Hello, Chief? Would you believe, it's minus 31?

Clear, bitterly cold, temp. minus 31.

Dear Lord. Minus 31. Can't even imagine how quickly flesh freezes in that. fortunately there's no wind. If there was no one would venture outside. Except Tony, who helps around the place and pretty much keeps us running. Around Christmas he looks like Santa. Bushy white beard. Quite a mountain man. But as the season progresses he looks more and more like a Yeti.

God bless Tony!

Quite a busy day. Writing this morning. Have learned to shut out all distractions - phone, email, visitors etc. I have to, otherwise I'd still be writing A FATAL GRACE/DEAD COLD. do you remember Get Smart? I loved that show as a kid. Would you believe I had a tiny crush on Maxwell Smart? But when I write it's as though I bring down my own 'cone of silence' - with results similar to the show. It doesn't always work. Missed it by that much.

Cotton just called. We were supposed to go to dinner with her tonight but she's (not surprisingly) caught a cold so has cancelled. We have a small gift of home-made (not by us but by Manoir Hovey) granola. This granola is like heroine. We've hooked our friends, and now dole it out sparingly when they start 'jonesing'. It gives us power over everyone around us, which we like.

Pat just called - to thank us for the dose of granola we gave her! Lovely woman.

Am off for lunch with Cheryl - the one that was truncated a couple of weeks ago after a call from my agent. Have granola for her too.

Wish I could give you all some - perhaps it's time to introduce it to the bistro in Three Pines. I think I will. Will be writing a scene there today. Ha, that's fun. Granola on the menu now. With a nice hot cafe au lait. Yum.

Stay warm. Thanks for the company.

To do list: #1 - Kiss up to Janet Evanovich

Brilliant sun, calm, cold, temps minus 16

Today really is cold - but since it's so calm it's actually very nice. In fact, it's more than nice - it's spectacular. Sun gleaming off snow - everything crystal and sparkling, the snow looks pink and blue depending upon the angle.

We've just returned home after a day at Hovey and two in Montreal. The city got quite a bit of snow, but nothing compared to here. There must be a foot of fresh snow. It's hard to write about it without slipping into 'purple prose'. Suffice to say, we feel like weeping, it's so beautiful.

Great to be home. Ran around doing small chores. Dry cleaning, appointment for Maggie at the vet, recycling. We have a composter out back - sometimes needs to be dug out before we can dump the scraps in. Amazing the difference composing and recycling has made to our garbage. And, of course, we don't use grocery store plastic bags anymore - except when I forget to take the canvas bags into the shop - which is about half the time.

Last minute organizing of media and events for the book tour. The big drama is trying to get to the Arizona television morning show studios in time, since I'll be flying in from Detroit that morning. Time difference on our side, but airline schedules aren't. Best we can do so far is 6am flight out of detroit to Phoenix. that gets me in at 8 or so. Rush hour. Sadly, I don't yet rate the St Martin's Minotaur private jet (I think Janet Evanovich is using it) or the chopper (probably Janet again). But one day!

Must run - there's a whole lot of lying around and doing nothing to be done.

Be well and I'll speak tomorrow - and if you haven't yet, you might want to sign up fast to the Newsletter (it's free). I have a couple of give-aways for the launch of THE CRUELEST MONTH in the March issue.

Take care of yourselves.

Agatha Awards!

Snow ending this afternoon (10-15cms fallen), cold and windy, highs minus 8


Well, we just received the BEST news! A FATAL GRACE (Dead Cold in Commonwealth) has been nominated for the AGATHA AWARD for Best Novel!

The nominees are:

The Penguin Who Knew Too Much, by Donna Andrews (St. Martin's Minotaur)
Her Royal Spyness, by Rhys Bowen (Penguin Group)
Hard Row, by Margaret Maron (Grand Central Publishing)
A Fatal Grace, by Louise Penny (St. Martin's Minotaur)
Murder With Reservations, by Elaine Viets (NAL)

Yippeee!

What amazing company - and I have to say I'm both stunned and thrilled. This is voted on by readers, so it's even more significant. The winners are decided at the Malice Domestic convention in Washinton in April. You get a ballot upon registration.

To be considered for an award named after Agatha Christie is deeply meaningful to me. I adore her, as you know - and am indebted to her for hours of entertainment and comfort - and ultimately for a style of writing. My books are tributes, homages, to Dame Agatha.

I honestly didn't expect this, so I was trembling with excitement.

We actaully found out Monday afternoon, but were sworn to secrecy until all the nominees were told. Almost killed me not to tell you about it yesterday. Though it helped that, to celebrate, Michael whisked me off to Hovey Manor for the night. We were already going for breakfast Tuesdfay morning, but we decided - why not? Go Monday night, have a wonderful meal, and celebrate.

I believe in celebrating - you never know when all of this will disappear, after all. And what a gift this nomination is. Especially when you see the others on the shortlist.

We're in Montreal now - scooted in before the storm yesterday. Will write this morning then try to figure out how to get to the Montreal General Hospital for Michael's hearing exam. Snow - it's beautiful, but very hard to navigate.

I really am thrilled about the nomination. And I see that Charles Finch, who wrote, 'A Beautiful Blue Death' is nominated for an Agatha for Best First Novel. I read it in manuscript and wrote an endorsement...great, fun book - with depth. Set in Victorian England. Wonderful main character too. A book well worth buying. I'm not familiar with the other nominees in his catagory, though I'm sure they're good too. But I have a fondness for Mr. Finch.

Hope you're well and thriving - will write again tomorrow.

snow storms and schedules

partly cloudy, mild, highs minus 4

I was wrong about the weather yesterday. When I let the dogs out I thought it was bitterly cold (and God knows it was clear - almost a sure sign it's extremely cold). But it wasn't cold at all! It was one of those amazing days when it's sunny and very mild. Temperature must have been hovering around freezing. Gorgeous.

Today is similar, though not quite as bright. And a little windy, so the windchill comes into effect.

Another storm forecast for tomorrow and Wednesday - and of course we have lots to do on those days. We're trying to figure out our schedule.

So far this is the plan;

Drive to Hovey Manor at 8 tomorrow for breakfast and to discuss the possible launch of the next book there. It's a stunning Inn on the shores of Lac Massawippi, about an hour from us.

Drive 1 1/2 to Cowansville for Michael's test for new glasses.

Try to get to Montreal (about another hour drive) before the snow storm closes in.

Stay night in Montreal. Write Wednesday morning in Montreal. Then Michael has a hearing test Wednesday afternoon. Will probably stay the night Wed. too. Drive back Thursday.

I'm also feeling a little overwhelmed by the degree of details descending. Thank God for Lise. But with all the mystery conventions I'll be going to in the next year I'm having difficulty remembering which one's I've registered for. And if I can't also register for hotel rooms at the time I register for the convention, then I can forget that too.

So far we'll be going to:

*Malice Domestic in Washington (flying direct from London for that) at the end of April
*CrimeFest - in Briston, UK, in June
*BookExpo Canada in June (flying direct from UK to Toronto for that)
*Wolfe Island Festival - in August in Kingston, Ontario
*Bouchercon, in Baltimore, in October
***Magna cum Murder in Muncie in October - I'm the guest of honor with delights me
*Left Coast Crime, in Hawaii, in March 09

I'm normally quite organized, and Lise is ulta-organized - but woke up at 3am wondering about Bouchercon. Sure don't want to miss that.

And, have to say how thrilled I am to be asked to be Guest of Honor at Magna. It's a fantastic, intimate, smart festival run by Katherine Kennison out of the Univeristy in Muncie. It's three days (really 2) and you get to meet and mingle with some wonderful mystery writers. It would be fun to see you there.

On another topic, we received the Russian copies of STILL LIFE late last week. What a thrill. Though a little odd since my name doesn't appear to be on the cover. It is, of course, only in Cyrillic - so I can't read it. So it could be by anyone. But I know whose book it is. And it sends shivers down me to see my first baby translated into Russian. This book no one wanted.

Life astonishes - if we just keep breathing, and trying our best.

Thanks for reading - not sure if I'll be able to write for the next few days, as we battle schedules and snow, but will try. Be well.

Lovely, quiet day in Three Pines

Sunny, very cold, temp minus 15

Another very cold day. Shouldn't come as a surprise, this is Quebec in February after all. Hard to get out of bed some mornings, feeling snug and warm under the duvet. Haven't set the alarm the last two mornings since we had quiet days. Writing days. Bliss. Woke up at 7am anyway.

Michael's now managed to gain a pound. Since I don't weigh myself I have no idea how I'm doing, but have decided that his pound gain is his and his alone. I also know, from other periods of watching weight that this happens. He'll be down 2 pounds by Wednesday.

Lovely, quiet day today. Mike and Dom dropping by around noon to say goodbye, but that's all. I plan to stay in my pajama's all day, and write by the fire. Then have a long bath as my treat. I find when I write I need to be extra kind to myself. Normally that's with food - a pastry, some chocolate, what have you. But nowadays it's baths.

Am looking forward to the US tour in a couple of weeks. St Martin's Minotaur, my publishers, have added a lunch in New York City with the book buyers for Barnes and Noble. That should be fun.

How lovely, for now, to have a peaceful day at home writing the next book. Visiting with Clara and Peter, sleeping at the B&B, cafe au lait at the bistro, and following Armand as he unravels a troubling and perplexing murder. Sure hope he knows what he's doing.

Be well.

A hostess tip, courtesy of Trudy

sunny and snowing lightly, astonishingly beautiful, calm, temp - minus 4

It's a day to stare out the window and wonder. We have a solarium at the end of our kitchen - glass on three sides. There's nothing like sitting in it during a snowstorm. We can see the storms coming across the mountain. The mountain will disappear in white, then the forest, then the field, as the storm marches toward us. Then it hits the house and we're on the inside of a globe of glass, protected and warm.

Today is much more gentle, just huge flakes floating down from clouds directly overhead - but the sun in low on the horizon and there are no clouds there. So it's all brilliant sunshine and gleaming snow. Stunning. Must write a book about it. Naw - never work.

We bought the property next door. The owner has Alzheimers so we've been talking with his daughters, who are devestated by the disease and the need to sell the property he loved. They were glad to hear it will never be built on, and remain forest, and that they can come and walk it anytime. They also asked if we'd mind if they scattered their father's ashes there, when the time came. Of course we said we didn't mind at all. Comforting, really, to know he'll be over there.

Mike and Dom arrived from Montreal yesterday afternoon - went to the guest cottage then came here for dinner. We chatted by the fireplace for a while then moved into the big country kitchen for dinner - Brome lake duck. About half way through we heard a little (though quite distinct) wretching sound. Like good guests no one said anything. But about 30 second later Dom's face scrunched up as though he'd just swallowed Buckley's Cough Syrup - which I'm pretty sure wasn't in the recipe.

Nope. We'd discovered the source of the wretching sound. No surprisingly it was actual wretching. Trudy had 'tossed'. Right beside Dom.

You know, I think if dogs only realized that if they want to attack humans they needn't bite, just throw up. We all recoiled from the table.

It was back to the living room. Michael set up trays by the fire and we continued in there. It was actually lovely. Very 'family' and relaxed. Hard not to be once the dog had thrown up on a guest. Gives you an insight into how elegant my dinner parties are when a dog throwing up is barely noticed.

But there's my hostess tip for today. To spice up your party get your dog to throw up.

No need to thank me.

It's a day to just write. Love those. So it's back to Three Pines for me.

Be well.

Dusty finds a home, at last

clouding over, light snow expected, getting warmer, highs minus 5

Dear God it was cold yesterday, but gorgeous.

Had a wonderful dinner with Kirk and Walter. Stayed on our diets as much as possible - no fries, no dessert, smallest, leanest steak on the menu. I expect to fit into a size 2 after sacrifices like that!

Kirk was telling us about the dog his mother and father just adopted. Michael and I had been contacted by a friend who wanted to know if we'd take this quiet 3 year old Golden named Dusty. His parents were elderly and going into a home. We hemmed and hawed and realized 2 is good for us, unless it's an emergency. So I wrote her back to say if the dog was in distress, or death row, we'd certainly take him, but otherwise we'd see if any of our friends would.

We talked to lots of people and sent his adorable picture around. People came close, but no cigar. Then I was chatting with Kirk. He and Walter had just lost one of their 2 black labs. I was hesitant, it being so early, but I asked if they'd be interested. He thought about it and said it was too soon - but his parents might take Dusty. they'd lost their golden a couple of years ago and were missing a dog dreadfully.

Calls were made, and two night ago Dusty entered the home of Kirk's parents, who fell in love with him immediately. Kirk was there, just to make sure all was well - and what did Dusty do as soon as he entered? He started to scratch. Then Kirk looked closer and saw the poor guy was in terrible condition. Hair matted and falling out, bloated, and infested with fleas!

God, it makes me so mad.

Thank God Kirk's parents are so loving and kind. He was immediately sent for a flea bath, and he'll get to the vet this morning, and be put on a diet and is on his way to recovery - like Susan's Hamish.

Honestly, had we known, we'd have taken him right away. But I think he's found a way better home than ours. Over dinner last night Kirk said he'd just called his parents to see how the dog was and his mother was whispering, 'Shhh, he's asleep'.

Kirk says he reminds him of our rescue dog, Seamus. And Susan's descritpion of Hamish. How a dog can be abused, or neglected, and still be so full of love.

Animals and gardens. Everything I need to know I learn from those two things.

Michael and I are off to Knowlton this morning to buy the 30 acres of land across the road from us. It came up for sale a few months ago and we immediately jumped on it. There's no house there and we want to keep it that way. We'll put a servitude on it right away and donate it to the local conservation/environment authority so no one will ever be able to build.

Baby steps. Michael and I could be way better about our environmental footstep, but we're trying.

Mike and Dom arriving just after noon for the weekend.

Book going well. 2,000 words yesterday. It's at an exciting stage! Always afraid the muse will flee, so I write madly away to keep her here - like Scherezade (sp).

Thanks for reading - will talk to you tomorrow.