As soon as Next stop – Chicago was available at McNally Robinson Booksellers it soared to the number one sales position in the young readers section. It remains there this week!
Congratulations Mary.
Maya Angelou once said: You cannot use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.
Mary's Tour Summary
Mary at The Book and Brier Patch In Regina
Mary Harelkin Bishop’s fall tour began with a festive private party for family, friends, and colleagues eager to celebrate the launch of Next stop – Chicago. This is Mary’s fifth Tunnels of Moose Jaw adventure for young readers. Publisher Gord Haddock portrayed Old Scarface while his editor wife, Maureen, and author Mary Harelkin Bishop dressed in 1920s party clothes.
A book signing at McNally Robinson Booksellers in Saskatoon on October 13 set the tone for the week. With Education Week overlapping Library week, Mary had invitations from schools and libraries. The teachers at John Egnatoff, Lakeridge, and Mayfair schools dressed in 1920s costumes and rented a smoke machine and streetlight to create a mood of mystery as the recorded sounds of an approaching train vibrated the floors. In three stops on October 18th Mary shared Next Stop – Chicago with close to 1000 people.
Then Mary and her publishers were off to Regina. October 19 allowed Mary to visit two schools and a public library in the Queen City. Near the end of a moving talk by Mary Harelkin Bishop, a young man with a prop resembling a Tommy gun arrested the group making the visitors repeat the school pledge. We are pleased to report that Mary, Gord, and Maureen are now honourary Hunt Hornets!
Henry Braun School asked wonderful questions and presented Mary with a warm blanket to keep her cozy on the rest of her tour! Sunrise Public Library provided an intimate setting for a talk about writing and its benefits to the writer. At both schools and at the library student fans presented notes of thanks written in their own words. On October 20 Mary spent the afternoon at Book and Brier Patch where she signed copies of Next stop – Chicago for several children she had met the day before.
Filled with the excitement that has surrounded the launch of Next stop – Chicago, Gord (Scarface) and Maureen Haddock left Regina on the evening of October 20. On Monday October 21 Mary continued her tour by visiting Moose Jaw schools. Over the rest of this week Mary plans to visit Lampman, Oxbow, Estevan, Ogema, Milestone, Weyburn, Arcola, Manor, Carlyle, Windthorst, Kipling and Grenfell. These visits are subject to change.
Gord and Maureen will meet Mary in Moose Jaw to spend Saturday October 27, 2007 (lucky seven) at the Tunnels. Visit us from one until four PM at the Moose Jaw tunnels.