BC Book Prizes

Time Flies…
Posted by Robin Stevenson

...when you’re having fun. Apparently this is true: I can’t believe we are already on the last day of our tour. We are in Terrace this morning and will be heading up to Prince George in a couple of hours, to read at the museum (which I have heard wonderful things about and am very much looking forward to seeing). Yesterday we visited Prince George elementary and secondary schools, drove the seven hours to Terrace, and arrived just in time for our 7pm reading at the Terrace Public Library. We had a fabulous crowd show up to listen and chat with us afterwards. Melanie, the youth librarian, was a great host and I very much enjoyed talking with her about teen books, teens and libraries, and ways of keeping kids engaged in books and reading. The young people of Terrace are lucky to have someone so passionate about books and so committed to providing a space that is welcoming to kids and teens.

In fact, everywhere we have been we have met people who are passionate about reading and literacy and education in all their various forms. From the kids and teens, to the booksellers, librarians,teachers, and to the local writers and poets that have come to our readings, talking with people who love books has been one of the highlights of this tour.

I am too buzzy from all the excitement to actually feel tired, but I think I am. I have a million scattered thoughts this morning but don’t feel like I can put a coherent paragraph together. So instead I will just share half a dozen random thoughts about this tour:

1. I have been very envious of my fellow authors on this tour… because they can ALL read and write in the van. Me, I can just barely glance at my watch without getting carsick. However…. all that time to think has been a surprising bonus. A new character has started to come together in my mind and I am so looking forward to getting some of her story down on paper.

2.Bryan is an awesome road trip disc jockey (as well as driver, tour guide, restuarant critic and entertainer). Whether we need music to match the breathtaking scenery, music to lull us to sleep,or music to pep us up before a reading, Bryan nails it every time. I’m still laughing over Moxy Fruvous singing My Baby Loves a Bunch of Authors.  And I have jotted down the names of several new-to-me artists. Thanks Bryan!

3.I am so lucky to have toured with such a great group of authors and to have had the opportunity for so many good conversations. The four of us write very different stuff—poetry, regional history, picture books, teen novels. And yet, as Margaret expressed far more eloquently at last night’s reading, we all share a love for telling stories. We are all fascinated by the written word and by the way that little marks on a piece of paper can create, open up and communicate whole other worlds. What a magical thing that is. 

4. I’ve said this before but maybe not (hopefully not) here. Librarians, teacher-librarians, all you book people—you save kids’ lives. Seriously.

5. Northern BC is gorgeous. I’ll be back.

6.  Everyone likes winning prizes… but I think all of us feel that no matter what the announcements at the BC Book Prizes Gala have to say, we’ve all won a pretty incredible prize already in having the opportunity to do this tour. I feel very lucky. Many many thanks to everyone who made this trip happen and to everyone who has made it such a pleasure to take part in it.

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