Authors for Indies

What a wonderful way to spend a Saturday morning. Sandi and I put on our best clothes (and our best faces) and headed down to Books on Beechwood for a special story time in support of the Authors for Indies event, an event arranged and hosted by the store to raise awareness of the role of independent booksellers. 

We were welcomed with warm smiles and treats by the lovely Stephanie, Antoinette and Hilary and we had the pleasure of meeting and reading alongside author/playwright, Rachel Eugster, whose first picture book, “The Pocket Mommy” was released by Tundra Books in 2013.

The daylong event brought an array of Ottawa authors together to enjoy and celebrate the role of the Book store. Sandi and I have a particular love of Books on Beechwood not only because they are sooooooooooooooooo supportive of our books but because we have enjoyed reading at their story time one or two times before.

Sandi and I were honoured to be invited and we had lots and lots of fun chatting with the young customers and their parental units. Oh and of course we got to read from both “Where Do Witches Go?” and “Witches Don’t Do Ballet”! Thanks for having us and thanks to the wonderful poet Pearl Pirie for taking pictures of us!

Witches Do Winter

... and strangely enough we had a fabulous time! This past weekend we were invited to be part of some super cool programming that was taking place at the new Lansdowne in celebration (and kick-off) of this year’s Ottawa Winterlude Festival. Now when we say it was "super cool," we don’t just mean the temperatures (which, incidentally, were hovering way below what a little witch would like), we mean the opportunities provided by the City of Ottawa to entertain are super cool.

We, Sandi Witch and me, Pansy, were invited to be a part of the workshop series. So, we gave a reading and shared some activities with our young audience and it was FUN! What a novelty to read our story Witches Don’t Do Winter in the dead of actual, honest-to-goodness, winter. The youngsters milling around Lansdowne on Sunday were certainly making the most of the weather. Some had skated to the site, some were going tobogganing and some had been building snow people in an attempt to set a Guinness World Record (for the record, it was the record! Congrats!) Having just participated in such winter delights was great reinforcement for the story, though guessing from their happy, smiling faces, the children didn’t quite understand why Pansy found everything to be so ‘awful’.

After our reading, Sandi and I joined the crowds in the Aberdeen Pavillion and as they were happily shopping the Farmer’s Market, we were happily chatting with unsuspecting youngsters (I think the blue and green faces create a bit of a surprise factor!). We met lots of wonderful people, had lots of giggles and Sandi Witch wowed the masses with her beautiful calligraphy.

Despite the freezing temperatures, we were toasty warm courtesy of the fabulous heated floors in the Horticulture Building – you really should go and check them out! I mean it, you really should! This coming Sunday (the 8th of February), the wonderful Ms. Julia of Luv2Groove fame will be leading a free hip-hop workshop between 1-3 pm and who know--you may even catch a glimpse as the Little Witches strut their stuff!

Of course, every great time has a great facilitator behind it so thank you to Ms. Jeanine Anderson for inviting us, coordinating and supporting!

Here we are, bundled up and ready for home! Thanks one and all for making our Sunday memorable.

Not wet at all!

Truthfully, WOTS this year did NOT seem auspicious. We woke to torrential downpours, bucketing rain slashing against our breakfast windows. Undaunted, we drove to the site, and passed the barrier just in the nick of time (the Witchmobile protesting all the while at the indecently inclement weather). We assessed the sopping wet table, dropped off our baggage, and parked the car underground, where it could recuperate for the duration of WOTS.

We strategized: yes, our friends at Starbucks wouldn't mind if we nicked a handful (or two) of napkins to dry our table, would they?

Indeed, they did not!

But lo! When the elevator door opened to Bloor Street West, Mr. Golden Sun had vanquished those horrible rain clouds! It was a miracle, of sorts! The day ended up being warm, lovely sunshiney, and full of wonderful, wonderful people.

Some of those people helped us in the Little Witch Press booth! Some of those lovely people stopped by the booth to say hi! Some of them (many of them) bought some books and helped us celebrate our second printing of Where Do Witches Go?

All in all, it was a stupendous day. Photos soon!

ETA: photo now! With our lovely daughters, Absy and Genny. ALSO: photo by @elsienisonen, who is not only a supporter, but a wonderful photographer (even with my iPhone!)

Wet WOTS

It's going to be one for the wellies, everyone!

Come see us at Word on the Street today (yes, in the rain), and we will greet you with smiles and laughter and maybe a bookmark!

For the record, perhaps it would have been better yesterday? The sun was lovely yesterday!

Pictures on our Facebook page for the moment!

We're Back!

When Halloween is over

and winter clouds bring snow

I’m sure you were wondering

where did the ‘Witches Go’?

Well it’s a good question. Us Little Witches may not have been in the spotlight, flaunting our talents, but we've definitely been around and we've definitely been busy cooking up all kinds of new and magical ideas. The good news is we'll be back in public sight this Fall, and we're planning to spread some magical cheer over our young fans.

One of our most recent undertakings was to reprint our first title. First published in the Fall of 2008, Where Do Witches Go? was a huge success and went on to completely sell out within the first few years of its printing. Little Witch Press has been waiting for the right time to reprint and this September seems to be just the right time!

And so over a pot of tea (or two) us Little Witches are back at it, planning, plotting and pulling together our best 'haunting season' yet. With a second printing of our popular first title and an itinerary of appearances, stay tuned to The Witch Watch and www.littlewitchpress.com to find out where the fun and frolicking will all take place.

Word on the Street this Sunday!

Hello all you Toronto folks!

The witches will be at the Word on the Street festival at Queen's Park this weekend. Imagine us witches, climbing into the Witchmobile at the unearthly hour of 5am, heading out onto the highway, stopping only for coffee and...well. More coffee. We will arrive at 10, set up, and start the antics almost immediately.

At 11:30, in the Kid's Reading Tent, we'll be reading from Witches Don't Do Winter, so if you've been dying to see Pansy Poppet (the ever-amazing puppet) in action, now's your chance. Signings afterwards.

We'll also be bringing out a nifty little booklet to accompany What Do Witches Do? into the classroom for the Halloween season. Teachers, look out for a special price for this great resource to take you into the witching season.

Keeping our fingers crossed for awesome weather! Come by and say hello. You'll know which ones we will be...we're in green. And blue. And we have an enormous puppet.

The Witches

Kids Fest just around the corner

If you are wandering around Lebreton Flats the weekend of June 2/3 don't be alarmed by this sight:

The Little Witches will be flitting about Children's Festival line-ups, dancing up a storm, playing with puppets and engaging in spontaneous poetry! (not to be confused with spontaneous combustion, which would be frightening and a little messy)

See you there!

The Little Witches