eh?

mainly sunny, unseasonably hot - temps 30

Tour is buzzing along. yesterday was a full, and happy day. The kingston Writer's Fest is always a highlight. Terrific authors and amazing volunteers - which really is the key element in a literary festival. passionate, effective, happy volunteers. Spent the morning relaxing on the balcony, looking out over lake Ontario. Then at noon I got dressed and packed and headed to the first event of the day. Thankfully the writer's fest was in the same hotel...so we all met in the Writer's Lounge on the top floor, and then went downstairs...Peter Robinson, Eric Friesen and me.

I'm always afraid that the room will a) be empty...no one will have bought tickets b) those who are there are there for the other author and I'm just an annoyance.

But fortunately the room was packed with readers of both peter and me - which is exciting because there's a cross pollination that happens - especially since we write somewhat similar styles of book. In fact, the book seller ran out of copies of Bury Your Dead!

After the signing I was whisked by 3 librarians about an hour down the road to the Belleville Library, for an event from 6 to 8. Again, stressed that no one would be there....but again the room was packed and they had to bring in more chairs. It is such a pleasure to look out and see friendly faces. And to realize, this is my job. This is what I do for a living. Write books I enjoy for friendly and kind people. And myself. How lucky am I?

Then caught the 9pm train to Toronto, arriving about 11pm...and fell into bed.

The big event today was the 'Eh Series' talk at the Toronto Reference Library...spectacular building in the centre of the city. Jose Latour - a really gifted writers of crime fiction, with a cuban tinge, 'interviewed' me. We had great fun, and he had very thoughtful questions, which makes a big difference. It's always hard to interview a crime writer, without giving too much away. And this book is even trickier, since there are really three deaths or events intertwined. But Jose did a masterful job.

And again, the place was packed! such a difference from the first couple of books, where I pretty much spoke to janitors and people who'd wandered in by mistake and then were too polite to leave.

Am back in the hotel now....beautiful, sunny day out....should go for a walk, but instead I plan to just relax. Marshall my energy. That's the excuse for being just plain old lazy!

Tomorrow between 4 and 6 I'll be at Sleuth of Baker Street in Toronto...a wonderful mystery bookstore. Hope to see you there.

Enjoy your weekend!