Started sunny (yay) but now overcast. flurries in the forecast temps minus 9
chilly day, but no wind. Snow still sitting in the street and balancing on limbs. One good gust, though, and it all falls.
Finished the editing. My God, does that feel great. Like a tether being released. And, even better, I really like this book. That's always a little scary, when going back to edit a book, especially since I hadn't read it the whole time on tour...2 months. I really was afraid I'd get into the edit and not like the book at all.
Such a fabulous feeling -
Had fun over dinner last night with Kirk and Walter, jack and Jane. We went to Le Relais, in Knowlton. Thursday is 'cheap' night, when everything is on special. So everyone was there. it was like a huge private party, where you pay for your meal. Very, very fun. And, being there with Kirk, is like being with a celebrity. Everyone came over to say hi.
There aren't many people we choose to give our precious private time to - but Jane and Jack, Kirk and Walter are on the very short list. I'm afraid I have all the makings of a happy (and probably demented) recluse.
As we were leaving, Walter, Jane, Jack, Michael and I were standing outside, in a very cold night - waiting for Kirk. We were chatting and not paying much attention. if I thought at all, it was that he'd stopped to chat at another table. But then the door flew open and Kirk came out, a look of huge relief on his face.
Seems he wasn't chatting at all, but standing quietly just inside the door with a group of people he thought was us. Then he 'woke up' and realized he was standing with a group of strangers. And had lost us! He came barreling out of there like a lost puppy. Very happy to see us waiting for him.
Quite hilarious.
Blessedly quiet day. Might call Joan and see if she can go for breakfast tomorrow. Now that I'm free, free, free.
Mwahaahaaahhaaa.
Showing posts with label dinner. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dinner. Show all posts
Friday, 10 December 2010
Thursday, 9 December 2010
Apres la deluge
Still snowing, but in fits and starts temp minus 10
The storm is over. Met a woman in the Richford, Vermont post office (also doing christmas mailing) - she's from Quebec too and she'd measured 41 inches on her back porch. Slightly over 3 feet. Of very fluffy, light snow.
That was about our estimate of the amount of snow we had here. Michael and I took an assortment of shots today. One shows the view from our mudroom, out the back door. Thank God we have a front door. This is the Canadian equivalent of an alarm system.
No one will break in - though the problem is, if they ever do, they'll never get out. We'll all be having Christmas turkey together.
Sure confused Trudy when we opened the door last night for her to go out last thing at night - and she met that. She refused, and went back to the fireplace. But you see her out this morning - very happy to be there. rolling in the snow. I hope.
That little teepee of snow in the background outside our mudroom? That's our composter.
Editing going very well. Hope to be finished tomorrow.
Oh, a bit of news from a friend...Kappy Flanders. One of her daughters, Judith, writer wonderful and very successful non-fiction books. she's based in the UK and specializes in all things Victorian. Well, she's just come out with a new book I thought you might be interested in -
THE INVENTION OF MURDER: How THE
VICTORIANS REVELLED IN DEATH AND
DETECTION AND CREATED MODERN CRIME
By Judith Flanders
Doesn't that sound fabulous? And it's getting terrific reviews in the UK.
Off for dinner tonight with Kirk and Walter and Jack and Jane. they all started as friends, but then a few years ago Kirk and Jane formed an interior design company. so we've asked for their help re-designing our kitchen. But tonight is just fun. If I can restrain myself from talking about design stuff....love all that stuff...buy, beg and borrow all sorts of design magazines. Just to look.
We're off to pick up Kirk and Walter, who are also neighbours, then driving together to Knowlton for dinner. Meeting Jack and Jane there. So looking forward to it.
Sunday, 29 August 2010
Finished - again
beautiful, sunny day, warm and humid - temps 26
Stunning day! And wonderful news. I finally finished the fourth draft. Thought for sure this would be the book that kills me. Not because there's anything wrong with the book - I hope! But because of all the other things in my life.
Have pledge to say 'no thank you' to everything next summer. And just have two quiet months, Michael and me alone in Sutton. It's gotten to the point where days when all I have to do is write feel like vacation.
Like today. Had 20 pages to complete and took me all day. Sometimes the fine-tuning is like that. I can stare at a sentence for half an hour wondering why it just isn't right. And then taking it out changes everything around it and so that needs fixing - and made better. There's just a whole lot of very, very delicate work.
But also took a day away from it last week. Michael and I went with our friend Susan to Shelburne, Vermont. Stayed Thursday night at the Shelburne Inn - which is on a spit of land jutting into Lake Champlain. Fabulous home build by one of the Vanderbilt daughters. Huge - but apparently considered something of a shack compared to the homes of other robber barons that were built on long island etc. They were considered quite strange to come to Vermont.
But the home has been preserved - furniture saved - and so staying there is like getting into the time machine and stepping out a glorious Vanderbilt in the late 1800's. Except - there's running water and electricity. But - no air conditioning or heating. So the Inn is closed from Oct. to May.
It's in a 400 acre farm - that produces cheese and meat and vegetables. And that was why we were there...to take part in a Vermont Farm Fresh dinner thursday night.
To say it was magical would be to sell it short. We arrived at about ten to six for the six o'clock dinner. Parked the car outside the huge barn, expecting to be show to tables inside. But instead, we were shown up a path through a field, and up a hill. To a plateau. There, long tables had been set with white linens, silverware, glasses. flowers. A beehive oven was making bread. A bar had been set up and young men and women in livery were serving.
Now this was like stepping into a film set, without the annoyance of anyone shouting 'Cut!'
We chose a table at random, got a drink, and then it was time to eat. Course after fresh course. Salads, casseroles, free range beef wrapped in cabbage, all different ways to do summer and winter squash. And two young women who'd grown the vegetables and harvested them, were there, talking about it.
And from the field, as the sun set, we looked out across the farm, to the Green Mountains in the distance. Candles were lit. Dessert came. Tiny cupcakes made of fruits and beets, with whipped icing.
And then we followed the lamps back down the path, to our cars. Knowing we hadn't had just a meal - but a memory.
Next morning we got up, wandered the grounds of the Inn - had a magnificent breakfast. Sat in adirondack chairs by the lake. Then drove home. Amazed, yet again, at our good fortune and dumb luck, to live here.
I haven't blogged, as you might have noticed, for a few days. Life too hectic - have been focussing on getting the edit done. Some more smoothing still before I'll print it out - but it's all there. Just a small thought here - a clarification there.
Had a lovely, big article in La Presse yesterday on the French version of Still Life, called En plein coeur. And nice mention in Le Devoir as well. Have an interview tomorrow afternoon with the newspaper La Voix de L'est, and a TV interview, taping at Hovey Manor (more suffering, I'm afraid) - with Radio Canada Television - on Tuesday. Then off to Toronto for an event at the Canadian national Exhibition on Thursday night with Linwood Barclay. He's terrific - wonderful writer and lovely person. Then home Friday. Doug and the kids are coming for the long Labour Day weekend.
Oh, and I still need to write the Sept Newsletter. Yikes. Gotta run. Hope you've been well. Speak soon!
Stunning day! And wonderful news. I finally finished the fourth draft. Thought for sure this would be the book that kills me. Not because there's anything wrong with the book - I hope! But because of all the other things in my life.
Have pledge to say 'no thank you' to everything next summer. And just have two quiet months, Michael and me alone in Sutton. It's gotten to the point where days when all I have to do is write feel like vacation.
Like today. Had 20 pages to complete and took me all day. Sometimes the fine-tuning is like that. I can stare at a sentence for half an hour wondering why it just isn't right. And then taking it out changes everything around it and so that needs fixing - and made better. There's just a whole lot of very, very delicate work.
But also took a day away from it last week. Michael and I went with our friend Susan to Shelburne, Vermont. Stayed Thursday night at the Shelburne Inn - which is on a spit of land jutting into Lake Champlain. Fabulous home build by one of the Vanderbilt daughters. Huge - but apparently considered something of a shack compared to the homes of other robber barons that were built on long island etc. They were considered quite strange to come to Vermont.
But the home has been preserved - furniture saved - and so staying there is like getting into the time machine and stepping out a glorious Vanderbilt in the late 1800's. Except - there's running water and electricity. But - no air conditioning or heating. So the Inn is closed from Oct. to May.
It's in a 400 acre farm - that produces cheese and meat and vegetables. And that was why we were there...to take part in a Vermont Farm Fresh dinner thursday night.
To say it was magical would be to sell it short. We arrived at about ten to six for the six o'clock dinner. Parked the car outside the huge barn, expecting to be show to tables inside. But instead, we were shown up a path through a field, and up a hill. To a plateau. There, long tables had been set with white linens, silverware, glasses. flowers. A beehive oven was making bread. A bar had been set up and young men and women in livery were serving.
Now this was like stepping into a film set, without the annoyance of anyone shouting 'Cut!'
We chose a table at random, got a drink, and then it was time to eat. Course after fresh course. Salads, casseroles, free range beef wrapped in cabbage, all different ways to do summer and winter squash. And two young women who'd grown the vegetables and harvested them, were there, talking about it.
And from the field, as the sun set, we looked out across the farm, to the Green Mountains in the distance. Candles were lit. Dessert came. Tiny cupcakes made of fruits and beets, with whipped icing.
And then we followed the lamps back down the path, to our cars. Knowing we hadn't had just a meal - but a memory.
Next morning we got up, wandered the grounds of the Inn - had a magnificent breakfast. Sat in adirondack chairs by the lake. Then drove home. Amazed, yet again, at our good fortune and dumb luck, to live here.
I haven't blogged, as you might have noticed, for a few days. Life too hectic - have been focussing on getting the edit done. Some more smoothing still before I'll print it out - but it's all there. Just a small thought here - a clarification there.
Had a lovely, big article in La Presse yesterday on the French version of Still Life, called En plein coeur. And nice mention in Le Devoir as well. Have an interview tomorrow afternoon with the newspaper La Voix de L'est, and a TV interview, taping at Hovey Manor (more suffering, I'm afraid) - with Radio Canada Television - on Tuesday. Then off to Toronto for an event at the Canadian national Exhibition on Thursday night with Linwood Barclay. He's terrific - wonderful writer and lovely person. Then home Friday. Doug and the kids are coming for the long Labour Day weekend.
Oh, and I still need to write the Sept Newsletter. Yikes. Gotta run. Hope you've been well. Speak soon!
Friday, 19 February 2010
Agatha!!!!
Steady, light snow, some blowing, temps minus 5
Came back from dinner last night through practically a snow storm. Fortunately we're so familiar with the roads there was no anxiety at all...and it's only about a 20 minute drive. Had a wonderful, fun dinner with Kirk and Walter, Jack and Jane - and about a million other people in the restaurant. Cheap eats night. Very fun...and loads of birthdays celebrated - including Donna, who works for Lise in the summer and helps do our gardens. Lise and Delmar were there to help her celebrate....wonderful to see them. And our neighbor Pina was at another table.
Watched on pins and needles as Evan Lysacek won Olympic Gold in figure skating. Wow.
But I have to tell you...my HUGE news yesterday was that THE BRUTAL TELLING has been nominated for an Agatha Award for Best Traditional Mystery. Yiipppppeeee! So excited. Sadly the others in my category are very strong. Damn. Here's the list for Best Novel and Best First....
Best Novel
Swan for the Money, Donna Andrews, St. Martin’s Minotaur
Bookplate Special, Lorna Barrett, Berkley Prime Crime
Royal Flush, Rhys Bowen, Berkley Prime Crime
A Brutal Telling, Louise Penny, Minotaur Books
Air Time, Hank Phillippi Ryan, MIRA
Best First Novel
For Better For Murder, Lisa Bork, Midnight Ink
The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, Alan Bradley, Delacorte Press
Posed for Murder, Meredith Cole, St. Martin’s Minotaur
The Cold Light of Mourning, Elizabeth Duncan, St. Martin’s Press
In the Shadow of Gotham, Stefanie Pintoff, Minotaur Books
Congratulations to all the nominees. It is VERY exciting. The Agatha's are given out at the Saturday night banquet at Malice Domestic - a mystery readers and writer's conference in Washington at the beginning of May.
It's fun because emails to and from the other nominees have been flying - congratulating each other. Feels so good to be part of community where people are genuinely pleased for the other. We each, of course, want to win...but we'd also be happy for whoever does. Great feeling.
speak to you tomorrow!
Came back from dinner last night through practically a snow storm. Fortunately we're so familiar with the roads there was no anxiety at all...and it's only about a 20 minute drive. Had a wonderful, fun dinner with Kirk and Walter, Jack and Jane - and about a million other people in the restaurant. Cheap eats night. Very fun...and loads of birthdays celebrated - including Donna, who works for Lise in the summer and helps do our gardens. Lise and Delmar were there to help her celebrate....wonderful to see them. And our neighbor Pina was at another table.
Watched on pins and needles as Evan Lysacek won Olympic Gold in figure skating. Wow.
But I have to tell you...my HUGE news yesterday was that THE BRUTAL TELLING has been nominated for an Agatha Award for Best Traditional Mystery. Yiipppppeeee! So excited. Sadly the others in my category are very strong. Damn. Here's the list for Best Novel and Best First....
Best Novel
Swan for the Money, Donna Andrews, St. Martin’s Minotaur
Bookplate Special, Lorna Barrett, Berkley Prime Crime
Royal Flush, Rhys Bowen, Berkley Prime Crime
A Brutal Telling, Louise Penny, Minotaur Books
Air Time, Hank Phillippi Ryan, MIRA
Best First Novel
For Better For Murder, Lisa Bork, Midnight Ink
The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, Alan Bradley, Delacorte Press
Posed for Murder, Meredith Cole, St. Martin’s Minotaur
The Cold Light of Mourning, Elizabeth Duncan, St. Martin’s Press
In the Shadow of Gotham, Stefanie Pintoff, Minotaur Books
Congratulations to all the nominees. It is VERY exciting. The Agatha's are given out at the Saturday night banquet at Malice Domestic - a mystery readers and writer's conference in Washington at the beginning of May.
It's fun because emails to and from the other nominees have been flying - congratulating each other. Feels so good to be part of community where people are genuinely pleased for the other. We each, of course, want to win...but we'd also be happy for whoever does. Great feeling.
speak to you tomorrow!
Tuesday, 24 November 2009
Chez Louise
Partly cloudy, very mild, temps 13
Freakishly mild...quite disconcerting. Though I'm hoping real winter holds off until after our travels next week. heading to Arizona for a day - flying out Monday...then on to Rochester, and flying back Friday. Going out of Burlington, Vermont...so hoping for good weather. But, we get what we get.
Went for breakfast to Cowansville, then to the bank...some banking business, including having to get a new bank card, since mine was stolen in London. From there we went to the office that arranges for driver's licences and the Quebec Health Card. We were a little afraid they'd say we have to go to Montreal for something as unusual as having the cards stolen, but they didn't. Couldn't have been easier! So now almost all the cards, and definitely the important ones, are looked after.
Read 140 pages of a manuscript someone sent...in front of the fireplace. Returned emails. Had a bath.
Oh, the dinner last night was terrific. All edible. No one vomited. As you see, the standards at Chez Louise are not exactly Micheline starred...but they suit us.
We're debating cars. Our friend drives a subaru, and a couple people wrote in to also suggest it...but they don't have a hybrid yet, as far as I know. AWD, yes, and good fuel economy...but would still prefer a hybrid. So we'll see. fortunately we needn't make a decision quickly.
BMW - the car we're about to turn in after 3 years - is not to our taste. It was a kind of dream of ours - see what a real luxury car felt like. And I have to say, the drive was wonderful. But the on-board computer took 2 people to operate - was very unwieldy...read reviews and many people complain about it. Needlessly complex. But mostly, it was the service that disappointed. As you might have gathered, we're big ones for good service. Willing to (and have)overlooked many flaws if people are considerate and kind. But at our BMW the service was horrendous. Apparently they're quite famous for bad service too. Acura, our former car maker, was fabulous, so perhaps our expectations were high.
So the plan now is to get rid of both cars, and simplify. Go for one nice vehicle that is kind and courteous to the environment.
Quiet day tomorrow!!! No one and nothing, except reading. Hoping to finish the manuscript tomorrow...and start in on the final polish of my own before sending it off - I hope before heading to Phoenix. Also need to write the December newsletter. And the article for the Globe.
Still, best to just do the one thing in front of me, and not worry about all the others.
Hope you're well - I imagine many of you are preparing for Thanksgiving! How fun that always sounds...great food, family, football games (Michael and I actually adore football - he'll often watch a game Sunday afternoon/evening).
Freakishly mild...quite disconcerting. Though I'm hoping real winter holds off until after our travels next week. heading to Arizona for a day - flying out Monday...then on to Rochester, and flying back Friday. Going out of Burlington, Vermont...so hoping for good weather. But, we get what we get.
Went for breakfast to Cowansville, then to the bank...some banking business, including having to get a new bank card, since mine was stolen in London. From there we went to the office that arranges for driver's licences and the Quebec Health Card. We were a little afraid they'd say we have to go to Montreal for something as unusual as having the cards stolen, but they didn't. Couldn't have been easier! So now almost all the cards, and definitely the important ones, are looked after.
Read 140 pages of a manuscript someone sent...in front of the fireplace. Returned emails. Had a bath.
Oh, the dinner last night was terrific. All edible. No one vomited. As you see, the standards at Chez Louise are not exactly Micheline starred...but they suit us.
We're debating cars. Our friend drives a subaru, and a couple people wrote in to also suggest it...but they don't have a hybrid yet, as far as I know. AWD, yes, and good fuel economy...but would still prefer a hybrid. So we'll see. fortunately we needn't make a decision quickly.
BMW - the car we're about to turn in after 3 years - is not to our taste. It was a kind of dream of ours - see what a real luxury car felt like. And I have to say, the drive was wonderful. But the on-board computer took 2 people to operate - was very unwieldy...read reviews and many people complain about it. Needlessly complex. But mostly, it was the service that disappointed. As you might have gathered, we're big ones for good service. Willing to (and have)overlooked many flaws if people are considerate and kind. But at our BMW the service was horrendous. Apparently they're quite famous for bad service too. Acura, our former car maker, was fabulous, so perhaps our expectations were high.
So the plan now is to get rid of both cars, and simplify. Go for one nice vehicle that is kind and courteous to the environment.
Quiet day tomorrow!!! No one and nothing, except reading. Hoping to finish the manuscript tomorrow...and start in on the final polish of my own before sending it off - I hope before heading to Phoenix. Also need to write the December newsletter. And the article for the Globe.
Still, best to just do the one thing in front of me, and not worry about all the others.
Hope you're well - I imagine many of you are preparing for Thanksgiving! How fun that always sounds...great food, family, football games (Michael and I actually adore football - he'll often watch a game Sunday afternoon/evening).
Sunday, 22 November 2009
Home home
mainly sunny, mild, temps 4
We're home, in Sutton...and wow this really feels great. Like stripping away layers and finally finding ourselves here. Spent much of the day in front of the fireplace, writing 'thank you' letters, opening mail, reading manuscripts. Trying to get through the mountain of stuff that collects. But here it sure does not feel like work.
Spent an hour in the bath. I adore baths, as you know...and that was one of the few things I really miss while traveling...a huge, comfortable bathtub. Most are way too small for me to use.
What bliss. A bath. And before that the fireplace, with Michael, and Trudy, surrounded by books...pond walks...cafe au laits in our Vive Gamache mugs. And everything smells of home.
Joy.
I'm such a homebody. I actually quite like traveling...but I sure love coming home.
Quiet day tomorrow...more catching up. Want to write the newsletter. Read more books people have sent me. I've been asked to write a Christmas article for the Globe and Mail. Always fun to do that, but a bit of work. Need to start thinking about it.
Oh - we had a fun event at the pointe Claire library yesterday afternoon. Saw Mari there...she follows the blog and is a wonderful supporter of the Gamache books. And others. Michael Blair and Mary Jane Maffini - two wonderful Canadian crime writers - were also on the panel. It was organized by Pat Flewwelling for the Crime Writers of Canada.
Oh, and M ichael had his H1N1 shot yesterday. In Canada they've got enough vaccine now to cover at risk groups and people over 65...they just added that last group as more shots arrive. Didn't take long...there's a clinic set up in a nearby mall in Montreal. Took about an hour start to finish. A relief to have him covered.
We have a friend staying in the guest cottage and he's coming over for dinner tomorrow night. I warned him I'm not the best cook, and also that Trudy has, in the past, thrown up on guests. He might want to eat before he comes, and wear something rubber.
He explained his mother used to serve them peanut butter and liver sandwiches, so he figures he can handle whatever I, or Trudy, might throw at him.
We'll see...
Speak to you tomorrow.
We're home, in Sutton...and wow this really feels great. Like stripping away layers and finally finding ourselves here. Spent much of the day in front of the fireplace, writing 'thank you' letters, opening mail, reading manuscripts. Trying to get through the mountain of stuff that collects. But here it sure does not feel like work.
Spent an hour in the bath. I adore baths, as you know...and that was one of the few things I really miss while traveling...a huge, comfortable bathtub. Most are way too small for me to use.
What bliss. A bath. And before that the fireplace, with Michael, and Trudy, surrounded by books...pond walks...cafe au laits in our Vive Gamache mugs. And everything smells of home.
Joy.
I'm such a homebody. I actually quite like traveling...but I sure love coming home.
Quiet day tomorrow...more catching up. Want to write the newsletter. Read more books people have sent me. I've been asked to write a Christmas article for the Globe and Mail. Always fun to do that, but a bit of work. Need to start thinking about it.
Oh - we had a fun event at the pointe Claire library yesterday afternoon. Saw Mari there...she follows the blog and is a wonderful supporter of the Gamache books. And others. Michael Blair and Mary Jane Maffini - two wonderful Canadian crime writers - were also on the panel. It was organized by Pat Flewwelling for the Crime Writers of Canada.
Oh, and M ichael had his H1N1 shot yesterday. In Canada they've got enough vaccine now to cover at risk groups and people over 65...they just added that last group as more shots arrive. Didn't take long...there's a clinic set up in a nearby mall in Montreal. Took about an hour start to finish. A relief to have him covered.
We have a friend staying in the guest cottage and he's coming over for dinner tomorrow night. I warned him I'm not the best cook, and also that Trudy has, in the past, thrown up on guests. He might want to eat before he comes, and wear something rubber.
He explained his mother used to serve them peanut butter and liver sandwiches, so he figures he can handle whatever I, or Trudy, might throw at him.
We'll see...
Speak to you tomorrow.
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.
Wednesday, 6 August 2008
The stem man felt the house
rain, heavy rain, torrential rain. temps 20
Well, we're building an ark. Sadly for mankind I'm menopausal so that's it for the species.
Cannot believe the amount of rain. Still, have to say, while I'd prefer a hot and sunny summer I don't think I'm one of those people severely affected by the weather. Perhaps because I spend so much time in the bath anyway, this is just another variety of wet.
yesterday - miracle alert! - was actually not rainy. perfect for the MORE Magazine photo shoot. the 4 of them arrived about 10am and left at 4pm - having done 3 set ups. One on the island in the pond, by a set of iron gates we have there, another in the living room, by my laptop (the requisite author-at-work) and for the last - my favorite by far - they took out a big, comfortable, oversized armchair, a rug, a stack of books, and plunked them all in the garden by a dry stone wall. So I sat there, holding a book, and looking as though this was how we normally live. With living room furniture littered about the garden. it was very fun and playful and I felt most comfortable. In the others, despite the friendliness of the photographic team, I felt like a waxwork statue.
But it was fun to be fussed over (as opposed to the normal, oppressive life I lead). A woman did my hair and make up, then a guy did 'wardrobe' - all Armani! At one stage I had my arm slung rakishly over the back of a bent twig chair on the island and the stylist whispered to me to try not to rub the arm of the jacket. later, when I took it off, I noticed the price tag. 3,875 dollars. Dear God, some madman entrusted me with probably 10,000 dollars worth of clothing. Clearly they haven't read the blog, and had no idea until that moment I was a woman more at home with duck poop and rubber boots than designer labels. Still, there were no mishaps.
But it was exhausting. No stops for lunch - though dear Michael ran into town to pick up great sandwiches from the bakery. And it really is work. 'Please move your little finger', 'please unclench your left hand' 'please smile' 'please don't smile'...look moody...look thoughtful. Look natural.
I've long thought those hollywood types were unbelievably spoiled. All they do all day is swan around having their photos taken for Vanity Fair etc, or going on tour to promote their latest film. Well, let me tell you - it really is exhausting.
Not, it must be admitted, nearly as exhausting as almost any other job in the world - but way more tiring and way harder than it appears. But I'm not really a natural at this sort of thing. Quite stressful for me, and stress for that long takes it out of you.
Today I edited for much of the day, had a bath, Susan came over and we watched Phil and kirsty do Location, Location, Location, then we went off to get the organic vegetable from the farm. Susan cooked us a fabulous dinner at the guest cottage - and now we're home.
We've decided that I should go to the Wolfe Island literary festival on my own this weekend and Michael should stay home and watch the dogs. Poor guy gets dragged all over the place and we're both a little weary, so this will be a nice, quiet time for him.
We finished doing the proofs for the US version of book 4 today. A RULE AGAINST MURDER. Shocking, really, how many typos we're still finding. In one sentence 'a stern face' became 'a stem face'. In another 'he left the house' became ' he felt the house'. I wonder if a dyslexic is doing the type-setting. Hope not. Though there is a certain poetic quality about it.
Off to bed. Sleep well.
Well, we're building an ark. Sadly for mankind I'm menopausal so that's it for the species.
Cannot believe the amount of rain. Still, have to say, while I'd prefer a hot and sunny summer I don't think I'm one of those people severely affected by the weather. Perhaps because I spend so much time in the bath anyway, this is just another variety of wet.
yesterday - miracle alert! - was actually not rainy. perfect for the MORE Magazine photo shoot. the 4 of them arrived about 10am and left at 4pm - having done 3 set ups. One on the island in the pond, by a set of iron gates we have there, another in the living room, by my laptop (the requisite author-at-work) and for the last - my favorite by far - they took out a big, comfortable, oversized armchair, a rug, a stack of books, and plunked them all in the garden by a dry stone wall. So I sat there, holding a book, and looking as though this was how we normally live. With living room furniture littered about the garden. it was very fun and playful and I felt most comfortable. In the others, despite the friendliness of the photographic team, I felt like a waxwork statue.
But it was fun to be fussed over (as opposed to the normal, oppressive life I lead). A woman did my hair and make up, then a guy did 'wardrobe' - all Armani! At one stage I had my arm slung rakishly over the back of a bent twig chair on the island and the stylist whispered to me to try not to rub the arm of the jacket. later, when I took it off, I noticed the price tag. 3,875 dollars. Dear God, some madman entrusted me with probably 10,000 dollars worth of clothing. Clearly they haven't read the blog, and had no idea until that moment I was a woman more at home with duck poop and rubber boots than designer labels. Still, there were no mishaps.
But it was exhausting. No stops for lunch - though dear Michael ran into town to pick up great sandwiches from the bakery. And it really is work. 'Please move your little finger', 'please unclench your left hand' 'please smile' 'please don't smile'...look moody...look thoughtful. Look natural.
I've long thought those hollywood types were unbelievably spoiled. All they do all day is swan around having their photos taken for Vanity Fair etc, or going on tour to promote their latest film. Well, let me tell you - it really is exhausting.
Not, it must be admitted, nearly as exhausting as almost any other job in the world - but way more tiring and way harder than it appears. But I'm not really a natural at this sort of thing. Quite stressful for me, and stress for that long takes it out of you.
Today I edited for much of the day, had a bath, Susan came over and we watched Phil and kirsty do Location, Location, Location, then we went off to get the organic vegetable from the farm. Susan cooked us a fabulous dinner at the guest cottage - and now we're home.
We've decided that I should go to the Wolfe Island literary festival on my own this weekend and Michael should stay home and watch the dogs. Poor guy gets dragged all over the place and we're both a little weary, so this will be a nice, quiet time for him.
We finished doing the proofs for the US version of book 4 today. A RULE AGAINST MURDER. Shocking, really, how many typos we're still finding. In one sentence 'a stern face' became 'a stem face'. In another 'he left the house' became ' he felt the house'. I wonder if a dyslexic is doing the type-setting. Hope not. Though there is a certain poetic quality about it.
Off to bed. Sleep well.
Friday, 15 February 2008
Better be tasty, it's a long way for dinner!
light snow, sun struggling through, breezy, highs minus 5
Had a lovely day yesterday. Peaceful, quiet. Went to the village briefly because Michael's computer at the office wouldn't stop sending this one email to McGill University. They wrote to say, 'Yes, they understood his request. He could stop sending it now.' Amazingly polite. So we shut down his computer.
We're not going in to the office a lot these days. Michael would, but I'm really enjoying writing this book at home. Each book is so different - like kids I guess. Just when you figure you have them figured out, along comes another one with totally different demands.
Still Life I wrote at my leisure at home, in fields, by lakes as I followed Michael and his eisel around. Took a few years.
A Fatal Grace/Dead Cold I wrote in the living room, and was so stressed I developed an antipathy to the room. I'm a homebody, so that was a sadness for me.
The Cruelest Month we decided to rent this magnificent loft space in the village. It's a former feed store, and we're upstairs with this huge, curved, vaulting roof. Stunning. We love it. Wrote in the morning, had lunch in the village, saw people. Felt so right and so free.
The fourth book was also written there, with great joy. But we also needed to travel, so it was also written on the laptop in the tiny fishing village of Newlyn, Cornwall, in a flat in Knightsbridge, London, in Seattle, in Vancouver. I learned writing book 4 that I actually could write anywhere. There was nothing particularly magic about the place. A great relief and freedom.
This book, for some reason, I really want to write back at home. In front of the fireplace. Cozy, comfortable, familiar. And the book is simply pouring out. Maybe it's also a bit like pregnancies (says she who has never been pregnant). Different cravings. With this book I crave home. But I know if I had to I could happily write it on a barge. Phew.
One of the unexpected gifts of being published is old friends reappear. That happened a few months ago when I got an email from Ian Crysler. A man I was a Lawrence Park Collegiate with (high school). He's a photographer now. And he's married to one of the most successful children's authors in Canada!!! Barbara Reid, who I also went to school with. She does amazing illustrations using plasticine to give them that three dimensional effect. Her works are simply stunning and if we had more than puppies I'd be buying boatloads.
They live in Toronto and we met up when I was there doing an event just before Christmas and invited them down here. Our local Brome lake books has a special Barbara Reid section, she's that popular and good. So they arrive today - an 8 hour drive from Toronto, poor ones. Staying in the guest cottage next door and coming for an easy dinner tonight.
I invited Lucy and Danny, the owners of the bookstore for dinner too. Lucy's coming but Danny's staring in the local Brome Lake Players amateur theatre production.
We'll have salmon, roast vegetables and rice. Fresh baguette, salad and ending with a Tarte Tatin and English cream. Not a NutriSystem pack in sight!
But first, writing by the fire. What a life.
Had a lovely day yesterday. Peaceful, quiet. Went to the village briefly because Michael's computer at the office wouldn't stop sending this one email to McGill University. They wrote to say, 'Yes, they understood his request. He could stop sending it now.' Amazingly polite. So we shut down his computer.
We're not going in to the office a lot these days. Michael would, but I'm really enjoying writing this book at home. Each book is so different - like kids I guess. Just when you figure you have them figured out, along comes another one with totally different demands.
Still Life I wrote at my leisure at home, in fields, by lakes as I followed Michael and his eisel around. Took a few years.
A Fatal Grace/Dead Cold I wrote in the living room, and was so stressed I developed an antipathy to the room. I'm a homebody, so that was a sadness for me.
The Cruelest Month we decided to rent this magnificent loft space in the village. It's a former feed store, and we're upstairs with this huge, curved, vaulting roof. Stunning. We love it. Wrote in the morning, had lunch in the village, saw people. Felt so right and so free.
The fourth book was also written there, with great joy. But we also needed to travel, so it was also written on the laptop in the tiny fishing village of Newlyn, Cornwall, in a flat in Knightsbridge, London, in Seattle, in Vancouver. I learned writing book 4 that I actually could write anywhere. There was nothing particularly magic about the place. A great relief and freedom.
This book, for some reason, I really want to write back at home. In front of the fireplace. Cozy, comfortable, familiar. And the book is simply pouring out. Maybe it's also a bit like pregnancies (says she who has never been pregnant). Different cravings. With this book I crave home. But I know if I had to I could happily write it on a barge. Phew.
One of the unexpected gifts of being published is old friends reappear. That happened a few months ago when I got an email from Ian Crysler. A man I was a Lawrence Park Collegiate with (high school). He's a photographer now. And he's married to one of the most successful children's authors in Canada!!! Barbara Reid, who I also went to school with. She does amazing illustrations using plasticine to give them that three dimensional effect. Her works are simply stunning and if we had more than puppies I'd be buying boatloads.
They live in Toronto and we met up when I was there doing an event just before Christmas and invited them down here. Our local Brome lake books has a special Barbara Reid section, she's that popular and good. So they arrive today - an 8 hour drive from Toronto, poor ones. Staying in the guest cottage next door and coming for an easy dinner tonight.
I invited Lucy and Danny, the owners of the bookstore for dinner too. Lucy's coming but Danny's staring in the local Brome Lake Players amateur theatre production.
We'll have salmon, roast vegetables and rice. Fresh baguette, salad and ending with a Tarte Tatin and English cream. Not a NutriSystem pack in sight!
But first, writing by the fire. What a life.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)