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@ideashopcanada

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Another clip from my interview with Megan Williams at the launch of my memoir Nothing to Discuss.
www.nothingtodiscuss.com
#reclaimingmystolenvoice
#becauseihavelived it by @ideashopcanada

Just in time for Halloween! The audiobook of A Ghost in the Room: Supernatural Adventures in Historic Houses is now available! You can find it on Audible, Kobo, Overdrive, or wherever you get your audiobooks.

I read it myself, and had the pleasure of working with a fantastic director/producer over many weeks of recording. The result is a real labour of love, and I’m so proud to share it with you! 👻📚🎃

#audiobook #aghostintheroom #bookstagram #ghosts by @ideashopcanada

The 2026 iteration of The Toronto International Festival of Authors was off to a wonderful - and very appropriate kick off event.

A very engaging conversation about books, publishing and bookstores with Craig Swinwood, CEO of Harlequin and Harper Collins - and James Daunt, CEO of Barnes and Noble and Managing Director of Waterstones offered some optimism for the continued value of books and bookstores in today's topsy turvy marketplace.

Very appropriately, this was preceded by a chat with legendary Toronto-based bookseller extraordinaire - this year's Ivy Award recipient. Ben and his store, is a prime example of bookselling done right and with heart - and we are big fans of his work, and his legacy (and his current store and team operating gloriously at 108 Queen St East in Toronto).

It was also great to cheer on Anita Chong, McClelland & Stewart editoria director of fiction, who was awared the 2026 PACLA Person of the Year Award by the Professional Association of Canadian Literary Agents.

Along with Ben, Anita, James and Craig, we were delighted to capture Paige Sisley, literary agent extraordinaire from the Cooke McDermid Agency (we love that she gets excited about books that may have a map at the beginning - we like this too) - and at the far end, Roland Gulliver, Director of the Toronto International Festival of Authors - without whom much would not happen.

Congratulations Ben and Anita - and to Craig and James, thanks for giving us some good feeling about the future of books, bookselling and bookstores!

#TIFA #TIFA2026 #TorontoInternationalFestivalofAuthors #BenMcNally #BarnesandNobel #BookAwards #HarperCollinsCanada #Waterstones #Bookselling #LiteraryFestival #LiteraryAgents #IVAwards #IvyAward #PACLA #ProfessionalAssociationofCanadian Literary Agents by @ideashopcanada

Praise for Nothing to Discuss ❤️
www.nothingtodiscuss.com
#becauseihavelivedit
#reclaimingmystolenvoice by @ideashopcanada

Here's one thing you can do today if your sinuses feel blocked up! Let thing 2 be something kind for yourself (if sinuses are blocked, maybe a bit of rest? 🤔)

This is in honor of Respiratory Therapy week and a fuller, healthier breath 🫁

If you try it out, let me know what you think in the comments below 👇

For more helpful exercises like this to support your own regulation and healing, get a copy of my book at one of the fine establishments tagged in this post or a magical, local bookstore near you!

Happy breathing friends 💛

Until next time,
One breath. One kind action. Repeat!

#RTweek2026
#respiratorytherapyweek
#2ThingsToDoToday
#onebreathonekindaction
#coldandfluseasonishere by @ideashopcanada

With $5.00 from every book pre-sold for launch pick up, or purchased at the event itself, I am very pleased to share the fundraising results at my launch of Nothing to Discuss, September 25th. The support was overwhelming and after a final tabulation last week, I was able to send $700.00 to YWCA in support of their Advocacy team, working to raise awareness and influence policies relating to gender equity. Thank you, Chloe Yam, for helping to celebrate my book and its message.
#becauseihavelivedit
#reclaimingmystolenvoice by @ideashopcanada

Lethbridge readers are treated this week to a rare pairing of two authors whose love of high flying adventure - on Earth and beyond - will be celebrated at Analog Books.

Mel Bradshaw is an award-winning writer of historical fiction. His debut novel Death in the Age of Steam was shortlisted for an Arthur Ellis Award and won Foreword Magazine’s Book of the Year Award in the Mystery category. His other books include Quarrel with the Foe, Victim Impact, Fire on the Runway and Winner’s Loss.

His newest release The Shadow Decade was praised by Kirkus Reviews as "an entertaining Cold War mystery that nicely balances suspense, a detective procedural, and murky ethics.”

Bradshaw’s first novel in nearly ten years is globe-spanning thriller full of shadowy intrigue that follows a Canadian soldier / journalist who attempts to bring his nemesis, a remorseless murderer, to justice over the course of many years - and many flights!

Mel will be joined at this event by Charles K James, an Albertan author and Medical Physicist who specializes in radiation oncology physics. James writing has been praised for its attention to detail in the physics, biology and logistics of space exploration while keeping the stories suspenseful and action-packed.

James new book Lost Command offers the return of the Alliance Expeditionary Fleet. In this pulse pounding galactic adventure engineering officer Cassi Requin and her crew of survivors are stranded in a galaxy far from home. With no way to call for help, they descend to the surface of an unforgiving planet to extract the raw materials they need for repair, but lurking in the shadows lies a relentless enemy Cassi has confronted before.

Don't miss this rare chance to meet two Canadian authors who are at the top of their game in a unique joint event!

Space is limited but it's free to RSVP here - https://www.analogbooks.net/events/6521420261028

#MelBradshaw #TheShadowDecade #CharlesKJames #LostCommand #AllianceExpeditionaryFleet #AuthorEvent #ReadTheNorth #CanadianAuthor #AuthorTour #TeamUp #AnalogBooks #AlbertaAuthor #FlyingHigh #JetsAndRockets by @ideashopcanada

This Halloween, come in to Indigo Langley for a signed copy of Nothing to Discuss, Breaking From 20 Years of Intimate Partner Violence. You'll be glad you did. by @ideashopcanada

This weekend we plan to get our #Halloween on with a long overdue revisit with Lindsay Merbaum's wonderful novel Vampires at Sea.

Full disclosure: Merbaum has a new book, Witches of the Wheel - which we can't wait to get to, but we really are in the mood for a cruise this weekend. We will get to the new book soon enough.

To our delight, we've discovered that this deliciously smutty rollercoaster ride of a story about a pair of energy vampires whose relationship needs a reset now has a very unique companion volume: Vampires at Sea - Signature Drinking!

Now our cups well and truly runneth over.

Loving designed by graphic artist Jensen E Sikora, this delightful collection of drink recipes offers up some satisfying real world content to enjoy in tandem with Merbaum's novel.

Since you asked: Our favourite drink from the book is the Ennui (which had us at "Mezcal Rinse")

Note that Merbaum is not only a brilliant writer - but also a High Priestess of Mixology. You are in good

Vampires at Sea was as irresistible as a frothy Hayu miniseries. With delightful echoes of Anne Rice & her slumbering pseudonym A.N. Roquelaure keeping things spicy, Merbaum’s sexy and supernatural take on The Love Boat not only captures titillating decadence covering a full range of sexual preferences and identities but gives Merbaum the perfect stage to show off her ability to capture sexual nuance and interpersonal dynamics – no matter what form they appear to us in.

It's Rebekah, the investment banker vampire with showstopping good looks that ensure she is desired for more than her financial advice, who offers up these sage words in her foreword to this clever companion book.

"You should enjoy these recipes. Make all the syrups and liqueurs, invite your friends over, wear something skimpy and silky and spill your drink on someone so they have to take off their shirt... little cups of possibility. You must try them. I insist. And you will not resist me."

The Vampires At Sea Signature Drinking companion book can be downloaded here:

https://www.lmerbaum.com/vas-signature-drinkies

#Vampires #Mixology #LindsayMerbaum #HalloweenDrinks #EnergyVampires #Bookstagram #Book #Drinks by @ideashopcanada

Mark Anthony Jarman's fine new novel Wild West is very much the weaving together of many strands of history - and influence.

No surprise given Mark's reading habits - and interests!

We were delighted when we discovered an exclusive reading list that he put together for 49th Shelf.

Mark has selected nine books that were integral to the process that gave us such a kaleidoscopic slice of historical fiction.

From reference, to inspiration to simply providing a feeling that he liked to carry forward, Mark's reading recommendations not only give insights into the makings of a career defining work - but also to the creative process in it's most nascent form,

If you've already had the pleasure of reading Mark's Wild West, this Wild West Reading list will give you some delightful framework with which to further enjoy the book.

And if you haven't read Wild West yest, this list functions nicely as a well considered collections of #bookrecommendations from an author who is a cornerstone of today's #CanLit landscape!

Check out Mark Anthony Jarman's Wild West List of Book Recommendations at 49th Shelf here:

https://49thshelf.com/Blog/2026/10/05/The-Wild-West-List

#MarkAnthonyJarman #WildWest #49thShelf #BookRecos #AuthorLife #AuthorHacks #ReadTheNorth #LouisRiel #AliceMunroe #MichaelOndaatje #MavisGallant #EliseLevine #InspiredBy #AuthorInspo #WritingLife #WhatToReadNext by @ideashopcanada

I was on @thegoodstuffctv with @mary_berg3 !!! I use to watch her on her show Kitchen Crush back in the day, it was one of my favorite cooking shows! It was an absolute honor to share space with her, and it felt like talking to a friend I had known for years. She is so genuine and personable, she made me forget I was on national television 😅 Not to mention her entire team and producers were so kind, supportive and welcoming. I am beyond grateful. Thank you so much Mary and The Good Stuff crew for having me and supporting this book and what it means and helping spread its message. 💛

The show airs at 11:00AM PT and you can stream it on @cravecanada, @youtube or @ctv website. Check it out!! This was such an incredible opportunity!!

Until next time,
One breath, one kind action,
Repeat ✨️

#2ThingsToDoToday #onebreathonekindaction #thegoodstuff #maryberg #ctv by @ideashopcanada