My Assistant the Hooker

sunny, hot, temps 33

Drove home from Toronto today. Woke up at 5:15am (by wake-up call) - on the road by 5:45. Toronto traffic is hideous, so we wanted to blow town before it closed in. And the Friday before a long weekend, well, you just never know.

The event yesterday at the CNE went very well. As Linwood, the handlers, Michael and I made our way through the giant exhibition hall we saw a demonstration of 'cheese' was taking place. And so, our goal was the try to draw a larger crowd than the aged cheddar. I think we just barely managed it. But we had great fun. This was part of the International Festival of Authors - a huge literary festival in Toronto in October. The IFOA puts on satellite events all year round, and this was one. Their first, though, at the Ex. Competing with stilton.

It was judged a success. And, we sure had fun, as I say. I got to meet Ruth and Jane and a few others who read this blog...hi gals...and that is always a good day when I meet you. As well, three people from my publishers, Hachette Canada came, including the remarkable Donna Nopper, my publicist. The big topic of conversation among them, though, was the hot item of food at this years exhibition. Deep fried butter. I thought it was a joke. Deep fried butter. Why not just put a grenade in your mouth? Deep fried butter. I can't stop saying it, in the hopes with repetition it'll start making sense. But it just becomes more and more ridiculous. Apparently it tastes like vanilla cake mix with a centre of, you guessed it, melted butter.

We were definitely upstaged by the deep fried butter. Perhaps next year the IFOA might try deep frying their authors. And wrapping them in a nice piece of brie.

Got to bed early (again - the life of international jet setting authors...pretty much a hunt for privacy and sleep - though I suspect it would have been different had all this happened in my 20's...I'd have had more fun, but I wouldn't have appreciated it nearly as much). then drove home.

Stinking hot. Unpacked - played with Trudy. Then leapt into the pool. They lay beside it, smelling a very sweet scent of late bloom roses, closed my eyes and felt very much at peace.

Quiet weekend. The major event is that My Assistant Lise (who pretty much masters everything she puts her mind to) is such a great hooker of rugs that she's doing a demonstration at 2pm Saturday (tomorrow) at the Brome County Fair. Michael and I will be there to cheer her on. Everyone's invited. She really is remarkable.

Oh and had the fabulous news that the largest bookstore chain in Quebec, Archambaults, has chose En plein coeur as their 'Book of the Month'! Which means they'll be promoting it in newspapers, magazines, on television and radio. Yippee...

And further great book news, we returned home to copies of THE BRUTAL TELLING, now available in trade paperback! And it looks simply fabulous. And - as a bonus - at the back is the first chapter of BURY YOUR DEAD.

What an exciting time. And how glorious to be home for 2 weeks! My brother Doug is coming down from Toronto this weekend, and I'll finally have a chance to catch up with friends. Bliss.

Hope to speak to you tomorrow.