Sctaching Post

Back in October we told you about the new local magazine being published called "Temiskaming Shores In Season" published by Kelly Ouimet. You may have noticed that I wrote one column for Kelly called "Scratching Post". I by no means consider myself a writer, but I thought it would nice to post something longer that a paragraph on our blog. Anyways I hope you enjoy the write up and continue to enjoy "Temiskaming Shores In Season".

Enjoy

Sratching Post Issue #1

I had the great pleasure this summer of meeting Will Ferguson, “the funniest writer in Canada” according to the National Post. I waited in line for about an hour for a copy of his new book Spanish Fly which is due out this September. When it was my turn to amble up to the counter and ask for Will's signature, I gave my usual spiel. Hello my name is Paul McLaren, my wife and I own a Independent bookstore in Northern Ontario, if you are ever up our way we would love for you to stop in. Will took a quick look at my name tag, and said hey you are from New Liskeard! How is Miss Clay Bell doing? Did you know I lived in New Liskeard for a summer working at the agricultural college? I was there when they put Miss Clay Bell up. “No”, I stammered “I had no idea.” “Ya it 's all in my book Why I Hate Canadians” he said. I was a little embarrassed that I hadn't read the book, but we chatted a bit more about the area and the family he lived with while he worked that summer in New Liskeard and then I went on my way. It wasn't until a few weeks after we got back from Book Expo that I remembered I needed to get a copy of Why I hate Canadians. I also checked out Will's website (http://www.willferguson.ca) and lo and behold under his biography I read the following:

“After Katimavik, Will lived in Quebec City, and the following summer he joined Canada World Youth, an overseas exchange program between Canada and the developing world.
Will's tour of duty with CWY (1985-86) took him first to New Liskeard, Ontario and then to Ecuador in South America. In New Liskeard, Will worked at an agricultural college where his duties included shoveling manure, herding sheep and--on occasion--helping to deliver calves.”
So it got me thinking what other great works of fiction are out there about our area. It didn't take me long to find Mary Lawson's The Other Side of the Bridge published in 2006. You may remember her first book Crow Lake, winner of the McKitterick Prize and the Books in Canada First Novel Award, published in 2002. Ms. Lawson was actually in our area in 2003, working on research for her then new book The Other Side of the Bridge, unfortunately for us we were still under construction and we would not be open until October that year, well after Ms. Lawson had left the area. But why did Ms. Lawson choose Northern Ontario for the setting of her novels? I thought I would try her website since I'd been lucky with Will Ferguson's. Unfortunately, she does not have one at this time, but I did come across an author interview based on her first book Crow Lake on the Random House website:

“Q. Why did you choose northern Ontario as the background for this novel? How much did you draw on your own childhood experiences?

A. I grew up in southern Ontario, but my family spent a lot of time in the North, and it is the North I think of when I think of home.

The community I grew up in was larger than Crow Lake, less isolated, much less homogeneous, and less remote, but it was isolated enough that people depended on each other, and took care of each other. There is a downside to small communities of course–they are hell on earth for those who don’t fit in–but I remember it with affection, and Crow Lake is in some respects a tribute to it.

Small incidents in the book did take place in reality–people regularly go through the ice out on the lake, for instance, and the winter storms I’ve described are drawn from life. The ponds are drawn from life too–as in the novel, they were back beyond the railroad tracks, and were full of all manner of marvelous wriggling creatures.”
( if you would like to read the full interview you can go to http://www.randomhouse.ca/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780676974805&view=auqa)


In the novel The Other Side of the Bridge, New Liskeard is mentioned as the much larger town southeast of the fictional town of Struan and each chapter begins with a quote from the Temiskaming Speaker.

Another famous fictional town from our area is featured in the novels of Giles Blunt. Algonquin Bay just happens to be North Bay's darker alter ego. In Forty Words of Sorrow Mr. Blunt introduces us to Detective John Cardinal, a small town detective with a knack for solving crimes . Mr. Blunt is a former resident of North Bay, who was living in New York City but has recently moved to Toronto. He's written scripts for Law & Order, Street Legal and Night Heat.

These are just a few of the many interesting books that feature northern Ontario. Next time you're looking for a good read keep them in mind.

Oprah's Book Club

Wow Oprah's last couple of picks for her book club have been pretty good! "Pillars of the Earth" by Ken Follett's is her new pick if you have already read Ken's book and enjoyed it you might want to know that he book two out called "World Without End". Each novel can be read in any order, since they take place two centuries after
each other. Both books are amazing reads!

Gunslinger Born

"The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed."

Yes folks it is finally out in hardcover "The Gunslinger Born #1-7". Last year I had friend pick me up issue #1 and the art work is amazing. Since then I have been waiting for the full compilation out. If you are not familiar with Stephen King's Dark Tower series, you are missing out on a great dark and twisted book series! The Gunslinger Born reveals to us Roland's past, before his long search for the mysterious Dark Tower. We also get to learn more about Roland's past and what happens to his friends.

"Sumptuously drawn by Jae Lee and Richard Isanove, adapted by long-time Stephen King expert Robin Furth (author of Stephen King's The Dark Tower: A Concordance) and scripted by New York Times bestseller Peter David, this series delves in depth into Roland's origins - the perfect introduction to this incredibly realized world; while long-time fans will thrill to adventures merely hinted at in the novels. Be there for the very beginning of a modern classic of fantasy literature!"

Getting Festive

Festival of Lights is this Friday in New Liskeard. The lights downtown will be turned on, there will be horse-drawn wagon rides, Santa will be out for a visit and we're hosting a PJ party and Bedtime story from 7:30-8:00pm.

To answer the Exchange Rate Question:

The basic process: Publishers set book prices (called 'list' price); booksellers buy books at list price minus a specific percentage; booksellers sell books at list price. To elaborate a bit, Canadian booksellers buy books from Canadian publishers and distributors at Canadian list prices. Even books which come from the U.S. Which means that most booksellers can't afford to suddenly start selling books at US prices: our margins simply aren't big enough to absorb the loss.

Publishers are working hard bring prices into line. And many of our distributors are offering us larger-than-usual discounts on our purchases. Whenever that happens, we pass the savings along to you.

D&D Games Night

I am currently hosting D&D Games Day at the Store. Everyone seems to be having fun...unfortunatly it means that I am missing Matthew Good playing live at the Classic Theatre...

Starwars Vault is in Stock

Ok kids here is a chance to get your parents a really cool Christmas present! This is Star Wars 30th anniversary and they have released a long-awaited Star Wars Vault book.

The vault was written by Lucasfilm's Steve Sansweet and Pete Vilmur. In side the Vault you will find dozens of rare photos, facts, collectibles, as well as recordings pulled from both the authors' collections and fromLucasfilm's own archives at Skywalker Ranch. This is a really cool collectors set that any die hard Starwars Fan would love to have! Ya I know I am a Starwars geek, but you need to check this stuff out! The vault has pull-out reproductions of posters, tickets, concert programs, t-shirt transfers, stickers, and a bunch of other collectibles that have never even been seen before.



The vault also comes with two CD's that accompany the book. Here you will find 2 hours of vintage radio ads, original cast interviews, excerpts from the NPR Star Wars radio drama, Carrie Fisher's Holiday Special performance of Princess Leia's song, George Luca's commentary, and other tracks that tell the story of every one's favorite galactic saga as never before.




Alright parents we have something for the kids too! We know you want to share your Starwars geekhood with your young Jedi wannabe so why not get them the Starwars A Pop-up Guide to the Galaxy by Matthew Reinhart

That's right! Now the excitement and action of the Star Wars saga, can be experienced in pop-up form.

Starwars: A Pop-Up Guide to the Galaxy is a three-dimensional, moving encyclopedia to the characters, planets, creatures, vehicles and technologies that appear in the original trilogy. The book is crammed with over 37 different pop-ups which include large central pop-ups to tiny mini-pop-up flaps. Each spread is a separate chapter devoted to different aspects of the Star Wars universe.



"The first spread is devoted to the planets of the galaxy, like Tatooine, Alderaan, Bespin and even the Death Star," Reinhart reveals. "In fact, a huge AT-AT plods forward on the page, re-enacting the savage battle of Hoth! Each chapter details other aspects of galaxy such as: Sentient Species and Beasts, The Rebellion versus the Empire, Rogues and Scoundrels, Galactic Vehicles, and even The Power of the Force with a completely three-dimensional helmet of the Dark Lord of the Sith himself and illuminated lightsabers! I don't want to give away too many of the surprises, but trust me, just about everybody and everything important is inside the book."



These are must have books for any Starwars fans, young or old!