New York Times Bestseller!!!

Cloudy, flurries, temps minus 5


Yippeee!!!!

Hope Dellon, my editor and Andrew Martin, the publisher of St. Martin's Minotaur called late yesterday afternoon with the news I've dreamed of all my adult life...for 30 years or more.

'You've made the New York Times Bestseller list with A Rule Against Murder!'

I started trembling then and I don't think I've stopped. However, the shrieking has died down...a little.

This is what's called the 'extended' list - which is for the top 35 hardcovers, and it's the list for February 8th (don't know wny it's a week ahead, but I suppose that's what makes the New York Times great...they see the future. Perhaps they're also built on a cliff). A Rule Against Murder is number 33.

We did it. You and I. I wrote it, you read it and told your friends - and over the course of the 4 seasons we've built the series. I am so grateful to you. Thank you, thank you, thank you for giving me this amazing gift. I will never, ever forget sitting in the living room in Quebec City, in front of the fireplace, clutching the hot water bottle (I think we've bonded) - and getting the call. Frankly at first I was confused about why both Hope and Andy would call. I figured it was either wonderfully good news, or horrific news. Since they probably wouldn't be the ones to tell me someone I love died or Michael or I have cancer I figured the news couldn't really be all that bad. Could it?

Andy even asked, 'Do you know why both of us would be calling?'

I think he presumed I knew it would be the Times - but since it has never happened to me before, it was so far from my expectations I honestly had no idea.

And then they told me. I might have shattered their ear drums with the scream. I know Michael came running.

Wow. Thank you for this. I really hope you feel the thrill too. You're as much a part of this as me. All my life I'll remember this moment.

On other news - the storm hit! Michael and I were exploring the Plains of Abraham, where the definitive battle between the French and English forces happened in September 1759 - and suddenly it started snowing...then more, then more. We ducked into the Cafe Krieghoff on rue Cartier for lunch and by the time we came out the blizzard was in full flight. What distinguishes blizzards from smily heavy snow is the wind.

The snow was hurtling sideways, and getting into our eyes, ears, under our collars. We have about 2 kilometers to walk...so, heads down, off we went. It's actually quite exciting. We were well dressed and there was never any fear we were in danger.

then arrived home to this terrific news.

Now need to rush out - breakfast, then I have a 10am meeting at the Literary and Historical society, just up the street on Saint-Stanislas to talk to Patrick Donovan about where the skeletons are buried. I love research.

Did I mention about the New York Times??? I feel like running through the streets laughing - proving to Quebec once and for all that Anglos really are nuts. Happy - but nuts.

New York Times

light flurries, temps minus 4

Actually, we spent most of the day inside! We're at Hovey and our room is actually the Montcalm cabin, so we have to get our winter coats and boots on to walk to the main building for meals. Not exactly a hardship. It takes 2 minutes at most and is beautiful. It's all decorated for the season, with lights and cedar boughs. they've lit up a few pines on the property so when we eat at night we can see the trees gleaming off the snow. Very, very pretty. And restful.

This is a brand new room for Hovey - they just renovated it, turning 2 smaller rooms into this amazing suite. Bliss.

Spent the day (when not eating, which was about 10 minutes) in front of the fireplace in our room, editing THE BRUTAL TELLING (book 5). Doing about 100 pages a day, which is easy since at this point it's mostly spelling errors and some slight smoothing. Good to do it in such large chunks since it gives me a better sense of flow and where there might be duplication. This is quite a complex, rich story and I need to make sure it both makes sense and is entertaining.

And we had fabulous news from the publishers at St Martin's Minotaur - book 4, A RULE AGAINST MURDER will be reviewed in the New York Times on January 25th. Yay!

Back to work...have a few emails to answer. I'll tell you, this makes a pretty good office!

Be well, and I'll talk to you tomorrow.