Headway

A rainy few days but temperatures are on the rise in the Ottawa Valley. Everyone is tired of the cold weather and winter that just doesn't seem to want to go away . . . but I have faith summer will soon put in an appearance. Last evening before supper, we sat on our neighbours' front deck in the few strands of sunshine, sipping on wine until we became too chilled to take it any more. My friends on the street have been talking about barbecues, gardens and street parties . . .

Last weekend, we were in Toronto for the weekend to watch the Players' curling championship at the old Maple Leaf Gardens on Ryerson campus at Church and Carleton. Very cool curling rink on the third floor of the renovated building - an engineering feat, no doubt. While the Homan rink lost in the quarter-final, they finished the season as the top money earner with the most points of any team, world-wide.

Not too shabby.

I took the opportunity while in Toronto to meet with my publicist and editor at Dundurn, whose offices are on the other end of Church Street, a hop and a jump from the downtown Via train station. Karen McMullin and I went over some of the marketing plans before I met with Jennifer McKnight, who is my editor this time around. Jennifer begins her edits on May 6 and I will be reviewing her changes the first few weeks of June. The publication date is February 10, so a bit earlier than the March date I was recently given. I also received the Dundurn fall catalogue this week with Cold Mourning included. It's still exciting to see my work making its way into the world.

And my big news - I finished the first draft of the Cold Mourning sequel -  Yay! This one took me over a year, with me taking a few month break to write My Sister's Keeper in the middle. I'm spending this weekend reading through the manuscript, changing details to coincide with the plot changes and looking for inconsistencies. The finickity work is beginning: the pounding and pummelling into shape; the making-the-puzzle-fit stage; the shaving words here and adding description there. Sort of like fitting yourself into a tight dress and manouvering all the bulges into the right places. I thoroughly enjoy this bit of the process (and stay away from full length mirrors in the meantime).

I e-mailed the Grass Roots publisher to let her know that I'll be starting the sequel in that series next week. I've got some ideas perculating and am keen to get started. These three writing projects that I have on the go will take me through the summer for sure. Then, the publicity work will also begin.

Ted asked me last night if one of my books got made into a movie, could I give up my day job. I'm not sure but would be willing to give it a shot. If any movie makers out there would like to make me an offer, I'm not adverse to entertaining proposals. I really don't have enough to keep me occupied as it is . . . . Seriously, wouldn't that be a huge kick to see my characters come to life on the big screen?

Just imagine.

But for now, I'm imagining hot sun and typing on my laptop out on the deck with a glass of lemonade at the ready.

The future's so bright, I have to wear shades :-)