
Turns out writing a book is just the beginning. Once that’s done, it has to get sold. I may have signed off on the final edits to “And Sometimes They Kill You: Confronting the Epidemic of Intimate Partner Violence” last spring, but that did not mean my work was done. Almost immediately, my publisher began talking with me about a promotion strategy. We had a lot of ideas, including a book tour. Because the book was being launched at the beginning of the international 16 days of activism to end gender-based violence campaign, I reached out to friends and colleagues in violence against women organizations across the province to see if they would like to incorporate book launches into their campaign events.
I could never have anticipated the enthusiastic responses that led to the development of 19 events in 15 communities. Beginning in early November and wrapping up in mid-December, with the occasional stop at home long enough to do a load of laundry, I was on the road speaking at community conferences, in libraries, and at other events in communities large and small across Ontario.
My partner, pressed into the role of official chauffeur and schlepper of book cartons, and I had a few adventures along the way. Bad road conditions made me very glad not to be in the driver’s seat more than once. I had to cancel one event because we were holed up in a hotel half a province away, waiting for the snow to stop. I attracted the attention of an email stalker (two emails a day for more than two weeks), in the form of an angry man with grievances against his ex-wife, her lawyer and the family court system generally. He was focused on one event in particular but, happily for me, he didn’t show up, and his interest seems to have faded.
Response has been great, meaning I had to replenish my supply of books twice during my travels. Over 18 events in 14 communities, I’ve signed hundreds of books, with my handwriting getting steadily worse as the weeks rolled by. Friends and colleagues I haven’t seen in years have come out, and I’ve made new friends along the way, too. All of my siblings attended events, with a stellar showing of two sisters, one brother and three nieces at the December 6th event in Kitchener.
I won’t pretend I haven’t enjoyed the attention – I love being in the spotlight and have lapped up the praise like a kitten does milk. I am thrilled with the number of books we have sold. More important to me, though, have been the rich conversations at these events, with folks who want to talk about what they can do to end gender-based violence. This is exactly what I had hoped my book would inspire. People have come ready to talk and, if we don’t invite them to talk quickly enough, they just start talking anyway. Survivors and family members of victims have shared their stories; those who do the work have talked about their frustrations with system failures, and community members have asked what they can do.
Excerpts, reviews and more
Promoting a book involves much more than driving around the province talking to people about it and, thanks to the work of my publisher, Between the Lines, I’ve had some wonderful opportunities.
In early November, I was interviewed by TVO’s Steven Paikin on The Agenda. Over the following weeks, I was struck by the number of folks who came to my book events as a result of having seen that interview. Chatelaine magazine invited me to write an op ed for its December 6th online issue. The Walrus ran a lengthy and well-adapted excerpt earlier this month. I’ve stumbled over positive reviews like this one.
Despite a late fall release date, “And Sometimes They Kill You” was selected as one of the 100 best books of 2024 by The Hill Times. (And, because the title of the book begins with the letter “A,” my book appears fifth on the list, making it easy even for folks who don’t want to read through 100 book titles to find it!)
Home sweet home
On my first day home after my travels across the province, I had the somewhat gruelling experience of doing 12 interviews on CBC radio, more or less back to back, with hosts of regional programs from PEI to BC, all of whom had the same list of questions for me. This is not a job for the faint of heart – after about the fourth interview, it’s hard to remember what you have said to whom!
Since getting home, I’ve also learned from a colleague that she plans to use the book in a university course she teaches, and has asked the university bookstore to order enough copies for all her students. At another university, the book is being used in place of a cash honorarium for guest speakers.
As I reflect on what I heard at all those events, my mind is buzzing with the possibilities: more, and more broadly based, community collaborations, new resources and tools to develop, maybe even another book.
For now, I want to send a huge and heartfelt thank you to everyone who helped make all of this happen: Between the Lines, friends and colleagues who took on organizing individual events, everyone who came out on the eve of the festive season to talk and think about a decidedly un-festive topic, all those who bought books and, most especially, my partner, who not only drove us through weather good and bad, but also put up with me for all that time.
My book has been truly and well launched, and I am taking a short break from blog writing and other work. I’ll be back in January, ready to start thinking about all the great ideas I heard from folks across the province over the past six weeks. Happy holidays, everyone.
Congratulations! On the book – and on organizing and surviving the tour!!!
Wow! Well done, Pam. The rigours of the tour were not apparent at the final book launch event in KIngston. You were lively and thought provoking.