the quiet before the storm

windy, rainy day - temps 24

Five days to the official World Launch of A TRICK OF THE LIGHT!!!

Pre-launch party this Saturday at Brome Lake Books in Knowlton. the book won't be on sale or on the shelves, but if you buy a ticket to the party (which starts at 2pm) then you get a copy of the book on Saturday. And I'll be very happy to sign it! then, in toronto on Monday at 6pm, I'll be at the new location for Sleuth of Baker Street for another pre-launch party.

But the official - books on the shelves - launch is in Concord, New Hampshire at Gibson's Bookstore. 7pm. I might have mentioned this before (and might again!)

We're watching Hurricane Irene, as are most people along the East Coast. If you're in the area, I hope you're safe. Unbelievable winds. I was slightly nervous that I'd have difficulty flying from Toronto to Boston on Tuesday because of Irene - but seems it will hit Sunday/Monday in that area. so while I'm somewhat relieved for the tour schedule, I continue concerned for those people and communities in the path.

Closer to home, we're in the last two days of rest before the tour - and enjoying every minute.

we're in the cottage now - and loving it!! Feels like a real vacation. so now the main house is ready for the renovations. Really more reparation....but it means kitchen disappears. and so do we. Lise, Donna and Deanna came on Tuesday and packed up. tony helped move furniture. Del and his guys were also there, removing three trees. Then Wayne showed up to cut the grass.

It would have been bedlam - except we all knew what we had to do and did it. It turned out to be hugely fun. Who'd have thought it? Honestly, thank God for Lise and Donna and Deanna.

Sent untold numbers of boxes to the church for their sale...to be honest, I'm not certain which church, but if there's one called Our Lady of Bad Taste, then that's where the stuff ended up. Amazing the things we found at the back of cupboards. And then to have Lise or Donna pull it out and hold it up. I insisted the worst of the stuff were gifts - but I think they knew better.

By four that afternoon Michael and Trudy and I were in the cottage next door. It was like sneaking away and finding a bit of peace and quiet. As I said, like a vacation. We sat on the balcony, had a ginger ale, and took a photo for you. This is our new view. Hard not to relax.

This cottage has another advantage...or at least did...there was no internet. I was shocked how serene it felt. We could still get emails on the blackberry, but couldn't access the internet. Now, just before going on tour isn't really the best time to lose internet, so Michael arranged for something called the Hub from Rogers. And magically, we're back on line. But it taught me that being without internet is not one bit stressful. Just the opposite.

However, having found the high road, I am now skidding back down and happily playing in the land of Wireless.

Had friends Margaret and David over here to the cottage for dinner last night. Felt like a house-warming. Tony lit the fire for us (I was afraid squirrels or birds might have made a nest in the chimney, but it was all clear) - had mushroom soup, confit de canard, wild rice, and banana cream pie. Yummy.

Hoping to have a couple of quiet days - then off on book tour. Hoping to see you. It's a very exciting, but enervating, period in my life. Just before the new book comes out. Life is filled with potential. Anything can happen with the book. I'm free to dream. Imagine all sorts of wild successes. Fabulous reviews. Wonderful events. To imagine your reaction.

But my fears can also slip out and grow.

Mostly though I'm just very excited A Trick of the Light is almost in your hands. I sure hope you like it. Between us? I think you might.

Literary and Historical Society

overcast, some rain, cool - temps 6

Definitely cool today - that damp cold where all you want to do is soak in a big ole bubble bath. Well, that's all I want to do.

Let me tell you about yesterday. It was wonderful! A fabulous launch for Bury Your Dead - thanks to Jacquie Czernin of CBC Radio, Peter Black her producer and a member of the board of the Lit and His. Valerie, Simon, David - all of the Literary and Historical Society. Indeed, so many people helped.

And so many people came! From Kingston, Toronto, New York, Montreal - and Quebec. The old library was packed!

My Assistant Lise and her husband Del brought Vive Gamache mugs, some Three Pines birthday calendar, and some special edition wines - with Bury Your Dead labels! From a local Townships vineyard called Domain Bresee.

I've put up a few photos on the blog....I realize too that in yesterday's blog I talked about Michael standing outside the Chateau Frontenac - and I thought I got it onto the blog - but then noticed it disappeared into the ether. Must be attached to some unsuspecting soul's blog. Hope it doesn't get her into trouble!

So these are assorted photos - mostly of Jacquie and me (I'm in the black and white checked jacket - almost always in a blur) - Jacquie's the lovely woman all in black. In one photo Jacquie's interviewing a man - that's William Moss, the Chief Archeologist of Quebec. (the real one). In the background you can see the producer of the show, Peter.

It is all a bit of a blur...which might explain why I'm so blurry in the photos. But what I remember is having huge fun, being in awe yet again of jacquie and peter and Rachelle and everyone involved in the show. And the kindness and welcome of the people of the Literary and Historical Society. And everyone there.

A huge thanks too to Guy Dubois - the owner of the bookstore, La Maison Anglaise. He's had me in to do signings from the very beginning, when no one else cared if I had a book out. So appreciate that.

It feels wonderful to have been there, and celebrated the book in the exact place where the murder happened. And celebrated Quebec City.

What a spectacular place. Did I tell you after being woken up at 6:50 by construction the Chateau Frontenac moved us? Into - get this - one of the best rooms in the place! It was huge, with a fireplace and a turret. I'm not kidding. Wish I'd taken a picture of that. We could see over all of Quebec City and to the hills beyond. At night many of the buildings in the old city are lit up, and there's a light show over old city hall - rotating colours. Very beautiful. From the turret windows the city looks like a prism or sparkling gems.

We staggered back to the hotel about 9pm - ordered burgers and sat exhausted, wolfing the food down. We were invited out to dinner by David and Louisa Blair - both deeply involved in the Morrin Centre - but were frankly too tired.

After the broadcast there was a 2 hour cocktail party organized by Hachette Canada (my publisher - thanks to Donna Nopper) and the Morrin Centre. jacquie said a few words, Simon Jacobs said a few words, David Blair said a few words. I read a bit from the book. Then we partied!

I wish the photos were a bit better. CBC took lots but for some reason theirs didn't turn out either. Thank heaven Michael was taking pictures.

And now we're back in Montreal. Recovering! Rented a bunch of movies. Bought People Magazine. Have huge bowls of chinese soup for dinner.

Tomorrow I have a noon interview with Sharman Yarnell at CJAD - then Michael and I are taking Sharman and her wonderful husband Walter out for lunch. Then home to veg.

What a life. A whirlwind. And so pleased to be whirling around with you. Thanks for the company.

Oh - I keep meaning to say - I know the library in Quebec City where Bury Your Dead is set as the Literary and Historical Society (the Lit and His for short)....but the fact is, it's official name is the Morrin Centre...actually the building is called the Morrin Centre, of which the Lit and His is part. I mention this in case anyone is trying to find it on a visit to Quebec.

I hope you do get a chance to visit the library - the photos don't do it justice.

The Scene of the Crime

mainly sunny, mild, 13

Do you notice how our perception and definition of 'mild' is shifting? In a month 'mild' will be minus 5. Today, though, it's mild at 13. yesterday, when we arrived in QC, it was about 16 and a pastel day. An Impressionist day. Glorious. Soft light, soft, still air. Michael and I checked into the Chateau, into a room looking over the St. Lawrence river and even the statue of Champlain (seen in the BG of the photo a above - I mention this statue in Bury Your Dead) - then went for a walk.

We both commented on how different it is to walk through the old city when it is a gorgeous autumn day than when the wind is howling and nesting in our marrow and it's not at all 'mild' at minus 20. Brrrr.

But yesterday was picture perfect. We strolled and chatted and visited old haunts - like Chez Temporel...which I also mention in Bury Your Dead. Gamache and Emile go there for breakfast. We once again had the table with the three leaf clover scored into it, and a dimple where we rub the tip of our fingers. Hard not to. So inviting. Michael had a bowl of hot chocolate, I had a double strength bowl of cafe au lait. We both had a warm croissant aux amandes. Yummy.

the photo above is me looking slightly impatient (Michael knows this look...it's impatience tinged with the promise of croissant but feet away.) just outside Chez Temporel. It's well off the beaten path, down a small street off rue St-Jean.

From there we returned to the Chateau Frontenac....the other photo above is Michael at the foot of the park leading to the Chateau...and the bar St-Laurent. There we met My Assistant Lise and her husband Del for drinks before dinner. Then we all walked back down, through the old city, past the basillica and the tiny old streets, to rue St-Jean and the restaurant - Les Freres de la Cote. Very relaxed bistro.

Then home to bed...to be woken up at 6:50 by a construction crane right outside our room!!! Ugh. I called down and they agreed this might not be the best experience. So now they've moved our room. Not sure where - and don't really care....as long as it's quiet.

The only unfortunate thing is that they're doing major excavation work on the famed Dufferine Terrace that runs the length of the chateau on the river side. Wide and gracious, it's a magnificent place to walk and enjoy the views. But they found the original fortress hidden below the terrasse! Imagine that. So the archeologists are digging. Waited for the low season (and before the grip of winter) to dig...which means, now.

Still, it's fascinating to look down into it and see the stone walls emerging.

Busy day. Have a 10:30 interview with an academic who flew in from Halifax to speak with me for her research into Canadian literature. Then a 12:30 french interview. Then meeting Donna who is arriving from Toronto today, and Lise, at the Literary and Historical Society to go over plans for tonight. Then meeting Jacquie, the host of the CBC Radio show Breakaway....they'll be broadcasting live from the launch from 4 to 6. So we need to go over the scripts and interviews and music etc. Jacquie is doing all the work, but she's kind enough to include me in some of the planning.

Then I hope to have time to scoot back to the chateau to change - otherwise I'll be at the broadcast and launch in jeans and a turtleneck.

The broadcast is from 4 to 6, at the Morrin Centre - the lit and his building in Old Quebec. Everyone is welcome!!! Then the cocktail party to celebrate Bury Your Dead at the place the 'murder' happens. You're all invited to that too....either in person or 'virtually'. I'll blog about it tomorrow.

We're driving back to Montreal tomorrow. Have an interview on CJAD with the fantastic Sharman Yarnell tomorrow between noon and 1pm.

Then sleep for two days before the next event in North Conway, New Hampshire.

Hope to see you tonight - and if not, I'll tell you all about it later!

THE BRUTAL TELLING is launched!!!

overcast, mild, temps 22

It's launch day - and the most exciting of my career! As I said yesterday, the largest bookseller in the world, Barnes and Noble, has made THE BRUTAL TELLING their main selection.

I feel so giddy I'm almost sick. But in a good way. Good nausea. Like morning sickness. I guess. As you see, my mind has also been affected.

What a thrilling day - and THE BRUTAL TELLING is now on sale across the US!!!

I sure hope you like it.

And I really want to thank you all for finding the series before anyone else knew about it. And sticking with me. And telling others. How lucky I am. I happy I am!!!

And, Lesa Holstein, a wonderful book blogger from Arizona has a terrific review of THE BRUTAL TELLING. Here site is called Lesa's Book Critique. Here's an excerpt...

How do I describe the latest Chief Inspector Armand Gamache novel? Penny rips you apart, and then patches you up with poetry and Gamache's kindness....Clara, the artist who serves as the conscience of the village says, "Every Quebec village has a vocation. Some make cheese, some wine, some pots. We produce bodies." But, where did the body come from? Gamache knows there are secrets hidden, and lies told by some of his old friends....deep in the heart of the forest surrounding Three Pines, Gamache discovers contradictions - the horrifying cruelty man is capable of, along with beauty and peace....It's autumn in Three Pines in The Brutal Telling, a time of beauty, change, and death. Those elements merge to make this the most powerful book yet in the Chief Inspector Gamache series.


What a beautiful review from Lesa Holstein!

And what a dream of a day!!! Honestly, I wish I could describe how exciting today has been. I spent most of it responding to emails - wonderful, exhilerating messages. And speaking to the publisher in New York...Minotaur Books. Fabulous publisher. As a gift celebrating the launch, and the B&N Main Selection, they sent a framed photo of a huge ad that will soon appear. I won't say where...perhaps you'll see it.

How lucky am I?

And then, tonight, my brother Doug arrives at the hotel holding a big box, very carefully. I felt for sure it must be something alive. Gerbils, perhaps. The little known tradition of giving gerbils as a launch gift. Thank God Minotaur hasn't yet heard of it.

fortunately it turned out to be a cake! Michael had contacted Doug and asked if he could arrange to have a cake with the cover image of the book on it. this, of course, fell to Doug's ex-wife but great friend Mary, to track someone down.

they did...and it looks great. Will try to get it up on the website at some point.

Then we all went out to a nearby Indian restaurant for dinner...then back to the hotel room for cafe au lait and to devour THE BRUTAL TELLING. As I hope you soon will!

Then, at 8:30, I had a conference call with a wonderful, lively, smart book club in the american midwest. Springfield. Great questions. And a great way for me to cap off this celebratory day!

And now my latest child is free. I've done all I can. Let's see how she does.