book fair

A Great Big Thank You!

The Bookshelf would like to offer a HUGE thank you to all of you (vendors, sponsors, volunteers, and patrons) who stopped by our event on Saturday May 13th 🙂 We had over 300 people through the doors and a ton of fun to boot!
We had a fantastic time getting to know you, visiting with Elsa of York Region, Chase from PAW Patrol, Kids’ singer Marky Monday, and even the York Region Police! And without Karin’s Cafe helping run The Cafe at the End of the Universe, the day would not have been the same.
We couldn’t have made this event happen without the continued support of the Writers’ Community of York Region and all our behind-the-scenes planners.

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If you are interested in helping organize the 2018 event, please email MJ Moores at thebookshelf@wcyork.ca by June 9th, 2017.

We do most of our planning online and meet generally once every other month starting in October. We are looking for volunteers to help with the following positions:
  • Sponsorship Coordinator (we have a pre-existing list to be followed up on)
  • Vendor Coordinator (we have a pre-existing list to be followed up on)
  • Volunteer Coordinator (for the event day – we have a pre-existing list & resources for reaching out)
  • Readings Coordinator (to organize the random draw of readers from the early-bird vendor registrations)
  • Social Media Coordinator (to ensure our sponsors and vendors are recognized and to brighten up our feeds)
  • Graphic Designer (to tweak pre-existing posters/postcards/social media banners/flyers)
We are having a “post-mortem” meeting June 11th to discuss how this year went and how to integrate the suggestions we’ve received for next year. You do not need to attend this meeting, but if you are interested in helping out, it would be a bonus for us to know.
Thanks Again! and See You Next Year 😀

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Storytelling: An Ageless Passion

storytelling

A Good Book Never Goes Out of Style

Reading is not a solitary act. At the best of times children are read to by family, their teachers, beside friends in a room full of classmates. As adults we indulge in study groups, book clubs, public readings by authors or simply sit in a cafe, bookstore, or library sharing this common love of literature with the world around us. And then, even if readers find themselves alone, under the covers with a flashlight or by a fireplace on a rainy day we are not alone – the people and characters we read about are there to keep us company as we explore new ideas.

WCYR’s The Bookshelf is a celebration of reading and storytelling.

It is our goal to make accessible to the public as many authors, publishers, artists, and supporters of Canadian storytelling as possible. In fact, one of our key sponsors, I C Publishing, will also be on site at The Bookshelf to meet with and share their love of books and reading.

We had an opportunity to speak with the owner and operator of I C Publishing, Sheri Andrunyk, about her love of the craft. When asked what her favourite books have been since childhood she told us of these treasures and more:

CHILDHOOD

The Princess and the Pea, Twas the Night Before Christmas, Nancy Drew series, and Dr. Seuss books are the first that come to mind, but there are many, many more!

TEEN YEARS

The Erroneous Zones and Real Magic (among others) by Dr. Wayne Dyer, Thinking Big by David Schwartz

ADULTHOOD

The 7 Steps of Highly Effective People (and The 8th Habit) by Stephen R. Covey, The One Minute Millionaire – The Enlightened Way to Wealth by Mark Victor Hansen and Robert G. Allen, The Art of Stillness by Pico Iyer, The Anatomy of the Spirit by Carolyn Myss, and Quiet – The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain

PARENTHOOD

Raising Positive Kids in a Negative World by Zig Ziglar, Driven to Distraction by Edward M. Hallowell MD and John J. Ratey, and Leaving the Light On by Smalley & Trent

WRITER/PUBLISHER

Besides the books my company publishes 🙂 I have enjoyed Unless It Moves the Human Heart by Roger Rosenblatt, Zen in the Art of Writing by Ray Bradbury, and You Should Really Write a Book by Regina Brooks and Brenda Lane Richardson

And when asked what one book she would bring with her to a desert island, Sheri remained true to her non-fiction muses by answering:

Oh, there are far too many to choose from . . . perhaps something spiritual and/or motivating . . . or perhaps a how-to book on surviving (and thriving) on a desert island! 😉

We sincerely hope you join us at The Bookshelf on Saturday June 25th any time between 9am and 3pm. We have a wonderful Reading Room chock full of fantastic authors and a free scavenger hunt where every participant who solves the riddle-chart wins a prize before entering a draw for free books!

Come meet your next favourite author @ THE BOOKSHELF

Everybody Has a Story

I P Publishing - Quote

Somewhere deep inside there’s a storyteller in all of us and one of the best ways to celebrate the bard within is to share our stories.

Whether you love reading other people’s stories or enjoy sharing your own, The Bookshelf is the event for you. Not only will you have the opportunity to meet fantastic local authors, both Indie and Renowned, but you’ll have the opportunity to speak with people, just like you, who want to share their stories.

One of our key sponsors for this momentous event is Sheri Andrunyk, founder of I P Publishing. She and her authors were so excited about the prospect of celebrating local Canadian literature in York Region, that they worked together to donate over $500 in books for the Scavenger Hunt Prizes and Silent Auction.

I C Publishing is committed to quality content, meeting the author where they’re at, and providing the necessary support and services to bring their work to life—all the while keeping at the forefront the author’s unique voice and style of writing.

Although they do consider and evaluate every product on its own merit, I C Publishing serves primarily the nonfiction writer whose intent it is to…

share meaningful messages and teachings from their own personal or professional experiences. ~ Sheri Andrunyk

Their inspiring roster of titles so far include short story collections, business training, leadership and entrepreneurial mentoring, workplace culture (series), self-help, positive psychology and NLP, prose and art, health and wellness, children’s stories, and memoir.

We hope you will set aside some time to visit The Bookshelf @ the Newmarket Farmers Market on Sat. June 25th from 9am – 3pm to help celebrate all of the wonderful authors eager to share their stories.

The Bookshelf Team

IC Publishing Donates Over 15 Books to The Bookshelf!

IC-Publishing-Banner-2-Final

We can’t thank Sheri Andrunyk, founder of Insightful Communications Publishing, enough for her dedication to helping make The Bookshelf an extraordinary readers’ event. With book contributions in excess of $500 set to act as both prizes and silent auction items, we can’t help but get giddy when we think of all those fabulous books!

Whether you’re an aspiring author or simply a lover of well-written books, be sure to check out I C Publishing’s bookstore.

Here, Sheri shares with us the story behind the creation of I C Publishing.

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OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

I C Publishing bridges the gap between traditional and self-publishing . . .

I C Publishing evolved out of my own journey as a first time author navigating the world of publishing, trying to make sense of the myriad of options available to authors today, and deciding what path was best for me to take. There was a lot to learn. In fact, the learning continues.

Upon sourcing the support I needed, and then self-publishing my first book, Hearts Linked by Courage, I had numerous colleagues asking if I would help them with the books they wanted to write, produce, and publish. At first, I thought it would be relatively simple, adding author coaching and support to my existing consulting business (we teach what we learn). However, the majority of my then (and current) clients wanted more than that. They were looking for a publishing house that could provide assistance throughout the entire process, and they wanted to be published under the I C Publishing umbrella. It seemed to be taking on a life of its own, and it felt right to me. Thus, the partner publishing business model of I C Publishing was born.

In partner publishing, like attracts like and there are strengths in numbers. Our clients are amazing at supporting one another on social media and at events. Some have uniquely different audiences; such as business or industry specific, versus retail, yet all are team players and do their utmost to engage in our collective efforts to promote I C Publishing as a company, and more importantly, as a wonderfully talented, diverse group of Canadian authors.

On my blog at ICPublishing.ca, I have written a lot about the differences between the array of publishing models available today, and why an author might prefer/choose one option over the other. Although there are exceptions in every industry, the choices here aren’t good or bad, in large part they’re simply based on your goals and timelines, and often your genre.

Sheri is a dedicated industry professional who exemplifies the ideals The Bookshelf is showcasing with our event – we’re here to celebrate local Canadian authors of all genres who are trying to reach new audiences.

Come visit The Bookshelf on Saturday June 25th and meet your next favourite author 😀

When it just comes down to one book

Authors are avid readers. Heck, I’ve always got my nose in one book or another at any given time. Just look at my GoodReads account (that is after I do a monthly update) and see how many books I remembered reading and have read through my life. If an author does not have listed over 300 books then they are not updating their reading list (or just started to post what they read).

If a writer loves to read, then why are you not also? Think about what there is out there for you. Everything from flights of fancy to incredible adventures. Time travel to horrifying stories. Triumph of spirit to undeniable heartache. Yes, we writers create it all.
And when you have a chance to see a group of writers in person, just imagine how rich it will be for the soul. To actually talk to the creator of your next favourite book!

Join us at The Bookshelf, June 25th in Newmarket. You’ll be amazed.

Weird and Wonderful

We authors are a weird and wonderful breed, represented by all shapes, sizes, sexes and colours. The strangest part is we spend much of our lives by ourselves creating wonderful worlds for you to enjoy, people to love or hate, and fantastic adventures to tag along in. Many of us go for years without our wonderful work being recognized, while others skyrocket to the best sellers list faster than an Apollo rocket thrusts its way out of the atmosphere.

Don’t miss out on any of those fantastic authors still building their launch pad. Come out to The Bookshelf this June to meet your next rising star.