It's Heating Up in Waterloo

Writing hasn't gone so well this week since we are in Waterloo watching our daughter Lisa curl in the Ontario Scotties (provincial) playdowns. The winning team advances to the Scott Tournament of Hearts in Kingston in February. Our team, with skip Rachel Homan, has done brilliantly so far, winning the round robin with a perfect 9-0 record. They play in the 1-2 game this afternoon. Winner goes on to the final on Sunday and loser plays the winner of the 3-4 game. So lots of excitement and lots of nail-biting yet to come.

I have been involved in some e-mail conversations about the cover design for My Sister's Keeper (Grass Roots Press). A designer is currently working on the project and we're at the stage where we're looking at the look for a series since this is the first book with more to come. A cover can mean the difference between someone picking up a book or not. I think of my own reading habits when browsing in a library or bookstore. I look at the cover, read the cover blurb and then the first page. Sort of like dating, back when I used to date.

Work is also beginning on Cold Mourning (Dundurn). I've gotten the editing schedule and have been asked to fill out a publicity grid, something I'll have to get cracking on when I return to Ottawa. I've also submitted the first few chapters for its sequel and now have to write a plot synopsis. This is when it gets busy and I would love to be home writing full-time. I wonder what that feels like - no rushing to work five days a week and coming home too tired to write. No wondering how I'm going to fit everything in. I think I'd be one happy puppy.

Cold. It has been exceedingly cold in this end of the world. Minus 40 C with the wind chill the last few days in Ottawa. It's been slightly warmer here in Waterloo but still frosty. The B & B where we've been staying backs onto the woods and has a beautiful indoor pool with tall windows looking out over the trees and snow. It's a treat to lie on my back in the warm water and see the pale winter sun through the trees just outside.

Well, time to get myself moving and get the day underway. First, breakfast with the team and then a day at the curling club. Wishing for good curling today and tomorrow . . . .