Heather Conn, author of Gracie’s Got a Secret, is pleased to be giving a reading in July in her home community of Roberts Creek, BC.
She’ll appear at Roberts Creek Library on Saturday, July 7 at 10:30 a.m. She looks forward to sharing Gracie’s adventures with young ones aged two to nine.
(Roberts Creek Library is a wholly-volunteer-run operation, which is independent from the library system in Gibsons and Sechelt, BC.)
Author Heather Conn had a lot of fun in March doing a book reading at Woods Showcase in Gibsons, BC. Hubby Frank came along as the puppet meister and the duo entertained about a dozen kids and adults. One lucky volunteer in the front row got to ring the bells on an orange goldfish percussion instrument every time that Heather read Gracie’s line “Gotta go, gotta go, I’m a goldfish on the go.”
The event was videotaped and will be available on this website and on the Gracie’s Got a Secret Facebook page. Watch for it soon.
Author Heather Conn signs a book at Woods Showcase
Want to meet Gracie the goldfish and the author of Gracie’s Got a Secret? Don’t know how to keep the kids busy during March break? Come to Woods Showcase at Sunnycrest Mall in Gibsons, BC on Tuesday, March 20. Heather Conn will be reading from her new book, starting at 10:30 a.m.
She’ll chat with the children and their parents and ask for several kid volunteers for her reading. Heather will have some fun puppets to help tell her story, thanks to the participation of her husband Frank. This free event is aimed at kids age 4+.
Donna in Seattle
While in Seattle recently for a conference, I introduced Gracie to seven-year-old Donna, who was staying at my hotel with her family. She and her brother were using the computers provided in the lobby. They both said that they wanted to become writers, so I encouraged them to write down their ideas in a notebook so that they wouldn’t forget them.
They kept asking me: “Are you a real writer?” I insisted that I was. They seemed incredulous, as if they could never meet such a person in the flesh. I felt like a rock star. It was great to hear them rattle off ideas for characters and to share in their enthusiasm. They wanted to know all about getting a book published and were excited at the prospect. I didn’t want to explain the stack of rejection letters that I had received.
Who knows? Maybe one or both of them will be an author some day.
This week, my guest post “Spirituality and writing for children” appeared on the blog Spiritually Speaking, produced by the Times Colonist newspaper in Victoria, BC. (The blog’s creator invited me to contribute and I was delighted to oblige.)
I was happy to share my story about how Gracie Got a Secret came to be. You’ll discover some of Gracie’s “secrets.” Click here to read my post.
I recently received a lovely note from Grace McCarthy, former B.C. cabinet minister, after she had read Gracie’s Got a Secret. I had spontaneously decided to give her a copy of the book, about her namesake, after speaking to her in a dentist’s office. (You can read more about our encounter on heatherconnblogs.com.) Here’s what she said:
“Your book, Gracie’s Got a Secret is so great. I’ve read it right through, and love the message. It is truly inspiring. Many thanks. Do hope our paths will cross again. . . with all good wishes as you continue to inspire.”
I’m touched by her thoughtful thanks. In this era of digital media, it’s still wonderful to receive a personalized card and hand-written message. Thank you, Grace.
My alma mater, Neuchatel Junior College (for Ontario grade 13 curriculum), has featured a photo and write-up about Gracie’s Got a Secret in its online alumni Class Notes.
Click here to read the entry.
– iPhone photos by Heather Conn
At the last minute, Community Services in Sechelt, BC invited storyteller John Conway to read aloud Gracie’s Got a Secret at their fundraising event in December 2011. John used the same puppets from the book launch. (See the post below for more details.)
He had some rambunctious boys in the audience, but with the help of Gracie and Mopey, John kept them engaged with the story. It was fun to watch the interactions.
Goldfish sure get around. Every week, I keep learning about new goldfish worlds. Somebody told me about Dorothy the Goldfish, who appears on Elmo’s World. Remember “Tickle Me” Elmo from Sesame Street? Of course, I had to check this out on YouTube.
I found Elmo hugging Dorothy’s fishbowl and sharing his love with her in the short video “Elmo’s World: Happy Holidays.” “Cute” doesn’t even begin to cover it.
As a neophyte filmmaker, Elmo creates a mini-movie of Dorothy in her bowl, complete with wavy, hand-held camera angles, called “Dorothy in Water.”
The best one is the creature-filled world that Dorothy imagines from inside her goldfish bowl. The alligator and elephant in the song “Tickle Me Land” aren’t nearly as sweet as Lillian’s Mopey and Nellie, though.
I still like Gracie’s world much better. Am I biased? Yup.
Gracie and Heather Conn will appear at a fun event Dec. 5 in Sechelt, BC to support kids with special needs. As part of a fundraiser for Kids In Motion, a program run by the Sunshine Coast Community Services Society, they’re going to join about a dozen local craftspeople and home party vendors and sell their wares.
Ten per cent of the sales of Gracie’s Got a Secret will go towards this important community initiative.
Join Gracie, Heather, and others from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Community Services Building, 5638 Inlet Avenue. For further information about the event, contact Liz or Merrily at the Infant Development Program at 604-885-5881.