Buttercup rules! (and then some)

sunny, warm, temps 24

You can tell that we've slipped over the cusp of summer here. As soon as August starts. We can still get a very hot spell, but for the most part it begins to cool off. We now have a harvest of potatoes. Two.

Our counters have also moved up three two feet or more as all the food has been lifted off the counter and is now piled on top of the fridge. this comes from Buttercup experience. She's the dog on the right of the photo - with her," I'm thinking" look...Trudy is on the left, with her "I'm not thinking" look. They're such great friends. In fact, Trudy completely dumps Michael and me when Buttercup, Charlie and doug are here. she slept with them last night - which means Charlie was the one who got the soft, smelly, toy in the face at 5am.

But there's no doubt that buttercup rules. She wants in. She wants out. She wants all the carbs in the house. She swims on the pond, rolls in skunk poop and eats the goose droppings. She thrusts her head in places that make us jump (and it's often a wet head, so you can imagine what we all look like when we go into Sutton).

But she is absolutely joyous. Doug had warned us that at 8 and a half she was slowing down. We see no evidence of that.

We're having a great time. I continue to edit all morning...have moved a TV table up to our bedroom, along with the laptop. That frees up the rest of the house for Charlie and Doug to play/swim/chase Buttercup. Am finished by one o'clock. We grab lunch, then the guys go golfing (a par 3 close to us) - and today Michael and I are off to meet them in Sutton, for ice cream cones.

Wanted to tell you that on Friday I'll be doing an event as part of a terrific local literary festival called, les Correspondances d'Eastman, in Eastman, Quebec....a pretty village in the townships. I'll be on a panel with Johanne Seymour, Andre Jacques and moderated by Ann Lagace Dowson. It will be in French. the panel is at 1pm. Michael and I plan to start the day with breakfast at Manoir Hovey - then off to make final arrangements (sounds very somber) for the new fireplace for the renovations - then head to Eastman for the panel.

Love to see you there! Les Correspondances is a really amazing literary festival - varied - great balance of genres and between established and emerging writers.

Must run. And still in my pajamas! Best, perhaps, to at least put on my good pajamas for the trip in to town. And still have to put laundry on the line.

Oh - and the third edit is going very well....what a relief! am now at page 155 of 285. And very much liking the book. Changes still being made, but they're superficial at this stage. simplify. simplify. Hope to be finished this edit by Sunday.

Deep breath.

Third Draft

sunny, calm, warm - perfect day - temps 28

A really lovely day....hardly a whisper of wind...not too hot. Not humid. One of those really magical days.

I spent it inside - writing. Or editing, I guess.

Started the third draft today. The plan (it should really be in quotation marks) was to get at the laptop by 8am, do fifty pages, and be finished early afternoon.

But then I had a brainwave. I'd do something I'd never done before. I'd work on the very last chapter first. I'd ben worried that in the two previous drafts I'd rushed it - been just way too tired by the time I reached the end and I wasn't happy with it. the second draft was way closer to what I wanted, but I knew I could do better. so I spend quite a bit of last week quietly pondering it. It's a funny process of not thinking about it, but trying to open my find and hope inspiration drops in. And a few ideas did.

In some cases it was a turn of phrase, in others it was a structural issue. Some stuff I wanted to play with...suppose I did this first, and moved that over there, and placed such-and-such here...God bless laptops, where I can play like that - move things about - and see.

So today, at 8am, I got started. Just the final chapter. And I finished at 5pm. Quite tired....and quite certain I am considerably closer. Might even be there....might have nailed it....but between us, I'm just too close to it now to know. so tomorrow I'll go to the beginning of the book and move forward - as I normally do.

By the time I reach the end again - at the end of the week I hope - I'll know if it works.

but I honestly don't feel stressed anymore. I know I'll get it, if I haven't already. That it's either there, or close.

Lovely day with no interruptions. Saw no one. Perfect writing day. ended with a barbequed steak and corn on the cob - sitting on the porch this peaceful evening.

tomorrow my brother Doug and his son Charlie arrive, along with....Buttercup!!! The hound from Hell. We only call her that because for many years she was totally unmanageable. Uncontrollable. the only consolation was that there wasn't a mean bone in her body, or her ferociously wagging tail. She simply had a surfeit of joy - and an ability to digest entire living room sets, then poop them out in the field. Fascinating to walk Buttercup. It's a sort of disgusting magic act.

They're arriving from Toronto tomorrow. am hoping to edit in the mornings and play with them in the afternoons. Weather's supposed to be very nice. Uncle Michael is really looking forward to it....besides the fact he loves them, we also all go out for soft ice cream in Sutton....and to watch Uncle Michael eat ice cream is something never to be forgotten. I'll try to take a photo - it too is a sort of disgusting magic act, where slowly, over the course of about 15 minutes, he morphs into a huge ice cream cone himself.

Talk to you soon - hope you've enjoyed your weekend.

Hello, I must be going...

mailing sunny - hot and humid - temps 29

Very muggy. LOVING the geo. But I spend all day editing on the screen porch. Absolutely heaven. Take trudy for a walk when I get fed up or frightened, or confused. She is getting in good shape.

To be fair, the book is also in far better shape than I dared hope - both in terms of the quality and structure of the first draft, and the way the second draft is going. I made a lot of notes in the weeks I took off between the two, and I think they're paying off. Today was a bit dicey - some pivotal stuff needed to be added and switched around...but it worked well. Oh, thank heaven.

Amazing how powerful fear is. I was thinking this morning, after editing just 5 pages of the 25 I was hoping to do - that maybe I should stop. Just stop. I didn't want to do it anymore. Oddly, this wasn't in a particularly difficult section. and while tired, I don't think I'm any more tired than anyone of you.

I think it was fear...again. Not focussed, just sort of free-floating. fortunately I recognized the feeling...had it in the first draft too - and in each of the past books...as I near the end of a draft I shy away from it. Feet that had felt light and strong suddenly feel leaden. Some invisible power is pushing me away from the end, like a polar opposite magnet.

But clearly that's not reasonable, and certainly not an option. So I just need to put one foot in front of the other and keep going. Nose down.

And sure enough, within a page, that feeling had gone. Am now at page 228 out of 280. Slightly more than 60 to go, though I suspect I'll be adding some at the end. I think I hurried it, so desperate was I to finish the first draft. My hope is to be finished the second draft (first edit) by the end of the week. It should be possible, though I also know it slows down at the end, just because of the intricacy of it.

Had a fun day yesterday. Edited until 1pm, then Michael and went to Knowlton and had lunch with kevin and Terry Tierney. Then at 4:30 I interviewed Kevin as part of the Knowlton WordFest. Fabulous festival...lots of amazing guests. Kevin produced Bon Cop, Bad cop. Very funny - and the most successful Canadian film at the box office in decades. His new film is out in Oct and is called French Immersion.

Must run - Bal, Linda, Bethany and their friend Trevor have arrived...staying in cottage...came over for swims, drinks, nibblies. then I'm off to give the literacy speech to end the Knowlton WordFest. Bye!

Still here - plugging away!

mainly sunny, hot, temps 29

Beautiful day...sunny, hot and humid - though clouding over a bit now. thunder storms forecast.

My brother, Dog, dropped by for a short visit. Just overnight. always such fun having him here. And I think, given Lucy's unexpected loss, that added a layer of gratitude. That I could still hug my brother. And laugh with him and tell him things few others would be interested in. And see him and Michael kid each other, and be so comfortable together.

We called back and forth to Regina, where our other brother, Rob and his wife Audi live. We're trying to arrange the annual family reunion for Thanksgiving. We think we'll rent a home in or around Niagara-on-the-lake. Beautiful community in Ontario, close to Niagara Falls.

I want to sincerely thank all of you for your support of Lucy. I know how much she, and her family, have appreciated it. And I appreciate it too. thank you.

Sorry for the blog silence. Feeling a little overwhelmed right now. With the editing, and the need to keep up a certain pace so that I'll be finished before I go on tour. And all sorts of great things happening, but each demanding time and attention. Teresa Chris, my agent, has just sold the books to be translated into Greek, Taiwan (Chinese), Portuguese (bringing the total to 20 languages)- but most of these countries need complex tax forms filled out and stamped by Canadian tax authorities and sent on.

That takes time. And who really likes paperwork???

So many things have come as a surprise in having a writing career. Most very, very good. The magnificent friends I've made...the people I've met. You. And the excitement that never diminishes in having a manuscript accepted....and then, that magical day of holding it in my hands. Wow.

but it can also be a bit overwhelming. Right now, as I seem to race toward the fall tour, I want to finish the book. And not just finish - but make it as wonderful as I can. So I find I need to stop and go back, and go over, and add, and adjust....then move forward. And it always takes far more time than I expect. I had a thought today about how to make a scene better about 20 pages earlier....so tomorrow I'll go back and redo it. sort of like ripping the knitting out. Painful - but if you want a creation you're proud of, that will forever be associated with you - then it is necessary.

Michael and I stayed in Montreal after James Hoblyn's funeral - figuring getting over the bridges on a friday afternoon would not be pleasant. So we over-nighted at the apartment, woke up at 5:15am - drove to Sutton (bridges a dream) - and met Gary and Cheryl for breakfast at Le Cafetier.

Susan's at the guest cottage, so we went over there for dinner Saturday and she came over here for drinks and a swim yesterday before doug arrived.

The Knowlton literary festival, called WordFest is this coming weekend...I'll tell you more about it in the next post - I hope.

sort of a scattered post - but lots to catch up on.

Huff and puff

sunny, lovely day - temps about freezing

yesterday was the most amazing wind and rain storm. Power off and on. Water put in the bathtub, since when our power is off so is our water, and our plumbing (if you follow). We drove home from Hovey through twigs flying through the air...blown off nearby trees. A few trees down across the road.

Calls back and forth from friends and neighbours. Your power one? Yours?

A tree came down and knocked down Joan's power and phone lines. Gary let her his cell phone, so she spent the evening fielding his calls from clients and friends. Heaven knows what she's committed him to!

Pat and Tony's power was out for 24 hours, and still out when last we heard.

Ours flickered - and went out a few times - but generally stayed on. Then, unexpectedly, it snowed last night - then the skies cleared. The two photos above were taken by Michael when he walked Trudy around the pond this morning.

As you can tell, we're home. spent today back at the laptop-going over the editors notes for A TRICK OF THE LIGHT....started the edit. Always scary at first, but quickly became very fun as I realized I very much like this book. Phew.

More editing tomorrow - and Lise coming by with business. While we were away she decorated outside. Put up beautiful christmas wreaths and lights. And tony put up more lights on the honeysuckle. Not quite Santa's Village - but very welcoming and warm. Thank God for My Assistant Lise!

back!

sunny, mild, temps 23

Sitting by the pool with Michael and Victor - they're swimming and I'm...not. I just came out from sitting in front of the fireplace. It seems the guys and I are living in different seasons. They're still in summer and I've slipped in to autumn. I'm even in sweats. Still, it's lovely sitting out here.

Haven't blogged for a few days...hectic. Saturday was very busy...drove out, met Susan for breakfast, then drove to Knowlton for the SPCA day. I had two dogs - Daisy and Enya. Daisy is the dog on the left and Enya's on the right. both older, both up for fostering rather than adoption...which basically meant instead of the 280 dollar adoption fee they'd be free, since the spca just wants them to find a nice home to end their lives.

I was thrilled when our friend Hope adopted Daisy! But sadly Enya didn't find a home. In fact, not many did. Last year the spca brought 22 dogs and adopted 17. This year they brought 25 and only found homes for 3. It was a little rainy, so that probably stopped people from coming out.

I have to say, I almost decided to foster Enya, but considering our schedule I realized we'd be away off and on for a while and it wouldn't be fair on her, or Pat and Tony. Or Trudy. Both dogs would need more stability. But it breaks the heart to see all the dogs getting back on the truck. Happily they have a great home at the spca Monteregie in the country.

then off to visit friends - and after that Michael, Victor and I went to the cottage for a late dinner with susan and her friend Liz. Excellent bbq - and lemon posset. yum yum.

sunday was supposed to be just writing but ended up being a whole lot of other stuff too...getting quite stressed. I was saying to my brother Doug that I'm now like a miser, but instead of counting money I pour over my agenda, looking for free days, half days, days when I can just edit. And, God willing, maybe a few days between the fourth draft and the beginning of the tour.

Today loads of visitors - but good stuff. Editing. Influx, infestation almost, of mice. poor things. Furnace cleaner came. Editing. Pat and tony dropped by to show us their terrific new truck. Editing. Susan and Liz coming in about an hour for dinner. bbq. easy. Still have five more pages to edit before then. off to montreal tomorrow for press launch of En plein coeur - at a great restaurant in Old Montreal. Then some interviews, in French - then home, via Granby to visit Jacques and Louise in hospital.

Hoping to get more editing done Wednesday. I sometimes feel quite stressed....and have to take a step back and realize even if this book isn't finished, it's not the end of the world. the end of the world looks quite different than an unfinished manuscript, and sitting by the pool.

I need to remember that.

Be well - will blog again when I get the chance...but I do think of you through the day. Please keep speading the word about Bury Your Dead. I'd LOVE for this book to do well! thank you.

Montreal

mainly sunny, mild, temps 24

Lovely easy drive in to Montreal. Spent the day editing - fourth draft. Got to page 37 - quit about 5:30. Too tired really to enjoy it and have any judgment left.

Had the most wonderful dinner at the cottage with Susan last night. Chicken and pork on the barbeque (just corrected a typo where I initially wrote children and pork on the bbq - oh oh). And two fabulous salads, one with watermelon, parsley, spanish onions, olives, feta cheese. Unbelievably good. the other was a yummy quinoa and cranberry salad.

In this latest book, set in June, I have Gamache eating a quinoa and mango salad. Seemed like a good combo. Must use the watermelon one too. Lovely fresh fruit salad for dessert.

have the French TV interview tomorrow. Susan was wonderful, helping me practice. Wonderful to have a quiet day here, to just concentrate on writing. Am really loving this book...at the smoothing out stage now. Love this stage. less terrifying. While we were away a few scenes and adjustments occurred to me, so the manuscript is littered with notes.

Tomorrow will write in the morning, try to get my hair done around noon, get to the TV studio for make-up at 2pm. I always feel like a cartoon character in TV make-up. Will probably sound like one too. Wilma Flintstone - or, in French - Wilma Pierrefou.

Susan told us the Champlain bridge will be down from 3 lanes going south out of the city, to one lane this weekend. Construction! Have to decide whether to drive out in rush hour after the interview or stay over anyway and get up early Saturday and risk hitting terrible traffic over the bridge. I go back and forth on the decision. Need to be in Knowlton for the SPCA adoption day by 11 am. Still, I'm leaning toward staying over...but will see.

Michael stayed in the country...his son Vic is coming for a week or so, so this gives them a few days on their own. Always nice.

Hope you're enjoying your week. Will let you know how the interview goes...light a candle!

SPCA Tea Time

rainy, clearing, sunny and mild, temps 20

A little on the cool side - but great sleeping weather. Awoke in the middle of the night by a deafening clap of thunder...the whole house shook. But only the one. Odd.

Michael and I treated ourselves to breakfast in Cowansville - then to the stationary store, the post office, the bank. then off to Brome Lake Books to drop something off for Lise. and to say hi to the fabulous Danny and Lucy. Then home.

We got back by noon, played with Trudy for a while - then got down to work. Set a goal of 30 pages edited today, and just finished. Started off quickly - 10 pages in half an hour...then took an hour and a half to do another ten pages. Often the fine-tuning takes the longest...I know something's slightly off, but not sure what. Often it's just a word here or there, or a sentence in the wrong place.

Now I have a few interviews to complete, and prepare for, and many emails to return. As usual. Oh, and I almost forgot! I need to write my post for tomorrow's Lipstick Chronicles. Yikes - almost forgot.

But as you see, the title of this blog is the SPCA Tea Time. It's coming up next Saturday, July 31st - Michael and I are hosting it here. Among other things, there's a silent Auction - including an ARC of Bury Your Dead. One of the organizers is dropping by later this afternoon with some of the auction items, to put in our dining room.

I know many of you reading this live in the area, or in Montreal, and you might be interested in coming...the more the merrier...and it all raises money for the SPCA. If you'd like to come to the afternoon tea - just get in touch with Brome Lake Books...Danny and Lucy have tickets. And it's tax deductible. Their phone number is: 450-242-2242.

I'll be mentioning this again, as it gets closer. Hope you can come! Though I know many of you support your local no-kill shelters. Excellent.

Speak to you tomorrow!

editing etc

mainly sunny, hot, temps 30

Great day...sat again on the porch and edited. Michael beside me. Wayne cutting the grass. We really do need to consolidate the work done at the home, so that everyone doesn't come on separate days. I just really long for peace and quiet to write and edit and just be...quiet. But now it seems everyone comes on a different day. Have asked Lise if she can help with this...

Have to say, the place just shines after Lise and Wayne have been.

It was so hot today...we were just dying...but when Wayne's out there cutting grass we just don't feel we can splash around in the pool. Torturous for him, and not very private for us.

Writing a mixed bag...editing, really. Hit some patches that were pretty messy...surprisingly so. But also hit two sections that took my breath away - unexpectedly. I find if a section isn't working I need to read the scene all the way through, figure out why it's there, what I wanted to say...then re-shape it. Am winnowing it down too. down to just over 103,000 words. At this rate it might be a novella by the time I'm finished. Just kidding...I love that I now have loads of space to add if necessary. And I can think of a few scenes that need to be added.

Am loving this book though, and the themes.

Tomorrow more editing...then the 5-7 cocktail (in Quebec they're called cinq a septs) to open the Knowlton WordFest literary festival. Meeting, among others, Jim Napier there. He's a friend, and literary critic, and he and I are doing a couple of events together this weekend. He'd coming to stay overnight Friday and Saturday.

Not sure if we'll put him in the main house or the cottage. The cottage has air conditioning in the upstairs bedroom, so if it's stinking hot we'll put him there. Our guest bedroom in the main house gets sweltering.

Busy, busy weekend. But fun. Will tell you more about it in tomorrow's blog. Love to see you here for the lit fest.

Hope you're enjoying the day.

3rd draft

sunny, beautiful day, temps 32

Hot but not humid. Really, a very beautiful summer day here in Montreal. Have finished the first day of the 3rd draft and am sitting on our balcony looking out over the private park at the back of our building. Very tranquil, except for the endless work being done on the building across from us. The poor people who live in that building!!

Didn't get so far on the third draft...only about ten pages....but while in New York I had a couple of ideas for this book, and especially the beginning - which I have now re-written three times. I've had to do that with a few books. The beginning of Still Life - the opening chapter I mean - didn't come to me until after about a year. And I remember taking a bound print out of THE BRUTAL TELLING with us to Cambridge, in the UK. We were there a couple of years ago, in Sept, for Michael's 50th reunion. I thought I had just the fine-tuning of THE BRUTAL TELLING to do, and so was looking forward to sitting in one of the famous walled gardens at his college, or by the banks of the Cam river, reading the manuscript for my latest book. One of those 'pinch me' moments.

Well, the 'pinch me' moment became a 'kick me' session.

I read the manuscript with growing horror - and nausea. I'm not kidding. When something's wrong in my life, and certainly in my work, it sits in my stomach.

I was so upset, and disconcerted. Here it was, September already. I thought I'd all but finished the book, and now I'm reading it, and hating it! So I sat down with a red pen and started crossing things out, and moving things, and re-working the opening...inded, reworked a lot of it. Just hoping to save it. Pull it from the fire.

Interestingly, when I'd finished I adored the book...it was worth every moment of anxiety (i say that now that the book is out and is fine - at the time it was excruciating). Sometimes it seems the more I have to struggle, the better the book is. Means I really am writing close to the bone - and more and more in touch with the characters and the story I want to tell. So that if something is off I know about it, and can't let it go. The issue then becomes, how to fix it.

So today I worked on the beginning of this book, and I think I got it right...but that's the power of finishing a draft then waiting a week or so...gives me time to disconnect, and be able to come at it with fresh eyes. The eyes of the reader. And to know if the book is as good as it can be.

But it sure is a relief right now to say I'm pleased with where it's at.

Also wanted to tell you that the novella I wrote for literacy is now available for pre-order. Not actually sure when it'll be released, but you can go to Amazon.ca and order it. It's called THE HANGMAN. Now, I do need to warn you that it's really just a quite long short story, and while it has Gamache, and is set in Three Pines, it is written at a grade 3 level, so the wording is perforce very simple. As is the story.

It's meant for emerging readers...but is certainly aimed at adults. So you might like it too. And the money goes to literacy organizations.

We're meeting Susan for breakfast tomorrow, then Michael has a dentist appointment and a meeting with our accountant and friend, Frank. Then we're off home.

It's a bit of a trade-off in sweltering weather. The Montreal apartment has airconditioning. But the country home has a pool.

Woe is me, who has to make such choices. Yes, I know, I don't get to complain. Well, just try to stop me!

Hope you're well - speak to you tomorrow!

Does it go here? or here? or over here???

rainy, cold, temps 19

Started out very warm. but then the rain came. At first it was lovely...a warm summer rain, but then the wind changed and it got not just cool but cold. I'd left laundry on the line last night and fortunately took it in before the rains came. We ate breakfast on the screen porch and started working out there, on the laptop...few things more peaceful than sitting in a screen porch listening to the rain fall.

But as soon as it turned cold, we skiddadled inside. Michael laid and lit the fire and we spent the rest of the day there. Have just taken a break...watching some of the World Cup - but will get back to the book. Solved the problem, did more editing...but am now in another mire...noticing stuff I've repeated, so now I need to figure out where it is best to give this information. Trial and error, really. Moving back and forth. By page count it seems not much progress, but this has to be done. And kinda fun, really. Like a puzzle, again.

What a wonderful feeling!!! Nothing to do today except write/edit. Off for breakfast in Cowansville tomorrow - then home again to more writing. And nothing else.

I yearn for days like this, as you know. Well, back to work.

Tea Party

cloudy, some sunny periods, cools and windy...temps 15

We can smell the smoke from the forest fires way up in Northern Quebec, so huge are they. Disconcerting. Not because we're in any danger, but just knowing how much is being destroyed. And the threat to people's homes and way of life - most of whom are native. Terrible. Apparently the burning can be smelt as far south as Maine.

Very frightening for the people. I remember well the wild fires in Australia a year ago.

Had a fun board meeting this morning, organizing the SPCA tea. Going to be a great event.

Spent the rest of the day editing nd writing...until seven pm. Then made dinner. Writing/editing going well but much slower than I expectd. The first draft is close to right - but not quite...so to get it right I actually have to do alot of writing. i'm enjoying it, and very pleased with how the second draft is reading. But wow is it a hard slog.

Still, the job now is to get it right. Quality, not quantity, I keep reminding myself. Even if this draft takes until August, if I get it right it's much better than being finished in June, but needing yet another severe re-write.

Feel like the blog is dull - not much energy or creativity left by the time I blog these days. Sorry! But I do think of you.

Lovely, quiet day tomorrow. Just writing. Yay.

Memorial Day

bit cloudy, cooler, temps 20

Still a nice day...watered the annuals in the pots that Lise planted a few days ago. She also asked us to water the broccoli. All watered. Then it started to rain.

But not for long. We actually haven't had rain for a couple weeks...now everything's really dry.

the second draft is going slowly - but well. As I mentioned earlier, the beginning is always the most labour intensive, always needs the most work...but I think the big re-direction is done and now it's more fine tuning. Or not. We'll see.

I feel I can now set a goal. The manuscript is 264 pages, single spaced. I'm on page 20. I'm hoping to get to page 100 by Friday. And then 100 pages a week after that. At that rate I might be finished by about June 20th. So that's the goal...allowing for some days away to do events...I'll be in Orangeville, Ontario next weekend for the culmination of the One Book, One County events, at the Grace Tipling hall in Shelburne. So that'll be a few days away for travel and the event...and other things.

Meeting friends for coffee today at the Cafe International in sutton.

Tomorrow morning we're hosting the board meeting for the SPCA tea. Michael and I have agreed to host the big fundraising event this summer. It's a tea at our home, outside in the garden. Last Saturday of July. So there's an organizing meeting here tomorrow morning. God bless, Lise...she said she'd come and help out. We have to decide where the tents should go. Of course, as we walked the property earlier and I'm making suggestions, Lise, always patient, listened, then gently pointed out that if they put the tents where I suggested they'd all be underwater if it rained. I chose the low land.

Tomorrow should be fun, as we have coffee, muffins, and ten of us walk the garden deciding what to put where. Well, we suggest and Lise decides.

Then more writing. Feels good to breakthrough to a point where I feel it's fair on myself to set a goal and goal-posts.

Have noticed, yet again, that the letters on the keyboard of my old laptop have worn off. Just little flecks of white are left. Every now and then as I write I forget where the 'h' is, or the 'p'. And then I have to hit keys at random. So words come out like 'larty' - 'oarty' - 'tarty'...and finally - 'party'. So, if Peter and Clara suddenly have a tarty gathering you can guess what happened.

I'll let you know how the meeting tomorrow morning goes.

this is the Memorial Day long weekend in the US...the time when there are tributes to men and women in uniform. yesterday was also the day when the Library in Lee Ann's neighborhood was renamed...a 'memorial library',,,it's a campaign that first brought Lee Ann and I together, when Still Life first came out and a specific quote moved her to write me. We've been in contact ever since. At the time her son Thomas had recently been killed in Iraq. And she'd started the campaign to have the library re-named a 'memorial libary' - in memory of all the men and women who have died. Years and years she and others in her community have fought, argued, asked, begged, cajoled.

And finally, it has happened.

I've asked Lee Ann to blog about the experience on Monday. I just wanted you to know.

Be well.

Sleuth of Baker Street

sunny, cooler, temps 24

Another gorgeous day. Gad - how long will this torment last??

Writing went much better today. We started with breakfast out - as a treat - then back home by 9am and at work until 3pm without breaks except to walk Trudy around the pond. Unspeakably beautiful out there.

I think the new idea has worked...what a relief. got tired at the end and sort of did a short-hand end to this scene. but will read it all over tomorrow morning and see what I think. It's important at this stage that each word have a reason to be there, and if possible each scene and conversation serve several purposes, propelling both the plot and deepening the characters.

I think this new approach has worked. Wow, what a relief. Yay.

Had a very fun email from Marian Misters of Sleuth of Baker Street in Toronto. At the Arthur Ellis awards in Toronto last night, The Brutal Telling won the Sleuth award for the best selling Canadian mystery of 2009!

How wonderful that feels.

Thank you for all your supportive comments after yesterday's post. It helps!

2nd Draft, first swim

sunny, hot, temps 30

Gorgeous day. slight breeze - brushing away most of the black flies. Started with breakfast in Cowansville. Then home to start the second draft of book 7.

There are two terrifying days in my writers calendar. The first day of the first draft...I hate first drafts. Very scary. And the first day of the second draft - or the first edit.

that's today. I love editing, but the first day is terrifying because I've just spent 3 months fighting to keep the big, fat, stinky critic at bay. Behind the bulging door.

And now I have to let it out. I need the critical eye and thoughts for the editing. But by now the critic has grown mighty bitter and pissed-off and full of bile. It's just mean. And it's in the room with me. Venting. Screaming that I've just wasted 3 months. That the entire first draft is the worst pile of skunk poop ever dropped. That the characters are cardboard, the story confusing, the conclusion cliched. and, while we're at it, I'm fat and stupid and ugly. And, are you really going to wear that???

Yikes.

You can see why the first day of editing is pretty gruesome.

As it approached I kept reminding myself to stay in the day, in the moment. Don't think ahead. Just write down ideas as they came and don't listen to the critic warming up in the background.

As I went for walks I tried to open my mind for inspiration, and ask for help and guidance, and courage.

this morning, the first day of editing, I lay in bed and opened emails...and there was a message from a woman I hadn't seen or spoken to in 40 years. In her long email she was describing a mutual acquaintance...and her description was exactly what I was trying to do with the book. I wrote her back and thanked her - and asked if she minded if I used some of what she wrote as inspiration. And she said not at all.

It was so strange. Like waking up to an email from the gods of inspiration. It was thrilling. As I read her message so much of what I had to do became clear. Often it's just a turn of phrase...as it was in this case.

So I sat down and re-wrote the whole first chapter. Using what I already had as a base...but coming at it from a different angle. It feels right and good - and calming.

The first day is always the hardest. But when it was over Michael and I celebrated with our first swim of the season in the pool. The kids swam all weekend - the temperature in the pool was 70! Since the forecast was for continued hot weather through the week we put the heat pump on and it's now in the low 80's.

Back to editing tomorrow. It gets progressively easier. And more exciting, as the fear slips away.

All gone

party cloudy, hot, temps 29

Another beautiful day! Sunny and hot. Had coffee this morning with a friend in Sutton.

the family left at 5 this morning. Michael and I set our alarm for 4:15. Woke Doug up...he did the last minute packing of the car then woke the kids. Four bleary zombies clomped downstairs, gave us hugs and kisses (they could have been kissing a chair as far as they were concerned)...then into the car. Actually, to be fair, most did manage a few full sentences. And were very gracious.

And off they went.

And back to bed we went.

Just got emails from Theo's mom to say he's home and to thank us...but I have to say, he's a remarkable young man...boy. Hard to say at 12. He sat down at the piano and started playing, so I asked about music lessons and he said he doesn't play piano but something else (have just forgotten which instrument he said)...I asked how in the world he picked out Mozart, and he explained he plays it on his other instrument so figured it out. He cleared the table, and even washed his dishes.

Some smart mother should get dibs on him in about 10 years for her daughter. He's also a funny and kind boy. A great friend for Charlie, who is all those things as well.

Also had an email from Doug, confirming they're home. Always a relief to hear that.

Have a quiet afternoon...might try to do the first draft of the June newsletter. I think the Canadiens are playing tonight - have sort of lost track. It would be the make or break game. Tomorrow having breakfast in cowansville then some banking, then home for....arrrgh....the beginning of the first edit, or second draft, of the next book. Very scary. Will tell you tomorrow what happens.

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.

Death, thou shalt die.

Sunny, beautiful day, temps 13

Went to a tiny village called Tibenham yesterday for John Buxton's funeral. It was a beautiful event. Emotional, but didn't feel catastrophic. He was 75 and had seen his death coming, as had we all. And he talked about it easily, though admitted to Michael in private moments, that there were times he was afraid, and times he was in a rage about dying. And we felt that same way about losing him.

but finally, like with most death, it was a celebration of his life. And all the people he loved. And who loved him, including his wife Moira and children Jocelyn and Nigel and Dee and Patrick. And his grandchildren. And his friends and family. And Michael.

We sat at the back of the very old church. It's tiny and was crowded. The rafters and ceiling looked like the hull of a viking ship. It is a very simple, very clear church. Very lovely. And in the background were the bells John and Moira had had re-made a few years ago. The church was founded centuries ago by one of John's ancestors...another John Buxton. Many of his ancestors are buried beneath of the huge stones of the church floor. That wasn't possible for our John, but he did ask that he be allowed to lie there for one night, in his coffin, before being buried as close to the church as they could.

And so he did.

the service was simple as well, with his brother in law George doing a very lovely eulogy. And John's two sons reciting a Sonnet by John Donne - chosen by John. The one that begins, Death be not proud...

It was very moving to see his two boys, grown men now, so dignified.

Then the graveside service.

It was blowing a gale...the worst storms of the year for England. Rail service was disrupted, trees and electric lines down. Lashes of rain at the grave intermingled with huge leaves torn from trees.

It was very, very Gothic. I think we all appreciated how macabre and dramatic it was. Especially standing amid moss covered old tombstones beside the tiny church.

In fact, as we entered I noticed the marker commemorating the men of the parish who had died in the world wars. And I remembered that that was where I got the inspiration for the memorial window in the chapel in Three Pines. Beneath the list of names was written, simply, They Were Our Children.

After the service we went back to the Swan pub. Very old, half-timbered...small, comfortable rooms, each with an open fire. and out the leaded glass windows the storm continued. Then Peter, a friend of the family, who has helped us a great deal in the past two weeks on our visits to John and Moira, drove us to the train station. Thankfully our train wasn't disrupted. We made it back to Liverpool Street station, then home on the underground. By the time we emerged the storm was over. And today we awoke to a brilliant, sunny, new day.

Spent the morning on the last 20 pages...almost finished. Need to be so careful, so clear, at the end. We're off now for a Japanese lunch, then more editing this afternoon. I'm determined to be finished this draft by bedtime tonight.

Be well. Thank you for holding our hands through this, and coming to the funeral. We so appreciate it.

Afternoon Tea....again!?

cloudy, lots of rain, very mild temps 16

Teeming rain today. Poor Michael went out to get the papers while I edited and came back drenched.

Quiet day...decided to go back 200 pages and smooth out and read the delicate thread in Bury Your Dead. Very worthwhile. It also made it clear where to add the new scene. then moved forward.

Have 20 pages to go - hope to finish Sunday.

Went out for afternoon tea to a wonderful little hotel on Basil Street, behind Harrods. It's called the Capital Hotel...not, I think, a very promising name...but a beautiful hotel. The tea was a suggestion of Erika. The room where tea is served only has about five tables. It feels like a study, with bookcases...and silk lined walls. Very fresh feeling and intimate and comfortable.

Yummy tea. I had Rose Petal Gong Yu.

Actually skipped the sandwiches and pastry stage. Wasn't hungry. But am now so we have reservations at an oyster bar on Sloane Street in half an hour. Not a bad way, all in all, to spend a Friday.

Tomorrow we're off early to catch the train from Liverpool Street to take us to Norwich and John's funeral.

All in all not a great way to spend a day - but we're sure glad to be here for it.

Must head off...probably won't blog tomorrow...won't be home until late. But will speak to you on Sunday. Hope you have a good weekend.

A whole lot 'a nuttin' goin' on

overcast, cool, temps 11

though I haven't been out today at all! spent the day in my sweats, and you know what that means! Writing. Editing, actually. got almost 100 pages done - but difficult. Not much new, but tweaking and needing to make sure the edits are actually improvements. And of course when I change one thing, it affects other things later on...everything's connected. It's like tossing a pebble into a pond. Not a big splash - and quickly disappears unnoticed (I hope) but with consequences. A lot of editing is thinking, and staring, and imagining. Where the change might make a single scene better - by the end of the book the effect might be catastrophic.

So - as a result - I'm really tired and will not do a long post. Besides, nothing happened.

there - that was simple.

Dear Diary,

Tuesday, November 10th. London, England.

Nothing Happened.

Louise