Calendar Girl Blog: Media Breasts

My media package arrived back from the printer yesterday afternoon. It is the simplist version yet.

In the past, I've been responsible for the death of a small forest's worth of paper thanks to my desire to get the media's attention. My hope was to present the Breast of Canada calendar in the best, most dignified light and my method was to provide a mountain of information about the project . Hence the the felling of a forest.

Now, partly due to my limited funds and perhaps my gained wisdom from the four year's I've been publishing, I've changed my approach. Evolved even. Less is more is my new media motto.

I'm sending a single, square post card.

Simple.

Front cover on the front (duh). Web link to the on-line media release on the back. Plus our tag, Guaranteed to Inspire Conversation. Room for a stamp and an address and Bob's yer uncle, my brother.

Will it be effective?

Time will tell. But 150 will be heading out the door to various North American magazine publishers in the next week. And several hundred will follow in late summer for radio, television, newspapers and networks.

I'd really like Bust and Bitch magazine to pick up the story this year. In fact our August 2006 image playfully shows four gals, sitting around in my kiddie blow up pool, enjoying drinks and reading BUST.

Calendar Girl

PS I'm open to magazine suggestions and contacts if you're from that world.

Calendar Girl Blog: Flattery By E-Mail

The February 2005 photo shows a stampede of women running, jumping and leaping topfree up a narrow alley, scarves flying, touques pulled low. Much energy is depicted.

And for very good reason. We were having a bit of a cold snap that day (minus 20 C) which in these parts is 'enough' fully dressed, let alone with tender breast tissue showing.

This morning, I got this email with an order for multiple copies of the 2006, in part thanks to that photo.

"friends of mine in our community (of Marathon, Ontario)... who were attending university, (Guelph) went on the cold morning run in support of the calendar. We all want a calendar now!!!"

And so a new tribe of Breast Ambassadors is created in Marathon.

The next email, also from Northern Ontario, (must be some breast buzz moving through the land) included an invitation to take part in LunaFest.

The E.D. writes, "I just found your web-site from an ad in a fabulous magazine...Herizons! Spent the last hour reading on your site and I wanted to write to you. Your story inspires me and the calendars look gorgeous. "

Catherine goes on to suggest, "I see you are launching your 2006 calendar at the end of September in Guelph...do you travel to do other launches? My idea is to include you and your calendar in LUNAFEST this year in Thunder Bay. Our date is 3 weeks after your Guelph launch date."

Hmmmm, Thunder Bay in October.

"The event is beautiful...it is an evening showcasing the independent and thought-provoking films of women film-makers from around the world...by, for and about women." Catherine seems to have hit my nail on my head. Bet the train from Guelph to Thunder Bay is lovely.

You've think that would be more than enough positive vibe for one morning. But then...this email showed up....an email from a family wanting to model for the calendar.

"Volunteering our time as a family to be models for you would be a wonderful way to honour them both (two women from their family who had breast cancer) and a wonderful way to keep Marion's spirit alive for our children. Please contact us if we can help. We value the work you do."

Phew! I'm all a flutter. So much appreciation for stuff I love to do.

Then....from the far left field came this invitation.

"I have been asked to contact certain members who would present themselves well as NDP candidates in this election (federal) as well as in future ones. I am pleased to be able to ask you to take up the challenge and run for the nomination."(for Guelph Wellington)

Well Bob's your uncle. (actually, Bob's my brother) I politely declined. With my luck, I'd win. Then I'd be running in an election and that thought leaves me cold. I hate running. I'm prone to shin splints. Besides what would happen to Breast of Canada and all the Breast Ambassadors??

It did give me a moment to ponder my future though. I think, when and if I do decide to launch a political career, I'm sticking to municipal and I'm going for Mayor.

Calendar Girl

Calendar Girl Blog: Once Upon a Time

Where to begin when you're not at the beginning. Well maybe I've at some form of beginning as I start my 5th cycle of promoting and selling the Breast of Canada Calendar. It's like a season...breast season. And I'm dealing with a 5 year old product. Not that pink, screaming bundle that I birthed back in 2001, that hit the market with a thud and scared the daylights out of a whack of people.

Never under estimate the power of breasts. And NEVER dismiss the nipple. Entire nations have been brought to their knees over sightings. Remember our peek at Janet's?

So many sleepless nights. Such a blur of breasts and issues.

I'm muttering. My apologies.

I'll ask that you bear with me for the next week as we get this baby up and walking. I guarantee you will enjoy my postings. Breastland empire is one crazy place.

Calendar Girl

Calendar Girl Blog: Off to Press

Today, the fifth edition of the Breast of Canada Calendar, for 2006 was sent to press.

Phew!!!

Pre-orders are welcome and will be gleefully processed.

Breast of Canada. Our operators are standing by. Sitting actually.

SR