Sunshine Coast author Mark Cameron is loading up the family camper van for 30 Days of Sunshine, his inaugural B.C. book tour. This promotional tour for Cameron’s debut novel, Goodnight Sunshine, will have his family of four exploring the southern half of B.C. in their 19-foot camper van, stopping along the way to engage with readers at a variety of libraries, farmers’ markets and bookstores.
The tour will include over 25 stops on a path spanning more than 4,200 kilometres, and will visit the Creston Valley Farmers’ Market from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. and the Creston Valley Public Library at 2 p.m. June 11.
Cameron aims to build relationships with readers, librarians and booksellers around the province — in person.
“As an author, I spend much of my time writing in isolation,” he said. “I don’t want to spend the rest of my time in isolation, promoting myself online.”
Cameron’s partner is a freelance editor, and their two children also enjoy writing and reading.
“We want to reach out to as much of the literary community in B.C. as we can by dropping in to introduce ourselves in person,” he said.
The tour, which kicked off in Cameron’s hometown, Gibsons, on June 1, has expanded and will take closer to 40 days to complete, but the family hopes that at least 30 of those days will hold sunshine — both inside and outside of their vehicle.
“I am thrilled about showing our kids more of the beautiful province we live in, but I know this trip will be both rewarding and challenging,” says Cameron. “On one hand, we’re travelling in luxury—with a bathroom and kitchen. But when the weather forces us inside, it’s harder for everyone to maintain a sunny attitude.”
Since 2010, the Cameron family has spent the equivalent of two full years in their tiny home on wheels.
Goodnight Sunshine is the fictional story of Oliver Bruce, a disenchanted family man drawn to Ecuador seeking an invention that could transform the global energy landscape. Published by Catch Our Drift Productions, the novel was released in November, and the e-book release coincides with this tour.
Both events are free and open to the public. For more about the Cameron family’s adventures, visit www.markofwords.com.
—CATCH OUR DRIFT PRODUCTIONS
