Remember that unconference that was held last year where a whole bunch of bookworms converged on St. Mary’s to talk about publishing? Well, it’s happening again AND on the same weekend as Word on the Street. That’s two full days of bookish delights.

In case you don’t know what I’m talking about, BookCamp Halifax is a free event where experts from the publishing world facilitate conversations that are directed by YOU the audience. Everyone has an equal opportunity to voice an opinion or experience. Registration is open. And everyone who attends the event is eligible to win an eReader, generously donated by Kobo!

I’ll also be co-hosting the CKDU 88.1 FM Book Club on Tuesday, September 20 with Stephen Patrick Clare from 1:30 to 2:30. We’ll be talking about BookCamp, Word on the Street, and all things publishing. Catch us live or streaming online and submit your questions which we’ll take via email or Twitter (@AliasGrace and @Top100Books).

Book Madam & Associates

Quite a lot has been happening this past month to keep me busy enough to not make this announcement earlier. I’m now a partner at Book Madam & Associates. The site, which features the musings of some of the brightest minds in publishing, officially became a magazine last week. Julie Wilson and I are managing the business end of things together.

One of the magazine sections is the beloved East Coast blog known as Salty Ink. Chad Pelley, the site editor, is looking for contributors. Thing is, we have no revenue coming in at this point so all the work that we’re doing is 100% unpaid. Yup, that’s how much we love books. However, it’s a good opportunity for exposure. If you’re interested in contributing or have other ideas for working with us drop me a line.

Happy reading!

If you follow me on Facebook or Twitter you’ll have probably already heard the big news: I gave my letter of notice to the CBC. For many of you this will come as a significant surprise since I’ve always considered this gig to be my dream job. Books, blogging, social media, and online community? I’ve been in literary heaven. You may even remember me lamenting the loss of my dream job in the summer of 2009 (as the result of budget cutbacks).

Hello, Goodbye

Well, the time has come to move on to another opportunity where I’ll learn new things and grow my career. At the end of the month you’ll be looking at the digital and online coordinator for Nimbus Publishing. It’s got everything I want in a job plus the added bonuses of learning about ePublishing AND working with an East Coast company to showcase East Coast talent. A big win in my books.

I don’t see this as closing a door though. The CBC provided me with almost five years of great experiences working with talented people, many of whom I consider very close friends (even though they all work far, far away in Toronto). If the chance came up to work there again at some future crossroads, I’d certainly consider it. But for now I’m opening up another door and seeing what’s on the other side. I hope you’ll join me there.

You can follow Nimbus Publishing on Facebook or on Twitter @NimbusPub.

Earlier this week, I had another opportunity to chat on the CKDU 88.1 FM. We talked about some of the fun online developments going on at CBC Books and a whole lot of other book-related topics. I have to admit to drawing out all the big names when I question came in about some of my favourite authors so to make up for it here, let me just point you to one of my beloved sources for new Canadian talent: The New Face of Fiction program at Random House. I cannot tell you how many great books I’ve read from this list including Ami McKay‘s The Birth House a Canada Reads contender this year. In any case, if you missed my interview, you can listen to it right here:

CKDU Book Club chat with Stephen Patrick Clare

Kimberly defends Ami McKay's The Birth House

This year for Canada Reads I’ll be the online defender for one of my fave books: The Birth House by Ami McKay. So that makes me the Debbie Travis of the web. Or something. (She’s defending the book on air.)

You can check out some of the discussion starters on the Canada Reads discussion page where in the weeks to come I’ll continue to build a case as to why this book should win the debates this year. While you’re there you can create a new member profile to connect with other CBC Books members (more features will be rolling out in the new year).

Want to help me build the case? I’ve already put out a call on Twitter and Facebook but feel free to leave your comments here or on the Canada Reads page to let me know your thoughts about the book.

If you’re so inclined, you can also add the following badge of support to your own web pages:

A Canada Reads 2011 contender

I’m off to Toronto for some CBC Books work. For readers who come to this blog from Toronto and surrounding areas (thanks for stopping by), check out the CBC Live events at the IFOA on Saturday. I’ll be around with some of my colleagues talking CBC Books and the fun things we’ve got lined up this year!

For everyone else, have you seen this year’s Canada Reads? We’re asking Canadians to nominate books for the celebrity panelists to discuss on the show. You have until Monday October 25 at midnight to get your votes in. Since I’m living on the East Coast I do want to encourage you to cast your votes for your fave regional books. Go! Do it! Let’s see Atlantic Canada represent on the top 40 list.

It’s been kind of a lazy summer for me on the blog. Mostly because the rest of my life has been so busy. But I do promise to pick things back up…after vacation! That’s right, I’m going to Amsterdam and Bruges for two weeks. I’ve got at least one guest post lined up for while I’m away though. After I get back I’ll talk about the trip and then it’ll be back to business as usual.

If you’ve missed my writing (thanks, you’re sweet!) you can check out the CBC Book Club where I’ve been a contributing blogger since the beginning of the month. Here are my fave posts for movie adaptation month so far:

When love falls apart: Literary crushes who are heartbreakers on the silver screen

Infographic: 10 things that make for epically bad movie adaptations

An interview with a vampire (sympathizer): Becca Wilcott, author of the unofficial True Blood guide

See you (virtually) soon!

Hey, East Coast bookworms! I know you’re out there. Have you heard about the free event taking place in bookstores across the region tomorrow (Saturday, June 26) from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.? Atlantic Author Day is being put on by the Atlantic Publishers Marketing Association and features writers included in this year’s Atlantic Summer Reading Guide. You can find out more info, including the schedule of events for each province, at Atlantic Books Today or check them out on Facebook and Twitter.

While you’re here though, why don’t you leave a comment below about your favourite book by an Atlantic Canadian author? I’m currently reading Chad Pelley‘s Away from Everywhere. He’s the Newfoundlander behind Salty Ink and the Atlantic Canada Reads Competition. The book is about two brothers torn apart by a series of events and…that’s really all I can say about it. If I didn’t have to put it down to do other things, I probably would have devoured it by now because the writing is that solid. Plus, he’s a first time novelist garnering a lot of attention so you should go out and support him.

There. That’s my PSA for the week. Happy reading!

Had a great time at BookCamp Halifax this weekend. If you missed out, here’s the session I ran on online communities with Eric Rountree (@faltarego). Thanks a million to Haligonia who webstreamed a number of sessions throughout the day and captured at least some of the event for anyone who wasn’t able to make it out to Halifax. A big thanks to all the volunteers and bookcampers who made the day such a success. Looking forward to next year already!

You can also check out our Flickr pool which will have more pics by the end of the week. Also, Eric and Julie Wilson (@BookMadam) will be attempting to capture some of the ideas that come to fruition out of BookCamp so I’ll point to that when it happens.

Finally, listen to CKDU (88.1fm in Halifax) today from 1:30-2:30 AT when I’ll be talking to Stephen Clare of the Book Club. If you’re outside the city, you can catch it livestreaming through their site.

UPDATE (audio): CKDU Book Club chat with Stephen Patrick Clare

Hot off the digital press, check out The Coast article in the arts news section where I give an interview about e-readers and physical books ahead of BookCamp Halifax this weekend (it’s not too late to register). I’m recovering from a viral throat infection but hope to have it all cleared up by the time I have to speak on Saturday.

The world of books is in transition. It exists somewhere between the bound and the binary. Literary journals and news magazines have relaunched themselves as online-only editions. Apple’s iPad just hit the market, joining other e-readers such as Amazon’s Kindle and Indigo’s Kobo.

Read the full article.