Hot Time in the City

Heat has settled like a Hudson's Bay blanket over the Ottawa Valley and most of Ontario. Tomorrow, Canada Day, is expected to hit 47 degrees C with the humidex factored in. We're about to experience the tropics in the Canadian North. (I will not be attempting to straighten my hair.

This has been another quiet week on the publicity front so I've been able to write every day. My goal was to reach 40,000 words by the end of June and I'm now heading up to 43,000 words - a good thing as July is going to be busy. I started filling in information Dundurn requested for the publication of Turning Secrets (book 6 in the Stonechild series) next year and have to focus on this soon. It's due back July 6 and I have a ways to go. So, another week at the computer ahead.

Speaking of which, the City of Ottawa is 'revitalizing' our street. This involves replacing sewers and water lines. The truck noise, which includes continual beeping, diesel trucks idling, and pounding that shakes the house, begins at 7 a.m. and goes on until 5 p.m. or so every week day. The dust blows and settles around and in our house and yard so that I have to keep the windows closed - and we're told to expect this for the entire summer. I've been typing at my computer and it's vibrating from the pounding going on metres away. Makes concentration difficult, sometimes impossible. I feel for the construction workers who have to live with this day in and day out, slaving away out there in the heat and humidity and dirt. We have it easy by comparison. Still, everyone on the street is eagerly anticipating the autumn silence.

I went downtown to Tim Wynne-Jones book launch on Tuesday evening and picked up a signed copy of The Ruinous Sweep. It was great to see Tim and to hear him read from his latest book - he's also the voice on the audiobook version. The protagonists in this book are two older teens but Tim says the book crosses into adult and is a mystery/thriller. I'm excited to give it a read.

And that's it for my book news.

So plans for Canada Day? I went strawberry picking yesterday morning before the heat settled in and will be baking my annual strawberry shortcake to bring to our friends' house for supper. We've been getting together with them most Canada Days since the kids were little. This year as always, it's worth stopping and appreciating this vibrant, inclusive and free country that we call home. Now more than ever. we cannot take all that we have for granted.

Cheers Canada! You're looking mighty good for your 151 years.

Into the Rhythm

This was a week to decompress. After a month of events and media, I was happy to get back into the rhythm of my normal life.

This is a decompressed me - very easy to achieve :-)

I often get asked when I write and for how long. Many writers work best in the morning but I'm finding that I use the mornings to get my chores and running around done and start writing around eleven. I break for lunch and then write most of the afternoon, sometimes after supper if I'm on a roll. I aim for minimum 500 words a day and sometimes manage closer to 1000.

Often, I've got other work going on in addition to the writing. For example, this week Dundurn sent along a request for a page of information to prepare for the release of my next book entitled Turning Secrets, which is the sixth Stonechild and Rouleau mystery. It has a May 2019 publication date so you can see we prepare well ahead. As part of this info, I have to write a book cover synopsis so this is going to take some thought and time. I worked an hour yesterday morning on the material and expect I'll be working at it off and on all next week. I also did some to-ing and fro-ing this week with Diane Walker and Amanda Malone to set up a signing at their Chapters store in Gloucester. We've chosen Sunday, August 19 so I'll be give you the details later in the summer.

Bleeding Darkness is getting some terrific reviews from readers on Goodreads as well as from Booklist and Publisher's Weekly. I'm mighty pleased that the series is striking a note with readers and thank everyone who took the time to post a review or to send a note to me privately with your thoughts.

Last night, I went to see the iconic Boz Scaggs at Jazz Fest and what a great show. I can't tell you how many times I played Silk Degrees on the turntable over the years and it was very cool to hear Boz sing several of the songs live. Such a smooth, one-of-a-kind voice with songs that truly hold up.

Also did some reading this week. I finished Truth by Peter Temple. He's an award-winning Australian writer and has a unique style that I quite admire. I'd previously read The Broken Shore, which won the 2007 Duncan Lawrie Dagger Award and which I was blown away by. I'm now rereading a Denise Mina book called Still Midnight. A different style but another marvellous crime writer. I highly recommend her work, especially the Paddy Meehan books. Some summer reading to put on your list!

So, we've turned the corner into summer and the first few days have been warm and sunny. Today promises to be rainy but the gardens will welcome a drink. I'm about to put on another pot of coffee as I start a slow easing into the day. I hope you also have a relaxing weekend with a good book on the go and time to savour the longest days of the year. This is a pic of my writing and reading nook - a great spot to while away the hours.

TV, Radio and Bookshops ...

So that was some week! Two store signings and three television interviews, including an overnight trip to Kingston. The Global interview was in the CKWS Kingston studio yesterday morning and you can view the clip.

A few photos from the signing at Novel Idea - a lovely bookshop that you need to visit when you're next in Kingston.

With Kathy Prairie and her husband Bill - Kathy is a mystery/thriller author and we had a chance to catch up over dinner the night before.

The Hollywood in the Valley taping was downtown last Saturday with host Matt Demers. The episode will be on Bell Fibe tv On Demand but I'm not sure of timing. This was a light-hearted interview and we managed it in one take. I couldn't recall what I said until later talking to Ted when I remembered his name came up a few times .... lucky for me he has a good sense of humour. I'll let you know when the show airs once I get the word.

On set with Matt Demers aka Mr. Hollywood

And Tuesday, I was on the Power Lunch on radio 1310 News with host Mark Sutcliffe. The show was broadcast simultaneously on Cable 22 television. The other guest was Ottawa lawyer John MacDonell, who was Chief of Staff for Peter MacKay when he was Minister at Defense and Foreign Affairs. We were given five topics with multiple choice opinions in the morning about topics in the news that day. It was a fun experience and I enjoyed meeting Mark and John, both interesting, friendly men who made me feel welcome.

Nothing planned this week so I can get back writing. I have about 5000 words to pump out by the end of the month to stay on the schedule I've set for myself. I alternate between working at the computer in my office and taking my laptop outside onto the back deck. More often than not, I get the bulk of my writing done in the afternoon once I get the running around and social media stuff done.

I should also have time this week to get back in my garden. A shot of the poppies in all their glory!

On the Horizon

A busy week ahead.

This morning I'll be at Coles Carlingwood from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for any Ottawa readers who are looking for a signed copy of Bleeding Darkness.

And the rest of the week:

Saturday June 9 - 2:30 filming an interview with Matt Demers for Bell Fibe tv Show
Hollywood in the Valley                                           

Tuesday June 12 - Guest on Radio 1310 News Power Lunch with Mark Sutcliffe from noon to 12:30

Friday June 15 - Guest on Kingston tv CKWS The Morning Show

Friday June 15 - 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. signing at Novel Idea bookshop, Kingston

The Sunday launch at The Cross on Elgin was terrific - lots of old friends and new friends came by to raise a glass and celebrate. Thank you to Katherine Hobbs for being MC, Green Floyd for entertaining us and Fred Taylor for snapping the photos below.

The Launching

The Ottawa Bleeding Darkness book launch is tomorrow!! It promises to be a party with Green Floyd playing live music, finger food on order (come hungry), Perfect Books on hand with copies for purchase and lots of interesting people to chat to, not least of which is my buddy Katherine Hobbs who will MC. The weather is slated to be warm and sunny so we can spill onto the verandah ... lots of space to spread out. And I hear the road construction on Elgin in front of the pub is completed!

Here are the details once again:

So I had a busy Monday. In the morning, I was guest speaker at the Abbotsford House monthy topical talks meeting. The location is a limestone house in the Glebe across from Lansdown. The crowd was attentive and many came up to speak with me afterwards so a pleasant morning all around. In the afternoon, I drove to Orleans to an event organized by Nancy Reid and her sorority sisters. Five mystery authors attended and sat on a panel moderated by Nancy before we were treated to supper, cake and yellow roses. A lovely end to the day.

(l to r) Me, R.J. Harlick, Barbara Fradkin, Linda Widen, Mary Jane Maffini and Nancy Reid

A few events on the horizon:

Saturday June 9 - 11:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. Signing at Coles Carlingwood
Saturday June 9 - 2:30 filming an interview with Matt Demers for Bell Fibe tv Show
Hollywood in the Valley                                           

Tuesday June 12 - Guest on Radio 1310 News Power Lunch with Mark Sutcliffe from noon to 12:30

Friday June 15 - Guest on Kingston tv CKWS The Morning Show

Friday June 15 - 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. signing at Novel Idea bookshop, Kingston

Lots going on as spring blossoms into summer starting with tomorrow's launch. It's exciting to finally have Bleeding Darkness in the hands of readers.

And one last blog posting today: A link to a piece I wrote for the Dundurn blog entitled "Floating Ideas" in which I give a smidgin of insight into where I get ideas for a book.

Good week everyone.