Soooo close

Sunny, mild, beautiful day here in Toronto

Arrived by train last night - up early. Had interview with Mark Medley, books editor of National Post this morning - he brought a photographer...thank God I brushed my hair!

Then off to CBC for an interview

Then lunch with the terrific Raincoast publicist who is putting all this together and 'wrangling' (though thankfully not branding me) through the day.

Supposed to have an interview with the Globe and Mail but that is being rescheduled. Off to sign books soon, then the event tonight at Sleuth of Baker street. Their new address: 907 Millwood Rd - 416-483-3111. Party and signing starts at 6 and goes to 7:30. Then off to Boston tomorrow and being met by Ginny, who'll drive me to Concord, NH and the official world launch at Gibson's bookstore.

So far, so good. I find a lot of book tour is remembering it's a marathon not a sprint. So, trying to conserve energy, while still being present for everyone - and enjoying myself. I actually love the events themselves, frankly it's just the traveling that I find draining.

Michael kept in touch all yesterday, knowing how worried I was about leaving him with the storm. And what a storm! Not so much the winds, thank heaven, but a deluge of rain. More than 100 millimeters - almost four inches. Vermont, of course, got pummeled. Dreadful. They've had such a difficult few months with flooding, and now this. We love Vermont and Vermonters - being so close physically makes us feel close emotionally too. Very upsetting to see video of the waters.

Michael lost power (or the house did) at about 4 yesterday - after it flickered on and off all day. In fact, hundreds of thousands in Quebec were without hydro (what we call power, since our comes from water power). So he went to bed early, thinking it wouldn't be on for a day, maybe more. Happily, and amazingly, it came back on at 8:30.

I find it both comforting and difficult to write about Michael and home. I feel so close to them, and miss them so much, and long to be there. And yet, I'm so happy to be on tour too. I know this will get easier as the tour progresses....and then get harder again as I near the end and can 'see' them. Just one foot in front of the other.... And how lucky am I that even if I'm sad, I get to open a door and see your smiling faces.

The great photo at the top was taken by Danny at Brome Lake Books on Saturday night.

Hope you like A TRICK OF THE LIGHT. I can't believe the day is finally here....well, just hours away.

ARC - A Trick of the Light

rain, rain - and even more rain. temps 8

Oh, yech. It's a good thing I'm not affected by the weather or I'd be in a *&$%# foul mood.

OK - the moment has finally arrived. I have Advance Readers Copies of A TRICK OF THE LIGHT to give away! And I've set some aside just for you! Four copies, to be given out two at a time.

Starting...now.

But, being a fiend, I'm going to make you earn it. The truth is, these ARCs are not only precious (as are you) - but rare. And printed by the publisher specifically and uniquely to boost interest and (that filthy word) sales. To get a buzz going before a book is published. So - they're sent to influential booksellers, reviewers, librarians, bloggers, journalists.

And, people with big mouths.

Which is where you come in.

Your job, should you win one of the ARCs (and honestly, even if you don't...please), is to tell as many people about A TRICK OF THE LIGHT as possible. Blog about it. Comment on other people's blogs. On book clubs. Write PSB, NPR, Today, OWN, Richard and Judy, magazines, your local book reviewer. Your mom. Everyone you can think of. And then some.

Tell complete strangers.

And you know why. Because the publishing business is becoming more and more difficult. And the economy is difficult. And people need to know if they spend their hard-earned and precious money on a book - then spend their hard-earned free time on it - that that book will be worth it.

A publisher can no longer publish a book and hope for the best. And an author, even a successful one, can't just sit around hoping the readers will find the new book.

With your help, we'll lead more people to Three Pines and the Gamache books - and A TRICK OF THE LIGHT specifically.

Obviously I'm making the assumption you'd be comfortable telling people that. They can use the library copy - I'm a huge fan of libraries, and certainly understand that that's how many people read books, especially series that are new to them. But we also hope many, many people will choose to buy the book too.

With your help.

Which brings us to the ARC. You can see it above, resting on the old laptop which I use to write. Behind it is the first draft of the next book...just as a cruel tease. I'm like that.

Here's the contest -

write a comment here telling me what you'll do, if you get an advance copy, to spread the word about A TRICK OF THE LIGHT. From all your wonderful comments Michael and I will choose two - not necessarily the best...but we'll narrow it down to the best, and then I'll have Michael choose at random from that pile.

Now, I know the 'comment' button can sometimes be baffling and temperamental....so if it doesn't work, just send me an email at:

contact@louisepenny.com

Whichever is easiest for you.

have fun!

I'll announce the two winners by Saturday. Good luck!

Malice

sunny, mild, temps 65

Wonderful to be here in Washington. Malice Domestic's a riot. Such fun. packed with readers of mysteries. And writers of mysteries. And to be in such a fun place.

Did the interview with Janet Rudolph yesterday at 3. You can see the photo. Not sure it's in focus, but not Michael's fault - we moved around a lot. Janet's a very funny person! With a love of laughter, as you can see. She's also very thoughtful - in many ways...she judges at chocolate-making competitions, and brought me two of her favorite bars. All gone.

Then there was were the opening ceremonies. The photo of all the people is from when the introduced the other nominees for the Agatha for Best Novel. they invited us up to get our certificate, so I took Michael's blackberry and asked everyone to wave. This is what it looks like to be nominated. Beside me (who of course you don't see) were Nancy Pickard, heather Webber, Hank Phillippi Ryan and Donna Andrews.

Then eight of us went off for a quick dinner because we had the Best Novel panel last night at 8pm. Then, met my publicist, Sarah, in the front lobby at 9pm, to get the Advance Reader's Copy of A TRICK OF THE LIGHT!!!

I'd been emailed the cover. But I hadn't yet seen and held the actual book. Now, an ARC is slightly different than the actual published book - in terms of format. It's basically for promotion, so it talks about the marketing plan, advertizing, touring, print run - those sorts of things....and then has the book itself. So it really is a collector's item. Sarah gave it to me and I took it to the live auction Malice Domestic was holding.

The book went for 500 dollars! And someone said if I could find another, they'd match that bid. All the money is going to a local fund for children with cancer. So I called Sarah and got another one. 1,000 dollars raised, for 2 books.

then, bed! It was bliss. We lay in bed sipping diet coke, eating potato chips and watching highlights of the Royal Wedding.

Breakfast this morning at a nearby pancake house - about a ten minute walk. Actually surprisingly chilly, but sunny. it was really the wind - but still, milder than Montreal.

Lunch with the publisher of Minotaur Books, Andy Martin, and Sarah Melnyk, the above mentioned publicist. They found a great french bistro! We had duck confit and creme brule. Off to a party in the bar this afternoon at 5:30, celebrating Ruth Cavin, the storied editior at St. Martin's Press, who died a few months ago, at almost 100. And working to the end.

Then the Agatha Awards banquet. If BURY YOUR DEAD wins it'll be 4 in a row. I'm not sure if this is a Canadian thing, but as much as I'd LOVE to win - I'm also very aware of that spree. And feel a little bashful. I'll let you you know what happens! And between us? The wanting to win far outweighs the bashful. Still, it's a great position to be in - I'd also be happy if it was someone else's turn.

Michael flies home tomorrow to Montreal and I have a morning panel, then grabbing a ride to Pittsburgh for the Monday Mystery Lovers festival in Oakmont, PA. Then up to Bradford, PA on Tuesday. Home Wednesday. And then a cannon couldn't get me out of the house.

We've also been watching the reports of the terrible, terrible destruction of those tornados. And those amateur videos...terrifying explosions of transformers as the tornado ate the electrical poles and got closer and closer. And, of course, the stories of survival. And not.

Everyone here, though happy to be together, is aware of the pain and loss, and shock.

Hope you're well. Michael joins me in hoping you and your family and friends weren't affected by the storms.

Nespresso and John Steed

some rain and drizzle, some sun, mild, temps 16

Wonderfully mild. the first green sparks on the lilac at home. always amazes me. And just when I think we need to go away next year in April, this happens and I think, 'Gosh, I wouldn't miss this for the world.'

Drove to Montreal after Pat and Tony arrived to stay at our place and look after Trudy. They have 2 dogs themselves including a new rescue - Daisy. So, lots of romping.

Did a bunch of chores in Cowansville and Montreal, including recycling old capsules and getting some new Nespresso caps. It's our new addiction. This book has definitely been fueled by Nespresso cafe au laits and Zipped episodes of classic TV. Mary Tyler Moore, Rhoda, The Avengers. Just watched the very first 3 episodes on DVD. Made in 1963 - black and white, of course. With Honor Blackman as Mrs. _____ - just forgotten her name...but not Mrs. Peel. Diana Rigg came later. These first episodes are fascinating because they're quite different in tone and style - but you can see the glimmer of what it was about to become.

And, of course, bathtime! One of the things I miss when away. Long, leisurely baths. I write hunched over - I think most people do. For four or five hours of the day. So a lavender or rose water bubble bath is bliss.

Off to Washington thursday, for Malice Domestic. Sarah Melnyk, from Minotaur Books, will be bringing some advance copies of A TRICK OF THE LIGHT. That's an amazing moment. To hold the new book. Wow.

I'm a little stressed, though, that over at the marvelous site, GoodReads there's been a mix-up somehow - apparently to do with the isbn numbers....and reviews of another book have been credited to A TRICK OF THE LIGHT. It is obviously impossible that those reviews are for my book since no one has read it yet. The arcs aren't even out. And, to make it worse, that mix-up book is clearly mediocre!

I just cringe to think people believe A TRICK OF THE LIGHT is rated quite poorly. Especially at a site as well regarded and influential as GoodReads. The same ISBN mix-up happened briefly at Amazon a few weeks ago, but that got sorted quickly, before the other person's not-great ratings went up. My editor, Hope, and the others at Minotaur and St. Martins Press are trying to sort it out. Indeed, when the listing first went up at GoodReads and even Amazon, it described A Trick of the Light by Louise Penny as a novel of WW2 intrigue in Denmark. Huh?

Unfortunately, while the description has changed, the ratings haven't. So please, if you go to GoodReads, or anywhere else right now and they have ratings for A TRICK OF THE LIGHT, by me - disregard them!

It's unfortunate this has happened - but when you think of the number of books, of isbn numbers, of websites, it's a bit of a shock this doesn't happen more often.

Speak to you before too long - am off to pretend (via google) to be shopping for flats in central London. That gets Michael's heart pounding. His cardio for the day.

No huge deal, but at this stage, when people know so little about the book, I'd just hate for there to be a sense it's disappointing - when actually I'm extremely excited about it. Oh well.