Saturday October 3, 2009
A wonderful full day of writing and readings at the WFNB "WordsFall" event in Florenceville, N.B. We were hosted by Anne Brennan, (one of the founding members of the WFNB) and her daughter Rayanne. Activities included a workshop on nature writing led by Deb Carr of Hampton, NB, readings by both published and unpublished authors, and a talk and reading by myself on my book Don Messer The Man Behind the Music. We then headed to the Andrew and Laura McCain Gallery for wine and cheese. Following that, we were treated to a lovely harvest dinner at the community centre. Kudos to the WFNB and Florenceville for hosting such a successful day.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Goose Lane Launches Fall Titles
Friday October 2, 2009
A great evening of conversation and a chance to meet the other authors who have books in the fall collection.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Congratulations to Joan Thomas
Joan Thomas, fellow Goose Lane Editions author has won the 33rd annual Amazon.ca First Novel Award for Reading by Lightning.
Friday, September 18, 2009
more and more reviews
September 17, 2009. Review in California Bookwatch “Reviewer Choice” states “Any fans of old-time music or Canadian music history will find DON MESSER a fine survey, examining a family man and Calvinist and who was also a musical prodigy who built a wide audience with his TV show Don Messer's Jubilee. Anecdotes, photos and family recollections are shared in a fine biography of a complex musician's life.
They did call the book Don Messer The Man Behind the Mask, but we’ll forgive them for that.
September 6 2009. Review on Amazon.ca
Deb Carr calls the book “an insightful, evocative read; she (Johanna) hooked me from the opening chapter”… she tackles sensitive subjects with dignity and compassion, just allowing the story to unfold simply, but skilfully, on the page.
September 3, 2009 Feature article
Feature article in the Daily Gleaner by Brenda MacMinn, “Johanna Bertin writes book on Don Messer” in which I talk about Don Messer’s extensive collection of Canadian music.
September 1, 2009 Review in “The Buzz” on Arts and Entertainment in Prince Edward Island.
“Don Messer’s growing‐up years, early band years, public life, and family life are intimately examined for the first time… Illustrated with rare photographs and meticulously researched, Don Messer: The Man Behind the Music is a comprehensive narrative interwoven with personal anecdotes from his friends and relatives.”
They did call the book Don Messer The Man Behind the Mask, but we’ll forgive them for that.
September 6 2009. Review on Amazon.ca
Deb Carr calls the book “an insightful, evocative read; she (Johanna) hooked me from the opening chapter”… she tackles sensitive subjects with dignity and compassion, just allowing the story to unfold simply, but skilfully, on the page.
September 3, 2009 Feature article
Feature article in the Daily Gleaner by Brenda MacMinn, “Johanna Bertin writes book on Don Messer” in which I talk about Don Messer’s extensive collection of Canadian music.
September 1, 2009 Review in “The Buzz” on Arts and Entertainment in Prince Edward Island.
“Don Messer’s growing‐up years, early band years, public life, and family life are intimately examined for the first time… Illustrated with rare photographs and meticulously researched, Don Messer: The Man Behind the Music is a comprehensive narrative interwoven with personal anecdotes from his friends and relatives.”
Canada wins silver in team relay
September 1, 2009. Canada wins Silver Medal in Team Relay at Mountain Bike World Championships in Canberra, Australia. This awesome result was achieved by the Canadian team made up of Geoff Kabush, Evan Guthrie, Raphael Gagne, and my daughter Catharine Pendrel. Check out her blog www.cpendrel.blogspot.com for all the inside information on the international mountain bike racing scene
August Happenings
August 30, 2009
Don Messer: The Man Behind the Music ranked #3 in Nova Scotia by the Chronicle Herald, based on sales at Sangor’s in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia.
August 25, 2009
Don Messer The Man Behind the Music is ranked number 11 in “bestselling new and future releases” in the composer category on Amazon. This searching for the book is no doubt incredibly self indulgent but at the same time it is a bit of fun!
August 22, 2009
Don Messer The Man Behind the Music makes it to number 2 of Non-fiction paperback on “New Brunswick’s reading”, in “Salon”, in The Telegraph Journal.
August 20, 2009
Reading Amazon.ca sales number rankings is a dubious pleasure. There is something discouraging about seeing your book ranked 137,792 (out of the top 1,000,000 best sellers). But when you put that into perspective, a ranking of 137,792 is quite an achievement. To see that figure jump to a ranking of 1,651 as it did on August 20, 2009, was mind boggling. So, of course, I had to do a search of the other rankings. And there I was, ranked 80 in the list of top 100 memoirs and biographies. I had apparently been in the top 100 for five days and was only sorry that I had missed the fun of seeing the book there. I cut and pasted with a vengeance and sent out the ranking to friends, co-workers and family.
August 15, 2009
Book Signing at Indigo Charlottetown. A disappointing turnout until I realized that I had been scheduled at the same time as: the opening ceremonies of the Canada Games; a big purse race at the track; a charity bar-b-cue raising funds for orphans in Africa. Wonderfully, Ann Marie Chamberlain came by with several family members in tow and rescued me.
August 13 - 16, 2009.
The 19th Annual Hank Snow Tribute, Bridgewater, Nova Scotia was honouring Don Messer this year and invited me down to do a reading. The crowd of 800 was the most attentive audience that I have ever had: not a cough or a rustle, not a chair being scraped. Ivan and Vivian Hicks and The Fiddling Landrys were both there along with Bill Guest (who performed with Don Messer on tour), and Lukus Munroe, a young fiddler from Nova Scotia. Some of the attendees at this event have come for all nineteen years; many of them admitted to being there fifteen years in a row, driving from all over the States and Canada to pay homage to Hank Snow.
August 7, 2009
Signing at Fredericton Chapters store. There I was at a lovely table in the children’s section. It was a quiet night and not a lot of people came by, but I learned a ton of jokes from a child who had just bought a joke book and wanted to practice them on me. E.g. “What did the father buffalo say to his child when he left for college?”
“Bison.”
I did meet some rather wonderful people who wanted to talk books and writing. There was also a lady who kept saying “I have never met a writer before.” I felt quite humbled to be the object of her wonder and behaved very well.
August 3, 2009
Review on Amazon.com. “Music Enthusiast” writes “To take his (Don Messer’s) journey through Johanna’s words and reflections based on countless hours of interviews with family and friends is to live a part of his legacy.”
August 1 – 6, 2009
The Don Messer Centennial Celebration was a huge success, bringing more than 3000 people to the community of Harvey Station, New Brunswick. The parking lot at the community centre told the story with cars from New Jersey, California, Maine, Connecticut, Florida, Ontario, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. It was obvious that Don Messer fans are still interested in his music and his style of entertainment.
The week’s celebration had something for everybody – fiddlers and fiddle competitions, lutiers and crafters, square and round dance lessons, and an archival display showing Don Messer from the age of two until his death. The Scott Woods band was there as was Ned Landry, The Fiddling Landry’s (Ned’s great grandchildren), Ivan and Vivian Hicks, Matilda Murdock, Johnny Forrest, Marge and the Boys, La Famille Arsenault, Katherine Moller, Patrick Kelly, Kathleen Gorey- McSorley, and so many other talented musicians. The crowd loved it and have asked us to make this an annual event.
Wilfred Everett, proud present resident of the Messer Homestead had 650 people through the house during the week.
On the Monday of that week, August 3, 2009, McAdam, NB played host to NB Day. I was invited to do a reading in the tent, accompanied by the Don Messer Jubilee singers from Harvey Station. Greg McDonald, manager of the McAdam Train Station was gracious enough to let me sell books in the station dining room, just one of the rooms being redone in the revitalization of this heritage building.
August 1, 2009
Launch of Don Messer: The Man Behind the Music at the Don Messer Centennial Celebration at Harvey Station, New Brunswick. We had 500 people show up for the afternoon’s entertainment which included Ivan and Vivian Hicks, Katherine Moller, A Touch of Celt, and in the evening, The Scott Woods Band. Never have I heard a violin respond so differently to various players.
The Don Messer celebration continued all week with some gratifying comments from readers of the book: “I took it to bed with me at 11:30 and the next time I looked at my watch, it was 4:30 in the morning. I couldn’t put it down.”; “You got it right. It was exactly the way life was back then.” And my personal favourite; “You said everything that needed to be said and you didn’t waste any words doing it.”
People seem to be genuinely enjoying the book which is so gratifying. It was a huge amount of work and I tried so hard to be objective and respectful, and to tell the story the best way that I could.
Don Messer: The Man Behind the Music ranked #3 in Nova Scotia by the Chronicle Herald, based on sales at Sangor’s in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia.
August 25, 2009
Don Messer The Man Behind the Music is ranked number 11 in “bestselling new and future releases” in the composer category on Amazon. This searching for the book is no doubt incredibly self indulgent but at the same time it is a bit of fun!
August 22, 2009
Don Messer The Man Behind the Music makes it to number 2 of Non-fiction paperback on “New Brunswick’s reading”, in “Salon”, in The Telegraph Journal.
August 20, 2009
Reading Amazon.ca sales number rankings is a dubious pleasure. There is something discouraging about seeing your book ranked 137,792 (out of the top 1,000,000 best sellers). But when you put that into perspective, a ranking of 137,792 is quite an achievement. To see that figure jump to a ranking of 1,651 as it did on August 20, 2009, was mind boggling. So, of course, I had to do a search of the other rankings. And there I was, ranked 80 in the list of top 100 memoirs and biographies. I had apparently been in the top 100 for five days and was only sorry that I had missed the fun of seeing the book there. I cut and pasted with a vengeance and sent out the ranking to friends, co-workers and family.
August 15, 2009
Book Signing at Indigo Charlottetown. A disappointing turnout until I realized that I had been scheduled at the same time as: the opening ceremonies of the Canada Games; a big purse race at the track; a charity bar-b-cue raising funds for orphans in Africa. Wonderfully, Ann Marie Chamberlain came by with several family members in tow and rescued me.
August 13 - 16, 2009.
The 19th Annual Hank Snow Tribute, Bridgewater, Nova Scotia was honouring Don Messer this year and invited me down to do a reading. The crowd of 800 was the most attentive audience that I have ever had: not a cough or a rustle, not a chair being scraped. Ivan and Vivian Hicks and The Fiddling Landrys were both there along with Bill Guest (who performed with Don Messer on tour), and Lukus Munroe, a young fiddler from Nova Scotia. Some of the attendees at this event have come for all nineteen years; many of them admitted to being there fifteen years in a row, driving from all over the States and Canada to pay homage to Hank Snow.
August 7, 2009
Signing at Fredericton Chapters store. There I was at a lovely table in the children’s section. It was a quiet night and not a lot of people came by, but I learned a ton of jokes from a child who had just bought a joke book and wanted to practice them on me. E.g. “What did the father buffalo say to his child when he left for college?”
“Bison.”
I did meet some rather wonderful people who wanted to talk books and writing. There was also a lady who kept saying “I have never met a writer before.” I felt quite humbled to be the object of her wonder and behaved very well.
August 3, 2009
Review on Amazon.com. “Music Enthusiast” writes “To take his (Don Messer’s) journey through Johanna’s words and reflections based on countless hours of interviews with family and friends is to live a part of his legacy.”
August 1 – 6, 2009
The Don Messer Centennial Celebration was a huge success, bringing more than 3000 people to the community of Harvey Station, New Brunswick. The parking lot at the community centre told the story with cars from New Jersey, California, Maine, Connecticut, Florida, Ontario, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. It was obvious that Don Messer fans are still interested in his music and his style of entertainment.
The week’s celebration had something for everybody – fiddlers and fiddle competitions, lutiers and crafters, square and round dance lessons, and an archival display showing Don Messer from the age of two until his death. The Scott Woods band was there as was Ned Landry, The Fiddling Landry’s (Ned’s great grandchildren), Ivan and Vivian Hicks, Matilda Murdock, Johnny Forrest, Marge and the Boys, La Famille Arsenault, Katherine Moller, Patrick Kelly, Kathleen Gorey- McSorley, and so many other talented musicians. The crowd loved it and have asked us to make this an annual event.
Wilfred Everett, proud present resident of the Messer Homestead had 650 people through the house during the week.
On the Monday of that week, August 3, 2009, McAdam, NB played host to NB Day. I was invited to do a reading in the tent, accompanied by the Don Messer Jubilee singers from Harvey Station. Greg McDonald, manager of the McAdam Train Station was gracious enough to let me sell books in the station dining room, just one of the rooms being redone in the revitalization of this heritage building.
August 1, 2009
Launch of Don Messer: The Man Behind the Music at the Don Messer Centennial Celebration at Harvey Station, New Brunswick. We had 500 people show up for the afternoon’s entertainment which included Ivan and Vivian Hicks, Katherine Moller, A Touch of Celt, and in the evening, The Scott Woods Band. Never have I heard a violin respond so differently to various players.
The Don Messer celebration continued all week with some gratifying comments from readers of the book: “I took it to bed with me at 11:30 and the next time I looked at my watch, it was 4:30 in the morning. I couldn’t put it down.”; “You got it right. It was exactly the way life was back then.” And my personal favourite; “You said everything that needed to be said and you didn’t waste any words doing it.”
People seem to be genuinely enjoying the book which is so gratifying. It was a huge amount of work and I tried so hard to be objective and respectful, and to tell the story the best way that I could.
Trying to catch up
July Happenings
July 29, 2009 Book review in The Sun Times titled “Canadian Music Good Enough to Read”. Andrew Armitage writes “For the first time in print, Don Messer’s growing-up years, his early struggles in the world of old-time music, and his public and private life are examined, all accompanied by rare photographs and meticulous research… It has been 38years since Don Messer’s Jubilee went off the air but Bertin brings him back in quiet dignity.”
That almost makes up for him describing the biography as “homespun’.
July 27, 2009
Interview on Live at Five. This was a huge amount of fun as I had never done a TV spot before. I had a fascinating time watching the CTV news team get ready for the show. I sat in the green room (which is actually painted blue) and watched this very professional group of people prepare and present the news stories of the day.
I did a signing that night at Bayers Lake Chapters. Unfortunately, (or fortunately depending on which way you look at it), the store had had a big rush on books with all the promo re: my interview on Live at Five that day and they only had four copies left in stock. Despite sending over to the Dartmouth store for more copies, we were still sold out in 25 minutes but I had a lovely chance to visit with Ron Noiles, one of Don Messer’s biggest fans. Dawn Attis (Don Messer’s daughter) came by as did Blain Henshaw who will be Master of Ceremonies at the Don Messer Celebration at the Hank Snow Tribute in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia August 13, 2009.
July 26, 2009
Book review in the Chronicle Herald Books titled “The story behind the persona. N.B. writer traces life of Don Messer, from farm roots to Canadian musical sensation.”
Stephen Clare writes that “Don Messer: The Man Behind the Music is a compelling and re¬vealing portrait of both the man and his times.”
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Review in "This Week"
July 23, 2009
Tony McGarrigle review in “This Week”
Don Messer The Man Behind the Music “is a fitting tribute and welcome addition to all the other honours that Messer received after his passing in recognition of his career.”
Tony McGarrigle review in “This Week”
Don Messer The Man Behind the Music “is a fitting tribute and welcome addition to all the other honours that Messer received after his passing in recognition of his career.”
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Interview Heaven
July 21, 2009
Interview with Tom Young, All News Radio 88.9 FM. A very odd experience, speaking with a radio station via a cell phone and getting an echo throughout the interview. Rather like having a three way conversation with myself and Tom. But Tom was genuinely interested in Don Messer the man.
July 21, 2009
Interview with Phlis McGregor, CBC Arts Producer, Halifax. What a treat this was – a far ranging conversation about Don Messer, the family man and the band leader.
July 8, 2009
I forgot to mention this last week. I can’t say enough about Paul Castle, host of CBC Shift (Saint John, NB) and his producer Elaine Bateman. They are the best interview and research team and wonderfully supportive of New Brunswick authors. I had a chance to speak with him about Don Messer: The Man Behind the Music." (14:58) July 08, 2009
www.cbc.ca/shift/interviews.html
Interview with Tom Young, All News Radio 88.9 FM. A very odd experience, speaking with a radio station via a cell phone and getting an echo throughout the interview. Rather like having a three way conversation with myself and Tom. But Tom was genuinely interested in Don Messer the man.
July 21, 2009
Interview with Phlis McGregor, CBC Arts Producer, Halifax. What a treat this was – a far ranging conversation about Don Messer, the family man and the band leader.
July 8, 2009
I forgot to mention this last week. I can’t say enough about Paul Castle, host of CBC Shift (Saint John, NB) and his producer Elaine Bateman. They are the best interview and research team and wonderfully supportive of New Brunswick authors. I had a chance to speak with him about Don Messer: The Man Behind the Music." (14:58) July 08, 2009
www.cbc.ca/shift/interviews.html
Friday, July 17, 2009
Interview with Tony McGarrigle
June 16, 2009 . Interviewed by Tony McGarrigle for the "Kings County Rrecord" and "This Week". Tony lives in Sussex,New Brunswick, home of Marg Osburne for many years.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
July 16, 2009 Westminster Books, Fredericton, NB
Book launch went incredibly well with fifty people showing up for the meet and greet, and all leaving with books under their arms. It was wonderful to see such a cross-section of members of the Messer family, friends from work, other writers from the Professional Writers Association of Canada, and members of the Fredericton British Sports Car Club, including Dave Nielsen who brought his violin and played a medley of Messer tunes. Thank you David!
I spoke briefly to the ethical issues involved with the writing of biography. Suzanne Alexander, Susan Baker, and Laurel Boone were all there from the Goose Lane family.
The advantage of having a famous daughter
Pendrel's Mom Releases Book - Don Messer: The Man Behind the Music
by pedalmag.com
July 10, 2009 - Top Canadian MTB XC star Catharine Pendrel (NB) Luna Pro is preparing for a big day on Saturday, July 11 when she faces off against defending champ Marie-Hélène Prémont (QC) Maxxis-Rocky Mountain at the 2009 Tim Hortons MTB XC Nationals for the Elite women's title. Prémont has been the perennial winner but Pendrel came close last year, so all eyes will be on the two titans of Canadian women's MTB XC racing. (Good news! Catharine won the Canadian National Mountain Bike Championship.)
But Pendrel's already beaming as her Mom, Johanna Bertin, is a celebrated writer and recently penned Don Messer: The Man Behind the Music, published by Goose Lane Editions. While Pendrel currently lives in BC her roots are in New Brunswick and the book launch begins with a personal book signing by Bertin in Fredericton on July 16 with more signings to come (stay tuned).
by pedalmag.com
July 10, 2009 - Top Canadian MTB XC star Catharine Pendrel (NB) Luna Pro is preparing for a big day on Saturday, July 11 when she faces off against defending champ Marie-Hélène Prémont (QC) Maxxis-Rocky Mountain at the 2009 Tim Hortons MTB XC Nationals for the Elite women's title. Prémont has been the perennial winner but Pendrel came close last year, so all eyes will be on the two titans of Canadian women's MTB XC racing. (Good news! Catharine won the Canadian National Mountain Bike Championship.)
But Pendrel's already beaming as her Mom, Johanna Bertin, is a celebrated writer and recently penned Don Messer: The Man Behind the Music, published by Goose Lane Editions. While Pendrel currently lives in BC her roots are in New Brunswick and the book launch begins with a personal book signing by Bertin in Fredericton on July 16 with more signings to come (stay tuned).
Bringing you up to date
Tuesday July 14, 2009
Interview with Rod Mackey, CKEC East Coast FM, New Glasgow
Rod Mackey has been the host of Sweet Music, a traditional music programme on CKEC/East Coast 94.1 FM for 30 years. He tells me that Don is still much requested and loved in his listening area. The interview about Don Messer, the man and the musician will air on ecfm August 16 and August 23 between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Friday July 10,2009 "Don Messer has arrived"
On July 10, 2009, Don Messer: The Man behind the Music was scheduled to arrive in book stores throughout Canada. It has actually been in some of the independent bookstores and Chapters for a week and is doing well, making the list for New Brunswick Reads, a compilation of best selling books published in the Telegraph Journal. One huge frustration is that Chapters Fredericton has been sold out for ten days. You would think that the publisher (located in Fredericton) would be able to restock, but that is not the case. Chapters is stocked through their Toronto office and so we wait for Toronto to decide to send more copies of the book.
Wednesday July 8, 2009
Interview with freelance writer Stephen Clare, writing for the Halifax Chronicle-Herald Sunday Books Section. Portions of the taped interviews will air on The Book Club on CKDU 88.1 Halifax.
Monday July 6, 2009
Interview with freelance writer Sharon Jones, preparing an insert on the Don Messer Centennial Celebration (August 1 – 8, 2009), for the Daily Gleaner.
Monday June 29, 2009
Review in "Scene and Heard with Will McGuirk"
"Johanna Bertin writes about the gifted fiddle player from New Brunswick in a direct and entertaining manner. It's a pleasant read ..."
Saturday June 27, 2009
"Don Messer: Canada's first television Star", Review in The Daily Gleaner
Anne-Marie Hood writes that "Bertin merits recognition as a Canadian writer who aspires to ensure that stories like Messer get told."
Thursday June 18, 2009
"What you didn't know about Don Messer", Review in the Telegraph Journal
Gerry Taylor in "Down Home Music" writes that "Front cover to back, Don Messer The Man Behind the Music is a handsome book, the life story of a Canadian icon told with beautiful simplicity and feeling... reading this book you will inderstand Don Messer and the passions that drove him, the stern principles that guided, yet restricted him." "Johanna Bertin has written as well-rounded a biography of Don Messer, his private and public life as will ever see print. Illustrated with rare photographs." Wow!
Tuesday June 16, 2009
"Remembering when Don Messer's fiddle ruled TV", Review in The Northern Light
Greg Mulock writes, "Don Messer The Man Behind the Music is an in-depth look at the New Brunswicker whose namesake program ranked third in the ratings ... it all makes for an interesting tale."
Thursday June 11, 2009
Visit to the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Today, I was presented to the members of the NB Legislative Assembly by her MLA Carl Urquhart, (York). It was quite an honour to be seated on the floor of the assembly during question period. This is the same room in which Premier Robichaud in June 1969 offered his support for the continuation of Don Messer’s Jubilee.A copy of "Don Messer The Man Behind the Music" was given to the library of the NB Legislature.
May 29, 2009
"Biographer reveals different side of Messer", Courier Weekend. Article by freelancer John Gardner, illustrated with a photograph that may send me for a face lift. :(
Interview with Rod Mackey, CKEC East Coast FM, New Glasgow
Rod Mackey has been the host of Sweet Music, a traditional music programme on CKEC/East Coast 94.1 FM for 30 years. He tells me that Don is still much requested and loved in his listening area. The interview about Don Messer, the man and the musician will air on ecfm August 16 and August 23 between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Friday July 10,2009 "Don Messer has arrived"
On July 10, 2009, Don Messer: The Man behind the Music was scheduled to arrive in book stores throughout Canada. It has actually been in some of the independent bookstores and Chapters for a week and is doing well, making the list for New Brunswick Reads, a compilation of best selling books published in the Telegraph Journal. One huge frustration is that Chapters Fredericton has been sold out for ten days. You would think that the publisher (located in Fredericton) would be able to restock, but that is not the case. Chapters is stocked through their Toronto office and so we wait for Toronto to decide to send more copies of the book.
Wednesday July 8, 2009
Interview with freelance writer Stephen Clare, writing for the Halifax Chronicle-Herald Sunday Books Section. Portions of the taped interviews will air on The Book Club on CKDU 88.1 Halifax.
Monday July 6, 2009
Interview with freelance writer Sharon Jones, preparing an insert on the Don Messer Centennial Celebration (August 1 – 8, 2009), for the Daily Gleaner.
Monday June 29, 2009
Review in "Scene and Heard with Will McGuirk"
"Johanna Bertin writes about the gifted fiddle player from New Brunswick in a direct and entertaining manner. It's a pleasant read ..."
Saturday June 27, 2009
"Don Messer: Canada's first television Star", Review in The Daily Gleaner
Anne-Marie Hood writes that "Bertin merits recognition as a Canadian writer who aspires to ensure that stories like Messer get told."
Thursday June 18, 2009
"What you didn't know about Don Messer", Review in the Telegraph Journal
Gerry Taylor in "Down Home Music" writes that "Front cover to back, Don Messer The Man Behind the Music is a handsome book, the life story of a Canadian icon told with beautiful simplicity and feeling... reading this book you will inderstand Don Messer and the passions that drove him, the stern principles that guided, yet restricted him." "Johanna Bertin has written as well-rounded a biography of Don Messer, his private and public life as will ever see print. Illustrated with rare photographs." Wow!
Tuesday June 16, 2009
"Remembering when Don Messer's fiddle ruled TV", Review in The Northern Light
Greg Mulock writes, "Don Messer The Man Behind the Music is an in-depth look at the New Brunswicker whose namesake program ranked third in the ratings ... it all makes for an interesting tale."
Thursday June 11, 2009
Visit to the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Today, I was presented to the members of the NB Legislative Assembly by her MLA Carl Urquhart, (York). It was quite an honour to be seated on the floor of the assembly during question period. This is the same room in which Premier Robichaud in June 1969 offered his support for the continuation of Don Messer’s Jubilee.A copy of "Don Messer The Man Behind the Music" was given to the library of the NB Legislature.
May 29, 2009
"Biographer reveals different side of Messer", Courier Weekend. Article by freelancer John Gardner, illustrated with a photograph that may send me for a face lift. :(
Monday, July 13, 2009
"Don Messer has arrived"
On July 10, 2009, "Don Messer: The Man behind the Music" was scheduled to arrive in book stores throughout Canada. It has actually been in some of the independent bookstores and Chapters for a week and is doing well, making the list for New Brunswick Reads, a compilation of best selling books published in the Telegraph Journal.
One huge frustration is that Chapters Fredericton has been sold out for almost two weeks. You would think that the publisher (located in Fredericton) would be able to restock, but that is not the case. Chapters is stocked through their Toronto office and so we wait for Toronto to decide to send more copies of the book.
One huge frustration is that Chapters Fredericton has been sold out for almost two weeks. You would think that the publisher (located in Fredericton) would be able to restock, but that is not the case. Chapters is stocked through their Toronto office and so we wait for Toronto to decide to send more copies of the book.
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