Poetry and Beer

For those of you looking for something to do after Christmas, Smoothwater Ecolodge and the Spring Pulse Poetry Festival is hosting a Poetry and Beer event; A day of Craft Beer Tasting, Outdoor Activities(cross country skiing, snowshoeing, sauna, roll in the snow)and Poetry Readings!

Where: Smoothwater Ecolodge 14 km. north of Temagami
705-569-3539 email temagami@ontera.net

When: December 28 Friday 2-4 p.m.

Admission: $5 (and if drinking, 2 bottles of beer of the same variety)

Readings by Poets: Stacy Turcotte Temagami,

Deborah Ranchuk Temiskaming Shores,

David Clayson Brydges Cobalt

etc.

followed by an open session of readings from the audience.

Happy Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday Jennifer!

Tis the Season

Fa La La La La

Holiday Hours

Mon-Fri Dec17-21 8:30am-8:00pm
Sat Dec 22 9:00am-5:00pm
Sun Dec 23 11:00am-4:00pm
Mon Dec 24 8:30am-3:00pm
Dec 25&26 Closed
Thu-Sat Dec 27-29 10:00am-4:00pm
Sun Dec 30 Closed
Mon Dec 31 10:00am-4:00pm
Tue&Wed Jan 1&2 Closed
Thu Jan 3 Resume Reg Hours


Fa La La La La

Mary Lawson & Temiskaming Area

Don't forget to pick up a copy of this weeks Speaker, the lead story in Arts & Entertainment section is on Mary Lawson, author of Crow Lake and The Other side of the Bridge.

Mrs. Lawson is currently working on a third novel, so stay tuned for further updates!!

The Settlers of Catan new in stock!

/>ChatNoir Books is now stocking copies of the Award-Winning Game of Discovery, Settlement & Trade!

In The Settlers of Catan you control a group of settlers trying to tame the wilds on the remote but rich isle of Catan. Start by revealing Catan's many harbors and regions: plains, meadows, mountains, hills, forest & desert. The random mix creates a different board virtually every game.

Embark on a quest to settle the isle of Catan! Guide your settlers to victory by clever trading and cunning development. Use resource combinations-grain, wool, ore, brick and lumber to buy development cards and build roads, settlements, and cities.

Aquire your resources through trades or lucky dice. But beware! Someone might
cut off your road or buy a monopoly! And you never know when the wily robber might steal away with your precious grains!

Saying good bye to the Urban Peasant

When we were in college we used skip classes to watch "The Urban Peasant", he was the first celebrity chief that I enjoyed watching. Not to mention he was Canadian! He will be greatly missed. Urban Peasant James Barber dies CanWest News Service Published: Monday, December 03, 2007

Barber, whose TV show espoused a philosophy of simple yet high-quality food, was the author of 12 cookbooks, two books on where to eat in Vancouver and one children's book.

He was also a regular contributor to such publications as Western Living magazine, Vancouver magazine, the National Post and Pacific Yachting.

CBC News reported Barber was reading a cookbook in his Cowichan Valley home, a pot of soup simmering on the stove, when he died of natural causes Thursday.

"So, he definitely left this world in a way that he would have wanted to," said his widow, Christina Burridge. "But I think he would have been pretty upset about the timing." Read more

Celebrating Temiskaming Terroir Book

Caryn Colman of Smoothwater Outfitters & Ecolodge can usually be found cooking something up and for many years guests of Smoothwaters's have been asking her to publish a cookbook. Caryn considers each request a great compliment, but has been putting off the idea of a book because there have been to many other projects on the go. Finally in 2006 when asked to participate in the Royal Winter Fair representing Temiskaming as a proponent of Culinary Tourism, Caryn decided the time was right to highlight her passion for terroir, or food of the land.

"Celebrating Temiskaming Terroir" is a real delight to read, with tantalizing recipes that will make your mouth water, Caryn brings you on a foodie's dream tour of local eating in the Temiskaming area.

In the same vein as the 100 mile diet Caryn introduces us to "Edible wild Plants", some local food history and the sources out local suppliers that she uses for her meals at Smoothwater.

This is a must have book for anyone living or visiting the Temiskaming area!

Exclaim Magazine

The new issue of Exclaim Magazine is in the store. For those of you that have never heard of Exclaim it features in-depth coverage of new music across all genres with special focus on Canadian and cutting-edge artists. Content is based on the monthly print publication, publishes 11 issues per year, distributing over 100,000 copies to over 2,600 locations across Canada.(Including Chat Noir Books) Come in and check it out, you can find Film, DVD, Music and Video Game reviews and the best part is it is free.

Charlie Angus's new book Cage Call

Cage Call: Life and Death in the Hard Rock Mining Belt

This 64-page book contains 50 images from photographer Louie Palu, with award winning and internationally exhibited 15-year project. It also contains several essays and interviews with miners and their families by my writing partner Charlie Angus. Published by Blue Sky Gallery in Portland, Oregon as part of the Critical Mass Award.

Photographer Louie Palu graduated from the Ontario College of Art in 1991 and subsequently moved to New York City on a scholarship where he interned with documentary photographer Mary Ellen Mark. Upon completion of his studies in New York he returned to Toronto and began working as a photo journalist for newspapers and magazines, including working as a staff photojournalist for six years at Canada's National Newspaper, The Globe And Mail. In 1991 he began what would result in 12-years of field-work documenting the working lives of miners collaborating with writer Charlie Angus which would result in the critically acclaimed body of work Cage Call: Life and Death in the Hard Rock Mining Belt, which was a finalist in theLeica European Book Publisher's Award and won a Critical Mass Book Publishing Award which is to be released as a monograph in the summer of 2007.

It is always great to hear news of local authors publishing books in and about our area. Especially when one of those authors is our very own local MP Charlie Angus. Back in 1995 before Charlie was ingovernment he and his wife Brit Griffin published and producded "HighGrader Magazine", as a venue for journalism relating to rural lifestyle and culture in Northern Ontario.

In October of 2004, after being election into the Canadian House of Commons, Angus and Griffin sold Highgrader to former newspaper publisher Syl Belisle of Timmins.

Charlie other publications include including:


Costello: Canada's Flying Father
Charlie Angus
Publisher: Novalis
Published: June 2005

Mirrors of Stone: Fragments from the Porcupine Frontier
Charlie Angus Louie Palu
Publisher: Between the Lines
Published: November 2001

Industrial Cathedrals of the North
Charlie Angus Louie Palu Marguerite Andersen
Publisher: Between the Lines
Published: January 1999

We Lived A Life And Then Some
Charlie Angus Brit Griffin Sally Lawrence
Publisher: Between the Lines
Published: December 1996

2008 Canada Reads

Thats right Folks "Canada Reads" is back and rearing to go. So here is this years list of books and the five avid readers who will be battling it for this years "Canada Reads" book that every Canada should read.





Rheostatics music man and author of sports books himself, Dave Bidini is backing a tale about hockey – and the rest of life… the hilarious King Leary by Paul Quarrington.


A woman who wears many hats – hip-hop poet, Much Music critic, actor and
activist – Jemeni is standing up for Nalo Hopkinson’s gutsy science
fiction novel Brown Girl in the Ring.


What does an astronaut read in space? We’ll find out this year as Steve
MacLean takes a break from his day job to defend Thomas Wharton’s
mesmerizing novel Icefields, about the siren spell of the glaciers.


Award-winning author Lisa Moore is betting that Mavis Gallant’s collection From the Fifteenth District will win the day with its nine delicious stories set in Europe.


What do a TV imam and Noah’s motley crew have in common? Little Mosque on the Prairies star Zaib Shaikh believes in Not Wanted on the Voyage, Timothy Findley’s exuberant re-mix of the Bible.

So who do you think will be this years winner? Email us your thought at chatnoirbooks@gmail.com and you will be entered into a draw to win a copy of this years "Canada Reads" winning book.

The Film Festival is back in Temsikaming Shores and Chat Noir Books is hosting their opening Gala! So drop by at 6:30 for tea and coffee as well as many door prizes. You can also pick up your season's pass at X-mas sale prices.

You can check out Film Event Society of Temiskaming or (F.E.S.T.), at their blog spot for more information.

Hunter by Dan Bilodeau

We have more copies of Hunter back in-stock by Dan Bilodeau, but they are going fast!

Also in stock:

The Innocent Man (Paperback)
by John Grisham


The Darkest Evening of the Year (Hardcover)
by Dean Koontz


Lord John and the Hand of Devils (Hardcover)
by Diana Gabaldon

And more puzzels and games!!

Some Times You Just Need a Break

63%

We Just took this Zombie Apocalypse Survival Quiz - Everyone needs a little Zombie fun in their lives!

Where are they? Books we all want to read!!

Someone was just in the store asking for information on when the new Pendragon book would be out, and it got me thinking, I should check out a few other books that I myself and other people have been waiting for. So here is the first three on my list of Where are they? Books we all want to read!! I will be add more to the list soon. Hey and if anyone else is looking for anything let me and I will see what I can find out.

"RAVEN RISE" Pendragon book #9
by D J MacHale

I just found out that book #9 of the Pendragon series will be called "
RAVEN RISE", unfortunatly the predicted publication date is May 20th.

They guys over at www.thependragonadventure.com are planning on posting the new cover for book #9 earlier than they they have in the past, you can check out their website for announcements about when that will be.


"A DANCE WITH DRAGONS" Song of Ice and Fire book #5
by George R.R. Martin

Well the new book is called A Dance with Dragons, and will not be out for christmas. No George's dog did not eat the Manuscript... but you should read his updated page "DANCING IN THE DARK". It is really funny and guys we all want the new book to be finished, so stop email him...every email he has to respond to means less writing time. Read update page http://www.georgerrmartin.com/if-update.html


"DEAD AND ALIVE" Dean Koontz's Frankenstein series book 3
by Dean Koontz's

Ok there is not to much out there but I do have a date May 2008. In other news in the Dean Koontz's Frankenstein world the Dabel Brothers are going to be adapting Dean Koontz's "Frankenstein Book 1: Produgal Son" into a graphic novel. To find out more click here http://www.deankoontz.com/whats-new/press-releases.php

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!

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween, from the Staff at Chat Noir Books.

Hunter by Dan Bilodeau

If you picked up a copy of todays Speaker you might have seen the write up on Dan Bilodeau's new Novel "Hunter". Yes we are one of the two local Bookstores mentioned in the article where you can buy his new book, and you will find him in our Murder and Mystery section.

If you haven't had a chance to read the Speaker you might not know that Dan is a former resident of Haileybury, who now lives in Ottawa.

This is Dan's first Novel and it is set in "the heart of the boreal forest" of Northern Ontario.

"A fast-paced suspense thriller, Hunter is the story of the instinct that is man’s will to survive and the transformation and affirmation that will inevitably lead a group of seven men to choose whether they will be the hunter—or the hunted."

A group of seven hunters, including two Americans, embark on a hunting expedition during which their courage, loyalty, sanity, and humanity will be put to the test in a desperate struggle for survival. Haunted by their father’s mysterious disappearance on the very same grounds twenty years before, Canadians Dave and Mark Barrows lead the expedition in hopes of confronting their past and conquering their demons. One by one, as members of their crew go missing, they begin to discover that they are not alone in the woods and that the horror surrounding them bears a past of its own. Nameless, a ruthless killer is watching—studying their every move and waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike. Trapped in the woods, a transformation takes place within the hearts and souls of each member of the group as they become entangled in a web of murder, suspicion, and betrayal. It is only after they uncover a dark secret that they begin to understand not only their enemy, but also the much larger implications and happenings deep in the forest of Lake Marlow.

SEPTEMBER 23, 2008 Book Three!!!

BOOK THREE OF CHRISTOPHER PAOLINI’S #1 BESTSELLING INHERITANCE SERIES
SEPTEMBER 23, 2008
SERIES WILL BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE A FOURTH FULL-LENGTH NOVEL

Christopher Paolini, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Eragon and Eldest, the first two books in his Inheritance series, will write an additional, fourth novel about his hero Eragon, it was announced today by Nancy Hinkel, Publishing Director of Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books. Originally planned as a trilogy, Inheritance will now include four complete novels written by Paolini and be named the Inheritance cycle.

Canada by the Book

Chat Noir Books is pleased to be taking part in Canada by the Book!
Watch out for the flyer in the Temiskaming Speaker and stop by the store to see the featured books or check out www.canadabythebook.ca!

What is Canada by the Book?
The Association of Canadian Publishers, in conjunction with the Department of Canadian Heritage, the Canada Council for the Arts and the Canadian Booksellers Association, is executing a retail initiative that will effectively promote Canadian books and the bookstores that support them. Canada by the Book is exclusively available to Independent book retailers across Canada. This project aims to increase traffic in participating bookstores and to increase the sales of Canadian books. Canada by the Book features books from a wide range of Canadian publishers on specific themes. For the fall/winter season, our display will combine a delectable array of cookbooks and cocktail books with gorgeous, artfully designed coffee table books and gift books. For decades, Canadian publishers have published the highest quality of literary fiction, non-fiction, cookbooks, gift books and children’s books. The current display illustrates our unique market position and the variety of books available in the Canadian market. We believe that, if given a choice, the Canadian population would often choose to support the independent Canadian publishing industry. Therefore, this project strives to create awareness for our members, their books and the bookstores they are sold in. The ACP gratefully acknowledges the support of the Department of Canadian Heritage, through the BPIDP program, and the Canada Council for the Arts.

BUSY!!

OK, ok it's Busy!

It is very very quiet...

It is very quiet for a Thursady morning... where is everyone?

Albus Dumbledore comes out.

Yes the Master Wizard, Albus Dumbledore happens to be gay. The news is spreading on the net like wildfire, putting a sparkle in the eye of every Harry Potter fan fiction writer out there. The question is, does it take away anything from the Harry Potter book series? In my opinion, no. I don't think it takes anything away, in fact I think if anything, it adds to the original story by helping to make Dumbledore seem more human and to make the conflict between Dumbledore and Gellert Grindelwald, more interesting and more tragic. Read more

Removing GST from Books

Here is a bit of news for book lovers everywhere, the Canadian Booksellers Association(CBA) has been trying to get our government to remove the GST from books for years now. I guess they have a meeting with the Honourable Jim Flaherty in
Ottawa on October 30 to discuss a number of industry concerns, including removal of GST from books. So cross your fingers folks, and wish them luck!

He was here.

Stuart McLean stopped in for a quick break today. They had coffee and signed some books for some very excited customers. I'm so happy we had some stock on hand! Thanks again for popping by!

Stuart McLean

Okay - So it is 12:15 on Monday Oct 22 and Mr.McLean will be here in around an hour.... They called us about 15 minutes ago and are on their way through the area. They're going to be just "popping by" if you happen to be here there's a chance for a signed copy......

The Money Talk

People have been asking about the book prices in light of the dollar. I'll let Cszego from Bakka elaborate.I couldn't say it better in brief - Thanks Cszego.


http://community.livejournal.com/bakkaphoenix/77672.html

If you like reading random blogs I highly recommend the Bakka blogg - they crack me up some days.

We missed him Again

Sorry folks but Mr.Mclean will not be stopping by the store today for a book signing. Unfortunately the tour Manager could not convince the crew to take Hwy 11 to Timmis, but the good news is we are now on their radar! Hopefully next time Stuart McLean is in our area we can convince him to stop for a chat and some Java.

MTG Tournament

Sunday Oct 21 at 11:00am we will be hosting a MTG Tournament.

This is will be a good chance for people new to the game to meet new players, and get some advice on decks from old players.

For more informantion please drop into the store and ask for Paul.

Magic The Gathering Lorwyn

New Lorwyn Magic the Gathering playing Cards in stock!

We have Fat packs, Tournament packs, and Booster packs all for sale in the store.

2007 Scotiabank Giller Prize

Selected by an esteemed jury panel comprised of author and 2005 Scotiabank Giller Prize winner David Bergen, author Camilla Gibb and author, poet and artist Lorna Goodison, the five finalists were chosen from a record 108 books submitted for consideration by 46 publishing houses from every region of the country. The winner will be revealed on November 6. Congratulations to all the finalists.

		Elizabeth Hay for her novel Late Nights on Air
		Michael Ondaatje for his novel Divisadero
		Daniel Poliquin for his novel A Secret Between Us
		M.G. Vassanji for his novel The Assassin’s Song
		Alissa York for her novel Effigy

Temiskaming Shores In Season

Kelly Ouimet was in this morning and handed me her first issue of "Temiskaming Shores In Season Magazine". If you haven't heard, there is a new resource for news for our area; Arts & Entertainment, Fashion & Beauty, Outdoor & Recreation are just a few of the topics that will be covered in "In Season". The Magazine is free and can be picked at locations all over Temiskaming Shores, including here at Char Noir Books!

So get out and get your copy and find out what is happening in your area!

The 2007 CBC Literary Awards

Here is your chance to get your work out there, but you need to act soon since the submissions deadline is fast approaching!

The CBC Literary Awards are open to all Canadian writers, both professional and
amateur, and you are invited to put your talent to the test and participate in
the 2007 CBC Literary Awards. All entries must be sent by November 1st
2007.

Courtesy of the Canada Council for the Arts, there is a first prize of
$6,000 and a second prize of $4,000 in all three categories in English
and French, for a grand total of $60,000. In addition, CBC/Radio-Canada
will offer broadcast visibility to the winners and their winning
entries, and they will be published in Air Canada's enRoute magazine,
which reaches up to a million readers from Canada and abroad.

The CBC Literary Awards is the only literary competition that celebrates
original, unpublished works, in Canada's two official languages. There
are three categories - short story, poetry, and creative nonfiction.

Each year the CBC Literary Awards fosters literary talent across the
country. Past winners include Michael Ondaatje, Susan Musgrave, Jacques
Godbout, and Arlette Cousture.

For more information, visit www.cbc.ca/literaryawards or call
1-877-888-6788 (toll-free).

Happy Turkey Day

Please Note:
The store will be closed Monday Oct 8th.

Happy Turkey Day Everyone :)

The Black Hole

There is a Black Hole in Northern Ontario.
It is located somewhere between North Bay and New Liskeard. This Black Hole sucks in and captures shipments of books. I'm sure it also likes other kinds of shipments, but really, I'm most concerned about the books. I have noticed in my travels that it normally takes somewhere in the neighbourhood of an hour and a half to get from North Bay to New Liskeard when I drive it. However, if I am waiting for an order to arrive there is a mysterious delay that occurs in this area. Things get to North Bay and then disappear......... Sometimes, they come back days later...... sometimes, after they've been to Timmins in the meantime.... Sometimes, they are gone forever.......
Hmmmmmm......

Stuart McLean in Temiskaming Shores?!

Stuart McLean the host of The Vinyl Cafe, maybe coming toTemiskaming Shores!

The Vinyl Cafe's Fall tour for 2007 will be coming thru Northern Ontario, where they will be stopping at the Fraser Auditorium in Sudbury on October 14th and then traveling on to Ecole Theriailt in Timmins on October 15.
Now here is the important part... if they decide to go to Timmins via HWY 11 and not HWY 144, there is a very good chance that Mr. McLean may be stopping at Chat Noir books for a book signing!!

Unfortunatly we will not know for sure until that week.

I hate computers...

I spent most of the day yesterday trying to find drivers for my Network card so I could hard wire our laptop to our new router. I finally gave up and just sent the laptop to the computer store...twice(because the first time I forgot to send the power cord and the laptop s battery was dead). Thanks Mark!(he ran it over to the store and waited for them to fix it for us, we paid him in coffee)

I got the computer back at the end of the day, with everything working correctly, but I still had to figure out why the front and back computers wouldn't talk to each other... of course it was a Norton and Xp security issue. The problem was that we had to turn off Norton's firewall on both computers and then reboot, after we rebooted Xp would turn Windows security firewall and not tell us. Finally we got all firewall's turned off on both computers, setup the connect turned them back on and everything worked... all so we could have Book Manager running on both computers again

Today I tried to setting up the back computer with just the wireless connection, but it was a no go. I am hoping all I have to do is repeat everytthing I did yesterday but this time setup the network path using the wireless card instead of the regular network card.

I hate computers!!

J.K. Rowling to be in TO, the late Robert Jordan

Ok here is a little booknews you may not know about:

J.K. Rowling is going to be in Toronto on October the 23rd, at the Winter Garden Theatre.

"She will offer a short reading from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, answer questions from the audience and selected questions from this online contest, and sign copies of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows for each of the 950 fans present."

Raincoast is even giving away pairs of tickets until September 28. Click here for more details!


I also have some bad news for those of you reading The Wheel of Time Series, Dragonmount, Robert Jordan's official blog, is confirming that he passed away on Setember 16th of complications due to primary amyloidosis with cardiomyopathy. He will be greatly missed!

Welcome to our Blog Spot

Welcome to the new blog for Chat Noir Books! This is just the beginning of some serious (or not so serious?) blogging. Documenting our daily lives as booksellers (or weekly if we get busy. That's "busy" I said, not "lazy"!), these pages are soon to be filled our usual dollops of anecdotal reference and recommendations, superfluously sagacious suggestions and of course, heavily un-biased, um, biases!

Come on in, get comfortable, and please, introduce yourself... :)