A hat on your head, a book in your hand

If you could picture the graphics of the title phrase, it was how it went at Gwendolyne's Hats in Toronto which was the location of  the book signing of Beneath the Singapore Sky.

Where did I meet Gwendolyne? She visited my blog through Blog Catalog and left a comment. When I visited her blog - Atellier Gwendolyne, I was captured by the beauty of hers and her creations of hats and craft. One day, I suggested if she would be open to having a book signing at her place, and she said Yes!


Many people I knew in Toronto attended my signing. Some were former colleagues and some were old friends. I did not meet any of  Gwendolyne's clients, although there were a couple of people browsing through her hats but they did not seem to have the time to look at my novel. Remember, it is Toronto, I said to myself, a place of perpetual motion

Hats - Gwendolyne knew her craft and how to find the appropriate hat for people. Her designs are one of a kind. She looks at the shape of your head, face and coloring and pulls out the perfect hat or hats for you. Her passion for her craft was palpable. She spent hours on each hat creation but she felt that her hat creations will soon vanish from society. William her partner in life, takes care of much of the business side of Gwendolyne's Hats. He, too, an artist creates some wonderful virtual sites.

On the first evening of the event, I read some excerpts from Beneath the Singapore Sky and also an excerpt from the sequel Lucia M of Singapore. The next afternoon, I had friends show up from out of Toronto. I treated everyone to soft rice cakes, mini custard tarts and mango or coconut juice.  On both days, my friends had an added bonus of sampling Gwendolyne's hats with her expert advice. Some have planned to return to Gwendolyne's for their Christmas shopping.
 Of course, I left Toronto with my own Gwendolyne Hat for winter.

Beneath the Singapore Sky-5 -Train Trip

     Arriving at the station about forty minutes before departure, I was pleasantly surprised to find I was the twelfth person in line. I left my suitcase and went to the little cafe to get a hot chocolate and when I returned, I smiled at the lady in front and asked if her destination was Toronto as the train was passing by several towns on the way.

VIA train in Ottawa (Wiki)
 
         She stated that her destination was Windsor as she was returning home after visiting a relative. So I told her I was going for a book signing of my novel Beneath the Singapore Sky.
Her eyes widened and I asked if she like reading. She loved reading, she said.    "I'll show you my novel then," said I.

    After rummaging through my hand luggage, I realized, all the copies of Beneath the Singapore Sky was in my heavy suitcase. The lady was looking expectantly at me.
" Will you hold this for me?"
I handed her my cup of hot chocolate and proceeded to unzip my suitcase. I took a couple of books, placed one in my hand luggage and handed the other to her, while retrieving my hot chocolate and sipped it ,as I looked behind me to see that the line-up had grown.

    When I returned my gaze  to her, she asked,
" Will you sign it for me?"
"Do you want to buy it?" Sounded silly as soon I voiced it. I was stunned or perhaps sleepy as I had awaken about 5 am much too early for me.
The line started to move, so she told me she would pay me on the train. I trusted her.

    On the train, she found me and since the seat next to me was empty, she asked if she could sit there. I had no problems with that.                                                                                      
We spent much of the trip reading or meditating on my part. She told me of her friend who was in charge of the bookfest in Windsor and asked if I was interested in participating. She was going to show my book to this friend. I told her I really appreciated that.
I wondered what the rest of the weekend would be like? Fantastic surely? If you would like to know, please check my next post.
PC Nicholas