ShortHand Publishing - December 2003 Memo

December 2003

I’m finding it difficult remembering we are in December, where did the year go? However, we are in the last month of yet another year and what a year it has been. I did some things I never dreamt I would do. It has definitely been a year of learning and the learning certainly continued in November.

Before I go on let me say, I have made a decision regarding these memos. Instead of continuing the way I’ve done them this year, beginning with the January memo I will be writing it and posting it during the last week of the month. This way you’ll be able to read about what was going on during January IN January.

Besides, there won’t be a lot going on in December. With the schools being closed for two weeks it will give me time to work on other things. One of which is, I’m in the middle of designing a Web site for a church group that has been desperate for a site. With no one else stepping forward and with FrontPage, the program I use to edit our site, making it so easy (or so they say) to create your own Web site I figured I’d give it a try.

After a lot of hit and miss I have finally come up with something that is going to meet their needs. As with our own site I’m sure over the months their site will grow as I continue to learn more every day. Who would have thought back in May of 2003 that I would be able to design a site for someone else, when I barely understood what George, (not his real name) was saying to me about our site when he was creating it.

Anyway, look for the January memo during the last week and I’m sure I’ll have lots to share with you then. In the meantime let’s get on with our last memo for 2003. Grab a warm drink and get comfy and let’s get started.

For a very long time now I’ve been debating whether or not to get a digital Camera and being as my birthday was in November, I decided now was the time. Because Mom never knows what to get me, she said she would make a contribution to the cost of the camera and it would be her gift to me.

Knowing very little about digital cameras I went to a store where I knew I could trust the sales person. It’s funny how things can become routine to a person when they know what they're talking about. I had a list of questions but not having any experience with digital cameras there were a few things I didn’t ask about. Once I got home I did what anybody would do when they have a new toy -- I played around with it. And then I got busy doing other things for a couple of days and when I went to take a picture of the snow that was falling so beautifully, the camera was dead. I looked in the manual and checked everything I could think of. Finally I had to call the store and ask what was going on. It was explained to me that the alkaline batteries that come with the camera do not last long. When I stated, “It’s only been a couple of days.”

I was told, “You’re lucky you got that much time out of them.”

I have learned alkaline batteries are not meant to last very long and what you need is rechargeable batteries. Well, that was another lesson learned; I have to learn to ask more questions. I was told about a special that was on which included a rebate if I purchased the rechargeable batteries during a certain period of time. So, off we headed, back to Vernon. A short time later, with two sets of batteries, I was ready to go.

What I really like about the digital camera as opposed to a film camera, besides the fact that you can see how the picture you just took looks, is now I can take pictures at an author visit, come home, write the report and then post it along with the pictures at the same time. All without having to wait to get the film developed and then post the pictures perhaps a month after the visit.

I’m not sure what transpired to make me think of getting my kids’ books into WAL-MART, however, once the thought occurred to me, I acted on it. As it turns out, it was on a day that would have been my dad’s birthday when we met with Doug Buckingham, manager of the Vernon WAL-MART store.

Doug couldn’t have been nicer, complementing the books and saying that he’d give them a try for a couple months. He asked me if I had a sign that could stand beside the display. I told him I could have one in a few days. Then, I was to bring in 50 to 100 copies of each book and he would display them in the store and see how they’d do.

Doug warned me not too get excited, he also said that this would be the first step in getting the books into the store chain wide. Little does he know, I learned a long time ago not to count my chickens before they’re hatched.

Once I got home I phoned Sue, the lady who printed our books for us and asked her about posters. To my dismay she said she couldn’t print anything as large as what we would need. She gave me the names of a couple of places I might try. In the meantime I e-mailed my editor, knowing how busy he is, I held out little hope of him being able to advise me on how the sign should look. Then I e-mailed a friend of mine, who does design work for a living, but she is just as busy as Ed and I wondered if I would get any help at all.

I called a few of the places Sue recommended and was given other places to call as they too couldn’t do anything as large as we needed. One of the places I called was Vernon Graphics and my search was over.

It never ceases to amaze me when things are meant to be, they have a way of working out. Considering it was about 8 p.m. when I called Vernon Graphics, I was surprised that anyone was still there.

We talked about what I needed and I was told it would be no problem. Now I had to make a rough copy of what I wanted and send it to them for revising, if any was needed.

While I waited to hear from Ed, I began to work on designing the poster myself. My designer friend was busy on a rush job of her own but still found the time to offer a few suggestions. With her advice I completed the poster that day. I sent her a copy and she replied back saying, “See, you don’t need me, you did great on your own.” But I still couldn’t have done it without her, Thanks, Susan! J

I sent the poster off to Vernon Graphics and was told that no changes were needed and I should pop in Friday to proof their copy. (Now they had to do it on a larger scale than mine.) Which we did and there was only one small change they needed to make. As we waited for the fellow to find something out for us I nudged Mom and said, “See that guy there, we know him, don’t we?”

Just then a lady came out of the back that I knew we knew. At the same time as we recognized her, Gwen said with a smile, “Ahh, you found me.” I didn’t tell her we hadn’t been looking for her. We have known Gwen since she had a coping place in Kelowna, I used to get all my things copied there until I got my scanner.

I knew Gwen had moved to Vernon but never thought much about it as I wouldn’t be driving from Kelowna to Vernon for my coping needs. I was pleased however that we did find her, even if by accident. I always like doing business with someone who I know and can trust. We headed for home feeling good.

Later that night I had an e-mail from Ed with his suggestions for the poster, oh well, better late than never. I knew I’d take his advice the next time, which would be sooner than I thought.

Once the books had been delivered to WAL-MART I could concentrate on the two author visits we had the week of the twenty-fourth. The first visit was our first return visit and the second one was the first visit we would have in Kelowna. You can read more about these visits under the “News” tab.

Since the second visit was the day after my birthday Mom and I decided to stop at Boston Pizza in Vernon for our traditional birthday dinner. However this year would not be the same as years past.

For the last seven or more years we have gone to Boston Pizza for wings with a dear lady who was one of the first people we met after moving to Kelowna. This, one of a kind lady, soon became “Grandma Phyllis” to me. We learned Grandma Phyllis had never had chicken wings in her life, which is really saying something considering she was about eighty-seven-years-old at the time. Because her birthday was three days after mine we began celebrating together every year at Boston Pizza. Not only did we have wings, we also enjoyed one slice of their chocolate explosion cake, spilt three ways of course.

Unfortunately, Grandma Phyllis died this past June and we would not be celebrating her ninety-fifth birthday. I wasn’t sure I wanted to go to Boston Pizza; it just wouldn’t be the same without her.

The closer we got to Vernon the hungrier I was getting and we decided to go Boston Pizza. We ordered our wings, but still felt as though something was missing. When the waitress came for our desert order I also asked if I could speak to the manager for a moment. She said she would let him know. When she brought our desert we dug right it.

While Mom and I were enjoying our delicious cake a man with two young daughters came and sat in the booth beside us. It was while Mom was saying something to me that I heard the older girl say, “She’s an author Dad. She came to our school.”

What an incredible feeling. I told Mom what I had heard and we both turned and smiled at the father. The next thing we know, the younger of the two was crawling under the table and over to me. It appeared that her older sister wouldn’t let her out of the booth, but she was not deterred. Talk about making my day! What a sweetheart. I asked her how she was she said she was fine, then, after she gave me a big hug she crawled back under the table back to her seat. I looked at Mom and said, “ The manager should come over now.”

No sooner had I said this and the manager appeared from around the corner. I wonder if he heard me? We were still laughing about what had just happened so we filled the manger in. I couldn’t have had a better introduction for what I wanted to talk to him about. I started off by handing him my card and telling him what I do. Because I had come prepared I showed him a copy of a sample colouring page I had done.

One of the programs that came with my digital camera allows me to make any picture into a “colouring book page.” I had played around with a picture from The Rocking Chair Rescue and thought it would be great if I could get restaurants to hand them out to children while they wait for their meal.

I explained that both my children’s books were now available at WAL-MART for a limited time. Charlie, the manager was more than willing to help. After some thought, he made a suggestion for the text, saying I should keep it short and sweet. This is where Ed’s advise came in handy.

After a few more minutes of thought he asked if it would be possible to have a copy of the book to display in his case upfront. I readily agreed. Surprisingly he said, “You do up a master copy and bring it in and I’ll get copies made.

This I almost couldn’t believe. I have learned to make sure I understand an agreement that I make with anyone so I asked, “Now do you want me to make up copies or…”

Charlie assured me he would be making the copies. What more could I ask for? What a kind man. We talked a little more and confirmed the details of our deal and said we'd see him the following week.

Mom and I finished our cake and then got ready to head home, but not before stopping and wishing my young friends a good evening. I think the younger of the two girls was more impressed by our surprise meeting. I cannot tell you how much that hug meant to me, it's things like that, that make everything worthwhile and makes me want to keep going. What a reward!

Since we are changing our memo format and there really isn’t a lot happening in December I will mention what has happened. Coldstream Elementary School held their Book Fair from the second through the fourth and Bob Oldfield, Vice Principle/Librarian/Teacher invited me for any or all the days.

I went all three days and took Fawn, our illustrator with me for the last night. It was great to see the children again, and especially my number one fan, Bronson! J Bob, as I have been told to call him had a table just for my books with a very nice sign letting people know I would be there. Even if he did spell my name wrong, (Sorry Bob just had to mention it.)

As I write this there are only two weeks left of school so we have no visits scheduled until the New Year. I will be tending to other things for the remainder of the year so look for an interesting memo during the last week of January 2004! Who knows we might just have some surprises for you.

Until then, be safe and be well. J