The Planets are Aligning in Banff!

More international recognition for David P Reiter's latest work!

David's recent win at the 2012 Western Australian Premier's Book Awards 2012 for the My Planets Reunion Memoir set the stage. And 2014 is looking to be bigger and better!

The International Autobiography and Biography Association (IABA) Conference has just invited David to present Planets to a global audience in Banff, Alberta, ironically, at the very place where he composed the work in 2012, in collaboration with the digital media staff at the Banff Centre for the Arts. The conference will showcase life writers such as Patrick Lane and Fred Wah, who David knew from his years in Canada. A key supporting organisation of the conference is the University of Alberta, where David did his Master's degree.

The Banff Centre will be promoting his work as "Made in Banff" and there are plans for the University to highlight in their alumni magazine.

IP also sends an extended congratulations to David, and Sona Babajanyan, for their work in Bringing Down the Wall. The heart-warming picture book about a young boy taking responsibility to resolve a family feud has been selected by the Canada's Children's Book Centre as a Best Book for Teens and Children! Bringing Down the Wall has also been included on The Chief Minister's Reading List in the ACT.

While in Western Canada, David hopes to tour schools and libraries to give readings his wonderful children's books Bringing Down the Wall and, hot off the press Tiger Takes the Big Apple (Project Earth-mend Series: Book 4).

We're accepting expressions of interest from schools and libraries for stops on the upcoming tour (mid May through early June). We're also offering the hardback edition of Bringing Down the Wall to them for a mere CA$20 (the same price listed by the CCBC for the paperback edition) – and free postage. Interested? Please contact us on sales@ipoz.biz – we'd love to hear from you!

First international reading of 'My Planets'

I was delighted to have my first USA reading from My Planets at Op.Cit Bookshop in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

We had been staying with my long time friend David de Vaux and Molly at their cosy home on the other side of the Rockies, about an hour and half drive from Santa Fe, and David was kind enough to introduce my reading to the Op.Cit audience. It's a good vibe when browsers in the bookshop who weren't planning to attend the reading are drawn in to take a seat – and that's what happened with several people.

Here's the reading, which lasts about 30 minutes, filmed by my daughter Siobhan. Hope you enjoy it!

Key links: the book; the interactive website.

Help My Planets out on MakeItHappen

MakeItHappen has posted My Planets Reunion Memoir as an idea that might get a micro grant to enable me to present it at an international conference in Banff, Canada next May. Please connect to the page and "like" the idea to give it the best chance of being funded (costs you nothing): http://makeithappen.schusterman.org/idea/738

 
MakeItHappen is the site of Schusterman.org, a philanthropic organisation dedicated to assisting creatives to share ideas and experiences with Jewish content. The organisation provides grants of $1,000 - $5,000 annually to "make it happen" for projects they are enthused about.

 
The conference David has been invited to is that of the IABA (International Autobiography and Biography Association). In 2014, it will be hosted by the University of Alberta (where David completed his Master's degree) and located at the Banff Centre for the Arts, where My Planets was composed in 2012. Talk about the stars coinciding!

 

The presentation will showcase the project by showing segments from the online site and also promote discussion about how digital media can be used to enhance memoir.
 

Once again, please click on the link above and "like" the idea to MakeItHappen.
 
Cheers!