I loathe Mother's Day!

I do. Loathe it. Especially the year my ex-husband bought me a toaster oven for Mother's Day! I made him take it back. I looked a gift horse in the mouth.

I know my adult children love me.

The kids are all busy with their children, in-laws, outlaws, or other activities. It isn't a day for grandmothers. They show me in other ways all year round. Most of them do their best to phone me. But with extended families it is difficult.

Little kids are busy having fun with their moms, they don't have time for us older moms. This is the time a young mother should be made to feel special, not us old farts.

It's a hard day for anyone, young or old, who doesn't have a mother. It's a hard day for a woman who hasn't been able to have had kids.

I am fed up with every Tom, Dick and Harry, and their marketing twits, deciding that sending me an e-mail, suggesting I give my late mother a subscription to People magazine, or make a donation to Kiva, on her behalf would be a good way to 'think of mom'.

This isn't what Mother's Day is about. This is a tragic marketing ploy, and one best stopped. This tactic is lose-lose.

Even worse, giving a donation in your mother's name, so YOU get a tax receipt, which isn't the spirit of Mother's Day.

This is a good day to remember our mothers who have passed. Unfortunately, for me, my mother passed the day before Mother's Day, and I don't like to mourn my mother on the day of her death.
I celebrate her life on the date of her birth.

Let's just make it 'myself' day!

This is a difficult reminder for me. Much like those roadside memorials that blot the landscape along the side of the roads. We don't need reminders that YOUR son or daughter died roadside. Keep your grief to yourself, I bring out mine when I am able to deal with it. The tourists don't need it. Those driving on their way to work every morning don't want to see it, either. Find yourself a private, quiet, beautiful place, and celebrate their lives.

Publishing Process

An author, once she has told her story, found a publisher, and the book has been edited, proof-read, and fine-tuned, gets a proof copy that she goes over with a fine-tooth comb. The first third of the payment has been sent to the publisher. A deal has been signed. The author is assigned an editor, publicist, proofreader, book designer, in a cast of 'thousands'.

This proof comes in the form of an unglued book, basically. The printer prints it off and the author and editor gives it a final go-over. This part of the process is very exciting. The book, at first glance, finally looks like a book. Book marks are created, and similarly proofed.

The errors or omissions are noted, she either asks for a new print-off, or signs off the book as corrected, or as is. The book designer then gives the command. It is sent to the printer, along with a check for the 2nd third of the agreed to payment.

In the background, book stores are contacted. Book signings will be arranged, as well as a book launch. The author, if this is non-fiction, can arrange to write articles, seek out local media for reviews, interviews, and present workshops, or present at topic-related conferences. Advertising in magazines with similar topics can be arranged.

The item is placed in a catalogue, with the cost and information to promote the book.

Locally there are many papers in my region: Parry Sound Press, Bracebridge Examiner, Huntsville Forester, for example.

Nepean This Week : published by Osprey, is a paper that might result in some attention. I lived and worked in Nepean and have many former teacher colleagues there, as well as the larger Ottawa Citizen newspaper. Explore your options. Many local papers take an interest in local authors!

Your local bookstores should show some interest:

Manticore Books, Orillia
Check your local chamber of commerce website for details.

The Gravenhurst Book Store 120 Muskoka Road South P.O. Box 40 Gravenhurst (705) 687-0555

Reader's World, 52 Manitoba St., Bracebridge, P1L 1S1
Parry Sound Books - in parrysound.com, 26 James St, Parry Sound

I was checking out the books in our Shopper's Drug Mart. The pharmacist explained that The Newsgroup are the ones that decide to put books in a drug store chain or not.
Your publisher would contact that agency to make those arrangements.