Sheryl McFarlane

Children’s books are the best, and so are their creators…

Home from a delightful visit to Saltspring Island. West of the Moon Toys is a great place to shop all year around for the children in your life.  And they have an awesome selection of books for kids and teens.  They still have a few copies of Island Santa left if you weren’t able to make it in while I was there yesterday.  It was lovely to have writer, Margriet Rurrs drop by to pick up a copy for her grandchildren.  She took me over to Harlans Chocolate and Gelato for what she insisted is ” the best hot chocolate in the world” and even my coffe-loving friend Cathy T. had to agree that she was right.  I love being able to combine work with a visit to friends.

I wasn’t able to stay long enough to catch the Santa Boat, but I did enjoy some of the holiday decorations…see if you can find Santa in this firetruck…

What do you get when you combine 9 authors, great food, loads of wonderful books, fabulous staff and great door prizes?  A wonderful evening at one of the best book stores in the country.  In fact, we were all having such a good time that no one took any pictures!!

Thank you Munro’s Books.  Victoria is so lucky to have you.

Show some love to our independent book stores and visit one today.

Munro’s Books in Victoria is having a kick-start to Christmas with some wonderful Victoria authors including me…:)

The fabulous lineup of local authors will be in the store between 6 and 8 pm to chat and sign copies of their books. From humour and fiction to food, kids’ books, and some great local history, there’s something for everyone.
This FREE event also features delicious festive refreshments and lots of great door prizes!

Authors in store include: Adrian Chamberlain, Heather Cunliffe from Café Bliss, Tricia Dower, Bill Gaston, Eve Lazarus, Donna Marie Lynch, Sheryl McFarlane, Kit Pearson, & Monique Gray Smith.

The Victoria Children’s Literature Roundtable is hosting Sheena Lott and I tonight at the Nellie McClung Library (lower level) where will be talking about the story behind Island Santa.

The doors open at 7, and the program will start at 7:30.  If you don’t know about the Roundtable, this is a great chance to check them out. They promote and support children’s literature in Canada, and host some wonderful events.  You can either drop in for a small fee or their annual membership is $25 year.  It buys you some great programs as well as a fabulous newsletter packed with information and reviews on the best in kid’s books. For more info, check out their site, or better still, join us tonight.  Two booksellers will be on hand with lots of Christmas ideas that will be perfect for the little one in your life.

Jeff Kinney was recently featured in the Guardian.  His Diary of a Wimpy Kid books are wildly popular with the middle school set, and for good reason. They aren’t about exotic worlds, fantastical creatures, or heros who save the day.  Instead, they feature the trials, tribulations and daily angst of preadolescence. Classroom teachers and librarians alike can attest to the popularity of Kinney’s book and the important role they have played in the surge or pre-teen boys reading.

I’ll be at Talisman Books  on Pender Island from 1-3 Saturday December 1 celebrating the release of Island Santa.  It’s the perfect Xmas gift for the children on your holiday list. Please stop by to pick up an autographed copy.

1.Mr. Bruce Springsteen doesn’t need an opening act because he plays a seriously full, and I mean full, concert…3 hours plus a 5 song encore!

2.  With Bruce, the show isn’t about lights and pyrotechnics, it’s about the love of music

3.Bruce’s seemingly inexhaustible energy is catching.

4. His music, even the stuff written years ago, speaks an emotional truth that is as important today as it was when it was written.

5. Every one of the E Street Band is an incredible musician and they are all front and centre on several occasions during the show.

6. Bruce loves his job and it so shows.

7. The E Street Band members love their jobs and it so shows.

8. Mr. Springsteen invited a little old lady from the audience up to dance with him when he sang Dancing in the Dark…It was awesome.

9. Springsteen takes the time to connect with the community  he’s playing in; telling us how widely our food bank is being used and reminding us that those of us who have may want to think about helping those who do not.

10.The last note of every song is the beginning of the next.

I know I said 10 things, but there are just so many…

11. He plucked a young girl out of the audience to help him sing “Waitin’ on a Sunny Day” and boy could she sing.

12. He likes to get close to his audience and even does a little crowd surfing…but really, even when he was on stage, he exuded this kind of “we” as opposed to us and them kind of vibe.

13. He sings to all of his fans, even the ones who could only afford the cheap seats behind the stage.

14. The Boss sang “Santa Clause is Coming to Town” with a fan dressed up in a Santa suit.  Do you know any other rockers who are cool enough to do that and not seem schmaltzy?

15. Songs like “My City’s in Ruins” have the power to make you want to “rise up” and make the world a better place.

16. Bruce Springsteen is one of the best storytellers I know of.

There are lots of other things I loved about the Bruce Springsteen Wrecking Ball concert…and, if you ever get a chance to hear him live, I’m pretty sure that you’ll come up with an even longer list.

Thanks for an incredible evening Mr. Springsteen. You and the E Street Band will continue rockin’ my house long after you are back home.