Alison Garwood Jones

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Massive book sales? No. Deep connections? Yes. More on that in a future post.

This past weekend, I took the train up to Gananoque, Ontario and introduced I MISS MY MOMMY— both the book and six framed portraits from its pages — to this historic town during its annual Gan Art Fest, part of Ontario Culture Days.

Talking about a new book, especially one that covers a sensitive topic, like grief, feels a lot like speed dating. You’re both looking for resonance and connection, and it’s not always possible in a five- to ten-minute encounter. But lightning struck four times on Saturday. Happy and spent is how I felt by the end of the day.

My thanks to Dennis O’Connor (O’Connor Gallery) for being the biggest champion of the arts along the entire Québec-Windsor corridor. Thank you, John Fletcher, for framing each orphan portrait with such sensitivity and care, and for making us dinner.

And a mid-week shout out to the artists exhibiting on either side of me: @LizRaeDalton, @MoniqueVanSomeren, @Jeanniecatchpole, @beca_international_artists, and @James.Huctwith. Readers: look at what they have made!

Finally, thank you, Jane Thelwell, for opening your home to us. And to Greg, the only guy I want carrying my books.

I Miss My Mommy:150 Portraits of Orphaned Adults is printed and shipped with care by Lulu Press.

Photos by: Dennis O’Connor, Liz Rae Dalton, Monique van Someren, Alison Garwood-Jones