Thessalon reading clip

Please visit the link below to hear a brief clip of me reading, lakeside, about an hour north of Thessalon, Ontario. The reading took place in a beautiful natural setting. Note the sound of waves against the dock and shore that threaten to drown me out at one point. During another section, I was also accosted by a hummingbird buzzing around my head. I apologize for the quality of the audio. I recorded it with a miniature voice recorder on the chair beside me.

Thessalon Reading

Below is a photo of the bass player for the Northern Jazz Trio, who entertained the crowds after the reading.

Highway 17

(image, Thessalon town hall)

I'm just back from my too-brief tour of the near north in Ontario. I did readings and signings in Thessalon, Sault Ste. Marie and some distance away up the Chapleau highway, back in the woods on a deck overlooking a beautiful lake whose name I now forget. It was a delightful trip. I stayed with friends in Thessalon -- writers Gordon Graham and Angie Gallop -- and we dreamed big about creating a regular summer author festival for that region. Considering the media attention and turnout provided for one travelling author, the summer population in and around Sault Ste. Marie can definitely support a literary festival.



There I am, reading to a collection of northern book clubs on a beautiful late-summer afternoon, just before we relaxed into the evening with wine, food and the Northern Jazz Trio out of the Sault. I have a short audio clip of my reading, and will load it as soon as I figure out how to do that.

so much media, so little time

Here's an article about the book, me and my upcoming tour, from The Sault Star. Love that logo.

Also, for the northerners, tune into CBC Radio One this afternoon at 4. I'll be interviewed on Summer North.

Soo Today

The northern tour is gathering steam. Sootoday.com, a what's happening site in Sault Ste. Marie has picked up the press release. Thanks again to Angie for her fabulous work as my northern PR person.

Check out the Sootoday site. Local news is reported using people's first names only in the headlines. I love it.

Northern Tour Press Release

Thanks to Angie Gallop, writer and literature promoter of Thessalon, Ontario for putting together this press release regarding my upcoming long drive north:


(Photo courtesy of the Walter P. Reuther Library, Wayne State University.)

Canada’s First Novel Award Nominee to Tour the North

A 1952 photo of Detroit Red Wings’ Captain Sid Abel and goalie Terry Sawchuk kissing the Stanley Cup placed an idea in author John Degen’s head that lead to his book The Uninvited Guest, one of this year’s nominees for the Amazon.ca/Books in Canada First Novel Award.

“I got to thinking about everyone who might have been standing around those two guys at that moment, but who didn't manage to make it into the photo. The story of Stan and Tony came out of that idea, and the idea of someone who maybe doesn't want to stand at the side of history, but is forced to anyway,” says Degen about the impulse that lead to his novel.

The book is a bizarre and comic tale about a failed hockey player who will never lift the cup in victory but who is instead given the job of escorting it around the world; watching victorious players celebrate; and then cleaning up after the party.

Degen, who works on behalf of writers every day as the executive director of the Professional Writers’ Association of Canada, is traveling north to do a series of readings this summer. He’ll be on hand to sign books and chat at Chapters Sudbury 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday August 15th ; then on to the town library in Thessalon 2-3 p.m. on Friday August 17th ; then that evening at 7 p.m. he’ll be at Sault Ste. Marie’s Uppercase Bookstore for a night of reading and music.

the northern tour

Dates are set for my big, long-haul driving, bear-avoiding tour of the Ontario near north.

So far (and tentative):

Wed. Aug. 15th, 12:30 p.m. -- Signing books and perhaps reading a bit at the Chapters in Sudbury, ON. Maybe some CBC Radio.

Thursday, Aug. 16th -- enjoying the sights of downtown Thessalon, ON, gem of Algoma

Friday, Aug. 17th, 2-3 p.m. -- reading and signing at the Thessalon Union Public Library (Main Street, Thessalon).

Friday, Aug. 17th, 7 p.m. -- reading in the uppercase bookstore, 823 Queen Street East, Sault Ste. Marie, ON.


Saturday, Aug. 18th -- I am 'appearing' at the Thessalon Cornfest -- that seems appropriate.

Sunday, Aug. 19th, 3 p.m. til evening -- reading and signing at Thessalon Jazz Trio and Book Club lakeside party.

Thanks so much to my good friends Angie Gallop and Gordon Graham for doing all the arranging, and for moving to Thessalon just so I could visit there.

wining in Manhattan

(image by Scott Watson)

If you're hitting Manhattan anytime soon, check out the website Local Wine Events for wine tastings and classes during your stay. There is something wine-ish going on in NYC every night of the week, every week of the year.

I was there primarily on vacation last week, but managed a couple of entertaining evenings of wine and food surrounded by New Yorkers. As mentioned below, Unwind With Wine is a themed and regular wine and food appreciation event organized by Hanna Lee at the Jolly Hotel at 38th and Madison. Despite the fact that everyone in New York dresses like a million bucks to go out and get a paper, this event felt relaxed and casual. Hanna Lee is like an introducing machine, a classic American hostess who insists her guests not only speak to each other, but that they charm each other as well. I had it easy because I could play the Canada card, which always seems to go over well in this particular American city. 8 out of 10 New Yorkers have been to Toronto or know someone there, and no-one down there seems to mind so much that our basketball team can beat their basketball team without really trying.

Hanna Lee's wine club is a hidden vein of gold for single New York men as the crowd is primarily young, primarily female and entirely enjoyable to look at. Plus, everyone is there to drink and have a good time. Since there is always a speaker on hand to direct the crowd through the tasting, this is like a dinner date without the pressure to make conversation all the time. If you can manage the occasional witty aside, there's a lot of anxiety-free relaxation time.


Above, Hanna Lee, Chef Peled, Joanna Pruess and Bob Lape (image by John Degen)

There were between 50 and 60 people on hand last Tuesday evening as Unwind With Wine played host to a cookbook launch for Seduced by Bacon, by Joanna Pruess and Bob Lape. Five wines were paired with five different bacon-inspired plates, and if you're wondering how anyone can work that much bacon into a crowd of fit and health-conscious urbanites, you're not alone. The wine definitely helped, but all credit to the two foodies on hand and Chef Pnina L. Peled, who delivered a restrained tasting menu that was heavy on smoky flavours, but not overly filling.

I was still working off the first-night-on-the-town hangover from Monday evening when I sat down, so I'm sure I can't give a fair assessment of the chocolate-covered, bacon-dusted foie gras. I fear no food, but this was a challenge, and I frankly wouldn't have made it without having first downed a delicious glass of bubbly (Mionetta Prosecco di Valdobbiadene DOC) during the foyer reception.

Five other wines were on hand, two sparklers and three great big reds. Judging by how many people surreptitiously stole the leftover glasses of the fifth wine, it looked to be the room favorite. Quinta do Carmo Reserva 2003 a Portugese/French co-production with high alcohol (14%) and a smoky but subtle action, perfect for the evening's flavours. An earlier Amancaya Cab/Malbec 05 really showed its alcohol on the food, while the Tyrrell's Reserve McLaren Vale Shiraz 03 at 14.5% just about took off my head. Any one of these work nicely on their own but bacon is a real matching challenge. That said, the Shiraz with a seared scallop and bacon combo is nothing to turn away from any hangover. It is the hair of several dogs combined, and it works.

Two other Mionetto Proseccos, a Brut and a Rose had nice crisp fruitiness to clean everything out between courses.

...more later