Ann-Marie MacDonald

Although this blog is supposed to be about my European adventures, I reserve the right to deviate occasionally, and today is one of those occasions. Had I been in Paris like I was supposed to be I would not have gotten to meet author/actress Ann-Marie MacDonald.(She wrote Fall on your knees, and The way the crow flies, and was also in the movie Where the Spirit Lives, for all of you asking who the hell is she?) (For plot summaries click on the book's names)Still giddy with euphoria. I was front row centre, right in front of the podium. Well there is a bit of a story, as some of you know I get a wee bit crazy trying to get up right up front (First Nickleback concert- need I say more Sar?). So when I first arrived, they said the first two rows were off limits to everyone, so I sit right in the middle of the third row. So many people show up, that they begin to allow people into the second row, so I am all there is no way in hell I am letting anyone sit ahead of me, so I move to the centre of the second row (I reserve a seat by throwing my bag and coat on the seat infront of me). So when I am settled again they begin to allow people into the front row, I repeated the process.(I was the only one,sure I looked like a jackass, but hey it was worth it)Ann-Marie (as some of the audience called her) read the beginning few pages of her latest book The Way the Crow Flies, and then she read from several chapters (Welcome to Centralia, Swinging on a star, Morning, Have you ever considered therapy?) As well she read this interlude between chapters on page 199. (I looked them up on the bus on the way home so I would remember (I just finished the book today, but I had read her first book in second year).Anyways, it is just incredible to hear an author read their own work, you get a real sense of what they are trying to get across as well as their sense of humor,etc. After the reading she and this other author (Wayson Choy- who I felt sorry for because he had to go first, and people -namely me- weren't really interested in what he had to say, because we wanted to see A.-M.M.), anyways they answers questions, but I was all shy. And then we all queued up for a book signing. I only bothered with Ann-Marie. There were so many questions I wanted to ask, but when it was my turn to go up I just gushed, saying that it was a pleasure to meet her, and that I had seen her in Where the Spirit Lives (which I used to watch when I was a kid), and I had read her book with out knowing that that was her. Then she said so you didn't make the connection. I also said that my mom was a big fan, and then she said thanks, and then I left. I wanted to ask if she had any feed back from Stephen Truscott family, because there are paralells, between the case and her book. I wanted to ask how much of the character of Madeline was based on her (It seems like a lot- both are lesbians, both lived in Centralia during early 60's -army brats-,(Random note Centralia is near London) both lived at the same military station in Germany, both persued acting in their twenties, both have lived in Ottawa). It's amazing how autobiographical authors can be (Amy Tan's The Bonesetter's Daughter is also very autobiographical.) I digress, I also wanted to ask what she considered the themes of her books. Maybe next time.I am now the proud owner of an autographed copy of The Way the Crow Flies, although no one but me will no because her signature is indecipherable.But I totally like her, she is so cool, and funny. When she first came on stage, she made this cute Romper room reference with mirror - you know the whole wanting to name us all in the mirror-and she said because we laughed she knows we're old. So all in all, it was good. She brought the snow with her, because today London had its' first snow fall, and now the ground is covered with the cold white stuff, I know I didn't order it.