Mahtab Narsimhan in Manitoba

On the day I Ianded in Winnipeg, it was pouring. The next day, Winterpeg lived up to its name with snow and howling wind. And the day after, a blue sky and fluffy clouds appeared. Those first three days set the tone for the roller coaster ride that was TD Book Week for a newbie like me. Exhilarating, exhausting and exciting.

The highlight of my trip was walking into the library at Queenston School to be
confronted by gigantic replicas of my book covers. It was an awesome and humbling moment meeting the students who had labored over them for hours. They “got” my books and I “got” their enthusiasm. It was a total win-win!

The week passed by in a blur of meeting with enthusiastic students, teachers, librarians and being relayed from one school to another like a human baton, wondering when there might be a slip. But thanks to my wonderful Book Week coordinator, Gail Hamilton, the relay was flawless and the presentations were fun.

A memorable moment was speeding along a ribbon of road towards Brandon, flooded fields on both sides and a beaming blue prairie sky above. And it felt good to be home, in Canada.