I made this poster for the signing and posted them around town.
I’ve been meaning to post about biologist and author Myrna Pearman‘s Vermilion book signing this past December for some time now, but December, January, and February have been so busy between holidays, school, and activities.
Myrna’s new book, Backyard Bird Feeding: An Alberta Guide, was published late last year. During November and the early part of December, Myrna traveled around Alberta to various Peavey Mart/Main Street Hardware Stores for book signings; Peavey Mart is one of the book’s sponsors.
Having corresponded with Myrna about photos for the book, I was looking forward to meeting her and so emailed her to ask if she might be coming to Vermilion for a signing.
The powers that be weren’t sure that there would be enough interest in our small town, so the originally scheduled signing had been cancelled. I told Myrna I would see if I could gauge interest, and in the end there was enough for a book signing not only at Main Street Hardware but also at our local library. As president of the Vermilion River Naturalist Society, I brought up the signings at our November meeting, and members decided to join the other businesses as a sponsor of the signing.
Fortunately, despite the snow the night before the signing, Myrna made the drive from Lacombe safely. I spent the day with Myrna starting with the first signing at 11 am at Main Street Hardware. There wasn’t an idle moment, with many people getting their books signed and talking to Myrna about the birds in their backyard.
With Vermilion Main Street Hardware manager Ebony (standing), and Myrna (seated, at right). MSH provided us with feeders and bags of birdseed for the display and also offered coffee and doughnuts.
We moved our table to the library after a quick lunch. During our time there, we had a bit more time to talk and learned that we are related through marriage — it is such a small world!
Two young naturalists got their book signed and told us their bird stories,
Our adventure continued on into the evening since Myrna had been invited to the Wainwright Wildlife Society’s annual Christmas supper. She gave a presentation about the important work the Ellis Bird Farm does, and a slideshow of her amazing bird and mammal photos.
With Laurence Hoover, the president of the Wainwright Wildlife Society
Knowing it was going to be a long day with a long ride back to Lacombe, my mother had invited Myrna to spend the night, so we had more time to talk in the evening and then in the morning over breakfast.
After knowing Myrna only through email correspondence, it was very nice to finally meet her in person.
One of the local papers interviewed Myrna about her book
I’d like to thank Main Street Hardware, the Vermilion Public Library, and everyone who came out for the book signing!
Prairie Birder 