Blog Dis
Hopping chocolate bunnies
2025-04-22
I swear it's not an illusion. As I age, or as I like to re-phrase this most common of phrases, to evolve, it appears that the years pass more quickly, like water leaking through my fingers, despite my best efforts to cup my two hands together to create a perfect seam. Water, like time, goes where it wants to go, where it's compelled to go, much in the same manner that time slips by our nose, hardly noticed. Time will catch up with you, this much I know with 100% certainty.
And so, I find myself at the tail-end of a long Easter weekend, where I didn't enjoy nibbles with family or receive milk-chocolate bunnies. Instead, I worked all weekend, slinging fantasy novels at a convention in Ottawa, specifically the Anime Exhibition, appearing in my city for the second year in a row. I placed my name on the waiting list to get in as an artist but exhibitor spaces had long been sold out in Sep 2024. Surprise! I was notified some three weeks before the event that a cancellation came in, and I was accepted. I didn't want to turn it down, despite feeling the Easter weekend might have an impact on attendance (it didn't) or that my fantasy novels wouldn't necessarily jive with the whole anime genre of manga art, plushies, stickers, and other collectibles associated with this Japanese art form. I'm happy to report I made back my table fees, and moved copies of my newest novel POM but nowhere near the level of sales that I'd achieve at Comic-Con, which is all things fantasy-related: marvel comics, jewelry, sculptures and everything under the sun, merchandise like swords, masks, figurines, gem stones, rings, toys, and yes other fantasy novelists.
It's important to keep an open mind, for without one, you'll not expose yourself to new experiences, and the potential to meet new people, and to engage them in conversation that otherwise you might not actively seek out in your day-to-day life during the week. I ran into Americans from New York State who crossed the border to attend the 3-day event, two of whom were reticent to admit they were Americans, until I started to speak about politics, at which point they apologized for their President, and re-assured me that they never voted for him, nor would they, and how embarrassed they were by his behaviour, to trash Canada. Our conversation was a hoot. Another American woman admitted that she moved to Canada one year ago, and how happy she was that she did so before their election. We chatted at length and her primary focus was on Canada's healthcare system, and how much she loved being able to utilize our services without having to go massively into debt. Our emergency wait times are not the best, granted, but at least they are free, if you can afford to wait, and assuming you don't die in the process.
Lapsed Catholics, such as myself, are not in the habit at all, not even a little bit, over the Easter weekend of observing edicts as set out by the Catholic church, such as Good Friday, where only fish is consumed, avoiding all other meats. My mother is a devout Catholic and while she may not be able to attend Sunday mass, due to her mobility issues, she still says her prayers each day. After all, the notion of praying to a deity by yourself, in your home, is like acknowledging that God is within you vs the need to visit a temple of worship which ideally benefits the Church that collects donations from parishioners who attend in person. With the passing of Pope Francis, the Church will be all aflutter for weeks to prepare for his official funeral, followed by the Conclave electing a new Pope. It is at this point where I trail off in my interest, as I did all those years ago at 13 years of age, when I refused to go to confession. I understand my place in this world and it doesn't include worshiping a God or to follow the dictates of a religion. I've spoken previously in my blog on my comprehension of spirituality vs religion, so I'm not going to go into this subject right now. I don't pray, all to say, though I do believe in the power of mantras that express gratitude, and there's no harm in practicing this philosophy on a daily basis.
Chocolate and bunnies have been married to the long Easter weekend since ancient times. This practice is rooted in German folklore with roots to pagan rituals and traditions, and it was only later in modern times that marketing professionals realized the cash bonanza. So, my love of dark chocolate hasn't waned, any more than my interest to attend fantasy events has waned. But I've decided that I won't buy a table to next year's Anime Exhibition, opting instead to sign on for the mini-Comic Con in Jan 2026. Between now and then, I'll attend Comic-Con in Sept in Ottawa, which is a great selling event w/ 44,000+ visitors over a three-day period. I do, however, appreciate the value of handing out my business cards to visitors, as I did all this past weekend. You never know who'll visit my author site to purchase a paper copy or eBook.
This morning I received a ping from Amazon KDP advising me that a royalty payment will be deposited into my account. This is the best Easter gift I could get, better than milk chocolate, and better than stuffing into my face a monster-sized Easter Sunday dinner with ham and all the fixings. These dinners smell good but my tummy cannot manage all that food any more.
We each know our limitations, as well as knowing where we want to place our effort, and how hard we want to work toward a short or long-term goal.
I wonder how many days off per year the Pope takes.
If you've yet to see the movie Conclave, the timing is perfect with the Pope's passing. I recommend you do so, to satisfy your curiosity on the politics that go on behind the scenes to elect a new Pope. I found the acting to be top notch, and the ending has a twist. Yay!
And so, I find myself at the tail-end of a long Easter weekend, where I didn't enjoy nibbles with family or receive milk-chocolate bunnies. Instead, I worked all weekend, slinging fantasy novels at a convention in Ottawa, specifically the Anime Exhibition, appearing in my city for the second year in a row. I placed my name on the waiting list to get in as an artist but exhibitor spaces had long been sold out in Sep 2024. Surprise! I was notified some three weeks before the event that a cancellation came in, and I was accepted. I didn't want to turn it down, despite feeling the Easter weekend might have an impact on attendance (it didn't) or that my fantasy novels wouldn't necessarily jive with the whole anime genre of manga art, plushies, stickers, and other collectibles associated with this Japanese art form. I'm happy to report I made back my table fees, and moved copies of my newest novel POM but nowhere near the level of sales that I'd achieve at Comic-Con, which is all things fantasy-related: marvel comics, jewelry, sculptures and everything under the sun, merchandise like swords, masks, figurines, gem stones, rings, toys, and yes other fantasy novelists.
It's important to keep an open mind, for without one, you'll not expose yourself to new experiences, and the potential to meet new people, and to engage them in conversation that otherwise you might not actively seek out in your day-to-day life during the week. I ran into Americans from New York State who crossed the border to attend the 3-day event, two of whom were reticent to admit they were Americans, until I started to speak about politics, at which point they apologized for their President, and re-assured me that they never voted for him, nor would they, and how embarrassed they were by his behaviour, to trash Canada. Our conversation was a hoot. Another American woman admitted that she moved to Canada one year ago, and how happy she was that she did so before their election. We chatted at length and her primary focus was on Canada's healthcare system, and how much she loved being able to utilize our services without having to go massively into debt. Our emergency wait times are not the best, granted, but at least they are free, if you can afford to wait, and assuming you don't die in the process.
Lapsed Catholics, such as myself, are not in the habit at all, not even a little bit, over the Easter weekend of observing edicts as set out by the Catholic church, such as Good Friday, where only fish is consumed, avoiding all other meats. My mother is a devout Catholic and while she may not be able to attend Sunday mass, due to her mobility issues, she still says her prayers each day. After all, the notion of praying to a deity by yourself, in your home, is like acknowledging that God is within you vs the need to visit a temple of worship which ideally benefits the Church that collects donations from parishioners who attend in person. With the passing of Pope Francis, the Church will be all aflutter for weeks to prepare for his official funeral, followed by the Conclave electing a new Pope. It is at this point where I trail off in my interest, as I did all those years ago at 13 years of age, when I refused to go to confession. I understand my place in this world and it doesn't include worshiping a God or to follow the dictates of a religion. I've spoken previously in my blog on my comprehension of spirituality vs religion, so I'm not going to go into this subject right now. I don't pray, all to say, though I do believe in the power of mantras that express gratitude, and there's no harm in practicing this philosophy on a daily basis.
Chocolate and bunnies have been married to the long Easter weekend since ancient times. This practice is rooted in German folklore with roots to pagan rituals and traditions, and it was only later in modern times that marketing professionals realized the cash bonanza. So, my love of dark chocolate hasn't waned, any more than my interest to attend fantasy events has waned. But I've decided that I won't buy a table to next year's Anime Exhibition, opting instead to sign on for the mini-Comic Con in Jan 2026. Between now and then, I'll attend Comic-Con in Sept in Ottawa, which is a great selling event w/ 44,000+ visitors over a three-day period. I do, however, appreciate the value of handing out my business cards to visitors, as I did all this past weekend. You never know who'll visit my author site to purchase a paper copy or eBook.
This morning I received a ping from Amazon KDP advising me that a royalty payment will be deposited into my account. This is the best Easter gift I could get, better than milk chocolate, and better than stuffing into my face a monster-sized Easter Sunday dinner with ham and all the fixings. These dinners smell good but my tummy cannot manage all that food any more.
We each know our limitations, as well as knowing where we want to place our effort, and how hard we want to work toward a short or long-term goal.
I wonder how many days off per year the Pope takes.
If you've yet to see the movie Conclave, the timing is perfect with the Pope's passing. I recommend you do so, to satisfy your curiosity on the politics that go on behind the scenes to elect a new Pope. I found the acting to be top notch, and the ending has a twist. Yay!
