flurries, chilly, temps minus 3
Had a marvellous dinner with Mike and Dom last night. Fire on in the guest cottage - cold night - we walked in and were wrapped in warmth and the most luscious aroma. Slow cooked lamb provencale. Dom's from France and really, really know how to cook. So we sat and chatted over drinks - wine for them, water for Michael and me - then moved into the dining room and just had a great time. Mike and I go back before I met my Michael...we worked together in Quebec City...and Dom is an amazingly talented marketing person. He was just in London co-ordinating the launch of 2 new high end fragrances. So fun to hear about their lives, and to talk about our candidly with people we know and trust. It was fun, calm, relaxing and stimulating at the same time.
Then home to the puppies, last out for the night - and fell asleep in Michael's arms.
Have a fairly quiet day. Pat and Tony came before breakfast to pick up things we're giving to the Reilly House - a senior's centre in Mansonville...Pat volunteers there. After finishing the blog I have some emails to return, an interview to do, the ornament draw to make (for the two spectacular Christmas balls Lise made, inspired by the Three Pines books) - and two book endorsements to write...one for a Canadian publisher (terrific book actually set in Norfolk) and one for an American publisher for a mystery also set in the UK (the writers are both British) - it's a manor house mystery set in 1805 - with a wonderful Miss Marple-esque aunt/detective.
Couple hours work should do it. Then off to Toronto tomorrow for an event at Casa Loma at 7:30 Tuesday night. Weather's supposed to be horrible! Mix of rain and snow. Wouldn't you know it?
Received my notice in the mail about the start of my mammograms. Every Canadian woman starts screening (if she wants) at the age of 50...having a mammogram every 2 years. Have a close friend - Sharon - whose cancer was found that way - early too, thank God. I'll do that after Christmas.
I'll try to blog tomorrow morning before heading in to Montreal - then hopping the train to Toronto. We have a provincial election tomorrow...looking like the Liberals will win with the Parti Quebecois (the separatist party) coming in second...no big surprise there.
Take care - talk tomorrow I hope.
Showing posts with label endorsements. Show all posts
Showing posts with label endorsements. Show all posts
Sunday, 7 December 2008
Sunday, 18 November 2007
The Delights of Ms. Penny
Brilliant sunshine, cold. Highs minus 4
Have just finished reading the most marvelous book! It was sent to me in manuscript form and it's by a British writer - Kate Summerscale. Raincoast Books is publishing it in Canada next year and I suspect it'll be a hit. It deserves to be.
It's called, THE SUSPICIONS OF MR. WHICHER - and subtitled - The Murder at Road Hill House.
It's non-fiction - about the Scotland Yard detective (Mr. Whicher) and his investigation into a particularly gruesome murder in Wiltshire in the mid-1800's. Professional homicide detectives were brand new and even Scotalnd Yard didn't quite know what to make of them. And the detectives themselves were more or less making up the art and science of detection as they went along.
Mr Whicher's investigation shocked the British people and drew both huge praise and crippling criticism. So well reported were his methods he ended up being the inspiration for Wilkie Collins fictional detective in the very first murder mystery using a professional sleuth - Moonstone.
So each and every fictional police detective can be traced back to Mr. Whicher. He's our 'Lucy'.
It's a fantastic book - and it was a pleasure to endorse - though I suspect the publishers will have so many great blurbs mine will be crowded out. Still - it's an unexpected perk of being a writer to be sent such great books to read before anyone else gets their hands on them.
And speaking of endorsing - one of the books I most enjoyed endorsing last year has won the British Ellis Peter's Dagger for best Historic Novel. The wonderful
MISTRESS OF THE ART OF DEATH by Ariana Franklin. A stunning novel well worth reading.
Another is by our own Canadian writer Linda L. Richards - her great book is being published by St Martin's Minotaur in the US (!!) in the winter. More about that later.
So exciting to be inspired by other writers. Thrilling and often more than a little intimidating!
Am off to give a small talk at 10 - then maybe lunch in Knowlton. Have a big week coming up.
Be well - speak soon.
Have just finished reading the most marvelous book! It was sent to me in manuscript form and it's by a British writer - Kate Summerscale. Raincoast Books is publishing it in Canada next year and I suspect it'll be a hit. It deserves to be.
It's called, THE SUSPICIONS OF MR. WHICHER - and subtitled - The Murder at Road Hill House.
It's non-fiction - about the Scotland Yard detective (Mr. Whicher) and his investigation into a particularly gruesome murder in Wiltshire in the mid-1800's. Professional homicide detectives were brand new and even Scotalnd Yard didn't quite know what to make of them. And the detectives themselves were more or less making up the art and science of detection as they went along.
Mr Whicher's investigation shocked the British people and drew both huge praise and crippling criticism. So well reported were his methods he ended up being the inspiration for Wilkie Collins fictional detective in the very first murder mystery using a professional sleuth - Moonstone.
So each and every fictional police detective can be traced back to Mr. Whicher. He's our 'Lucy'.
It's a fantastic book - and it was a pleasure to endorse - though I suspect the publishers will have so many great blurbs mine will be crowded out. Still - it's an unexpected perk of being a writer to be sent such great books to read before anyone else gets their hands on them.
And speaking of endorsing - one of the books I most enjoyed endorsing last year has won the British Ellis Peter's Dagger for best Historic Novel. The wonderful
MISTRESS OF THE ART OF DEATH by Ariana Franklin. A stunning novel well worth reading.
Another is by our own Canadian writer Linda L. Richards - her great book is being published by St Martin's Minotaur in the US (!!) in the winter. More about that later.
So exciting to be inspired by other writers. Thrilling and often more than a little intimidating!
Am off to give a small talk at 10 - then maybe lunch in Knowlton. Have a big week coming up.
Be well - speak soon.
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