How the World is One Big Shrinky Dink

You may or may not know that I was recently in Toronto. Of course, you know! I was there for FOUR WHOLE WEEKS and blasted you with blogs and My Town Mondays from there.

Anyway, while in Toronto, I visited The Flying Dragon Bookshop, located on Bayview near Eglinton. I realize that tossing off the street names means little to most of you reading this blog. BUT, as someone who is SEVERELY directionally challenged, I'm thrilled that I can actually remember this detail!


The Flying Dragon is this really amazing independent bookstore with a great kids' section. And, well, a great adult section too. And, well a great...Actually, it's an all round great bookstore. Besides the wonderful selection of books, here's an interesting tidbit: The Flying Dragon puts together themed book baskets. A COMPLETELY RANDOM example: if you wanted a mystery book basket, they might include a copy of I So Don't Do Mysteries. Ha! Anyway, themed book baskets. What a novel (pun intended!) idea!

Back to the story. I stop in at The Flying Dragon Bookshop to meet Cathy Francis, the proprietor, and to drop off an ARC (Advance Reader Copy) and some bookmarks.

Cathy and me, sitting in the brand new Author's Chair! (Why don't I ever remember to push up my glasses?!)

So, I'm chatting with Cathy (who is very friendly and fun and knowledgeable). We're talking about blogging and online stuff and I pull out the Class of 2k8's very cute brochure. The convo goes more or less like this.

"Oh, I know about the Class of 2k8," Cathy says.

"Wow. That's great," I say. "How?"

"One of my Saturday employees is a blogger and she told all of us here about you guys."

"Which blogger?"

"Shelf Elf."

Oh my gosh!!! So, Shelf Elf, a terrific kidlit blogger, works Saturdays at The Flying Dragon Bookshop!

I squeal (professionally, of course!), then race back to my car to grab an ARC for Shelf Elf.

And guess what? Shelf Elf read the ARC right away. And posted a lovely lovely review.

You can read the review here.

To recap: I wander into a bookstore in Toronto, learn that a kidlit blogger works there on the weekends, leave said blogger a surprise ARC and, voila, a book review!

That, my dear blogging friends, is why I say the world is one big shrinky dink. Who knows when or where or how we'll meet up with each other.