US Pricing Still in Effect

Well, we're far enough into 2008 that I'd feel a bit awkward wishing everyone a "Happy New Year," or making some comment along the lines of hoping that you had a good holiday season. The holidays are rapidly dimming in our memories and we're looking down the barrel of a long (and, right now, extremely cold) winter. So, instead of referring to the past, I'll wish you "Good Day!" and quickly move along.

We don't have any immediate events to tell you about, but we're working on some that are quite exciting. As these guests are confirmed and the details ironed out, you'll be amoung the first to know.

I do want to let you know that the US pricing promotion we had on before Christmas is still in effect. The dollar continues to bounce around, so Pennywise is pleased to offer you the opportunity to cash in on its instability. All new books with US prices printed on them will continue to sell at that lower price until we decide otherwise.

If we haven't seen you recently, be sure to stop in at the store to see what's new. And, as always, if you have an author you would like us to try and bring in, let us know and we'll see what we can do.

Book Signing - November 24

A Bit of a Legend in These Parts:  The Life of Betty Berger Lessard by Neil
McQuarrie

When: Saturday, November 24, 2007, 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Where: Pennywise Books
 

Pilot, trapper, hunting guide, sled-dog racer - Betty Berger Lessard carved an
extraordinary life for herself out of the rugged wilderness of the Canadian Shield.

Born in Fort Frances in July 1915, Lessard spent almost all of her 82 years living
in a remote log cabin on the pristine shores of Namakan Lake.  She survived
encounters with bears, wolves and a charging moose while navigating thousands
of miles of backwoods and waters. She is credited with having saved at least one
man'slife.

Lessard charmed many a young man but tragically lost her husband in a boating
accident.

Lessard, who died in 1997, was a strong-minded woman of independent spirit
for whomthe convention of male and female roles held little importance. One of
herneighbours said of her, "She didn't just survive in the wilderness, she lived in
it." 

Her improbable story - "A Bit of a Legend in These Parts: The Life of Betty Berger
Lessard" is told by Neil McQuarrie, a long-time resident of Brandon who grew up
in Fort Frances, Ontario.

"I have long known about Betty and the life she had lived and wanted to write
about it," said McQuarrie, who will be signing copies of the book at Pennywise
Books from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 24. 

McQuarrie was able to capture Lessard's story through published articles in
newspapers and magazines as well as interviews with Lessard's relatives. He was
given access to old family photographs and used many of them to illustrate his
account.

Since his retirement from Brandon University, McQuarrie has written two other
books. The first was "On the Allan Cup Trail: The Story of the Fort Frances
Canadians" andthe second was "Fort Frances: The Story of a Town and Its People",
the town's centennial history. For three years he also wrote "Recollections", a
monthly column for the Fort Frances Times.

(Update Aug 12/08)    "A Bit of a Legend in These Parts" is now available on Ebay
(CLICK HERE).  If you have difficulty locating it, please call us (204-728-2665) or
email (pennywise@westman.wave.ca) and we will do our best to ensure you can
get a copy of this great book.

The Oldest Game of All - Nathan Town

Local author Nathan Town will be at Pennywise on Saturday, November 17 at 2:00 PM to launch his latest book "The Oldest Game of All."

Eternal and mystic forces have dueled over the millenia, pitting their champions against one another. Now, after so many thousands of years, their conflict comes to a turbulent and explosive end in the most unlikely of places... Unfortunately, Douglas Bower's parents have left him with a number of responsibilities, and he simply doesn't have the time for unexplained events, strange murderous visitors, gun-toting zombies, horrifying monsters, or the Fate of All Things.

Snuck from the pages of Town's previous novel Ned Stapleton and the Wrath of the Death Gods, The Oldest Game of All is a roller-coaster fantasy adventure for all ages.

New books at US prices!

With the Canadian dollar remaining at or above par with the U.S. greenback, the disparity between book prices continues to be an irritant with book consumers. In order to help remedy this price difference Pennywise Books will join with the growing number of retailers selling new books at the U.S. price printed on the cover.

The holidays on their way -- the biggest time of the year for book sales. We know that books are a popular gift idea but that they are very expensive. By offering new books at the U.S. price, we hope we can help you with keeping your holiday bills within reason.

Beginning on November 16, all new books, with the exception of titles carried on consignment, will be offered at the lowest price printed on the book cover or dust jacket. This promotion will last through the holiday season until the New Year.

Depending on customer response to this promotion and the strength of the Canadian dollar, the promotion may continue indefinitely.

If you have any questions, please feel free to call us or email us at any time.

Words Alive Update

There has been lots of action on the Words Alive front. If you aren't checking that website (Words Alive) on a regular basis, you are missing out on a lot of information!

In addition to announcing the headlining authors (Robert J. Sawyer, Sandra Birdsell and Corey Redekop), the newly-posted schedule reveals the workshops, seminars and panel discussions that will be taking place on Nov. 10. Some of these include the launch of local author Nathan Town's latest book, a poetry-writing workshop with Laurie Block, details on the after-parties and much. much more.

If you are a writer looking to hone your craft, the Super Series may be what you are looking for. This all-day workshop will include a fiction-writing component led by Armin Wiebe (novelist and Red River College creative writing instructor) and a "blue pencil session" with author Anita Daher.

For more information on any of these activities, contact the Brandon Book Festival Association at wordsalivefestival@gmail.com or by calling (204) 728-2665

I hope to see you all there!