Sunday 1 May 2011

Agatha, plus one


overcast, spitting rain, cool, temps 55

As you can see, I have now changed the way time (for me) will now be told. Everything will be measured from the moment BURY YOUR DEAD won the Agatha.

Am now in Pittsburgh. Two wonderful mystery writers gave me a lift from Malice Domestic in Washington - Heather Webber and Wendy Lyn Watson. Easy drive. Michael flew home from Washington this morning. I put him in a cab at the hotel and waved goodbye. Always sad. Like a true anal chick, I insist he emails when he gets to the airport. And certainly, when the plane lands. And then I got to the Air Canada site and check the flight status.

This I admit.

Had a fun panel at Malice this morning- then a signing. Then a few quiet hours, and the 4 hours drive to Pittsburgh. And what should greet me in the hotel room??? A clue would be the photo above.

How beautiful!!! flowers always cheer up a strange hotel room. And these are magnificent. Roses and lilies and the most fragrant night-scented stock...that smell like spice. And - as though that wasn't enough - there's an array of chocolates!!! Exactly what a gal needs after 4 hours on the road, and arriving on a gray, overcast day. Wow. Like sunlight in the room. And an embrace.

they're from - the publisher!!! Minotaur Books. The most wonderful publisher ever, as far as I'm concerned. To celebrate the Agatha.

I hope I know really how lucky I am. But I suspect I'll only really, truly grasp it when it goes away, as most things eventually do. Not in a bad or necessarily tragic way, but it's life. but for now, I really am trying to appreciate all my great good luck.

I called Michael as soon as I walked through the door. Wrote to Andy and Hope and Sarah at Minotaur, to thank them, then ordered ribs for delivering. Will crack a diet coke, eat ribs and watch something nasty on the TV - celebrity apprentice perhaps. Or the restaurant show. I like that.

Hope you're well. And thank you all SO much for your congratulations - for your happiness. It magnifies mine, and that's another reason to be extremely grateful. And aware.

10 comments:

Sally said...

Awesome, as they say on the CBC (or is that now passe?)Congrats, you are deserving of the win(s)!

Mary said...

Congratulations! You are just bubbling with joy, as you should be. You deserve every bit of it. Gamache would want you to savor it. :)

Lori Rader-Day said...

It's a great book---totally deserving! Congrats!

Janet said...

It was a fabulous book. I listened to it, read by the wonderful Ralph Cosham, who really makes your stories and characters come alive.

darlene said...

Live in the now and soak up every drop of that well deserved joy. Like worries never realized, later may never come.

Jan J. said...

As a closet writer with big dreams, it is so much fun to follow along with your journey to great and well-deserved success! Thanks so much for sharing it. I am so happy to have discovered your books and it's a priviledge to be in on all the exciting details. Congratulations!

lil Gluckstern said...

Everyone is writing how this is a historical first-four Agathas in a row. Yay, Louise, enjoy this. It couldn't happen to a nicer, more gracious, wonderful writer, lady.

Anonymous said...

Job well done, dear Louise.

Diane said...

Luck had nothing to do with your winning, it's your wonderful talent that people recognize and celebrate. Happy touring!

Ruthie from NH said...

Well deserved, many congratulations!