!
On February 18, 2008 I will be featured in the FIRST ANNUAL AUTHOR SHOWCASE
at the Gladstone Hotel in Toronto.

Below is the invitation: Hope to see you all there!! I'd like to meet you all!

Host: Writers and Editors Network

Location: The Gladstone Hotel

1214, Queen Street West

Toronto, ON M6J 1J6 Canada

When:Wednesday, February 18, 7:00PM

Phone:905-823-9174

WELCOME TO OUR FIRST ANNUAL AUTHOR SHOWCASE

Featuring 19 authors and their books.

Meet the authors and get your own signed copy of the book.

Admission: Free

Music: Howard Lopez,

Courtesy:Soundscape Productions

Light refreshments will be served

Expansion into Quebec

As a Christmas gift, I gave my French mother-in-law, who lives in Quebec, my book. Even though English is her Second Language, she took the time to read "A Winter Solstice Celebration". When she came to visit us this week, she told us, that she laughed at the funny antics of the animals and she smiled to see how Miya helped the animals. She really enjoyed the story.

Now my book is doing the rounds through the rest of the Quebec part of my family, young and old.
This of course has set the stage to go forward to translate into french for all of the Quebecois to enjoy "A Winter Solstice Celebration"

Happy New Year- May all your dreams and wishes come true!

Hello Everyone!
Happy New Year!

I hope you have a great year.

Remember: 2009 will be fine!

For 2009 I have been working on a Marketing strategy for my book
"A Winter Solstice Celebration"

Staying focused and planning one or two main activities and go after them is the best way to get things done.

My two are:

1)
Getting approved by the TDSB so that I can promote my book and the values the children learn at the schools in Toronto.

2)
Get a list of all the independent book stores in the GTA area and then expand to southern Ontario to get them to carry -sell- my book.

I hope there that I'll be successful with them.


I wish everyone a very prosperous and happy year.
May all your dreams and wishes come true.

Meeting the cousin of the angry squirrel

Yesterday, I had a book reading at the YMCA in down town Toronto. Being in a hurry, I took a short cut through the lane-way. I met a squirrel, who came right up to me and tapped the toe of my left boot.
He told me he was happy that I was talking to the children about the environment.
After that, he ran off and swished his bushy tail.

Signing my book on the subway!

Last week, I handed out a few flyers to promote my book. I had given my flyer to a mother with her daughter. She read the flyer and then asked me where she could buy the book. I told her on my web-site, but I could show her what the book looks like. ( I had a few copies with me) When she saw my book, she was very excited about it and wanted to buy it right away.After she bough it, she asked if I could sign the book for her daughter.
So, here I was, signing my book on a Toronto subway train going east.

My Press Release

A Winter Solstice Celebration

New Children’s Story Shows Environmental Impact Through Animal’s Eyes

TORONTO – Just in time for winter, children’s author DiDi LeMay pens a colorful tale that unites families in the spirit of the coming holidays while touching on important environmental themes. A Winter Solstice Celebration (published by AuthorHouse) takes young readers deep into the forest, where they discover how seemingly harmless human activities can wreak havoc on the natural world.

Set in a village on the edge of a forest, the time and place are left to the reader’s imagination. Miya, a young village girl, sets out one wintry day to feed the forest animals. This sensitive child has always been concerned about her wild neighbors. Every winter she makes it a habit to ensure they have food. On this particular day, Miya is in for a big surprise.

Deep in the woods, Miya encounters a talking squirrel who demands she leave the forest. As soon as she gets over the shock of talking to a squirrel, Miya ponders why she is so unwelcome in this place she loves. Trying to find her way home, she becomes lost and stumbles upon an animal meeting led by a haughty owl. Here, she discovers why humans are so disliked and mistrusted among the creatures of the forest. Encouraged by a kindly crow, she becomes determined to change the way humans and animals get along.

As the story unfolds, Miya must find a way to make peace between the village community and the forest dwellers. The upcoming solstice is the perfect opportunity to take a stand. A Winter Solstice Celebration follows Miya’s adventures as she returns to the forest with a bold idea to start a new winter solstice tradition among the villagers—one that doesn’t involve so much destruction to the forest.

“A Winter Solstice Celebration has a universal appeal as it gives insight into the potentially devastating impact of humans on the environment through the eyes of the animals,” says DiDi. “Young readers will be so captivated by Miya’s adventures, they will not realize they are learning multiple lessons: respect for the environment and for each other, the importance of standing up for your beliefs and the need to conquer your fears.”

Beautifully illustrated by Jacquie Campbell, A Winter Solstice Celebration invites children to cheer on a brave young heroine as she learns a valuable lesson from her new forest friends.

More information is available at www.didisbooks.com

AuthorHouse is the premier book publisher for emerging, self-published authors. For more information, please visit www.authorhouse.com.

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