Still Life special

mainly sunny, hot and humid temps 28

We're all hoping this holds until after the annual SPCA fundraising tea this afternoon. It's over at the Bresee farm - they're also a vinyard and make lovely wines, apparently. We've bought some of their free-range beef. What a difference that makes...wow.

Last year Michael and I hosted the SPCA tea - while of course volunteers like Lise and Kirk and Walter and Cynthia and so many others, did all the work. We just swanned around and got all the credit. it was perfect.

But a nice day makes all the difference...so far, so good.

We got wonderful news from the american publishers, St.Martin's Press/Minotaur - in the lead-up to the publication of A TRICK OF THE LIGHT they've decided they want to bring as many people to the series as possible, and preferably start with the first book. so they've discounted the eversion, to 2.99. Obviously, this is for a fairly short time - probably a month, perhaps slightly longer.

I know many of you, perhaps all of you, have already read Still Life, but if you know someone who hasn't and is perhaps hesitant, this might be their chance to buy in cheap, and see if they like it. What I love about this is that I feel very strongly that the series is better if read from the beginning. It's not necessary - I really try to write each book so that it stands on its own...but I know it's just more fun if you follow Gamache, Beauvoir, Clara, Ruth et al from the beginning, and see how they're changing.

I really appreciate the publishers doing this - I hope it does bring lots of new readers on board.

Had a very fun day yesterday. Got up early and headed the hour or so to Manoir Hovey for breakfast...poached eggs on a bed or arugula and leeks, with a bechemel cream with goat's cheese - and smoke salmon. Dear Lord.

Then we went to Sherbrooke - a city about twenty minutes from Hovey - to pay off the gas fireplace we're having installed in the autumn renovations. The propane supply company made us give them the names and contact info of two close relatives, who don't live in the house. This didn't speak highly of their confidence in their product.

Then we went off to Eastman - which is this lovely village in the townships...there a woman named Nicole nine years ago started one of the most successful French literary festivals in Quebec. It's called Les correspondences d'Eastman. This was the first year i"d been invited because it's the first year any of my books is available in French.

I was on a panel with two other Quebec crime writers - Johanne Seymour and Andre Jacques. It was moderated by a former colleague, and a friend, Anne Lagace-Dowson. I was more than a little worried that my french would fail. I never really know, at these things, if it's a 'good' french day - or a rotten one. I find it's often difficult enough to describe what my books are really about, and my thoughts on writing and crime fiction, in English. In french it's a potential disaster. I felt I should give the organizers the names of two close relatives, not in the audience. In case.

Well, it was terrific. Everyone was very kind and helpful - especially Anne and my fellow panelists. And the people in the audience listened with great patience as I tried to work out what I wanted to say, and how to say it. Before the panel began, I took this photo of the audience. Don't they look lovely?

And then a nice woman volunteered to use my blackberry to take a photo of us. Andre is (obviously) on the left, then Johanne, me and Anne.

Then we drove a neighbor who was having trouble with her car home - and got back in time for a lovely swim....ahh. And then we fell into bed and watched a Poirot while shelling peas from the garden and eating them, along with tiny tomatoes and radishes - and peaches from Ontario.

We woke up to find tiny peas rolling around in the bed. No princesses here - we both got a sound sleep. Am now washing the sheets, though.

I see that Amazon now seems to be accepting reviews of A TRICK OF THE LIGHT. If you've read it, and liked it, please post one! If you didn't like it - never mind.

Thank you! Hope you're enjoying your weekend.

One Book One Island!

sunny, warm, beautiful day - temps 24

Actually, a very slight nip to the air, but very, very nice. Very peaceful. And most of the black flies, that had been plaguing us, seem to have left.

The writing's going much better now - over the difficult patch. What a joy it is to get to sections that just flow quickly...hard to type as fast as the words want to come out. As you can see, it's not always like that...but when it is? Bliss.

Speaking of bliss, I wanted to show you two photos I took when I'd finished writing. Michael and I walked through the woods to the guest cottage and came across that wild apple tree, in full bloom. Magnificent.

And, at home, the lilac are in bloom...I cut lots of blossoms today and spread them in vases through the home. In this one I also put some allium and some white bleeding hearts, on the kitchen table. I wish this was a scratch 'n sniff blog (though often I'm very grateful it isn't)....I think the scent of lilac and peonies are just amazing. if heaven tastes like posset, it smells like lilac and peony. The peony are in bud, but not bloom. I'll torment you with photos of those once they pop.

Well, I've managed to keep mum for months, but finally it was announced that Prince Edward Island has chosen STILL LIFE as its One Book One Island selection this year!

the entire province will be reading (or at least encouraged to read) the book, in English or French.

I am beyond thrilled!! This is, essentially, a province-wide book club. Events will be organized throughout the summer, inspired by STILL LIFE and then it will all culminate when I visit on September 13th and 14th!

Have you ever been to Prince Edward Island? It is a gem. A real hidden jewel. I say 'hidden' though of course it isn't hidden at all, it just isn't as well known as it should be. Mostly I think it's known internationally as the home of the Anne of Green Gables books - which I adored as a child.

But PEI is so much more than that. Miles and miles of red sand beaches. peaceful, beautiful, unspoiled - but throbbing with culture. Great art, great theatre, great music - and cuisine. I am almost sick with excitement at the idea of visiting!!

but mostly, I'm so thrilled at the very great honour of having my book selected for their One Book One Island initiative.

Here's a link to information about the programme.

The English URL of the One Book site is http://www.library.pe.ca/onebook, and the French URL is http://www.library.pe.ca/unlivre.

I'll be doing interviews tomorrow morning on both the English and French CBCs. And just finished one with the Charlottetown Guardian.

Hope you're all well - speak soon!

Once upon a time...

cloudy, mild, high minus 2 - storm warning! 20 cms of snow & freezing rain

LOVE storms, glad I'm not on the highway, though.

Over dinner last night (Italian restaurant closed, so we ended up at the Internationale eating pear and turnip soup followed by wild boar and blueberry sausages.) Cotton explained she suggested the French subtitled Chinese film because it's called STILL LIFE. Fun! I'd even read a rave review of it.

However - wish I could sound very sophisticated and say I loved it, darling. But I didn't. Long silences. French subtitles came and went in a flash, so I caught very little. Chairs were concrete and the big haired woman in front kept moving her head to block out my view. I eventually shut my eyes and listened to the music. At the end we agreed there might just be a cultural divide between Shanghi and Sutton. I suspect the film was brilliant I was dull, but I often suspect that.

Starting the next book this morning. Laptop up and ready by the fire. Fire laid and ready for match. Coffee pot on. Storm approaching. Three Pines awaits. I even know my first line. A line I've waited 40 years to use.

Il etait une fois.