The Beautiful Mystery

rain, sun, storm, sun - this is becoming our typical April day here in London - temps 15

But we still love it!

And - guess what came in today's mail? I'll give you a hint - it's the Advance Reader's Copy of THE BEAUTIFUL MYSTERY!

I was writing when it arrived, then Michael and I had a lunch with Carol and David, so I shoved it into my purse (really more of a storage container) and off we went. Took it down Sloane Street, around Sloane Square, past Peter Jones, through the Duke of York Square - and into David and Carol's flat. I couldn't stand to be parted from it.

You can see by the demented photo of me, clutching it, that I'm pretty happy. (by the way, at the very end of the road, you can just see Harrod's. The photo was taken on Basil Street - where we have 'our' flat)

It is so thrilling to hold a new book. Feels like a completely different creature than the manuscript. And Minotaur Books have done a great job with the cover. I honestly can hardly wait for you to have it in your hands! Just don't try ripping it out of mine.

some of you have already won the advance copies (having entered the newsletter contests) - but My Assistant Lise won't be mailing them out until I return mid-May, because I'd like to sign them first. And we'll be giving our more advance copies in the May, June and July newsletters!

Now, I say I was writing when the mail arrived with the ARC, and that's true - but I stopped, tore open the envelope and hugged the book to me. Then I made a mistake. I sat down at the kitchen table, where I'm writing, and flipped through it. Then started reading the Prologue....and got caught up. Such an amazing feeling to become absorbed in a book I wrote, as though I didn't know what would happen next.

Then went back to writing the next book. But I think my mind was still on the excitement of THE BEAUTIFUL MYSTERY arriving, because, truth to tell, I didn't really get that much work done. But, what the Hell - doens't happen often that a new book arrives, and I get to hold it for the first time. Fun to bring it out at Carol and David's and celebrate with them and Michael.

Yippeee.

The other thing I wanted to mention is that this Friday evening, in Montreal, there'll be a special production as part of the literary festival, Blue Met. This year's theme is Crime Fiction, and they asked me to be one of the main guests, but I had to decline since I was going to be here in London. then they asked if Marianne Ackerman - a wonderful writer and playwright - could perhaps dramatize part of my work. I said yes. Such a fan of her writing.

And - she hit on something I think is brilliant. In an interview I'd said that I thought my works owe quite a bit to Hitchcock - that his films weren't bloody, but they were terrifying...because of what wasn't shown, only suggested. The power of the closed door. Why show blood and gore, when a reader's (or viewer's) imagination is so much more powerful that anything I could describe?

So she wrote a short play where Hitchcock talks about the books - and then has a conversation with Chief Inspector Gamache.

If you're anywhere close to Montreal, here's the link for information. It's at the Opus Hotel, at 7pm.

http://roverarts.com/alfred-hitchcock-presents-louise-penny/

Hope you're having a terrific day....my pink eye has gone. It's possible both Dr. Michael and Dr. Louise were wrong and it was simply a small infection. I felt, for a while, as though I had some tiny member of the French Resistance inside me, stealthily moving from site to site, bombing. My throat, my chest, my eye. Then moving on. Happily the war has ended. Peace reigns.

Rose coloured glasses

Mainly sunny - for now! temps 15

Before I prattle on, I wanted to mention that My Assistant Lise (who really should be promoted to My Wonderful Assistant Lise) gave me a great suggestion...As you might see, I'm not blogging as much as I used to - just no time....but I do post on Facebook everyday. Now, I realize many of you don't want to know about Facebook, and you sure don't want to join. I totally understand...but there is another way to see my daily posts, if you're interested. Lise pointed out that all you have to do is go to my website www.louisepenny.com go to the contact and links page - and there you'll find the facebook posts every day. You don't need to join or do anything.

Just if you're interested.... Thanks for the suggestions, Lise!!!

Well, they do say April showers for a reason....and god knows the UK could use rain....there's what's called a 'hosepipe' order in effect. No one's allowed to water their gardens or wash their cars. Happily, it's been raining every day. Not for long, but violent outbursts. Hail and thunder sometimes. Yesterday we were having lunch outside (at Laduree - part of Harrods) when the skies opened. We were under unbrellas, but were still getting it.

By the way, we went to laduree because someone mentioned it on a post here....we'd walked by the sidewalk cafe a hundred times without noticing - but this time we stopped and are we ever glad we did (rain not withstanding). We had a small omelet and fries for lunch. Excellent. And plan to return for breakfast one day.

Michael celebrated his 78th birthday on Tuesday! We went for lunch with his sister Carol and her husband David. Had a marvelous lunch out. David drove us through London, which is an exercise in magic. Physics doesn't seem to apply here. Streets that are only wide enough for a slender cat seem to accommodate two way traffic. The cars hurtle at each other and manage to pass. I never see it, since my hand is over my face. Most of the great sights of London I have seen through splayed fingers.

It was such fun. though, to celebrate Michael's birthday with the family.

We've fallen into a comfortable rhythm here. I write in the morning, about 1,000 words, then we have lunch out most days and go for a walk - pick up the papers and are home by 4pm. Make a cup of tea and we read.

It's so interesting here - the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic is on Sunday (between saturday night and early sunday morning) and the TV, radio and papers are filled with retrospectives. It's absolutely chilling to be reminded, minute by minute, of what happened. And, with the perspective of distance and time, to have perhaps more clarity on what happened. Not so clouded by emotions and people either pointing fingers or trying to protect reputations.

But mostly, of course, it's the stories of the individuals, and their actions that night. We're riveted.

I'd been fighting off a cold or something that seemed to come and go. Sore throat seemed a constant. Now it seems to have settled into conjunctivitis. Pink eye. Very embarrassing. It will apparently go away on its own, but is highly contagious. And with Michael's bad eyes I sure don't want to give it to him. So, plenty of hand washing, and trying not to touch my very pink eye. It's also meant canceling weekend plans. We were supposed to travel to Kent to visit a friend tomorrow. Canceled. And Ann Cleeves and I were to have afternoon tea on Sunday. I'll have to cancel that too. Unless she had tea and I sat on the sidewalk outside....and wrote notes to each other. Very Victorian. Starring Louise Penny as 'The Waif'. Though I'd be hard pressed to pass as a waif, I'll tell you. Especially now that we've discovered Laduree.

Am hoping for lots of sun, so I can wear dark glasses and pass as a non-pink eye human.

As you see, no photos accompany this post!

Hope you're well - healthy and happy. I saw reports of tornadoes in Dallas!!! My God - how upsetting. Relieved to hear my good friend Deborah Crombie was OK. (Hi Debs! - miss you here!!!)

Hope you're enjoying London - and thank heaven conjunctivitis (as I prefer to call it - Michael seems to enjoy calling it pink eye) can't be transmitted over the internet....that we know of...

Happy Easter/Passover

overcast, temps 14

Threatening some showers today in London, but so far nothing. We had a lovely Good Friday. As I've said, I've realized I'm most relaxed and happy when I've written in the morning - about a thousand words - and that gives Michael and me lunch and the afternoon in London.

Yesterday I thought we might just have a quiet day in the flat. One of the great pleasures of having a whole month or more here is that we don't feel we need to rush around. We can find a nice, gentle rhythm to our days. We've also spent so much time here, it really does feel like another home.

I've also discovered something surprising about myself. I'd always harboured the belief that, given a chance, I was at my core an adventurous free spirit. But guess what? I'm not. Indeed, I'm the opposite. Most of my energies, such as they are, are bent toward pushing through anything adventurous and landing on the comfortable and familiar.

This isn't to say I never want to leave home. I actually like traveling....though I adore being home. But I will never, ever be the one who signs up to go camping in Butan. Or rafting down the Colorado. Or hiking....anywhere. Though, come to think of it, I do like walking. I could see myself on a nice walking tour through the countryside - as long as each day was bracketed by fabulous Inns, with great food and a spa.

that's as 'roughing it' as I want to get.

I like finding a local restaurant, and returning there. I love the familiarity, a sense of belonging. I like knowing the owner's name, and what the daily special on Tuesday will be. My idea of adventure is to order something different off the same menu.

I think that's why Michael and I rent flats or cottages or apartment wherever we are. So we can unpack, relax, and live like a local. Not because we're bohemian, but because we love the familiar. We're so lucky to have each other. No many people would find traveling with us very interesting. But it suits us.

Yesterday we left the flat in search of any newspapers that might be published on Good Friday. It turned out to be a beautiful day - sunny (we knew that) and mild (which we didn't realize). Perfect for walking through London. Now, in this part of London, you don't stroll. too hectic, too many people (and prams) on the sidewalk. You weave in and out and around. But it's fun and invigorating.

We went off to Harrods, just to look at the amazing food course. Room after room of delicacies. Michael got a Bento box of fresh sushi to bring back to the flat for lunch. I was sort of overwhelmed by the choice, and ended up not getting anything. But wow, I just love looking. Food from all over the world. And small 'bars' set up in the corners of the rooms, serving some speciality - like the Oyster Bar.

And, it being Easter, there were wonderful displays of traditional Easter food - chocolates, and these eggs you see in the photograph. Real eggs - not chocolate or hard boiled - but dyed. I thought if we had children or grandchildren, it would be magnificent. So cheerful. And so British.

Then we walked along the Brompton road to Marks and Spencer's and picked up some newspapers - then took back streets home, where we could stroll and marvel at the buildings. One of the great things about London is that there are very few skyscrapers. Or even tall buildings. Most are five or six stories at most. Apparently Queen Victoria complained when builders started putting up tall buildings - so rules came in....and are still imposed in many areas of london. With some notable exceptions. The tallest building in Europe is just being completed in London....known as The Shard, it stands close to another remarkable modern London building called The Gerkin.

But for the most part, London is bright and airy, with lots of parks and sunshine...and mad traffic!

We're having Easter Lunch tomorrow at the Captial Hotel, just down the street. A place we've been to before - of course.

time to hop in a shower then out into the city. Hope you're enjoying your long weekend of Easter and Passover.

London!

sunny, mild, temps 14

The very hot spell seems to be over, but it is still lovely and mild. Trees are just beginning to move from bud to leaf. That really wondrous few days when there seems a cloud of bright green around each tree.

We've moved from the cotswolds into London - renting a flat on Basil Street, between Harrods and Harvey Nichols...a shoppers paradise. But since I'm not much of a shopper, it is also a foodie paradise. The photos you see are from yesterday. I wrote in the morning, trying to get back into the story...It's really a matter of submerging again into the world. Seeing and feeling it. When that happens, it's more like transcribing than writing. Absolute bliss. But having been out of it for a week, it does take some fighting to get back....like hitting a soft wall, over and over, trying to break through to the other side.

All this to say, I spent Saturday, Sunday and this morning writing. Some great periods and some pretty difficult ones, when I felt I was just meandering around Three Pines, trying to find the plot! Happily, it's a fun place to just wander....and my books really do come together in the second and third and fourth drafts. I keep telling myself not to worry....that long passage I wrote about Eggs Benedict probably won't make the final cut - but just savour the breakfast and move on.

So - did that yesterday, then Michael and I headed out. Walked to Walton Street and stopped for lunch at Scalini's - one of our favorite italian restaurants in the world. It was bedlam...it being sunday there were loads of families...but lots of fun and life - and great food. I had the chef's special spaghetti - simple sauteed vegetables with a tomato sauce. Michael had spaghetti and lobster.

Then we walked to Chelsea green, and back up to the old brompton road....that photo with the gray church is of the Brompton Oratory....a block or so behind it is Hyde Park. From there we headed to the right. The other photo is of Harrods. You can see how empty the streets were yesterday. Not sure I'd ever seen London so quiet. I guess people took off to the country.

We picked up some pastries and sunday papers and headed home for tea and a read.

Finished writing for today - off to Harrods to check out afternoon tea.

Tomorrow we have breakfast at the Wolseley Hotel, then run across Picadilly to the Royal Academy where we have tickets for the David Hockney show. Then I'm having lunch with my literary agent, Teresa Chris. She's made reservations at Kensington Garden Hotel - which apparently has a spectacular view over the gardens and to Kensington Palace.

Dinner tomorrow night with Michael's sister Carol and her husband David, who live in London.

Wednesday I'm having lunch with Dan Mallory, my UK editor at Little, Brown/Sphere.

It's a good thing we do so much walking here - you can't imagine the food intake! Well, off we go again....

A soft landing

brilliant sun, warm, temps 20

Exquisite - the only way to describe the Cotswolds....as you might be able to tell, we aren't in Canada any more. Flew overnight Monday on BA - after some pleading, and a little bit of money (but not much) they upgraded Michael and me to Business class. Which meant we could wait in the first class lounge (flight delayed an hour, so left at 10pm) and had lovely meal on plane then, luxury of luxuries, a lie flat bed! Both of us actually slept on the flight. Arrived at 10am London time were met by a driver and brought to the Burford House Hotel, in (yes) Burford.

It's been such a busy time - and all the angst over the CanLit Hunger Games! - it felt a little like being shot out of a cannon and landing in the Cotswolds. Our first time to this part of Britain. My secret dream since I was in my 20s is to have a small cottage in one of the cotswold villages, and a flat in London.

But - to be honest - we love our home in Quebec so much, we'd never really do it....but it feels a little as though another childhood dream has come true (the first and cardinal dream was to be a writer)....here we are in a beautiful little Inn in a village - then on Friday we head to London for a month.

You can see photos we've taken just in the day we've been here...funny, askew homes and businesses made of stone, with slate roofs. for breakfast today Michael had the Full English (two eggs, bacon, sausage, grilled mushrooms and tomato. I had my favorite english breakfast of all time - which is increasingly difficult to find...finnan haddie - poached smoked haddock. Had cotswold honey with our toast...made from late flowering edlerflower, lime, blackberry, clover. Yum! Then we walked the old streets - went into the oldest pharmacy in England and bought some lotion created by the family more than 100 years ago and still made on site. We had tea in the little tea room across the street and now we're off to explore the local church. Indeed, I think one of the comments on the Facebook page said her ancestors helped build part of the church.

So great to have you with us.

dinner tonight is in the pub just up the road. Early dinner, since jetlag is still an issue.

The photo is of Burford High Street, looking out across the hills - and the afternoon tea Michael and I had yesterday in the hotel...it suddenly reminded me a little of olivier's bistro....there was a small stone fireplace on one wall, and the mullion windows.

Tomorrow we're traveling to the nearby village of Abingdon, to visit an old friend. Dick. He's become our friend, but certainly started out as Michael's, from his days in Cambridge, almost 60 years ago. They've remained good friends ever since. Remarkable. Dick's showing us around his new place then coming back for dinner at the Inn tomorrow night.
then, London on Friday.

Hope you packed light - we now have cotswold honey and vials of handmade lotion! But so far, haven't bought a cottage. Who knows what this afternoon will bring!

Will keep you posted. Oh, the village has a bookstore! Went in and introduced myself and did the 'author' thing. always fun.

Armand is alive!

sunny, cool, temps minus 3 - windy

Armand Gamache has survived the CanLit Hunger Games, and it's all because of you!!!! You did it! Thank you, thank you. All your voting, all your getting the word out. All that energy and passion to keep him alive. Especially after that VERY strong finished by Anne of Green Gables.

Wow - what a thrilling week or so, as tribute after tribute fell. As the lead see-sawed among Joseph Boyden's Xavier Bird, Anne Shirley and Armand Gamache. Back and forth, back and forth.

But you came through for the Chief Inspector - putting him over the top! The final tally?

Gamache: 42.18 percent
Anne Shirley: 33.23 percent
Xavier Bird: 24.58 percent

Anne of Green Gables supporters, her main champions, on Prince Edward Island were very gracious in defeat, congratulating the Chief. And I happen to know he felt horrible about what he faced. Indeed, he asked me to pass on this statement of thanks:

What a horrific experience this has been, trapped and having to combat men and women whom I so admire. Anne Shirley, a favorite of my own daughter Annie. Xavier, who fought so bravely. Flavia and Scott and so many others. I'm keenly aware that the only reason I won was because of the support, the passion, the dedication of so many voters. I could feel them, cheering me on, giving me courage when my own flagged. Alone, I am nothing. This victory belongs to the team. Reine-Marie joins me in saying, thank you, thank you, merci. Vive les lecteurs. Long live reading and readers! And long live Canadian literature! Armand Gamache, Chief Inspector of Homicide for the Sûreté du Québec


I also want to thank you. I couldn't quite believe just how emotional I felt about this. At first it was great to know Gamache was included in the Canadian literary Hunger Games. But as the days went by, I became more and more engaged - and wanted him to win...the thought of Gamache dying out there was horrible.

so my gratitude to you goes beyond simple words. I could also feel your emotions - and commitment. How lovely, yet again, to know we're not alone. And this is a great example of the power of collaboration - of a team.

Vive Gamache. Vive the readers who have kept him alive.

May the odds be ever in your favour!

overcast, showers, mild - temps 12 degrees

We're having just a blast with the Canadian Literary Hunger Games! As many of you might know by now, as a nod to this phenomenon and the movie that just opened, the brilliant folks at CBC Books (part of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) came up with the idea of having a CanLit Hunger Games. 12 male characters from Canadian fiction and 12 female were chose as 'tributes'. For this unfamilair (as I was until recently) with the idea....these characters are pitted against each other in combat, and only one is the ultimate survivor.

In the CanLit version the characters remain alive thanks to the votes of readers.

One of the Canadian literary characters in the Hunger Games is Armand Gamache!

Over the course of the past two weeks, readers have been voting - and characters have been 'killed off'. It has been increasingly fun and increasingly unnerving. Very strange to feel that Armand is actually fighting for his life and only our votes will keep him alive. And, as the Games have progressed, it become increasingly brutal, with the lead swinging wildly....but for the past few days it has come down to three competitors.

Xavier Bird - the main character in Joseph Boyden's award winning book Three Day Road
Anne of Green Gables - everyone's 'kindred spirit', who has done her best to kill Armand
And, our own chief Inspector Gamache!

Thanks to your voting, Armand pulled ahead a few days ago, and has remained there - though it has been extremely close, within a fraction of a percentage point at times!

I have to say, I've been so deeply moved by your commitment to helping Gamache.

Thank you, thank you. Merci! And now we're at the final day - the competition closes tonight and the winner will be announced tomorrow.

Anne of Green Gables is surging....and Xavier's fans are loyal and passionate and want their guy to win. Armand is far from safe. But whatever happens, I want you to know how grateful I am. I know it's a game, but it's been wonderful to have such magnificent support!

The best character will win, be it Gamache or Anne or Xavier - but I feel Armand has already won...who wouldn't feel like a winner after seeing such support from all of you?

And I want to again congratulate CBC Books for a simply brilliant idea, one that bring the characters to life, and makes it fun and riveting, thrilling and moving. And make it clear that Canadian literature is all of those things, and more. Bravo.

And bravo to you - for breathing life into Armand - and doing your best to keep it there.
http://www.cbc.ca/books/2012/03/the-canlit-hunger-games.html#socialcomments

On another note - the writing for the next Chief Inspector Gamache book is going well - almost at 30,000 words for the first draft (which is normally about 120,000 by the time i'm finished the draft....so about a quarter through). It's sometimes terrifying, but mostly it is such fun...can hardly wait to get at the manuscript each day. Phew!

Off today to speak at a brunch celebrating the centenary of the Lennoxville Library. love that library! When I was with CBC Radio we did a few remote broadcasts from there. When I'm writing now I decline all speaking engagements - but I agreed to this one because it was this library. Looking forward to it.

Then tomorrow, Michael and I head to England! A few days at an inn in the Cotswolds, visiting a friend of Michael's (and mine) in a nearby village, then we've rented a flat in Knightsbridge until May. Wow! I love London...hope you do too, cause you're coming with us!

Hope this finds you well and thriving - and thank you again, for all your support - with the Hunger Games - and with so much more.