Bloody Words

sunny, mild, lovely, temps 20

Anotehr gorgeous day...happily we had a chance to go out into it for lunch. Met a group of Quebec and East Coast Canadian crime writers for lunch along Sparks Street, at a pub called the Cock and Lion...it has an outdoor terrace. Beautiful to sit out there, chat, visit, have a burger.

Bit of a busy day. Like most of these writers and readers conventions, most of the 'stuff' actually happens in the hallways. Meeting a lot of old friends, but the most fun is meeting readers and getting a chance, albeit brief, to talk.

The event last night, in which I was interviewed in front of a live audience by Jerri Southcott - a radio and TV host in Ottawa - was fabulous. Not because I was so great but Jerri had done her home-work (interviewing is by far the harder of the jobs) and made it feel more like a thoughtful conversation. And the room was full, which is always wonderful and a bit of a surprise. By 9pm Michael and I were tucked up in bed and had ordered room service.

At 4am there was a commotion in the hallway. The hotel was host to a grad night prom. And the entire prom seems to have decided the 10th floor was the place to be. Not great for sleeping, but I remember doing similar things in my youth, so this seemed like delayed karma. We went back to sleep.

Today, after lunch, I did a half hour Mystery Cafe...which means sitting in a room and reading and talking for half an hour. Standing room only - which felt very good. And terrific questions. Vicki Delaney - a marvelous Canadian crime writer who sets her books in British Columbia - introduced me.

Am back in the room for a shower, then a panel between 5 and 6 - then the gala dinner in which i must speak starts at 7. need to practice, or at least read over, my speech. Blech. I love being interviewed - hate giving speeches.

Still, I need to remind myself I'm among friends, and really, as long as I don't throw up or wet myself, how bad can it be?

Must run - 15 minutes to the panel and I'm still in my bathrobe. this is how bad it can be!!

Linwood wins!

beautiful, sunny day, temps 20

Gorgeous day, and fun evening. As perhaps you've gathered, I didn't win the ellis award, but a fine writer did! Linwood Barclay. Indeed, the field was so strong I felt relaxed knowing whoever won would deserve it.

There's no doubt I would always prefer to hear my name, who wouldn't. But I also know I've had way more than my share of good fortune. The sun shines on Linwood today, and someone else tomorrow and maybe me another day...and all I can do is keep walking outside and doing my best. and knowing even rainy days are blessings.

Our friend Flora joined us at our table for the dinner. a lovely, supportive, woman.

Had huge fun yesterday - lunch on the Rideau Canal, at the National Arts Centre with our friends Vicky and Howard. Listening to funny stories, getting caught up. then Michael and I took the boat cruise along the canal. Beautiful day for it!

it was a bit crowded with kids...the boat before and after were near empty, but ours was full. Not exactly tranquil, but it could have been worse. No loss of life, or temper. Again - things beyond our control. No use stewing, though I try...for a while. But it's not that much fun, so soon give it up in favour of having a good time. Often the scream in my head is way worse than anything happening externally. the good news is, I can turn that off.

Today is splendid - working on my speech for tomorrow night and having lunch with friends...then either off to the war museum or a nap. Am quite tired. And since I'm one of the guests of honour at Bloody Words (the Canadian Crime Writers conference)I have a feature interview tonight, from 7:30 to 8:30 I suspect it will be me, Michael and the interviewer. If I wasn't the interviewee, I wouldn't be there! Oh well. More things I can't control. Actually makes life quite relaxing.

Take care and thank you for all your good wishes regarding the Arthur Ellis. I'm so proud to be a Canadian Crime writer, and the award would have been a treasure, but perhaps another year.

Mid-week Update

brilliant sunshine, temps 20

Great day here in Ottawa...the Ellis Awards tonight at the National Arts Centre. Very exciting and a bit ennervating.

had a great week so far...on Monday Michael and I drove into Montreal in time to catch Angels and Demons at the theatre. We hardly ever get to the movies, since our closest one in the country is the Princess, in Cowansville...we love it. Hufe screen, sticky floors, old, burgundy plush seats...a time warp! But not perhaps a great selection of filsm...though as you see, our standards aren't all that high!

Loved Angels and Demons. I actually really like thrillers and action flicks. I think for me it's just like cartoons...happily the movie, while not exactly Disney, isn't as gory or disturbing as the book - according to Michael. I didn't read it.

Then drove to Toronto Tesuday morning...we leave at 5:30am to miss rush hour...arrived around noon in TO. Stay at the SoHo Met. LOVE it. Napped, then dressed and headed to the Central Reference Library for the big event - with Wendy.

She was brilliant! Very fun and funny and smart, of course. And gorgeous. She read the prologue and first section of The Murder Stone/A Rule Against Murder. I found myself in tears. My childhood friend, a star, reading from my book - in public. And doing it so beautifully.

It was also, I realized with a jolt, the first time i"d heard someone else read my words. The books are available in audio and apparently the men who narrate them are fabulous - the US one was nominated for an Audie last year. But I can't bring myself to listen. It was a shock, to hear Wendy read it. But a lovely, and terribly moving, one.

Then we snuck out and headed for dinner...her time is so short and precious I'm afraid I was quite selfish. We had a blast.

Then next morning we had breakfast with David Kelley - the wonderful GM of the SoHo Met, and a friend. Terrific man. Then it was off to Ottawa and a 4:40 interview wtih Adrian Harewood on CBC Radio - live in studio.

Smart man - and very personable. I enjoyed it. And always fun to meet CBC people. Them Michael and I wandered Ottawa a bit and found a fun Japanese restaurant. We don't get a lot of japanese in Sutton - so it's a real treat.

And now - it's Thursday. Meeting Vicky Harris and her husband Howard for lunch at noon at the National Arts Centre...then back there tonight for the awards gala. All within an easy walk of the Marriott, where we're staying and the mystery conference, Bloody Words is this weekend.

We really want to see the National War Museum while we're here. We understand it's stunning.

Take care...will report in.

Hello. Goodbye.

rain, sun, rain, sun, rain...temps 16, 12, 16, 12, 16...

Oh, well. Could be worse. I could still be writing the first draft of Bury Your Dead and Michael could still be in the septic tank.

Lupins are blooming! Honeysuckle is out, roses and peony in tight bud. Asperagus harvested! Dock in, yesterday.

Ooops, said Tony, kneeling on the wooden island while Michael and I stood on the part fixed to land. Tony was drifting further out into the pond and the attachment could just barely be seen disappearing to the bottom.

Oh my.

Michael and I did what we do best. We stood and watched. Tony did what he does best - he did something. Grabbed the ladder, as yet unattached to the dock, and slung it across to us. We grabbed it, and no more oops. Except that the attachement was now on the bottom of the pond. Tony though looked into his plastic bag of 'stuff' and found, miraculously, another attachment. And within minutes the dock was whole and Tony was restored to dry land.

Nothing to it.

Our home is called 'Common Ground' because that's what we believe in finding. However we're thinking of re-naming it 'Ooops'.

Had breakfast with Joan this morning. What bliss to be able to re-connect with friends. Called Cheryl but we couldn't organize a time this weekend so I'll call when we return from our trip. Heading to Montreal tomorrow, then on to Toronto for the reading at the Toronto Reference Library Tuesday night. The amazing Wendy Mesley will be reading an excerpt from The Murder Stone. Then she and I will slip away for dinner. If you'd like to come it's going to be huge fun. Books for sale too, and other authors like Gail Bowen and Linwood Barclay. It starts at 7pm and is in the Beeton Auditorium - Toronto Reference Library - 789 Yonge St. Love to see you there.

Then heading to Ottawa Wednesdya morning...have a CBC interview live at 4:40 in studio in Ottawa. Then Thursday is the Arthur Ellis awards - The Murder Stone is up for Best Novel. And Bloody Words starts Friday. Denise Mina is the International Guest of Honour. Barbara Fradkin the local and I'm the Canadian Guest of Honour. So amazingly humbling to be honoured at home like this. I'm so moved. And thrilled.

But - have to say - it's hard to leave home when everything's so beautiful. There have been years when we've headed out at this time for several weeks and I've been in tears knowing i'd miss the peony and first flush of roses and the lupins. Such agony to leave.

It still is, but this time I know we'll be home in just over a week.

And I'm so looking forward to the events and seeing good friends.

Just finished exercising for the day. Great news - my pants are loose - and the ones I wore last summer are also loose...or at least not tight! I do ten minutes a day on the ellipical. Shouldn't really be working as well as it is, but perhaps my body is in shock. But Susan gave me a great tip...she does an elliptical too...she suggested doing some minutes with just the legs...so that's what I do...about half the time flat out - just legs. Almost kills me. But it works.

I'm exceptionally lazy and impatient, so a quick intense burst suits my personality. And, apparently, my body. Then i can relax.

Michael's finished the proof pages for The Brutal Telling - wonderful man. I have a manuscript I'm reading with a view to endorsing...want to finish before the end of the day today.

2 loads of laundry in.

A light day.

Will blog from the road - give you updates. Be well...and speak soon.

Six letters I've been longing to write!!

Cloudy, showers, cool, temps 10

Yayayay!

At 4:05 this afternoon I wrote:

THE END

Oh, my God - an amazing, blessed, feeling. I sat back on the sofa, raised my arms, put my heard back and yelled, 'Yay!' Then I said a little prayer of thanks. Then I says "Yay!' again.

yippee.

Michael had been so amazing - looking after everything else for three months while I wrote like a fiend.

And - as though life could get any better - the septic tank is in (again!) and the city inspector says it's OK!!!!

Off to Knowlton tomorrow morning to celebrate with breakfast...containers of crap, and a new book. Perfect!

This is the first draft, still need to do revisions and editing and fine tuning and all that...but for me (and I suspect most writers) the first draft is the hardest.

tomorrow I need to update stuff for my agent and write a speech...but what don't I have to do???

oh yes - write a first draft!!!!

THE END

crazy talk

sunny, chill, but warming up temp 10

Frost warning last night! Honestly, what is it with this spring? No snow in March but a frost warning when it's almost June. Lise was very wise not to put our annual or vegetables in yet!

Lovely day now, though. Warmer, and sunny.

Just exercised - not pretty. I think some people do all sorts of things and look adorable. Cry, eat, exercise. I just look like a maniac, a glutton and a slimy lunatic, in that order. Of course, if I didn't eat so much I wouldn't have to exercise so much, and that would look after two of the three. Though there would be a lot more crying.

Two more big scenes to write and the book should be finished. Well, the first draft anyway. Then going out and doing promotion etc in June...then back in July in time to do the first edit, or revision. This one, though, isn't feeling as though it needs too too much editing. Too many characters - some will have to go...but I know which ones...and some characters change names partway through, and some change physical appearance and sex. My first drafts - now there's a mystery.

Some promotion stuff just arrived from the US publishers...needs work...and we're reading the proofs for THE BRUTAL TELLING. One thing that has definitely surprised me about the writers life is how much of it doesn't actually involve writing. Indeed, in my life, the writing is the easiest part. And God help me if I ever get behind. I feel as though I just get my head to the surface and a bunch more work drops. So if I didn't keep up, I'd drown.

Or - maybe nothing would really happen. I have a sense this is all crucial, but maybe not. Not - that's crazy talk. (put that in in case one of the publishers is reading this.)

Off to hose down. Yes, my days are that attractive.

Focus

Mainly sunny, breezy, pleasant temps 20

Not too hot, not too cold. Very nice. But lit the fire this morning since it was a little cooler and some showers. Spent the day writing...can spot the end and am racing toward it...all I want to do is writem but need to stop since I get too tired and don't want to start making mistakes.

Love this stage - it's a real gift...the best part of the writing life. When it all makes sense...everything falling into place. The characters are doing what they need to do and I'm just their diarist.

Exciting.

Email won't work on my computers...small problem. Nancy came this morning and is flumoxed...but will return tomorrow to wrestle it to the ground. If anyone can, she can. And Gary's coming over to the guest house to fix the verandah - one post seems to have spent the past 30 years resting on the septic tank - which apparently isn't a great idea. And now that the tank has been changed, we need to change that, before the verandah collapses.

Always something. But - it's amazing - when you have your health, when you have love, and the writing is going well - it's hard to have a bad day!

Need to write the June Newsletter - must fly. Speak to you soon...I hope tomorrow but with focussing on the book I find my mind isn't on the blog. First things first.

But will blog when I can!