The Winnipeg reading

...with Judith Krause at McNally Robinson was a great time! Thanks to everyone who came out. And Ariel provided the biggest and best chocolate layer cake ever!

We got in to Winnipeg late last night. Ariel told us to meet her and M at the gates of the Assiniboine Forest at 9 am sharp. I checked the forecast and told her Winnipeg was in for 15-25 mm of rain. She said we'd hike anyway. She'd provide me with a hat.

Here's Ariel and me after 1 1/2 hours of hiking in the rain. I was soaked to the skin. My shoes were squishing. I had to wring out my socks.


After the hike Ariel awarded me a wonderful yogurt/lemon zest muffin for being so quiet and well mannered.

Ariel set up a wonderful dim sum gathering for noon. The food was excellent, but nothing compared to the company. What a fun table of writers! At the end of the meal Ariel slid a napkin covered object over to me. It turned out to be a beautiful horseshoe!


It feels lucky. Anita, a writer with two books currently shortlisted for a major award and a horse owner with connections in the horse world, came up with the horseshoe at Ariel's request. It's off a horse named Willie.

After dim sum Ariel gave us a tour of Aqua Books. Wow. We will definitely be stopping there every time we visit Winnipeg.

Here's a few pics H took at the reading.

Here's me trying a flowery tea.



Here's me reading.



Here's Judith and me signing.



And here's the cake! A Cantos cake!




Thanks to Ariel for the cake and everything else. What a great day.