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Milksop‘s report from the front lines of book promotion: “I had a fabulous time at the Indigo-North London store! Thanks to the 30-odd patrons who took a chance on my somewhat odd coming-of-age story. Mind you, my author’s smile seems forced and his face very red. Could it be that, like Victor Frankenstein, he’s horrified of the monster he’s created? As in Victor’s case, it’s too late. Too late!”
One more stop on Milksop‘s September tour of southwestern Ontario! Sunday, September 27, from noon until 5 pm, he and I will be at the Indigo North London store accosting potential readers with his sob story.
As it happens, that’s also alumni weekend for Western University, and I’m an alum from back when it was called the University of Western Ontario. Why they changed the name, it makes no sense to me. I want to ask, “West of what?” The term is geographically unmoored now, simply alluding to some vague concept of “westness.”
Regardless, if you’re in the area because you live nearby or because you’re there for alumni weekend, please stop by for a signed Milksop and a chat! 
Though reluctant, even frightened, this intrepid author braved four-lane highways filled with insane drivers and traversed hills and dales to confront (sorry, I mean “meet”) real readers at the Eden Mills Writers Festival. After all, it was Eden: what could go wrong?
After a taste of author paradise in which he and Milksop received unwarranted praise, he cast himself out, worried that he might be offered fruit from some forbidden tree. Or that Milksop would be that fruit being offered to readers, that the author was actually the serpent in that story, after all, birthing all sorts of misery into the world.
Dear Milksop readers, my apologies!
(A huge thanks to those who stopped by and to my publisher Alanna Rusnak of Chicken House Press for supporting Milksop.)
On Sunday, September 20, my publisher Chicken House Press will have a booth at the Eden Mills Writers Festival.
Please find me there! It’ll likely be a “Where’s Waldo” situation. Either that, or Milksop and I will be lost. Bring sniffer dogs. 🤓
(Hint: I’ll be signing copies of Milksop between 1 and 2 pm at site 18 on Publisher’s Way.)
Had a great time yesterday (Sept. 16) taking Milksop to Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show.
Visited some calves and met some readers.
I’m now imagining Milksop at the homes of a dozen or so good folks in and around Oxford County, hoping he’s behaving like a good guest 
A big thanks to Shannon of Commonplace Books in Ingersoll for this invitation!
Milksop continues its September world tour! Well, its tour of southwestern Ontario, at least .
On Wednesday, September 16, from 1 to 5 pm, I’ll be signing copies of Milksop at Oxford County’s Outdoor Farm Show, where Ingersoll’s Commonplace Books will have a booth.
Could there be a place where Milksop would feel more at home than at a farm show? And is there a better way to spend a September Wednesday afternoon than at a fall fair?
Stop by if you can make it
Thanks primarily to the marketing skills of my daughter-in-law Kaleigh Leger, I sold 22 copies of Milksop during a signing event at Indigo in south London on September 5.
Mind you, I soon worried that these 22 humans–no longer an abstraction of the ideal reader–might be disappointed when they dove into my book.
Overwhelmed by this fear, I began to question all my life choices, first and foremost writing this novel.
In my latest ODD post, Milksop Hits the Road: September Book Signings, I share news of where my debut novel and I will be putting ourselves our there for readers in southwestern Ontario.
Here’s a taste of the post: “Vacation’s over for Milksop! While it recently had a train trip to Ottawa and a holiday in Gatineau, in September my little coming-of-age novel will be coming of age visiting two Indigo bookstores, as well as a farm show and a writing festival. I’ll be chaperoning and signing copies. If you’re in the area for any of these events, we’d love to see you!”
Check out the details. Remember, too, that ODD is all free, all the time.
On Monday, June 22, I was interviewed about Milksop by Andrew Brown on CBC London Morning. Had a great time sharing about my novel’s London connections. I don’t think I made a fool of myself, but you be the judge. You can listen to the six-minute interview here.
A follow-up story was also published at the CBC website: “London-area author draws on Huron County farm experience for debut novel.” In the transcript, you can see how often I say “kind of” and “sort of” when I’m nervous.
BTW, that’s me on the Laurier Secondary School cross country team, standing beside my coach Bob Lucas–one of the many experiences that influenced Milksop.
Hometown boy makes good? On Monday, June 22, at 7:30 am, I’m going to be interviewed on CBC London Morning with Andrew Brown. My radio debut on behalf of Milksop!
That’s Andrew. He looks friendly enough as an interviewer, don’t you think?
If you’re in the London area, you can listen in at 93.5 FM (CBCL-FM). Further away? You can use the CBC Listen app. Want to sleep in rather than hear me prattle on nervously about my novel? The interview will be posted later that morning, and I’ll share the link.
Either this will be my 6 minutes of fame (I’ve not been granted 15), or I’ll make a fool of myself. Both options might be entertaining: please tune in!
