It was amazing, during the recent Big Cut (that is, no telephone, internet, Visa, Mastercard and debit outage for four days) to discover how quickly things fall apart. Without the phone lines, there's no communication into or out of the store without actual people being involved; without the Internet, well you can just imagine. And without the credit and debit cards, we had to resort to cash (remember cash?). But ever stalwart, you didn't complain. I thank you all for your
understanding and kindness during this particularly challenging time. (Yes, it was Moonlight Magic; yes it was the Santa Claus Parade; and yes, the Festival of Northern Lights were turned on.)
Now, we're baa-ack and clickety-clacking ever so rapidly into the holiday season with a moving train in the window and lots of great books moving out. And there will be more new books from The Ginger Press before Christmas! Est, The Story of a Bear Twice-told, another beautiful full colour children's story by Brian Barrie and Bonita Johnson de Matteis, just left for the printers; Brigit's Story by Stella Keenan McPeak should be out of here today; Duffy's Tavern: A Memoir with Recipes by Eleanore Ruck will follow shortly. Don't worry - there will be launch parties for all of them and you, esteemed reader, will be invited. And...
2:00 Saturday December 4
Wildlife artist George McLean will be here to sign copies of his beautiful new book George McLean: The Living Landscape. Thirty years ago, in my bookshop which was then located in the booming metropolis of Kilsyth, George was one of the first authors I had in for an autographing session. And what a session it was! We were reminiscing recently - and we will tell you the stories on December 4. Autographed copies of George's book ($60) can be reserved now (376-4233) if you are unable to attend. And check out the exhibition of George's work at the Tom - it's a 45-year retrospective of this remarkable local artist.
11:00-3:00 Saturday December 11
The Annual Authors Open House with a pride of local authors including Bruce Brigham, Jonathon Jackson, Bonita Johnson de Matteis, Stella Keenan McPeak, Donna Mann, Rachel Oliver, Laura Robinson, Robbie Robinson, Richard Thomas, Mabel Brown Williamson, Eric Zweig and many more. Please join us to meet the authors, learn about their books, get autographed copies for everyone on your gift list and enjoy excellent munchies from our kitchen.
See you soon,
Maryann
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Monday, November 15, 2010
Canada’s oldest living author launches new book!
Marion Fields Wyllie was first published at the age of 13, when the Toronto Globe printed one of her poems in 1919. It was the start of a writing career that has spanned ten decades, and may be the longest in Canadian writing history.
On Tuesday October 26, 2010 Mrs. Wyllie celebrated her 104th birthday with the launch of her new book of short stories The Tree and Other Stories, published by The Ginger Press in Owen Sound. “We are thrilled to be publishing Marion’s latest work,” says Maryann Thomas of The Ginger Press, which also published Wyllie’s autobiography, My Nine Lives, a delightful collection of her memories and observances from a long and busy life, on her 100th birthday in 2006. "This remarkable writer continues to provide us with stories which bring to life the last 100 years in our region."
Marion Wyllie’s love of the printed word led to a career in the newspaper business in 1925, when she began working at the Toronto Telegram as a copyholder and proofreader. She later worked at the Owen Sound Sun Times. In 1954 Marion helped found what is today Community Living, an organization devoted to helping challenged children and adults. In the 1970s, Marion was a religious columnist for the seniors’ magazine 50+, and a lay preacher serving eleven churches. In 1981, at the age of 75, Marion founded the Grey Bruce Writers, a group she continues to attend.
Her long list of accomplishments has not gone unnoticed. Earlier this month Marion received the Owen Sound Cultural Award in the literary category, an honor she was awarded with the unanimous approval of the jury.
Autographed copies of The Tree ($15) and other books by Marion Fields Wyllie are available from The Ginger Press Bookshop in Owen Sound or (519) 376-4233 or maryann@gingerpress.com
On Tuesday October 26, 2010 Mrs. Wyllie celebrated her 104th birthday with the launch of her new book of short stories The Tree and Other Stories, published by The Ginger Press in Owen Sound. “We are thrilled to be publishing Marion’s latest work,” says Maryann Thomas of The Ginger Press, which also published Wyllie’s autobiography, My Nine Lives, a delightful collection of her memories and observances from a long and busy life, on her 100th birthday in 2006. "This remarkable writer continues to provide us with stories which bring to life the last 100 years in our region."
Marion Wyllie’s love of the printed word led to a career in the newspaper business in 1925, when she began working at the Toronto Telegram as a copyholder and proofreader. She later worked at the Owen Sound Sun Times. In 1954 Marion helped found what is today Community Living, an organization devoted to helping challenged children and adults. In the 1970s, Marion was a religious columnist for the seniors’ magazine 50+, and a lay preacher serving eleven churches. In 1981, at the age of 75, Marion founded the Grey Bruce Writers, a group she continues to attend.
Her long list of accomplishments has not gone unnoticed. Earlier this month Marion received the Owen Sound Cultural Award in the literary category, an honor she was awarded with the unanimous approval of the jury.
Autographed copies of The Tree ($15) and other books by Marion Fields Wyllie are available from The Ginger Press Bookshop in Owen Sound or (519) 376-4233 or maryann@gingerpress.com
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
The Making of Slap Shot
The Making of Slap Shot by local author Jonathon Jackson will be launched on Saturday October 23 at 3:00 pm at The Ginger Press in Owen Sound. This book provides a behind-the-scenes look at "the greatest hockey movie ever made," according to Jackson. Published more than thirty years after the release of Slap Shot, it describes how the film was made, based on interviews with more than 50 cast members, production staff and others involved with the movie.
Veteran sports writer Jonathon Jackson was far too young to see Slap Shot when it played at the Owen Sound's Roxy Theatre in the summer of 1977. But he was old enough to read his brother's copy of the screen play, which sparked his lifelong interest in the movie. Today, Slap Shot's continuing popularity attests to the movie's memorable scenes and characters, especially the beloved Hanson brothers and player-coach Reggie Dunlop. Based on a real character, Dunlop was played by Paul Newman, who has been quoted as saying, "This is one of my favorite movies."
The movie Slap Shot is a cult classic. The film was supposed to be an ironic satire of pro hockey in the 1970s. At the time, many thought it to be a violent and outrageous sport, and the film was more or less intended to lampoon hockey for its ridiculousness. But something happened that was likely unintended: a real sense of fun came through in the film, helping the movie, in the ultimate irony, to be accepted by the hockey community rather than scorned. Hockey fans and players, not realizing that the movie was trying to poke fun at them, ate it up. As hockey evolved and moved away from the goon scene of the '70s, people began to long for those days, for "old time hockey." The satire, over time, became a celebration.
Autographed copies of The Making of Slap Shot ($29.95) can be reserved at 376-4233 if you are unable to attend the book launch.
For more information contact
Maryann Thomas
The Ginger Press
848 Second Avenue East
Owen Sound ON N4K 2H3
maryann@gingerpress.com
Veteran sports writer Jonathon Jackson was far too young to see Slap Shot when it played at the Owen Sound's Roxy Theatre in the summer of 1977. But he was old enough to read his brother's copy of the screen play, which sparked his lifelong interest in the movie. Today, Slap Shot's continuing popularity attests to the movie's memorable scenes and characters, especially the beloved Hanson brothers and player-coach Reggie Dunlop. Based on a real character, Dunlop was played by Paul Newman, who has been quoted as saying, "This is one of my favorite movies."
The movie Slap Shot is a cult classic. The film was supposed to be an ironic satire of pro hockey in the 1970s. At the time, many thought it to be a violent and outrageous sport, and the film was more or less intended to lampoon hockey for its ridiculousness. But something happened that was likely unintended: a real sense of fun came through in the film, helping the movie, in the ultimate irony, to be accepted by the hockey community rather than scorned. Hockey fans and players, not realizing that the movie was trying to poke fun at them, ate it up. As hockey evolved and moved away from the goon scene of the '70s, people began to long for those days, for "old time hockey." The satire, over time, became a celebration.
Autographed copies of The Making of Slap Shot ($29.95) can be reserved at 376-4233 if you are unable to attend the book launch.
For more information contact
Maryann Thomas
The Ginger Press
848 Second Avenue East
Owen Sound ON N4K 2H3
maryann@gingerpress.com
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Dinner with Dr. Sat Dharam Kaur
Naturopathic doctor Sat Dharam Kaur has a worldwide reputation for her work in the prevention and treatment of breast cancer. She regularly teaches in New Mexico, Alberta and Toronto and is the author of The Complete Natural Medicine Guide to Breast Cancer: A Practical Manual for Understanding, Prevention and Care.
Dr. Kaur will be the keynote speaker at a special dinner featuring foods she recommends for breast health at The Ginger Press at 6:00pm Friday October 15. “The better we understand the origins of this disease, the better our ability to prevent it,” says Dr. Kaur. Using the most recent research studies, and clinical studies, she provides accessible information on environmental risks, detoxifying programs and natural medicines. She will explain the importance of specific foods and exercise, particularly Yoga, to health during the meal.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Dr. Kaur's approach to breast cancer is to provide natural medicine strategies which complement conventional medical treatments and promote recovery. Her approach is “extraordinary, comprehensive and compassion,” says Dr. Carolyn De Marco, MD.
The Dinner with Dr. Sat Dharam Kaur is a remarkable opportunity to learn practical and effective approaches to health in an informal and supportive setting. Reservations ($25) required at 376-4233.
- Maryann
Dr. Kaur will be the keynote speaker at a special dinner featuring foods she recommends for breast health at The Ginger Press at 6:00pm Friday October 15. “The better we understand the origins of this disease, the better our ability to prevent it,” says Dr. Kaur. Using the most recent research studies, and clinical studies, she provides accessible information on environmental risks, detoxifying programs and natural medicines. She will explain the importance of specific foods and exercise, particularly Yoga, to health during the meal.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Dr. Kaur's approach to breast cancer is to provide natural medicine strategies which complement conventional medical treatments and promote recovery. Her approach is “extraordinary, comprehensive and compassion,” says Dr. Carolyn De Marco, MD.
The Dinner with Dr. Sat Dharam Kaur is a remarkable opportunity to learn practical and effective approaches to health in an informal and supportive setting. Reservations ($25) required at 376-4233.
- Maryann
Sunday, September 19, 2010
One Man and His Garden
This summer, in the heart of Owen Sound, a transformation was achieved. And I was privileged enough to watch it. At the beginning of the gardening season, a man was gifted with a plot in a nearby allotment garden. I say at the beginning because this truly was the start – it was February and he started with a thorough investigation of seeds, growing seasons and plant requirements. Then he went inside himself and investigated his own, previously unacknowledged, food preferences. Did he really like tomatoes? Were carrots on his list of favorites? Was the thought of growing a rutabaga evoking some early childhood memory?
Now let me be clear – this offered garden was not big. It would require careful and judicious choices, almost as important as many life decisions: What plants would grow well together? What could be harvested early making way for later opportunities? Which vegetables could best withstand his unskilled but loving care?
Finally, the planting season was upon us. Seeds were placed in the earth according to the instructions on their individual packets. Days of careful inspections followed, resulted in nothing consequential. Internet research showed what carrot seedlings should look like. Could he have planted too soon? Too deep? Too shallow? Could he have watered too little? Too much? Caring for these small energy bundles was a deep and loving responsibility. And then, one glorious day, they appeared. Rows of recognizable seedlings burst through the ground cover exactly where he had planted the seeds. Joy does not begin to describe his elation.
Watching this new gardener grow through the season was amazing. And then he started sharing his produce – the reverential significance of such gifts was impossible to ignore. Maybe rutabaga wasn't his thing after all, but the second one went to someone who hadn't had one for years. The tomatoes, harvested before they barely had to chance to blush, were presented with amazement. The carrots, in their twisted bright orange glory, became soups and salads for weeks.
Then it was over. Everything was harvested well before even the threat of frost. Would he do it again? Absolutely! Would he do it the same way? Absolutely not. Now, with a successful first season under his thumb, this gardener will spend the winter poring over books, catalogues and blogs.
One of Eddie Sargent's favorite quotes was, “God gave us memories so we could have roses in December.” I think this gardener would replace the “roses” with “gardens.”
With thanks to the United Way of Bruce & Grey for providing garden space to our gardener and thanks also to our first-timer downtown gardener who provided so many of us with the vicarious pleasure of his great success.
Maryann
Now let me be clear – this offered garden was not big. It would require careful and judicious choices, almost as important as many life decisions: What plants would grow well together? What could be harvested early making way for later opportunities? Which vegetables could best withstand his unskilled but loving care?
Finally, the planting season was upon us. Seeds were placed in the earth according to the instructions on their individual packets. Days of careful inspections followed, resulted in nothing consequential. Internet research showed what carrot seedlings should look like. Could he have planted too soon? Too deep? Too shallow? Could he have watered too little? Too much? Caring for these small energy bundles was a deep and loving responsibility. And then, one glorious day, they appeared. Rows of recognizable seedlings burst through the ground cover exactly where he had planted the seeds. Joy does not begin to describe his elation.
Watching this new gardener grow through the season was amazing. And then he started sharing his produce – the reverential significance of such gifts was impossible to ignore. Maybe rutabaga wasn't his thing after all, but the second one went to someone who hadn't had one for years. The tomatoes, harvested before they barely had to chance to blush, were presented with amazement. The carrots, in their twisted bright orange glory, became soups and salads for weeks.
Then it was over. Everything was harvested well before even the threat of frost. Would he do it again? Absolutely! Would he do it the same way? Absolutely not. Now, with a successful first season under his thumb, this gardener will spend the winter poring over books, catalogues and blogs.
One of Eddie Sargent's favorite quotes was, “God gave us memories so we could have roses in December.” I think this gardener would replace the “roses” with “gardens.”
With thanks to the United Way of Bruce & Grey for providing garden space to our gardener and thanks also to our first-timer downtown gardener who provided so many of us with the vicarious pleasure of his great success.
Maryann
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Water, Water
Here in Owen Sound, we used to take our safe, fresh water for granted. Without hesitation, we drank from the taps; we swam in our harbour; and we proudly showed off our waterfalls and our rivers. But things have changed. We are learning to become cautious and protective about this natural resource.
On September 25 at 2:00pm at the Peninsula Shore District School in Wiarton, well-known activist Maude Barlow will speak on “The Global Water Crisis and the Coming Battle for the Right to Water.” Sponsored by the Bruce Peninsula Environmental Group, this talk will explore the relationship between water usage and availability. People are thirsty: every 15 seconds a child dies from lack of access to clean drinking water while in North America the average person uses 160 gallons per day. Experts predict we will run out of water before oil! For tickets ($25) contact Linda Thorn at 534-9486.
On Saturday September 18 at 10:00 am at Sauble Beach, there will be an event called Walk, Pray, Water. Hosted by Sat Dharam Kaur, ND, this is an opportunity for spiritually minded people of all faiths to experience a water blessing ceremony from the First Nations tradition, a prayer circle and a walking meditation to encourage the protection of the planet's water. Everyone is welcome to be part of Walk, Pray, Water. For more information contact Sat Dharam Kaur at 372-9212.
Recently, as remnants of Earl blew through Owen Sound, we experienced some very heavy rainfall. It's hard for us to imagine water ever being a scare commodity. But things are changing.
On September 25 at 2:00pm at the Peninsula Shore District School in Wiarton, well-known activist Maude Barlow will speak on “The Global Water Crisis and the Coming Battle for the Right to Water.” Sponsored by the Bruce Peninsula Environmental Group, this talk will explore the relationship between water usage and availability. People are thirsty: every 15 seconds a child dies from lack of access to clean drinking water while in North America the average person uses 160 gallons per day. Experts predict we will run out of water before oil! For tickets ($25) contact Linda Thorn at 534-9486.
On Saturday September 18 at 10:00 am at Sauble Beach, there will be an event called Walk, Pray, Water. Hosted by Sat Dharam Kaur, ND, this is an opportunity for spiritually minded people of all faiths to experience a water blessing ceremony from the First Nations tradition, a prayer circle and a walking meditation to encourage the protection of the planet's water. Everyone is welcome to be part of Walk, Pray, Water. For more information contact Sat Dharam Kaur at 372-9212.
Recently, as remnants of Earl blew through Owen Sound, we experienced some very heavy rainfall. It's hard for us to imagine water ever being a scare commodity. But things are changing.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Wellness Roadtrip
This is the time of year when our thoughts turn to...well, let's be honest: our thoughts turn to the kids going back to school, giving us the opportunity to regain control over our lives. Even though my kids are long gone, I start thinking about taking some classes and maybe learning some new skills. It's also time to get back into a healthy fitness routine. And there are dozens of ways to do that here in Owen Sound. What do do? Nia? Yoga? Zumba?
If, like me, you're not even sure what these activities are, I have the answer: take the Wellness Roadtrip this Saturday August 28 from 10:00-5:00. The Wellness Roadtrip is a one-day self-guided tour exploring remarkable opportunities for spirit, mind and body here in Owen Sound. Eight venues and over 20 different practitioners will demonstrate, lecture, lead classes and provide product samples in everything from acupuncture to zumba. You can learn to meditate, get a reiki treatment, take a kundalini class, learn about Native healing, sample some gluten-free food and have a shoulder massage...and more! All this for only $15 per person for the whole day.
Based on the popular model of the artists' studio tour, the Wellness Roadtrip provides you with an opportunity to meet some of our best local traditional and alternative healers. It also introduces you to lots of new ways to think about healthy lifestyle. Details of the venues and schedule are at www.wellnessroadtrip.ca. And tickets ($15) are available here at The Ginger Press.
See you Saturday!
Maryann
If, like me, you're not even sure what these activities are, I have the answer: take the Wellness Roadtrip this Saturday August 28 from 10:00-5:00. The Wellness Roadtrip is a one-day self-guided tour exploring remarkable opportunities for spirit, mind and body here in Owen Sound. Eight venues and over 20 different practitioners will demonstrate, lecture, lead classes and provide product samples in everything from acupuncture to zumba. You can learn to meditate, get a reiki treatment, take a kundalini class, learn about Native healing, sample some gluten-free food and have a shoulder massage...and more! All this for only $15 per person for the whole day.
Based on the popular model of the artists' studio tour, the Wellness Roadtrip provides you with an opportunity to meet some of our best local traditional and alternative healers. It also introduces you to lots of new ways to think about healthy lifestyle. Details of the venues and schedule are at www.wellnessroadtrip.ca. And tickets ($15) are available here at The Ginger Press.
See you Saturday!
Maryann
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