HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2011-09-22, Page 27Former Brussels Queen of the Fair
and author Karen Knight took some
advice from a hero of hers and
published her own children’s book.
Knight sent the story for her book
My Mom Put Socks in my
Lunchbox to Robert Munsch, who
gave her some great feedback.
“He said it was good so I started
trying to get it printed,” she said.
The story is autobiographical in
nature, as her son, Dave, kept gettinghis socks wet in the winter.“He asked me to put extra socks inhis backpack and I said that I
would,” she said. “I forgot on the
first day, and, when he asked on the
next day if I put socks in his
backpack, I said ‘No! I put socks in
your lunchbox’.”
The story, despite good feedback,
just couldn’t find a home at a major
printing press.
“I had written other stories and
tried to get them published, but this
was different,” she said. “I was
getting a lot of positive feedback, but
they didn’t want to print it.”
Knight said she wondered, at the
time if it was because of the
economy.
“Munsch had told me to not give
up though, so I didn’t, and published
it myself,” she said.
Choosing a publisher in
Bloomington, Indiana due to their
marketing package, and pairing with
an illustrator from Bayfield she had
met, Knight was ready to have her
book published.
She said after the story was
finalized it took the illustrator,
Joshua McClinchey, a high school
teacher from Goderich, about six
months to generate the images for
the book, and another six months for
the book to get published.
Knight has worked at the
Bluewater Youth Facility outside of
Goderich for 20 years and her time
there has kept her in touch with
youth, and introduced her to
McClinchey, as he worked there
before starting at Goderich
and District Collegiate Institute
(GDCI).
“I remember that, during morning
meetings, he would always be
doodling on his student schedule,”
she said.
While self-publishing the book
has been an expensive endeavour for
Knight, it’s been a nearly flawlessprocedure. “The only problem I had was thecolour on the cover was off, it was
too yellow,” she said.
After a quick stopover at a print
store, she sent a higher resolution
copy of the image to the book house
and, as of Sept. 13, she had the final
copy of the book in hand.
Knight has three more stories she
plans to rewrite and self-publish, and
says that she is more than willing to
share her experiences with anyone
interested.
“I’ve learned a lot about stories
and about self-publishing,” she said.
Anyone interested in contacting
Knight can e-mail her at
karenknighter@gmail.comThe book will be sold online atBarnes and Noble, Amazon.com,Books-a-million and AuthorHouse.
It will be available at Fincher’s on
The Square in Goderich and at
Jillian’s in Mitchell, as well as at
Chapters in London.
Knight has book signings at
Jillian’s on Oct. 1 from 10 a.m. until
noon, at Fincher’s in Goderich from
2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Oct. 1 and at
Chapters in London on Wellington
Road on Oct. 16 from 1 p.m. to 4
p.m.
THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2011. PAGE 27.
The Friday night euchre at the
Cranbrook hall, hosted by Allan
Edgar and Viola Adams had 29 folks
playing.
Winners were: travelling lone
hand, Adrian Verstoep; share the
wealth, Keith Turnbull and Allan
Edgar; high lady, Edna McLellan;
low lady, Viola Adams; lone hands,
Delphine Dewar, Isabelle Bremner,
Judy Hahn and John Tomiuk; high
men, Keith Turnbull and Stewart
Steiss; low man, Mary Davidson;
lucky tallies, Marion Harrison,
Yvonne Knight, Dorothy Martin,
Jean Dewar, Helen Cullen, Helen
Dobson, Allan Martin, Pat
Hamilton, Leslie Knight, Shirley
Verstoep, Allan Edgar, Sharon
Freeman, Norm Dobson and
Marguerite Beirnes.
The next euchre will be held on
Friday, Oct. 7 at 8 p.m.
The Friday night euchre party at
the Cranbrook Hall on Sept. 2 was
hosted earlier this month by Marion
Harrison and Adrian Verstoep. There
were six tables at play.
Winners were: share the wealth,
Joan Jacobs and Allan Martin;
travelling lone hand, Allan Martin;
ladies’ high, Helen Dobson; low
lady, Sharon Freeman; lone hand,
Delphine Dewar and Edna
McLellan; high man, Murray
Hoover; low man, Margaret Peebles;
lone hands, Adrian Verstoep; lucky
tally winners, Isabelle Bremner,
Dorothy Dilworth, Keith Turnbull,
Joan Jacobs, Dorothy Martin, Myrna
Burnett, Rex Whaley, Marguerite
Beirnes, Mary Davidson, Viola
Adams, Allan Edgar, Jean Dewar,
Kay Whaley and Shirley Verstoep.
Former Fair Queen writes children’s book
Euchre held in Cranbrook
Brussels Author
Brussels-native Karen Knight paired with illustrator Joseph
McClinchey to create My Mom Puts Socks in my Lunchbox,
a children’s novel inspired by events in Knight’s life. The
self-published book will be sold at local bookstores as well
as online. (Denny Scott photo)
We are pleased to announce the
upcoming marriage of
Kyle Mero
and
Erika Sturzenegger
Friday, September 23, 2011
Open reception
for those wishing to celebrate with the
bride and groom
Seaforth Legion
starting at 8 p.m
Congratulations
September 22
Love your family
Marie &
Clarence
McCutcheon
on
55 Years
of marriage
Seaforth and District
All Girls Marching Band
2011/2012 season
Practice - Wednesday 6:45 pm
Seaforth Public School
Girls age 10 and up welcome
Openings for musicians
and flag carriers
Some free musical training
No charge for instrument loaned
May also be used for school or private lessons
Opportunity for teamwork,
performance and travel.
Info: 519-525-3924 or 519-524-9306
Happy 1st
Anniversary
Rob & Jess Kerr
Love, Mom, Kara,
Shawn, Tory Lynn, Taylor,
Cheryl, Beau,
Allison and Jack
63rd Anniversary
September 18
Elsie & Jim Walsh
Because you both are
thought about in such a
special way,
You couldn’t be forgotten
on your anniversary day.
So this brings
congratulations and our
love and best wishes.
From your family
Pork
Chop
Supper
Londesborough
Community Hall
Saturday,
September 24
5-7 pm
Adults ~ $12.00
Children 6-12 ~ $6
5 & under ~ Free
Takeouts available
Sponsored by Londesborough
United Church
For Tickets Call
519-523-4473,
519-527-0349 or
519-523-4228
By Denny Scott
The Citizen
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