mainly sunny, mild, temps around freezing
I know this because I've finally been out. And no, not in my pajamas. Tragically, I had to leave those in the apartment.
But the BIG celebration chez nous today is that this is the publication date for BURY YOUR DEAD in the UK!!!! Feb 24th!
It feels as though I've been waiting for this for years. As you might know, we've changed publishers - from headline, who were terrific. I'll never forget how excited I was when they bought Still Life - and when it won the Dagger. And all my hopes and dreams. of taking Still Life to Hatchard's on Piccadilly, and showing the manuscript the Mystery section - and whispering into the bag that if it was very, very good, and very, very lucky then it could join the other books. There. On the shelves of one of the great independent bookstores in the world. In the UK.
Being raised and weened on British mysteries, being sold to a UK publisher was particularly moving. Don't get me wrong - being sold in the States was huge - thrilling! But my heart both sang and wept when I heard my books would be sold in the UK.
And then - to have that first one win the Dagger for best first mystery. I'll never, ever forget that night. And hearing my named called. And winding between the tables, whispering to myself, 'Remember this. Remember this.' My big fear is that it would be over and all be just a blur.
And I do remember it. Every breath. I remember hugging Michael for all I was worth. And thanking him.
But then, as wonderful as Headline and my editor there were, it felt like it just wasn't a fit. I'm not totally sure, but I think they might have thought the books were village cozies set in Canada. Which, of course, they were. And are. On the most superficial level. But I like to think they're that, and more.
So the books failed to thrive in the UK - doing OK, but soon, when I visited Hatchards, they were no longer there. No longer welcome with the other mysteries. And it broke my heart. So that I could no longer even go in to this bookstore that I loved. It just hurt too much.
But then we changed publishers, to Little, Brown (Sphere). And BURY YOUR DEAD is now out.
I don't dare hope for too much. Not again. Not yet. But, like Ruth in Clara's paintings, there is a gleam in my eye again. Not an expectation - but at least, now, I have hope.
Today Bury Your Dead is officially on sale in the UK. If you live there, please go in to Hatchards (or, actually, any bookstore) and buy 300. Each. And then go back and do it again. Thank you.
Showing posts with label Bury Your Dead. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bury Your Dead. Show all posts
Thursday, 24 February 2011
Tuesday, 28 September 2010
Bury Your Dead!!!
cloudy, lots of rain, cool, temps 12
Yiipppeee!!!!!
Bury Your Dead is now out in the US and Canada!!!! And will soon be out everywhere!
Wow - and, oddly, while I want it to do well, I'm not actually terrified. Just very, very, happy that you can now read it if you want to.
Ahhh.
Yiipppeee!!!!!
Bury Your Dead is now out in the US and Canada!!!! And will soon be out everywhere!
Wow - and, oddly, while I want it to do well, I'm not actually terrified. Just very, very, happy that you can now read it if you want to.
Ahhh.
Wednesday, 8 September 2010
Three Pies
overcast, cool, rain, heavy at times temps 17
Sat by the fire and did one more smoothing of the manuscript before sending it out. Phew.
And now...it's gone. Off. Out of my grip. Yikes. But actually, a huge relief. for a few days. and then I start to worry how the first readers like it. And then I become convinced it's crap. All part of the territory. But I have to admit, with each book I feel less frightened. More confident. A little less crazy. I'm not completely convinced Michael would agree that I'm less wacky now than with other books. I think the key to a good relationship is that either I get less crazy, or he becomes more crazy.
A friend recently wrote me an email about the books that included a typo. She called the village, Three Pies. I thought, Damn - that would have been a GREAT name for the village!
We're off to Montreal tomorrow - some appointments....then on Friday I have an interview and tour of a place I'm thinking of setting the next book. It'll be set at about this time of year, so I'd like to see it now, speak to people, take photos....and after some back and forthing the very nice people there say Friday would work well. Great timing from my POV - finish one, begin work on the next, especially before heading out on tour for Bury Your Dead.
I'm obviously being coy about where we're going - but I don't want to give too much away.
Mostly, though, my excitement about the launch of Bury Your Dead grows. That's what I'm concentrating on. that and En plein coeur. Very, very fun. Have two more interviews coming up. CBC radio national show, C'est La Vie and the Journal de Quebec.
But a huge relief to have sent off the manuscript. Wow.
Sat by the fire and did one more smoothing of the manuscript before sending it out. Phew.
And now...it's gone. Off. Out of my grip. Yikes. But actually, a huge relief. for a few days. and then I start to worry how the first readers like it. And then I become convinced it's crap. All part of the territory. But I have to admit, with each book I feel less frightened. More confident. A little less crazy. I'm not completely convinced Michael would agree that I'm less wacky now than with other books. I think the key to a good relationship is that either I get less crazy, or he becomes more crazy.
A friend recently wrote me an email about the books that included a typo. She called the village, Three Pies. I thought, Damn - that would have been a GREAT name for the village!
We're off to Montreal tomorrow - some appointments....then on Friday I have an interview and tour of a place I'm thinking of setting the next book. It'll be set at about this time of year, so I'd like to see it now, speak to people, take photos....and after some back and forthing the very nice people there say Friday would work well. Great timing from my POV - finish one, begin work on the next, especially before heading out on tour for Bury Your Dead.
I'm obviously being coy about where we're going - but I don't want to give too much away.
Mostly, though, my excitement about the launch of Bury Your Dead grows. That's what I'm concentrating on. that and En plein coeur. Very, very fun. Have two more interviews coming up. CBC radio national show, C'est La Vie and the Journal de Quebec.
But a huge relief to have sent off the manuscript. Wow.
Thursday, 25 March 2010
Maudites Pacing
overcast, cool, temps plus 2
Difficult day writing....which is odd since it was a blissfully quiet day. Not appointments, not interruptions. But it occured to me last night, thinking about the structure and pace of the book, and where I am - that there was a problem. One important reference, and character, hadn't appeared yet. And I'm about a third, almost halfway through. This element could, I guessed, come in later, but it was probably better if it appeared earlier.
So I thought, and considered - not particularly worried since I knew something would occur to me. And it did. I realized there was a spot early on when I could slip in a paragraph or two. That's all it needs.
But this morning I needed to find that spot, and couldn't remember which chapter. Once I put it in, I realized a few others might naturally comment on this element a chapter or so later. So I had to hunt for that.
Once found, and inserted, I went to the new writing. Fortunately I enjoyed reading yesterday's pages - with some shaping - but as I wrote more I began to worry more. About pacing mostly. And whether the story is moving along as it should. My books, as you know, will never be thrillers. They have, intentionally, a more thoughtful pace...but they also speed up - then become more relaxed. Not sure if I'm describing this right. I never think of my books as slow moving...but there are different layers...and sometimes it zips along, a page turner. Other times are meant to be quieter, more thoughtful.
And clues need to be scattered in the right places at the right time so that they're natural, and almost inivisible.
Thank God for editing!
I feel a lot better about putting the stuff in that I did today - that was right. But there are just so many issues and elements and details at this stage in the book that it feels like tip toeing through a flower bed planted thick and budding. Don't want to squish anything by mistake.
It think it's just a particularly stressful part of the book...the middle third often is. It also feels like moving through fog. I think the point is to just keep going and hope it's forward.
But wrote 2,000 words then Michael and I went into Sutton to do some mailing, buy some drinking glasses for the city apartment and had a terrific late lunch. Then home.
Minotaur is mailing me the final page proofs for Bury Your Dead. Will need to read and see how the edits are. As well, my friend peter Black, of CBC in Quebec City was SO kind to read the manuscript to let me know if I went wrong with anything in the city. I did. Small things, thank God. Got the name of a micro-brewery beer wrong...Maudites Biere. And a few other things of that level - which is actually very important. And because he's a producer he also has an eye for typos...so he caught a few of those.
As well - my friend Lili sent back her copy of the manuscript for Bury Your DEad. her job was to read for French mistakes...of which there were a few, but those are being fixed.
It always amazes me the details involved in publishing a book. The huge amount of work people put in. And how much depends on the professionals, but also on friends.
Doing the book club tonight...writing tomorrow morning...then off to Montreal tomorrow around noon. This too is part of our desire to have more fun. We adore the Montreal apartment...and the city! So we pack up the laptops and head in. work in the morning and play in the afternoon.
Difficult day writing....which is odd since it was a blissfully quiet day. Not appointments, not interruptions. But it occured to me last night, thinking about the structure and pace of the book, and where I am - that there was a problem. One important reference, and character, hadn't appeared yet. And I'm about a third, almost halfway through. This element could, I guessed, come in later, but it was probably better if it appeared earlier.
So I thought, and considered - not particularly worried since I knew something would occur to me. And it did. I realized there was a spot early on when I could slip in a paragraph or two. That's all it needs.
But this morning I needed to find that spot, and couldn't remember which chapter. Once I put it in, I realized a few others might naturally comment on this element a chapter or so later. So I had to hunt for that.
Once found, and inserted, I went to the new writing. Fortunately I enjoyed reading yesterday's pages - with some shaping - but as I wrote more I began to worry more. About pacing mostly. And whether the story is moving along as it should. My books, as you know, will never be thrillers. They have, intentionally, a more thoughtful pace...but they also speed up - then become more relaxed. Not sure if I'm describing this right. I never think of my books as slow moving...but there are different layers...and sometimes it zips along, a page turner. Other times are meant to be quieter, more thoughtful.
And clues need to be scattered in the right places at the right time so that they're natural, and almost inivisible.
Thank God for editing!
I feel a lot better about putting the stuff in that I did today - that was right. But there are just so many issues and elements and details at this stage in the book that it feels like tip toeing through a flower bed planted thick and budding. Don't want to squish anything by mistake.
It think it's just a particularly stressful part of the book...the middle third often is. It also feels like moving through fog. I think the point is to just keep going and hope it's forward.
But wrote 2,000 words then Michael and I went into Sutton to do some mailing, buy some drinking glasses for the city apartment and had a terrific late lunch. Then home.
Minotaur is mailing me the final page proofs for Bury Your Dead. Will need to read and see how the edits are. As well, my friend peter Black, of CBC in Quebec City was SO kind to read the manuscript to let me know if I went wrong with anything in the city. I did. Small things, thank God. Got the name of a micro-brewery beer wrong...Maudites Biere. And a few other things of that level - which is actually very important. And because he's a producer he also has an eye for typos...so he caught a few of those.
As well - my friend Lili sent back her copy of the manuscript for Bury Your DEad. her job was to read for French mistakes...of which there were a few, but those are being fixed.
It always amazes me the details involved in publishing a book. The huge amount of work people put in. And how much depends on the professionals, but also on friends.
Doing the book club tonight...writing tomorrow morning...then off to Montreal tomorrow around noon. This too is part of our desire to have more fun. We adore the Montreal apartment...and the city! So we pack up the laptops and head in. work in the morning and play in the afternoon.
Friday, 31 July 2009
Bury Your Dead - and your summer
overcast, some rain cool, temps 17
Back to rain...sat today in front of the fire, drinking cafe au lait and dipping biscotti. It was, I have to say, quite lovely. I'm actually liking this summer...every now and then the sun comes out and it's hot, hot, hot - so we swim and sit on the porch...then it gets all cool and rainy and we get to enjoy a fire. It's like two seasons in one. The Oreo cookie of seasons.
Have printed out a hard copy of Bury Your Dead, and and reading it. It's quite a different experience, reading the hardcopy. I get it printed by Bob in Sutton...single-spaced, double sided and bound. So it looks and feels like a real book. Very exciting. Then I read it. After thinking all the polishing is done I'm still finding something on almost every page that could be changed. Mostly small things...but often something, for me, as big as a sentence that doesn't work, or a change of topic that is too abrupt. It's a really valuable, and pleasurable, part of the writing process.
Zipped into Sutton to get a baguette, pate, vegetarian pate (for my brother), beer (for an other visiting family member) and other provisions for the weekend. Forecast keeps changing...I honestly don't know why I bother to look!
Might not get the change to blog tomorrow, but will try. Have a terrific weekend, and will get back to you as soon as possible.
Enjoy!
Back to rain...sat today in front of the fire, drinking cafe au lait and dipping biscotti. It was, I have to say, quite lovely. I'm actually liking this summer...every now and then the sun comes out and it's hot, hot, hot - so we swim and sit on the porch...then it gets all cool and rainy and we get to enjoy a fire. It's like two seasons in one. The Oreo cookie of seasons.
Have printed out a hard copy of Bury Your Dead, and and reading it. It's quite a different experience, reading the hardcopy. I get it printed by Bob in Sutton...single-spaced, double sided and bound. So it looks and feels like a real book. Very exciting. Then I read it. After thinking all the polishing is done I'm still finding something on almost every page that could be changed. Mostly small things...but often something, for me, as big as a sentence that doesn't work, or a change of topic that is too abrupt. It's a really valuable, and pleasurable, part of the writing process.
Zipped into Sutton to get a baguette, pate, vegetarian pate (for my brother), beer (for an other visiting family member) and other provisions for the weekend. Forecast keeps changing...I honestly don't know why I bother to look!
Might not get the change to blog tomorrow, but will try. Have a terrific weekend, and will get back to you as soon as possible.
Enjoy!
Thursday, 28 May 2009
Six letters I've been longing to write!!
Cloudy, showers, cool, temps 10
Yayayay!
At 4:05 this afternoon I wrote:
THE END
Oh, my God - an amazing, blessed, feeling. I sat back on the sofa, raised my arms, put my heard back and yelled, 'Yay!' Then I said a little prayer of thanks. Then I says "Yay!' again.
yippee.
Michael had been so amazing - looking after everything else for three months while I wrote like a fiend.
And - as though life could get any better - the septic tank is in (again!) and the city inspector says it's OK!!!!
Off to Knowlton tomorrow morning to celebrate with breakfast...containers of crap, and a new book. Perfect!
This is the first draft, still need to do revisions and editing and fine tuning and all that...but for me (and I suspect most writers) the first draft is the hardest.
tomorrow I need to update stuff for my agent and write a speech...but what don't I have to do???
oh yes - write a first draft!!!!
THE END
Yayayay!
At 4:05 this afternoon I wrote:
THE END
Oh, my God - an amazing, blessed, feeling. I sat back on the sofa, raised my arms, put my heard back and yelled, 'Yay!' Then I said a little prayer of thanks. Then I says "Yay!' again.
yippee.
Michael had been so amazing - looking after everything else for three months while I wrote like a fiend.
And - as though life could get any better - the septic tank is in (again!) and the city inspector says it's OK!!!!
Off to Knowlton tomorrow morning to celebrate with breakfast...containers of crap, and a new book. Perfect!
This is the first draft, still need to do revisions and editing and fine tuning and all that...but for me (and I suspect most writers) the first draft is the hardest.
tomorrow I need to update stuff for my agent and write a speech...but what don't I have to do???
oh yes - write a first draft!!!!
THE END
Thursday, 16 April 2009
Persistence
sunny, beautiful day, slight chill in the air, temps 8 degrees
Walked Trudy around the pond this morning wearing flannel pajama bottoms, sweat shirt, parks and cap. And boots. Looked indigent. Thank God I'm already married - honestly, I think the combo of living in the country, writing and being naturally slothful doesn't lead to a great fashion statement.
Oh, discovered that book 5 - THE BRUTAL TELLING - can now be pre-ordered on Amazon and almost certainly at your local bookstore. It comes out in October, but it's always a great idea to get your order in since with A RULE AGAINST MURDER they ran out and had to go into another printing right away. I figure if I'm going to go for the hardcover I'd prefer a first edition!
Am up to 63-thousand words in Bury Your DEad - book 6 in the Chief Inspector Gamache series. I aim for anything between 90-thousand words and 120. I think this one will be slightly over 100. But I could be fooled. It seems as I near the end it races away from me.
Because of Michael's birthday celebrations and visiting family I decided to take time off - about a week - and really join the festivities. Right decision.
However, I was surprised when yesterday came and I sat down in front of the laptop by the fireplace, and I was afraid. I wanted to run away. To do the laundry, walk Trudy, cook (for Heaven's sake!). Anything.
I was fearful I'd lost the trail. Lost the feeling. Fearful I couldn't get back to the story. Fearful I was a horrible writer, the story was crap, I was out of ideas.
The usual suspects all showed up at once. Quite a little party.
But I stuck with it and wrote a couple thousand words yesterday.
Today I felt the same way, but slightly less fearful. Again I persisted. And wrote almost 3 thousand words. Just kept at it.
I know every writer goes through the same thing. At some stage, sometimes frequently when writing, we hit that wall. It's constructed of insecurity, terror, low self-esteem, terror, and yes, terror.
Some writers step back and wait for the fire to re-start, the inspiration to hit again.
But most that I know put their heads down and write. And write. Write through the fear - and break back into that space where it feels more like transcribing. Where words and thoughts and ideas are flowing. Characters are talking and acting and I'm just the diarist. Thrilling.
I'm a big fan of persistence. I think it trumps genius every time. I think genuis is often lazy, because it doesn't have to work. And so it doesn't develop courage, doesn't develop discipline. Structure. Persistence. I think genius is often arrogant too - and that separates us from other people. And that can't be good for a writer.
Anyway, I'm feeling a little better. Have until next Tuesday with nothing much to do but write. Then we go in to Montreal for taxes, then out of Bishop's University in Lennoxville for a workshop I'm giving and a signing...then in to the Montreal Literary Festival, Blue Metropolis next Thursday, for a panel with Giles Blunt. The following week I'm all over the place, including flying to Washington for Malice Domestic.
Still, I'm much further along in this book than I ever dreamed. I think because I was in Quebec City for that month, and have been thinking about this book for a year or so.
Wish me luck. Wish me persistence, actually. And I wish you plenty too.
Walked Trudy around the pond this morning wearing flannel pajama bottoms, sweat shirt, parks and cap. And boots. Looked indigent. Thank God I'm already married - honestly, I think the combo of living in the country, writing and being naturally slothful doesn't lead to a great fashion statement.
Oh, discovered that book 5 - THE BRUTAL TELLING - can now be pre-ordered on Amazon and almost certainly at your local bookstore. It comes out in October, but it's always a great idea to get your order in since with A RULE AGAINST MURDER they ran out and had to go into another printing right away. I figure if I'm going to go for the hardcover I'd prefer a first edition!
Am up to 63-thousand words in Bury Your DEad - book 6 in the Chief Inspector Gamache series. I aim for anything between 90-thousand words and 120. I think this one will be slightly over 100. But I could be fooled. It seems as I near the end it races away from me.
Because of Michael's birthday celebrations and visiting family I decided to take time off - about a week - and really join the festivities. Right decision.
However, I was surprised when yesterday came and I sat down in front of the laptop by the fireplace, and I was afraid. I wanted to run away. To do the laundry, walk Trudy, cook (for Heaven's sake!). Anything.
I was fearful I'd lost the trail. Lost the feeling. Fearful I couldn't get back to the story. Fearful I was a horrible writer, the story was crap, I was out of ideas.
The usual suspects all showed up at once. Quite a little party.
But I stuck with it and wrote a couple thousand words yesterday.
Today I felt the same way, but slightly less fearful. Again I persisted. And wrote almost 3 thousand words. Just kept at it.
I know every writer goes through the same thing. At some stage, sometimes frequently when writing, we hit that wall. It's constructed of insecurity, terror, low self-esteem, terror, and yes, terror.
Some writers step back and wait for the fire to re-start, the inspiration to hit again.
But most that I know put their heads down and write. And write. Write through the fear - and break back into that space where it feels more like transcribing. Where words and thoughts and ideas are flowing. Characters are talking and acting and I'm just the diarist. Thrilling.
I'm a big fan of persistence. I think it trumps genius every time. I think genuis is often lazy, because it doesn't have to work. And so it doesn't develop courage, doesn't develop discipline. Structure. Persistence. I think genius is often arrogant too - and that separates us from other people. And that can't be good for a writer.
Anyway, I'm feeling a little better. Have until next Tuesday with nothing much to do but write. Then we go in to Montreal for taxes, then out of Bishop's University in Lennoxville for a workshop I'm giving and a signing...then in to the Montreal Literary Festival, Blue Metropolis next Thursday, for a panel with Giles Blunt. The following week I'm all over the place, including flying to Washington for Malice Domestic.
Still, I'm much further along in this book than I ever dreamed. I think because I was in Quebec City for that month, and have been thinking about this book for a year or so.
Wish me luck. Wish me persistence, actually. And I wish you plenty too.
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