EVENTS
Check back soon for the latest upcoming events announcements.
For event and readings requests, please reach out directly to A-M on the Contact Page.
PAST EVENTS
It’s been a Busy Fall 2025 - Events for Fugitive Rifts
On July 31, 2025, I received word from my Publishing Specialist at FriesenPress that Fugitive Rifts was officially published, just as I was finishing a visit with two of my sisters in southern Ontario. By the time I got home, my mind was filled with ideas about how best to launch my third book. I was determined to try something different this time. When my copies of Fugitive Rifts arrived in mid-August I arranged for an unboxing photoshoot at a friend’s beautiful garden and posted it on Instagram and Facebook.
Around this time, I also learned about a new partnership between Indigo Books (Canada) and FriesenPress to put books on shelves in local Indigo bookstores near where the authors live. Sudbury’s Indigo has stocked Spelldrifts (2023) and Fugitive Rifts (2025) in the Local Authors section near the front of the store. This is such an important partnership for self-published authors as it is otherwise challenging to convince large bookstores to bring in copies except by special customer order. I was also to invited to contact Indigo Sudbury in early February to schedule a signing.
For those who don’t live in Northern Ontario, you can find links to other bookstores for Fugitive Rifts here.
My partner Dave and I went to visit my aunt in Creston, B.C. Creston is the inspiration for my imagined town of Crestview where the first part of Fugitive Rifts takes place. I was hoping to set up a reading during this visit but the person who had offered to organize it was no longer available so, instead, I set up a venue for my next trip there in late spring or early summer 2026. We stayed at the Creston Moon Bed & Breakfast, my “home away from home” when visiting.
As for a local launch event in my hometown, I developed a different way of bringing together to celebrate my new book, with suggestions from two author friends. Instead of one party, I decided to invite people I know to one of three smaller events for conversations about Fugitive Rifts and conversations from participants about this by having own writing and/or reading.
I booked a table for ten at LaFromagerie, a popular restaurant downtown, for the first event, which was held October 18, 2025. As I anticipated, a couple of people were unable to make the event so we had six people at the table—four authors and two voracious readers. I did a reading, responded to enthusiastic questions, and then turned the conversation to everyone else. Before long, the conversation ‘buzz’ increased as people relaxed with each other and discovered shared ideas about reading and writing. Some arrived with copies of Fugitive Rifts and others purchased copies, all which I signed. Everyone gave positive and enthusiastic feedback.
In between the first and second launch events, I was invited to be on a panel at Wordstock Sudbury 2025. This was my first public reading in Sudbury, and I was thrilled to be part of the Northern Exposure panel. If you live in Ontario and can easily travel to Sudbury, I recommend you watch for announcements about Wordstock Sudbury 2026. This is an amazing literary festival with a cozy vibe where everyone belongs.
November 22, 2025, I was interviewed by Holly and Rogan on their podcast The Ramblings From the Little Shed about how pets influence our writing. You can find the interview here:
The second launch event took place at Seasons Pharmacy and Culinaria on November 29, 2025. Why a pharmacy? This is the third book launch I have held there, because Seasons is not only a pharmacy—it is also a community hub for a wide variety of social activities. There was freezing rain that day, so some people were unable to attend. Seven women joined the conversation. Unfortunately, it became chaotic after we concluded as people looked around the pharmacy, (it was a bit like herding cats at that point), so it was impossible to take photos of the whole group. I had also added an extra hour after the conversation session so people who were interested a signed copy could come to a book-signing hour. Several friends did drop by to visit and purchased Fugitive Rifts.
The women who signed up for my third event all turned out to be eight friends, so I invited them to our home. It wasn’t possible to host and take photos and, besides, it somehow seemed intrusive to ask friends to gather for a photo. But this was another wonderful conversation about reading and writing. Some friendships were from as far back as high school, one, an extremely talented young writer, is the daughter of someone I’ve known for over 50 years, while other friends who attended were retired colleagues. Each had a story about how they knew me. We chatted over tea and muffins. And then everyone headed home.
And thus ended the official launching of Fugitive Rifts. From my perspective, the three events were a huge success. I was touched by the enthusiastic discussions about my book, my writing process, as well as by the fascinating discussions about reading and writing were what I wanted to have happen. The sales were secondary in my planning, yet it is worth mentioning that I sold and signed more books with the three small conversations than during my previous launches.
The Fall of 2025 has been a heartwarming and fulfilling journey, complete with get-togethers with old and new friends, involving great conversations, laughter, and an expanding network of supportive friends, writing colleagues, and people curious about my books.
What’s next? I have just started writing after several months away from my laptop. This may be the start of a new book. But it is too soon to tell.
Past Events for Spindrifts and Spelldrifts
When I first began my writing journey in 2020, I had no idea the road I was about to travel. Now, five years later, I can look back at the incredible progress I have made in promoting and marketing my books. And I am still learning every day.
I had been on social media for several years before I began to write, but only in very quiet ways, mainly playing it safe and trying to participate while limiting access to family and friends. Initially resistant, I quickly adapted with plenty of encouragement and support.
I can thank my promotions specialist, James Stewart, at FriesenPress for setting me on a journey that I initially found very bewildering and, to be honest, unnerving. Helping an introvert who by far preferred playing at the edges of invisibility to become someone “out there” must have been one big challenge. But with gentle nudging and coaching James soon convinced me that, when it came to selling books, we authors also have to promote ourselves and reach out to various audiences.
Along this journey I have met other supporters— authors, bloggers, and readers— who have also taught me strategies, said kind words about my writing, and have made me feel welcome in a warm and caring author community. Some have become dear friends even though I haven’t met many of them in person yet.
As part of this writing community we exchange ideas, read books, for pleasure or to provide Beta or ARC reviews. As a voracious reader I can say that I have enjoyed many books I may not have found if it weren’t for being part of a warm, caring and collaborative community of authors, writers, and readers.
In addition to using social media, I have held book launches for each book and a number of signing events. I have placed copies of my books at several local retailers and have attended markets locally and even as far away as Moncton, New Brunswick. I have promoted my books with in-person events and strategically placed posters, and even sold some at a basketball tournament, and pop-ups. I have done interviews you can find on You Tube and even gave a talk at our local Canadian Association of Retired Person (CARP) on self-publishing.
And soon, my third book Fugitive Rifts will be released. This time I feel much more prepared for the initial few months of getting word out.
I would like to thank James and the rest of the Promotions and Marketing team at FriesenPress, my readers, and my wonderful community of authors and friends who have been supporting me on this journey.
Thank you seems so inadequate.
You can find me on Twitter/X, Instagram, Substack, Threads, and Bluesky, all using the same account name: @ammawhiney. See the top and bottom of my website for the links.
Best Regards
A-M
