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.

Sleuth

partly cloudy, mild, temps 18

got up to 30 degrees yesterday...really hot. Impossible to know what to wear these days!

Spent the morning writing the october newsletter...sent it off to Linda in Scotland, and she sent back a few suggestions. Wonderful to work with people, like Linda and Lise and Marjorie, who know me and are so helpful. What a difference that makes.

Nice day. Went off to Sleuth of Baker Street for an event this afternoon. I adore that store! GREAT mystery bookstore in Toronto. Lots of people. My brother Doug and his family came - as they have for every one of the books. So supportive. And my cousin Chris, her husband Carl and my aunt Phyllis came. Phyllis is approaching 90 but looks 60. Soon people will think I'm the aunt.

Great news - En plein coeur continues on the bestseller lists!!!

And now will spend the evening replying to emails, editing the newsletter. Tomorrow I have two US print media interviews in the morning, then at 11:30 Donna is picking me up and we're off to Word on the Street in Kitchener.

do you have that one day literary festival? I don't know when or where it started, but it's a magnificent idea. I believe it's Canada wide, on the same day. Communities host all sorts of authors, who give readings and talks and sign books. Much of it happens outside, on streets that have been closed for the event - and in park, and in tents. I'm doing two events in Kitchener - one for the library, for Bury Your Dead - and one for the GoodReads literacy book, The Hangman.

I've been a little worried about it, since it's a novella and that's not a form I'm familiar or comfortable with. But - well - people seem to be enjoying it. so important for me to hear - especially since it's aimed at people with fairly low reading skills, or interest. Though it's meant to appeal to a wide readership.

So relieved it isn't crap.

Be well. I'll try to blog tomorrow and tell you how Word on the Street went. When I first (and last) did it, Still Life had just come out and no one showed up in my tent. Quite painful, actually - for everyone. But a rite of passage. I'm hoping tomorrow will be different! I'll let you know.

Sleuth of Baker Street

sunny, cooler, temps 24

Another gorgeous day. Gad - how long will this torment last??

Writing went much better today. We started with breakfast out - as a treat - then back home by 9am and at work until 3pm without breaks except to walk Trudy around the pond. Unspeakably beautiful out there.

I think the new idea has worked...what a relief. got tired at the end and sort of did a short-hand end to this scene. but will read it all over tomorrow morning and see what I think. It's important at this stage that each word have a reason to be there, and if possible each scene and conversation serve several purposes, propelling both the plot and deepening the characters.

I think this new approach has worked. Wow, what a relief. Yay.

Had a very fun email from Marian Misters of Sleuth of Baker Street in Toronto. At the Arthur Ellis awards in Toronto last night, The Brutal Telling won the Sleuth award for the best selling Canadian mystery of 2009!

How wonderful that feels.

Thank you for all your supportive comments after yesterday's post. It helps!

Pronunciation Guide

overcast, mild, temps 14

Still in Toronto - had a fabulous time last night in Orangeville at the Millcroft Inn. I gave a talk and reading and answered questions, as a fundraiser for Alzheimers...all organized by the amazing Nancy Frater, the owner of Booklore in Orangeville.

First had a glorious dinner with nancy, heather, Sandy and Michael at the millcroft...yum. Then the event. Then poor Nancy had to drive us back to Toronto, through rain and heavy fog. Blech.

But there were loads of people and great questions, and they made us feel very welcome.

Wanted to mention that I recorded the pronunciation guide, with Lise's help...and the help of the local community radio station - CIDI. And Linda has put it up on the website.

Off for dinner with a friend - Margaret - then to the event at Sleuth of Baker Street tonight. Always love that...get lots of friends and acquaintances out. And love Marian and JD. Then off tomorrow to Keswick, Ontario. The area took part in the one town, one book event...where the community chose a single book to read...as many read it as possible...events were planned around it...culminating in a dinner with the author. They chose Still Life...how wonderful is that?? So we're off for the final event tomorrow night. Then home by train Saturday.

Be well, must fly.

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!