Canada was fabulous, my friends. Despite getting grief at the border both ways (car searches: not just for stoners any more!), my time in Canada was pure magic.
Friday was the most insane day of press I've ever done, but so much fun. The only scary moment was when I sat down 2 minutes before the live telecast of Vancouver's Breakfast Television, and the host said "So, your wedding was a disaster?" I was like, "Erm, no actually: it was so much fun I wrote a book about it!" She said, "Oh, your second wedding, you mean?" I said "Erm, no actually: I've only been married once."
A quick moment of panic and a glance at her notes revealed that she'd read Jenn Farrell's article in the Tyee, and thought it was mine. Then the cameras turned on, and we managed to sail through the interview gracefully — the cameramen snickering into their monitors when I mentioned our all-night rave reception wedding.
I had an interview every 2 hours, so I bounced around Vancouver from tv station to radio station to tv station to radio station. I think my favorite interview of the day was with Urban Rush, where I had the delight of spending several hours in the greenroom (I had some lag between interviews) chatting with a makeup artist named Michael who I wanted to fold into my trunk and smuggle across the border with me. ("No, I don't have anything to declare, officer.")
Then, just when I was exhausted from talking and couldn't take it any more, it was time for my reading at Sophia Books. It was a small crowd of the most wonderful people, including the afore-mentioned Jenn, Leigh, as well as the lovely brides of Queer Wedding Story. Interestingly, the only people who come to my readings are folks I've reached out to online — no amount of radio or television promoting seems to work. Moral of the story: mainstream media dead? Or just dead to me? Or maybe I'm too weird for primetime? In between my chapters, there was an indie fashion show of gowns … I'd been downing wine at this point and couldn't stop saying "CAN I TOUCH IT?!" every time I new dress came out. Gorgeousness! Thank to every one of you who made the evening so awesome!
Next up: San Francisco this Friday.
About Ariel Meadow Stallings
Author of Offbeat Bride: Creative Alternatives for Independent Brides, Ariel acts as the publisher of all the Offbeat Empire websites. She lives, loves, and dorks out hard in Seattle, WA.
Heather said
I feel that I should let you know – I picked up your book off the shelf in a bookstore, took one look and promptly bought it. So mainstream is not dead yet!
jillian said
I just realized that you are going to be here in L.A. on 6/2! I'm SO dragging my friends to Tangier!
jenn said
Oh, too funny about the Jenn and Ariel mixup interview thing! I had such a lovely time at the reading, and it was great meeting you. Devoured the book and it made me happy. The thing that resonated for me was how you have to be comfortable with your own choices, offbeat or less so. Will my wedding end up being a big bundle of contradictions? Sure, but does it matter as long as we all have fun? I am reassured and ready to go on! xo