Are you SURE that's the football???

rainy, cold, temps 5

Glove weather! Wore cashmere turtleneck and sweater for the first time this season. Don't think we'll be using the swimming pool again this year! But we're keeping it open because the family is coming from all over Canada for our annual reunion next week and the place just looks more attractive with the pool in operation and not covered by a slimy leaf strewn net.

My brother Rob and his wife Audi are coming from Edmonton. He's the assistant deputy minister of the Environment in Albert. We're very, very proud of him. And amazed that a man who couldn't remember to flush a toilet is now in charge of the environment. Don't tell me there isn't karma.

My brother Doug, whom you've met, is also coming, with his three kids, Brian, Roslyn and Charlie. And probably their dog, Buttercup, the hound from hell. Actually, Buttercup is much better...calming down. Her one outstanding eccentricity is her ability to eat anything - then poop it back out. Most of the fun of a Penny family reunion is seeing what comes out of Buttercup. Be warned, in case you're thinking of marrying one of us.

As well, two of Michael's sons are coming down. Just ordered the turkey. had an interesting conversation with the butcher.

I wanted grain fed, free ranger, organic turkey. pretty much a turnip shapped like a turkey is what I wanted. He offered wild turkey.

Wild turkey?

Does someone shoot them, I asked. Because I don't approve of hunting.

He looked at me understandably sceptically. I'm quite selective in my killing. It must be organic and grainfed, but not wild. Because wild would be unethical.

My hypocrisies were showing.

We ended up compromising and I ordered a 15 pound grain fed, non-wild, turkey.

Really looking forward to Thanksgiving. Ours here in Canada is about a month earlier than in the States. Not at all sure why there's the difference, but there is. It's a wonderful time for walks in the country, or horseback riding, or football games by the pond. Or watching Buttercup poop the missing football.

We also plan to bake some apple pies - told Pat we'd bake one for her. She called back yesterday and offered to bake it herself. Hmmmm.

We're in Montreal - Michael has his operation tomorrow. Need to be at the hospital by 9am...operation at 12:30 - home by mid afternoon we hope. Then we have a 6:15 am appointment with the doctor for a checkup on Friday.

I took the call and kept repeating...6:15am??? That's 6:15 in the MORNING????

Yup.

Will report to you tomorrow - without fail. I cannot express to you how much your support has meant, and does mean.

Thank you. Bless you.

starred Booklist!

rain, cool, temps 15

Nice day...autumn day. Much like yesterday. Though Ken, who does the pool, says snow is in the forecast. Can you believe it??? Will let you know.

Relaxed day. Went off to Knowlton for breakfast with Danny and Philip. They're the organizors (among others) of the Letters from Knowlton writers and writing fest. The first one was this summer and it was a great success. They wondered if I could get involved in the next one. I said, yes, of course. And they also asked if I could be the honourary chairperson. I hestitated. My problem is I hate to take on more than I should - and then let everyone down. But they assured me the 'honourary' is bigger than the 'chairperson'. So I agreed.

It will be next summer, and it will be fun to help track down some of the writers we've met, and invite them. A summer weekend in Quebec's eastern townships is about as close to heaven as I've come. Though I suspect everyone feels like that about their area.

But I'll keep you informed as it gets closer.

Then off to the local community radio station - CIDI - for a one hour interview with Kate Wisdom on her new arts show. She's a marvelous interviewer and had actually read THE BRUTAL TELLING - which helps!

Then home to write the October newsletter and a few other things.

Oh, we got a terrific starred review in Booklist, in the US - a very influential publication. here's part of what they said...

Penny has been compared to Agatha Christie, and while there is a surface resemblance there, it sells her short. Her characters are too rich, her grasp of nuance and human psychology too firm for the formula-bound Christie. No, Penny belongs in the hands of those who read not only P. D. James but also Donna Leon, who, like Penny, mixes her hero’s family and professional lives fluidly and with a subtle grasp of telling detail.


I'm really thrilled with that review.

Michael and I are off to Montreal tomorrow. Hope to start the first big edit on the novella when we get in. Enough time has passed I think I can now detach and see it clearly, and make the changes. I hope. Though I must say, I quite like editing. This is the novella for literacy, written as part of the Quick Reads programme, developing books for adult emerging readers. It's a Chief Inspector Gamache, Three Pines novella.

Must be off...just got off the eliptical machine. I think I like it less and less! But, i know it's good for me.

Oh, Trudy was just going nuts barking. Michael went to see what it was about and there were two deer in the field by the pond. An adult and a baby. Lovely.

Stefanie Pintoff

steady rain, foggy, cool, temps 12

We need the rain, so while it's sort of dreary this is actually very good. This is the cod liver oil of weather.

Sat in front of the fire place, editing...very relaxing. This part of the process is. I think it must be like getting into shape. At first it's horrible and frightening and discouraging...and tempting to quit. That's what a first draft feels like. Also, that it will never, ever lead to anything worthwhile. Folly.

But after a long while it gets earlier...and easier. And now the book is in shape (i however have basically sat on a sofa for five years, so I am also in shape, but it looks like a pear) - and it's just fine tuning now. A buff book.

As you might know, I was supposed to go to Connecticut for a couple of events this Friday but cancelled because Michael's having eye surgery. Could not possibly pass up a chance to boss him around. But this meant cancelling a couple of very important events - and I feel terrible about it.

But the wonderful Stefanie Pintoff, another Minotaur author, has agreed to step in for me. She won the 2008 St Martin's Minotaur/Mystery Writers of America Best First Novel Award for her stunning debut IN THE SHADOW OF GOTHAM.

So if you are anywhere near the New Canaan Library in Connecticut this Friday at noon you must see her speak. She's terrific. She's also drop dead gorgeous.

Had fabulous news...People Magazine is planning to run the review in the issue that goes on sale Thursday!! And - even more exciting - they say it is the lead review. Now, clearly, anything can happen and they change their minds...but so far the news is beyond fantastic!!!

A great way to start the week.

Also want to remind those of you in the area...the official Canadian launch for THE BRUTAL TELLING is this coming Sunday, here in the Townships. Danny and Lucy, of Brome Lake Books, are organizing a special brunch - that is also a fundraiser for the local Yamaska Literacy Council. I'll be giving a talk, taking questions, doing a brief reading from THE BRUTAL TELLING and of course, signing books. Great way to pick up early Christmas gifts!

Now, to be honest, I don't know if Danny and Lucy have any tickets left. The event will be held at the local Lakeview Hotel...but you can call them. Their number is: 450-242-2242.

Am off to Knowlton, actually for a breakfast meeting with Danny and one of the organizors of the very young local literary ferstival. After that I have a 1 hour taping with the local radio station, and Kate Wisdom - who is brilliant. Then home to write the October newsletter.

I find if I don't keep on top of things, it all comes crashing down...Some people are amazed when I respond immediately to emails, but I find if I don't, then suddenly I have 100, and am overwhelmed...or things get forgotten.

It's a great life...and long as you keep moving...

New York Times Review of Books Ad!!!

rainy, cool, temps 15

Fall day - grey and cool - damp into the bones. But has the advantage of being completely natural for this time of year.

We're back in Sutton - feels great to be home...or at least the country home. But had a very fun day. As some of you noticed, my fabulous publishers, Minotaur Books, put a full page, colour ad in today's New York Times Review of Books!!!!

It looks unbelievable. Dazzling! How wonderful is this?

As most of you know, I this is a huge step forward in terms of exposure for the Chief Inspector Gamache books. And it feels fantastic. I'm so proud of THE BRUTAL TELLING. It's not a book I just dashed off (actually, none of them is) - it took well over a year of thinking, planning, writing and editing.

But still, I don't think anyone expects this sort of reception. I sure didn't... and I am deeply, deeply thrilled...and deeply aware of how fortunate I am.

And very grateful to all of you for buying the books, many of you from the very beginning, and telling others about them. None of this happens without your help. I know that...and very aware of it.

Thank you for this amazing time in my life. No matter what happens, I've had this past week and will remember it always.

Yay!!!

Had breakfast this morning with Francine Pelletier and her partner David Sherman. among other things, they produce documentries and they've asked if Michael and I will be part of their latest, on people's relationship with alcohol. We met at Nick's and immediately hit it off. Fascinating people. Successful people. I often expect people like that to be cynical, with an edge. Sarcastic and caustic. But they were anything but. Warm and comfortable, thoughtful. Intelligent. It was a terrific time.

Left them with just enough time to zip home, change into our "sunday best" and head off to the United Church at Landsdown and the Boulevard, in Montreal. We were meeting Bal, Linda and their daughter Bethany. Bethany's in a terrific band at the church called TM2, and they were performing at the 11am service. We'd said we wanted to hear bethany, and this was our chance.

She was brilliant. She has a full, rich, voice. Surprising in it's strength and very beautiful.

Indeed the whole service was beautiful - the focus was saving the earth. Not frightening, but reassuring - that we can do it. But must act.

We were supposed to then have lunch with Bal, Linda and Bethany, but Linda and Bal are sick with colds, so we've taken a 'rain-check'.

Got home by 3:30, got some groceries, played with Trudy...so happy to see her again!! Watched the last of the golf...yay Phil Mickleson! And am now writing to you.

A perfect day! A full page ad in the NYTRB!!! Breakfast with fascinating people!!! A church service and hearing Bethany sing!!! Then home safe and sound.

Hope those of you who have THE BRUTAL TELLING are enjoying it. And please, tell others about it!!! It really would be great to push this one over the top.

thank you for all you've done for me already!! Hope you also had a great weekend.

New Yorker!!

sunny, fabulous autumn day, temps 18

Gorgeous day. Met Elise and Susan in Nick's for breakfast...then walked to Stuart's funeral. Very, very beautiful. Packed. Wonderful eulogies. I held it together until Donna and Jeremy and Stuarts 90 year old mother walked back down the church aisle at the end. Then I cried.

But it was also a real celebration - with lots of laughter.

Then Michael and I went out for lunch to the bistro and then home to work. Finished the first draft of a manuscript I'm working on...always feels great. Then watched a couple episodes of the second season of 30 Rock. Hilarious.

The BIG news though is that Minotaur has put a fabulous ad for THE BRUTAL TELLING in this week's New Yorker Magazine!!! Page 4 I believe. It looks great, and honestly, after reading the New Yorker for years, to find myself a part of it, albeit a bought part, is magical. Really, almost out-of-body.

So many amazing this have happened this week...such joy - and such sadness. Feels like a week at the edge...at the extremes. And the key seems to be to feel things totally, but not be swallowed up. Equilibrium. And appreciation.

What a week!

Tomorrow am meeting a former colleague who now produces documentries. She wants to know if I'll be a part of one she's producing...so wer're meeting for breakfast - yes - at nicks! Might have to have a phone line put in there.

Then off to church with Bal, Linda and Bethany. As you might realize, this isn't something Michael and I normally do...but tomorrow is special. Bethany's band is performing at the service. Then we're off to their place for lunch...then driving home to Sutton.

Full says. Never know what any given day will bring.

Off for dinner...salads with Michael. I can hear him in the bedroom laughing at 30 Rock. Lovely sound.

Trying

sunny, cool, temps 15

In the sun, out of the wind, it's gorgeous. In the shade, in the wind, it's like the arctic. Makes dressing quite a challenge.

We're in Montreal...arrived about midnight last night after a great time at the Kingston Writers Festival. Fabulous time. Wonderfully organized...terrific line-up of authors...very exciting. And the volunteers were amazing! Fun, vibrant, happy to be there. Made everything a joy.

I had a panel discussion with Howard Engel, moderated by the terrific Therese Greenwood, who writes short stories. Howard, Michael and I went for dinner in Kingston to a restaurant called Chez Piggy. Infact, one of the recent comments on this blog suggested we try out Chez Piggy...so we did. Sat outside. Had steak frites...all three of us. Michael called it Miss Piggy's the whole time and everyone recognized Howard from the night before...making me wonder what he'd done the night before that made him so memorable.

Got back to the venue in time for our panel...the place was sold-out. Packed. Therese was fabulous. Being a moderator is the most difficult job on the panel. We had loads of fun - then Michael and I jumped in the car for the 2 1/2 hour drive back to Montreal.

Went to Stuart's visitation today. So difficult seeing all those photos of him, healthy and happy. Poor Donna and Jeremy.

Thank you to everyone writing in with kind words about Stuart. We're meeting Susan and another friend, Elise Jacob for breakfast, then we're all going to the funeral. Elise used to be a receptionist at CBC and is now a famous photographer. Next week she's doing a portrait of the Dalai Lama. Aren't people unexpected and amazing.

I always liked Elise...which is why I named one of the characters in Still Life after her. I wonder if she knows...I wonder if I should tell her. Oh oh. Still, if she's photographing the DL surely she's not allowed to haul off and hit me.

Speaking oif photographs, we had a bunch of new ones taken of me earlier this week in Toronto. It was a bit of an emergency...yes, a photo emergency. Only in publishing are you likely to get that.

People Magazine said they might (stress, might) be interested in running a review of THE BRUTAL TELLING in the issue that goes on sale next Friday - Oct 1st. But they needed a new photo of me.

Of course, I was told just as I had a mouthful of french fries, in my sweats, in the hotel room. Mwarwch? I said. Yes, the publishers said - and we need it now.

So once we'd established that People Magazine could probably not make do with a snapshot taken by Michael's blackberry, we remembered that our good friend Ian Crysler lives in Toronto and is...a photographer!

Poor Ian got the call at 9pm that he needed to be at the SoHo Met at 9am the next morning...pleeeease...

Bless him - such a wonderful guy...he dropped everything (I'm sure that bride didn't care) and showed up. By then I'd gotten the cheesecake out from between my teeth, and even managed to shower...and we spent the morning shooting.

Very fun, really. Much more fun with a friend, so I could relax. Sort of.

If People runs the review, which would be terrific, you can see the outcome.

This puiblishing world is exciting and peculiar. There is SO much that is beyond anyone's control. Like being the Barnes and Noble main selection. Unbelievably fabulous...but we couldn't make that happen. And reviews...there's so little print space left for reviews...there's no way you can 'buy' a review. Or the People Mag. Something that potenially influential, and all we can do is wait and hope.

It is a great exercise for me in patience, and in having faith that whatever happens was meant to. Both for the good, and sometimes for the not-so-good.

Acceptance. And trying not to wreck something with worry.

You know, seeing that montage of Stuart at the visitation today reminded me of what passion he had, for so many things. Gardening. local politics. His home in the country. Military history. Mr. Bean. Trying to save the local hospital. And of course, his family.

I think if there was one thing I walked out of there with for my life it was to at least try. With all my heart. And not worry so much about the outcome. Just try.

Stuart Robertson

overcast, teeming rain just now, muggy, mild, temps 24

Way above seasonalbe temps today. Rain held off until just now.

About two minutes ago we received the sad news that a friend and former colleague at the CBC, Stuart Robertson, has died. He was 65 and had battled lymphoma for 15 years. He was known as the gardening guy...and beloved for his humour and passion. He had a couple books out and would lecture about gardening...and he had a column in the Montreal Gazette for years.

But he was more than that. He was a journalist who chased hard news stories, though his heart was really more in the happy stories. he loved it when he could uncover good news, and tell people. He was tall and slim and spoke, for reasons that baffled perhaps even him, with a slight British accent. He was married to Donna and has a son, Jeremy.

I realize most of you don;t know who I'm talking about, and to be honest, while Stuart and Donna were at our wedding, we didn't stay close. But it was hard not to have alot of affection for Stuart. He was a delightful man. To everything there is, as Stuart knew, a season. But I can't help think the frost came a little too early.

On another note, after much agonizing, I've decided to cannot leave Michael after his eye operation. So I spoke to the people at my publishers, Minotaur, and they were great. Without hesitation they said they'd look after it, and to not worry.

'It' meant cancelling two important tour events! The talk at the New Canaan library - which I'm VERY disappointed about. There were so many people I was looking forward to meeting, some for the first time, some who have become friend. I am sorry.

It also meant having to bow out of a very important publishing event...the New England Independent Booksellers Association annual gathering. I was among 12 authors voted to join them for their cocktail...to sign books and chat. It was going to be a fabulous chance to meet these important and influential people, and thank them for being so supportive.

I really did agonize over this...going back and forth. It was such an important engagement, for this the biggest book of my career.

But Michael's eye operation was just the day before, and could not be changed even if we wanted to. At first I thought at least I'd be there for the operation, go away early the next morning, then return by noon the next day...away 30 hours.

You can see - I'm good at rationalizing. But I wasn't happy. it wasn't sitting right. And finally I knew it just wasn't right. I could never, and should never, put my career ahead of my husband. If it was a hangnail, yes. But this was his eyesight...and while there is every reason to be optomistic, it is still stressful.

So I called, and bless them, Minotaur and andy martin the publisher could not have been nicer about what was clearly a blow to their marketing strategy. Andy basically said, 'Don't worry. Do what you have to do for Michael.'

And now, today, to hear about Stuart. And I knew even more I'd made the right decision. We have to put the people we love first.

Besides, what are the books about, if not that? How could I write about love and loyalty, then not be there for Michael?

As soon as I decided, I knew.

Off to Kingston tomorrow for the writer's festival. A 6:30 to 8pm panel, then driving back to Montreal by midnight.

Be well.