"The Island of Time" Comes to Southbridge...Publicly

SOUTHBRIDGE, MA- Despite the fact that I, the author of The Island of Time, live in Southbridge. The "Eye of the Commonwealth" had yet to host a public event for me. To their defense, I spend little time in town, working in Charlton and spending most of my free time in Palmer, and because of this I have not become acquainted with many of the people in Southbridge.

But working for a bank has its advantages. The Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce hosts "Fun at Five" after hours networking "parties" where members of the chamber (including my bank) meet and network old-style, like they did before Facebook.

It was at an event in February (of '09) that I met Margaret Morrissey, who was there representing the library. I took the opportunity--having released the novel that very month-- to do some networking of my own (very out of character for me at the time). We spoke briefly, not about banking, but a topic pertinent to HER work: MY book.

Over the next several months, there were many changes at work and my meeting with Ms Morrissey was all but forgotten. That is, until I met up with her at another "Fun at Five". This time I told her about my upcoming website (which WAS coming up, just slowly). And I made sure to give her my email address.

And then came a big surprise, it was only a couple months later that I happened upon an email from Ashley Malouin, Adult Services Librarian for the Jacob Edwards Library. She introduced herself and invited me to come to the library and speak to their young adults. After the initial email, it moved very quickly into setting up a date and time, and BOOM: event established. It wasn't nearly as complicated or painful as a lot of libraries made it seem. And so, May 27, 2010 at 6:30pm, Matthew DeBettencourt will be presenting his premier novel to the teens and young adults at the Jacob Edwards Library, followed by a book signing.

All are welcome.