I experienced a first of sorts this past week. The older you get, it’s harder to have firsts. But this was like my adult version of being potty trained, or experiencing a first kiss;:I had my first book tour.
I’ve traveled all over Canada and beyond thanks to my books – it’s been one of the great and unexpected pleasures of novel writing. But I’ve never had a book tour. It was what I guess most authors more versed in the world of touring would call a mini book tour – 5 days – but it was a milestone pour moi.
Calgary, Indigo Crossiron
And what made this tour so exceptional was the fact that our publicists at Penguin Random House had the inspired idea of sending two of us on tour together. In this case, the Susa/ins – me, and the wonderfully talented, hilariously funny Susan Juby. She’s recently launched her exceptional new YA novel, “The Truth Commission,” and my new YA novel “We Are All Made of Molecules” hit shelves this week.
I’ve known Susan for about ten years, and we already knew we liked each other a lot. She’s toured many times before, so I felt like I was riding on her coat tails a bit – but what coat tails! It made touring so much fun, having someone to hang out with, share the highs (like being interviewed by Shelagh Rogers for CBC’s The Next Chapter) and the lows (that inevitable crappy school event, or the evening event where numbers aren’t, perhaps, quite what everyone had hoped). Here, in pictures, are the highlights of our tour.
Display at Indigo Cross iron Calgary
We started in Calgary, where we did a bunch of stock signings and and some radio interviews. In the evening we went to Indigo Cross Iron for a book signing.
My book as staff pick beside some serious abs
Afterward we headed to the airport for the red-eye to Toronto, to make our Shelagh Rogers interview the next day. This is one of those moments where it’s really nice to have a travel companion! Here I am “prepping” for the trip in a bar ahead of time. 
(Prepping in more ways than one. That pint of beer helped).
In Toronto we had a whirlwind-y blast. Interviewed by Shelagh, then to a really great meet and greet with a bunch of book bloggers, people I’ve “known” in cyber space but now could put faces to names. Another highlight for sure.
In the CBC studio
The Susa/ins with the book bloggers at Random House HQ
That night we had an evening signing at the Chapters in Brampton. Next morning it was off to do some school visits, arranged by the fabulous Eleanor at Mabel’s Fables. These were terrific events with tons of enthusiasm and, yes, book sales! We then headed to the National Post where we did a fun video interview with the lovely Anna Fitzpatrick. The link is here, and it’s hilarious, a game of Truth or Dare. Then a quick dinner with our publishing teams before being whisked away to the North York Public Library for a really terrific evening event, moderated by Anna F. We owe a huge thanks to CANSCAIP for bringing out a whole whack of members to the evening – our biggest crowd of the week!
The Susans at North York PL
On Thursday morning we took an early flight to Ottawa. Here’s proof, Susan giggling in her aisle seat.
We both did a school visit. Afterward we actually had a few hours to ourselves, so we got our first exercise of the trip, going for a fast walk down by the river.
Taking double selfies
In the evening we had a good event at Carlingwood Branch, moderated by two fantastic teen readers.
Susan and I with Laura and Jesse
Other highlights of the week – I got to catch up with friends and family seldom seen. My mom and stepdad and niece in Toronto (forgot to get a photo!). A friend’s son and his dad at one of the schools I visited. Others elsewhere.
With Jessalyn Coombe and Mark Haroun in Calgary
With the hilarious Joanne Levy in Brampton
With my dear Uncle Sandy and Aunt Caroline in Brampton
Me in a found Clifford head
Susan in Ottawa with a jaunty new hat
And the biggest highlight of all was just hanging out with Susan. When we got tired, or hungry, or nervous, we could always make each other laugh.
I have to say this was a really inspired idea for so many reasons. It was great fun for Susan and I. It meant we could bring out more people because there were two of us, and we could get more media attention than we ever would have on our own (well I shouldn’t speak for Susan, but certainly for me!). Thanks again to our publicists for thinking of it, and for treating us so well. And a special thanks to Susan Juby for putting up with me!
