Anthony Award - Yipppeee!!!!

rain, cool, temps 65

The most beautiful day - THE BRUTAL TELLING has won the Anthony Award for Best Crime Novel in the United States!!!!

I was so totally unprepared that when my name was announced I just leapt up and kissed Michael - and didn't want to let him go because I knew it would mean going onto the podium and accepting...and I was literally speechless. Now, of course, I can think of all sorts of touching, wise, sparkling, clever things to say. And all the people I should have thanked!!!

But all I remember was thanking the readers - who have found the series - an unlikely success at best, given it's set in a tiny village in a little known province in a small (politically) country. And yet, there I was, standing in front of a thousand people, accepting the award. I was - and am - so deeply grateful.

And happy!!!!

I know I also remembered to thank Michael - and then was walking off the stage, still in a daze, but remembered (too late) that I needed to thank Hope Dellon and everyone at Minotaur Books - for making them better than I ever could. so I say it here.

Thank you!

Yay!!!! Especially given who else was nominated. I genuinely thought SJ Rozan would win. But I know everyone in that category deserved to win. And many who were not nominated.

After the awards brunch Michael and I hopped a cab to the hotel, then decided to walk and find lunch. Ended up at this fabulous little neighbourhood placed called the Nob Hill Cafe....Italian. There's a very bad photo of Michael, just raising his head from slurping up his pesto fettuccine.

Wonderful way to celebrate!

And thank you, for celebrating along with me. And thank you too, I know many of you voted for me. I wish you could crawl into my heart and hear the symphony. Yay... I can't seem to stop saying that!!!

Back in the room now, going to spend the afternoon relaxing and enjoying.

The Brutal Telling - paperback!

Mostly cloudy, cold, temps 15

I wanted to make sure I told you that THE BRUTAL TELLING is now out in trade paperback. It's a fabulous cover and great package. Hope you like it too! And if you could tell others about it now being available in paperback, that would be wonderful. I'm assuming most of you have already read it in hardcover, either through your library or buying it. Or listening to the wonderful audio version. So thank you!

Had a wonderful dinner last night with Doug. He was here when we returned from the meeting - and already boiling water for the fresh corn. Simple, lovely meal of broccoli and potatoes and corn, and barbequed steak. Then to bed to read. Up in time for breakfast with Cheryl, while Doug and Michael ate at another table.

Then off to visit Cheryl and Gary's new home, under construction. It's in the forest, and so beautiful. What a dream. I'd love for Michael and me to build our own home. Wouldn't that be fun. A small place. No more trophy homes. And Cheryl and Gary's home is just wonderful.

Then - home! To sit quietly in front of the fire with a cafe au lait and reading Michael's manuscript. Did I tell you what the bugger did? Remember when we were in BC at the festival a few weeks ago and Michael had given me his finished manuscript...I sat on the dock and read it, making notes. Loving it. Well, when we got home and I gave it back he looked at it and blushed.

'what is it?' I asked.

'hee, hee,' he replied. Michael very rarely giggles. It is almost never a good sign.

'Go on,' I said.

'Well, it's a funny thing.' (which was a guarantee it wasn't going to be all that funny), 'but I gave you the wrong version. That was an old one.'

I then said a few things...

And now I'm reading the 'real' manuscript. And if it isn't, I don't want to know. But the thing is, as much as I adored the draft I read, this one really is even better. I'm very, very happy for him!

So we're both sitting by the fire, reading. I made chicken noodle soup and fresh tomato sandwiches for lunch. Eaten by the fire. Doug brought his dog - Buttercup, the Hound from Hell. Who drank most of the pond then threw it back up. So we've been going for long walks with BC and Trudy.

Lovely day. Breakfast tomorrow with Joan. As you know, it's my meal of choice. Not sure what's for dinner tonight. We have baguette and cheese - by the fire - and perhaps a pasta and pesto.

Speak tomorrow. Happy Labour Day long weekend.

THE BRUTAL TELLING is launched!!!

overcast, mild, temps 22

It's launch day - and the most exciting of my career! As I said yesterday, the largest bookseller in the world, Barnes and Noble, has made THE BRUTAL TELLING their main selection.

I feel so giddy I'm almost sick. But in a good way. Good nausea. Like morning sickness. I guess. As you see, my mind has also been affected.

What a thrilling day - and THE BRUTAL TELLING is now on sale across the US!!!

I sure hope you like it.

And I really want to thank you all for finding the series before anyone else knew about it. And sticking with me. And telling others. How lucky I am. I happy I am!!!

And, Lesa Holstein, a wonderful book blogger from Arizona has a terrific review of THE BRUTAL TELLING. Here site is called Lesa's Book Critique. Here's an excerpt...

How do I describe the latest Chief Inspector Armand Gamache novel? Penny rips you apart, and then patches you up with poetry and Gamache's kindness....Clara, the artist who serves as the conscience of the village says, "Every Quebec village has a vocation. Some make cheese, some wine, some pots. We produce bodies." But, where did the body come from? Gamache knows there are secrets hidden, and lies told by some of his old friends....deep in the heart of the forest surrounding Three Pines, Gamache discovers contradictions - the horrifying cruelty man is capable of, along with beauty and peace....It's autumn in Three Pines in The Brutal Telling, a time of beauty, change, and death. Those elements merge to make this the most powerful book yet in the Chief Inspector Gamache series.


What a beautiful review from Lesa Holstein!

And what a dream of a day!!! Honestly, I wish I could describe how exciting today has been. I spent most of it responding to emails - wonderful, exhilerating messages. And speaking to the publisher in New York...Minotaur Books. Fabulous publisher. As a gift celebrating the launch, and the B&N Main Selection, they sent a framed photo of a huge ad that will soon appear. I won't say where...perhaps you'll see it.

How lucky am I?

And then, tonight, my brother Doug arrives at the hotel holding a big box, very carefully. I felt for sure it must be something alive. Gerbils, perhaps. The little known tradition of giving gerbils as a launch gift. Thank God Minotaur hasn't yet heard of it.

fortunately it turned out to be a cake! Michael had contacted Doug and asked if he could arrange to have a cake with the cover image of the book on it. this, of course, fell to Doug's ex-wife but great friend Mary, to track someone down.

they did...and it looks great. Will try to get it up on the website at some point.

Then we all went out to a nearby Indian restaurant for dinner...then back to the hotel room for cafe au lait and to devour THE BRUTAL TELLING. As I hope you soon will!

Then, at 8:30, I had a conference call with a wonderful, lively, smart book club in the american midwest. Springfield. Great questions. And a great way for me to cap off this celebratory day!

And now my latest child is free. I've done all I can. Let's see how she does.

Barnes and Noble Recommends!!!!

rain, mild, temps 20

What a few days!!! Now I can let the secret out...THE BRUTAL TELLING has been chosen by Barnes and Noble as their main selection! This is HUGE. I knew it was on the shortlist, but never dreamed it would actually be chosen. It means the book will be features prominently on the website and in the 700 B&N stores across the States. It is considered second only to Oprah in terms of impact.

I am beyond thrilled...ecstatic. Yippee.

If you go to B&N website you can see a Tagged interview. that's one of the main reasons I went to New York earlier this month.

It was SO hard to keep the secret. The only other person who knew about it, in my circle, was Michael. And everytime he threatened to say anything I poked him in the eye.

Wait a minute. you don't think....

We are in Toronto now, at the SoHo Met (great hotel) and enjoying the extraordinary time. I'm determined not to dull the thrill by worrying. But to hand it over and delight in this great, unexpected gift.

Can hardly wait until tomorrow when THE BRUTAL TELLING goes on sale across the States!! Beyond thrilling.

Had a fun weekend...visited Cousin Marjorie in Elora, Ontario - and did the Eden Mills Literary Festival, also in Ontario. It was a stunningly beautiful day (yesterday) and it was a stunningly beautiful location. this small town - a village really - of stone homes on a river. they closed the whole village to cars and made it pedestrian only - with four venues with authors giving talks and readings.

Mine was at the Mill - with another mystery writer, Terry Griggs, and a Canadian philosopher, John Ralston Saul. It was the first time I read from THE BRUTAL TELLING. Not convinced I did the best job, but have to start somewhere. It will get better and better as I practice and get in front of audiences. It annoyed me, I must admit, that John Ralson Saul - a quite prominent Canadian - didn't bother to show up until his time...wandering over and apologising by explaining he was just hanging around doing nothing, and forgot.

Not sure about Terry, but didn't make me feel a lot of respect for him. I've traveled the world doing literary festivals, often exhausted - as are almost all the other writers - but we still manage to show respect for our fellow panelists by at least listening to them, and not only showing up when we get centre stage.

Oh, well. Maybe I'll be like that one day.

Happily, it wasn't a big deal, just a sort of bafflement and disappointment. I'd heard good things about him. We still bought his book. It is important to support each other, after all.

We're in TO until Thursday...totally bouyant about the B&N turn of events!!!!

And can hardly wait until tomorrow (Tueday) when THE BRUTAL TELLING is on sale across the US. I feel quite emotional about it.

Be well - and thank you for sticking with me...and showing up, even when I had very little to say.

What a beach

mainly sunny, warm, temps 26

Lovely day...feels like summer. Though I just ellipticated so I suspect most of the humidity is coming off of me. I'm my own micro-climate.

Had a terrific luncheon with Emilita and Charles, Marjorie, Michael and me. Pat made the most wonderful salads...a bulgar and bean, a broccoli and a spinach, strawberry and toasted almond...followed by the famous pear and blueberry crisp. I'd also put out sliced black forest ham, pheasant and pistachio pate and stinky, runny, yummy cheeses.

Janet did us proud with a superb seasfood chowder. I picked it up in the afternoon and she'd put it in a bucket! A nice white plastic on, but it certainly smacked of the seashore...felt as though instead of clam picking we'd managed to find the entire seafood chowder by the shores.

And the weather even, unexpectedly, cleared...with a nice breeze so it wasn't too hot.

Marjorie wanted to take us out to dinner last night but after Emilita and Charles left we decided to just stay in and have left-overs. Sat on the screen porch, watched the sun set, heard the rumble of distant thunder, and nibbled.

This morning after breakfast Marjorie headed out on the next stop of her tour...Kingston. Then home to Elora.

This week I need to finished the polish on book 6, write the August newsletter, write a new top for the homepage of the website, update the events list now that we're beginning to have a better idea of what's happening on the tour...and write up the interview with Alan Bradley for Mystery News Magazine. And we're meeting with Danny and Lucy from the Knowlton bookstore to discuss the local launch of The Brutal Telling. have changd that to Wednesday since we've accepted a dinner invitation from the people renting our cottage for Wednesday...despite my firm promise to myself to decline all invitations until I get other things under control, including my own private time. To that end, though, I called Martine and Andre this morning and asked if instead of dinner we could just do drinks...then we could come home. She was very gracious in the face of a not very gracious favour I was asking.

Still, it's a wonderful office I have here to do all those things. And I have to say, I'm so excited about the launch of The Brutal Telling I'll do whatever it takes to make sure as many people as possible know about it.

I imagine you have a busy week too...we can all have full lives together! So much more fun than feeling we're the only ones! I love knowing I'm not alone.

Yaba Daba Doo

Overcast, cool, temps minus 5

It's a kind of damp, cold day. But fun. Had to zip in to the village to get some things for lunch. Michael's former lab technician, Claudine and her 16 year old daughter Katherine were coming for lunch. Driving 2 1/2 hrs from the lower Laurentians.

We decided to do a tortiere with wild rice salad, lentil salad and a green salad, as well as fresh baguette. Picked all that up then dropped into the bistro to say hi to brother Doug and Joan, having coffee together.

Arrived home just in time to greet Nancy, who was there to fix Michael's computer, again. Damn servor keeps messing up. Poor Michael - very frustrating.

And just as I got the groceries in, Claudine and Katherine arrived. Such lovely people. Claudine worked in Michael's lab (working on childhood leukemia) for decades. They adore each other, so it was such fun to see her again and get caught up. And Katherine, who is lovely, wanted to interview me for a school project she's doing. So we sat in front of the fire and while her mother and Michael chatted we yakked as well.

Doug came by just as we were getting up from lunch to take the dogs for a walk. He was just settling in when the phone rang...his son Brian from the ski hill. He and Theo were ready to be picked up.

They're coming over in an hour or so. We'll have a spaghetti dinner. Easy. Everything in this house is easy. Claudine and Katherine brought their HUGE black dog named Ebony and we all agreed when you have dogs in the country you can't be house-proud. Hair everywhere. Toys. Slobber. Bones. Mud from outside (though we try to clean their paws). Honestly, it looks like Fred Flintstone's cave sometimes.

Finished the draft of THE BRUTAL TELLING. Still not sure which version I like best, but we're off to Hovey Manor for a few days next week and I'll take both along and read them there. I know whichever I choose it will still need editing and polishing and tweaking. It's a process that never ends. The Neverending Story!

Oh, more good news. The Murder Stone was chosen the top mystery of the year by Margaret Canon of the Globe and Mail, along with Giles Blunt's No Such Creature. The Murder Stone was also chosen as the top pick by the Hamilton Spectator.

Be well and I'll talk to you tomorrow.

Yes, we have no bananas

rainy, cool, temps 10

Classic autumn day...perfect for sweaters and tea and hot baths. Can't write long - the dogs need to be fed and since this is the highlight of their day I don't want to make them wait too long.

This was going to be the last quiet day before the storm that is a book launch and the swirl of promotion. But somehow, it got away from me. Michael and I had breakfast with Cotton in Knowlton, then met with Danny at the bookstore to discuss the events of the next two days.

The dropped Michael at home and headed in to Sutton. Picked up a printer at the loft and arranged for the last three things to be taken away...then to the post office to mail, among other things, the manuscript for book 5 to my agent in London. THE BRUTAL TELLING is now out of my hands.

Then to the grocery store for tonight's dinner of roast chicken.

Got home, walked the dogs, had a bath, then needed to start dinner...we cook it in a claypot. As I chopped the veg Michael came in and shyly asked about the chicken, and whether I'd seen it. I couldn't figure out what he meant. Then he told me. He'd unloaded the groceries and while I had a whole lot of things I hadn't intended to buy - what I didn't have was a chicken.

Back to the village and the grocery store.

In the meantime, I'd stripped the bed and done a couple loads of laundry. So have spent the past hour preparing the claypot, folding laundry and making the bed. And now it's the dog's dinner.

You know, one trick I've learned, and when I remember my life is calm and fun and peaceful and often joyous.

One day at a time. What wisdom. I can get stressed out if I think of all the things I need to do in the next 2 months. All the travel, the readings, the speeches, the signings.

But if I just take it one day, one event, at a time life is simple and lovely.

I just wish I could remember that...I also wish I'd remembered the chicken.

The big launch is tomorrow night at Brome Lake Books in Knowlton at 5pm - then High Tea at Hovey Manor Saturday at 2pm. It's sold out, which is great. 80 people booked early.

I'll let you know how it all goes. Such fun to have you along for the ride...most of you've been with me this whole year as I've written THE BRUTAL TELLING, and gone on tour, and lived out lives.

Now's the payoff. Hold on.

Pears, melted brie and spiced blueberry crepe

cloudy, some rain, cool. 14

Went to Knowlton for breakfast. Ahh - I'm beginning to appreciate that Book 5 - The Brutal Telling - really is done. I can feel myself creak back to place. I feel my heart lighter. Though, not perhaps the rest of me. Had the most amazing crepe. Pear, melted brie and spiced blueberries. Mother of God. Take me now. Perfect. I think I'll have to add it to the Bistro menu in Three Pines. Such fun having a restaurant, without actually having to cook.

Ran a few errands today - and then, to celebrate finished THE BRUTAL TELLING and the launch of THE MURDER STONE, we made reservations to spend 10 days in Paris!

It's been a few years since we were in Paris. We're staying in St Germain, just off the Luxembourg Gardens. In a friend's flat. I'm almost giddy with excitement.

Have a couple of manuscripts people have sent me to read, and this afternoon I got started on them. In front of the fireplace. Today for the first time this season I put on a turtleneck. It was almost cold enough to snow this morning.

We continue to be worried about Maggie, but we find when we take her painkillers we feel much better.

Will call Joan to see if she's available for breakfast tomorrow morning. As you might have noticed, I adore breakfasts out. It's a total indulgence...I guess because it more than anything really signals 'vacation'.

Talk to you tomorrow. Phew...so relieved to have finished this stage of THE BRUTAL TELLING

The End

Sunny, gorgeous, temps 24

A perfectly brilliant day - the day I finished book 5!!!!!

THE BRUTAL TELLING is told. We saved it all over the place then I shut the computer before I was tempted to fine tune. Plenty of time for the major first edit when we get back in mid-June. for now - I'm on vacation!

I'm very happy with this book - and very happy it's over - at least the first draft. I realize the hardest work isn't the writing - which just requires discipline and determination. The hardest work is beating down the demons who say I can't do it.

Well, too late. It's done! When the time came I called Michael and I wrote, 'The' and he wrote, 'End'.

Perfect.