Friday 27 May 2011

Touring!



very foggy this morning, as you can see by the picture of Trudy. Now it's raining heavily. Huge thunder storms yesterday. What a May! Temps 12

Pretty gruesome day. Rain and fog. Oh, dear. It would be wonderful to have two days of sun in a row. Just teeming with rain right now. yesterday there was a rain warning out for the townships of Quebec. Expected between 60 and 100 millimeters of rain. Normally a big rainfall is 15. It was insane. For those of you on the imperial scale, 100 millimeters is approx 300 inches. Well, perhaps not quite that. But it's tons of rain.

As you can see by the photos, Trudy got her summer buzz cut. She's ready for the marines. It's what's called a puppy cut. And she sure does look like a puppy. the photo in front of the tree in bloom was taken yesterday, when she first got home from the groomers. The other one was taken by Michael this morning, on their post-breakfast walk.

Lots of writing - into a good patch. I still worry there is a whole lot of story still to tell, and I'm piling up the word count. But then I remember that that's what first drafts are about for me. just getting everything on the page....the cherry picking what's good in later drafts.

the big thing for me, is to be finished writing this book before I start touring with A TRICK OF THE LIGHT. Because if I'm not, I'll have no time to write, or even to think about it. And then, if I have to write when I get back, I'll be worlds away. Pretty much a creative disaster. So that's the deadline I'm heading for.

We're firming up the fall tour. Very exciting. A TRICK OF THE LIGHT will be coming out at the same time in the US and Canada (perhaps a day apart) - so the publicists are organizing a North American tour that will last just over a month. It's very complex, and while I've been consulted on the broadstrokes, I haven't yet seen all the specifics.

It is amazing to me, though, just how many details there are. Many to do, of course, with travel. And since I'm far from the only author on tour this September, it also means coordinating and negotiating with bookstores.

the other thing that has struck me over the years is how meaningful a direct flight it. Not to have to connect. And a nice hotel room. Doesn't have to be the Four Seasons, but a good room is wonderful. As is having someone meet the plane, and drive me to events. Not necessary of course - I'm a big girl and can take a cab easily enough - but it's just one less thing to think about, if someone else is in charge.

For me touring is amazing...getting to finally meet all of you, who read the books, many of you since the very beginning. And many of you have read all of them, several times. I can't tell you how wondeful it is to stand at the front of a room and feel it's filled with sisters and brothers.

but it's also tiring - or can be. It's a marathon, not a sprint. So when we discuss the tour I also scan it for time off - often it's just a couple of quiet hours in the hotel. to regroup. Sometimes 'time off' is a long flight, with extra legroom. That's pretty great.

so we're now at that stage with A TRICK OF THE LIGHT. A sort of 'coming out party'. Hope you can attend! I'll put the schedule up here, and on the website, as soon as it's all confirmed...

though I can tell you that the US launch, on Tuesday, August 30th, is in concord, New Hampshire. At Gibson's Books. yay!!!

Oh, a note to those who still have not contacted me with their coordinates....please do before Monday, otherwise I'll just have to give the arcs to someone else. I notice that a Toni has posted on Facebook, but isn't sure if it is her, since I never contacted her. And I won't. mostly because the toni who won gave me no contact info.

Toni, and Sandy (of Gamache buy marriage) please check the blog post that announced the winners, to see if it is you, then contact me. Before Monday, please.

thank you.

9 comments:

Lisa said...

Houston's Murder by the Book store has already announced your fall signing here - and with a luncheon, no less! We're so excited!

Shelagh said...

Oh how adorable is Trudy with her "puppy cut". A face to love!!
And I am so happy you will be in Ann Arbor, MI at the Kerrytown Book Festival on Sept. 11. Yay!! If only you could bring Trudy - I would happily dog sit, or dog walk!!

Andi said...

I wish you were coming to Portland, Oregon and Powell's bookstore. I would make the 2 hour drive up just to say hello - and how much I enjoy reading about Gamache and Quebec!

Miss Diane said...

Bonjour Louise, ne dit-on pas "Après la pluie, le beau temps..!" Encore quelques jours et l'été devrait être là. J'aime bien le nouveau look de Trudy!

Anonymous said...

Hi Louise, it may be way to early now to say but would you let us know if there would be a special new book launch in Montreal or Quebec City? If so, I'd like to be thre and meet you again. Thanks, VT

darlene said...

Trudy is soooooooooooo sweet! Smooooch!
Melodie at Crime Writers has designated Oakville as Vancouver- East because of the rain. As a Vancouverite, I am so happy to commiserate. You do have an extra whammy, though, with fog.
Seriously, I hope there is a way for you to guard against serious fatigue in order to stay healthy, Louise. It's more important than anything else. Take care.

lil Gluckstern said...

Trudy is adorable, and your property is very beautiful, and atmospheric, Hope the weather improves soon . I'm glad the book is going well. Once more, these are exciting times.

Marlene said...

OMG - the first stop is in Concord NH!!! i work in Concord. if the time is during the day, i'll take the day off work.

If you need transportation between places in NH or a ride from the airport, please feel free to ask.

wooooo!!

Anonymous said...

I suppose it's too much to hope that Boise, Idaho would be a stop on your tour! If not, maybe somewhere in the Pacific northwest?