Deb and Ann

bright sunny day, cool, temps 10

Gorgeous day here in London! Michael and I woke up and had breakfast in the flat - then he headed out for lunch with his sister Carol and David and I headed out to meet up with Deborah Crombie and Ann Cleeves for lunch. Deb had chosen a restaurant in Notting Hill called Le Pain Quotidien - french for Daily Bread. It's a very good chain of bistro type restaurants. Great soups and breads...a bakery essentially.

Since it was such a lovely day (and there was no easy underground or bus route from Knightbridge to Notting Hill) I decided to walk. London is a magnificent walking city. Almost no building is over four floors. Many are Victorian or older. the newer ones are because of the Nazi bombings in WW2. There's no grid system. Streets meander, alleys and mews' appear - and end abruptly in a wall or a house.

After studying the map I decided the best, and prettiest way, would be to get up to Hyde Park and walk across it, cutting over to Kensington Park.

It really is a perfect day to stroll through Hyde park. I wandered over to see the Albert Memorial - put up by Queen Victoria when her beloved husband Albert died. It's magnificent and aches. Always so sad to see the huge, gold statue. It's above.

Then walked down the tree lined path through the park.

Made it to the restaurant early and drove the waitresses mad by moving from section to section. The first had too many screaming children and inattentive mothers. The second had no kids, but a very loud speaker playing music right above it. And the third? it was just right.

We Canadians long for the middle bear.

Ann arrived first and we had a wonderful time getting caught up. If you don't know her series - she has two. There're her 'Vera' books, which have just been made into a TV series here in Britain and will air in the spring...and the other series is set on the Shetland Islands in Scotland. Wonderfully written - beautifully atmospheric. That is a four book series and might I suggest you read them in order? The first is called Black Raven and won Ann the Dagger for Best Crime Novel of the year.

The Deborah Crombie swept in. Rooms always brighten when Deb arrives. Smiling - filled with energy and warmth. Deborah is a writer I loved even before I started writing. Her latest is called Necessary as Blood, and is just brilliant! She and Ann had never met but they immediately hit it off and talked about people they had in common - then eventually we began comparing notes....things we hate about the publishing world. Things that break our hearts (mostly dashed hopes...we hope a book will do well, find a huge audience, and when it doesn't, and we can't even find a copy in the bookstores - it really does break your heart). And things we really love about it - like just getting to do it. making up stories. Writing them. Meeting other writers. But mostly, meeting readers.

Because we're readers too. We have so much in common with people who read our books. It's such fun.

So we ate and gabbed for hours. Then Ann was off to meet her publicist and Deb and I walked back through Hyde Park - to Harrods. Talking about our latest books, our series - choices we'd made - things we weren't sure of. Such a relief to find my fears are Debs. Are Ann's. I'm not alone. And if I'm nuts, so are they!

The photo above, obviously, is of Ann, Deb and me. Ann is on the left of the photo - I'm in the middle - and Deb is on the right.

Honestly - it doesn't get much better than to meet two of the best crime writer's in the business - whose books I love to read - for lunch in London.

Pinch me. OK, that's enough.

Yay - PW!

raining torrents - cool, temps 7

God - we had better weather in Montreal! But this new flat in London has a huge bath and I'm planning to brew up a nice cup of tea and take it, and some cookies, into a bubble bath with me. Bliss.

Had magnificent news, as some of you already know. BURY YOUR DEAD has been named one of the Best Mysteries of 2010 by Publisher's Weekly! There's a link:

Best Books of 2010
http://www.facebook.com/l/cb415ku-UVNTHwDimHb4NAFA09Q;www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/book-news/awards-and-prizes/article/45070-best-books-of-2010.html?page=1

Congratulations to everyone on the list. Such fun to think of the Publisher's Weekly editorial staff going to the bar (as they describe the process) and hammering out the top 100 books of the year published in the US. Amazing to think Bury Your Dead is one of them!

I was in the Tate Britain having lunch with my agent Teresa when John sent a message to Facebook. I'd gone to get my coat and picked up a few messages and saw his - read it - and then Teresa and I celebrated! It's an incredible feeling to be in the Tate, having lunch with my agent, when news like that arrives. The whole thing just feels too good to be real.

Wow.

In fact, the whole day was perfect...except the rain, but London has been known to have a drop or two of rain in the past, so that shouldn't have been a surprise. We woke early, headed out to Knightsbridge tube station to top-up our oyster card. (that sentence would not have made sense to me a couple of years ago). Basically an 'oyster card' is the transit system's credit card. You put money on it, then everytime you use a bus or tube you pay. Very easy and effective system. Then we hopped on the tube and went three stops to Green Park and walked the block to where we were meeting Michael's sister Carol and her husband David for breakfast. A fun block, made of almost entirely of The Ritz hotel.

Last time we were in London Teresa, Michael and I met my new editor there, for tea. Or were supposed to. But Michael wasn't wearing a tie, and was barred! Only at the Ritz.

Must say, while it was upsetting that we didn't know, I quite like places where there's a dress code. When we were in san francisco, staying at the Johns Hopkins InterContinental we paid for the upgrade to the club room...but found when we visited said club room that people were sitting around eating McDonalds (which smelled up the whole place) and walking around in bare feet. Now - I love McDonald's, especially their fries and milkshakes, yum - and God knows I love bare feet - and flannel pajamas. But I don't think the club room in a supposedly upscale hotel is the place for either. But perhaps I'm hopelessly old fashioned and rigid.

I digress.

Michael and I walked past the Ritz, to The Wolseley - this quite magnificent restaurant in what looks like an old bank. Massive open room with marble and pillars. It manages to look impressive without being ridiculous or way too pompous. Carol and David arrived and we had a great time catching up. Carol is stunningly beautiful and an immensely kind person. A published poet and accomplished artist. David is an opera conductor and is working on a few recordings (he already has many) and is now completing the last in a series of definitive books on the works of the British composer William Walton. such fun to hear David describe reading the scores and realizing Walton said something should be in G when it was clear to David it should be in C.

I, of course, nod and smile and completely agree. Huh?

The time flew by, and then it was time to leave. Pouring rain outside. David, Carol and Michael hopped on a number 19 bus and headed back home. I grabbed a cab and went to the Tate. I was early for lunch (as you see, our time in London really is pretty much uninterrupted eating...the only interruption is being transported to the next trough). so I wandered around and came upon the exhibition above. Two fighter jets in adjoining rooms. One lying on it's side (a jaguar fighter) and one suspended from the ceiling - as you see from the photos. It's a Harrier. Amazing, riveting. It actually looked not modern at all close up, but ancient...its hull like elephant skin, or some old, gigantic fish. A shark. And then to stop within inches of the floor. Very tense. I thought you might like to see it.

Then Teresa and I had lunch in the basement restaurant. Gabbing and enjoying each other's company.

Tomorrow is a day just to ourselves. Oh, heaven. Nothing at all planned. No commitments or appointments. Nothing to do, nowhere to be. Phew.

Wednesday is going to be such fun!!! Am having lunch with two of my favorite writers ever. Deborah Crombie and Ann Cleeves. and they're really lovely people too - of course, otherwise, quite frankly, I wouldn't choose to spend time with them.

We're sitting at home, reading the Times and the Telegraph. Trying to figure out how recycling is done here. All these little things that make having an apartment in a city fun and even exciting.

Ahhh, London.

The kindness of strangers -

mainly sunny, temps 10

London! Probably my favorite city in the world. Except for Montreal. (I feel I have to say that, but between us? I think I prefer London to even Montreal). A great city. As Michael and I sit in our rented flat I can hear the distinctive UK police sirens, hear the distinctive thud of a black cab's door slamming shut. Hear British voices in the street below.

Love it.

We can see Harrods! Will try to take a photo tomorrow to show you the view down our street. Basil Street. We are bookended by Harrods and Harvey Nichols. Dear Lord. Sauve qui peut. Every man for himself.

Yesterday was fun, but long, of course. Drove 3 hours to Arnprior. Very relaxing drive. Listened to music and thought about the next book. Arrived a few minutes early and went into the Arnprior Book Store. Met Gwen, the owner. Such a lovely woman. Then headed to the connecting tea room. hmmm - a bookstore with a connecting door to a place with scones and sandwiches and coffee. Reminds me of something....

Made notes on the book and passed a pleasant few minutes. Then Andrew Pyper arrived and we started the event. The room was packed! So wonderful to see so many people. In fact, it was standing room only. And everyone so welcoming. It really felt like being with well-wishing friends. Andrew talked about his latest amazing book, The Killing Circle, and read two chilling excerpts. Remarkable.

Then I talked about Bury Your Dead and read a short piece. Then it was time to chat and greet people and sign books.

I had to hightail it out by 2:30 - and Gwen was very respectful of that. At 2:30 exactly I zipped out. Fortunately as far as I know I'd just signed the last person's book.

Got home just before 5:30 - time to freshen up before the airport limo and Steve arrived. Michael and I whisked off to Trudeau International. Now, Trudeau can be a bit of a dogs breakfast. The french are VERY good at many things, but I'm not convinced efficency is one of them. Unlike Toronto and anglo Canadians. We can have a stick up our 'you-know-whats' - but we're very efficient.

I like efficency. Chaos. Disorder. They upset me. On the outside I think I give the impression of being relaxed and going with the flow. Might as well look like that. I've discovered scowling and stamping my feet and crying don't add anything to the situation. But inside my stomach is in knots.

So, going to Trudeau is always an almost spiritual experience - of prayers of acceptance and letting go. At least now I trust the planes will stay in the air. I know my life isn't in danger, just my sanity.

But this time it was so smooth it was uncanny. almost frightening. We had our bags checked and were through security in record time.

The flight itself was easy and fast. Great seats. I'd books the extra legroom, emergency exit. We could have pitched a pup tent in the space we had. And it had an ensuite. the toilets were right there. Note to fellow airline passengers. Please close the door after you leave.

The trouble didn't start until we'd landed and were rushing to customs. In Heathrow it's almost always a sprint because all big overseas flights arrive at roughly the same time, and everyone is funneled to the same weary customs clerk. Never good. Quite chaotic. I began gently stressing over Greenland. Poor Michael knows the routine now. Where he'd be happy to amble along, reading the ads on the terminal walls for The Lion King, I'm marching ahead, trying to get around strollers and wheeled bags. We were doing quite well until we turned the corner and bam.

A massive plug of people. We weren't even at the customs hall yet and there was a solid rock of humanity. Blocking the entire corridor. Except one small sliver off to the left. People were squeezing by....and the solid rock wasn't protesting. So I marched Michael and me over there and we became the river, skirting the rocks.

Further and further we went - past hundreds and hundreds of people. It was like an archeological dig. You could see the stratas of flights by the colours of the people. But we kept, miraculously, moving forward, along the wall, with a chosen few other people. In my mind I wondered how it could be that every other human on the planet was stuck in that unholy line - except a chosen few. We were like the Jehovah's Witnesses...the Heathrow Witnesses, future Terminal fearing generations would call us. The chosen ones, who got to customs. Who moved to the head of the line because...

Because...

That was what was bothering me. Why?

Because everyone else in our stream was a resident of the UK or EU. Which, apparently and shockingly, Canada is not.

The stern customs officer looked at my crest fallen and desperate face and pointed to where we'd come from.

'You'll have to go to the back of the line. I can't let you in.'

'Please?' I pleaded, as though to a saint, who had the power of making miracles occur.

Seems an exhausted middle-aged Canadian and her exhausted (and it must be admitted quite annoyed) husband weren't ready for the miracle.

But the day wasn't over yet. We started trudging back. Past all the people we'd glided by moments ago. We were not the stream after all. We were the rock.

Until a kindly woman smiled at us, and I smiled back and paused. Dare I? It goes against everything I believe in. I deeply dislike people who cut in, who feel better than the rest, who feel things like lines and waiting are for lesser mortals. Pisses me off.

Unless....

I glanced at the literally endless plug ahead of us - the rock had become a solid mass, a mountainn, a geological phenomenon, and was moving at the speed of continental drift.

'May I?' I asked her, indicating the sliver of space in front of her. And not daring to make eye contact with the people behind her.

'How kind of you to ask,' she quite unexpectedly said. 'Most people would just butt in.'

Can you imagine being that gracious? To make someone who is clearly doing something morally wrong, feel somehow all right about it?

she and her daughter stepped back slightly, and Michael and I slipped in. We were still miles back, but not nearly as far back as we would have had to have been. The line stopped somewhere around Dublin, I think.

So for the next hour and a half, as we inched forward this wonderful woman and her daughter and Michael and I talked. We actually had a terrific time. They'd had a 25 hour flight from Sydney and were in London because the tall, glorious 16 year old daughter - Laura - had qualified for the international ballet competition. It was a huge achievement and young people came from all over the world to compete. The olympics of ballet. They'd rented a flat in Earl's Court and were going to enjoy London while Laura prepared and competed.

I gave them a copy of Still Life - and signed it to them - as a thank you. I always carry a couple, to give to kind people. We find a lot of kind people when traveling. I gave one to Genevieve the flight attendant too.

it was a pathetically small gesture for these people who had not only been nice, but been so kind about it. And not made us (me) feel guilty.

Miracles. And saints.

And now we're in our own flat. It's huge, and warm. Got in supplies from Marks and Spencer. Napped. then decided to stay in. I made Michael a tea-time of our own.

Meeting his sister Carol and her husband David for breakfast at The Wolseley - near the Ritz - tomorrow. Then meeting my agent Teresa for lunch at the Tate gallery.

I think it's bedtime.

Debut Dagger

rain, cool, temps 2

Oh oh. Getting colder. Didn't see that coming.

More wonderful news (I know - it feels to me like I'm making it up too.) But heard that Ralph Cosham's audio version of Bury Your Dead had been named to the Amazon Top 10 Audio books of 2010. At number 2! Just behind the Keith Richard's book read by Johnny Depp. Not too shabby!

Congratulations, Ralph!!

Had an email from the Crime Writers Association in Britain with the great news (no, not about me - oddly) to say that this year's Debut Dagger competition has just opened. which means, those of you with unpublished crime novels really need to scoot over to the CWA website and find out more. The Debut Dagger is the competition that gave me my start (I didn't win, but being shortlisted was enough). It's open for manuscripts from around the world. Good luck!

Had fun yesterday at the Contactivity Centre in Montreal. Did a taped interview with the fabulous Shelagh Rogers for her CBC national radio show. Tomorrow I have a 1pm event at the Arnprior Book Store near Ottawa with Andrew Pyper. Then off to London tomorrow night. Don't think I'll be able to blog for a day or so...not sure what the internet access is in our flat in London. But our tradition is to get arrive in London, about 7:30 am. Get to the rented apartment about 9am - buy some groceries at Marks and Spencer (the real reason we ever go to London), then nap. Then wake up mid afternoon and go to Afternoon Tea at Harrods. Then back to bed.

Great life. Pretty much eating and sleeping.

You're welcome to join us in the Big Smoke.

Amazon Top 10!!

overcast, cool, slight drizzle, temps 4

Dull day outside - but fabulous day in every other way! I'm feeling all better - thank you SO much for your kind thoughts and support. As I said, I hate having to cancel anything...I know the work people, and particularly bookstores, go through to make an event successful and fun - and then to have the author cancel at the last moment is really awful. so I am very grateful for their understanding.

Fortunately by yesterday I was feeling well enough to head down to Burlington, meet my friend Maddie, the regional head of Barnes and Noble community relations (she lives in Cape cod, lucky one) and her husband Rich for dinner....then off to the B&N in South Burlington for an event. Met lots of you there. Thank you for coming out. I know some of you, including Mrs. C. came from quite a distance!

I just had a wonderful time! And, as a total surprise, Maddie gave me a Nook...their e-reader. I've never used one, but so many people do. Michael is working with it now...we're trying to connect to our wireless using the Nook. Nothing will ever replace paper books for me - but I can see when traveling that this will be amazing. So generous of Maddie.

Arrived home last night and this morning we got the wonderful news that Amazon in the States has named Bury Your Dead one of the Top 10 Mystery/Thrillers of 2010!!!

Wow.

Off now to give a talk to the Contactivity Centre in Montreal, followed by an interview with The Montrealer Magazine (cover gal for November issue!) Tomorrow I have a taped interview mid-morning with Shelagh Rogers of CBC Radio. And Saturday off to Arnprior, outside Ottawa for an event with the wonderful Andrew Pyper at 1pm at the bookstore there....then flying to London overnight.

A whirlwind...but a happy one.

Thank you again for your kindness and concern when I wasn't feeling well. I so appreciate it. Makes me feel quite comforted. Hope you're feeling well - healthy and happy. If not, I hope you are at least comforted. No small magic there.

Spoke too soon -

overcast, cold, temps 4

Wouldn't you know it! Went to bed last night feeling fine, but tossed and turned and then suddenly....a quick trip to the bathroom. This after I bragged in yesterday's post that I haven't gotten ill on this tour.

Well, I sure got ill last night, and am now in bed staring at the wall. Not sure if it's the flu or food poisoning. Either way I've been hoisted on my petard. (what's a petard?)

But i feel just horrible about having to cancel the event in North Conway tonight! It was going to be at White Birch books and I know they've made lots of wonderful preparations. But since i can barely get out of bed, it's impossible to drive 4 hours there - then 4 hours back (I need to be back in Montreal for 8am tomorrow).

My apologies to White Birch books - and anyone in North Conway who was hoping to come to the event. I will definitely re-schedule, if that works for them.

I was blogging yesterday about a typo in the November newsletter where I called it White Birth...leading to some confusion. But I realize I was very lucky with the typo. It could've been much worse, like White B*tch Books. I feel a bit like that today!!

But I hope to be all better in time for the 7pm event tomorrow in Burlington, Vermont, at the Barnes and Noble.

Today it's flat ginger ale and naps. Remember the fun film The Devil Wears Prada? The Emily Bunt line, 'I'm just one flu away from my goal weight.'? Love that line. Well, I'm about 100 flus away, or perhaps now 99. yay.

And, of course, I feel like a fraud.

But Sarah at Minotaur was wonderful. Called the store. They were very supportive. So I'll just spend the day napping.

Hope you're feeling well.

White Birth?

overcast, dreary, damp - temps 5

Cold day - with snow on cars and sticking to the ground.

We sent the newsletter out - written by me but designed and put together by Linda Lyall. She did the hard work. We read and re-read it. Michael read it. We edited and adjusted it over the course of a week. Added things and smoothing.

and never once did I notice that I'd told everyone I was doing an event tomorrow night at a bookstore in North Conway, NH called White Birth.

Huh?

Sounds like a supremacist gathering. Which it is not (in case I need to make it clear!) Or, as one reader said, it sounds very New Age. Sadly, it's not that either. It's my inability to edit. Or rather, my ability to read what I expect to see, not what's actually there. Happens all the time in manuscripts. I give the final one to Michael because I know I read for content and miss the typos. And I'm always astonished by what he finds.

Like - White Birth. Though even he didn't find that one.

By the way, the actual name of the bookstore is White Birch. 7pm. Tomorrow. Sea yoo their.

So - the tour continues. I'm totally amazed I haven't gotten sick - not even the sniffles. When you consider the flights, the handshakes, the hugs and kisses. The door knobs I've licked (perhaps I shouldn't have mentioned that). And I'm not a germ conscious person, so while I wash my hands I don't do it all the time, nor do I use handi-wipes or that anti-germ lotion. I keep meaning to, and keep forgetting. Licking door knobs will do that.

But I do think my hair is letting me down. I see photos of myself and my hair is all over the place! Funny, but sometimes I'm satisfied with the photos that are taken at events, and then I go through seasons where I think they're just awful. I'm not sure I've seen a really good one this whole tour.

Perhaps it's just me. Though I did see one great one and was very happy - but then Michael suggested it was photo-shopped. See what I mean about kissing a door knob? Men - honestly. fortunately he immediately reversed his opinion. But not before he gave me the great gift of being able to tease him. And blackmail him.

Off to New Hampshire tomorrow...then Burlington at the Barnes and Noble on Wednesday. I love independent bookstores and am so grateful for all their support. The vast majority of my events are thanks to independent bookstores. Indeed, this is my only Barnes and Noble event - but I'm also very aware of how good B&N has been. How supportive they are of the series. Meeting my friend Maddie from Boston, who is coming for the event. She's the Barnes and Noble Regional Community Relations exec. she and her husband and Michael and I will be having dinner together. then the event. Then Michael and I will probably drive back to Montreal.

Be well.