joeicarlton.com

My Writing Group

There is so much talent in my writing group.  I always come away enthused about my writing and having enjoyed listening to their work knowing that it is improving with every meeting.  There were just two of us at lunch after the meeting and I ended up spending a couple of hours at Chapters afterwards. 

There was a couple with a bunch of guide books on Turkey. Had a wonderful chat with them since Turkey was one of my very favorite trips.  I was not the only one to mention how much I enjoyed the place. They are not leaving until September so they still have time to read up on the place and I suggested the Lonely Planet Guide Book on Turkey. I found the Lonely Planet Guide had the most useful information.

I still have a few hours before bedtime so I’ll work on another chapter or two of Everyone’s Dream Everyone’s Nightmare. It’s working out well.  I’m enjoying the editing and this is the first time I have access to the Internet while I’m writing.  A great tool.    Joei

Where is the Time Going

I got my Nexus pass yesterday.  Everything I do these days seems to waste a full day. By the time I took the Skytrain downtown, interviewed for the pass and Skytrained it back to my truck, picked up a few groceries and other necessities and got home six hours were gone from my day.

Today was an exciting day.  My memoir writing class at the Newton Senior Center is going very well.  I have a full class and we are all having fun, learning a little, writing a little and laughing a lot.  My Writing with Humor seminar, May 31, has several people signed up and more than 20 people have signed up for my Travel Lecture on June 6th and it hasn’t been advertised yet.  The director is very pleased.  I’m hoping for a full room - there is room for 150 people.

When I arrived home from class I had a call from a local computer club. They are interested in having me speak to their club.  Since I’m booked solid until I leave in early June we booked it for October 6th.  I will be back from my book tour by then. 

Lots of exciting stuff happening.  I now know what they mean when they say “10 years to become an overnight success.”  Joei

An Exciting Week

Or at least it was an exciting day - yesterday.  One of my stories went off to the RV Times and an on-line website called Travel2History. There seemed to be a glitch in my computer and it took hours to send off the pictures but it finally worked.  RV Times also asked if I had an interesting picture with RVs in it.  To make a long story short one of my pictures will be the cover of the November/December issue.  Now how exciting is that.

I have also had a few more bookings and I thought I was already booked solid but I’m doing my Memoir Writing Classes at the Senior Center in Newton starting today and running for four weeks. The first week of June is Senior’s Week and I’ve been hired for an entertaining travel lecture on the last day - June 6th (which of course I accepted) and have been asked to do a writing workshop and I chose Writing with Humor, also for the Senior Center in Newton.  I’ll enjoy the fact that it is a short drive - right across the street. I’ll still have to drive since I’ll want boxes of my books there.

Lots of excitement happening in my life these days.    Joei 

A Week in Review

It was a much busier week than I would have liked. I was interviewed by Michael Duncan for the television program on Monday and Tuesday I headed down to Blaine to pick up mail, fill my gas tank and buy my vitamins that are only available in the States. I spent the rest of the day grocery shopping and since it was a really nice day on Wednesday I picked up my new glasses but they needed to be changed on Friday because one lense was way too thin.  I also did more grocery shopping. I can’t believe how much food I bought even though I would love to cut down on food and lose some weight.  I came across a great sale on a computer case and since I’ve been looking for one for ages I couldn’t resist the 60% discount.

Friday and Saturday were signings…..one in Port Coquitlam and the other at Metrotown Center.  Today Sunday I just slept in but there are oodles of chores even when you want to do nothing.  It is now Sunday night and I’m feeling quite rested.  Tomorrow starts another week and there is a message on my answering maching about being invited to do another lecture.  Will find out about it tomorrow. Then is a dentist appointment in the afternoon and my wine club…..now we’re talking total relaxation.   More later.    Joei

Gearing Up

Just finished a busy week and I’m now gearing up for another one.  I have an interview on Monday with Michael Duncan, the host of Delta Cable television program called The Writer’s Workshop.  On Tuesday I have to head down to Blaine to pick up my mail and try to find the chewable vitamins that I like…..not available in Canada.  Next weekend I have two more signings. 

I think May will be equally as busy but I’m enjoying being hectic.  Hopefully it’ll get me geared up to writing again and I have to get my notes  together for my Okanagan College classes, 3rd week of June, when I’m back on the road for a few months. 

The rainscreening on my condo is almost finished. I have new balconey railings and the balconey floor has been painted.  I still need my screen door and window and then it looks just about finished.  Almost time to think about getting a little group together for dinner here.  Have to celebrate someway.      Joei 

Busy, Busy, Busy

Enjoyed a couple of signings over the weekend and relaxed on Sunday as I love to do. Spent Monday on the phone filling in the holes in my signings calendar. Tuesday was my writing group and I learn so much when I’m helped with a story that I’m working on. Wednesday, today, I lectured at the New Westminister Library to the Retired Teachers Association. Did I mention that I love lecturing….well I do.  It went very well.

For the first time in a long time I got an order from my website so I’ll head down to the U.S. to mail it and pick up my mail at the same time. I hope it won’t be too long a line up at the border.

Next Monday I have a preliminary interview with Michael Duncan, host of the Writer’s Workshop on the Delta Cable Channel. Did I mention that I love being interviewed on Radio and Television…..Well I do. 

I also stopped into the new Save On Foods right here in Newton and I’ll be doing a signing May 18th.  The Assistant Manager will be notifying the newspapers…..some publicity should help and I’ll put signs up around the complex where I live since I live walking distance of the store.  Hope for a good crowd.    Like I mentioned in the title….Busy, busy, busy…..and I love it.    Joei

Interviews

RADIO INTERVIEWS:

John Michaels Show - Ontario

Bill Good Show - Vancouver

National Public Radio

TELEVISION INTERVIEWS:

Breakfast Television - Vancouver

Living Vancouver with Jennifer Burke

Real Estate in Delta

NEWSPAPER INTERVIEWS:

The Surrey Now

The Surrey Leader

The Vancouver Sun

The Edmonton Journal

RV West Magazine

Niagara This Week (Ontario)

Pelham News (Ontario)

The Tribune (Ontario)

The Hamilton Spectator (Ontario)

The Shoreline Weekly (Texas)

ON-LINE INTERVIEW:

TruckCamper News

PUBLISHED ARTICLES:

Pelican Press Newpaper

West Coast Woman Newspaper

Sarasota Herald Tribune

RV Times

Surrey Arts Council

www.whattravelwriterssay.com 

Author/Publisher/Entertaining Speaker Joei Carlton Hossack can be reached at #414   13860-70th Avenue, Surrey, BC V3W 0S1,  Home Phone: (604) 590-1678  Cell (509)570-4966 Washington State. 

E-Mail:  JoeiCarlton@Hotmail.com

One of those days

I knew that todays signing was going to be a waste of my time. I was standing at the Service Desk, waiting for the clerk to call the book manager and a woman was standing there asking if she could get a better price on a large can of tomato juice.  I couldn’t see anything wrong with the can and neither could the clerk.  I knew from that second that my sales would be limited…..if at all.

I stayed for about 2 hours. Very few stopped and no one bought. I cut my losses and left after 2 hours. Of course that didn’t include the 17 miles there and the 17 miles back so tack on at least another hour or so of driving time.  I stopped at my friends house on the way home, had a cup of coffee that I needed, picked up my boxes of books that he (Doug) had been storing and shipping while I was in the States and came home. 

Glad to be home.  Do nothing night.  Joei

I knew this would happen

The deal for the 2 bed 2 bath condo fell through.  My stink bid didn’t work and the lady that was supposed to purchase my condo decided not to move.  Good…..good…..good all the way around. I was starting to stress out about moving early June then having to get on the road in my camper immediately for my lecture tour.  The changes I want to make I’ll make in my little condo and enjoy it.

All’s well that ends well.    Joei

Condo Views

For the second time (yesterday and the day before) I went to look at a larger condo here in Chelsea Gardens. This is a 2 bedroom - 2 bathroom as opposed to the 1 and 1 that I have now.  When I purchased here I was looking for a 2 and 2 but didn’t find one….now it’s available.  It is empty (which is good). It has 2 parking spots (which is good). It needs a lot of work. The building is in the early stages of being rainscreened - which is hell to live with BUT I put a (stink) bid in last night.  I’m waiting for the counter offer. I’m not holding my breath because I’m not willing to pay even close to what they are asking because they are just finishing the rainscreening on my condo and it would mean another year of dirt, dust and not being able to open my windows or door but there are a few excellent features on that condo. 

I’ll update as soon as I know one way or the other.  Joei