It continues to rain making walks difficult, but writing easier.
I thought I’d share some of the inside of the lodge.
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Day 3 at the Retreat
April Newsletter
My latest news, a rafflecopter contest and a free book …
You can read my April newsletter here.
Cheers.
Spring Writer’s Retreat 2018
After a harrowing drive over “the hump” and zigzagging around Cameron Lake I arrived at our retreat in Riverside Lodge, in Port Alberni. It’s absolutely beautiful. Here are some pictures:
Photos From #CapCityCon 2018 #Mondayblogs
I had a blast.
This is me in front of The Empress
This is me and my daughter, JC McKenzie on our third day.
Having a lunch break at Milestones, overlooking the inner harbour.
I know you may want to know more about my experience, but I’m too tired to chat today. My eyes are swollen, almost shut, from wearing heavy makeup and my mind has trouble formulating words. But I will say, I had lots of fun, loved meeting the people and I sold books.
A Witchy Countdown to #ComicCon Victoria
My Transformation Begins
I went to Nanaimo’s, Sephora’s for help with my makeup. Monica spent two hours on me. I think she did an amazing job. What do you think?
And Free for You
Midnight Magic is free for a few days. The campaign is going well. Last night I ranked 78 in all of Kindle Free!!! 3rd in …occult and 3rd in …paranormal. Thousands are being downloaded.
Have you got a copy yet?
Buy Link
If You Like Games, You’ll Love ComicCon
They have a board game room as well as electronic games. Come on out and have some fun.
And please, don’t forget to stop by and say hello to me and my daughter JC McKenzie at the VIPA booth (Vancouver Island Paranormal Authors), #51 in Carson Hall upstairs in the Vancouver Island Conference Centre in the Empress (Victoria, B.C. Canada).
The Official Program
#Comiccon – 4 days to go #Mondayblogs
Reading the program for Victoria’s first Capitol City Comic Con is an experience in itself. Anything and everything “nerd” is in it. Here are some highlights:
Margaret Atwood’s Handmaid’s Tale- Graphic Novel Artist
“Renee Nault’s vivid watercolor illustrations have appeared in books, magazines, newspapers and advertising around the world. She is the author and artist of Witchling and is currently working with renowned Canadian writer Margaret Atwood on a graphic novel adaptation of her book The Handmaid’s Tale.”
There are many other artists featured as well and they have sketch-offs! I have to see that.
MEET-UPS
Info taken directly from the program:
All meet-ups will take place at the Crystal Garden Bar.
Friday Meet-Ups
4:30 pm – Doctor Who Meet-Up
6 pm – Pokemon Fan Meet-Up
7:30 pm – WWE Fan Meet-Up
Saturday Meet-Ups
11 am – Sailor Moon Meet-Up
12:30 pm – Stranger Things Fan Meet-Up
2 pm – Transformers Meet-Up
3:30 pm – Star Wars Fan Meet-Up
5 pm – Buffy the Vampire Slayer Meet-Up
Sunday Meet-Ups
11:30 am – Battlestar Galactica Meet-Up
1 pm – Star Trek Fan Meet-Up
2:30 pm – Lord of the Rings/The Hobbit Fan Meet-Up
4 pm – Marvel Meet-Up
I promised you Battleship Galactica (note: all text and pics come from the program):
ERICA CERRA
Cerra was born in Vancouver, of Italian descent. She’s had guest roles on TV shows including Battlestar Galactica, The L Word and Smallville. Her most successful role to date was as Deputy Jo Lupo in Eureka. She has since appeared in various guest roles in series such as Warehouse 13, Sanctuary, Supernatural and Motive. She had a recurring role in the series Rush and appeared in the CW series iZombie. Erica most recently played the main antagonist, A.L.I.E, during the third season of The 100.
AARON DOUGLAS
Aaron Douglas has almost 100 film and television credits to his career but he’s most known for his role as Chief Galen Tyrol on Syfy’s critically acclaimed Battlestar Galactica. Most recently Aaron can be found in BBC America’s Dirk Gently as the insane body swapper Gordon Rimmer. Aaron enjoys a good pint so if you see him in the bar feel free to join him for one and talk TV, Film, Sports, Food or almost anything else.
LEAH CAIRNS
Leah Cairns is a Canadian actress best known for her role on the reimagined Battlestar Galactica as one of the Raptor pilots, Lieutenant Margaret “Racetrack” Edmondson. Leah currently shares the screen with Eric McCormack on the hit Netlfix Original Series Travelers. She is a series regular on ABC Family’s Kyle XY, and has appeared in Interstellar, 88 Minutes, Helen, Mega Cyclone, Supernatural, Bates Motel, Motive and Sanctuary.
For more information on any of the above or the million and a half other things going on this weekend in Victoria’s Comic Con check out the program.
Tomorrow I will talk about theatre presentations and games. Oooo-la-la there is a lot happening.
Countdown to #CapCityComic Con – 7days …
7 days and counting.
I’m thrilled to be attending the Victoria, Capitol City Comic Con next weekend (Mar. 16-18). The event is huge and far glitzier than I imagined. I can’t nail the words to describe how freaking-amazing it is, but trust me, my stomach is flip-flopping with anticipation.
I decided to break down the information for myself, and share it with you.
Where Will I Be?
The conference has two main locations: the Crystal Gardens for the younger folk and The Empress for adults.
The Crystal Gardens is considered to be one of the most beautiful venues in Western Canada for conferences. It originally housed a salt swimming pool, tea gardens and dance floors and was the social centre of the city for decades. It has an old world charm and light, wonderful natural light.
I’m in The Empress, an iconic hotel located on Government Street facing the Inner Harbour, designated as a National Historic Site. It’s an Edwardian hotel designed by Francis Rattenbury for the Canadian Pacific Hotels as the terminus hotel for the Canadian Pacific steamship line.
To me, it’s the place to have high tea and soak in the glamorous “Britishness” of our capitol.
Our VIPA booth (i.e., the Vancouver Island Paranormal Authors hangout) is on the upper floor of the conference area (called The Victoria Conference Centre), in stall number 51. I’m between celebrity guests, the tattoo booth, cosplay booths and famous cartoonists and literary people.
Wow. Just wow!
Did I say famous?
Yup. There are too many names to rattle off, so I’ll feature a couple of the celebrity guests on each post. The excerpts come from the program:
JORDAN STRATFORD has been pronounced clinically dead, and was briefly (mistakenly) wanted by INTERPOL for international industrial espionage. He is an ordained priest, has won numerous sword fights, jaywalked the streets of Paris, San Francisco, and São Paulo, and was once shot by a stray rubber bullet in a London riot. He lives on a tiny windswept Pacific island populated predominantly by realtors and car- nivorous gulls.
He is the author of the 4-part (so far) Wollstonecraft Detective Agency series, which is being adapted to a video game for Android and iOS, and has been optioned for televi- sion. He has been featured in boing boing, c/net, WIRED and iOS, and is represented by Heather Schroder at Compass Talent, New York.
I put his bio in, because I love it.
TRACEY MOORE has been voicing leading roles in award winning cartoon series since 1980. Kids growing up in the 80s and 90s would have heard her in many of their favorite series including George Shrinks (George), Ned’s Newt (Ned), Legend of Redwall (Warbeak), Care bears (Shrieky, Hugs, Share), My Little Pony (Cheeralee) Super Mario Bros. (Peach) Sam and Max (the Geek), Flying Rhino Junior High (Marcus), and OF COURSE as the original voice of SERENA as SAILOR MOON in the beloved Anime series – which she also cast, voice directed and played a key role in development. Her direction has spanned many different genres from shows such as Highlander and Mythic Warriors to Magic School Bus and Bad Dog – the inaugural series for FOX Family. She’s even the singing voice for Strawberry Shortcake – currently on world tour. For ten years she acted as in house casting and director for Nelvana limited on numerous series and she is thrilled to offer all her talents to the con family as together we celebrate the magic of MOON PRISM POWER!!!
I’m hoping to take in her one hour session on voice acting, as I may create some audio recordings of my stories. After all, who doesn’t want to hear a spooky story read to them:)
On my next blog post, I’ll tell you about the three cast members from Battleship Galactica and some of the events at the conference.
You can read the official program here.
Photo Credits:
Crystal Gardens – Pinterest
The Empress – Wikipedia Commons
