overcast, mild, temps minus 3
Lovely spring-like day.
Had a message from Lise (My Assistant Lise, who is also head of Research and Development for our military-industrial complex) - she's read the blog. Honestly, this blog is getting me into trouble! She wrote an email subject line: Thanks A Lot!
hmmm. I sensed sarcasm.
then she went on to explain that since she not only is president of R&D and My Assistant Lise, she is also our gardener, she will almost certainly be the one dealing with Monsieur ou Madame Bat in the spring, which when last seen had been chucked into the shed. The garden shed.
Ooops
Now, her assistant, Donna, is a profoundly courageous woman when it comes to emotions and doing what is right. But a profound chicken when it comes to anything with a heartbeat other than herself. This isn't a problem when dealing with roses and tulips and dirt. But it is a problem when dealing with snakes (which our garden grows), mice, spiders, and perhaps no surprise, bats.
Donna also reads this blog.
I can see that the problem is not the bat, it is the blog. And reading it.
Hoping to finish the mass market proofs today, send off the changes, and write the February Newsletter. If you receive it you know I launched a contest...asking people to send me their favorite quotes. I've been happily deluged. I adore quotes and this is riches beyond my dreams.
It was always going to be hard choosing the 'winner' - but now I think I will choose one that also speaks to what is happening in Haiti...the grief and the courage - and the generosity.
So I'll be sitting safe and warm and content in front of the fire, reading this wonderful quotes, and pondering.
Quiet day. How lucky I am.
Sunday, 17 January 2010
Friday, 15 January 2010
batty after all
overcast, dull gray, mild temps freezing
I'm not sure what's worse...brilliant blue skies but minus 25, or dull, dreary skies and mild temperatures? What I do know for sure is we don't have a choice. Actually, the truth is, I'm not overly affected by the weather. I don't much care. For the most part I like it all...but I also realize I'm very lucky. Michael and I don't have to function in it, and that makes a huge difference.
Had breakfast with Cheryl and Gary, at Chez Camil in Sutton. They're just back from a week at an all-inclusive in Cuba. Sounds like they had a fun time, except...it rained and was cloudy most of the time. One day it was even cold! No surprise, I suppose, to those of you in Florida. But not much fun when this is your one big week on vacation. Gary says he checked the weather for this week and its sunny and hot! Best not to know. But I'll sometimes do that. Buy something, then compare prices at other stores, just to torture myself. passes the time.
When we got back from Montreal yesterday I laid a fire in the grate, lit it and a log rolled off to the side, so I reached for the leather gauntlets on the hearth. We use them all the time to move burning logs around in the grate. I put the gloves on, but noticed something brown, like a small glove, still lying on the hearth. I leaned close. Then quickly leaned away.
It was a bat.
Stunned...sleepy...but apparently waking up. It had fallen asleep under the big leather gloves. Thank God it hadn't fallen asleep inside the big leather gloves! I stared at it for a stunned moment, then scooped the poor thing up in the gloves, creating a small pocket between my hands for it to breath. I could feel it stirring inside. Not exactly the wake-up it was expecting, I suppose. But then, it wasn't what I was expecting either.
So there I stood in the middle of the living room wearing two massive gauntlets and holding a bat.
Michael walked into the room. Stopped. And stared.
'It's a bat,' I said.
This didn't seem to enlighten him.
'In my hands. I found him under the gloves.'
Then he understood. Now the two of us stood in the middle of the living room. One with a bat, the other without.
'We have to do something,' I finally said, walking toward the kitchen. 'Should I put him outside?'
Michael, while now in motion, still said nothing. I had, it seems, mistaken him for a bat expert.
'I'll open the door,' he finally offered. And that was helpful since without him I would still be holding the poor bat. He opened the back door and I was about to let the bat go when I realized it wouldn't last long outside. He should be hibernating now.
So we put on our boots and took the bat to our shed. It was now quite active in the palm of my hands. Michael opened the shed door a sliver and I tossed the bat in. It disappeared into the darkness as Michael slammed the door closed.
We then called Pat and Tony, then the vet, then I contacted a friend who is a biologist with a local zoo. Thankfully they all thought the shed was a great idea.
However, they aren't the ones who now have to go in there. With luck he'll hibernate again and wake up in the spring...and then...
but how'd he come to be sleeping beside the fireplace? We figure he came in on one of the logs this autumn, and woke up with the warmth when his 'home' as brought up from the basement.
This made me quite alert today when I went down to get more wood. Do we now have a bat cave downstairs?
Bats in the shed. Bats in the wood. Bats in the basement. Suspicions confirmed!
We're still, with Danny and Lucy, pursuing the possibility of a radiothon to raise money for Haiti. My God, it's almost unbearable to watch...and yet it seems too facile to look away.
I'm not sure what's worse...brilliant blue skies but minus 25, or dull, dreary skies and mild temperatures? What I do know for sure is we don't have a choice. Actually, the truth is, I'm not overly affected by the weather. I don't much care. For the most part I like it all...but I also realize I'm very lucky. Michael and I don't have to function in it, and that makes a huge difference.
Had breakfast with Cheryl and Gary, at Chez Camil in Sutton. They're just back from a week at an all-inclusive in Cuba. Sounds like they had a fun time, except...it rained and was cloudy most of the time. One day it was even cold! No surprise, I suppose, to those of you in Florida. But not much fun when this is your one big week on vacation. Gary says he checked the weather for this week and its sunny and hot! Best not to know. But I'll sometimes do that. Buy something, then compare prices at other stores, just to torture myself. passes the time.
When we got back from Montreal yesterday I laid a fire in the grate, lit it and a log rolled off to the side, so I reached for the leather gauntlets on the hearth. We use them all the time to move burning logs around in the grate. I put the gloves on, but noticed something brown, like a small glove, still lying on the hearth. I leaned close. Then quickly leaned away.
It was a bat.
Stunned...sleepy...but apparently waking up. It had fallen asleep under the big leather gloves. Thank God it hadn't fallen asleep inside the big leather gloves! I stared at it for a stunned moment, then scooped the poor thing up in the gloves, creating a small pocket between my hands for it to breath. I could feel it stirring inside. Not exactly the wake-up it was expecting, I suppose. But then, it wasn't what I was expecting either.
So there I stood in the middle of the living room wearing two massive gauntlets and holding a bat.
Michael walked into the room. Stopped. And stared.
'It's a bat,' I said.
This didn't seem to enlighten him.
'In my hands. I found him under the gloves.'
Then he understood. Now the two of us stood in the middle of the living room. One with a bat, the other without.
'We have to do something,' I finally said, walking toward the kitchen. 'Should I put him outside?'
Michael, while now in motion, still said nothing. I had, it seems, mistaken him for a bat expert.
'I'll open the door,' he finally offered. And that was helpful since without him I would still be holding the poor bat. He opened the back door and I was about to let the bat go when I realized it wouldn't last long outside. He should be hibernating now.
So we put on our boots and took the bat to our shed. It was now quite active in the palm of my hands. Michael opened the shed door a sliver and I tossed the bat in. It disappeared into the darkness as Michael slammed the door closed.
We then called Pat and Tony, then the vet, then I contacted a friend who is a biologist with a local zoo. Thankfully they all thought the shed was a great idea.
However, they aren't the ones who now have to go in there. With luck he'll hibernate again and wake up in the spring...and then...
but how'd he come to be sleeping beside the fireplace? We figure he came in on one of the logs this autumn, and woke up with the warmth when his 'home' as brought up from the basement.
This made me quite alert today when I went down to get more wood. Do we now have a bat cave downstairs?
Bats in the shed. Bats in the wood. Bats in the basement. Suspicions confirmed!
We're still, with Danny and Lucy, pursuing the possibility of a radiothon to raise money for Haiti. My God, it's almost unbearable to watch...and yet it seems too facile to look away.
I LOVE border guards - honest
freezing drizzle, mild, temps plus one
What magificent comments about Haiti. Terrible, heartbreaking situation. We saw our governor General - the honourary head of state for Canada on television. She was born and raised in Haiti. She was in the middle of giving a statement when she suddenly started crying. So many of her family and friends are missing. But it was more than that. She seemed to be weeping for a country she loves that has already suffered too much. And now this.
We've decided to (and have) donate to Medecines sans Frontieres (Docotrs without Borders) - which we belong to. And the Red Cross. The Haitian community in Montreal - which is massive, since most Haitians are French-speaking - has asked that donations be made through the Red Cross. But clearly a donation to anty reputable organization - referably with a history in Haiti - will help.
We're in Montreal - had to pop in yesterday. Michael had a tooth ache and we wanted to tend to it. Turns out it got better on its own, about five minutes after seeing the dentist. Such a nice man to fit us in quickly.
Crossed the US border the day before yesterday - to gas up and get come groceries etc at Hannaford's in Vermont. this is for the St. Lucia trip (have I mentioned it??? ha) Apparently the 90 minute drive from the airport to the resort is a bit of a rtoller-coaster and it's recommended that anyone who suffers motion sickness might want to pop a pill.
I went to our phramacist and he said he would not recommend Gravol. But said if I can get to the States I could buy Dramamine there...much better. But, for reasons I don't want to think about - it is not available in Canada.
So I went across the border to get it. Waiting at US customs the very nice officer searched the car then in handing me back my passport asked how the book tour went. I was stunned since I hadn't mentioned I was a writer and he was a guard I'd never met before. then he said, 'I like your blog. Especially the one about the border guard.'
I stared at him - mouth open. Not sure what to say or do. So I laughed nervously. Ha ha. (Dear Lord, I thought - now I'm screwed - who'd have thought this blog isn't private???) I remember writing that entry. It was after a female border guard (not the very nice, handsome and powerful one who just stopped me) decided that being a writer on book tour demanded a full investigation. It suggested a couple of things to me...which I will not repeat since I adore all border guards, especially the ones into Vermont. And at airports)... But one thing it suggested that I will mention is that telling the truth is not necessarily rewarded or valued or respected - except by the very nice, handsome and powerful guard who stopped me. And all the others I might ever meet. I love you.
Came back from the US with a trunkload of legal drugs...for everything. (even declared them!) Dramamine for motion sickness, stuff for the runs, stuff for the opposite, stuff for colds, stuff for the flu. We'll be taking all those, plus a bathing suit. And a book. Seems about right. I'm not at all normally concerned about germs and getting sick. But when I'm on book tour, or holiday, I really watch out. And, as we know, you can never have (if you're a border guard, please stop reading) too many drugs.
Well, back to Sutton this morning. We're trying to decide if we should try to organize a fundraiser in the village - for Haiti. Perhaps an event at the bookstore, or a radiothon with the local community station. I'm of two minds. The forefront says most people who would respond to that have already given and given generously. And perhaps our time and effort is better served doing something more practical for the people of Haiti.
Will make some calls, but I think we will content ourselves networking with friends - and digging deep ourselves.
Be well.
What magificent comments about Haiti. Terrible, heartbreaking situation. We saw our governor General - the honourary head of state for Canada on television. She was born and raised in Haiti. She was in the middle of giving a statement when she suddenly started crying. So many of her family and friends are missing. But it was more than that. She seemed to be weeping for a country she loves that has already suffered too much. And now this.
We've decided to (and have) donate to Medecines sans Frontieres (Docotrs without Borders) - which we belong to. And the Red Cross. The Haitian community in Montreal - which is massive, since most Haitians are French-speaking - has asked that donations be made through the Red Cross. But clearly a donation to anty reputable organization - referably with a history in Haiti - will help.
We're in Montreal - had to pop in yesterday. Michael had a tooth ache and we wanted to tend to it. Turns out it got better on its own, about five minutes after seeing the dentist. Such a nice man to fit us in quickly.
Crossed the US border the day before yesterday - to gas up and get come groceries etc at Hannaford's in Vermont. this is for the St. Lucia trip (have I mentioned it??? ha) Apparently the 90 minute drive from the airport to the resort is a bit of a rtoller-coaster and it's recommended that anyone who suffers motion sickness might want to pop a pill.
I went to our phramacist and he said he would not recommend Gravol. But said if I can get to the States I could buy Dramamine there...much better. But, for reasons I don't want to think about - it is not available in Canada.
So I went across the border to get it. Waiting at US customs the very nice officer searched the car then in handing me back my passport asked how the book tour went. I was stunned since I hadn't mentioned I was a writer and he was a guard I'd never met before. then he said, 'I like your blog. Especially the one about the border guard.'
I stared at him - mouth open. Not sure what to say or do. So I laughed nervously. Ha ha. (Dear Lord, I thought - now I'm screwed - who'd have thought this blog isn't private???) I remember writing that entry. It was after a female border guard (not the very nice, handsome and powerful one who just stopped me) decided that being a writer on book tour demanded a full investigation. It suggested a couple of things to me...which I will not repeat since I adore all border guards, especially the ones into Vermont. And at airports)... But one thing it suggested that I will mention is that telling the truth is not necessarily rewarded or valued or respected - except by the very nice, handsome and powerful guard who stopped me. And all the others I might ever meet. I love you.
Came back from the US with a trunkload of legal drugs...for everything. (even declared them!) Dramamine for motion sickness, stuff for the runs, stuff for the opposite, stuff for colds, stuff for the flu. We'll be taking all those, plus a bathing suit. And a book. Seems about right. I'm not at all normally concerned about germs and getting sick. But when I'm on book tour, or holiday, I really watch out. And, as we know, you can never have (if you're a border guard, please stop reading) too many drugs.
Well, back to Sutton this morning. We're trying to decide if we should try to organize a fundraiser in the village - for Haiti. Perhaps an event at the bookstore, or a radiothon with the local community station. I'm of two minds. The forefront says most people who would respond to that have already given and given generously. And perhaps our time and effort is better served doing something more practical for the people of Haiti.
Will make some calls, but I think we will content ourselves networking with friends - and digging deep ourselves.
Be well.
Wednesday, 13 January 2010
Haiti
partly cloudy, calm, cold, temps minus 10
Poor Haiti. Dear Lord.
Here is a list, from the Canadian Press, of reputable aid organizations currently seeking cash donations for relief efforts in earthquake-ravaged Haiti. Donations can be made at the web pages or by calling the appropriate phone numbers.
Canadian Red Cross (hoping to raise at least $2 million): www.redcross.ca/helpnow, or call toll free 1-800-418-1111, visit any Red Cross office.
Humanitarian Coalition (consists of CARE Canada, Oxfam Canada, Oxfam-Quebec and Save the Children Canada): www.thehumanitariancoalition.ca.
Plan Canada: https://planCanada.ca/NetCommunity/SSLPage.aspx?pidid
Salvation Army: http://www.salvationarmy.ca, or call 1-800-725-2769.
Rogers Wireless and Bell Mobility customers can make $5 donations by texting the word "haiti" to 45678.
Donations can be mailed to Army Territorial Headquarters, Canada and Bermuda, 2 Overlea Blvd., Toronto, Ontario M4H 1P4. Donations can also be dropped off at local Salvation Army units. Specify "Haiti Earthquake Disaster Relief Fund."
Unicef Canada: https://secure.unicef.ca/portal/SmartDefault.aspx?at0&CID
United Jewish Appeal of Greater Toronto: http://www.ujadonations.com/haiti or call 416-631-5705.
World Vision Canada: https://www.worldvision.ca/give-a-gift/Pages/EarthquakeinHaiti.aspx
The Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade has also compiled a guide designed to help the public avoid scams and ensure their donations are of maximum value:
http://www.international.gc.ca/humanitarian-humanitaire/Canadians-he lp-aide-canadien.aspx
I know there are many, many organizations in your area too...
Poor Haiti. Dear Lord.
Here is a list, from the Canadian Press, of reputable aid organizations currently seeking cash donations for relief efforts in earthquake-ravaged Haiti. Donations can be made at the web pages or by calling the appropriate phone numbers.
Canadian Red Cross (hoping to raise at least $2 million): www.redcross.ca/helpnow, or call toll free 1-800-418-1111, visit any Red Cross office.
Humanitarian Coalition (consists of CARE Canada, Oxfam Canada, Oxfam-Quebec and Save the Children Canada): www.thehumanitariancoalition.ca.
Plan Canada: https://planCanada.ca/NetCommunity/SSLPage.aspx?pidid
Salvation Army: http://www.salvationarmy.ca, or call 1-800-725-2769.
Rogers Wireless and Bell Mobility customers can make $5 donations by texting the word "haiti" to 45678.
Donations can be mailed to Army Territorial Headquarters, Canada and Bermuda, 2 Overlea Blvd., Toronto, Ontario M4H 1P4. Donations can also be dropped off at local Salvation Army units. Specify "Haiti Earthquake Disaster Relief Fund."
Unicef Canada: https://secure.unicef.ca/portal/SmartDefault.aspx?at0&CID
United Jewish Appeal of Greater Toronto: http://www.ujadonations.com/haiti or call 416-631-5705.
World Vision Canada: https://www.worldvision.ca/give-a-gift/Pages/EarthquakeinHaiti.aspx
The Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade has also compiled a guide designed to help the public avoid scams and ensure their donations are of maximum value:
http://www.international.gc.ca/humanitarian-humanitaire/Canadians-he lp-aide-canadien.aspx
I know there are many, many organizations in your area too...
Sunday, 10 January 2010
Just plain cold
overcast, temps minus 24
OK, jokes over. We can return to normally scheduled programming now. Please. This is cold by even Quebec standards. And where the ice and snow in the trees was glorious yesterday, now I notice many trees bending over, and branches on the ground where they've grown too brittle and broken. Must get out there with a broom and whack our honeysuckle bush.
Still, this is actually pretty much winter here. A few days every winter of desperate cold. Followed by three months of just plain very cold. And a couple months of simply cold.
I actually quite like it. Except for the cold, of course.
Am by the fireplace again, sending My Assistant Lise info on permissions for the sixth book...poetry. Mostly Margaret Atwood. and need to register for Bouchercon. It's a huge crime readers and writers convention. Moves around each year. This year it's in San Francisco in October.
Listening to the soundtrack to The Piano. Loved the film...love the score.
Some people have asked about THE HANGMAN. It's a novella I've written featuring Gamache and a murder in Three Pines. It's part of a new Canadian literacy project called Quick Reads, based on a very successful programme in the UK. Recognizing that emerging readers, adults, are not interested in reading books for kids - that it is in fact insulting and counter-productive to offer them that - the literacy groups decided to approach writers and ask for very short books (slightly longer than a short story) that can be read by adults at a grade 3 to 5 reading level. I was asked to be part of the first wave of Canadian novelists. Very exciting. As you might know, I'm quite involved in literacy campaigns here. How exciting to help someone discover not only the practicalities of reading, but the joy and power! The comfort. The excitement.
THE HANGMAN is the novella I came up with. Just being edited now. I believe it will be published this fall and should be available in the States as well as Canada.
I hope it isn't crap. That would be disappointing.
Quiet day today. Will continue reading the mass market proofs for THE BRUTAL TELLING...finding some odd mistakes...and one howler, as some of you know... will say no more.
I adore days like this...quiet reading, small easy tasks, feeding the birds with Trudy...and working myself up to a bath. Bliss.
Hope this find you enjoying your Sunday. Sorry about the blast of cold Canadian air we've sent south. I blame society.
OK, jokes over. We can return to normally scheduled programming now. Please. This is cold by even Quebec standards. And where the ice and snow in the trees was glorious yesterday, now I notice many trees bending over, and branches on the ground where they've grown too brittle and broken. Must get out there with a broom and whack our honeysuckle bush.
Still, this is actually pretty much winter here. A few days every winter of desperate cold. Followed by three months of just plain very cold. And a couple months of simply cold.
I actually quite like it. Except for the cold, of course.
Am by the fireplace again, sending My Assistant Lise info on permissions for the sixth book...poetry. Mostly Margaret Atwood. and need to register for Bouchercon. It's a huge crime readers and writers convention. Moves around each year. This year it's in San Francisco in October.
Listening to the soundtrack to The Piano. Loved the film...love the score.
Some people have asked about THE HANGMAN. It's a novella I've written featuring Gamache and a murder in Three Pines. It's part of a new Canadian literacy project called Quick Reads, based on a very successful programme in the UK. Recognizing that emerging readers, adults, are not interested in reading books for kids - that it is in fact insulting and counter-productive to offer them that - the literacy groups decided to approach writers and ask for very short books (slightly longer than a short story) that can be read by adults at a grade 3 to 5 reading level. I was asked to be part of the first wave of Canadian novelists. Very exciting. As you might know, I'm quite involved in literacy campaigns here. How exciting to help someone discover not only the practicalities of reading, but the joy and power! The comfort. The excitement.
THE HANGMAN is the novella I came up with. Just being edited now. I believe it will be published this fall and should be available in the States as well as Canada.
I hope it isn't crap. That would be disappointing.
Quiet day today. Will continue reading the mass market proofs for THE BRUTAL TELLING...finding some odd mistakes...and one howler, as some of you know... will say no more.
I adore days like this...quiet reading, small easy tasks, feeding the birds with Trudy...and working myself up to a bath. Bliss.
Hope this find you enjoying your Sunday. Sorry about the blast of cold Canadian air we've sent south. I blame society.
Saturday, 9 January 2010
Sun!
Sunny, spectacular day, temps minus 14
Desperately beautiful day. A day to gasp. Not a breath of wind, so the fluffy snow that fell over the past two days is balancing on everything - tree limbs, power lines, fences. Every tiny thing is outlined in snow. And then with the sun on it it just looks brilliant. This is what glory must look like.
Am listening to the Barry Lyndon soundtrack - baroque music - haven't heard it in decades, so it is like discovering an old friend. Fireplace on...power on. Not a given this time of year. We lost power twice yesterday. Once in the afternoon just as we arrived home. Hadn't yet had time to fill the tub with water. When our power goes out, since we're on a well, the pump stops - so no running water. First thing we do when we hear a storm is approaching is fill the tub with water.
Am about to dive back into THE HANGMAN - and make a cafe au lait in the Gamache mug (product placement alert). Oh, saw Julie and Julia last night with Michael. I adore Amy Adams but agree that mostly I just wanted to be with Meryl Streep and the great Stanley Tucci in France.
Speak tomorrow.
Desperately beautiful day. A day to gasp. Not a breath of wind, so the fluffy snow that fell over the past two days is balancing on everything - tree limbs, power lines, fences. Every tiny thing is outlined in snow. And then with the sun on it it just looks brilliant. This is what glory must look like.
Am listening to the Barry Lyndon soundtrack - baroque music - haven't heard it in decades, so it is like discovering an old friend. Fireplace on...power on. Not a given this time of year. We lost power twice yesterday. Once in the afternoon just as we arrived home. Hadn't yet had time to fill the tub with water. When our power goes out, since we're on a well, the pump stops - so no running water. First thing we do when we hear a storm is approaching is fill the tub with water.
Am about to dive back into THE HANGMAN - and make a cafe au lait in the Gamache mug (product placement alert). Oh, saw Julie and Julia last night with Michael. I adore Amy Adams but agree that mostly I just wanted to be with Meryl Streep and the great Stanley Tucci in France.
Speak tomorrow.
Friday, 8 January 2010
no sun!
soft flurries, temps minus 8
Back home in Sutton after a fun, quick, trip to Vermont. Did the interview with Fran Stoddard for her Vermont Public Television show 'Profile". almost 30 minutes...bliss. She's a riot, and very, very thoughtful. the time just flew by. And I looked like neither Bozo nor Phyllis Diller. Since I did my own make-up and am very lazy (apparently once you put mascara on one eye you really should do the other - and I can never be bothered to do both the upper and lower lashes...so I get the upper done and figure good enough) I ended up looking quite a bit like Gloria Swanson. Not the Sunset Blvd Gloria, but the Carol Burnett one.
On top of that, Fran is tiny and I am not. We looked like different species. I thought, as the interview progressed, it would be fun to slowly, slowly sit up straighter and straighter, so that it looked like I was being inflated. But I didn't. Instead I contented myself with looking like an expanded Gloria Swanson to her delicate, delightful ingenue.
I'll let you know when it airs and put the link up on the website...along with the link for Shelagh Shapiro's radio interview yesterday. Now, wouldn't you know it - but Shelagh and I are exactly the same height - but on radio it is hardly noticeable.
We also met Michael and Nancy - a lovely couple from St. Albans - who came to VPTV so I could sign their books. Such fun to meet them.
Speaking of the website, had a hilarious email from the fabulous Linda Lyall, who manages and designs my website and newsletter. We've never met, though she feels like a sister/daughter (I realized fairly recently that yes, she is young enough to be my daughter!!) As you know, Britain is being slammed by winter weather - snow in particular. Very unusual...here's what Linda, from Scotland, wrote...
Britain seems to have gone into a state of panic (well in England anyway) apparently (according to sky news) we are going to run out of food, road grit, gas then die a cold death, after that the polar bears are going emigrate here!. You have to take your hats of to our media they love to create as much wide scale panic as possible as soon as a bit of harsh weather rolls in. Anyway so far we are doing fine, I can only imagine how hard a Canadian winter gets, we should send some of these reporters over to your country and they might start to realise we have it pretty easy.
If you're reading this from the UK, know that we do sympathize. Snow can be pretty scary. Linda, in Scotland, is wonderful. she's had her kids making snowmen and toboganning etc...trying to make the best of it.
For our part, we drove home through snow squalls, but it was very beautiful. if you're equipped with winter tires and the experience it isn't too bad. And the snow wasn't terribly heavy. Got back to Sutton in time for lunch at the Tintoretto - then home. Trudy was happy to see us...and we were thrilled to see her.
But as beautiful as this snow is, we can hardly wait to head to St. Lucia! Trying not to wish away the next two weeks...not totally successfully.
Tomorrow I'll be doing another small edit on the novella called THE HANGMAN. The challenge with the novella is that since it is for emerging readers there are certain 'rules' to watch for. the sentences must be shorter. They should not start with an 'And' or a 'But' (many of mine do)...and a few other things that I pay no attention to normally. It's a fascinating balancing act between my style and voice in storytelling, and making it as accessible to new adult readers as possible.
It's almost there - but one more polish is necessary. Laurel, the editor, has sent some suggestions. I haven't read them yet, but will tomorrow, and hope to get it done quickly. I hate to say this, but I'm fighting to start my time off - which I thought would start Jan 1st - but it keeps getting nibbled away. I'm getting pretty close to just saying, nicely I hope - 'Enough'.
Take care - will speak with you tomorrow! Watch out for polar bears.
Back home in Sutton after a fun, quick, trip to Vermont. Did the interview with Fran Stoddard for her Vermont Public Television show 'Profile". almost 30 minutes...bliss. She's a riot, and very, very thoughtful. the time just flew by. And I looked like neither Bozo nor Phyllis Diller. Since I did my own make-up and am very lazy (apparently once you put mascara on one eye you really should do the other - and I can never be bothered to do both the upper and lower lashes...so I get the upper done and figure good enough) I ended up looking quite a bit like Gloria Swanson. Not the Sunset Blvd Gloria, but the Carol Burnett one.
On top of that, Fran is tiny and I am not. We looked like different species. I thought, as the interview progressed, it would be fun to slowly, slowly sit up straighter and straighter, so that it looked like I was being inflated. But I didn't. Instead I contented myself with looking like an expanded Gloria Swanson to her delicate, delightful ingenue.
I'll let you know when it airs and put the link up on the website...along with the link for Shelagh Shapiro's radio interview yesterday. Now, wouldn't you know it - but Shelagh and I are exactly the same height - but on radio it is hardly noticeable.
We also met Michael and Nancy - a lovely couple from St. Albans - who came to VPTV so I could sign their books. Such fun to meet them.
Speaking of the website, had a hilarious email from the fabulous Linda Lyall, who manages and designs my website and newsletter. We've never met, though she feels like a sister/daughter (I realized fairly recently that yes, she is young enough to be my daughter!!) As you know, Britain is being slammed by winter weather - snow in particular. Very unusual...here's what Linda, from Scotland, wrote...
Britain seems to have gone into a state of panic (well in England anyway) apparently (according to sky news) we are going to run out of food, road grit, gas then die a cold death, after that the polar bears are going emigrate here!. You have to take your hats of to our media they love to create as much wide scale panic as possible as soon as a bit of harsh weather rolls in. Anyway so far we are doing fine, I can only imagine how hard a Canadian winter gets, we should send some of these reporters over to your country and they might start to realise we have it pretty easy.
If you're reading this from the UK, know that we do sympathize. Snow can be pretty scary. Linda, in Scotland, is wonderful. she's had her kids making snowmen and toboganning etc...trying to make the best of it.
For our part, we drove home through snow squalls, but it was very beautiful. if you're equipped with winter tires and the experience it isn't too bad. And the snow wasn't terribly heavy. Got back to Sutton in time for lunch at the Tintoretto - then home. Trudy was happy to see us...and we were thrilled to see her.
But as beautiful as this snow is, we can hardly wait to head to St. Lucia! Trying not to wish away the next two weeks...not totally successfully.
Tomorrow I'll be doing another small edit on the novella called THE HANGMAN. The challenge with the novella is that since it is for emerging readers there are certain 'rules' to watch for. the sentences must be shorter. They should not start with an 'And' or a 'But' (many of mine do)...and a few other things that I pay no attention to normally. It's a fascinating balancing act between my style and voice in storytelling, and making it as accessible to new adult readers as possible.
It's almost there - but one more polish is necessary. Laurel, the editor, has sent some suggestions. I haven't read them yet, but will tomorrow, and hope to get it done quickly. I hate to say this, but I'm fighting to start my time off - which I thought would start Jan 1st - but it keeps getting nibbled away. I'm getting pretty close to just saying, nicely I hope - 'Enough'.
Take care - will speak with you tomorrow! Watch out for polar bears.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)