Knowlton Literary Festival

partly cloudy, extremely mild, temps 9

A good day at work. As I wrote the scenes it became clear what some of the themes of the book are - and how the actions and reactions of various characters are inter-related. This might sound odd, but it came as a surprise to me. When i started the book I knew the main actions...who died, who did it, why. Some of the major branches. And some roots. But how they intertwine, and some of the other themes come as a happy surprise. I basically just let the characters talk, and their natural reactions lead me to a deeper and deeper understanding. Of them, of the book.

It's a fascinating process. Both like painting a portrait - done in broad strokes at first, then more and more detail...and like digging a well...staying on one theme and going deeper and deeper.

What always surprises me is that so much is a surprise. But it also makes writing the books such fun. I'm hoping when you read them you're constantly surprised...cause God knows, I am writing when them.

Not sleeping so well these days. Never do when writing. or editing. Odd really, because I don't feel really, really stressed. I sometimes do, when writing...I've certainly been far more stressed writing. But so far so good with this one. But when I go to sleep it's hard to turn the brain off. To stop thinking. So I wake up about 3am...not worrying, thank heaven - but just sort of restless.

And then, like Maria in sound of Music, I think of happy things. or was that Mary Poppins? Either way, julie Andrews is my sleep mentor.

As I say, I finished writing early today, then Michael and I went off to Knowlton. I needed to meet with Danny at the bookstore - sign some books - talk about the upcoming Knowlton Literary Festival...the weekend of July 18th. The first one. Very exciting. If you're in the area - or can be - you'd love it. Knowlton is a VERY pretty village. And you'll get to meet Danny and Lucy. And me.

Phoned the Mounts to see if they'd like to meet us for lunch in Knowlton, but they were out. But met our friend Jack and his 93 year old mother, and joined them for lunch.

Jack told a funny story about his mother's last dog, who was a shih tzu. Apparently they had difficulty telling its front from it's back. Made all the harder since the dog had a habit of kneeling down, with his head on the floor and bottom up.

Heading off now to watch BBC World News. Thank you for all your kind words to the Mounts. We're having dinner with them tomorrow and I will pass them all on.

You're very kind.

Hester remembers what's important

Rain, windy, high 8 degrees celcius, power out in the middle of the night, but back on now

When you live in the middle of nowhere and the power goes out it can be very romantic. Or not. Depends, really, on your idea of romance. No power means no water. No water means - well, you figure it out. Happily it's back on now.

It's a dreadful day - grey with rain slashing sideways. Even the dogs didn't want to stay out. It's the sort of day when the cold gets into the bones and nests there. The sort of day to go to Cowansville for a pancake breakfast!

We're off to Cowansville, to an old railway station that's now a restaurant called - The Station. Or Le Station. Works both in French and English. And then a bunch of chores. Brainless, but harmless too. I love breakfasts out, so this a treat.

Spoke to the Canadian Club of the Yamaska Valley at lunch yesterday. Wonderful group - a sea of smiling faces and poppies. Very moving to be in a room of people who, for the most part, don't need a poppy to remember. My poppy had fallen off (second on this season) and I explained when I started my speech that I actually had had one when I'd left home - but it had been repulsed from my body. I think they're designed to do that. Either fly off the clothes or simply dissolve. At the end of my talk an elderly man came up and offered me his worn poppy, with a tiny Canadian flag in the centre. I kissed him and thanked him, for more than the poppy, and accepted it. With gratitude.

I'd been warned before the speech not to take it personally if many in the audience fell asleep. Now, this is a new one on me. Generally if there's a danger people will fall asleep they just stay home. But this crowd is made of sterner stuff and ventures out even if the speaker might prove lethal.

I'm happy to report that as far as I know only one person fell asleep (and it wasn't Michael). There were two women in the very front row. One spent my talk nodding off and the other spent my talk jabbing her. My entire speech was punctuated by, 'Hester!' Snort. 'Hester!' Snort.

I found it very entertaining.

Have fun - we'll talk tomorrow.