The Big Debut

The launch party for SHIFT has shifted my view of success

I was 100% fine all day. Carried on with my work. Did some okay writing. Kept my focus. The book launch event for SHIFT was in the back of my mind. Way back.

The fluttering started as I was changing into my dress. I was getting nervous about being questioned by four 11- and 12-year olds. I had no idea what they were going to ask me. I had given them full permission to ask me anything about anything. I don’t think I was afraid of the questions, I think it was just all the unknowns. Would they get shy once they had the microphone? Would I have to prompt them? Was this a really bad idea?

Once we were in the car, the panic goblins took over. Halfway to picking up the pizza order, I realized we forgot plates and napkins. An unscheduled stop had me watching the clock, counting minutes while one son and my husband ran into the store. I had planned food pick up and arrival time at cSpace with a large enough window to deal with any issues that arose, but still I was fretful. What if the pizzas weren’t ready or the order was completely lost? My family felt my energy and left me alone with my thoughts.

I worried for nothing. The pizza was ready. The room was set up, save for a missing table and microphone. The event space host was on it. My kids and my husband were setting up the food and drinks. Owl’s Nest Bookstore had more than enough stock (side note: Owl’s Nest is my favourite independent and they ship everywhere, so if you want to avoid Amazon, this is the place to order SHIFT). There was a blip with the payment terminal, but people were arriving and I was thankfully distracted.

The event was perfection, from the first question - Why did you name the dogs Solar and Lunar? - to the last - What advice can you give to kids who like to write? The kids who volunteered to read the book before it was released and be part of the panel asked very thoughtful questions. They wanted to know why I chose certain locations, and where the ideas came from. They dug down to the minutiae, asking why I didn’t fully describe what a character looked like and where I found the inspiration for the decor in a restaurant.

I love that each of them had the confidence to follow their own unique line of questions. These kids truly made this night something special.

As we drove home, the full moon cut through the clouds. I wondered if that meant anything, if it was a harbinger of how successful SHIFT might - or might not - be. I decided it did not matter. What was important was knowing there are four kids who are eagerly waiting for book two. That’s enough of a measure of success for me.

Some fun shots!