THE LAUNCH OF THE RISKS OF REMEMBRANCE WAS A TEAM TRIUMPH.
I am still basking in the warmth of so many friends, colleagues and Heliconian Club members who came out to help me celebrate. Without my friends and family – who have put up with many readings and several years of moans, complaints and enthusiastic outpourings – there would never have been a book. Paula Kirsch ferried me, with paintings and sculptures, to the club and helped me set up the hall – for 2 hours. Meg shopped for and prepared wonderful food, Hilary wandered the room making sure everyone was well supplied with food and drink. Heliconian Club members rallied around to help in so many ways–at the bar, making sure everyone signed “the book”, and the clean up afterwards. Ellen Michelson was a lively MC and poet Norma Lundberg’s introduction left me almost speechless–and just before I was to read! There wouldn’t have been a launch without them all.
And there was publisher John Parry towering over the crowd, so good at stepping into the breach; painter and print maker Jane Burns whose art work illumines the book, and back cover photographer Karen Hendrick whose disc of photographs makes wonderful memories of the night. Jennifer, Pat and Sheila of Volumes sent best wishes -and were gratefully thanked for never losing their cool in the midst of having their patience sorely tried during the design and printing process.
Truly it takes a village-a creative village- to bring forth a book.