Hurrah, my book launch of Along Came A Gardener happened this past weekend. The book, based on my 25 years as a family therapist, is now online for sale on Amazon, and soon on other online retailers as well. And to celebrate, I posted a video on my youtube channel. It’s a short one of me reading from a chapter that includes the poem (written by a client) which gave me the idea and title for this book.
My Book’s Journey
A number of posts ago, I had shown you the stack of notes I’d collected over the years, ones I had hoped to draw on for my self-help book. For some reason, unfathomable to me now, I thought I was ready to write this inspirational and motivational self-help book in the late 1970s when I was in my late 30s. What was I thinking? Though I was a practicing school psychologist at the time, I still had much to learn. I had my own bumps in the road to overcome. So, whatever attempts I made back then were quickly aborted.
Though I had dabbled with writing in the 1970s, publishing a few newspaper articles on fitness and travel and earning a prize in a fashion essay contest, I didn’t tackle writing as a career until after I’d spent a quarter of a century as a family therapist and psychotherapist. Since I retired from that line of work, I’ve written five novels, some poetry, and a novelette and now, Along Came A Gardener, a non-fiction self-help book.
Given my serious back condition, it’s a wonder I got it done. But looking around and seeing so many dealing with anxiety and depression, I thought it would be worth the time and effort to put what I had learned into a book of personal memories and stories from the world of mental health.
I also wove in the lessons I found in my garden. I’ve always been in awe of Mother Nature, and how and what she shows us on a daily basis. With the changing climate, we’re seeing major upheavals in weather everywhere, but Nature is resilient and keeps showing up despite what we throw at her. But like any relationship, there’s only so much she’ll take before she breaks down. I’m thankful there are botanists and other environmental scientists who are teaching us about the wonders of plants and other living things in our midst. And warning us about what’s at stake if we don’t pay attention.
Upcoming Book Signings
I love independent bookstores. I live on Vancouver Island, where there are some beauties! As an author starting out late in life, I’m thankful for the support of Mulberry Bush bookstore in Qualicum Beach (where Sunflowers Under Fire was their no. 2 bestseller last year), Fireside Books in Parksville, Laughing Oyster Bookshop in Courtenay, Coho Books in Campbell River, and Windowseat Books in Nanaimo.
And I have to mention the book department in Save-On Foods in Campbell River, who have been stocking my books since 2014.
I’ll be at Mulberry Bush bookstore, Qualicum Beach on Saturday, April 26th, 10 am to noon, and at Fireside Books in Parksville, same day, 2-4 pm to sign Along Came A Gardener. Another date is being planned for Laughing Oyster bookshop, but more on that later.
I’m happy to return to Mulberry Bush bookstore, where I was honoured to be invited to the store’s first book club event for a reading from Sunflowers Under Fire a year or so ago.
Where to Get My Book
You can ask your local bookstore or library to bring the paperback in. All you need is my name (Diana Stevan :)) and the title of the book. The ebook is also available for Kindle, Kobo, Apple, Nook, and more.
For Americans and others, you can also order Along Came A Gardener from Amazon and other online bookseller websites, but just so you know, it may take a few more weeks before it shows up on the other sites, like Barnes & Noble, etc. Or again, you can call them and order it now.
As for Canadians (I’m a proud one)—whose country is in a trade war with the USA—you can order it at your local bookstore, or if that’s not convenient, you can buy it from Amazon. I understand if you’re reluctant. I’m not happy that billionaire Jeff Bezos has a monopoly but his company is the biggest seller of books (from every publisher) and makes it convenient for those who can’t get to a bookstore because of time or physical ability, or because they live in an area where there isn’t one. Also, Amazon.ca employs Canadians and the printing is done in Alberta, so that’s some comfort.
For More on My Book
I have some lovely reviews on Amazon from early readers. And I’ve given a couple of interviews about Along Came A Gardener to writers online.
Author Allan Hudson posted his with me on his blog, South Branch Scribbler.
What I’m Working On
I finished my collection of short stories about rooming houses managed by Ukrainian immigrant landladies in Winnipeg in the 1940s and 1950s, and am looking for a publisher. This could take a year of so. I wonder if I’ll have the patience to wait.
While I’m waiting, I’m working on a new novel. I have an interesting idea, several characters, but not much of a story yet. I’ll keep you posted.Subscribed
What I’m Reading
Reading is my bliss. So thankful that with all the worries today—trade wars between the USA and Canada, wars in the middle east, and war in Ukraine—I can escape into a good book.
I loved reading AbrahamVerghase’s The Covenant of Water (literary fiction) so much that I ordered Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghase, a fabulous read about these twin boys, who are born to a nun in Ethiopia.
I’ve also started reading the Bible. As a child, I read bible stories and heard many excerpts from the old and new testament at church, but decided I wanted to read all religious texts and scriptures myself. What inspired me was Timothy Findlay’s novel, Not Wanted on the Voyage, a reimagining of the story of Noah’s Ark and the flood. After reading it, I wanted to find out how the story was portrayed in the bible. I’m only reading small sections of the bible at a time, and I suspect it’ll take me a year to get through it all.
Recently, I finished two lighter books, both very entertaining and well-written. Chick Singer by Lorraine Devon Wilke. I loved her novel, The Alchemy of Noise, so I had to read her latest. It’s about dreams gone bad and a reawakening of that which was lost. And Nine Perfect Strangers by Lianne Moriarty, about a group of people at an unusual health resort, which I understand was made into a mini-series for television.
As always, it’s been fun sharing my journey with you. Please feel free to leave a comment if you like.
