A very fine house

Sunny, mild, temps 16

Nice day - perfect spring day. young leaves on the trees here in Montreal. I'm just back from speaking to a meeting of school librarians. It's an annual meeting for them and they hold it in a school in north end Montreal. mA part mof the city I don't know. Thank God for GPS.

Had a fun time and they invited me to stay for lunch- catered by the adlut students studying the culinary arts. Yum.

Had loads of fun in the Laurentians the past couple of days. Drove the car to a new dealership to get the tires changed and tune-up. We have a BMW - a treat for Mihael when I signed the last contract. Nice car - though I wopuildn't recommend it. Really ridiculous computer system for everything. Not at all intuitie. Need 2 people to drive the car. Ugh. And the service at the place we bought it was atrocious. Don't expect that from a highend dealership.

So once lease is up we're giving it up - bersides with the environment a priority we'll give up the second car and downsize to something more responsible.

But we so hated the BMW service we called another dealership and they sounded nicer so we took the car in there Monday and they were fine. About time we changed the winter tires - now that leaves are on the trees and the daffs are up!

The we picked up the loaner and drove north into the mountains and Lac Manitou. I used to go there as a child. As we drove along the dirt road all sorts of memories flooded back...blueberry picking with my gradnfather, walking nwith him holding my hand and him reciting poetry. Reading in the bedroom as a child. Laughing so hard with my friend vicky while baking cookies for a boy we both had a crush on that we peed on the floor. First kiss, first dance, first broken heart. Through the grate in my bedroom I heard my parents decide to separate. Life. I think I became aware there, at Lac Manitou.

It was amazing to be back - and as something so far removed from the gawky, awkward, little girl. Something no one, least of all I, could have predicted. A successful novelist.

And yet, not so far. It still felt like home.

Stayed with the Vicky's parents, Gwen and Tuppy - and Vicky came from ottawa. We sat on the veranda overlooking the lake and had tea. Such fun to be there with Michael. Then had dinner, Monday night, and went to bed.

Their home is for me the quintessential country home. Wood and shingled and rambling, filled with regatta pennants and arts from generations, some accomplished some not much more than finger painting. It was calm and comforting and comfortable.

It felt magical. And Tuppy and Gwen, now well into their 80's, were gracious and warm - felt like my own parents. And Vicky and I giggled like school girls and took the dog for a walk in the rain.

Then next day, Tuesday, spoke to the Laurentian Club (an off-shoot from the Canadian Club)- about 100 people there - many I knew from childhood too. Who'd come to see little Louise Penny, all grown up. Bar Mussels was there. 92 years old. And Dune and Mary.

Felt so comfortable. In a career that sometimes doesn't feel comfortable, where the idea is to try new things, get out of the comfort zone. To meet strangers, and speak to large crowds...things that are comfortable are precious.

This was precious.

As was getting to share it with Michael. And now you.

Off to Washington tomorrow for Malice Domestic...not taking the laptop but will try to find a computer to blog on. If not, it will probably be next wednesday.

Be well.

Busy

overcast, cool (compared to yesterday), temps 16

Can't believe it got up to 28 degrees yesterday! Actually hard to sleep it was so hot upstairs. Turned the ceiling fan on...then the temp dropped in the night. Phew.

You see - we can talk about the weather forever. And I know how interesting it is to other people.

Pat and Tony will be moving in here tomorrow while we're away - bringing their dogs and looking after Trudy. We're off to Ste Agathe tomorrow, to spend the night with a couple of friends at Lac manitou. Then I'll be giving a talk to the local Canadian Club. Then on Wednesday I have a talk to the Protestant School board members. Then on Thursday we fly to Washington for Malice Domestic.

That's a fun 3 day convention for mystery readers and writers - especially in the Tradiitonal gnre. I really like Malice Domestic. Lots of fun. This year the guest of honour is Anne Perry.

After that - next Sunday - I have that event with Marcia Talley, Rhys Bowen, Elaine Viets, Mary Jane Maffini and GM Maillet at the B&N in Annapolis. 5pm. Then on monday I'll be heading to Pittsburgh for the Festival of Mystery.

Busy time.

And not sure when I'll get a chance to blog. Will try, but you might not hear from me for 10 days or so. Think of me at the Agatha Awards Saturday night...The Cruelest Month is nominated. But it's a hugely talented field!

Take care of yourselves, and each other, and I'll talk to you soon.

Headache, in Pig Latin

sunny, hot!!! temps 28

this would be considered a hot day at any time of the year! Wonderful, gorgeous, blessed day! Just back from the village - groceries and a few things - everyone smiling!

Day started off not so good. A woke with a headache...one I recognized...stress. And I can even fine-tune it. Book stress. Something wasn't right with the manuscript. As the morning wore on the headache worsened, but I kept hoping it was something else, something trivial. Like a brian tumor, or a stroke. But no such luck. I knew it was because I was unhappy with yesterday's writing.

I went back to it, read the chapter before and while I did some minor fiddling, I actually really liked the chapter. Then I started on yesterdays...the first part was fine...then I hit it.

It's immediately obvious. The writing is fine, all good words...but not perhaps in the right order. It's funny how clear it is when it doesn't work. Not that i start writing in Pig Latin, though that would make the bad writing more obvious...but it just doesn't "work".

But I didn't know what would work. So I fiddled and messed and played around...and suddenly wrote a sentence that took me off in the right direction.

Again, it's funny how clear it is when it's right!

Phew.

A huge relief. I ended up taking 500 words out and re-writing the whole thing, but now I really like it. It serves all the purposes it needs to serve. Character development, richness of setting, and advances the plot. Yay.

Lovely day.

and, happy birthday, Anny!!!! A day late, but there you have it...

Arthur Ellis nomination!

sunny, warm, beautiful temps 20

Yaaaayy. THE MURDER STONE (A RULE AGAINST MURDER) has been shortlisted for the Arthur Ellis for best crime novel in Canada. It's a really strong list too. Linwood Barclay, Maureen Jennings, James W. Nichol and Michael Rose are also on it. Congratulations to everyone.

The nominations were announced last night across the country at different events. In Montreal it was done as part of a panel at the literary festival, Blue Metropolis. Anna Asimakopulos moderated and it was Giles Blunt and me. Then the nominations announced.

I'd practiced my, 'I'm so happy for all the nominees and don't care that I'm not one' face. It's a long face. Happily no one had to see it.

Then Nancy Grant, the regional Crime Writers of Canada VP, asked Michael to read the shortlist for the Best Unpublished Novel. What an honour...and he did it beautifully.

Another person I want to mention is Phyllis Smallman - she's shortlisted for Best First Crime Novel...she won the Best Unpublished a couple of years ago with her fab book, Marguarita Nights. Her second book is just coming out.

It's been aneventful couple of day...quite busy. Did the workshop in Lennoxville, then a signing at the University bookstore then a wonderful dinner with our friends Jim and Roya, then drove in to Montreal. Next day we ran around doing all sorts of things in preparation to move...then the panel last night.

We stopped at McDonalds on our way down to the country. Celebratory burger and fries. Talk about glamorous! But mightly yummy.

Got back to writing today...takes some time. Am off to write the May newsletter since I'll be gone for most of next week.

Oh, what a gorgeous day it is here...real spring...and tomorrow supposed to be up to 26 degrees! And Lise came today with Donna and they got the garden started. Wonderful.

Lots of reasons to celebrate.

All the rage

rain, cool, windy at times, temps 10

Dreary day. Went in to Montreal - via our breakfast of French Toast in Cowansville. Michael met with Frank the accountant...and I went to the dentist, then to the new hairdresser. Is hairdresser a terribly old fashioned word? Oh well. Happily, thank God!, the hair looks great. And I think it's not just one of those cuts that looks great because they've put the scaffolding, plaster, girders in there and it'll look like bear droppings tomorrow. I think this is a genuinely terrific cut.

Those of you going to Malice Domestic in Washington, DC next week will get to judge for yourselves. You might want to start practicing now - 'Great hair, Louise!'. or 'Oh, my God! It's Angelina Jolie.' Something like that.

Tomorrow we're off to Bishop's University in Lennoxville. I'll be giving a workshop on writing and marketing for a couple of hours in the morning, then doing a book signing in the afternoon at the university bookshop. Then an early dinner with two great friends, Jim and Roya. Roya's the prof. who's invited me, and Jim is a mystery writer and reviewer and was hugely supportive when I was writing STILL LIFE. He taught mystery writing for many years. After dinner Michael and I will drive the 2 hours in to Montreal.

then on Thursday we're meeting with movers to get estimates for the apartment move, in the morning. And in the evening I'm on a panel at the book festival Blue Metropolis, with Giles Blunt. It will be moderated by Anna Asimikopolis - of CBC Radio, and recorded for broadcast.

After that Michael and I will hop back in the car and drive back down here. That will give us all Friday to write...plus Sat. and Sunday...before jumping back into events next week. Hectic time - but all good stuff.

Pretty good work day, no? Oh, just finished an interview with a Pittsburgh newspaper, in advance of the Festival of Mystery. It's a fabulous book festival put on by Mystery Lovers Bookstore...and will be held Monday, May 4th in the afternoon. If you live in the area just go to the Mystery Lovers Bookstore for details. Love to see you there. There will be 40 crime writers!

Take care, will try to blog again Thursday. Oh, one more thing (feel like Columbo)... Tony was right...the pile of bear poop really is a conversation piece. The FedEx woman arrived not long ago - showed it proudly to her and she was very impressed. It might even replace Gnomes and Pink Flamingos. I tell ya, it's gonna be big - real BIG!

She also asks if you're really wearing that...

overcast, breezy, temps 11

Quite chilly this morning, but became nicer in the afternoon as the winds died down a bit and the day warmed up.

Bear returned last night. Ripped off the third and final bird feeder...it was screwed onto the end of the post and it took it off completely.

Last night I kept waking up, thinking I heard the bear...went downstairs, turned on the outside lights...first time I saw a plump skunk - which seemed undeterred by the light and eventually waddled away. The next time I woke up to noise and snuck downstairs to find two massive racoons. Now, I would have probably concluded those racoons had done the damage had the bear not gifted us with such a massive pile of poop.

We seem to have a wilflife zoo happening at night here.

I suspect we won't see much more of the bear since there's nothing left to get in to.

Wrote for most of today. Need to head in to Montreal tomorrow. Taxes for Michael and dentist and hairdresser for me. I can't tell you how many times Michael's asked, 'So, have you called the hairdresser?' 'Do you have an appointment yet?' 'Your hair looks ridiculous and your dead mother has asked me to tell you that.' OK, he didn't actually say that last thing, but I heard it anyway with my accute hearing.

So, the appointment is made. And not with the local village barber this time.

Pray for me. Will report back.

Charlotte, is that a pile of bear droppings?

sunny, gorgeous day, temps 11

Not, perhaps, as warm as some days but again the wind is calm - so it feels like a perfect spring day.

Took Trudy for a walk this morning..she got halfway into the field and took off for our front lawn - quite a distance away. I watched her, then decided if she was there I might as well feed the birds.

The first sign of trouble came when I noticed the large open birdfeeder had been ripped apart. I thought - raccoon. Then I noticed that the tubular birdfeeder that is attached to the house by a metal rod was missing completely and the metal rod was bent.

Then I saw a huge pile of steaming you-know-what on the lawn, about the size of Billy Crystal. I immediately called - 'Michaaaael!'

He was in the kitchen and came running out, in his slippers, sweats and sweater. I pointed to what had been our birdfeeders - then the pile.

Bears. Big bears. Then we looked at the metal garbage can we keep the birdseed in. It was over on its side, dented and the top torn off. Oddly, the bad of seed was still in it.

This was very exciting. I don't mind bears at all - though I don't think I'll be sleeping on the screen porch anytime soon...and we made sure we locked the doors...in case this was a bear of considerable brain. What surprised us was that we heard nothing...and our bedroom look out over the front lawn.

We called Tony who confirmed it was a bear...and when asked about the crushed metal garbage can and why we didn't hear it he said that bears are very, very quiet.

We let that be.

I used to think it must be quite glamourous to be a writer. Now I know it's mostly sitting around in flannels and the most exciting conversation is about piles of crap in the front yard. I think Emily Bronte must have found the same thing.

The good news is the crap is now on the front lawn and no longer on the page. But it seems a karmic thing with me. If I'm not dreaming of toilets I'm afraid my book is crap, or I'm actually finding not effete little deer droppings, but massive mountains of it on the lawn.

Saved a frog out of the pool this morning too. I'd like to see the Bronte's beat that.

As an addendum to this post, Tony just dropped by - to look at the dropping (yup, bear)and put the battery back in the tractor. He was also going to pick up the poop and toss it into the woods but decided to leave it there.

Why, Tony? I asked.

As a conversation piece, he said.

Obviously Tony knows just how sparkling our conversation normally is, that it can be helped along by a pile of crap on the lawn.