A week after the flooding began in Calgary, I met with my writer friend Rona Altrows, and we talked about how amazing a story the flooding was. We both wanted to write about it, and quickly agreed to co-author a children’s story about the flood. Rona was inspired and wrote a draft, and after some discussion, I took on the role of editor, while she was the writer. (This was my wish. It was her story and her inspiration, and I was delighted to support that.)
Last week, days after the story was completed, Simone Lee from Pages Bookstore messaged me to ask if I’d be interested in working on a chapbook with her for a reading Mayor Nenshi was doing the next week. I sent her on to Rona, and soon they were deep into editing for the chapbook, illustrating (Sarah-Joy Geddes ), layout and printing, just in time for Nenshi to read The River Throws A Tantrum at Wednesday morning’s story time.
It was chaotic and funny, with kids crawling all over him. Rona’s grandson recognized himself in the story: “I said that!” The mayor is in the story, too, and, of course, recognized himself.
Nenshi’s reading was recorded, as part of the city’s YYC is Open campaign, to support businesses hurt by the flood. A short video was created by the Calgary Herald, and has since been picked up by the Huffington Post and canada.com.
I’m delighted to be a part of this, and to be able to watch it unfold so quickly. Publishing is an excruciatingly slow business, so to have a story go from event to chapbook to national coverage in five weeks is breathtaking. And it’s a joy to work with all these wonderful people.
Maureen
