Teresa Chris - lit agent

many sunny, cool, temps about freezing

Drain unclogged. Loved your thoughts on what message the universe might be sending. Bill (one of the readers) suggested next time I get a clog I send baking soda down after it, with a lemon juice chaser. As it was, we sent Gary down, and he found a huge plug in the basement.

All fixed.

the fun news today is that my literary agent, Teresa Chris, who is in London, now has a website.

www.teresachrisliteraryagency.co.uk

It's a terrific site, and she's among the best in the world. She also specializes in finding new talent, and even in taking previously published authors in the doldrums and taking them to the next level. She loves a challenge and a success story. Sooo - if you're a writer looking for an agent, try Teresa. She also has sub-agents all over the world!

Must run - things are hectic again. How does this happen? But, as some of you have pointed out, better than a life where nothing happens. I've had that too. This is definitely better.

Oh, in other news, Hovey Manor had a fire! This was a few months back, when we were in St Lucia. But they're re-opening for real (they've been semi-opened since) this coming weekend...Sunday. And they have loads of specials. Now's a great time to visit!

Be well - speak soon!!

Thank you!

overcast, some very light flurries, temps about freezing

Thank you all so much for your wonderful support after the Dilys! You make it so much fun. Love reading your comments. Thank you!

And now, back to reality.

The kitchen sink is clogged. Michael and tried everything - which was pretty much just staring at it. We also tried the plunger. when that didn't work we stared at the plunger for a while.

Now the kitchen looks like a plumbers truck exploded. Snakes and something called a 'bee'. Buckets. And, of course, the contents of the cabinet under the sink. We called - who else - Tony. He came and drained this, and plunged that. Took Michael on a tour of the basement to show him the piping. Apparently staring at piping also did not unclog the drains.

Then we called in Gary. He's working on it. We also have a call in to Dwayne, who is an actual, real, live plumber. Always a last resort.

We also have an energy audit happening here this afternoon. To figure out how energy efficient our old home is. My guess, and it's just a guess, is...not at all. I'm not sure how they do it, but it takes a couple of hours and we were told to clean all the ash from the fireplace or else it would get blown everywhere. Maybe whatever they use to blow ash might blow out the drain... A gal can dream.

Just finished an interview with the Halifax Chronicle Herald and have a conference call later this afternoon with the US publishers.

I have to admit, the writing isn't going as smoothly as I'd like. I long to run away, back to Montreal again for peace and quiet, where I can focus...but then remembered the plumbers crawling all over the apartment there after the burst pipe.

I wonder if it's karmic. The Universe sending a message. About pipes. Or maybe it's about plumbers. I wish the Universe would be clearer sometimes. Whatever the message, I don't get it. Maybe it's about clogs. or clogging.

I hope not.

Bury Your Dead won the Dilys Award!

A perfect day!

Just heard that Bury Your Dead did win the Dilys!!! It was announced last night in Santa Fe. The magnificent Barbara Peters (she of Poisoned Pen Press and her bookstore in Scottsdale, AZ) accepted for me.

The Independent Mystery Booksellers Association (who give out the Dilys) asked each of the nominees who weren't there for a speech, in case we won. Here is the one I sent - and presumably, Barbara read -


I wish I could be here to look you in the eyes so you'd know how deeply grateful and overjoyed I am. But the truth is, I'd probably just blubber and jump for joy and make almost no sense. Barbara, would you mind jumping around a bit, for me? In a dignified sort of way, of course.

Thank you to the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association for the Dilys Award. Thank you for what it represents. Handselling. Not downloading. But actually pressing a paper and ink book into a customer's hand. Knowing the name of the book, knowing the name of the author. Knowing the name of the customer.

Now there's an art worth celebrating. Bookselling. What a very beautiful gift that is.

Thank you for this amazing award. Especially given the fabulous books and writers who were also nominated. Bribery does pay off. Tell your children.

Thank you too, to the most wonderful editors in the world, Hope Dellon and Dan Mallory. And to Minotaur Books, who have seen that a small mystery with very little blood and no sex, set in Canada can have something to say. What a terrific publisher they are!

I think the Dilys is especially precious to me because BURY YOUR DEAD is the sixth book in the Gamache series. I'm always afraid of falling into a routine, or getting lost as so many other magnificent crime novels are published. I have a lot of fears. Of not being good enough, of not writing the books you deserve to read. Of staggering when I should be leaping. But now, when I'm afraid, I can look at this marvelous award you've given me, and feel maybe I can do it.

BURY YOUR DEAD is, in many ways, about second chances. I've been given a second chance in life, and I am beyond happy to be taking it in your company. I will never forget Barbara's experience here tonight. Damn, I wish I was with you!

I also want to thank the gorgeous Barbara Peters and say that she is drunk at this very moment and will almost certainly be arrested before the night is out. She is also a very lovely woman, and a great friend.

Merci, tout le monde.


I'd have paid good money to hear Barbara say those words!

I'm so incredibly happy. As you know, Bury Your Dead was a difficult book to write - not so much because of the complexity of the interwoven story lines, but because of the emotional toll - on characters I love, and therefore on me. To win, then, such a meaningful award really goes to my heart.

As does all your happiness for me. you are so generous and kind. Thank you!

One more???

Oh, why not - Yippppppeeeeee!

And, the magnificent Lesa Holstine, over at Lesa's Book Critiques was at Left Coast Crime, where the awards were given out. In her blog today she lists the winners of the other awards....a great list to add to your TBR stack! Here's an excerpt from her blog -

The Lefty Award for Best Humorous Mystery Novel went to J. Michael Orenduff for The Pot Thief Who Studied Einstein.

The Bruce Alexander Memorial Historical Mystery Award for best historical mystery novel, events pre-1950, went to Jacqueline Winspear for The Mapping of Love and Death.

The Hillerman Sky Award for the mystery that best captures the landscape of the Southwest went to Margaret Coel for The Spider's Web.

And, since I was sitting next to him at dinner, it's a pleasure to say that the Watson for mystery novel with best sidekick went to Craig Johnson for Junkyard Dogs.


Thanks for posting Lesa - hope you don't mind my lifting it!

Congratulations to all the winners and all the nominees.

Now - it's back to the monastery for me!

Dilys tonight

sunny, cold, temps minus 5

Winter just keeps clinging on. But the sunshine really does make it easier.

We took advantage of our new hair cuts, and the fact we were actually dressed at 6:30 last night, to go to the Bistro on the Avenue for dinner. I had a hankering for steaks frites. Off we went - love that restaurant, on Greene. Feels very much like a Parisian bistro, though because it's in Westmount most people speak English.

We both had grilled ribeye, but instead of frites we had vegetables. And then shared the most wonderful slice of key lime pie.

We absolutely love our Montreal apartment. It's small, but perfect for our needs. And the location is wonderful, as you can tell. Walking distance to all sorts of great restaurants, and food shops and a bookstore, and the metro (subway). In the summer we can even walk to the Musee des beaux arts if we wanted. But not in the winter. We're far too delicate for that.

Tonight, in Santa Fe, the Dilys Award is being given out - and Bury Your Dead is on the shortlist! It's awarded at Left Coast Crime, which is an annual gathering of crime readers and writers, on the west coast. The Dilys is a particularly meaningful award since it's voted on by booksellers. It's for the book the Independent Mystery Booksellers across North America most enjoyed selling last year. Here's the complete list of nominees -

LOVE SONGS FROM A SHALLOW GRAVE, Colin Cotterill
THE LOCK ARTIST, Steve Hamilton
MOONLIGHT MILE, Dennis Lehane
BURY YOUR DEAD, Louise Penny
ONCE A SPY, Keith Thomson
SAVAGES, by Don Winslow

An amazing list of nominees - and again, it really is enough to be on the list, especially when you consider all the great books that were published last year.

By the way, the forecast for Santa Fe is sunny with highs around 55 degrees. I'd have thought it would be much warmer, but I guess not.

Have just finished the writing for today - wish I could tell you what's happening...but that would be a mistake.

Heading back to the country in an hour or so. Taking pizzas and chicken wings to Pat and Tony, to thank them for looking after Trudy and the house.

I'll let you know what happens at the Dilys. Fingers crossed!

Terracotta Army

brilliant sunshine, cold, temps minus 6

Minus 6!!! And a wind. Ugh. Still, nice to see the sun.

Finally went out today - I realized I hadn't been outside since we arrived, Tuesday. So Michael and I went to Nick's on Greene Ave for breakfast (bacon and eggs and toast). Then home. He read his manuscript all morning, and I wrote. Took a little while to get into it. But once immersed it boomed along. I still fear I'm running in place - but I think that's just my stinking critic. And if I am, I'll fix it in the next draft. Have to keep reminding myself not to worry about those things at this time.

Just write. Whatever I want. Stay loose, leave my heart open for inspiration. Do not be fearful. All things I whisper to myself at this stage.

After we'd finished - about 1pm - Michael and I hopped in a cab and went to the Musee des beaux arts in Montreal to see the latest major show - China's Terracotta Army.

My God, it's magnificent!! All those warriors they found buried. Found them in 1974....and there are clearly many, many more to be excavated. Apparently it wasn't unusual for emperors to be buried with figurines...but those were all tiny. Miniature soldiers etc. This was the first time hundreds and hundreds of figures - larger than life - had been found.

It is breathtaking to actually see them. There were about 10 of them in the show - along with a couple of the terracotta horses and lots of other pieces found at the site. It was fascinating. And all from the very first emperor of China, so that itself was fascinating.

I, of course, finished in about a nano-second and was in the cafe. Actually, that's unfair...with art shows I often whiz through, but this was really more archeology and history - both of which I find riveting, so it took about three nano-seconds.

Michael, being Michael, stopped and read every bit of information available, including, I think, some of the exit signs and schematics of the Museum. And listened to the audio commentary. I honestly turned mine off after a while. I found the tone patronizing and the content oddly dull....for something so exciting. Happily they had a few films to watch, to really situate how extraordinary these terracotta warriors are.

Then back into a cab, to the corner of Greene and Ste Catherine - to pick up dry cleaning, mail a card, and get my hair done. Not on the street corner (though that would explain why I've never enjoyed the experience) but at a salon new to me. I just walked in - having had enough of my wild hair. Somehow (I think it was the very pretty receptionist) Michael ended up in the chair next to me, being shaved.

So now we're home, with our new do's.

Writing tomorrow morning, then back to Sutton. I wonder if I can talk Michael into another pizza tonight....

Sleuth of Baker Street

overcast, light snow, temps minus 4

Well, they've patched up the pipe and the wonderful management here has agreed to wait until we leave before doing all the plaster and painting.

Michael's off for lunch with friends...I continue to write. But mostly, today, I wanted to let you know about the move of a great Canadian bookstore.

Sleuth of Baker Street. In Toronto.

Marian and JD have changed locations..from Bayview Ave in Toronto to 907 Millwood - it's about a kilometer away, so pretty close.

This is their first day open!

They're also, next Thursday, going to hold a fabulous sale of hardcovers, first editions, signed books - at their old store. It will last as long as stock lasts. If you have any questions, just give them a call: 416-483-3111.

As you might have guessed, Marian and JD are good friends of mine. Longing to see their new store.

Marjorie, Joan and Liz

Bright sunny day - cold - temps minus 5

Marjorie, from Connecticut, is today recovering from surgery to her hand. Never anyone's first choice of things to do in a day. But always great to be on this side of surgery. Many of you might know her - Marjorie is very supportive of many writers, especially Laurie R. King. And very supportive of me. Indeed, since I'm almost a facebook moron, she helps when I have particular questions. She also moves my blogs to the facebook page, and posts other mentions of the books.

Thank you, Marjorie! And so happy the surgery is over.

In other good news, our terrific friend Joan is celebrating her 79th birthday today. She runs the yoga centre in Sutton. She spent weeks and weeks in hospital but is now out...and coming home was the very best thing for her. Surrounded by her own things, eating fresh, healthy food, seeing friends. Her son Gary has been amazing in looking after her, and her other son, Glen has just arrived from Calgary.

Happy birthday, Joan. Now, I say that knowing full well Joan barely tolerates the phone, doesn't like TV, and wouldn't know a computer if she was served one in the hospital. So, come to think of it, i could say anything I want about her here and she'd never read it. Hmmm.....

Sadly, Joan is a wonderful woman and I can think of absolutely nothing mischievous to say. Such bad luck.

And, of course, I'm sure you've heard about Elizabeth Taylor's death. Always sad to hear such things. She did a lot of good, especially and spectacularly, for AIDS.

Well, we're in Montreal. Arrived yesterday afternoon after doing a bunch of chores on the way in from the country. Got up early this morning...Michael and I had breakfast in front of our computers. We scram into the city when we feel the need for peace and quiet time to write our books. No sooner had we settled in that I hear rain against the window in the living room.

I looked over and sure enough, it was teeming.

Inside.

there was a huge and sudden flood from upstairs. I raced out the door while Michael grabbed some towels. Took the stairs two at a time, and got to the floor above. The door to the apartment above ours was open and a worker was there, holding a balled up towel to the wall. A pipe had burst with such force it sent water gushing to the ceiling, smashing into the walls, and was now pooling on the floor. It was as though a water artery had been severed. I asked if I could help and he said the plumber was racing downstairs to turn off the water.

The workers had been renovating the apartment when the pipe burst.

Unfortunately, while the water soon stopped, the next thing we heard was a banging on our door. The plumber. With scaffolding.

Apparently the only way to get at the broken pipe was through our wall.

This did not appear to be up for debate or discussion. He'd had to turn off the heat to our entire wing of the building, and until the pipe was fixed it would remain off.

So he and his assistant moved in, and we decamped to the bedroom, setting up make-shift desks and balancing our computers on them.

i"m still hiding in the bedroom. And I have to say, over the past few hours the temperature has steadily dropped. I might have to make another cafe au lait, and toast another hot cross bun. See how I suffer? Poor me.

Despite this the writing is going well. Reminds me a little of writing Still Life - taking the laptop with me as I trailed Michael around the townships. He was taking a watercolour course and they held classes 'on site'. Beside lakes, in farmer's fields, in barns and beautiful gardens. While he painted I wrote on a rickety little collapsible table I carried with me.

The plumber, who is quite a characters, has just popped his head in to say he'll be trying the pipe in five minutes....and turning the heat back on shortly after that.

Fingers crossed.