For Better or For Worse Newsletter October 2009
=================== Greetings from the Team: ===================
Hello folks! October is here. This year, the annual Northern Ontario colour change seems to be getting started a little later than usual, possibly owing to the beautiful summer weather we experienced in early September. We're fine with that, though, because we can put off raking all the beautiful orange, red and yellow leaves a little longer while they finish changing colour.
=================== Studio Happenings: ==================
In September, Lynn appeared at the Thin Air Writer's Festival in Winnipeg, where she and her sister-in-law Beth read from Farley Follows His Nose, the children's book that they co-authored last year. You can get your signed copy of Farley Follows His Nose here: http://store.fborfw.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=50&products_id=124
While she was in Manitoba, Lynn met up with her good friend Al Simmons, a man dedicated to the all but lost art of combining comedy with song, dance, magic, and sight-gags. You can find out more about Al here at his very entertaining website: www.alsimmons.com
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A note from Lynn: I'm doing well over 50% new material [to supplement the older strips] in order to bring the story around to the time when it can run on its own. The transition will be in the early spring and until then, count on LOTS of brand new work!!
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Lynn's plans for October: My friend Tim Oliphant, a fellow cartoonist, is coming here to see the fall leaves in October. His work is primarily about pets. He takes stories from readers, turns them into comic panels and they make the news. We've known each other for over 20 years, now. He lives in Tennessee and this is his first visit to the not yet frozen north.
We'll try to get some good photos to share next month!
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October is Fundraise for Farley month at the Farley Foundation - Established by the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association (OVMA) in 2001, the Farley Foundation (a registered charity) assists Ontario seniors and disabled persons on limited incomes with the necessary treatment of their pets. In 2007, the Foundation expanded its criteria to assist the pets of women at risk of abuse (and their children) who are participating in OVMA’s SafePet Program. The Farley Foundation honors the human-animal bond and seeks to help those who most benefit from pet ownership.
During the month of October, the FBorFW studio will be donating $3 from every signed copy of Remembering Farley that we sell. You can order your signed copy here: http://store.fborfw.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=21_32&products_id=67
While supplies last, we'll be giving away an official Farley Foundation zipper pull as a thank-you gift with each book sold.
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You can learn more about the Farley Foundation here on their official website: http://farleyfoundation.org/ or, for Facebook users, you can become a fan of the Farley Foundation page here to show your support: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Farley-Foundation/126971871445
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Beth has just completed a long biography of one of the best-loved FBorFW characters, Candace Halloran. You can read Candace's bio here:
http://www.fborfw.com/features/who/ - just click on the star next to Candace's name to read her excellent biography.
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Our Thanksgiving e-greets are now available online, as Canadians will be celebrating Thanksgiving on October 12th this year. Send a free greet to someone you love!
http://www.fborfw.com/fun/egreets3/index.php?page=thanksgiving
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Our Find Family Fun in the Fall game is up and running - test your memory with this fun matching game. http://www.fborfw.com/fun/autumn/
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On Oct 27th, Lynn will be at the "Authors at Harbourfront" writer's fest in Toronto. She will be reading from Farley Follows His Nose and answering your questions! Find out more about Lynn's appearance at the festival here: http://www.readings.org/?q=ifoa/youngifoa_lynn_johnston
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We have 2010's wall calendars in stock - but we have VERY FEW of them this year. Our publisher is having fewer calendars printed due to the state of the economy, so get yours now before they're gone! http://store.fborfw.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=49&products_id=126
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Our stuffed Farley dogs are still in the works - look here at our News Bites page for some photos and an update! http://www.fborfw.com/news/004041.php We expect Farley to be in stock around Christmas time this year.
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Join our official Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Near-North-Bay-Ontario/Syndicated-Comic-Strip-For-Better-or-For-Worse/91672947902. We just created this page and we're already up to more than 1400 fans - come join a big group of likeminded people and discuss the strip!
================== October's Giveaway: ===================
Just correctly answer the questions below and we'll enter you in the draw - the prize is a limited-edition FBorFW print (from a print run of only 2000), and we'll select 5 lucky winners at the end of the month. Send your answers to fborfw@aloeroot.com with the subject line October Trivia Contest. We regret that this contest is not open to residents of Quebec for legal reasons which we don't really comprehend.
1. What's the name of Candace's mother's boyfriend?
2. What university did Elizabeth attend?
3. Name three things being sold at the Farmer's Market in the strip from Sunday September 27, 2009
4. Name one of the books that Lynn wrote with Andie Parton.
5. When FBorFW appeared in Spanish-language newspapers, what was it called?
================== September's Giveaway: ===================
Here are the answers to last month's questions.
1. What's the name of Michael's first-grade teacher? Miss Campbell.
2. Name one person on the cover of the book "Love Just Screws Everything Up". Michael, Elizabeth, Edgar and April are on the cover. Anthony and Rhetta are in the pictures that Liz and Mike are holding.
3. What kind of animal is Elizabeth's favourite stuffed toy? Rabbit
4. What word was Michael finding it hard to say on August 27th? Sorry
5. What does Jean Baker do for a living? She's John's administrative assistant.
=================== Ojibwe Word of the Month: ===================
Dgwaagi is the Ojibwe word for "autumn". Often at this time of year, you can see the Northern Lights in our area. The northern lights are known as "waasnoode" to the First Nations people.
=================== Studio Photo of the Month: ===================
Veterinarians across Ontario are doing all kinds of great things to raise money for the Farley foundation, from cycling 160 km in the Ride for Farley (October 3rd) to "Ride a Harley for Farley"... With the support of donations, they'll be making wishes come true for people and pets in need this year. To donate to the Ride for Farley, choose a participant here: http://www.canadahelps.org/GivingPages/GivingPageSearchResults.aspx?data=Ride%20for%20Farley&ptype=-1
In our studio photo of the month, Lynn helps to promote the Ride for Farley!
Click this link to see the photo: http://www.fborfw.com/newsletter/studiopic/lynn_ff.jpg
