My First Electric Typewriter

My mother moved a week ago from her farm where she lived for over 35 years. After we moved her, the items which were left were put into an auction. Among the items, my sister found my old electric typewriter.

Electric typewriter!

Yes, an item which obviously shows my age. When I finally could afford my first computer I gave this to my mother who loved writing letters to her MP, MPP, town councillor and the editorial pages of the newspaper. yes, she had quite a few published.

Now this typewriter was the next evolution in electronic typewriters. On the bottom row is not only a delete letter key, but a key which would take out an entire line!. For a writer at the time this was an incredible feature.

Whenever I used to buy electronic devices, I always taped the bill to the back or bottom for the warranty. Here is the bill for this one.

You can see I purchased it in 1989 from Simpsons, a huge department store chain which since went out of business. It was expensive at $269.99. Yes, I saved up and paid cash.

It was cool to find this blast from my past. On it I attempted to write a novel titled When Oak Trees Fall. It was really bad but I learned a lot about story development and most importantly, keeping track of characters.

Writing on a computer or laptop is heaven compared to the old electric days. Always needed paper on hand, had to set it in the roller properly, needed to have an extra ink ribbon available.

Of course, the electric was a step up from this, which was my first typewriter. (I had to do a Google search to find a picture)

Okay, enough of spending time in the past. Time to get writing. Oh, I love my laptop!

Kissing Books: Cultural Diversity and Publishing Options in Romance and Romcom

Tonight I attended an event, Kissing Books: Cultural Diversity and Publishing Options in Romance and Romcom, put on by the Toronto Chapter of the Canadian Authors Association .

Canadian Authors – Toronto is excited to welcome three Toronto romance writers to discuss cultural diversity and publishing options in the romance and romcom genres. Authors Farah Heron, Jackie Lau, and Kasey Goldstraw each bring their own perspective and experience with publishing romance. Farah will represent the traditional publishing track with a short talk about her debut novel, The Chai Factor, out this month with HarperCollins Canada. Jackie will share how she became a one-woman indie publisher of her own romance novels, and Kasey will discuss pulling her 20-year-old manuscript out of hibernation and bringing it to life with the help of a hybrid publisher. Farah and Jackie will also talk about personally adding to the growing cultural diversity of the romance genre by populating their romance novels with Chinese-Canadian characters and “brown people falling stupidly in love.” A Q&A with the authors will follow their presentations. And each author will be selling and signing copies of their books.

It was an enjoyable night. All three authors spoke of their experiences in each of the different areas of publishing. Oh and just so you know, there is no easy route to publishing a decent book. It's all hard work.

Farah and Jackie also spoke of the challenges of being published as a person or even woman of colour, even to the idea of how publishers can be hesitant to have non-white people on the cover of their books. There was a Q&A afterwards. It was quite interesting.

There was ice cream. There was also door prizes. I won a book, Year of the Slut, a feminist version of Fifty Shades, by Jennifer Lieberman. I'm looking forward to the Toronto Chapter's next event.

About tonight's authors:

Farah Heron

After a childhood raised on Bollywood, Monty Python, and Jane Austen, Farah Heron self-rejected her writing career before jotting down a single word, despite admitting her ultimate fantasy was to be a writer. But when she could no longer keep the story arcs straight in her daydreams, she started writing a few years ago and never looked back. She writes romantic comedies and women’s fiction full of huge South Asian families, delectable food, and most importantly, brown people falling stupidly in love. Prior to writing, Farah had careers in human resources and psychotherapy. She lives in Toronto with her patient husband, surly teenager, and delightful middle-grader. Farah is the president of Toronto Romance Writers. Farah’s debut novel, The Chai Factor, is due out on June 11 from HarperCollins Canada and has been featured in Elle Canada, Quill &Quire, CBC’s The Next Chapter, Bustle.com, and Book Riot.

Jackie Lau

Jackie Lau decided she wanted to be a writer when she was in Grade 2, sometime between writing “The Heart That Got Lost” and “The Land of Shapes.” She later studied engineering and worked as a geophysicist before turning to writing romance novels. Jackie previously wrote erotic and contemporary romance as Laura Jardine and now writes romantic comedy with Chinese-Canadian heroes and heroines. Since she began self-publishing in May 2018, she has released six novels, including Grumpy Fake Boyfriend, The Ultimate Pi Day Party, and Ice Cream Lover, and one novella, One Bed for Christmas, a prequel to her Baldwin Village series. Jackie lives in Toronto with her husband, and despite living in Canada her whole life, she hates winter. When she’s not writing, she enjoys gelato, gourmet doughnuts, cooking, hiking, and reading on the balcony when it’s raining. You can purchase all of Jackie’s books through Amazon, Kobo, and other online book retailers.

Kasey Goldstraw

Kasey Goldstraw was born and raised in Vancouver, and she studied English at the University of British Columbia and creative writing at Capitano College. At the urging of one of her writing professors, she turned one of her short stories into a novel, but she stuck the manuscript in a drawer and left it there for 20 years while life went on. It was Kasey’s husband, Peter, who kept reading it year after year and prodding her to send it to publishers. Since teaming up with Toronto hybrid publisher Iguana Books, Kasey’s debut novel, Archibald Full Frontal, has been shortlisted for the 2019 Kobo Emerging Writer Prize. Thanks to the mindfulness skills she’s been able to cultivate as the co-owner of Toronto yoga studio Tranquility Wellness, Kasey is waiting patiently for the Kobo results to be announced on June 27. To date, she has only gnawed off a couple of fingernails.

Book Review - The Business of Being a Writer

I'm not sure how I came upon this book, The Business of Being a Writer, but however I found it, I'm glad I did.

Writers talk about their work in many ways: as an art, as a calling, as a lifestyle. Too often missing from these conversations is the fact that writing is also a business. The reality is, those who want to make a full- or part-time job out of writing are going to have a more positive and productive career if they understand the basic business principles underlying the industry.

The Business of Being a Writer offers the business education writers need but so rarely receive. It is meant for early-career writers looking to develop a realistic set of expectations about making money from their work or for working writers who want a better understanding of the industry. Writers will gain a comprehensive picture of how the publishing world works—from queries and agents to blogging and advertising—and will learn how they can best position themselves for success over the long term.

Jane Friedman has more than twenty years of experience in the publishing industry, with an emphasis on digital media strategy for authors and publishers. She is encouraging without sugarcoating, blending years of research with practical advice that will help writers market themselves and maximize their writing-related income. It will leave them empowered, confident, and ready to turn their craft into a career.

The book covers everything from magazine writing, seeking an agent, the publishing industry, self publishing, short stories and even writing contests. I have read a few books on writing and always learn something from each. This is no exception.

If your starting out in writing, it sure wouldn't hurt to give this book a read.

Authors Talk -Crossing Over: Writers Talk About Their Reasons for Working in Different Forms, Styles, and Genres

Tonight I was at an event put on by the Canadian Authors Association's Toronto Chapter. During the introduction, we were informed the name is far too cumbersome, so now we'll be known as Canadian Authors Toronto. I like the acronym, CAT.

The Canadian Authors Association has been around since 1921.

The Canadian Authors Association provides writers with a wide variety of programs, services and resources to help them develop their skills in both the craft and the business of writing, enhance their ability to earn a living as a writer, and have access to a Canada-wide network of writers and publishing industry professionals. 

We are a membership-based organization for writers in all areas of the profession—aspiring, emerging and professional—in every genre and across all writing-related professions.

Tonight's event was called Crossing Over: Writers Talk About Their Reasons for Working in Different Forms, Styles, and Genres. It's a long title but a very accurate one. Diana Fitzgerald Bryden, Catherine Graham, and Robin Richardson. They will tell their stories of working across styles and genres — or of wanting to and not always being able to do so — and will share what they’ve learned from those experiences.

The three authors sat on the couch and told their stories, then answered questions. Robin Richardson is on the left, Catherine Graham is in the middle and Diana Fitzgerald Bryden is on the right.

Diana Fitzgerald Bryden, started it off.

Diana Fitzgerald Bryden will speak about her movement from poetry to the novel and back to short fiction, and discuss how an experiment with short, online fiction led her to hone her skills and place a story in the Malahat Review.

She spoke about her life and what took her from poetry to short stories and novels and the advantages and disadvantages of doing so. Diana said how it was impossible to go from, let's say, writing a manuscript for a book but trying to jump back midway through to poetry. It's almost impossible to switch the mind over. The others agreed. I can see that.

Robin Richardson was next.

Robin Richardson (Sit How You Want) will discuss her transition from poetry to personal essays and memoir, as well as her attempts at long-form fiction.

It was interesting that from an early age she wanted to write but suffered from dyslexia which put a hold on that idea for five years before overcoming it. She explained how it is still difficult to write as she worries about miswriting or misreading her poetry or stories. Thankfully she has a very supportive agent to assist her. It was a family tragedy which really put her into the depths of poetry. She explained how she went from it to other forms of writing. Turns out, she's also an artist. I enjoyed her story.

Last up was Catherine Graham.

Catherine Graham (Quarry, The Celery Forest) will speak about the journey that led her to branch out beyond poetry to write her award-winning novel, Quarry (Two Wolves Press, 2017), and the impact it had on her current writing.

It's funny what impacts a persons life. In her early life, her family lived next to a limestone quarry. This became a theme in her poetry and not surprisingly, her first novel, Quarry. She didn't start to write until her parents died while in university. It was a road she stayed on.

All three talks were excellent and entertaining. Some people, I feel, in Q&As just talk to hear themselves speak but not in this group. Great questions were asked and terrific answers followed.

There were draws for different door prizes. I love the picture below as it shows Diana drawing my number. I won two tickets to the AGO.  In a double stroke of luck, I also won an hour mentoring session with Jennifer Foster, an editor and writer. I'm looking forward to it and, of course, will write about it after my session, which I expect will be in the New Year.

It was an entertaining night. With willpower, I walked by the sweets table at the end.

Canadian Authors Toronto, CAT, is up and running. I'm looking forward to the next event.

My Live Interview on Rogers Daytime

Today I was interviewed about my book, Defending the Inland Shores, on Rogers Daytime TV.

Here is my segment.

It was so much fun to do.

Behind the Scenes of My Appearance on Rogers Daytime York Region with Jacqueline Betterton

Today I was interviewed on the set of Daytime York Region hosted by Jacqueline Betterton. This was my first time being interviewed as an author on TV. It was for my recently released book Defending The Inland Shores from Bookland Press and it was quite a thrill. (#47 this morning on Amazons Best Sellers List for Canadian History)

The green room.

By the media board, Sorry, Jacqueline, but I seem to have stood in front on the second half of your Twitter link on the board.

Getting miked up.

The interview.

Teena was there and I loved how she was invited into the studio to take photos during the interview. All these shots are hers.

Jacqueline was excellent. She has a very calm voice, which kept me settled down and did a terrific job of steering the interview. She was so professional and kept me grounded throughout.

Behind the scenes.

My segment had a commercial break in it. Here we are discussing what we would be doing after we came back.

Back from the break, I read a few quotes from the book which were from witnesses of the moments before the battle of Lake Erie and the memorial services after.

The monitor shows the Royal Newfoundland Regimental Colours as I discuss them. At this moment, what is on the monitor is what the viewer saw as I talked about it.

Here I am on the monitor.

Today was such a fabulous experience. I woke up this morning to find the book was number 47 for Canadian non-fiction on Amazons Best Sellers list and got to following it up with an interview. What a sweet day.

Thanks so much to Teena for coming out and keeping me settled down, making sure my outfit was "air worthy" and for taking all these great shots and, of course, to Jacqueline, who did a tremendous job of guiding me through this interview.

The actual interview will be posted when I get it from Rogers.

My Interview with Canadian Military Family Magazine for "Defending the Inland Shores"

This week Canadian Military Family Magazine published an interview they did with me just after Christmas. Here it is:

Armed with his passion for the War of 1812 and desire to uncover Newfoundland’s role in the war, first-time author, Gordon Jones’ s book: Defending the Inland Shores: Newfoundland in the War of 1812 was released this past December.

It all started when Jones and his wife were on vacation in Newfoundland several years ago. During their visit, the couple attended a Battle of Signal Hill reenactment. While Jones tried to capture the action with his camera, Jones’ wife struck up a conversation about the War of 1812 with others at the reenactment.

“They basically had no idea about what went on, and once she told me I thought it was a great shame because they played such a significant role, a big of a role in the War of 1812 as they did in World War One percentage basis,” explained Jones, who’s grandfather served with the Newfoundland Regiment in the First World War and father served in the Canadian Army during the Second World War.

Upon returning home, Jones looked for a book to learn more but couldn’t find any and decided to write one himself.

It’s taken him three years of researching, pouring over books and letters, anything he could get a hold of at the reference library in Toronto, to finish writing the book. During the research process, Jones came across a nine-volume set of letters written by generals and other participants of the war that helped pave the way to finding unique information.

Through his writing of this book, Jones has learned a great deal about the War of 1812, little tidbits of information that perhaps now one else knows of.

“To really get down in the nitty-gritty of stuff, it was thrilling and exciting. I’ve been studying this war for 30 years, and I was finding information that I never knew happened before. I’d just come out of the backroom with a big smile on my face sometimes because I just found this nugget of gold,” said Jones.

The writing process was something that came with time for the first-time author, who works in the financial world, but he ended up finding an exciting action sequence to open the book with, and the rest just fell into place.

“Once I had the framework of how I wanted to do it, I’d just go out research the heck out of a chapter and I’d sit down with all my notes, books and bookmarks and just go at it,” recalled Jones.

Now that the book had finally been published Jones feels a sense of accomplishment and is looking forward to finally sharing his work with others.

“Hopefully when they read this book they’ll see that yes Newfoundland was a great contributor and Newfoundland suffered a lot in the war. I hope that people that have researched the war read it and get some information they never knew before,” said Jones.

Defending the Inland Shores: Newfoundland in the War of 1812 is now available for purchase on Amazon, Indigo, all major online retailers and independent bookstores.

Defending the Inland Shores Now at Indigo Eaton Centre

Today I was on the Indigo website checking to see if my book, Defending the Inland Shores: Newfoundland in the War of 1812, was available in stores. It is at Indigo Eaton Centre! Look at the shelf third row up from the bottom.

Here it is! Indigo now is not only selling the book online but also in better brick and mortar book stores.

"Defending the Inland Shores" by Gordon K. Jones - Now Available at Amazon and Indigo!

My book, Defending the Inland Shores, is now available from all major online retailers, independent book stores and from  Amazon and Indigo.

From the cover jacket:

Soldiers from Newfoundland played a significant role in the defence of Canada during the War of 1812. 

The Royal Newfoundland Regiment was on the front lines of the war, fought with honour and great courage, and took heavy casualties in many military actions, including the battle of the Maumee, the battle of Fort George, and the battle of Lake Erie, to name a few. This book also portrays several legendary military commanders from the War of 1812, such as George Prevost, Isaac Brock, Andrew Bulger, and George Macdonell. 

The author skilfully describes many renowned battles of the war, including the siege of Fort Detroit, the capture of an American naval schooner on Lake Ontario, a surprise attack against Ogdensburg, and desperate defence of a British ship on the Niagara River during an American night assault. Defending the Inland Shores tells these incredible stories and illustrates the important part that the Royal Newfoundland Regiment played in the war.

Notes From an Aspiring Non-Fiction Author (Part 1) - Creativity

Back in May of last year, I started writing my first book, a non-fiction which focuses on one aspect of the story of the War of 1812. Once completed and hopefully published, you will find a very enthusiastic and positive review of it on this blog. Now that I am, what I figure to be more than three quarters of the way through it, I am going to start writing about some of my thoughts and challenges about writing non-fiction.

Some would say that writing a fiction is easier than writing a non-fiction. That is nonsense. Both have an equal number of challenges, just different ones. In these posts, I plan to talk about some aspects of non-fiction writing which pose certain challenges to the aspiring author (me). Today I will focus on writing about history creatively.

Of course, in writing about history, the author is writing about real events, so as much as they (I) would like to, the author cannot embellish on the facts. As much as the writer may wish to add details to an event, if they haven't found any evidence to support their story, they shouldn't write it. For instance, I came across a quote I wished to use that was shouted out in Potawatomi, Oh Nichee wah!

One author interpreted it one way (Oh brother, desist), another a little different (Oh brother, don't do it!), yet another (Oh brother, quit!). Even though I don't speak Potawatomi, I felt both missed the correct interpretation (a little arrogant of me, don't you think!). I had a better one ... only in reality as much as it would have better suited the telling of the story, I had no proof that my interpretation was correct (I still think it is), so after more extensive research, went with one of the above.

History does not need to be dry, boring, and just a regurgitation of the facts. I have read too many of these types of books. With some creativity, it can be written to be entertaining, exciting and stay true to all the facts of the story. In fact, when writing about history, the author is telling the story. No need to embellish or exaggerate the facts, just be creative and tell the story in an entertaining way.  Pierre Berton was the absolute best at this.

Berton's gift was being able to write about any subject and being able to place the reader right into the middle of the action. I have read over a dozen books and for this project of mine use his books, The Invasion of Canada and Flames Across the Border, not only as research, but to inspire me. I do all my research, then read his version last before I start to write. New research found since he first published these books in the early nineteen eighties have changed some of the facts, but his writing is so fabulous and exciting, and is just what I wish to bring into my own writing, but in my own style.

Reading his works before I write my own is a double edged sword. I get so much excitement seeing how he has put together, so wonderfully, many of the facts and quotes from the documents that I myself have read. This to me is so inspiring, yet at the same time a little humbling. That's the other side of the sword. I will read his interpretation, set down the book and feel a little overwhelmed, wondering if I could ever really be that good.

The only way to find out is to research, write and hope that a publisher will find my book stylish and interesting enough to put it out to the market.