rain, cool, windy at times, temps 10
Dreary day. Went in to Montreal - via our breakfast of French Toast in Cowansville. Michael met with Frank the accountant...and I went to the dentist, then to the new hairdresser. Is hairdresser a terribly old fashioned word? Oh well. Happily, thank God!, the hair looks great. And I think it's not just one of those cuts that looks great because they've put the scaffolding, plaster, girders in there and it'll look like bear droppings tomorrow. I think this is a genuinely terrific cut.
Those of you going to Malice Domestic in Washington, DC next week will get to judge for yourselves. You might want to start practicing now - 'Great hair, Louise!'. or 'Oh, my God! It's Angelina Jolie.' Something like that.
Tomorrow we're off to Bishop's University in Lennoxville. I'll be giving a workshop on writing and marketing for a couple of hours in the morning, then doing a book signing in the afternoon at the university bookshop. Then an early dinner with two great friends, Jim and Roya. Roya's the prof. who's invited me, and Jim is a mystery writer and reviewer and was hugely supportive when I was writing STILL LIFE. He taught mystery writing for many years. After dinner Michael and I will drive the 2 hours in to Montreal.
then on Thursday we're meeting with movers to get estimates for the apartment move, in the morning. And in the evening I'm on a panel at the book festival Blue Metropolis, with Giles Blunt. It will be moderated by Anna Asimikopolis - of CBC Radio, and recorded for broadcast.
After that Michael and I will hop back in the car and drive back down here. That will give us all Friday to write...plus Sat. and Sunday...before jumping back into events next week. Hectic time - but all good stuff.
Pretty good work day, no? Oh, just finished an interview with a Pittsburgh newspaper, in advance of the Festival of Mystery. It's a fabulous book festival put on by Mystery Lovers Bookstore...and will be held Monday, May 4th in the afternoon. If you live in the area just go to the Mystery Lovers Bookstore for details. Love to see you there. There will be 40 crime writers!
Take care, will try to blog again Thursday. Oh, one more thing (feel like Columbo)... Tony was right...the pile of bear poop really is a conversation piece. The FedEx woman arrived not long ago - showed it proudly to her and she was very impressed. It might even replace Gnomes and Pink Flamingos. I tell ya, it's gonna be big - real BIG!
Showing posts with label book events. Show all posts
Showing posts with label book events. Show all posts
Tuesday, 21 April 2009
Friday, 24 October 2008
Muncie Cum Murder
heavy rain, cool, temps 55
loads of rain today - had a quiet morning reading more of Josephine Tey's Brat Farrar, which I'm loving. Dick Kennison picked me up at 11:30 and we went off to Ruby Tuesday for burgers. Then to the convention centre for the start of Magna Cum Murder. they've set up a coffee bar with flavors to add ourselves - like vanilla and raspberry and caramel. I did a praline flavour with whipped cream on top. Yum.
then I was asked to interview an author with a debut author - Wilfred Bereswill. the persdon who was supposed to be involed showed up late, so I agreed to step in...20 years of CBC Radio interviewing paid off...and it's always a pleasure to help out a new author.
Then there was the author dinner and after that Jim Huang, who owns and runs The Mystery Company bookstore in Indianapolis and Ronald Tierney another author and I ran a discussion with all the registered guests and authors about the state of mystery reading and writing today.
By 8:30 tonight I was ready to come back to the hotel - pooped. My sessions start at 8 tomorrow morning and end with a signing at 9pm tomorrow, after dinner. including being the feature interview over lunch and a TV interview somewhere in there. Might need to carb up.
But this is an extremely well run conference, and that makes a HUGE difference. No stress about whether things will be ready, or I'll be picked up, or if something isn't going to work. Unexpected things always happen, but here I know they'll be taken care of. Someone is paying attention. A massive difference to my enjoyment of the event.
Sleep well - probably won't blog tomorrow but will try on Sunday.
loads of rain today - had a quiet morning reading more of Josephine Tey's Brat Farrar, which I'm loving. Dick Kennison picked me up at 11:30 and we went off to Ruby Tuesday for burgers. Then to the convention centre for the start of Magna Cum Murder. they've set up a coffee bar with flavors to add ourselves - like vanilla and raspberry and caramel. I did a praline flavour with whipped cream on top. Yum.
then I was asked to interview an author with a debut author - Wilfred Bereswill. the persdon who was supposed to be involed showed up late, so I agreed to step in...20 years of CBC Radio interviewing paid off...and it's always a pleasure to help out a new author.
Then there was the author dinner and after that Jim Huang, who owns and runs The Mystery Company bookstore in Indianapolis and Ronald Tierney another author and I ran a discussion with all the registered guests and authors about the state of mystery reading and writing today.
By 8:30 tonight I was ready to come back to the hotel - pooped. My sessions start at 8 tomorrow morning and end with a signing at 9pm tomorrow, after dinner. including being the feature interview over lunch and a TV interview somewhere in there. Might need to carb up.
But this is an extremely well run conference, and that makes a HUGE difference. No stress about whether things will be ready, or I'll be picked up, or if something isn't going to work. Unexpected things always happen, but here I know they'll be taken care of. Someone is paying attention. A massive difference to my enjoyment of the event.
Sleep well - probably won't blog tomorrow but will try on Sunday.
Monday, 20 October 2008
Honestly, it's a pot roast...
overcast, cool, temps 6
Turtleneck and sweater day. Fire laid about to be lit. Wonderful late autumn day. Trees almost bare. When they decide to lose their leaves it doesn't take long.
Had breakfast in Knowlton this morning...wonderful. This afternoon need to pack, do laundry and have another recording session. I'm doing the narration for a film on literacy. Hope to finish it this afternoon. Have to, actually. Am off to Montreal tomorrow morning, an event at 7:30pm at the Pierrefonds library in Montreal, then another one Wednesday evening at the Poite Claire Library, then an early morning flight to Chicago then on to Indianapolis, for Magna Cum Murder.
I'm actually the guest of honor there, and am really looking forward to it. It's a wonderful conference for mystery readers and writers. Quite academic, since it's sponsored by Ball State University. But also organized by the amazing kathryn Kennison and Jim Huang. Jim runs a fabulous mystery bookstore in Indianapolis.
From there, next Sunday, I fly to Toronto for the International Federation of Authors festival at Harbourfront...and a series of events in and around Toronto - including a couple of fun ones in and around Collingwood.
So plan to hop into a bath, relax, and enjoy. And take it one event at a time.
Gary's back working on the place and had to give him the embarrassing news that late last week I tried (important word there...tried) to flush a pot roast down the toilet.
When he'd finished laughing - which was dangerous since he was up on our roof - he said he'd bring the 'snake' back this afternoon and de-roast us.
Oh, and had a fabulous review of THE MURDER STONE in this weekend's Irish News. They named it a 'Hot Book', gave it 8/10. So that's good.
Will try to blog tomorrow...be well.
Turtleneck and sweater day. Fire laid about to be lit. Wonderful late autumn day. Trees almost bare. When they decide to lose their leaves it doesn't take long.
Had breakfast in Knowlton this morning...wonderful. This afternoon need to pack, do laundry and have another recording session. I'm doing the narration for a film on literacy. Hope to finish it this afternoon. Have to, actually. Am off to Montreal tomorrow morning, an event at 7:30pm at the Pierrefonds library in Montreal, then another one Wednesday evening at the Poite Claire Library, then an early morning flight to Chicago then on to Indianapolis, for Magna Cum Murder.
I'm actually the guest of honor there, and am really looking forward to it. It's a wonderful conference for mystery readers and writers. Quite academic, since it's sponsored by Ball State University. But also organized by the amazing kathryn Kennison and Jim Huang. Jim runs a fabulous mystery bookstore in Indianapolis.
From there, next Sunday, I fly to Toronto for the International Federation of Authors festival at Harbourfront...and a series of events in and around Toronto - including a couple of fun ones in and around Collingwood.
So plan to hop into a bath, relax, and enjoy. And take it one event at a time.
Gary's back working on the place and had to give him the embarrassing news that late last week I tried (important word there...tried) to flush a pot roast down the toilet.
When he'd finished laughing - which was dangerous since he was up on our roof - he said he'd bring the 'snake' back this afternoon and de-roast us.
Oh, and had a fabulous review of THE MURDER STONE in this weekend's Irish News. They named it a 'Hot Book', gave it 8/10. So that's good.
Will try to blog tomorrow...be well.
Saturday, 11 October 2008
Louise, the Goddess of Pooped
sunny, warm, temps 75
A glorious day in Baltimore. Just got back from lunch with Bonnie and Joe. They used to run the Black Orchid bookshop in New York City - fabulous place. They closed it almost exactly a year ago - but we've kept in touch. Lovely people. We met at a seafood restaurant at the harbor. I was late - hard to get out of the hotel, so many people to talk to. But finally managed it. What a lovely walk to and around the harbour, though I was hurrying.
Spent 2 hours over lunch - had great seats looking onto the sparking waters. I'd had crab cakes last night at dinner with Rhys Bowen and Lynn. So decided to have the lobster penne for lunch, and we shared an apple pie with cinnamon ice cream. As good as it sounds!
Had breakfast this morning with the St. Martin's Minotaur team, including publicists Hector and Sarah, and the president of the imprint, Andy Martin. The president of the paperback division joined us...Matthew Shearer. We discussed sales (excellent) and strategy.
The Murder Stone (UK/Canadain title for book 4) continued to be the bestseller in the Bouchercon bookroom, which made me happy, but the US publishers less happy since it was the Canadian version everyone was buying. The US doesn't come out until January and will be called A RULE AGAINST MURDER.
Am getting worn out. Yesterday was exhausting - thrilling - but exhausting. Had breakfast with Dan Mayer, who's become a friend but also happens to be the person who buys Crime/Mystery books for all 700 Barnes and Noble stores across the US. We had a riot - both being dog people. After breakfast we went to the B&N at the harbour and signed. Then back in time for lunch with Julia Spencer Fleming, her husband Ross, Robin and Jamie Agnew, of Aunt Agatha's Bookstore in Ann Arbor, and the amazing Jim Huang, one of the organizors of next year's Bouchercon in Indianapolis. Then at 1:30 I met Lee Ann for a coffee. Don't know if you remember, but I had a message from her last month. She lost her son, Thomas, in the Iraq war and wrote to comment on a passage in The Cruelest Month that had moved her. Well we arranged to meet for coffee and she brought an album she and her friends made up after Thomas's death...of him from birth to the very last picture of him. I think you can imagine how that coffee felt, for her, and for me.
She's a lovely woman and she'd signed up for the conference...I'd see her after that every now and then, deep in conversation with her favorite authors, having a great time.
Then had to run to make my panel, with Rhys Bowen and Deborah Crombie. It was called Three Goddesses Talking. No moderator. Just us. This format is extremely unusual. But it worked. Turned out to be a riot. I think it helped that we all have real affection for each other and respect, at least I have that for them, and it seemed to be mutual. It was a genuine honour to be grouped with these two amazing writers. And generous women.
The room was packed...and afterward, in the signing room, the line up for autographs went all around the room. That felt good. As you know, I've sat behind desks when no one wanted my book or my signature. so when this happens I really savor it!
In fact, it was so successful the organizors of next year's Bouchercom have asked Rhys, Deborah and me to do The Three Goddesses at the Indianapolis convention, and we've all agreed. In the meantime we will take mortal form.
By the time the panel and signing was over it was 4:45. At 5:30 I had a party called Authors Without Borders to go to, then at 6pm the Minotaur Party at another hotel. Fabulous party - everyone there. Then Lynn and Rhys and I walked back to our hotel and had a quiet dinner. We all looked like zombies. Met Donna Andrews in the lobby and she looked like she couldn't get out of her chair!
Quiet night tonight, by choice - then head home tomorrow in time for Thanksgiving dinner with Michael, Linda, Bal and Bethany. Big week coming up. We officially launch The Murder Stone.
Right now I just want to curl up and read People Magazine. But, if anyone asks, I'm reading The Economist.
I might not blog tomorrow, but will Monday. Take care of yourselves.
A glorious day in Baltimore. Just got back from lunch with Bonnie and Joe. They used to run the Black Orchid bookshop in New York City - fabulous place. They closed it almost exactly a year ago - but we've kept in touch. Lovely people. We met at a seafood restaurant at the harbor. I was late - hard to get out of the hotel, so many people to talk to. But finally managed it. What a lovely walk to and around the harbour, though I was hurrying.
Spent 2 hours over lunch - had great seats looking onto the sparking waters. I'd had crab cakes last night at dinner with Rhys Bowen and Lynn. So decided to have the lobster penne for lunch, and we shared an apple pie with cinnamon ice cream. As good as it sounds!
Had breakfast this morning with the St. Martin's Minotaur team, including publicists Hector and Sarah, and the president of the imprint, Andy Martin. The president of the paperback division joined us...Matthew Shearer. We discussed sales (excellent) and strategy.
The Murder Stone (UK/Canadain title for book 4) continued to be the bestseller in the Bouchercon bookroom, which made me happy, but the US publishers less happy since it was the Canadian version everyone was buying. The US doesn't come out until January and will be called A RULE AGAINST MURDER.
Am getting worn out. Yesterday was exhausting - thrilling - but exhausting. Had breakfast with Dan Mayer, who's become a friend but also happens to be the person who buys Crime/Mystery books for all 700 Barnes and Noble stores across the US. We had a riot - both being dog people. After breakfast we went to the B&N at the harbour and signed. Then back in time for lunch with Julia Spencer Fleming, her husband Ross, Robin and Jamie Agnew, of Aunt Agatha's Bookstore in Ann Arbor, and the amazing Jim Huang, one of the organizors of next year's Bouchercon in Indianapolis. Then at 1:30 I met Lee Ann for a coffee. Don't know if you remember, but I had a message from her last month. She lost her son, Thomas, in the Iraq war and wrote to comment on a passage in The Cruelest Month that had moved her. Well we arranged to meet for coffee and she brought an album she and her friends made up after Thomas's death...of him from birth to the very last picture of him. I think you can imagine how that coffee felt, for her, and for me.
She's a lovely woman and she'd signed up for the conference...I'd see her after that every now and then, deep in conversation with her favorite authors, having a great time.
Then had to run to make my panel, with Rhys Bowen and Deborah Crombie. It was called Three Goddesses Talking. No moderator. Just us. This format is extremely unusual. But it worked. Turned out to be a riot. I think it helped that we all have real affection for each other and respect, at least I have that for them, and it seemed to be mutual. It was a genuine honour to be grouped with these two amazing writers. And generous women.
The room was packed...and afterward, in the signing room, the line up for autographs went all around the room. That felt good. As you know, I've sat behind desks when no one wanted my book or my signature. so when this happens I really savor it!
In fact, it was so successful the organizors of next year's Bouchercom have asked Rhys, Deborah and me to do The Three Goddesses at the Indianapolis convention, and we've all agreed. In the meantime we will take mortal form.
By the time the panel and signing was over it was 4:45. At 5:30 I had a party called Authors Without Borders to go to, then at 6pm the Minotaur Party at another hotel. Fabulous party - everyone there. Then Lynn and Rhys and I walked back to our hotel and had a quiet dinner. We all looked like zombies. Met Donna Andrews in the lobby and she looked like she couldn't get out of her chair!
Quiet night tonight, by choice - then head home tomorrow in time for Thanksgiving dinner with Michael, Linda, Bal and Bethany. Big week coming up. We officially launch The Murder Stone.
Right now I just want to curl up and read People Magazine. But, if anyone asks, I'm reading The Economist.
I might not blog tomorrow, but will Monday. Take care of yourselves.
Tuesday, 20 November 2007
If it's Friday this must be...
Snow, ice pellets, rain - high 7 degrees
Driving into the office this morning there were two big trucks off the road. Happily we had Denis put the winter tired on the Volvo yesterday. Tomorrow more bad weather and Thursday there's a snowstorm predicted. Sadly I'll miss all that.
Have left Michael working hard on Sudoku by the fireplace - Maggie and Trudy lying at his feet - and Gary sawing away upstairs. Am presuming the sawing is wood and not his snores. He's getting close to finishing the new bathroom - very exciting.
And I'm driving in to Montreal today - interview with Sharman Yarnell at CJAD Radio this afternoon - pre-taped to run on her programme Showtime this Saturday. She's great. Very engaging - very smart. Love talking to her.
Then off to Toronto by VIA Rail tomorrow. I know the books must be doing OK because the publishers have popped for first class! My tactic when traveling alone on the train is to look insane. That way no one takes the seat next to you. This is less effective now that there's assigned seating. My mother's advice was similar when I first visited a friend in New York. I was 21 and he lived in Hells Kitchen. Seeing me off at the airport my mother leaned in, kissed me goodbye, and whispered, 'Just try to look more nuts than anyone else. No one will bother you then.'
It worked. Perhaps I should stop now.
I'm doing an event tomorrow night at 7pm at Greenley's Bookstore in Belleville, Ontario - about 2 hours outside of Toronto. Then on Thursday night I'll be at an event organized by the amazing Janet Sommerville at Ben McNally's new bookstore on Richmond street. It would be great to see lots of people there. Elizabeth Hay will also be signing. We have a lot in common. Similar ages and she too worked at remote CBC radio locations in the late 70's. She turned her experience into an award winning novel - having just won the Giller prize! The similarities end there.
On Friday morning I'll be at St George's school in Toronto to talk to a couple of classes. This is a private boy's school (where Janet Sommerville works). And they've been studying DEAD COLD, my second book. Looking forward to their questions. It's an amazing thing to know my words are being discected by students...and I suspect they're finding more there than I realize. Have to remember not to look insane while at the school. Look smart. Look smart.
Than back to Montreal Friday night - pick up Michael Saturday - and I do a Books and Brunch in Montreal Sunday morning. This is a massive event and hugely successful and if I wasn't feeling a little overwhelmed I'd be able to tell you who else will be speaking. Basically 4 or 5 authors are invited - and 300-400 people come to the brunch. At some point we get up and talk for about 15 minutes each. Great fun, but a little nerve-wracking. Still - like hitting you head against a wall - it feels good when it's over.
All this is a very long winded way to say a couple of things - I'd really love to see you at any of these events - and I've decided as an experiment not to take a computer or a blackberry with me. So no communication. Not even the blog. I'll probably write a few words from the hotel Thursday or Friday...but perhaps not.
But I'll be thinking of you.
Be well and I'll speak to you soon.
Driving into the office this morning there were two big trucks off the road. Happily we had Denis put the winter tired on the Volvo yesterday. Tomorrow more bad weather and Thursday there's a snowstorm predicted. Sadly I'll miss all that.
Have left Michael working hard on Sudoku by the fireplace - Maggie and Trudy lying at his feet - and Gary sawing away upstairs. Am presuming the sawing is wood and not his snores. He's getting close to finishing the new bathroom - very exciting.
And I'm driving in to Montreal today - interview with Sharman Yarnell at CJAD Radio this afternoon - pre-taped to run on her programme Showtime this Saturday. She's great. Very engaging - very smart. Love talking to her.
Then off to Toronto by VIA Rail tomorrow. I know the books must be doing OK because the publishers have popped for first class! My tactic when traveling alone on the train is to look insane. That way no one takes the seat next to you. This is less effective now that there's assigned seating. My mother's advice was similar when I first visited a friend in New York. I was 21 and he lived in Hells Kitchen. Seeing me off at the airport my mother leaned in, kissed me goodbye, and whispered, 'Just try to look more nuts than anyone else. No one will bother you then.'
It worked. Perhaps I should stop now.
I'm doing an event tomorrow night at 7pm at Greenley's Bookstore in Belleville, Ontario - about 2 hours outside of Toronto. Then on Thursday night I'll be at an event organized by the amazing Janet Sommerville at Ben McNally's new bookstore on Richmond street. It would be great to see lots of people there. Elizabeth Hay will also be signing. We have a lot in common. Similar ages and she too worked at remote CBC radio locations in the late 70's. She turned her experience into an award winning novel - having just won the Giller prize! The similarities end there.
On Friday morning I'll be at St George's school in Toronto to talk to a couple of classes. This is a private boy's school (where Janet Sommerville works). And they've been studying DEAD COLD, my second book. Looking forward to their questions. It's an amazing thing to know my words are being discected by students...and I suspect they're finding more there than I realize. Have to remember not to look insane while at the school. Look smart. Look smart.
Than back to Montreal Friday night - pick up Michael Saturday - and I do a Books and Brunch in Montreal Sunday morning. This is a massive event and hugely successful and if I wasn't feeling a little overwhelmed I'd be able to tell you who else will be speaking. Basically 4 or 5 authors are invited - and 300-400 people come to the brunch. At some point we get up and talk for about 15 minutes each. Great fun, but a little nerve-wracking. Still - like hitting you head against a wall - it feels good when it's over.
All this is a very long winded way to say a couple of things - I'd really love to see you at any of these events - and I've decided as an experiment not to take a computer or a blackberry with me. So no communication. Not even the blog. I'll probably write a few words from the hotel Thursday or Friday...but perhaps not.
But I'll be thinking of you.
Be well and I'll speak to you soon.
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