I am so excited because it is almost time to begin my non-stop playing of Christmas music from December 1st until December 25th! Also, of course, my husband's favourite time - NOT! I love Christmas music from the King's College Choirs, to Sting's "I Saw Three Ships." I love it all!
And now a serious word about accountability... Joe and I were playing Wii tennis, and he says I pushed him while getting back a serve and he stubbed his toe on the coffee table and broke it. I say, every man and woman for himself during Wii. Then I rushed past him to get something the other day and accidentally stepped on his sore toe - again that is not my fault. That is Murphy's law, a law of the earth, and how can I possibly defeat a law of the earth. The law: If your toe is sore, it will be stepped on again and again. It's a law like gravity. Actually, sorry I stepped on your toe. :-)

Now that the story part is done, I'm working on the epilogue and historical facts of the Dear Canada polio book. I have e-mails out everywhere trying to confirm my facts. See - this is like a real job, not just a hobby. A fun job, though. Having said that, it is being made more difficult by the fact that both cats are in, and both want to sit in front of my computer "Look at Me! Look at Me!" and are swatting each other and I can't see the screen. I think I'm going to have to put them in time out.

Fall is definitely the busiest time for authors, with spring a close second. We're usually finishing up books,while fitting in library and school visits. And seriously, I wouldn't have it any other way. Except once in a while. And that once in a while was early this week when my SIL and I went to the cottage for a couple of days. It was beautiful and sunny, and quiet, and we walked on the beach, had a lovely supper courtesy of my SIL - including candlelight, I wrote and had a nap. Omigosh! This sounds like someone's ad for a soulmate - "likes long walks on beaches, good dining, candlelight." tee hee.
And on Wednesday evening I had a wonderful visit, doing a talk and reading at Mt. Brydges Public Library with the most enthuasiastic crowd ever! Here's a pic of them...



hosted by Mary, the librarian.


There was food, coffee, tea, juice, flowers, and just an amazingly warm, welcoming crowd. Thank you so much to the staff at Mt. Brydges Public Library.

And can't leave you without a pic of my son and my granddaughter. Dad needs a haircut - baby is perfect - hey, Dad is perfect, too.

Do I hear a Hallelujah chorus? I do! Why? Because I finished my Dear Canada book yesterday! I mean, I still have to do the epilogue and also reread and insert some stuff from research, but it's done!!!

Yester and today -excuse me while I move Leo's big butt off my keyboard. (Pay attention to me Mom!) Anyway, yesterday and today were definitely gifts. The middle of November and it is +17 degrees. We went golfing yesterday to celebrate. I haven't golfed for a couple of months so it was a bit shaky at first, and I stretched the rules a couple of times - I told Joe they were "November" rules when you got a bit of leeway. Today I went for a walk, but I worked on my Dear Canada book. I was also a bit annoyed today, because I made a special trip to Michael's because they had an ad saying Yarn Event 50% off entire stock 1 - 3 p.m. So I spent an hour picking out yarn, went to the desk and was told it was "up to 50% off" and granted I see now where it says that, but the ad is somewhat misleading. So I said what was the yarn event and they said a demonstration. Then I discovered wasn't the only one who had done that. Two other women and a man all left their yarn behind (as did I) thinking it was 50% off. I hate when ads aren't crystal clear. I mean, are they going to give me my hour and a half back???

Omigosh! I've got a fever and headache again today. I've been ill off and on for three or four weeks. Nothing serious just a lingering malaise. (Didn't that sound Victorian? Other Victorian words: swoon, female hysterics.) On the other hand I am meeting a lot of people these days, shaking hands (I must remember to bump fists instead) and that will make you ill, despite my love-affair with Purel these days. At least it makes me stay inside and do some work! I worked most of yesterday on my Dear Canada. I'm on a mission to finish the book by the end of next week.

I should check first...
our Hallowe'en costumes.

Lots going on...first of all, as you know, or don't know, most authors do not make oodles of money, so we have a tenant under the porch for the winter.



And our gorgeous tree out front.


Next...my book launch of "Haunted" at the Oxford Book Store in London, Ontario! Lots of fun!



My hubby providing music.



and lastly, my niece was complaining that she missed so many Hallowe'ens because she'd get so excited that she'd be sick by Hallowe'en night, so we went out trick or treating. She's wearing an old costume from my boys (Tigger) as am I, and I am the witch. So we went to my son's house and his face was a riot when he saw us. He didn't know who we were, and he says, "nice costumes" with his eyebrows raised, gave us candy and I said, "Hi sweetie" and he still didn't realize it was me until I said, "I'm your Mom!" Then we stopped at a few more houses and got some candy. I love Hallowe'en.

Just a reminder that the book launch for "Haunted" is tomorrow, Hallowe'en, at 2:00 p.m. at the Oxford Book Shop on Richmond Street, south of Oxford in London, Ontario. People in costume are entered in a draw for a free book. There is food! Note if nothing else, there is food!

My scary reading.

So I've never done this before, but I read two different parts of "Haunted" and recorded myself on my webcam (which I use to see my Grandbaby) and posted it on you tube. If you go to You Tube and put in Haworth-Attard - you'll bring it up. Not great picture quality, but my voice is good. I'm going techy. My name is Geek!

Many thanks to Mary Wolfe of the Bayfield Village Bookshop (probably one of the best book stores in the world!) for a warm welcome on Sunday afternoon. The day was beautiful and sunny, the trees bright red and yellow and I found some great Christmas gifts in a small shop - and then I did my reading. Joe played guitar first and one of his former high school teachers from Glencoe came so they had a little walk down memory lane together. Oh so cute.
The audience was attentive and wine flavourful - what more could an author ask for? And don't forget the official Book Launch of Haunted is Saturday, October 31st, 2:00 p.m. at the Oxford Book Store on Richmond in London. Another fabulous book store! Okay, also one of the best! Hallowe'en treats and a draw among the costumed folks for a free book!!!

Yep, I'm kerzhausted. My oldest son used to put "ker" in front of all his words when he was three. Joe and I still use that language sometimes. Jason is now 31 and doesn't do that any more. :-)
But I am exhausted. School visits, a trunk show at the Creative Festival in Toronto, and three days manning a booth in Ailsa Craig at the Irish Show this week. Here's a few pics.
Writing???? What's that???

When I see all my quilts from the past two years brought together...hey, I amaze myself. This is our booth in Ailsa Craig.


And the Quilt of Belonging from the Creative Festival. It's is amazing. It consists of blocks from every country who's people have emigrated to Canada - where we all belong. It is HUGE! This is like only 1/8th of it.

So I'm thoroughly enjoying the new season of The Tudors. My husband likes to make fun of artsy-fartsy shows so he sat beside me watching the first episode, throwing in his comments in a British accent - highly annoying, but ended up watching the entire episode - AND - showed up for the second episode last week, still with the pithy comments, but somewhat less. I wonder if he'll watch it this week. Is he a new Tudor fan?

It's been a busy time, so they say a picture says a thousand words, let's see....
September 20th, Westfield Village Telling Tales Festival.

Gillian Chan and me,



Richard Scrimger and Jeffrey Canton



Gary Barwin and me,



October 3rd, Rose Cottage Books Tillsonburg (cute, cute bookstore!)
Audience (so great!)



Penny and Mary of Rose Cottage Books




More Tomorrow.

MEET ACCLAIMED AUTHOR BARBARA HAWORTH-ATTARD
AS SHE READS FROM HER NEW BONE-CHILLING NOVEL, "HAUNTED"

SATURDAY OCTOBER 3, 2009

2:00 P.M. TO 4:00 P.M.
ROSE COTTAGE BOOKS
20 BROCK STREET W.
TILLSONBURG, ON
519-688-6464
BOOKSIGNING TO FOLLOW

Let me try Jason, Bree and Georgia again as it is such a beautiful picture.

Okay, some pictures from my last two weeks. First: Baby Georgia.
Bree and Jason, Anna and Lizzie (beagles) and Georgia (baby) drove up from Texas and arrived last Wednesday evening. I am always amazed at the capacity of the human heart to expand to love yet another person, and in this case, Baby Georgia. I don't think there is any limit to love, which is rather nice, isn't it? She is beautiful and as soon as she was put in my arms, I knew she would be a book person and a quilter. :-)

Jason, Bree and baby Georgia
src="http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y107/barbattard/6140_259815255703_762500703_8466865.jpg" />

Some pics. Grandma and Grandpa Attard with Georgia Sept. 2009



Lisa with Georgia


Jesse with Georgia


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You Are All Invited to:
Oxford Bookshop, London, Ontario,
Saturday, October 31st, 2009 (Yes, Hallowe'en)
for a "Haunted" Book Launch at 2:00 p.m.



And the rest of my schedule should you be interested
See Barbara at:
Telling Tales: Sunday, September 20, 2009, Westfield Heritage Village, Rockton Ontario
This is a great event with almost thirty different children's writers!

Rose Cottage Books, Tillsonburg Ontario, Saturday, October 3rd, 2:00 p.m.

Chapters, London South Store, London, Ontario, Sunday October 4th, Teacher Appreciation Day.

Needlecraft Festival, Toronto, Ontario, Saturday, October 17th

Irish Quilt Show, Ailsa Craig, Ontario, Monday and TuesdayOctober 19th and 20th

Village Bookstore, Bayfield Ontario, 4:00 p.m. Sunday, October 25th

Oxford Book Shop, London, Ontario, 2:00 p.m. HAUNTED BOOK LAUNCH, Saturday, October 31st!

Chapters, London South Store, London, Ontario, Saturday, November 21st.