Last weekend, my book was blessed and launched.
By our priest, Rev. Canon Claire Wade at St. Thomas’ Anglican in the village of Brooklin, Ontario
And our church community, family and friends
At 9.a.m in the morning of a long weekend, no less!
It was a full house. The food was great, the speeches were short, and I didn’t stutter or cry while reading.
Thanks to Hamlin for the photos and to publisher Don Bastian for his beautiful speech below:
“I’ve attended many book launches, but this is the first book blessing I’ve ever heard of. I think there should be more of them!
In my experience as an editor and reader, memoir writers fall into one of two camps.
In one camp are those who create a book. Their book falls somewhere on the spectrum from boring waste of space to keen insight into a life well spent. But in the end, all they have created is a book.
In the other camp, and this camp is less populous, are those who create a book, of course, but who also create a world. In some mysterious way, in telling the story of their own life, they tell the story of their readers’ lives, as well.
I think you know into which camp Cynthia Reyes has pitched her tent.
Opening the pages of AN HONEST HOUSE is like opening a colourful gift. Yes, we do grapple with the pain we are subject to, having messed things up in the Garden of Eden. But we do get closer to the border of that wonderful garden. We are drawn into Cynthia and Hamlin’s literal garden and into their big-hearted marriage and church relationships and extensive set of friendships. And we are so much the better for it.
And so I am honoured to congratulate Cynthia on her new book. To congratulate her for displaying:
- great skill as the writer of a book;
- supreme artistry as the creator of a world;
- and amazing grace to confer on us, her readers, honorary citizenship in that world.”
~~
Thank you, Don, Hamlin, Rev. Canon Claire, Sharon and everyone who took part.
Cynthia Reyes 
A book blessing.. what a special way to launch a book. Your community looks awesome.
Thank you, Bernadette. And for recently sharing your very wise commencement speech on your blog. Graduating students need to hear this.
What a wonderful day. Thank you for sharing it with us and congratulations, Cynthia!
Thank you, Jill. There was such a feeling of grace at the event.
“The other camp” I loved that description. I haven’t finished reading this book, but that really applies to what I have read so far. 🙂
Thank you, Theresa. I’m glad you’re liking the book so far.
I couldn’t agree more with Don. Congratulations Cynthia.
Thank you, K! I appreciate your kind (and very knowledgeable) comment.
What a special launch! You should be proud 🙂
I am. And grateful. I did not know how to be happy three years ago when the first book launched — I was too scared of the pain, PTSD and everything. But this time, I allowed myself to be happy. It was a great feeling.
That’s high praise from a publisher. Congratulations!
It sure is, Allen. Thank you!
I also felt what your publisher said, that your books also relate the readers’ lives. What a great launch!
I’m glad to hear that. Thank you. And it was indeed a great launch, and the people attending were a truly interesting group, many who drove a long distance to be there. A dollop of grace indeed!
So happy that your new book is being so well received and the church launch sounds very special. Many congratulations
Thank you, Valerie. Have been thinking of you, and sending a warm hug.
Well done, Cynthia and congratulations! 😀
Thank you, Dianne. It was a beautiful morning.
What a lovely way to launch your book. Your publisher’s words are spot on. You have created a world for us. We all want to sit at your table, even if you tell us we may be served a two ingredient dish, minus one of the ingredients!!!! 😉
Yup, I knew you’d never forget that little catastrophe of mine… I must say, I really outdid myself on the ineptitude scale that time! A personal worst? No, I’ve done worse.
Hmm, well, I have done some interesting things in the kitchen; leaving eggs out of the cake batter didn’t go too well. Baking bread using only the grill element isn’t such a great idea either. And to your credit, if you had to leave out one ingredient, you actually chose the right one to leave out. 😀
Glad to hear you’ve had such adventures. Wouldn’t want to be the only one!
You are definitely not alone.
A wonderful book blessing and launching, Cynthia! Your publisher’s words, along with the love and support from your family and community, are a very special gift to a very special person. Congratulations!
Amazon.com indicated my copy of “An Honest House” has been shipped. I am looking forward to reading it!
I’m honoured that you’ve bought the book, Lavinia. Thanks very much. And for your kind words here. It was a wonderful event, and people were smiling from ear to ear. I’m so glad.
Congratulations Cynthia! I love the idea of a book blessing.
Thank you. My priest Claire is an innovative thinker, and she blessed the first book and this one too.
Cynthia, reading and enjoying the book, remembering some bits you have blogged about makes me love it more! Amy
I’m so glad to hear that, Amy. I’m glad you’re enjoying it.
Hamlin and the throw pillows still makes me laugh. Quintessential man.
On another note, my Mango tree has finally decided to flower!
Hooray to the mango tree! Glad Hamlin’s non-appreciation for the finer points of decorating makes you laugh!
My husband has a peculiar apprehension about throw pillows.
Does he think you’ll throw them at him? (tee hee..)
Maybe that is the problem….I think, really, he was traumatized by Interior Designers during his career as an Architect.
How wonderful to read this, Cynthia! The photos were beautiful… and so was the book launch. We share your joy with you. 🙂
Thank you, Iris, author-poet-blogger extraordinaire. Thanks for sharing.
Wow! Have a cuppa on me. 😉
A lovely, joyful, event
It was, Derrick. Thank you.
Wow–what a party! It looks wonderful and you looked mah-velous!
Thank you, Dah-ling (as my Aunt Rose would have said).
How very, very lovely!
Thank you, Laurie!
What a great celebration! I’ve never heard of a book blessing either, but it’s a good idea.
That’s my priest, Claire, with her great ideas! I love that woman.
Book blessing – it has charm! Congratulations, Cynthia! You look great – happiness and peace show on your face. All the best to you!
Thank you. It was a happy day and my gratitude was beyond measure.
I love the photos of the event! How wonderful to have a priest who makes things like this happen. My copy arrived yesterday but I haven’t had time to start it yet. I can’t wait!
Thanks, Claire. She is a special priest, for sure. A godsend to our parish.
Your church is lucky to have her – she sounds a real treasure.
She is.
Congratulations, Cynthia, on the launch, the blessing and the much deserved praise. You did indeed create a world I loved to enter.
Blessings ~ Wendy
And thanks for your great review on amazon.ca! I truly appreciate your support, Wendy.
That’s wonderful.
It really is.
What a great speech he gave .. How wonderful Cynthia
Thanks, Julie. I appreciate your reply.
A book blessing, what a wonderful start. XOXO
Thank you, Brenda. It is indeed.
Fingers crossed I get there one day.
Kudos on the launch of Your book, my Dear Cynthia!
Thank you. And thanks for visiting my blog too.
🙂
I think it’s a great idea to have a book blessing Cynthia, I hope it brings special things for your book!
Thank you, Andrea. It felt like my book was being sent out into the world in the best way possible, and that those who read it will feel that blessing.
What a wonderful tribute to you and your book! You should be thrilled!
I am, Jason. Very pleased.
How can it not be number 1, wishing you all the success you deserve.
From your mouth to God’s ear! Thank you very much, Karen.
Congratulations on your book launch, Cynthia. I just read Kate’s review and love the pictures of your house and garden. 🙂 Sylvia
Thank you, Sylvia, for taking the time to write this note. I appreciate it.
Congratulations, Cynthia! And I love the idea of a book blessing❣
well done, congrats!
Thank you, Annette.
What a true blessing and beautifully written tribute to you and your book!
Tina: Thank you. I hope this summer you’ll read at least one of the chapters of the book in that new cabin of yours. Get your husband, daughter or son to take a picture of you reading it in the new cabin, will you? (smile)
I will do that for sure!!! I am so anxious to get started I keep cheating and reading a random page I open to!!!
No cheatin’, young lady!!!
Reblogged this on PenneyVanderbilt.
A book blessing is a lovely idea. Delighted to hear it went well. I wish you all the best with it. 🙂
Cheers
MTM
It went very well, MT. Even my atheist friends (whom I teased mercilessly before the event, threatening to put them through a full high-Anglican mass) loved being there. Thank you for your good wishes.
Hi, Cynthia! I am really happy for you! Congratulations and continued blessings . . .
Thank you!
Cynthia, what a wonderful blessing! Congratulations! 🙂 ❤
Thank you! I didn’t realize that this was a first in these parts. It just made sense to my priest and my family, and everyone else to bless the book before sending it out to readers.
How fabulous! I think a book blessing is a perfect way to launch. I certainly pray over mine enough.
Maybe I’ll ask Father Cesar if he wants to bless mine. 🙂
Why don’t you! It made me feel that my book was going out into the world in the best way possible.
This is such a wonderful way to launch a book … like a literary baptism.
All the very best. Kris.
Ah, Kris. I love that. A literary baptism. I shall have to quote you.
Please do … and with my blessing!
Thank you.
A much belated … and proper … congratulations. You know I wish you every success in every way. 🙂