Partly cloudy, cool, temps 10
Terrific flight yesterday...air canada. got the emergency exit - three seats in a row and no one in the middle seat, so Michael and I were able to share the row, just ourselves. What a difference that makes on a long flight. Well, not that long. 4.5 hours. But long enough. Air Canada has upgraded most of it's fleet, so on longer flights every seat has it's own television. So I watched Entourage and Modern Family all across the continent.
Smart enough to buy sandwiches and soft drinks...then we had a nice picnic at 39,000 feet. Quite fun. Arrived to minus 4 degrees in Toronto and a minor snowstorm just north of the city. Snuck in just in time!
The International Festival of Authors is a magnificent literary festival. The current artistic director, Geoffrey Taylor, began getting crime fiction writers on the schedule a few years ago, and has quietly added to their importance. Sending the subversive message that good crime fiction is good literature. that there is no border between literary fiction and crime fiction. And this year, bless his soul, he's made Noir a theme!
the other thing I adore about Geoffrey is he's one of the few literary types who recognizes that my books are on the surface bright and shiny...but beneath that is a streak of darkness. But at their heart - hidden under it all - is hope. And kindness. That noir and blanche live together, naturally. And need each other.
It's a great pleasure to be here, and be a part of this revolution. Peter Robinson, Lisa Scottoline, Giles Blunt, Jeff Lindsay, RJ Ellory, Peter James and others standing up and letting our literary voices join those of Michael Cunningham, Emma Donoghue, Jonathan Frazen etc.
Besides - it's just plain fun.
Have a noon signing tomorrow with Lisa Scottoline at the Indigo bookstore at the Manulife Centre - then a reading at 8pm at the IFOA. Then a roundtable discussion on Sunday at the IFOA with Anne Emery, John Lawton, and Lisa - moderated by a terrific Canadian crime writer, Andrew Pyper.
It's funny, but as wonderful, magical, generous as San Francosco was - there's something special about being here. It has surprised me. I wonder if it's just being back in Canada - or being at the IFOA... a familiarity issue. Being this close to home.
I think it might just be familiarity. As much fun as this tour, and as kind as everyone has been, what gets tiring for me is never being anyplace familiar. Every place is new. That can be exciting...but given my personality, after a while I really just want home. or, if not home, then places I recognize. Like here.
Of course, I might just be nuts.
Speak to you tomorrow. Hope to see you at one of the events. Have a great weekend!
Showing posts with label IFOA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label IFOA. Show all posts
Friday, 22 October 2010
Wednesday, 20 October 2010
Quiet Day
overcast, mild, temps mid-60s
Had two calls early this morning. 6:45 call from the French publisher, just to chat. Then 8am call from Teresa, my agent in London. To make more plans for the visit. Fun to lie in bed in San Francisco talking with editors and agents. Never would have believed it possible ten years ago.
We're having a VERY relaxed day. Getting caught up on some work. Some blogs and emails. Some planning and scheduling issues.
Off to Toronto tomorrow - mid-morning flight but with the time difference we don't arrive in Toronto until 7pm. Going to be doing the International Festival of Authors (IFOA) this weekend - then have a lunch event organized by the amazing Nancy Frater, of Booklore in Orangeville, Ontario. If you live in the area and want to be part of it, please call the bookstore and they'll give you information.
Hard to believe that one week from today Michael and I, along with My Assistant Lise and her husband will be in Quebec City! The big Quebec launch of BURY YOUR DEAD is a week tomorrow - Thursday, Oct 28th. Wow. Hope to see you there.
One thing that amazes me, and I suspect amazes other writers (in fact, I know it does) is simply the number of details involved in a writing career. Like so many others, I thought I'd just write, and maybe tour (using the publisher's private jet) and that would be it. Get to meet you, and enjoy it - then fly back home.
Seems there's more to it than that! Tons of emails, blogging, phone calls, organizing and co-ordinating meetings. Thank God for My Assistant Lise, who basically does everything for us. And still I can barely function for the details.
Having said all that - this is still the best job in the world!
I probably won't be able to blog tomorrow, but will try to write on Friday from the IFOA.
Be well. And thanks for the kind company.
Had two calls early this morning. 6:45 call from the French publisher, just to chat. Then 8am call from Teresa, my agent in London. To make more plans for the visit. Fun to lie in bed in San Francisco talking with editors and agents. Never would have believed it possible ten years ago.
We're having a VERY relaxed day. Getting caught up on some work. Some blogs and emails. Some planning and scheduling issues.
Off to Toronto tomorrow - mid-morning flight but with the time difference we don't arrive in Toronto until 7pm. Going to be doing the International Festival of Authors (IFOA) this weekend - then have a lunch event organized by the amazing Nancy Frater, of Booklore in Orangeville, Ontario. If you live in the area and want to be part of it, please call the bookstore and they'll give you information.
Hard to believe that one week from today Michael and I, along with My Assistant Lise and her husband will be in Quebec City! The big Quebec launch of BURY YOUR DEAD is a week tomorrow - Thursday, Oct 28th. Wow. Hope to see you there.
One thing that amazes me, and I suspect amazes other writers (in fact, I know it does) is simply the number of details involved in a writing career. Like so many others, I thought I'd just write, and maybe tour (using the publisher's private jet) and that would be it. Get to meet you, and enjoy it - then fly back home.
Seems there's more to it than that! Tons of emails, blogging, phone calls, organizing and co-ordinating meetings. Thank God for My Assistant Lise, who basically does everything for us. And still I can barely function for the details.
Having said all that - this is still the best job in the world!
I probably won't be able to blog tomorrow, but will try to write on Friday from the IFOA.
Be well. And thanks for the kind company.
Friday, 3 September 2010
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.
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.
Wednesday, 29 October 2008
is that a gorilla I feel?
partly cloud, occasional snow/rain mix. temps - cold
What a weather mess. Huge amounts of snow in Ottawa. Lise wrote to say it was white, white, white in Sutton with more on the way. Very pretty. But these late fall snows are treacherous. Very wet, heavy. Hard to drive. Snows like this cause a lot of accidents...it grabs the tires and makes steering almost impossible. And since leaves are still on many trees the snow sits on them, weighs them down and often snaps trees in half, to takes limbs off. Like so much else in Canadian weather, it's beautiful and dangerous.
Had fun last night. Did the Harbourfront reading with Dennis Lehane, Mark Billingham, Leonie Swann and Adam Sol. The room was packed. Very atmospheric. Candles on the tables. Everyone read brilliantly. I always think I'm the dullard of the group. And I find readings the most difficult - very stressful. Apparently most authors do, so that's comforting. Always a relief to find I'm not alone.
There's an analogy a former boyfriend told me, decades ago. he described gorilla behavior and said when threatened the gorillas will advance toward the threat, glaring at it, howling and thumping. But every now and then they'll reach out and touch the gorilla next to them. Just to make sure they're not out there alone.
Before the event there was an authors dinner at an Indian restaurant. Traveled over with Ronald Wright and sat beside David Bergen. After the reading and signing we went off to a publishers party put on by McArthur and Company. Started at 10pm and went to 2am. There's at least one party, often two or three, every night before and after the events. It feels a bit like a battle (not that I've ever been in a battle) but as authors at this festival we all take turns 'going over the top'. The authors who have events that night are treated as 'special' or different - as slightly braver, slightly marked - heading into the line of fire. The other authors commisserate, and count their blessings their number wasn't called for that night. But there's a foxhole mentality in that eventally we all get called. A genuine comradery develops. Baptism of fire. We're all bloodied.
Last night was my turn, along with a number of others, of course. But we all came through it - having summoned the courage to get up, do our very best, and take what's coming.
Today's a fun day. Michael and I are off to the 1:30 matinee of THE SOUND OF MUSIC at the Princess of Wales theatre in Toronto. We're actually going to see Michaela Snoyer, the daughter of friends of ours. She auditioned and was chosen to play one of the Von Trapp family kids. We're so excited for her. Apparently she's just having the BEST time. So we're off to see her and applaud.
Then at 6pm I'll be signing at Sleuth of Baker Street in Toronto, along with Mark Billingham and John Brady. My brother Doug and nephew Brian are coming along with Michaela's parents Rob and Lynda and her older sister Megan who is reading STILL LIFE. Amazing me that a kid reads at such a high (and exalted) level. I think Megan must be something else. Looking forward to meeting her. And a number of other friends will be there too.
Then we're off for another literary dinner.
Tomorrow Ann Ledden, of McArthur, is picking Michael and me up at the hotel and driving us to Collingwood for two events - 3pm at the Thornbury Public Library for a talk and reading then 7pm at the Collingwood library for another talk and reading.
Talk to you tomorrow!
What a weather mess. Huge amounts of snow in Ottawa. Lise wrote to say it was white, white, white in Sutton with more on the way. Very pretty. But these late fall snows are treacherous. Very wet, heavy. Hard to drive. Snows like this cause a lot of accidents...it grabs the tires and makes steering almost impossible. And since leaves are still on many trees the snow sits on them, weighs them down and often snaps trees in half, to takes limbs off. Like so much else in Canadian weather, it's beautiful and dangerous.
Had fun last night. Did the Harbourfront reading with Dennis Lehane, Mark Billingham, Leonie Swann and Adam Sol. The room was packed. Very atmospheric. Candles on the tables. Everyone read brilliantly. I always think I'm the dullard of the group. And I find readings the most difficult - very stressful. Apparently most authors do, so that's comforting. Always a relief to find I'm not alone.
There's an analogy a former boyfriend told me, decades ago. he described gorilla behavior and said when threatened the gorillas will advance toward the threat, glaring at it, howling and thumping. But every now and then they'll reach out and touch the gorilla next to them. Just to make sure they're not out there alone.
Before the event there was an authors dinner at an Indian restaurant. Traveled over with Ronald Wright and sat beside David Bergen. After the reading and signing we went off to a publishers party put on by McArthur and Company. Started at 10pm and went to 2am. There's at least one party, often two or three, every night before and after the events. It feels a bit like a battle (not that I've ever been in a battle) but as authors at this festival we all take turns 'going over the top'. The authors who have events that night are treated as 'special' or different - as slightly braver, slightly marked - heading into the line of fire. The other authors commisserate, and count their blessings their number wasn't called for that night. But there's a foxhole mentality in that eventally we all get called. A genuine comradery develops. Baptism of fire. We're all bloodied.
Last night was my turn, along with a number of others, of course. But we all came through it - having summoned the courage to get up, do our very best, and take what's coming.
Today's a fun day. Michael and I are off to the 1:30 matinee of THE SOUND OF MUSIC at the Princess of Wales theatre in Toronto. We're actually going to see Michaela Snoyer, the daughter of friends of ours. She auditioned and was chosen to play one of the Von Trapp family kids. We're so excited for her. Apparently she's just having the BEST time. So we're off to see her and applaud.
Then at 6pm I'll be signing at Sleuth of Baker Street in Toronto, along with Mark Billingham and John Brady. My brother Doug and nephew Brian are coming along with Michaela's parents Rob and Lynda and her older sister Megan who is reading STILL LIFE. Amazing me that a kid reads at such a high (and exalted) level. I think Megan must be something else. Looking forward to meeting her. And a number of other friends will be there too.
Then we're off for another literary dinner.
Tomorrow Ann Ledden, of McArthur, is picking Michael and me up at the hotel and driving us to Collingwood for two events - 3pm at the Thornbury Public Library for a talk and reading then 7pm at the Collingwood library for another talk and reading.
Talk to you tomorrow!
Monday, 27 October 2008
Michael's Arms
partly cloudy, have no idea of the temperature, I'm happy to admit!
Michael and I are together in Toronto, at the International Festival of Authors. If there's one HUGE perk to being a writer, this is it. We get put up in a luxury room at the Harbour Castle Hotel, all expenses (even spa treatment's, drinks, food) paid. We get to hobnob with some of the best writers on the planet, as well as publishers, agents, editors. And all I have to do is a 20 minute reading tomorrow night and a panel discussion on Saturday.
Heaven.
Had a fab time in Muncie. Yesterday morning was the last panel, and a lunch. And it was Jim Huang's 25th birthday (or something like that - he's preternaturally youthful). Then JD and I drove back to Toronto. Or, he drove, I did nothing. But we had a great time. I don't know him well - or didn't. But I feel, after 9 hours together with him in traffic jams and other stuff, that I know him fairly well. It was the sort of 'intimate' experience that can be intimidating. But I decided to think of him as a brother - and that worked very well. We were both relaxed and the hours flew by - until JD asked me to choose a line for the Canadian Customs and I chose the one with the car broken down. It was already packed, and we were stuck.
Oh well. But what a nice man JD is - he's one of the owners of Sleuth of Baker Street in Toronto - a marvelous bookstore.
Arrived at the hotel about 9:30 pm - and there was my Michael. Oh, it felt so great to be in his arms and hold him in mine. We had dinner (though Michael had already been to a cocktail party at Random House) then went to bed. Spent this morning at the breakfast buffet (everything you could want and more) then crawled back in to bed.
Had a wonderful message from Teresa - My agent in London. She's read the Brutal Telling and is over the moon - adores it. Thank the Lord. Hope she isn't drunk.
And a message from Hope Dellon, my US editor, to say A RULE AGAINST MURDER is one of Sarah Weinman's Pick of the Week on her site, Confessions of an Idiosyncratic Mind. Amazing review.
So great news all around.
Now, I must run...there's the Opening Party for the IFOA (the festivsal I'm at) and I need to get into my party frock.
What a great day - made great the moment I awoke in Michael's arms.
Michael and I are together in Toronto, at the International Festival of Authors. If there's one HUGE perk to being a writer, this is it. We get put up in a luxury room at the Harbour Castle Hotel, all expenses (even spa treatment's, drinks, food) paid. We get to hobnob with some of the best writers on the planet, as well as publishers, agents, editors. And all I have to do is a 20 minute reading tomorrow night and a panel discussion on Saturday.
Heaven.
Had a fab time in Muncie. Yesterday morning was the last panel, and a lunch. And it was Jim Huang's 25th birthday (or something like that - he's preternaturally youthful). Then JD and I drove back to Toronto. Or, he drove, I did nothing. But we had a great time. I don't know him well - or didn't. But I feel, after 9 hours together with him in traffic jams and other stuff, that I know him fairly well. It was the sort of 'intimate' experience that can be intimidating. But I decided to think of him as a brother - and that worked very well. We were both relaxed and the hours flew by - until JD asked me to choose a line for the Canadian Customs and I chose the one with the car broken down. It was already packed, and we were stuck.
Oh well. But what a nice man JD is - he's one of the owners of Sleuth of Baker Street in Toronto - a marvelous bookstore.
Arrived at the hotel about 9:30 pm - and there was my Michael. Oh, it felt so great to be in his arms and hold him in mine. We had dinner (though Michael had already been to a cocktail party at Random House) then went to bed. Spent this morning at the breakfast buffet (everything you could want and more) then crawled back in to bed.
Had a wonderful message from Teresa - My agent in London. She's read the Brutal Telling and is over the moon - adores it. Thank the Lord. Hope she isn't drunk.
And a message from Hope Dellon, my US editor, to say A RULE AGAINST MURDER is one of Sarah Weinman's Pick of the Week on her site, Confessions of an Idiosyncratic Mind. Amazing review.
So great news all around.
Now, I must run...there's the Opening Party for the IFOA (the festivsal I'm at) and I need to get into my party frock.
What a great day - made great the moment I awoke in Michael's arms.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)