Accepting a blogger friend’s challenge, I painted my nails purple to attend the Festival of the Arts in Cobourg, Ontario last weekend.
Of course, my friend won the challenge hands-down (hands-up?) because in this picture below, she’s also wearing a purple shirt!
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I’m a volunteer with the Festival and it was a great success! Painters, photographers, authors, actors, musicians and others shared their talents with enthusiastic audiences.
- Above 6 photos by Hamlin Grange
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In the photo just above, publisher Jennifer Bogart(right) and I are presenting gifts to Felicity Sidnell Reid (left) and Susan Statham (2nd from right), the hard-working co-chairs of the Festival’s organizing committee.
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It’s also been a great ‘Myrtle week’. I dropped into A Different Booklist – one of Toronto’s best-known book stores. Owners Itah and Miguel introduced me to customers Shay Lin (holding a copy of Myrtle), an international student from China, and Qing, her mother.
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Earlier, CBC Radio interviewed daughter Lauren and me about Myrtle. Metro Morning host Matt Galloway and his team were terrific. They pre-interviewed us, and, when we arrived, made us welcome. Then they talked us through the journey the interview would take.
They were so kind, I suspected that someone in the team must have read An Honest House, which describes my struggles with PTSD, cognitive difficulties and pain following a car accident. So I asked producer Morgan Passi.
Imagine my delight to discover that this is just the way they operate!
Next, Lauren and I were skilfully interviewed by the wonderful host of Ontario Morning, Wei Chen. She greeted us warmly, made us feel entirely at home and the interview began.
Bravo, CBC Radio!
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A few days ago, Seattle’s Allen J. Mears posted on Facebook a photo of his daughters, Megan, 8, and Hailey, 6, with Myrtle. I loved it! Thanks to the Mears family for allowing me to share it here.
I love photos of children reading Myrtle, courtesy of kind parents and grandparents.
In these photos, Ashly Dixon in Wisconsin is reading Myrtle to her daughters Denali, 9, Anika, 6, and son Vincent, 2, while their father Damien takes the photos.
Ashly says they all love the book, including the brilliant illustrations and Myrtle’s “message of acceptance and knowing one’s self-worth” .
Thanks, Dixon family.
And don’t you just love the pyjamas?
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Carl Randall, a veteran marathon runner, did something unusual to spread the word about Myrtle.
He and his wife Jackie have brought Myrtle to libraries in various cities — including New York, where he recently ran the marathon.
Thanks, Carl and Jackie!
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Finally, Kev Cooper – blogger, book reviewer, author and musician — has made Myrtle “Book of the Month” on his website, Books & Music. Wow, Kev! Thank you!
Cynthia Reyes 
Kudos Cynthia. Purple people passionately percolating playful performances. 🙂
Alliteration much? Thank you for making me laugh!
Always aware and alert alliteration answers!
You crack me up!
🙂
This is wonderful, Cynthia! Absolutely fantastic!
Thanks, Donna! And for your early and constant support of my books. I appreciate you, fellow author!
Reblogged this on Jo Robinson and commented:
Myrtle and Cynthia zooming around.
Thanks, Jo! I know you’re busy with the French version right now!
Myrtle is really going places!!! And I like how your fingernails matched the cover.
Thanks, Arlingwoman! I’m getting used to purple nails now. Never thought I would!
This is wonderful news, Cynthia! Congratulations to you and Lauren on the interview with the CBC! It is heart-warming to see Myrtle the Purple Turtle doing so well so many places. 🙂
Thank you, dear Lavinia. It’s very nice to see, and I hope Myrtle helps many families to have great conversations. With the book being translated into French, I suspect it will go to other places as well.
That’s great news!
Well done! Sounds like you need some time off.
How did you guess? I edited my first draft to remove every reference to exhaustion and pain! do you have a crystal ball or something?
Sleep well tonight.
Gosh – Myrtle is sure going places! Well done Cynthia – the timing is obviously right!! I love hearing about all your success, it is so well deserved!
Thank you, Pauline. Hope you liked the art at the Festival too!
Way to go my dear sister, Myrtle has taken off. Wishing you all the best. Soar like an eagle.!!!
Thank you, my dear. I always appreciate your encouragement.
Lovely to see all the readers, and the activities focused around Myrtle. The Festival activities are amazing, too; so much talent! Hope you are having a little time to rest now. Ladies with purple nails need their down-time; just saying, from one to another. 😀
I know. It’s been in the back of my mind, the whole time: Pace yourself. Rest. I have been doing so.
🙂 🙂
Reblogged this on anita dawes and jaye marie.
I read you comment on Lavinia ” s , Cynthia . I cannot wait to see Myrtle , the purple turtle tpublished in French ; Please warn me.
I am glad to see this book is well launched now .
Love ❤
Michel
Thanks, Michel. I knew you’d like to hear that. I’ll let you know the minute it’s available!
About a French name “Vertu” looks a bit like an abstract name . The turtle is named Myrtle in English , the nearest sound in French is Myrtille ( bilberry ). My oldest daughter Carole owned a donkey female in the past . called Myrtille . This name sounded very good . I found again for you an old xanga post from 2002about this : Here is the link ( I hope it works). This is my humble advice.
http://fauquet.xanga.com/2002/05/15/1385/#comments
Love ❤
Michel
Merci, Michel.
Love the nails, Cynthia!! Of course they had to be purple!! 😀😀 Wow, the buzz about Myrtle is intense and congratulations on its national and international success…also well done on managing the radio interview, they sound like wonderful and kind people.
Thanks, Annika! You are, of course, part of Myrtle’s success! Thank you. It’s funny: I’ve become used to the purple nails! (haha)
Very well done with the book and the nails
Thanks, Derrick. I’m very thankful about Myrtle’s early impact. You’ll be surprised to hear that my greatest relief, though, was for the Festival. Volunteers worked so hard to make it fabulous, and it was!
Not surprised at all 🙂
How nice to see Myrtle getting out and about. Congratulations, Cynthia!
It really is, Jill. Thank you.
Reblogged this on Felicity Sidnell Reid: author, editor and broadcaster and commented:
Thank you Cynthia, yeah for Myrtle!
Thanks, Felicity. I’m honoured.
Cynthia – this is so meaningful,joyful and great post!!
Thanks, Mihran! “Meaningful and joyful” also sounds like the lovely music you create!
Cynthia – always appreciative and creative!!
That looks like a good time for everyone. I love book fairs and could see myself going home with a box full. Art, books and music all in one place would make one swoon. Glad to hear it all went so well.
Thank you, Marlene. It was wonderful. I did go home with a box full of other people’s books, but that was fine, as Myrtle sold many copies too!
Big congratulations, Cynthia! Couldn’t happen to a nicer person. Myrtle’s message is so important. We need to keep trying for change. And thanks for the great picture of my photographs. Love it.
Thank you, Pat. Well said.
Re: the photo of the photos? My pleasure!
How exciting! Wonderful post .. love those nails 😃
Thanks, Julie. Your artistic talent is evident through your farm and photos. And I’m with you, kiddo: let’s leave the jelly-making to Bill!
It’s great to see Myrtle getting around so much – very fetching nails 🙂
Dear Ma’am: On behalf of Myrtle and myself, I heartily thank you for those two nice compliments.
So wonderful that Myrtle is traveling near and far and is getting an enthusiastic response! Yay!!!!!
Isn’t it great to see, Laurie? I’m so thankful.
May that little purple turtle continue to travel. Her message is more important than ever. Unfortunately, so much racial animosity in this country. Sad and frightening.
I’m really so sorry about that, Laurie. America is a remarkable country and I hope the nation will rise above its worst instincts, as I believe it can. Thanks for your good wishes for Myrtle.
I sure hope so. Unfortunately, as you well know, we also have an ugly history of slavery and racism, which, in my opinion, this country has never addressed head-on. But a number of us are trying to turn the tide, and we won’t stop trying.
You’ve got a lot of talented and friendly people up there, yourself included.
They are great. Love ’em! And thank you!
Your blog is very good. Please keep up your work.
Thank you!
Wow, Cynthia, you and Myrtle are receiving some terrific promotion. Congratulations! Well-deserved. I love art festivals and would have had a difficult time walking away from many of those pieces. Wonderful post ❤
Thanks, Tina. The volunteer effort, the calibre of the artists and the enthusiasm of the audiences were remarkable.
What a wonderful week you experienced. And all that recognition for Myrtle is terrific.
Thanks, Karen. Myrtle is special to our family and we’re glad her story has a chance now to have an impact on others.
Great, I actually had purple hair! Rockin the shell.
You DID? I’d have loved to see that.
I’ll send a picture. Blinding white hair is easy to make purple! I did it in honor of a friend fighting cancer – she dyed hers purple before it fell out from chemo.
Such a lovely gesture.
Such a week! May the next one be even *better*!
Thanks, Kerry. I’m trying to take Gallivanta’s advice and rest up a bit the last couple days. But I’m not complaining — giving thanks always for the lovely ways in which Myrtle has been received.
Yay for you and Myrtle! I like your purple fingernails. 🙂
Ya, Brenda! Thank you! And speaking of nails — it’s time now to put on some more purple polish!
Purple rocks!
I’m with you, sister. I went and found an old purple outfit and nearly put it on to try to outdo Gallivanta, our blogger friend, but I forgot !
LOL Perhaps a purple cape. 🙂
Sounds to have been great fun, Cynthia. With a friend I organise a book faihttp://www.narberthbookfair.co.uk/ – but nothing like as big or grand as your festival.r:
Thank you. Your book fairs sounds great. We had a fairly large team representing the diversity in the arts found in Spirit of the Hills, so the content went beyond the book fair. But the book fair went well too.
That, of course, should have read; http://www.narberthbookfair.co.uk !!
Thanks again, Judith.
Goodness you have had an exciting week. Myrtle is becoming famous. Well done. 🤗
She is becoming well-known and I’m happy for her!
What a week that was! I am so pleased the Festival of the Arts was a success and that you also managed to spread the word ever further about Myrtle. Congratulations on the radio interview!
Thanks very much, Clare. That week wiped me out a little, but I don’t regret one bit of it. What a privilege. Now I’m back to being mature and am trying to pace myself.
It’s good to have a bit of excitement now and again!
This must have been so much fun for you. I’m glad to see you out promoting yourself and Myrtle, and thanks for sharing all the people sharing!
Thanks, Jeanne. It was an exhausting week and sometimes I seemed to be barely standing up, but what a pleasure it also was to see the positive reactions to Myrtle.
How wonderful Cynthia. So great you were live for interview and that your book is doing so well. Oh, and I love purple nails! 🙂
Double thanks, Debby!
Most welcome 🙂
Lovely photos! So pleased the launch has gone well and that folks are loving Myrtle!
Cheers
MTM
Thank you, dear MT. Me too.