Biggest Launch Ever of a Canadian Christian Book

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Nov 092011
 

The Word Guild Members Make Waves with 

Biggest Launch Ever of a Canadian Christian Book

November 7, 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

“Sometimes all you need is a reminder that there is something good in the world. A Second Cup of Hot Apple Cider: Words to Stimulate the Mind and Delight the Spirit is a combination of short stories, poetry, and works of memoir picked for their inspirational nature, dedicated to finding a shining light in our lives that so often turn dark. The stories within are touching and poignant, and will help readers remember that there is something after the worst of it all. A Second Cup of Hot Apple Cider is a follow up to the previous acclaimed volume, and the sequel executes the original’s purpose masterfully.”

Midwest Book Review, June 11, 2011

Markham, Ontario—Thirty-seven Canadian writers are making history by conducting the most extensive launch ever done for a Canadian Christian book. Since A Second Cup of Hot Apple Cider: Words to Stimulate the Mind and Delight the Spirit was released in May, the book’s writers have participated in more than 150 readings and signings in seven provinces.  

A Second Cup of Hot Apple Cider is an all-Canadian book that is receiving five-star reviews. The inspirational collection of stories by writers who share a Christian faith perspective contains short fiction, poetry, and personal experience articles, all of which provide hope and encouragement.

The contributing writers have held launch events at venues ranging from bookstores, public libraries, churches, and conferences to farmers’ markets, craft shows, summer camps, and apple harvest festivals. The authors are carrying out promotional events throughout autumn—the perfect season for relaxing with a heart-warming book while enjoying a cup of hot apple cider. 

Michaels Family Books in Pickering, Ontario, has hosted a number of in-store events featuring readings by some of the Hot Apple Cider writers. Staff member Carrie Jeffrey says, “A Second Cup of Hot Apple Cider is a warm, cozy read on a cold night. Filled with inspirational stories, both fiction and non-fiction, it is guaranteed to identify with readers of all ages. It is so refreshing to have a Canadian-authored book that all Canadians can be proud of! A Second Cup is a wonderful gift—just in time for the Christmas season!” 

Everyone involved in the Hot Apple Cider anthology series is a member of The Word Guild, a national association of almost 400 Canadian writers and editors who are Christian. Editors N. J. Lindquist and Wendy Elaine Nelles co-founded this organization in 2001. 

The first book in this groundbreaking series, Hot Apple Cider: Words to Stir the Heart and Warm the Soul, has nearly 45,000 copies in circulation. A Second Cup is well on its way to bestseller status as well. 

Both books are published in Canada by That’s Life! Communications. 

To download and print free Study Guides for individuals or groups, find out about author signings or readings in your area, or book one of the writers for your store, church, or discussion group, go to their website.

Go here to download the complete release.

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 Posted by Heather McGillivray at 3:37 pm  Tagged with: , , ,

Weekend Watch – Who’s That in Nova Scotia?

 Appearances, Writing  No Responses »
Oct 282011
 

What do frogs, blogs, "gleep" and Hot Apple Cider all have in common? Why, Janet Sketchley, of course!

Janet Sketchley at Miracles Christian Store in Halifax, Nova Scotia, October 22, 2011.

As a member for over eight years, Janet brings a wealth of expertise and affability to the guild. She's big on prayer and putting others first, and it's hard to spend any time with her (through reading her work, in person, by email or facebook) and not be reminded of Philippians 4:5 – Let your gentle spirit be known to all men (NAS).

I asked Janet if she'd be willing to share a little about herself and here's what she had to say:

"Gleep! … God nudged me into blogging with weekly devotionals, and one of the ways I know it was His doing is He's never missed a week in providing the insights for those posts. Sometimes they don't gel until late the night before, but I've learned not to panic. Then I started doing book reviews and discovered a secondary goal of raising awareness of Christian books, especially from Canadian authors. I must have caught that from hanging around in The Word Guild so long!

Something I haven't talked much about yet is that the artwork for my new blog, Speculative, Sporadic… and Slightly Odd is a bit of personal nostalgia. I used to draw these frogs in grade school. Had a big poster at one point, but it's long gone. Later, when my kids were small I made personalized frog birthday cards for family members. Now they're ba-a-ck…

My publishing credits are mostly personal experience, reviews and short fiction, and I'm pleased to have a true-life story in A Second Cup of Hot Apple Cider with so many fine writers. I can't say enough good things about the editing process for this anthology–it was like having a personal writing class.

Behind the scenes, I've been working on novel-length Christian fiction for so long that my first characters are now old enough to drive (well, they would be if they'd actually been born instead of appearing in my brain). I've been getting some encouraging feedback on them and I hope one day to hold the printed copies in my hands." 

To find out more about Janet's appearance in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia this weekend and other TWG appearances be sure to visit the Appearances page. We'll bring more Word Guild members to life in the weeks to come.
 

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 Posted by Heather McGillivray at 11:02 am  Tagged with: , , , , ,

Full Circle

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Apr 162011
 

When Marguerite Cummings, praying mom to two beloved children, came to Canada from Europe—pregnant with her first child—little did she know her involvement with the first moms to greet her would take her down a prayer journey leading all the way back (twelve years later) to the same church and a burgeoning group of moms, to talk about her story in A Second Cup of Hot Apple Cider. 

If you're anywhere near Thornhill, Ontario, Tuesday morning (sorry guys–moms only), Marguerite will be sharing with The Moms Morning Out Group about her writing experiences, life as a 'praying mom,' and her involvement with A Second Cup. The rest of us will be able to read all about it in the book.

Childcare will be provided, as well as goodwill and a good time! You'll find directions to the church on the Appearances page.

Be sure to let us know where your next speaking engagement is taking you.

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 Posted by Heather McGillivray at 6:49 pm  Tagged with: , , ,

Meanwhile, Back at the Farm…

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Apr 132011
 
 
 
Wendy Elaine Nelles grew up on her family's century farm in Norfolk County, Ontario, an agricultural community hugging the shores of Lake Erie that calls itself "Ontario's Garden" because of its bountiful crops of fruit, vegetables and grain. Wendy is the seventh generation of her family on the farm, which was a large dairy and maple syrup operation until her father retired.
 
 
 
"That's where I got my first experience public speaking: as a child leading tours of customers or classes of school kids around the maple sugar house while my Dad stoked the evaporator with firewood and that sweet-smelling steam swirled round our heads," she recalls. So this spring, there's nowhere she'd rather launch another sweet product, A Second Cup of Hot Apple Cider, than at her family's farm. 
 
Wendy will be hosting an open house at Woodhaze Farms, 3290 Cockshutt Road, near the hamlet of Boston (between Brantford and Port Dover) on Saturday, May 7, between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. She's looking forward to family, friends and neighbours from the community dropping by for a cup of tea, homemade cookies, and an autographed copy of the book.
 
Wendy–who's invested most of the past 10 years in building up the Christian writing community in Canada through co-founding The Word Guild, directing Write! Canada conferences, mentoring writers, and editing the Hot Apple Cider anthology series along with N. J. Lindquist–divides her time between the farm and her place in downtown Toronto. 
 
"I'm thrilled to see the enthusiasm building around A Second Cup of Hot Apple Cider," she says. "The first book was groundbreaking, and the second book has set the bar even higher. A lot more readers are going to discover that Canadian writers who are Christian have some wonderful faith-building stories to share, and our 37 writers are working together as a team to get this encouraging, hope-filled book into the hands of people across Canada."
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 Posted by Heather McGillivray at 4:01 pm  Tagged with: , , ,

Over the Air Waves Even

 Appearances  No Responses »
Apr 112011
 

If you're anything like me, you might be feeling as though all the excitement is passing you by at breakneck speeds. Book launches and signings are happening across the country, but if you don't happen to live anywhere near one you can only dream…

Unless, of course, you tune in over the internet!

 

Writer, singer/songwriter, teacher and gifted speaker Donna Dawson will be live on Faith FM (94.3 FM), May 12 at 9 p.m., on "Words to Inspire," with Ruth Coghill.

We know Donna will have A Second Cup full of inspiring words to spice up your evening.

 

 

If you're anywhere near Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, on April 21, be sure to tune into CHAB radio's "Heartland at Noon" program from noon till 12:30 p.m., for an interview with Dr. Kevin Dautremont.

Kevin is one of the authors showcased in A Second Cup of Hot Apple Cider. 

 

 

And give a listen to accomplished novelist and A Second Cup of Hot Apple Cider contributor Gloria V. Phillips Thursday, April 28, as she goes on the air with John Nichols and the CHATS Program on Peak FM - 95.1 FM, just after the 9 a.m. news.

 

 

 

Listen live over the internet from anywhere in the world (just be sure to check your time zone). We hope you'll mark your calendar and tune in if you can.

Let us know about your speaking engagements.

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 Posted by Heather McGillivray at 10:25 pm  Tagged with: , , , ,

On The Road Again…

 Appearances, Writing  No Responses »
Apr 082011
 

What do a mid-life, menopausal blogging journey-er; a missionary nurse, teacher, writer, publisher; a singing, song writing, home schooling novelist and a small hamlet dwelling, inspirational writer and speaker have in common?

Writing, of course! Not to mention, a heaping helping of adventure-itis, and A Second Cup of Hot Apple Cider on the side.

If you want to find out which of these gals belongs to each identity, you'll have to check out their blogs. Better yet–why not mosey on over to the Lucan Library and get to know them in person?

You'll find Donna Dawson,

 Denise Rumble,

 Ruth Smith Meyer,

 

 and Jeannie Lockerbie Stephenson, 

 

 

 

at the Lucan Library, in Lucan, Ontario, Monday, May 2, at 7 p.m. They'll be there to launch A Second Cup of Hot Apple Cider, sign copies and have a great time together. Most of all, they'd love for you to drop in and join the party.

Donna, Denise, Ruth and Jeannie are four of the infamous 'Group of Five' gaining momentum in south-western Ontario. Stay tuned to meet the fifth member of the group and find out more about these authors' whereabouts.

 

 

Don't forget to let us know where your writing adventures are taking you.

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 Posted by Heather McGillivray at 8:07 pm  Tagged with: , , ,

A Second Cup of Hot Apple Cider is Heating Up All Over

 Appearances  No Responses »
Apr 022011
 

The heart-stirring anthologies are still hot off the press, and already they've been warming souls from Girls Night Out events across the country. Authors are gearing up for the national book launch (April 30 to May 7) with appearances, readings and book signings in area libraries and book stores.

Why not drop in to The Book Keeper at the Northgate Plaza in Sarnia on May 7 from 1 -2 p.m., if you're in the area? Enjoy a cup of hot apple cider and cookies–and meet authors Ann Brent and Denise Rumble.

To keep up with launches and book signings near you, visit the Meet Us page of the Hot Apple Cider site. Be sure to bring a friend or two, and tell them we sent you.

See you there!

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 Posted by Heather McGillivray at 6:06 pm  Tagged with: , , ,
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