What We’ve Learned From Our Guests

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Again, this is the eleventh month of the eleventh year of our blog. That led me to reflecting a little and  looking up things about the number eleven. According to https://www.thefactsite.com/number-11-facts/ Canada really likes the number 11, it seems. Their one-dollar coin, called the Loonie, has eleven sides. There are also eleven points on the maple leaf that adorns the national flag of Canada. And, finally, a number of Canadian banknotes have some form of clocks on them. The time, of course, is 11:00!

Wickeds, we’ve had hundreds of amazing guests over the years. What have you learned from them?

Julie: Sherry, why do I feel like we need to do a Canadian National Treasure type story exploring 11? What I’ve learned from our guests is how important it is to celebrate milestones, and get other people to help. Never take publishing a book or being part of anthology for granted. Never.

Sherry: That would be fun, Julie! We’ve had such a wide variety of guests from authors to PIs to US Marshals to audio book narrators. I’ve learned something unique from each one. I’m so grateful for everyone who has shared with talents with us!

Barb: What I’ve learned is the vast majority of authors are amazing. They happily agree to write for us, get their work to us on time, comply with our guidelines about images, ancillary materials, and giveaways and then show up on the day to respond to comments. All of this in addition to writing books and stories, and, in many cases, balancing day jobs and families. I am forever grateful.

Edith/Maddie: We have had so many fabulous guests over the years. As my friends here have said, we’ve learned from our visitors, appreciated their effort to join us, and delighted in celebrating their new releases. As Sherry said, we’ve also learned so much from those who joined us for our “Ask the Expert” feature (besides the ones she listed, we’ve also hosted FBI agents, editors, bloggers, and even a funeral home director) and from our Genre-Hopping guests. But … Canada and the number eleven? I had no idea! I’ll have to ask my sister in Ottawa as well as book fan and reviewer Grace Koshida.

Jessie: We have been so fortunate with our guests! I think one thing that has been more reinforced for me rather than learned, is that mystery writers are such a likable, amiable group on balance. Despite the fact that we all invent stories in varying degrees of grim, mystery writers are fun, cheerful, and supportive. It has been an honor to get to visit with so many over the years!

Readers: Have you been to Canada or do you live there? Is there anything that you’ve learned from our guests that’s stuck with you?

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Published by Sherry Harris

Sherry Harris is the author of the Agatha Award nominated Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mystery series and the Chloe Jackson Sea Glass Mystery series.

23 Thoughts

  3. I am a numbers geek so of course I had to look up what an 11 sided figure is called. An 11 sided polygon is called a hendecagon. The name hendecagon, from Greek hendeka “eleven” and –gon “corner”, is often preferred to the hybrid undecagon, whose first part is formed from Latin undecim “eleven.” And you’ll be interested to know that the loonie isn’t the only coin that is 11 sided. The Indian 2 rupee coin is as well. And our very own Susan B. Anthony dollar has a hendecagonal outline along the inside of its edges. Now you probably know more than you ever wanted to lol. My girlfriends and I went to Toronto for the weekend several times when we were in our 20s. We always had a good time.

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  4. I’ve been to the Canadian side of the Niagara Falls several times. I was once in Buffalo visiting my college roommate and one day we drove up to Toronto for a day of shopping. My sister went to Canada for their honeymoon. They took the ferry from Portland, ME and then drove around for a few weeks to check out the different provinces in the eastern part.

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  5. We went through the lower part of British Columbia on our way to Alaska this summer. We would love to go back and visit more of Canada in the future.

    Love all the guests learning about the authors, books and fun and informative things that deal with both!
    2clowns at arkansas dot net

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  6. Growing up in WNY, I’ve been to Canada many times. My family and I went to a nearby amusement park, Crystal Beach, every summer. I took day-trips to Toronto. Of course that was all when you didn’t need a passport to cross the border.

    With a new series launching next March, and a future potential story-line that involves the RCMP, I’m going to need to plan a visit soon!

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  7. I live in Canada and have traveled the country extensively. I wanted my children to see their own country before traveling to other places. I have been to every province except Newfoundland and even managed to get to the Yukon. My daughter lived in Nunavut for a couple of years, but I never made it there. She now lives in Nova Scotia, so with me in Ontario, I have traveled there a couple of times now. It is a beautiful country.

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      1. The Rocky Mountains area is amazing. Both in BC and Alberta. I’ve been out there at least 4 times and enjoyed it every time, Sherry.

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  8. We lived in NW Pennsylvania for many years and it was an easy four hour drive to Toronto, so we made visiting es there regularly. Loved the city and the surrounding areas and all that they offered. Now the trip is much longer and not possible. Miss it terribly.

    I have learned so much from the guests about so many things. And I learned about the hard work and dedication it takes to ge a good author. Thank you, one and all.

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  9. I was just in Canada last month! But I didn’t know that about all the 11’s. Now, I want to read that National Treasure story.

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  11. I went to Montreal with my mother when I was a teenager, Niagara Falls with my husband & son over 30 years ago, so it’s been a while! I’d like to visit Vancouver and Victoria Island next.

    I enjoy the guests you host and there’s always something new to learn from them. Betsy Groban was a surprise, I never expected to read about a children’s book in this venue! I bought a copy of her book, then she sent me one so my grandson and a friend’s grandson both got copies. My grandson LOVED the book, I’ll be looking for the next one for both boys.

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