Heading home!

sunny, warm, temps 25

Unbelievably mild here in Winnipeg.

It's a city I adore. As the publisher's rep, Rorie, and I discussed as we drove around the city yesterday, it's a city that's great to live in, but perhaps not to visit. A casual visitor might not really appreciate the true beauty of Winnipeg. All the trees and parks and rivers - the wonderful restaurants, the deep cultural and creative history. It is a wonderfully diverse city too - immigrants a century ago from Iceland, Eastern Europe and many other countries have made this an exciting place to live. I know - this probably comes as a surprise to many Canadian, who view Winnipeg as a bump on the flat prairies. But it's a great place. And the birthplace of social democracy in Canada, with tommy douglas and the CCF. And all sorts of social movement.

I lived here for a few years in the mid-80's....and it was so great visiting with many old friends. Had breakfast yesterday with Janet - who gave me a necklace she'd made - inspired by A Trick of the Light. How lovely is that?

Then Rorie and I drove all over winnipeg signing books.

Then had dinner with a woman who started as my producer on CBC Radio, a million years ago - and grew into one of my closest friends in the world...Pat. And met her fiance Don. And she surprised me by inviting another mutual friend - a contributor to the show we did together...Paul Walsh, and his wife Beryl.

It was absoltuely amazing....to be surrounded by such great friends. Some of whom I hadn't seen in almost 30 years.

Then the event at McNally Robinson - one of the great independent bookstores in Canada. the photo doesn't do it justice. The event was t 8pm in the restaurant (closed for the event)...150 people. More chairs brought in. People on the balcony above. it was an absolutely wonderful way to end the Canadian leg of my tour!

Today am flying back to Montreal. Ahhh.... was hoping to have tomorrow to recover, but need to do a photo shoot for L'actualite Magazine in Quebec (our Time Magazine) tomorrow. Then off to North Conway, NH for an event at White Birch books Friday night -7pm. The last event of an eventful book tour!!! Wow.

Though I will be doing a small reading and signing at the library in Sutton at 2pm on Saturday - as part of the village';s celebration of the written word.

Almost home.

Parade Magazine

overcast, showers, cool, temps 15

What a change - the rains have arrived....but I have to say, the ferry across from Victoria to Vancouver was magicial this morning. As you can see. that was my office. Wow. Totally seduced by British Columbia. I remember so well and so fondly our visit to Sechelt, on the Sunshine Coast of BC, for their literary festival a year ago. Beautiful.

The event at Bolen Books last night was amazing. 120 people - Standing room only. Felt like a gathering of friends. I so appreciate the atmosphere you all create. Thank you. Stimulating, but relaxing at the same time. Like a great conversation with a thoughtful friend. (you being the thoughtful friend) You can see the photo.

Then Lorna got me to the bus this morning for the 7:45 departure to the ferry....then the hour and a half crossing...then Jamie, of Raincoast books met me and now I'm in a hotel in downtown Vancouver.

Had a 2pm event at Chapters on Granville Ave in Vancouver....lots of people out....that's the other photo (bet that wasn't helpful). I've come to really enjoy it when I'm joined onstage by an interviewer. Far easier, frankly, for me. And I think for the audience...more dynamic than me alone yakking away at you. Today Annemarie Tempelman-Kluit interviewed me. She's famous as being 'Yoyomama'. About four years ago she set up the website and newsletter, to communicate with other mothers....and it's taken off. But the publishers found out that she reads the books, so they asked her to join me and we had a wonderful conversation on stage.

And loved seeing so many of you out as well. Also packed...more people than chairs. Yay! Always a great thing.

But did you hear the wonderful news??? Parade Magazine in the US named A TRICK OF THE LIGHT their Book Pick of the Week! Parade is a terrific magazine that is inserted into millions of Sunday newspapers across the United States. Has 33 million readers.

How wonderful is that?!

I can't begin to find the words to describe how wonderful this is....all of this. Happily, I know you know exactly how I feel.

Must run off - dinner tonight with the publisher. Then flying to Winnipeg tomorrow.

Speak soon!

Walper Hotel - terrific

overcast, cool, temps 16

Am now in gorgeous Victoria, British Columbia. What a wonderful life - it still amazes me that I can wake up Friday in Kitchener, Ontario and have dinner in Victoria, British columbia.

Have never been to Victoria before, but heard so many wonderful things. It's a place many, many Canadians are drawn to not only for it's beauty, but it's one of the most temperate places in the country. Hardly any snow. But apparently quite a bit of rain and mist. You can see the photo I took from the balcony of my hotel room this morning. I woke up early - jet lag...3 hour time difference - and took a coffee out onto the lounge chair - and breathed in the fresh, sea air. heard the sea gulls....but had to take it on faith there was any water out there. But by 10am the mist had burned off and the other photo shows you what I now see. (not the crowd of people, thank God - but the harbour).

That crowd of beautiful people is from the University of Waterloo event the night before. Held in the auditorium. Standing room only. Always a relief to see that! And everyone was so jovial and welcoming. We had a great time. At least, I did. Then spent an hour or so signing books - then back to the hotel and sleep....then caught a five hour flight here.

Speaking of hotel - I was wrong about the Walper Hotel in Kitchener, in an earlier post. Wrong on two fronts. After staying there for four nights I can tell you it's a lovely place. Great decor, terrific and helpful staff...and a responsive management. yesterday morning, upon hearing that I was yearning for coffee in the morning, they arranged for the front desk person to bring me a wonderful bowl of cafe latte when I woke up.

Deeply impressive. I had a chance to meet the manager and owner - Michael - and thank him personally. He's newly taken over and has done many things already. Not only renovating the place (which I know from our own modest renos going on now) is not small thing - but he's also hugely supportive of the arts in the community - writing, painting, theatre. And he's started a school in Uganda, and an education project. He gives a dollar a day for every guest to the project. It might not sound like much, but it adds up fast and goes a long way in the lives of these boys and girls. Especially when Michael could use the money himself, I'm sure.

but I was wrong on another front. I should never have criticised in such a public forum. And I'm very sorry I did. you know, I sometimes read reviews on various sites of my books - and am appauled and amazed at the rancor of some people. I can see not liking the books, but do you really have to make it almost a personal crusade to tell everyone? And to sometimes be just mean?

I did that with the Walper, after just a few hours...and all because I didn't get a cup of coffee in my room. I don't feel very good about that now. It's quite humbling to criticize others for being petty - and not recognize it in myself.

So to Michael von Teichman and the men and women who work at the Walper - I'm so sorry. It was wrong of me to do that. You have a terrific hotel - that manages to be more than bricks and mortar, but a place of soul. and spirit. And caring. And you deserve every success. Please let me know if there's anything I can do to help.

Here I am now on the Pacific coast of Canada....in an hour or so the sales rep will show up and take me around to sign books at various stores. Then there's an event tonight at 7pm at Bolens books. Hope you can make it.

Tomorrow I head - by ferry - to Vancouver and a 2pm event at Chapters on Granville st. Hosted by AnnMarie Tempelman-Kluit - aka yoyomama. she has a terrific website geared to moms - and a part of that is about books. So looking forward to meeting her! And, I hope, meeting you at Chapters tomorrow.

Now, back to the lounge chair and the sea gulls.

Misplaced vanity

mainly sunny, temps 20

Kitchener-Waterloo area of Ontario. Kitchener was called Berlin, until the first world war, when they decided to change the name. But what they couldn't change, thank God, was the make-up of the population. Huge German population. Can't tell you how this has enriched the area. With their culture and food and festivals. And the sense of community. Oktoberfest is massive here.

Kitchener had been very industrial - until the last few years when everything collapsed. But they seem to have quite remarkable leadership - on so many levels....and quickly turned and are now a centre of intellectual excellence, with schools, think-tanks. This is the home of Research in Motion (RIM) - the creators of the Blackberry. (thank God I use a blackberry - and LOVE it). It's astonishing. And a massive thrust, of course, to education and re-education....so that people who had worked in the auto industry are now working high tech jobs. Schools are opening, new libraries are opening. but at the same time there's a vigorous rural and farm community. Family farms. A amazing farmer markets where you can see men and women on their Blackberries standing beside a Mennonite horse and buggy.

It is an astonishing community.

I'm absolutely loving this tour. Learning SO much about these places I get to visit. And mostly learning there's so much more to them than I could have dreamed. For instance, did you know that it is almost illegal to put ketchup on your hotdog in Chicago?

Am here in Kitchener-Waterloo because their library system has chosen BURY YOUR DEAD as their One Book, One Community Read. They've packed the days with TV and Radio interviews - with talks to school students and then in the evening to hundreds and hundreds of people.

Had a great event two nights ago with the Chief of Police for the area - Matt Torigian. Two easy chairs were placed on the stage, in front of 200 plus people, and we had a conversation. He was magnificent. I was leery because I didn't want to be placed in the position of the Chief telling me where I'd gone wrong, and how investigations are actually conducted. But he was lovely - and talked about his own fears as a leader, and choices, and the demands of murder investigations on them personally and their families. And that police work is about forensics, but at the end of the day it's about the team. And their relationship with each other. The deep, deep caring.

He was generous and open. I was impressed and relieved. And felt we'd just met a real life Gamache.

It was all most of women in the room could do not to follow him home. If I wasn't so in love with Michael....

Then yesterday I spoke at the Waterloo-Oxford Secondary school. I love speaking with high school students. But it was also packed with members of the community who'd come to listen. Then last night another on-stage conversation, this time with Rob Reid of the local newspaper, The Record. They're hugely supportive of the One Book, One Community campaign. About 300 people there - can't tell you how fun that is!

Today I'm doing a more intimate workshop sort of thing with a high school writing group, then in the evening the closing event at the University of Waterloo school of Architecture. Not sure why that's the venue. they might have heard about our renovations at home...

Michael is back there, overseeing. We're about 3 weeks into it, and about 3 weeks behind already. It's a sort of miracle of physics. We've crossed the speed of light, backward. Seems they discovered the entire roof needs to be re-shingled. In money, apparently.

To be fair - we knew it needed to be done and are very, very glad they're doing it while fixing the falling-down kitchen. I'd harboured a fantasy of returning home from book tour and moving into the new 'old' home. That clearly won't be happening. But the work will be well done and properly done - and Michael is doing a great job. so many decisions. He called the other night to say that he'd told them to put the bathroom vanity in the wrong place.

Huh?

I tried to be supportive, while having visions of it in the middle of the kitchen. or on the roof. How far wrong can you go with a vanity? But it turned out to be a very small thing, and Michael, dear one, fixed it. Shocking number of decisions and details.

Sooo - I'll be at the school of architecture tonight - but not, thankfully, talking about design or renovations, but Bury Your Dead.

then tomorrow I fly to British columbia to start the western swing. Quite short. Event Saturday night in Victoria, BC, at Bolen's books - 7pm - then Sunday at Chapters in Vancouver and Tuesday at McNally-Robinson in Winnipeg.

Taking the long way home - and enjoying every step. thanks for walking it with me.

Off again...

sunny, cool, temps 20

Well, the second leg of the tour has begun. I'm in Kitchener, Ontario - about an hour and a half west of Toronto. Took the train here yesterday. Very civilized. Business class....and felt I'd won the lottery. I spoke to the nice man in front of me and asked if he'd mind terribly not putting his seat all the way back on the 5 hour ride, and he readily agreed. Thank heaven I did, because the man next to him did put his all the way back and it landed almost on the seat beside me. Can't believe anyone would do that - put their seat all the way back without consideration of the person behind. And that VIA rail would design seats that would do that!

If I was the person beside me, and someone did that, I'd be apoplectic.

Happily, there was no one sitting next to me. The seats are assigned, and I just got very lucky. I'm anti-social while being transported from one place to another....I like to just stare out the window and listen to music or let my mind wander. I honestly don't want to make six hours of small talk - it's a sort of nightmare....being caught in an endless cocktail party chat.

So, sitting on my own on a flight or a long train trip is bliss. And means I don't need to feign insanity to be left alone. Very tiring, that.

And - business class in VIA is extremely odd. Not only have they not updated the decor in millennia, but many of the so-called window seats have no window. Just a wall. Makes for an extremely long trip when you're staring at faded greenish wallpaper.

But my seat had a window! A window, no companion, and a nice man in front - honestly - travel doesn't get better.

And then I arrived in Kitvchener. Lovely to be met by my friend Sharron Smith - who is the doyenne of libraries here, and is running the One Book, One community efforts. I'm here because this area has chosen BURY YOUR DEAD as their 2011 read.

She drove me to the hotel...the Walper. Apparently quite storied....and under new management who are trying to update it from a faded grande dame into a modern boutique hotel. I think the transformation is almost, but not quite complete. The room is nice - beautiful fresh paint...lovely new carpet - and reupholstered seats...very old and tired chest of drawers and desks. And plumbing that makes it impossible to sleep after 6am - as the people around me rouses and showered - and it sounded like they were doing it on my head. but the oddest choice they've made as a hotel management is to not have coffee as part of the morning room service. Instead, they provide an old, small, coffee maker, coffee in packets, no milk - and say you can make your own.

Now, for me that's a deal-breaker. I'm very happy to be staying here, since someone else is paying. but this hotel actually offers continental breakfast, brought to your room - but makes a point of saying they won't bring coffee or tea. Seems almost willful.

So, at 7am I got up and dressed and went to an absolutely delightful cafe attached to the hotel - cafe culture. Got a huge bowl of cafe latte and sat by the fireplace. No one else there. heaven. Called Teresa in London, as per our agreement, and had a nice long chat.

Now, a very good and perhaps correct argument could be made that if the hotel had offered room service coffee I wouldn't have had that very, very nice respite in a great coffee shop - with a far better coffee than the hotel could provide. But, I have to say, the effort of having to get dressed and out the door at 7am to get the coffee outweighed the subsequent delight. Besides, it would be nice to have a choice.

Have a lot of events today - a welcome reception at the local newspaper. A TV, then a radio interview. Book signings around the area....then an event on stage with the local Chief of Police, to discuss investigation techniques, most of which will be news to me. That event is open to the public and it would be lovely to see you there. It's in the Victoria Pavilion in Kitchener at 7pm.

Tomorrow I have a public event at 1:30 at the Waterloo-Oxford secondary School - then in the evening a question and answer with Robert Reid, of the local newspaper on stage at the First United Church in Waterloo.

Thursday at 1:30 I'll be speaking with writing students at St Benedict's High School, and an evening event, open to the public, at the University of Waterloo school of Architecture. 7pm.

Packed schedule. Then, God and Air Canada willing, I'll be flying to Victoria, BC on Friday to start the Western Canada leg of the book tour.

It would be lovely to see you at one of the events!!!

that photo above was taken at the event at Chapters in Montreal on Sunday....actually, after the event, when our friends the Mounts, and Susan, went for coffee. I love this photo. there's Michael, calm, warm, gently listening - and there I am looking as though I've been goosed. Clearly we're hearing different stories. Or, I've just been told there's no coffee delivered to the hotel room.

As you can see, the scope of my problems is so small as to be almost invisible. A hectic few days ahead....but how lovely to be meeting so many supportive people. Thanks for coming along!

Anthony Award!

sunny, gorgeous day - temp 20

OK, now you're probably thinking I'm making this up! I sort of suspect I am too... But just heard that BURY YOUR DEAD has won the coveted Anthony Award for Best Crime Novel!!! It's voted on at Bouchercon, this year in St. Louis.

Thank you, thank you - to everyone who voted for Bury Your Dead! Wow.

A number of awards are presented at Bouchercon, as you can tell. What a supportive community, crime writers and readers are. Celebrating each other. And I honestly am floored to have won this award. And so grateful to Sarah Melnyk, my publicist, who was recovering from a cold, who got up and accepted.

I wrote out speeches, in case Bury Your Dead should win any of the awards. Have you ever had to do that? if you have, you probably know how I felt. Like a real tool. Felt so presumptuous. Pompous. Egotistical. Felt F.I.N.E., actually.

But now I'm reeeeally glad I did it! And, Sarah, thanks for getting up and accepting -

Wow - what a time. What a remarkable, amazing period in my life. And so happy to be here with Michael, so we could celebrate together. Wow.

Had fun this afternoon doing the event at Chapters in Montreal. Saw lots of people - including many friends - and had coffee afterward with the Mounts and Susan. Great way to decompress.

Thanks to Nadine and Mathieu, of Chapters, for being so generous in hosting the event. Merci!

Off to Kitchener/Waterloo tomorrow. They've chosen Bury Your Dead as their One Book, One Community read - so I have events all Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Then fly to Victoria, BC for the western Canada swing of the tour.

Honestly? I feel I hardly need a plane. Oh, thank you...how wonderful this feels.

Macavity!

mainly sunny - cool - temps 15

Wow - cold front has arrived in Montreal. Very cool - cold even.

But I don't care!!! I'm finally here, with Michael. Arrived yesterday morning - caught early flight out of Charlottetown, PEI and was in Montreal in time for breakfast at Nick's with Michael.

What an amazing 3 weeks....when I left here I knew it'd would be chock full of events, and new people and experiences....but I never dreamed it would be such an unforgettable, life-changing time. To have been all over the States (well, not quite everywhere) and to have met so many of you...and had a blast!!! But then to make it to number 4 on the NYTimes list...wow. As you can see, I'm still living on that.

Had such a great time these past few days on Prince Edward Island. As you can see, Trina and I stopped in a seaside town called Victoria and ate lunch outside...lobster roll. It really is paradise. PEI feels a bit like walking into a parallel universe, where all the modern conveniences exist - but so does civility. A quiet. A calm pace and thoughtful conversation. It was just lovely.

And had such fun at the events. The photo above is from my last event on the Island, on Wednesday night - at the Montague Library. The four girls standing at the front are aspiring writers, who are taking a writing workshop. I asked them to stand in the front for the photo - because they'll be leading the way before long. The new voices. Aren't they beautiful? I wanted to take them all home, but wasn't allowed to.

And now I'm home in Montreal for a few days...slept a lot yesterday. Watched episodes from the first season of Modern Family- my new favorite show. And just luxuriated in familiar aromas and textures and sights....and Michael. And then last night received the wonderful news that BURY YOUR DEAD had won the Macavity award for best crime fiction novel in the US - as voted on by readers of Mystery Readers International - a great web-based publication and blog run by the remarkable Janet Rudolph.

The award was announced last night at Bouchercon (the huge crime readers/writers convention) happening this year in St Louis. Sarah Melnyk - my publicist at Minotaur Books - accepted for me. Thank you so much - to Mystery Readers International - to Janet Rudolph - to Sarah...

As you probably realize, getting a book out there really is a team effort - and everyone on that team has a specific job. Mine is to write the books...and then it gets handed to the fabulous Hope Dellon, my editor at Minotaur, and Dan Mallory, my editor at Little, Brown in the UK - to make suggestions...and they unfailingly make the manuscript better. Then, in the US, all sorts of other people get involved - including Andy Martin - the actual publisher of Minotaur books - who is a brilliant marketer and strategist. There are just so many elements....the cover design...date of publication....the supporting ads...all the social media now, thanks to Jeanne-Marie and Paul!

I guess my point is that winning the Macavity is such a huge honour - that needs to be shared with the whole team. I'm one element, but that's all.

And a really big part of a book's success is making sure you know it even exists...and that falls, in my case, to Sarah Melnyk at Minotaur. So I'm just thrilled she was the one who got up and accepted the award. thank you, Sarah!!!

I was supposed to be at Bouchercon - but I have to admit....I'm sooooo happy to be in Montreal for a few days - to be with the Big Guy and to breathe.

Had an interview this morning for L'actualite magazine - which is the Quebec equivalent of Time Magazine - with Georges-Hebert Germian...at Nick's. Fascinating man - a great pleasure to meet a journalist and writer I admire so much.

And on Sunday I have a 2pm event at the Chapter's bookstore on Ste Catherine street in downtown Montreal. Love to see you there.

Well - must go. Lunch at the Taverne on the Square....then back home for more Modern Family, and a nap. Amazing, blessed, life.