Brenda Chapman

Working Toward Goals

2012-01-28T10:02:00.000-05:00

I love this photo by Frank Bowick - it captures the feel of these winter days.

First, good news on the publication front. The acquisitions editor for Dundurn likes my latest manuscript submission, an adult murder mystery set that I hope to make into a series. The book will need to be 'pitched' to the editorial board and so I have several assignments to do in the meantime. One is to think of a cover design idea. I also have to write a synopsis as well as several blurbs, much like you would see on the cover of a book. You might be surprised how much input authors have to the presentation and marketing of a book.

The manuscript will need fact checks and lots of revision before all is said and done, so lots of work ahead: first to get it accepted and second to get it publication ready. I am hopeful though and just a bit excited to have this one in reader hands. Once I get confirmation that it is a go, I'll start on the next book in the series - I already have several plot ideas in mind :-)

I've been beavering away on another Rapid Reads manuscript in the meantime and have hit the crux of the story. These are great fun to write and from all the feedback I've been given on The Second Wife, great fun to read. For those of you asking about its Golden Oak nomination, voting is done through the libraries by registered readers in May and the award is given out at a luncheon in Toronto on June 7th. I am planning to attend.

On the curling front, my daughter Lisa's team (Rachel Homan) finished first in the Ontario Scotties round robin and plays at 3 o'clock today in the one-two game. Loser plays the winner of the three-four game with the final tomorrow. All will be on Rogers tv or Shaw, depending on where you live in the province. There's been lots of excitement this week leading into the weekend.

In case you missed my Mystery Maven blog about awards, here is the link: http://mysterymavencdn.blogspot.com/2012/01/tuesday-brings-trouble_22.html

So, lots to do and already I find the weekends too short. Time to get the day underway . . . .

The Siren Call

2012-01-21T09:01:00.002-05:00

I've been writing a lot this week. I'm always asked about my writing process and when I find the time. I'd say the past seven days are an example of how I operate when I'm in the creative mode.

Ted was away curling last weekend so I was up late Friday night working on a manuscript. I spent Saturday afternoon and all day Sunday writing. On Monday, I skipped my lunchtime yoga class to work on the manuscript, and I worked on it through four out of five lunch hours in my downtown office. Thursday and Friday nights, I worked on a blog post that I promised Linda Wiken for this Tuesday (check out Mystery Maven blog at http://mysterymavencdn.blogspot.com/). Last night, I was back to typing away at 10 p.m. on the manuscript, having gone into my office to shut off my computer when inspiration hit.

And this is how I work . . . days away from the keyboard and then weeks when I organize all my free time around getting to it.

Speaking of Linda Wiken, let me give you a little history about this most interesting woman. She is one of the original members of the Ladies' Killing Circle, a group of six or seven Ottawa mystery authors who became famous for their short story anthologies. Linda won awards for her short stories and went on to open Prime Crime bookstore with business partner Mary Jane Maffini. Mary Jane then went on to become a full-time author while Linda carried on with the store, which unfortunately closed a few years back. But with books in her bones, Linda inked a book deal with Penguin/Berkley Prime Crime in the U.S. and her first mystery entitled A Killer Read under the pseudonym Erika Chase is due out in April. I'm very much looking forward to getting a copy. You can read a snippet on her website at http://www.erikachase.com/

This is a photo taken at the closing of Prime Crime bookstore, Left to right are me, with fellow Ottawa authors C.B. Forrest, Barbara Fradkin and Linda Wiken.

I've also got my video buddy Patrick Walton working on a little piece with CBC's Alan Neal reading from In Winter's Grip back in October at 'A Day to Kill'. While some of the camera work is a bit wobbly, it's a great little memento of the day and I'll share it with you shortly. Patrick made this four-minute clip about the actual event, posted on Youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ym0RBTOlHEU

So, I've given you a few links to help entertain you on this mid-January weekend. I'm about to climb the stairs and wake Ted up with a cup of coffee. Then, we'll see how the day unfolds but you can be sure it will include time writing - I might just open the manuscript now to have a peek . . . .

Snow Week in the Valley

2012-01-14T08:57:00.002-05:00

My first full week back at work and the cold. snow and freezing rain moved into the Ottawa Valley. What do they call that when nature is in sympathy with mankind's (or in my case, womankind's) plight? I know it will come to me.

Anyhow, some hardy Capital Crime Writer members braved the elements to attend our panel discussion about the writing process on Wednesday evening in the auditorium of the main branch of the downtown library. It was both fun and informative - moderator Wynn Quon kept the flow of questions going for C.B. Forrest, Nadine Doolittle and me. Nadine works as a writer fulltime, living near Wakefield, Quebec while Chris and I both work fulltime in communications and try to fit the writing into busy schedules. I'm a fan of both authors' work and recommend that you pick up their books for a good read.

C.B. Forrest this past summer, dropping in on my book signing at Collected Works.

Nadine Doolittle at A Day to Kill author event in October.

It's the kind of weekend where I'm happy to stay indoors and putter. Sadly, the snow plow keeps zipping by and dropping a load of heavy snow at the end of the driveway and sidewalk, and I will shortly have to go outside to do more shovelling before heading to the grocery store. Since we were away last weekend, the food situation in my cupboards is quite dire and the laundry has piled well above sea level. I am, however, making some headway on a manuscript and intend to spend the bulk of my day writing. Housework be damned (did I write that out loud?)

I've heard from one of the librarians organizing the Awesome Authors contest, and I can expect a package of short stories at the beginning of February. It took me three weekends of reading last year and a few weeknights as I recall so I'll be allowing some time - the contest keeps growing in popularity (for kids 9-17), which is a double-edged sword for the judges - it's so good to have kids participate, but it makes our job more time-consuming. Still, I do enjoy reading their work - so much fun.

I also just registered for Bouchercon in October in Cleveland - a huge American mystery conference that brings in fans from all over the States. It seems fitting to visit the home of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year since Second Chances is set in 1971 when rock was coming into its own. I can still remember my high school history teacher playing Steppenwolf in the library "Born to be Wild". Not sure why he ignored the library noise bylaw . . . but it was a cooler time. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_81PchgI7A

Just off to track down the snowplow operator to offer a bribe if he bypasses my driveway on the next run. I wonder if he reads mysteries . . . .

Onwards and Upwards

2012-01-10T17:10:00.002-05:00

A few of you might have wondered where I got to this week. Well, I was in lovely Gananoque, Ontario watching my daughter Lisa in the ladies regional curling playdowns. We booked into a great B & B named Stonewater Manor and the above photo is sunset from the window seat in our third-floor room. The room took up the whole of the third floor and felt a lot like being up in your grandmother's attic although much better stocked and way cosier. Downstairs and just around the corner is the pub, also owned by Jeff and Sue Girling with live entertainment on the weekends. We caught Cliff Edwards on the Saturday night - he was part of that 70's group The Bells if anyone remembers their music. (I actually do.) All this to say, if you want a fun, entertaining getaway for a night or two, I highly recommend this spot - and order the French toast for your breakfast, smothered in blueberries, strawberries and blackberries. (I had it twice.)

490 Stone Street, Gananoque www.stonewaterbb.com

And the curling . . . it was a nail-biting, lock-jawing kind of weekend, but the girls prevailed. They won the B final on Sunday evening and will now head out to Kenora for provincials toward the end of the month. Yes, first and second place won a trip to Kenora in January . . . some might wonder what the losers get . . .

So, this weekend, I am home and will be doing some writing. More on my regular Friday blog.

GO TEAM HOMAN! :-)

2011-12-31T14:46:00.003-05:00

This is my picture of time flying, which seems fitting on New Year's Eve 2011. It was taken one hot summer evening this past summer in Cherry Valley, Prince Edward County. We had a great week with friends Kathy and Bill Adair and Janice and Peter Murdoch, all the more special because Janice and Peter moved to Cold Lake, Alberta the week afterwards.

We did more travelling this past year. It began early in the year as we followed Lisa and her team of Rachel, Emma and Alison on their Scotties run - January in Thornhill, Ontario where they won the provincials and Charlottetown in February where they finished fourth in the country. An exciting two weeks, no doubt about it.

In June, I flew to the opposite end of the country with friends Katherine Hobbs and Darlene Cole to Vancouver and Victoria for Bloody Words, Canada's national mystery author conference. It was my first time that far west and another wonderful trip with perfect weather. I loved the west coast although I am told it rains there on occasion.

What else happened this year? The Second Wife was released in the summer and I launched it at the Clocktower Pub with fellow Ottawa authors Barbara Fradkin and Jeff Ross, mixing cupcakes, beer and a very good time. Icing on the cupcake was The Second Wife's nomination for an Ontario Library Golden Oak award, the winners to be announced at a luncheon in Toronto in June.

I continued writing and completed a manuscript for an adult mystery that I hope to turn into a series. I am awaiting feedback from the publisher before continuing with this project. I also had a fun booksigning at Collected Works and took part in a Capital Crime Writer day in October at the Ottawa Public Library, the highlight of which for me, was CBC Radio's Alan Neal reading passages from In Winter's Grip. He even managed to send a shiver down my spine. I spoke at the People, Words and Change literacy breakfast and was guest author at a Canadian Authors Association meeting in the fall. I also judged the Awesome Authors English short stories for the second year and presented awards at Ben Franklin place in the spring - I'll be soon reading this year's entries, which should arrive in February.

I make no resolutions for 2012 except my usual one to look for some interesting experiences, meet new people, keep up with old friends and have some fun. Already, plans are afoot. This year, we'll be heading to Italy for a two-week vacation and I've also got Bouchercon lined up in Cleveland in October, travelling again with Darlene and Katherine. And of course, Second Chances will be released in September.

So the year that was was a good one. I am thankful for my time with friends and family with so many good times and so much laughter. As the clock ticks down to the New Year, I raise my glass to each of you and wish you much joy and fulfillment in the year that is to come.

2011-12-24T08:32:00.002-05:00

Christmas Eve, 2011. It's a bitterly cold morning with a coating of snow on the ground. I'm nearly ready for guests and meals - we begin tonight with family and my friend Sue, who comes every year for Christmas Eve supper. I change the menu every year. This evening, we will be having pork tenderloin, tourtiere and a lemon mousse dessert. Tomorrow is the main event - turkey with sausage apple stuffing and all the fixings. If we were bears, this would be the gorging part just before we crawl somewhere warm to sleep away the rest of the winter.

I have the entire week off and will spend it catching up with friends, reading (I sure hope there are some mysteries in my stocking), writing a bit and completing the final edit of Second Chances - due January 6th. I received a copy of the Dundurn catalogue in the mail this week and Second Chances has a full page spread. It's slated to come out in September, a good time of year for a YA novel to be released. In keeping with 1971, the year of my novel, I included the titles of a lot of music from that period. I'm thinking it would be fun to make a tape of the songs to play at my launch. A little "Black Magic Woman" anyone? Maybe I could ask one of the old rock bands to come play - they're all back on tour it seems.

Well, I won't write much today since I have brownies to bake and lemon mousse to whip up. I just want to wish everyone a wonderful holiday with family and friends. I've found in years past that it's not the gifts or the picture-postcard, perfect holiday that makes Christmas special, but it is the little moments. Pulling out the ornament box and reliving memories as you hang them on the tree, getting together with friends you haven't seen in a while, calling my family up North Christmas morning, waking up with my girls sleeping over . . . I hope that each of you savour your own special moments and the magic of the season brings joy and peace.

Merry Christmas and a toast to the year that was and the year that is to come.

2011-12-17T16:40:00.001-05:00

I've tried every which way to add paragraphing to this post, but no luck so please bear with me! I'll bold the first word of each paragraph because this drives me crazy.One week to Christmas Eve. When our daughters were young, we would pile into the front seat of Ted's truck and drive past Stittsville to a tree farm. We brought along sleds and the girls played on the little hill while Ted and I tromped through the little wood looking for the perfect tree. We were careful not to find the perfect tree too soon because part of the tradition was a half hour of debate over who picked the best one. After the tree farm owner handed out candy canes to the kids, we drove to a little teashop on the way home and ordered hot chocolate and desserts. The last time we drove to the farm, the tree selection was sparse because of some bad planting seasons and we had to buy a tree in the city. It was the end of our tradition, but not the memories. This afternoon, Ted and I drove to the Parkdale Market and purchased our tree - a plump seven footer that will hold all the ornaments, including all the homemade ones the girls made so many years ago and all the ones we've been given. Pulling out the ornament box is another trip down memory lane. Allister sent the final formatted book for Second Chances to me on Friday. I have one last chance to find errors or to make minor changes. The cover design is appealing, I think, and I'm quite excited to have this one released. It's 262 pages long and for older teens, but I think adults will like it too. I had two people critique it in earlier versions and both told me they cried . . . and one of them was a man. You gotta love that :-)So what next?I've taken a bit of a break from writing but plan to get back into a project in January. I have a second Rapid Reads that needs revision and should give that a go. I'd also like to start a sequel to the adult manuscript I just finished, but I want to make sure the publisher accepts the first one. Hopefully, I will know within a few months.We had a great Capital Crime Writers' Christmas dinner on Wednesday evening, and I'm not just saying that because I organized it (with the help of my friend Wynn Quon and the rest of the executive). We met as KS on the Keys and had a room to ourselves. The food was good, the service excellent, and Howard Shrier a most interesting special guest speaker. He talked about the ups and downs getting his first book to print and was funny as well as motivational. We'll be following this up in January with a writers' panel of C.B. Forrest, Nadine Doolittle and moi, speaking about our writing processes. Should be fun and hopefully enlightening. Well, it's time to get ready for another Christmas party this evening. It's the best time meeting up with friends and people we don't see once winter sets in. I hope you are also having a wonderful holiday season.

Christmas Countdown

2011-12-11T07:54:00.003-05:00

Two weeks until Christmas. I've mailed out the Christmas cards, and nearly bought all my gifts, spending last evening wrapping. The turkey is on order and Ted and I made our annual trip to the liquor store to stock up, as did just about everyone in Westboro yesterday afternoon. I'm feeling almost in control. Next, I'll start baking and getting supper menus lined up - it's almost hard to fathom the preparation that goes into these few days every year.

The Capital Crime Writers' Christmas dinner is this Wednesday evening and I'm looking forward to hearing Howard Shrier talk about his writing life. He writes the PI Jonah Geller series set in Toronto. The first two books in the series, Buffalo Jump and High Chicago both won Arthur Ellis awards, a rather extraordinary feat. Still 12 spots remaining if you would like to register. Just go to www.capitalcrimewriters.com and click on News.

I've taken a few weeks off writing but am starting to get itchy fingers. It'll soon be time to start a new project, but I'll need to tidy up a few other manuscripts first. I'm quite happy with the way Second Chances is shaping up and look forward to seeing the final version before it goes to press. I also want to finish editing the adult mystery I am working on and take another crack at the Rapid Reads sequel. Good job I find all this work fun :-)

I echo Syvlia McConnell's note on Facebook to give books this Christmas. I was in my local bookstore yesterday and there are some great reads to be purchased this year. There's nothing like curling up with a good book (especially a Canadian mystery) in front of the fireplace with a cup of tea or glass of wine. The cares of the world are on hold for a while as your imagination takes hold in a world created by the author. I've already asked for a few mysteries to be put in my stocking. I have the entire week off between Christmas and New Year's and intend to make good, lazy use of it.

Getting into the Christmas Spirit (s)

2011-12-03T18:23:00.003-05:00

It seemed like I good idea to do a blog entry after I just proposed to Ted that we should pick some random house in the neighbourhood and sing Christmas carols outside their door. Might be fun. Ted said, "Great idea, especially since neither of us can carry a tune." He's also pretending not to know the words to any songs - I'll bet you're wondering where this is leading, and all I can say, is nowhere good.

I finished the edits on Second Chances and submitted to Allister. The odd thing was that I had included some song titles that I swore were released by 1971 and they actually weren't. As I verified dates, I spent a good part of my day listening to old hits on Youtube - what a treasure trove of music history. I could have sworn I was stuck dancing to "Stairway to Heaven" (which is a very, very long song) at a school dance before '71, but turns out that was a physical impossibility. The good news is that I'm younger than I thought.

I'm taking a few week break from writing except for Christmas cards. I also have to do the acknowledgement for Second Chances and I'm trying to come up with a quote from the era for the beginning. I had this great idea to use a line from songs released in 1971 at the heading of each chapter, but copyright was a thorny issue that couldn't be overlooked. It's really too bad, but I would have had to approach each record company to ask permission and would likely have had to pay. I just don't have time to do the legwork. Allister says that he'll be presenting the book to sales reps in December even though release is September 2012. They also sends out ARCs (advance reading copies) to reviewers six months before publication and can't miss the window.

So, just kicking back this weekend, doing some gift shopping and watching curling on tv. My daughter Lisa was at the Canada Cup in Cranbrook and lost a couple of nailbiters yesterday to finish just out of the top three teams; otherwise, we'd be watching her on TSN this weekend. Lisa finished second amongst the leads at the event (they keep stats of each shot thrown) so we're pretty proud of her.

Since carolling is off the table, maybe I can convince Ted to put up some outside lights before Christmas Eve this year. It's become a cat and mouse kind of manouveur so wish me luck. He's getting way too good at dodging my big ideas.

A Little Nostalgia

2011-11-27T20:39:00.003-05:00

I'm late blogging this weekend for a couple of reasons. I've been spending all my free time at the curling club in an annual bonspiel, which ended last night with a banquet. We came runner up in one of the events so lots of rocks thrown and lots of sweeping.

In my free moments, I've been editing Second Chances - well, reviewing the edits in track changes from Allister, my Dundurn editor. Nothing too major, but this is my last chance to make changes to the text. The adjective that comes to mind is 'pain-staking'. I've made it once through and now have to give it another complete read to look for inconsistencies although Allister has done a good job pointing out the major ones. I also have to confirm dates of the music I mention in the story, which is set in 1971 - the golden age of peace, love and rock 'n roll. What an era in which to cut your musical taste buds. The explosion of innovative music and bands has never been matched, in my humble opinion.

I remember my first 45 - it was "Lady Willpower" by Gary Puckett and the Union Gap. I had a crush on Mark Lindsey (do you remember the name of his band?) and even wrote a fan letter - I must have been about 12 years old. If you're out there, Mark, I'm still waiting for your reply. I'm sure you've got some time to answer now. It was the age of live bands at high school dances, records and stereos. Sometimes, I think technology hasn't really improved the experience.

So, Christmas is a month away. I ordered the turkey today and am picking away at the gift-shopping. The calendar is starting to fill up at an alarming rate but the week ahead will be dedicated to editing in between work and more curling games. If things don't lighten up soon, I'm going to have to get a bigger plate.

And the November rain and double digit temperatures are taking us into December - I can't remember ever going this long in the season without the need to wear my winter boots.

So much to do . . .

2011-11-19T15:48:00.008-05:00

Just back from teaching a great group of girls at the Sunnyside branch of the Ottawa Public Library - eleven in total - would have been 12 kids except the boy who poked his head in skeedadled after one look at all those girls. Give him a few years and he'll realize the advantages.

I spent the morning working on reviewing the edits from Allister for Second Chances and I've poured myself a glass of Sandbanks white and am about to get back at it. I have a long way to go. You might find it odd for me to be editing text 10 months before release date, but there's a tight deadline process that kicks in. I try not to be the hold up and never have been to date. I'm keen to start a new project, but seem to have spent the last month editing the latest manuscript and now this one. It'll probably be January before I get into a new book. I have a plot taking shape in my head already.

So just leading the charge on organizing Capital Crime Writers' Christmas dinner on Dec. 14th and figuring out how to post on their new website - looks like I'm going to become webmaster - who knew I'd be the one with the most experience? Almost flies in the face of reason, which is where my technical ability tends to take wing. Just ask Ted. He gives me lessons in using the VCR and setting the clocks and then . . . just does it himself. I have the head nodding / uncomprenhending blank stare down to a science . . . but enough about my failings.

Oh yes, you must check out the Capital Crime Writers' Youtube video of A Day to Kill event - just search for the organization on the site and it will pop up. Patrick Walton did a great job.

The girls in my workshop today said that it doesn't feel close to Christmas without any snow. I've managed to sneak in some gift shopping already and bought some cards. I'm starting to feel the spirit even without any snow and temperatures in the teens. Christmas party, anyone?! It's been a busy, workaholic kind of fall so soon time to kick up the heels and celebrate another year, but for now . . . back to editing - just 240 pages to go before I'm done.

November Goings On

2011-11-12T10:42:00.002-05:00

The middle of a long weekend and I'm enjoying every minute.

I spent yesterday working away on my manuscript, beginning at 7:30 a.m. and stopping at 9:00 p.m. with a few breaks along the way. Absolutely glorious. When you work fulltime, a day to focus entirely on writing is a luxury and something to be savoured.

The lecture/workshop at the Ottawa Public Library on Tuesday evening got great reviews. The e-mail feedback I received, and I quote, ah hem, "informative, warm and entertaining". Ted thinks I should take my schtick on the road and charge $10,000 an hour. You have to like his ability to dream big.

I'm teaching a short story workshop to kids at the Sunnyside branch of the Ottawa Public Library and need to turn my attention to reviewing my lesson plan, which I used last year. It worked well and this will be a new group of kids, if enough sign up that is. I haven't seen much advertising of the workshop and I'm not convinced it's a go yet. This is a commitment that goes along with the Awesome Author contest, for which I will again be judging the English short stories this year.

I'm also helping with the programming at Capital Crime Writers - we have a great guest speaker this Wednesday at 7:00 at the Library and Archives - Damiem Coakeley, newly retired police officer,who will be talking about being on the beat and what really goes on in the holding cells. You are welcome to come out for a meeting to see if you would like to join (only $30 a year). My part is to organize the Christmas dinner on December 14th and have lined up Toronto author Howard Shrier to be our special guest speaker - he won the Arthur Ellis award a few years ago for best crime novel and his books have been optioned for a proposed television series, now in development at CTV. Very exciting to have him come talk to us about his books and writing.

I'm managing to curl two-three times a week after work, but lately with the time change and morning darkness while I stand at the busstop to head downtown to my office, I've been longing for a long holiday in a distant land. If I could get one $10,000 gig, I'd be on the next plane to a place with palm trees where the sun shines past four o'clock in the afternoon.

Multi-tasking My Way Through November

2011-11-05T13:07:00.003-04:00

So much going on.

I'm working away on my one and a half hour presentation for the Canadian Authors Association meeting this Tuesday evening when I will discuss working through a manuscript and delve a bit into the world of publishing. At first, when the invitation arrived in my in-box this summer, I thought I would have to decline because I couldn't imagine what bit of wisdom I could impart. Well, I'm up to ten pages of notes so I must be smarter than I thought :-) I'll let you know how it goes over next week when I'll be preparing for my kids' short story workshop at the Sunnyside Branch of the Ottawa Public Library . . .

I also booked a hotel room for Bouchercon 2012 in Cleveland Ohio - I'll be travelling with my partners in crime, Darlene Cole and Katherine Hobbs. We went to Bloody Words in Victoria together and had a great time so Cleveland next October will be something to look forward to. Bouchercon brings in lots of big name authors and this one will have Elizabeth George, Robin Cook, Mary Higgins Clark and John Connolly. I met one of the women organizing it when I was on that book tour with Mary Jane Maffini last fall and if her energy level is anything to go by, this should be some weekend - I'll be on a panel and it will be an opportunity to do a bit of promotion. You know, Cleveland isn't that far away if you're looking for an October holiday and a few days to talk books and meet authors. Room rates are low if you're there for the conference . . .

I also heard from my editor Allister at Dundurn and he's now working on Second Chances. Once he's done his edit, it comes to me with his suggested changes and I have a few weeks to go through the manuscript . . . again. A lot of work goes into these puppies before they see the bookstore shelf.

Capital Crime Writers hired Patrick, my video-filming friend, to make up a video about 'A Day to Kill' a few Saturdays ago and he's working his way through the reams of film he took at the event. I've seen the first few minutes and it should be great - a little ominous with some fake blood splatter. I'll post the link once it's up on YouTube so you'll get a flavour of the day.

I've got the afternoon open to do some editing on my latest manuscript and maybe to add a few more pages of wisdom to my presentation. (Who knew I had this much brilliance in me?)

Let's Rumba

2011-10-29T14:23:00.005-04:00

A few snapshots by Darlene Cole from 'A Day to Kill' last Saturday. Above, I am standing with Nadine Doolittle, my sparring mate in the Debaters panel and a fine writer who makes her home in Wakefield, Quebec. There are a couple more pics at the end of this post.

This week, I'm thinking about how important it is to keep on taking chances. Ted and I went to watch Councillor Katherine Hobbs dance for Easter Seals in a new event called 'Dancing with the Stars'. Katherine accepted this challenge to help raise money for these kids even though she hadn't any training and she was going to be up against the likes of two-time gold medal Olympian Carolyn Waldo and Olympian skater Elizabeth Manley. It meant hours of practice and conquering the nerves to dance in front of a full ballroom at the Delta last evening - and she did great. In fact, all of the dancers were more than respectable with Elizabeth Manley taking top prize.

It can be hard to get out of one's comfort zone and some people have an easier time of it than others, there's no doubt. Yet courage isn't always about the big things - sometimes it can be taking on a challenge that most everyone else would take a pass on and facing a roomful of people when your knees are knocking. So my hat is off today for Katherine and all the other Dancing Stars and everyone who risks failure to try something new.

Well, feels like I have a thousand things to do this weekend and most of the tasks involve paperwork. As if I don't get enough of it in my day job. I heard my first Christmas carol on the radio two days ago and it made my stomach clench at the thought of all the work lying ahead to get ready. Maybe it's time to run off to Vegas again.

Who's with me?

Alan Neal From CBC Radio Reading from In Winter's Grip

2011-10-29T14:22:00.000-04:00

Listening to Alan Neal Read from In WInter's Grip

2011-10-29T14:20:00.000-04:00

Inside An Author's Mind Panel - A Day to Kill

2011-10-29T14:17:00.000-04:00

A Killing Fall

2011-10-23T11:21:00.002-04:00

Yesterday was a fine 'Day to Kill'. Capital Crime Writers and the Ottawa Public Libray teamed up for a full day of author panels and celebrity readings along with a writing workshop by Mary Jane Maffini and lots of homemade food by Margaret Dunlop. The authors worked hard to entertain while giving a glimpse into their creative processes - about 70 people dropped in to enjoy the show.

Councillor Jan Harder and head of the Ottawa Public Library Barbara Clubb opened the day and then it was the panel 'Inside the Author's Mind', moderated by the funny and punny John Holt with C.B. Forrest, Barbara Fradkin, Nadine Doolittle and me answering some zinger questions before squaring off for a debate. I had to argue the benefits of awards and competition for writers while Nadine argued against - my over-the-top defence of all-out winning garnered me the audience thumbs up, making me winner in the debate - sort of fitting if you think about it.

As for celebrity readers, Alan Neal of CBC Radio read a few passages from In Winter's Grip and did an outstanding job, right down to a Southern drawl for one of the female characters, Patricia Reynolds. I'm a huge fan of Alan and his drive home show weekdays, having followed his shows with the CBC for some time. It was quite a thrill to hear him reading the words I put to paper.
Other celebrity readers included Spencer Cawston from DAWG FM, Oni the Haitian Sensation, Jon Willing from the Ottawa Sun and MPP Yasir Naqvi - they were all great! Councillor Katherine Hobbs moderated the day with humour and she was also part of the planning committee - I can't say enough about all the good work she does.

I also received some unexpected and encouraging news about The Second Wife, which is an Orca Rapid Reads mystery for adults with literacy problems or people just looking for a quick read. The Ontario Library Association has nominated it along with seven other books for the Golden Oak award. Librarians from across the province decided on the list and now readers will get to vote on the winner in May 2012. This means lots of people will be reading the book and will be introduced to my character Gwen Lake so that's quite exciting.

Next on the horizon for me is preparing for an hour and a half workshop on November 8 for the Canadian Authors Association on my writing process and then a short story workshop for kids at the Sunnyside Branch of the Ottawa Public Library toward the end of November. Somewhere in all this, I have to finish the manuscript I'm working on. We need to lobby for more hours in the day.

Do You Have A Day to Kill?

2011-10-16T08:28:00.003-04:00

Well, Ted is off again this morning for his 'last' golf game of the season, leaving me free to catch up on my various writing projects.

I'm preparing for a writing panel this coming Saturday for the Ottawa Public Library / Capital Crime Writers' event, 'A Day to Kill'. My panel is with fellow authors C.B. Forrest, Nadine Doolittle and Barbara Fradkin and hosted by John Holt who writes comedy and hosts a local morning radio show. Our panel will be a game show kind of format - think Jeopardy meets the Debaters. I'm going head to head with Nadine and will be defending the need for awards and competitions in the writing world. I promise to be irreverant and ribald. Our panel follows the opening kick off with Ottawa City Councillor Jan Harder at 9:30, after everyone has had some free coffee and homemade baking . . . If you would like some free lunch, you should pre-register at www.capitalcrimewriters.com

As well, a local celebrity will be reading from In Winter's Grip although I'm not sure yet who this will be. I have word though that Alan Neal from CBC Radio will be doing one of the five readings.

Other than this event, I'm merrily editing away on my latest manuscript and it's coming along. Still a ways to go though before this book sees the light of day.

If you are like me, you are not happy unless you have a book or two that you're reading at any given moment. I went on a Michael Connelly kick (Lincoln Lawyer, Harry Bosch) and have now run through most of them. Good reads if you've never tried Connelly. I also just finished reading two Liza Marklund books: Red Wolf and Exposed. She's a Swedish author and her books are also good. I'm presently reading another Swede, Henning Mankell and his book Faceless Killers Not sure it's my cup of tea although he appears to be one of the big Swedish crime writers. He has a cop Wallander - could be the translation, but I find the writing choppy and the characters aren't nuanced.

Hope to see everyone out next Saturday at the Main Branch of the OPL and 'A Day to Kill'. It should be entertaining and you'll get to meet some of the top Ottawa crime writers including Mary Jane Maffini and Rick Mofina. (You'll also get to fill up on Margaret Dunlop's homemade cooking.) As the beautiful fall weather takes a down turn, this could be just the way to liven up a dreary Saturday.

Giving Thanks

2011-10-08T10:55:00.003-04:00

I am done my rewrites and am printing off my manuscript as I type this blog in order to go through it as a unit to pull all the bits and details together. This includes looking at the timeline and minute description, such as eye colour and type of vehicle my characters are driving. In one novel, just before the book went to press, I noticed that the grandmother's jeep had morfed into a van by the last chapters. Oops. It's even trickier to have a grey-eyed blonde turn into a brown-eyed redhead. It's easy enough to do when you stretch a manuscript out over a year. Geez, you could forget your own kids names in this length of time.

Lots going on this weekend. Pie-baking, turkey roasting, sitting on the front deck wine-drinking. The thing I'm really keen to do is go through this manuscript, but I can see that happening on Monday when Ted heads to the golf course for one last round although he says this every time he heads out with his clubs. (I continue to nod as if I believe him.) Still, 27 degrees today with a humidex so who can argue with a morning on the links?

I'm also getting excited about the Capital Crime Writers and Ottawa Public Library event coming up Saturday, October 22nd and have to tell you that there are still some spots open if you want to come out. (To register, see www.capitalcrimewriters.com). I'm on a morning panel with my buddies Chris Forrest, Nadine Doolittle and Barb Fradkin - it looks like a spin off of a game show and the Debaters (CBC Radio). It will be moderated by another friend from Health Canada John Holt, who also writes comedy and hosts a radio show. We have so much talent in this city - and so many interesting people. There will be other panels and celebrity readings - someone yet to be determined will read from In Winter's Grip - can't wait to hear them do it. There will also be a delicious free lunch prepared by Margaret Dunlop and morning coffee with homemade baking. How can you not come out?

Speaking of baking, it's time to go blend up some pie dough and peel some apples. I hope that wherever you are, you raise a glass to this most wonderful harvest as you sit down to a heaping plate of turkey and gravy, and of course, that pie.

And to my daughter Lisa curling in Calgary, I'll bake you another pumpkin one sometime soon :-)

Happy Thanksgiving, all!

A Location for Murder

2011-10-01T07:31:00.003-04:00

Sometimes on a Saturday or Sunday, Ted and I like to spend the day in one of the small communities within driving distance of Ottawa. We go for lunch and wander around the town, having a look in the shops and bookstores. One day earlier in September, we decided to have lunch in Manotick, about half an hour from our house, heading south along the Rideau River. "This might work for a setting in the manuscript I am working on," I said. "In my mind, I had this idea for a murder along a walking trail by the Rideau but the actual location I'm thinking of isn't quite right because there's no river."

After walking the entire Manotick downtown, we settled on an Italian restaurant with a courtyard. The food was superb and it was relaxing to sit in the late-summer sunshine with a glass of wine and nothing in particular to do. On the way home, we stopped at Blacks Rapids to see if this would do as the setting for my murder.

"Nope," I said disappointed. "No walking trail and nowhere secluded." We continued on home and I worked on moving the scene to somewhere on the Ottawa River, which would mean moving my characters further into the city. I started rewriting, but wasn't entirely satisfied with the changes. I set the manuscript aside and pondered what to do.

Ted came home from work one day and said, "I think I've found the perfect location. It's near that place we had to get the car towed where it was sliding off the side of the bank into the river." We looked at each other, somewhat amused at the memory. Ted is a sheet metal worker and drives to jobs around the city. He happened to be measuring metal work at a building nearby the place we'd stopped looking for rocks one Mother's Day . . . but that's another story.

So last Sunday, we drove out Prince of Wales Drive and spent the afternoon scouting out three locations in the woods along the Rideau River until we hit on the almost-perfect spot in the Chapman Mills Conservation Area - even the name seems like a good omen :-) The photo above shows Ted as we head into the woods on our search for a place to commit murder. Kind of macabre if you think about it too deeply, which you probably shouldn't.

On the way home, Ted said, "Well, they said no leaving garbage, no dogs off leashes, but nothing about dumping a corpse. I think you're safe as far as the bylaws go."

"I'm going to be setting my next book in another town." I said. "I see some overnight roadtrips in our future."

"I'll be packed," said Ted.

The First of Autumn

2011-09-24T07:47:00.003-04:00

First day of fall yesterday coinciding with my completion of the first draft of my manuscript, 95,000 words in total. Now begins the task of editing - the cut, slash and rewrite part. Once I finish this, I'll rustle up a few readers to put their critical eyes to the story. It's easy to get too close to the material and miss errors of logic or sections that don't work. So it will still be a ways off before you find out if I had the heart to kill off Susan Halliday :-)

Kristy Wallace, reporter for Ottawa This Week did a nice job with an article she published about my writing. She'd read that I was one of the guest speakers at The People, Words and Change event and asked to interview me for her article on mystery-writing. A neighbour on my street, whom I've known for over 25 years came up to me after the paper was delivered and said, "I didn't know you wrote books." A prime example of why we have to keep doing this publicity schtick.

So next in the writing world, I'm helping to organize the Capital Crime Writers event on October 22nd at the main branch of the Ottawa Public Library. This has already taken a bit of time and more will be needed as we get closer. I also have to prepare two workshops - one for kids on short story writing and the other for adults on keeping a plot going. Both workshops are slated for November.

This time of year, just like spring, I feel like starting something new and getting my life reorganized. It's time to put the garden to bed and haul out the warmer clothes; find my curling gear in the back of the closet and order the Thanksgiving turkey. It's wonderful to sleep under a pile of blankets with the windows open as the nights cool down. The leaves are beginning to turn colour and fall apples are at the Parkdale Market. A great season to be out and about or home reading a book with a roast in the oven.

The Power of Words

2011-09-10T08:11:00.003-04:00

Bright and early Thursday morning, Katherine Hobbs and I drove to the Tom Brown Arena to attend the People, Words and Change's 2nd annual Power of Words breakfast. PWC is an adult literacy organization that has been around a long time - I taught evenings for them one year in fact in 1984!

I wouldn't be lying to say that it was a little daunting to speak in front of a full house that included fellow presenters Mayor Jim Watson, Brian Kilrea and Terry Marcotte as well as the Chief of Police and city counsellors Katherine Hobbs (not nervous about her :-) and Mathieu Fleury (whom I am pictured with here), sitting in the audience. My video guy Patrick Walton also came out and will be making another short video of the event so you will be able to see snippits of the morning. It was great fun!

The People Words and Change staff and volunteers are wonderful people and the morning really was about them and the students - several students got up to speak about how working with a tutor had changed their lives for the better. It's not an easy thing to go back to school as an adult and to face what can be a lifetime of school failure - courage is not always about the big heroic acts. Speaking of heroes, Moe Nattallah of the Newport restaurant cooked and donated the entire breakfast - how good is that?

So now I am working on publicity for the Capital Crime Writer and Ottawa Public Library mystery author event on October 22nd, another day that promises to be a lot of fun. I've got a news release almost ready to send off and will be sending out notices to blogs this weekend. My friend Darren McEwan set up a Twitter account for us under capcrimewriters so follow us if you are a 'tweeter' - you can also visit the new website at capitalcrimewriters.com

Can you believe this weather? Another lovely looking day out there but I will stay inside and type the ending of my mauscript. I'm almost there. I've got to decide today whether to kill off a character whose life is currently hanging by a thread. I know what I would like to happen but am not sure she's going to be around much longer . . .

Power of Words Breakfast with Councillor Katherine Hobbs and Mayor Jim Watson

2011-09-10T08:08:00.000-04:00

Power of Words Breakfast with CJOH Sports Director Terry Marcotte

2011-09-10T08:06:00.002-04:00

Power of Words Breakfast with Brian Kilrea, retired coach of the Ottawa 67s

2011-09-10T08:00:00.001-04:00

September Heat

2011-09-03T13:24:00.003-04:00

Just a quick bit of blogging today because my neighbour's pool is calling. It's a sweltering day for September and the all-day rain the weather forecasters promised has turned into blue skies and sunshine. Great for the last long weekend of summer.

This Thursday, I'm part of an exciting event - People, Words and Change, an adult literacy organization, is holding a breakfast and I'm one of three guest speakers, the others being Ottawa mayor Jim Watson and Brian Kilrea of Ottawa 67s fame. CJOH sports director Terry Marcotte is the MC - not bad company, aye? I talk for five minutes and have my notes prepared - exciting but also a wee bit nerve-wracking!

I got a call this week from the local paper Ottawa This Week. They asked for an interview and we set a time for Tuesday. I'll let you know when the article appears and hopefully, I can link to it.

Other than that, I spent an evening with other members of Capital Crime Writers working on the upcoming free, all-day mystery author event at the Ottawa Public Library on October 22nd - mark your calendars - free lunch and a chance to meet most of Ottawa's mystery authors. (Did I mention this is free?) We're planning for a fun day.

I'm onto the last two chapters of my manuscript and will be spending some time writing this afternoon . . . just as soon as I have that swim. The photo today is on our front deck taken just minutes ago. The geraniums are into their second bloom of the summer. I know that not all corners of the country have had the phenomenal weather we've had, but this is one stretch of time I'm awfully glad to be living in the Nation's Capital.

Dog Days

2011-08-27T10:31:00.002-04:00

Yesterday,Ted said the day was spongy - it wasn't summer hot or fall crisp - it was just a day that you couldn't get a firm grasp on. It sums up so much going on in the world - Libya, Jack Layton, wild storms off the eastern seaboard and crazy tornadoes and earthquakes - how to make sense of it all?

Oddly, in Jack Layton's death I see more hope in the country than I've seen in a long time. People are celebrating this man who dedicated himself to bettering the lot of the homeless and poor even as we mourn his passing. So many people recognized the goodness in this man and the values he strove to put into action through politics. Politics can have such a dirty connotation, but Layton chose to tackle social issues from within the system and change the way we see politicians - and by the outpouring of emotion for Layton, you have to believe it worked. He was a politician to the end, but only because he believed this was the way to bring about social change.

I was moved by the story of a previously homeless man on television who said Jack used to visit their tent village in Toronto to raise their spirits while he worked at City Hall to bring about affordable housing - affordable housing he managed to win for this man and many others. Others have come forward with similar stories. Layton's legacy is in these acts of compassion.

I continue to write. My manuscript is into the final few chapters before the editing work begins. I'm spending a great deal of my waking hours tying together the plotline in my head and backtracking to slip clues into previous chapters. It's a spongy, solitary process - exhilerating but frightening at the same time.

If you haven't viewed the Collected Works booksigning video yet, have a look on Youtube at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6GOUFqBjmA

Last week of August coming up. The dog days of summer. Change sure comes quickly in this old world.

My Dance Card is Full

2011-08-20T12:06:00.003-04:00

Squeezing in a blog some days can be like trying to get into last year's bathing suit - it's a bit of a struggle to fit in. Today is one of those days.

When you work fulltime, the weekends are precious. I still wake up early on a Saturday morning and think about all the things I want (and need) to do - grocery shopping, errands I've put off, laundry, library, cooking, visiting, coffee-drinking on the front deck, dinner-hosting,exercising and oh yes . . . writing. Today, I've completed the shopping and am half-way through the laundry - still a ways to go before I can flop down somewhere and enjoy the lightness of being lazy.

So if you recall last week, I was hitting despair level with my latest manuscript. I'd gone over it so many times, I couldn't decide if it was better to cut my losses or keep on heading to the grand finale. Sylvia McConnell, acquisitions editor for Dundurn and previous RendezVous Crime publisher, kindly agreed to read the first 25 pages. Her feedback arrived near the end of the week. It contained the word 'gripping' and an urging to continue. It was all I needed to get back on track.

I've decided to put the self-doubt aside and finish this puppy. I'm at 82,000 words and plotting the end with renewed vim. (BTW: There really is such a word as vim - means vitality and enthusiasm) I'm starting to like the story again . . . I wonder how many other authors go through this angst - maybe it's part of the creative process?

I had a bit of fun letting people know that In Winter's Grip is eligible for this year's Readers' Choice selection for the Giller book prize and I know many have voted for it. I thank each and every one of you who took the time. It was really nice to feel so supported. We still haven't broken into the weekly top ten, but no matter. Word has spread about the book and new readers are buying it. One person even got an independent bookstore to order in copies. You guys are the best.

I saw a rough draft of Patrick Walton's video of the Collected Works signing and he's going to have it ready by Monday so I'll send around the link as we'll post it on Youtube. I should probably add a dancing baby or someone falling off a bike down a set of stairs wearing a clown suit, but we'll leave that for another time.

Keep On Keeping On

2011-08-13T14:01:00.004-04:00

Thought you might like to see the upcoming book cover if you haven't already. It's an older teen book slated for release in September 2012, so this gives an idea of how far ahead publishers plan. I think adults who've lived through the 70's and the Viet Nam era will also find the book interesting- lots music and historical tidbits incorporated into the storyline, which I thought at one time might be an adult book. The line between adult and older teen fiction can be thin to nonexistant and I think this story comes close.

Well, I hit the 'what was I thinking: fling manuscript into the garbage' wall on the latest adult manuscript, and have sought an outside opinion from my previous publisher, who is now in acquisitions for Dundurn. She's going to read the first 25 pages to let me know if the book has legs. I thought about shelving it and starting over this week, but am not sure if this is manuscript fatigue or valid self-doubt. I'm hoping to get honest direction. I've spent the better part of a year on this one - still a ways to go though and I'm not keen to keep going with it if I should cut my losses and start a new project. This creative process can be wearing.

Another author pointed out today that In Winter's Grip is on the eligibility list for the Giller book prize and people can vote for their choices at http://www.cbc.ca/books/scotiabankgillerprize/readerschoice/index.html
There are about 50 books on this list and it will be whittled down to a long list of about 10, based on votes. Thanks to everyone who takes a minute to vote - How cool would that be to make the Giller long list!

The summer heat continues but I've begun seriously trying to get in shape for the upcoming curling season. I'm on two teams: a ladies team as skip and a team with three men as lead. The more leg and arm muscle you have, the better you can perform so I'm trying to maintain three good workouts a week. Being in shape also helps you to stay awake for the drinking part after the game, some might argue the real point of the sport at club level. It's interesting to watch (with emphasis on watch) the intensive training schedule of my daughter Lisa, who curls on the Rachel Homan rink at a seriously more competitive level than my teams. They won Ontario last year and made the playoffs at the Scotties in Charlottetown. They should have an exciting season ahead, beginning in September. By then, I'll probably have forgotten all about my own training schedule except for the bit about staying awake after the games long enough to down a pint.

Summer Heat Ramblings

2011-08-06T15:53:00.005-04:00

A few of my peeps who came by for the Collected Works book signing last Saturday. Left to right, Julia, Lisa (my daughters), Katherine, Janet and Bernie. The signing felt a little like a launch - relaxed and people mingling and having a good time. I like when this happens! I sold quite a few books, to old friends and new. It was also my first event with Patrick coming out to video tape for a video project we're working on for Youtube and my website. I thought it would be weird, but Patrick moved around the store so discreetly, it was easy to forget he was filming. He might put together a little video just on the signing so I'll let you know if he manages time to do it.

It was back to work on Wednesday so my writing is back to it's old catch as catch can schedule. (Is that even an expression?) Fatigue also becomes an issue. After a day of work, it can be hard to form coherent thoughts although Ted may argue this happens even while I'm on holiday. What luxury it would be to have a year just to write. It might be nice to go back to Shakespeare's time when people had patrons. Of course, there's that nasty plague business and all the forsoothing.

I attended a Capital Crime Writers planning meeting for an event at the Ottawa Public Library October 22nd called "Capital Crime Writers - A Day to Kill". Mark your calendars - there will be local mystery authors, celebrities, food and fun. One of the perks of these meetings is that our past president's wife Margaret loves to cook and she feeds us in their back garden. This time, the BBQ was capped with homemade peach pie and peach cheese cake. Did I mention Margaret will be providing lunch at the October 22nd event? Last time, she made roast beef sandwiches with carmalized onions amongst other delicacies. She's become our hero.

Well, it's still a hot old summer here in Ottawa. As if in commiseration, my oven has conked out so I can't cook. Sometimes, I think the universe really is on my side.

Collected Works July 30, 2011

2011-08-06T15:48:00.001-04:00

Gone Swimming

2011-07-30T08:44:00.005-04:00

Week two of vacation and lots of writing in this week. You may remember that I killed off an unexpected character last week. Well, I wrote several scenes afterwards and wasn't at all happy with the direction the story was taking. Yesterday, I went back and rewrote chunks, killing off the character I had originally intended to all along. I think this will work out much better. There's a lot going on in this book and I might need to par some of it down after the first draft is completed. That's where my reading critiquers will help. It can be hard to keep perspective so objective input is often required.

Today is my signing at Collected Works bookstore from 1:00 to 3:00. I've been doing some advertising and know that several friends will be dropping by. Should be fun. I've also hired a friend who does video and creative communications for a living to follow me around to events over the next few months. He's going to put together a video that gives a bit of my writing life for my website and Youtube. I don't know of any other authors who've done something similar so it should be an interesting foray into social media. Plus, Patrick does great work.

Well, back to the office on Wednesday. I've enjoyed this week, swimming every day and writing. I've been sticking close to home, enjoying solitude and time to work on my manuscript. Ted headed back to work so the gable end project is still languishing. The pink insulation is now bleached white from the sun. Still a few more months before the snow flies :-)

Well, off for a morning swim. Hope to see you this afternoon at Collected Works!

On Vacation in Prince Edward County

2011-07-24T20:09:00.004-04:00

Ted and I, Kathy and Bill, Janice and Peter headed out last Saturday for a week of relaxation in Cherry Valley, deep in the heart of Prince Edward County - wine and beach country. We managed our share of both. We stayed in Britannia House (see photo below) - what can only be described as a luxury summer cottage - the place even had a panini-maker. The weather was hot and sunny and we made it to Sandbanks every day and sometimes twice. Body surfing in the waves was a blast, particularly the afternoon we spent at Wellington Beach, which had high winds and ocean-sized waves.

Our only mistake was listening to a local who sent us to an inland lake - he forgot to mention it was swarming with snakes, or should I say slithering. One came at me with its mouth open just after I'd jumped in and I was like a cartoon character churning out of there.

Anyhow, good times with great friends but sadly no writing. I am going to make up for it this week though. I'll also be at Collected Works (Wellington and Holland)this Saturday from one to three p.m. and all my books will be available. Hope you can stop by to say hello if you're in Ottawa.

Back to writing . . . .

Britannia House, Cherry Valley

2011-07-24T20:06:00.000-04:00

Sunset at Cherry Valley

2011-07-24T20:03:00.000-04:00

The Sticks Holding Up Our Windows Are Gone

2011-07-15T17:13:00.003-04:00

I've been getting requests for updates on Ted's summer projects around the house. It was amazing last year how many followed my weekly updates on our front verandah - yes, I think if the project had proceeded much slower, Vegas would have gotten a bookie involved. Anyhow, while our gable end has remained exposed pink insulation for about a month now, you might be more interested in our beautiful new front door and windows as shown above. Ted optimistically told the company not to bother with the trim on the door and six new windows because . . . he's going to do it. That gnawing you hear is my knuckles.

I got an e-mail from Allister at Dundurn and he'll be editing my upcoming young adult novel Second Chances. The cover is approved and soon the manuscript will take its place in the queue. They send the cover and cover blurb off to catalogues and booksellers early in the process, even before the editing is complete. The entire process runs like a clock once it starts. My book is due out spring 2012.

Writing has been going well and quite enjoyable. I'm officially on vacation as of 3:40 this afternoon and now have time to put my nose to it. Some might think a holiday is no time to work on a project, but believe me when I say, writing is great fun. I'm at the spot in my story where my plot must come together, but it's still a long way from the end. Once the first draft is done, I have to edit for coherence, plotline, language, grammar . . . it could take weeks. I'm rubbing my hands together in delight at the very thought (not really, but I wanted to pull your chain a bit there).

So you ask what else I plan to do with my eighteen days of freedom? Check back next week for an update. Until then, picture me with my feet in the sand and a glass of sangria in my hand. All will become clear. Stay thirsty, my friends.

As Summer Heats Up

2011-07-09T08:49:00.007-04:00

It is another beautiful July morning. I have one week of work ahead and then holidays. Ahh, summer.

I've done quite a bit of writing this week. I open up my manuscript in the morning and work off and on all day and into the evening whenever I get the chance. This involved drafting and fussing with two long scenes. When I finished them, I realized that the time frame wouldn't work with the previous bit, so next, I'm going to have to add something in between. Actually, I have a subplot that I also need to move along so everything should come together nicely. I'm at 73,000 words, aiming for 80,000 or thereabouts. I now have two dead bodies on my hands; the second one was unexpected in that I was preparing to kill off a certain character, but when I wrote the scene, somebody else got bumped off instead. You could say that they were on the unlucky side.

Concerning the business of writing, I worked with publicity at Dundurn to create a poster for my upcoming signing at Collected Works bookstore on July 30th. They did a great job and a few local businesses have said they will post it. I also did much to-ing and fro-ing with Chris at Collected Works about book ordering and publicity. As well, I spent a lot of e-mailing with the Ottawa Public Library this week as they coordinate a workshop in November. I'll be teaching short story-writing to kids at the Sunnyside branch as one of my tasks as judge in the Awesome Authors contest.

Last week, too, I met with Tom Curran and Wynn Quon to plan the upcoming Capital Crime Writers' program and guest speakers. We have a fabulous line up planned and if you are a mystery fan in the Ottawa area, you really should think about joining. Not all of our members write - some are just readers interested in listening to authors, detectives, psychologists, private eyes . . . our list of topics and speakers goes on and on. We meet the second Wednesday of every month (excluding summer) in the Library and Archives next to the Supreme Court building. If you are out of town, $15 gets you the newsletter stuffed with information. Let me know if you would like more info.

So, a busy first week in July but still lots of time to sit on the front verandah and read or talk to neighbours. Life should never get so busy that you don't have time for friends and kicking back. After all, what would be the point?

Berry Days

2011-07-02T10:04:00.007-04:00

Every year around the Canada Day weekend, my daughter Lisa and I head out to pick strawberries at a farm just out of the city. We've been keeping up this tradition since she was in grade school - through the turbulant teen years and after she moved away from home. We pick when it would be easier to sleep in and buy berries from the market. We pick when the skies are threatening rain or the sun is beating down on us in a morning sauna.

This is the first year, Lisa picked me up in her car as the clock struck eleven a.m., no longer an early-morning event. Buying berries appeared a more viable alternative than ever before, but we carried on past the stall with the already picked baskets to the fields at the back of the property. We each paid for an empty basket and made our way down the rows to kneel in the straw and dirt beside the rows of plants. It took but a moment to settle into the rhythm of lifting leaves to find the reddest and juiciest berries as the sun and heat and smell of ripe fruit filled our senses. We talked and laughed and relived other berry-picking mornings. When we drove home, we no longer stopped at the Dairy Queen as we had when Lisa was younger. Instead, we went out separate ways right afterwards, but happily our tradition has evolved to include a different part two. Lisa returned with a friend in the evening for a BBQ and homemade strawberry shortcake. We sat outside talking and laughing long into the evening, and it seemed to me that there is a need for simple traditions. They are the ties that bind; the memories that mean the most.

Writing went so well last week, but has stalled a bit as I question the direction of my story. I've been mulling it over and trying to sort out what my characters are up to. I'm into the home stretch, which is frightening but exciting at the same time. This is the point where I wonder if the story will hang together or if the logic behind the mystery needs work. Did I give the murderer enough reason and opportunity to kill their victim(s)? Did I manage to give my characters the same hair colour from one end of the manuscript to the other? One of my weaknesses (as my friends can attest) is remembering people's names and I often mix up character names as I write. Luckily, I've cottoned on to this quirk and reread with an eye to names although we missed one in In Winter's Grip, as I discovered after publication. (Did I mention that editing is hard work?) In any event, I figure I'll have the first draft of this manuscript finished by the end of my summer holiday and then the editing work will begin. I'm looking forward to several days in a row of writing time at the end of July. Check back to see how much hair I have left in August.

July 30th, I'll be at Collected Works on Wellington Street for an early afternoon signing from 1:00 to 3:00. All of my books will be available and I hope old and new friends can stop by. It's a fabulous independent bookstore and one of the few left in the city. Visiting bookstores is another tradition I believe it is important to keep, even if they too are evolving. Neighbourhood bookstores are another of the ties that bind.

2011-07-02T10:02:00.000-04:00

2011-07-02T09:42:00.000-04:00

Writing with Scissors

2011-06-25T09:10:00.004-04:00

We all have heroes in our lives - those people who perservere with grace when life has dealt them a difficult hand. My sister Donna is one of these people. Last night, she celebrated fifty years of living with diabetes, and while I couldn't make the trip to Thunder Bay, I was there in spirit. Donna flew to Ottawa to visit last weekend, and we spent Saturday in the Byword Market and roaming around the art gallery with her daughter Laura, who lives in Ottawa now. We stopped for tea at Memories in the Market where the above picture was taken - rather an appropriate name for the restaurant. I raise a toast to you, ma soeur.

I've been writing when I get the chance as I near the final stretch in my manuscript. After I finish the first draft, I'll spend a few months going through it, editing and fussing with wording and plot. I read sentences out loud with an ear to rhythm and honesty, rewriting lines that sound contrived or jarring. Every author has their own voice - an inner meter for deciding what rings true for them. It can take a lot of meticulous, plodding work to bring the story together.

The final book should be like ballet - appear seamless and effortless without a glimpse of the hours of work behind each production. If a writing passage looks like you're showing off, it needs to be rewritten. One shouldn't fall in love with one's own brilliance (tempting as this might be). Truman Capote said, "I believe more in the scissors than I do in the pencil". Cut with abandon and get to the guts of the passage. It gets easier to purge unnecessary words the more you practise.

Well, we've had brilliant, rumbling storms all week in the Ottawa Valley. It's been as if someone in the sky is opening and closing a faucet in a bowling alley. The plants in my garden are lying down begging for mercy. I'm extremely happy that I didn't take this week off work for summer holidays :-) Surely, the best of summer is yet to come.

Correction

2011-06-18T08:10:00.002-04:00

My blogger does not let me make corrections after I post - and I always find an error or two once I've clicked the live button. Anyhow, the link to the Sea Minor interview has an error (of course). Here is the correct address:

http://nigelpbird.blogspot.com/2011/06/dancing-with-myself-brenda-chapman.html

Let the Summertime Begin

2011-06-18T07:28:00.005-04:00

I've been a book reader all my life. I can remember going to the little library in Terrace Bay with my mother when I was still reading picture books and searching for my favourite series, Pookie the Flying Rabbit. So, this poster in the Vancouver Library brought a smile as it likely does with all of us who love libraries and the anticipation of a new book in our hands.

Writing is going slowly this week, but I'm plugging away on a scene, not sure if it is falling together or not. I read an interesting blog post by Colorado agent Rachelle Gardner who says most good authors arrive at that point in a manuscript where they question their ability and think their work is crap. She says when you stop questioning yourself, you stop growing. Well, I think I can safely say I'm getting plumper every time out:-) Here is the link: http://www.rachellegardner.com/2011/06/the-gift-of-insecurity/

Scottish author Nigel Bird asked me to come up with 10 questions and 10 responses for his blog "Dancing With Myself" - a self-interview if you will. I first checked out his blog and saw that the other interviews were light in tone and aiming for humour. I liked the challenge. You can find my interview at:
http://nigelpbird.blogspot.com/2011/06/dancing-with-mysels-brenda-chapman.html

So, summer solstice this week and a gorgeous week in Ottawa it is and has been. My sister is here for the weekend from Thunder Bay and we are heading to the Byward Market and Art Gallery for the afternoon. And along with the summer, Ted started a new outdoor project. He's begun refinishing the gable end and then plans to tackle the fence and deck in the back yard. I believe this will call for weekly updates - I'll start a pool for those of you who would like to put money on how far he'll get before winter sets in. Will the lure of the golf course win out?

Bloody Words Mystery Conference - Victoria B.C.

2011-06-11T09:46:00.001-04:00

The Inner Harbour, Victoria

2011-06-11T09:04:00.002-04:00

Just back from five days in Vancouver and Victoria where I attended the Bloody Words Mystery Writers Conference. I went with good friends Darlene Cole and Katherine Hobbs and we had a blast - if laughter is good for the soul, then ours are in pretty good shape.

I'd never been to the West Coast before and the forecast was five days of rain. In one of those lucky twists of the universe, we had five days of sun with only one morning of rain in Vancouver. Someone up there was doing their best to make us fall in love with the Pacific Coast - and they did an admirable job.

We landed in downtown Vancouver in time for the first game of the Stanley Cup playoffs between Vancouver and Boston. You could feel the excitement. Every bar was packed with fans who erupted with eighteen seconds to go when the Canucks scored the only goal of the game. We spent the evening and following morning walking, taking in as much of the downtown as possible, and talking hockey to everyone we met, including cab drivers and waiters, before catching the ferry to Victoria.

The conference was held at the Hotel Grand Pacific in Victoria, right on the Inner Harbour - just beautiful. See my photo below of the harbour at night. The above photo was taken in the grounds of the Empress Hotel - I'm standing next to an arbutus tree. Conferences are a chance to network, meet fans and talk books. They are also an opportunity to sightsee, shop, eat and socialize.

I was part of the "read dating" hour Saturday morning - three authors making three-minute pitches to a table of readers before moving on to the next table. It was fun but repetitive for the three authors. I was lucky to be teamed with authors Robin Spano and Mike Lawson, both of whom made me want to read their books, which I'll be picking up when I get the chance. Then, I signed free copies of The Second Wife in the book room and met some lovely people. One woman from B.C. told me she was a teacher and her kids enjoyed all four of my Jennifer Bannon mysteries - music to my ears! My second conference event was a panel on creating characters before your eyes. People in the audience gave us a few characteristics and a genre (cosy, noir, P.I. etc.) and we had to create characters - it was a fun but somewhat difficult exercise. Phyllis Smallman moderated and Rick Bletcha and I managed to poke a little fun at each other - all for the audience's enjoyment.

There were also a Friday night reception and a Saturday night banquet, standard activities at writing conferenences. So, work and fun all wrapped up in three hectic days. The best spin off is that I've come home rejuvenated and raring to get back at my typewriter.

Go Canucks!

2011-05-28T07:13:00.005-04:00

Ottawa is blessed with a lot of green space, bicycle paths and gardens such as this one, named Maplelawn. The origianl house has been converted into a restaurant, and the walled garden has been lovingly restored by a host of volunteers and is open to the public. I like to bike there and wander the paths and sit on one of the benches to breathe in calm of this beautiful oasis in the middle of the city.

Just up the road from the garden is the Unitarian Church, where I spent last evening as a guest of their monthly arts night, which happens the last Friday of the month. The room was set up like a cafe with candles lit began with two poems and a piano performance from the audience. Then three of us presented - I represented the writers, Valerie Cousins presented her nature-inspired oil paintings and Eric McKay gave a brilliant piano performance. The three of us than had a quick question and answer session with the audience while enjoying the baking donated by the organizers. It was a lovely evening and reinforced for me that creativity is ultimately about joy and passion and something to be celebrated.

This coming week, I fly to Vancouver for two days before taking the ferry to Victoria Island for Bloody Words mystery conference. I'm going with my good friends Darlene Cole and Katherine Hobbs and am looking forward to the time together. I've only been as far west as Jasper and this will be my first look at the Pacific Ocean. I'll have to compare its seafood to that of the Atlantic - it's going to take some mighty fine flavour to outdo Maritime clams and scallops.

Well, all this cold rain and gloom are starting to wear on the spirits. I've had a headache for a few days and wonder if it could be linked to the pressure system that has stubbornly entrenched itself over our city. It is race weekend in the Capital beginning today however, and this isn't bad weather for runners - the rain is supposed to be intermittant and heat won't be coming our way until Tuesday. I see sunscreen and barbecues on the horizon.

Beer and Cupcakes

2011-05-20T19:44:00.003-04:00

Well, The Second Wife is officially launched along with Jeff Ross's first YA novel, The Drop, and Barbara Fradkin's Rapid Reads' mystery, The Fall Guy. It was a great time with about 130 people coming by The Clocktower Pub to help celebrate. Books on Beechwood sold our books, Orca Publishers supplied appetizers and Jeff's wife Megan made platefuls of delicious cupcakes. It was a relaxed affair and I enjoyed the afternoon immensely. Note to self: All future book launches should be in a pub.

Although, I have to say, Tom Curran's launch in Collected Works bookstore on Wednesday night was also great fun and well attended. Tom released the third in his Inspector Stride series, Death of a Lesser Man (love the title) and served free wine and appetizers galore. A few months ago, when I went to Tim Wynne-Jones's launch at Collected Works, I got home and realized I hadn't paid for his book, which I'd had signed and carted home. I phoned in my credit card number right smartly - you can't be too careful where authors killing people off in books are involved - anyhow, I made sure to pay this time.

And today, off to Joan of Arc Academy in the west end to talk to a grade seven and a grade eight class about mysteries. This is an all-girls school and my second visit although the previous time was about five years ago. What lovely girls - attentive and involved. They asked a lot of thoughtful questions and it was a delight to spend an hour with them.

So what's next, you ask? This Friday night, I've been invited to speak about writing and read from my work at the Unitarian Church on Cleary Avenue as part of their monthly arts night. I'm looking forward to the evening - they also have a visual artist and musician as part of the guest roster. Everyone is invited so come out if you are able.

I'll say one thing for all this rain we've been having - it's a lush, green world out there. As I type, a thunder storm is bearing down on the Capital and the rain is pattering on the roof. Nothing like a good old thunder storm when you're safely tucked inside.

Tomorrow, as luck would have it, promises to be sunny and warm with NO rain - I hope you find time to sit outside in a lawn chair with a cupcake, glass of wine and a good book :-) Happy long weekend everyone!

2011-05-20T19:40:00.000-04:00

Tiny Tim Forgive Me

2011-05-14T08:51:00.003-04:00

I can't say enough about how beautiful Ottawa is this time of year. This photo is taken behind the Parliament Buildings at Major's Hill Park where the Tulip Festival is held. The flowers were at their peak and a spectacular sight.

Writing lagged a bit this week because life got busy. Wednesday evening, I went to Capital Crime Writers hoping to hear Tim Wynne-Jones speak about manuscript editing, but he was under the weather, and so I ended up on an impromptu panel talking about editing and book launching - fun in any event and the good news is that Tim is better and he sent me his speaking notes afterward, which are a minefield of information. Tim is an excellent writer and a generous person to boot - writing really has afforded me the opportunity to meet some lovely people.

So lovely, people, I hope to see you tomorrow at the Clocktower Pub on Bank between 4:00 and 6:00 p.m. for the triple launch. The beer will be plentiful and the conversation sparkling. Launches are the time to step back and celebrate the year of hard work that goes into each book, and what better way than with family, friends and new friends! Kind of like a birthday party with beer and no cake.

Friday afternoon will find me in a Grade 7/8 class at Joan of Arc Academy, an all-girls' school in the west end. With working full time, I only manage a couple of school visits a year, but always enjoy talking with kids about writing. They help refuel the writing spirit.

Today is my annual pedicure morning with my friend Sue. Our feet get a buffing and hot wax treatment that I have to say is frankly wonderful. Then, a little polish for those moments when . . . you know it's coming . . . you want to tiptoe through the . . . (was that a groan?) . . . and I'll leave it there.

Tulip Time in the Capital

2011-05-07T09:49:00.011-04:00

I'm reminded of a childhood rhyme: Tulips in the garden. Tulips in the park. But the tulips I like best are the two lips in the dark. Not exactly Shakespeare, but when I was twelve, the words held a certain fascination for things ahead.

The spring edition of Mystery Scene magazine, published in New York, arrived yesterday with a great book review of In Winter's Grip. It was a thrill to see the review alongside Michael Connelly's and Harlan Coben's. The final line of the Winter's Grip review are: "This is a novel not only to be read, but savored". A lovely recommendation!

You might wonder how a book gets reviewed. Well, the publisher sends out copies of the book to a list of potential reviewers and they decide to review or not. Publishers do not pay for reviews and there is no certainty that what is said about the book will be positive. However, libraries and readers are guided by these reviews when deciding what to buy or read. Reviews can come out a year after the book is released so patience is key.

I'm looking forward to Capital Crime Writers meeting this Wednesday because Tim Wynne-Jones will be presenting a lesson on editing manuscripts. Tim won the Governor General award twice and he knows of what he speaks. His most recent YA novel Blink and Caution is a fabulous, creative read. I've agreed to be part of the program committee next year so am looking forward to helping organize guest speakers. You can join Capital Crime Writers even if you don't write - we have lots of mystery fans in the group and our speakers are fascinating - detectives, police, psychologists, authors, intelligence experts . . . the list goes on.

Well, looking ahead, the launch of The Second Wife on Sunday, a visit to a grade 7/8 class at Joan of Arc Academy on the 20th, a talk at arts night at the Unitarian Church on the 27th and then off to Bloody Words in Victoria June 5-7 - spring is heating up.

Well, I'll conclude with another nugget from my grade school autograph book: Yours till Niagara Falls or Seven up drinks Canada Dry.

April's End

2011-04-30T09:08:00.011-04:00

I've had a great writing week. I've found lots of time to work on my manuscript and the words are flowing. This doesn't mean all the words will make the cut, but it's fun when the plot starts to move and the characters take over. It's true that characters can take a story places you didn't imagine. I currently have a woman character in a very dangerous situation and I'm waiting to see if she lives or dies. The suspense is killing me . . . or will kill her. We both should know by the end of the weekend.

The next big event on my agenda is a joint book launch with Barb Fradkin and Jeff Ross on Sunday afternoon, May 15th from 4:00-6:00 at the Brew Pub on Bank. We met with the owner to finalize the room and to order appetizers. We have the entire basement area - a bar and cozy pub space with room for lots. Barb and I both have Rapid Reads books for adults and Jeff has released his first young adult book - all published by Orca. I hope all of you can come raise a glass.

Well, it's been quite a week: Will and Kate tied the British knot, tornadoes raged across the Southern states, floods threatened towns in Manitoba, the wind reached 95 clicks Thursday afternoon in Ottawa, and the federal election campaign entered its final throes. April has been a turbulant month on many fronts. I am hoping for a more peaceful May for those in difficult times and an end to this horrific weather in so many parts of the world.

The one good thing about this cold Ottawa spring is the bumper crop of tulips in my garden. The first one bloomed yesterday and its buddies won't be far behind. My neighbours are starting to sit on their front porches again and kids are playing on the street. These are the little things that make life good.

Hoppy Trails

2011-04-22T10:13:00.002-04:00

A big week ahead - federal election campaign, Kate and William's wedding ceremony (and I won't be setting the alarm for 2 a.m.), the visit from that big white rabbit . . . AND four days off work. Four days to work on my latest manuscript. Life is all good.

I'm at that point in my story where I'm getting into the characters and the plot is starting to come together. The word count is inching up to 60,000. This is an adult murder mystery set in Ottawa and written in the third person. In some ways, writing in the third person is tougher than first, but I like experimenting - perhaps you already figured that out by the different projects I've tackled :-) I should have my first draft completed by summertime, but I've been doing a lot of editing as I go so fingers crossed that this manuscript won't need too much tinkering at the end.

Mike Levin interviewed fellow crime author Barbara Fradkin and me a few rainy Sundays ago in Bridgehead coffeeshop in Westboro Village. A photographer appeared part-way through our discussion on writing about murder and the supportive mystery-writing community that our city is famous for. Our actual nickname by our counterparts in Toronto is the Ottawa Mystery Mafia - maybe, I should invest in some dark sunglasses and a horse head. Anyhow, you can read Mike's article in this week's Kitchissippi Times.

I've heard from the publicity folks at Dundurn and have homework to do this weekend. Other than that, I'll be typing at my computer, raking the lawn (Ted will now hold me to this when he sees this in writing), eating out a few times (starting with the Mapelawn Keg tonight), cooking a big Monday night family Easter dinner and reading the latest Michael Connelly hardcover, The Fifth Witness. Aside from the lawn-raking bit, this is shaping up to be a pretty good long weekend - I wish you and yours a marvellous Easter too.

May the chocolate be with you.

Winter Coat on Standby

2011-04-16T07:56:00.007-04:00

It was great fun to be on two panels this week with my friends Chris Forrest and Tim Wynne-Jones. The first panel at a fundraiser for the Ottawa School of Speech and Drama took place Saturday night. It was a swank affair with wine tasting and tasty food to sample. Mary Jane Maffini and Barb Fradkin joined us to read from our work and discuss crime writing, a discussion led by Tim. He also interviewed me and Chris at the Ottawa Public Library on Tuesday evening. The Library recorded our readings and chat and will be posting on their site - it was a relaxed event, led by the fascinating and incredibly talented Tim, who has not one but two Governor General awards for his writing. Chris said afterward that he could have kept talking with Tim all evening and I have to agree. In the photo above, are Chris, Tim and me. I'll let you know when the audio tape is online. It's been feeling this week like spring is keeping a toehold on the winter side of the street. Today is overcast and rain is in the forecast for the entire weekend. My tulips are up but seem to have stalled. I think I hear them calling for a blanket when I step outside, but that could be just the wind whistling around my head, making me hear things. There are signs that winter is on the way out. For one, curling is over for me as of last Thursday. I'm ready to hang up my broom for the season and will now turn my attention to writing in the evenings. Ted has been talking golf swing, handicaps and early morning games so I'll also be spending those mornings working at my computer too. The changing of the seasons does get me reassessing my schedule and invigorates me to get into some new projects. Heck, I'm even thinking about getting on my stationary bike today . . . just thinking mind you. We saw the Lincoln Lawyer last night at the Kanata 24. It was good. I'd read the book a while ago and thought the movie caught the feel and nuances of the plot very well. A thumbs up. I'm currently reading Mary Jane Maffini's latest: The Busy Woman's Guide to Murder, which just got an excellent review in the Globe and Mail. Way to go my friend :-) Easter is a week away. I'll be ordering a stuffed pork roast from my favourite neighbourhood butcher Saslove's and baking lemon meringue pie on the day. My girls will be over for dinner and hopefully we'll be sitting outside enjoying the hot sunshine before our feast. The mercury has to climb past three at some point, doesn't it?

The Week Ahead

2011-04-09T08:10:00.005-04:00

I have a busy week ahead, beginning this evening with a fund-raiser at the Ottawa School of Speech and Drama. I'll be reading from In Winter's Grip and then taking part in a panel discussion with Chirs Forrest, Mary Jan Maffini and Barbara Fradkin and led by Tim Wynne-Jones. The evening also includes wine-tasting, hors d'oeuvres and dessert . . . all for a worthy cause. Sunday, I'm meeting with Barb Fradkin and Mike Levin at a local Bridgehead. Mike is interviewing us for an article he'll be submitting to the Kitchissippi Times. I also blogged for Type M for Murder and it will be posted on Sunday: http://typem4murder.blogspot.com/ Monday, my ladies team made the playoffs in the ladies' A division and we have a sudden-death game right after I finish work. If we win, we could also play Wednesday, and Thursday. (Yay team!) Tuesday evening, Chris Forrest and I will be reading and in conversation with Tim Wynne-Jones at the main branch of the Ottawa Public Library beginning at 7:00 p.m. I hope lots can make it out for what promises to be an interesting discussion about writing and the book industry. Wednesday, I could be curling still and then will need to rush downtown to the Library and Archives for the Capital Crime Writers meeting, where I am on a panel with Robin Harlick and Tom Curren to discuss researching a novel. This could be very tight. Thursday, is the ladies curling final and banquet. And then on Friday . . . I rest.

Hair Today

2011-04-02T12:07:00.002-04:00

It takes a village to make a successful photo shoot.

The thought of having my photo taken for book covers and publicity is not top of my bucket list; however, I have to say that my friends help to make it as painless as possible.

It started yesterday when I went to Bayshore to find a new blazer and possibly a new shade of lipstick. The salesgirls in Jacob and Mac (The Bay) were extremely helpful - I came away with a jacket a size smaller than I would have picked (it fit, but I always picture myself as a bigger size than I am) and a little bag of makeup, suitable for having one's portrait done. This morning, bright and early, my lovely hairdresser Barb Hutchings fixed my hair and applied the make up and wouldn't take a cent for her labours. Then, it was off to Christine Tripp's studio in the Glebe for an hour of 'lift your head' and 'give us a smile'. Christine is on the left above with her two photographer apprentices Jill and Matt. Seriously, they were great fun, professional and had me relaxed in no time. So now, we just have to wait for the proofs, likely in a week or so. Hopefully, they'll be enough variety to keep me going for a few years.

Well, a few events coming up with my pals Chris Forrest and Tim Wynne-Jones. The one open to the public is at the Ottawa Public Library, main branch on Metcalfe Street from 7-9 on Tuesday, April 12th. Chris and I are doing short readings and then will settle in to a chat led by Tim about writing and whatever takes our fancy. There will be time for Q's and A's from the audience. I hope you can come by - free and open to all.

Okay, well now that I'm all dolled up, it's time to head out for lunch with a friend. Best to take advantage of a good hair day :-)

Off to the Polls

2011-03-26T13:09:00.005-04:00

The Second Wife hit the shelves this week. I received my copies in the mail on Wednesday and find it a fine little read. I've been invited to blog about the Rapid Reads series and have done so in a few places, including the Crime Writers of Canada and thriller writer Julia Madeleine blogs. There will be another piece out on Tuesday on Mystery Maven Canada blogspot that you can check out on the day. (http://mysterymavencdn.blogspot.com/)

Next week promises to be busy. I will be presenting the English short story awards for the Ottawa Public Library's (OPL) Awesome Authors contest at Ben Franklin Place on Tuesday evening. I'm also going to a photo shoot later in the week with photographer Christine Tripp because I've been asked for a new cover photo for the next YA book, Second Chances. I'm told that the release for this book has moved to the spring because of the Dundurn merger.

Chris Forrest and I will be working next week with Michael Murphy of the OPL to publicize an April 12th evening hosted by Tim Wynne-Jones at the main branch on Metcalfe beginning at 7:00 p.m. We'll do a few readings and then sit down to chat with Tim, who'll be playing the role of interviewer. It should be great fun and all are welcome. The price is right. Free.

So today, the federal election offficially begins. I don't know about you, but I'm finding Canadian politics more and more interesting. Watching what is said and what is not said can make the truth tough to decipher at times. I'm not a fan of smear tactics and negative campaigns. I wish the politicians would stick to their own policies and vision for Canada and not try to confuse us with red herrings and spin. Maybe I'm dreaming. Maybe the public is hooked on controversy and image. I think the politicians should not underestimate the voting public though. On our part, the voting public has to get out and vote - people in some countries are dying for this right that we take for granted.

I know that news spreads fast in this day and age, but here's a story about how fast. Our fridge has been in death throes for a few weeks now, so we had a new one delivered this morning around 10:30. Almost immediately afterwards, I received a note on Facebook from a neighbour some streets over, commenting on the fact we had a new fridge.

I think I'll be closing the curtains next time I change my clothes.

The Big Melt

2011-03-19T08:48:00.005-04:00

There's something about seeing the curbs again and hearing the melting snow rush into the sewers that lets you know winter is all but over. The tulips are pushing up through the earth next to the back door and birds are checking out the birdhouses in front of my office window. The light is different now, more golden. The sun is warm out of the wind.

When the seasons change, it feels like a time of renewal: a time to make new plans and to start new projects. It's a time to plan trips. Ted and I are looking into a canoe get away in upstate Vermont. A few days away from the city could be just the ticket. I'm also heading out to Bloody Words in Victoria at the beginning of June with Darlene and Katherine. We're planning a few days in Vancouver en route - I've only been as far west as Jasper, so this will be a real adventure.

I haven't gotten much writing in this past while. I've felt the need for a break as I reassess the manuscript I started last year. I'm ready to tackle it again. In the meantime, I've been writing for a few guest blogs and organizing a few events. Barbara Fradkin, Jeff Ross and I will be launching our three Orca books at the Clocktower Brew Pub on Bank Street from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 15th. Books on Beechwood will be the bookseller. It promises to be a relaxed get-together and I hope lots of you can drop by.

Even sooner, Chris Forrest and I will be appearing at the main branch of the Ottawa Public Library on Tuesday, April 12th at 7:00 to read from our work and be interviewed by a special guest . . . should be a fun evening. More details to follow.

I went to the Capital Crime Writers meeting on Wednesday night. The guest speaker works in the area of financial intelligence - analyzing suspicious money transactions and pinpointing money laundering schemes. His organization works closely with the police and RCMP with unspecified offices in major Canadian cities. Can you imagine having so much ill-gotten money that you don't know how to spend it without drawing attention to yourself? What propels someone start working a scheme to bilk millions out of the system? While not a good thing to do in real life, money laundering makes for good fiction fodder. It has me wondering about human nature and moral fibre - is everyone susceptible, given the opportunity? What if you knew that you would never get caught? Hmmm.

Spring Morning

2011-03-12T08:30:00.003-05:00

I'm restless.

It might have something to do with the spring rain that's been turning the streets to icy slush and puddles, making walking unpleasant and this side of treacherous. I'd like to walk to Westboro Village without coat and boots and sit outside on a patio for lunch in the sunshine, but this is not to be . . . yet. I told Ted this morning that I am itching to get back into the garden. We talked about his outdoor construction plans for the spring - yes, there will be photos :-) A gable end to be resided, new front door and windows, a deck in the backyard and new section of fence - I'm dizzy just thinking about it.

On Wednesday, I finished judging all the Awesome Author entries, all 150 of them. It was a tough choice this year. I wisely made notes as I went and am all set to present the awards at Ben Franklin Place on March 29th. It's a fun evening put on by the Ottawa Public Library with lots of excited kids and their families in attendance.

Libraries really are marvellous institutions. I remember going weekly to our little library in Terrace Bay, starting from at about five years old, and picking picture books to bring home. That moved into novels, and my favourite Bobbsey Twins (remember Bert, Nan, Freddie and Flossie?), Enid Blyton books (The Famous Five, The Secret Seven), The Happy Hallidays . . . there was and still is nothing better than curling up with a good book and getting lost in a story. Usually, now, I have two books on the go - one at home and one at work that I read during my lunch hour. Right now, I'm reading a Denise Mina mystery called Still Midnight and Tim Wynne-Jones latest YA novel, Blink & Caution. I'm taken a break from my recent Michael Connelly addiction although I'm on the lookout for his latest.

On a more sombre note, I know that you, as am I, are also following the devastating earthquake and tsnami in Japan and the horrific aftermath. Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have perished and those struggling to survive. It is hard to carry on as normal knowing there is such anguish in the world. Sometimes, the master plan is difficult to understand.

Settling In

2011-03-05T10:35:00.002-05:00

We're back home after 10 days on the Charlottetown trip to watch our daughter Lisa curl in the Scotties. It was an exciting week, especially since team Homan made the playoffs and finished fourth overall. They did us proud. Between games, we toured around the city and ate as much seafood as humanly possible. By my fourth meal of fried clams, however, I thought I might have overdone it. I wisely switched to scallops and mussels for the remainder of our stay. The people in Charlottetown couldn't be friendlier. I popped into the Bookmark while there and introduced myself to the manager - a great little independent downtown shop if you are ever on the island.

I was beginning to miss being away from my keyboard. I'm restarting an old manuscript and will settle into that this weekend in addition to finish reading all the entries in the Awesome Author contest. I've been plugging away at the entries and have a handful left to read for the first time through. Then, I'll reread the finalists for order of finish. Luckily, it's a rainy day and I'm content to be inside.

The Thunder Bay Chronicle Journal ran a good article about my writing life (by Kenneth Grierson) and a review of In Winter's Grip - "Crime Thriller Heats up Cold Winter Nights" (by Deborah De Bakker). De Bakker's take was interesting. She liked the book fine but thought my publishers might be trying to capture the American audience by saying I grew up near the border and using the word 'Indian' instead of Aboriginal. She would be correct in this analysis; however, isn't breaking into the much larger American readership a goal of every author? If you are in this industry, you quickly realize how small the buying public is in Canada for beginning authors. It can take years to get readers to pick up your books. It seemed like an odd point to fixate on in a book review, but I'm not complaining. The fact she reviewed the book is gratifying. In Winter's Grip also received a 'very highly recommended' from the Midwest Book Review, a respected American book review site - now, perhaps, there is some irony there :-)

And big news on the publisher front as I mentioned last time. RendezVous Crime has merged with Dundurn so I am now officially a Dundurn author! http://www.dundurn.com/authors/brenda_chapman Also, still an Orca writer in their Rapid Reads series. The Second Wife is due out April 1st and I'm planning to launch it at a local pub in May with fellow authors Barb Fradkin and Jeff Ross. Stay tuned.

I wrote a blog entry for Crime Writers of Canada blog about the Rapid Reads series - it will be posted next week and I'll be sure to blog the link. So, curling excitement is settling down, spring is around the corner and lots of projects are in the works. Some interesting author events on the horizon - more posts to come!

Changes on the Horizon

2011-02-18T09:59:00.004-05:00

Another busy week with big news from my publisher Sylvia McConnell of RendezVous Crime/Napoleon Publishing. They have decided to merge with Dundurn http://www.dundurn.com also in Toronto. Dundurn is a well respected, medium-sized publishing house, somewhat larger than RendezVous. Both Sylvia and Allister will continue working for Dundurn, which is good news all around. I'm not sure what this means for the future, but Sylvia assures us that all book slated for 2011 publication will proceed as planned. So, Second Chances will be released under the Dundurn imprint - a new and exciting venture!

I had coffee and a chat with Tim Wynne-Jones http://timwynne-jones.com last weekend in one of the many Bridgeheads popping up in Westboro. We'd never spoken before except exchanging a few e-mails, so it was good to sit down with such an accomplished author and share stories. We also met so that I could pass him a copy of Second Chances manuscript as he agreed to read it and possibly give a quote for the cover. Anyhow, the most reassuring thing he said was that even with all his success, he's had manuscripts that he could not place with a publisher. Not many, mind you, as he has released about 40 books, both YA and adult. He also reinforced my belief in writing about what interests you, experimenting and not trying to write to trends. He also told me that he and his wife are taking a year to live their dream of a walking tour in England next year - gets one thinking that you can escape from your regular life for a while to pursue dreams.

Speaking of which, the Scotties Tournament of Hearts starts in Charlottetown on Saturday. My daughter Lisa and her team are already there, preparing to meet Nova Scotia at 2:30 tomorrow afternoon. We're making the trek with cow bells at the ready. It promises to be a most exciting time. You can follow along on TSN or check out the website at http://www.curling.ca/championships/scotties

This week, I've been reading Awesome Author entries and am almost through two of the three age categories. The kids' writing has been uniformly good so it's been a pleasure to read their stories. I have quite a tight deadline since the awards night is in March. Luckily, I've gotten an early jump.

So, lots going on and lots coming up. I see lobster, clams and a salty breeze on my immediate horizon. All good.

Go Team Ontario!

2011-02-12T10:29:00.008-05:00

In summer 2004, Ted, Julia and I visited PEI for the first time and searched out the Charlottetown Curling Club, the home of Suzanne Gaudet, a star curler just out of juniors who'd done well at the Scotties. I rmember that the door was unlocked and we went inside to wander around the empty club. We never imagined that we'd be back to Charlottetown to watch one of our daughters representing Ontario in the Scotties, but that is just what is about to happen - Lisa is preparing with the rest of the Rachel Homan rink to fly to Charlottetown at the end of this week to compete against the top ladies' teams in the country. You can cheer them on by watching the games on TSN all week.

My writing this week has been on hold, but that doesn't mean that lots hasn't been going on publicity-wise. My revamped website launched last week and I've already managed to update the news section with a couple of items - an interview on Open Book Toronto and a podcast for PBS that has appeared on YouTube. I made this last interview while at the Magna Cum Murder mystery conference in Muncie Indiana in the fall. I was also interviewed at work for the national Department of Justice magazine, which I believe comes out in April, and had another interview by phone with the Chronicle-Journal in Thunder Bay on Thursday. The article is scheduled to come out early next week. The Chronicle-Journal is also reviewing In Winter's Grip and that will be out in another issue.

Once again, this year, I'm the short story judge for the Ottawa Public Library's Awesome Authors contest for 12-17 year olds. The package of stories arrived by courrier on Wednesday - this year, 150 stories for me to go through. I'm looking forward to some good reading in the next few weeks. I'll be handing out the awards at a ceremony at Ben Franklin place mid-March along with the other two judges.

Other events are lining up for the spring. Barb Fradkin, Jeff Ross and I are planning a joint book launch in May at a pub - my kind of launch - we all have books being released by Orca so decided to hold one big party. More on this soon. Chris Forrest and have also been approached by the downtown library to present our latest books one evening in April. We're planning a fun evening of readings and chat. Again, details will follow.

Well, this afternoon, I'm meeting a new friend for coffee - Tim Wynne-Jones, one of our top writers for kids and young adults. Tim is going to read my manuscript Second Chances with a view to giving a cover blurb. I'm thrilled that he is reading my work. My editor Allister and I made a quick first edit of the manuscript last week so that we'd have a somewhat decent copy for Tim to read. I think if you were a teenager in the 70s, you'll enjoy the story. It was nostalgic doing the research, that's for sure. All the old music is on YouTube . . . a little Smoke on the Water anyone?

New Website Up and Running!

2011-02-04T16:18:00.005-05:00

This is a special day for a couple of reasons.

My new website was launched in the wee hours of the morning by Jared Polowick of Foxhound Studio and you can now view his handiwork at http://www.brendachapman.ca/ The reason for the revamp was so that I can update the site myself - in future, any errors will be mine alone :-) Anyhow, I'm interested in your feedback although I have to say, everyone so far has heaped praise.

The site also has the first-time ever viewing of the book cover for Second Chances, the young adult novel due out this fall. There is also a description of the plot that will appear on the back cover and online book sites.

Finally, if you look under reviews for In Winter's Grip on the new website, you'll find a recent review by Don Graves of the Hamilton Spectator. Don Graves and Margaret Cannon of the Globe and Mail are two of the most revered mystery reviewers for mystery authors, so I'm feeling a little plumped up.

An editing weekend lies ahead, and I'm oddly looking forward to it. Second Chances arrived with the first round of changes from my editor Allister Thompson, and I'm aiming to have it back to him by Sunday evening. As I glance through it, the chances are relatively minor so the goal should be doable.

Other reasons today is special?
Well, It was light when I left the house this morning at 7:15 and blue sky is still visible as the clock heads to 5:00 p.m. The dark days of winter are lifting. Spring can't be far off, and that's a reason to celebrate in my corner of the world.

Sweeping the Province

2011-02-01T17:18:00.006-05:00

A lot has gone on since my last chat. You probably noted the new look of my blog - it goes hand in hand with the look of my new website, which will be online later this week. Time, technology and fashion stand still for no one.

The reason I've been somewhat absent from the keyboard has to do with the sport of curling. Last weekend, Ted and my youngest daughter Julia and I were in a city-wide mixed bonspiel. It was seven games in four days that saw us 'B' side runners-up. But this little success was nothing compared to that of our daughter Lisa who curled in the Ontario provincials in Thornhill all last week with the Rachel Homan squad. They emerged victorious and will represent our province at the Scotties in Charlottetown the week of February 19th - we spent five days watching the tournament unfold and these girls made their families and friends very proud. (Our neighbours too, as they toilet-papered our house and hooked out lights to spell out Scotties on our front lawn before we came home.) We can't wait to see the team pitted against the top ladies curlers in the country. You can follow along on TSN! (If they win, I don't know what shenanigans the neighbours will get up to.)

Now back to earth.

I finished my sequel to The Second Wife and am waiting for feedback from the publisher. I'm taking a little break before getting back to a manuscript I started last year. The break won't be too long though as I have to review the first round of edits for my fall release Second Chances. The cover is done and maybe I'll be able to show it to you next week.

In Winter's Grip got a very good review by Don Graves in the Hamilton Spectator, but just in the print version. You'll be able to read it when my new website goes online. So many teasers in this blog post. Did I also tell you that you can read the first chapter of The Second Wife on Orca's website? Check out

http://orcabook.com/rapid-reads.com/secondwife.html (Click on the green icon that puts it into full screen mode.

One more bit of promo - a podcast interview from the fall of me discussing the Jennifer Bannon mysteries can be found at

http://www.canauthors-ottawa.org/authorpodcasts.shtml It was just posted this week.

Well, it's time to catch up on e-mails, sleep and all that's been left unattended to. I'll be back to blogging next weekend at the regular time. Until then, I'll be steering clear of curling rinks . . . at least for a day or two.

A Bookshop Kind of Saturday

2011-01-15T07:41:00.003-05:00

Life has been busy. We spent a thrilling weekend in Gananoque watching our daughter Lisa and her curling team skipped by Rachel Homan, advance to ladies provincials in Toronto at the end of January. No mean feat. This was capped off last weekend by a favourable review of In Winter's Grip in the Globe and Mail. Reviewer Margaret Cannon is the top reviewer of crime fiction in Canada, so a nod from her is an excellent thing. You can still read the review if you go to www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/books and look for the 'new in crime fiction' link. The Globe liked my book cover (thanks to Emma for the design) and used it in three places.

This morning, I am getting ready to head out with Chris Forrest to two book signings at the Orleans and Barrhaven Book Stops - two of the few remaining independent bookshops in Ottawa. I know some friends will be dropping by and hope to see as many as can make it - I believe we have to support the independents - I can't imagine losing the charm of a ramble through a bookstore on a snowy winter day.

The final edits on The Second Wife are done and it is due on March 1st - seems so close now. I've also been working with my publisher on the cover for Second Chances, the YA book due out in the fall. Emma has come up with another good cover design but it is yet to be finalized. I just wrote a blurb for the cover that needs some tinkering, but the base is there. Wa hoo - it's a lot like giving birth . . . only less painful and no night feedings.

This could be a busy year ahead.

Finally, I've completed the first draft of a sequel to The Second Wife that I'll be fussing with tomorrow before I run it by a few readers. I loosely based the storyline on a true crime event in Toronto that I heard about a number of years ago. It sends shivers up my spine even now.

Well, time for some breakfast, a second cup of coffee and then off to the first bookstore. I hope you can come by. We are at the Orleans Bookstop (1224 Place D'Orleans Drive) from 11-12:30 and the Barrhaven Bookstop (1 Jockvale Rd.) from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m.

Winter Wonder? Land

2011-01-02T12:58:00.004-05:00

Remember when we used to have snow? This photo was taken around this time in 2008. Today, I see green lawn when I look out the window. I wouldn't be surprised to see tulips poking out of the ground soon. That is if the fifty squirrels I see running around outside don't get to them first. (Shouldn't squirrels be comatose somewhere this time of year?)

The start of 2011. I have made resolutions . . . well, semi-agreements with myself anyhow. Like last year, I've resolved to have more fun this year. Less work, more socializing . . . making more time for friends and outings (I love this resolution). It's really not a tough one to keep.

Then, there's my annual promise to get in better shape (quite a bit higher on the tough-to-keep scale). I'm making headway. I'm starting yoga at work on Mondays beginning next week, I'm working out and curling twice a week. I've stopped buying so much processed food and steer clear of the cookie aisle. Poor Ted can't figure out why we never have anything to eat in the house :-)

Last but not least, I've resolved to finish two manuscripts this year. I'm well on my way to finishing one this month and will work on the second for the rest of the year. In addition, I have two books coming out in 2011 - The Second Wife with Orca (adult - spring) and Second Chances with Napoleon (YA - fall). This one ties in with having fun - I have a lot of fun writing and love the characters in all these books. Plus, I get to go to conferences and author events, which are always good times.

Speaking of which -and I don't know how I could have come up with a better segue - to begin this season of book events, C.B. Forrest and I will be appearing at the two Bookstops on Saturday, January 15th: from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Orleans Book Stop, 4-1224 Place D'orleans Drive; and, from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. at Barrhaven Book Stop, 5-1 Jockvale Road. I hope you can come by and say hello. (Because you really should resolve to get out more :-)

So this is Christmas

2010-12-26T09:21:00.005-05:00

Boxing Day 2010.

Christmas to me is those unexpected moments that lighten your heart or make you realize how fortunate you are to have special people in your life. It can be my daughters sleeping over Christmas Eve; opening Christmas stockings on our bed with the kids like we have every year since they were born; finding time for a hot bath and a read before preparing the Christmas dinner; sharing a meal with friends and family long into the night.

Every Christmas, I wait for those few magical moments. This year, I had several, perhaps because I let the holiday flow as it would without worrying about outcomes. It began at work Thursday morning where I thanked the cleaning woman as I do each time, for collecting my garbage. I told her that I would not be in Christmas Eve and wished her a good holiday. She spontaneously flung her arms around me in a hug and wished me a Merry Christmas. It was an unexpected gesture that had me smiling all day.

I send a Christmas card to my all-time favourite English prof from Lakehead U. every year and have done for over 35 years. This year, I did not receive a card back. I worried that he might be too ill to write and fussed about it to Ted a few times over the last week. Christmas Eve morning, his card arrived to my delight. Also in the mail that morning was the Orca spring catalogue with The Second Wife displayed in three places. Another little gift for the holiday.

This Christmas we spent much of our waking hours talking, laughing and reminiscing. A steady stream of old records on the player, too much food and wine and late nights - it has been a mid-winter break from routine and commitments. Ted and I have another luncheon today with old friends and then I will have two days to write and to finish reading C.B. Forrest's second mystery Slow Recoil. Chris is a falulous writer and I'm happy to report that we will be touring together with our new books in the new year.

I hope that you are also taking the time to let the season flow around you and to find those magical moments that warm your heart.

Happiest of holidays to you and all those you hold dear.

Fending Off the Panic Zone

2010-12-18T07:31:00.005-05:00

So, one week to the big day. Still no tree bought or Christmas lights up outside. No baking done. Gifts not wrapped. Seems to me, things are running right on schedule.

I'll bet you're wondering how I'm going to pull this one off seeing as how I still have a week in the office ahead of me. I'm actually beginning to wonder a bit myself. The photo above was taken last Christmas in Vegas. One of the hotels had this amazing display - obviously the hotel staff had some time on their hands.

You can come out and commiserate with me about Christmas pasts and the state of this one on Tuesday evening from 7:00 to 9:00 at the Ottawa Citizen Conference Centre at 1101 Baxter Road - Randall Denley, Mary Jane Maffini, Barbara Fradkin, C.B. Forrest, R.J. Harlick and I will be selling and signing copies of our books - nice Christmas gifts for readers on your list.

I've been working away on a new manuscript and like how it's coming along. I hope to complete a chapter today in between finishing up my shopping and heading out for another Christmas dinner with friends. About the only thing I've managed to stay ahead of this season is the socializing - but maybe that's what it's all about anyhow - getting together with friends and family over some good food and wine.

Time to put on some Christmas music and crank up the gas fireplace. I have another hour or so before I need to go outside. Plenty of time for another cup of coffee while I get myself organized . . . .

Tis the Season

2010-12-10T16:58:00.002-05:00

Last year, my family and I ran away for Christmas. I saw the glittering lights of Las Vegas and the desert for the first time in my life. I have to say that while I liked the reprieve from all the work that goes into a traditional Christmas, I'm not sorry to be home this year. That said, two weeks from today is Christmas Eve and I have blessed little done. I'm convinced it will all fall into place. There will be turkey and stuff in the stockings. I am not delusional. I am not delusional.

This week, was the annual Capital Crime Writers' dinner at Robbie's restaurant with The Ottawa Citizen's Randall Denley as guest speaker. He's released his first murder mystery entitled One Dead Sister set in Ottawa and New England. It was a fun evening - I realize how many good friends I've made in this group. I always like getting together with others who think about killing people off . . . in fiction.

I also happened upon the cover for my April Orca release, The Second Wife. Very cool cover and all who've seen it are giving it the thumbs up. You can check it out on the Orca site under Rapid Reads. I'm currently working on a sequel and hope to have it done in a few months. Gwen Lake is a character I like immensely. My daughter Lisa (who's read The Second Wife manuscript) tells me that she likes what a mess Gwen's life is - a divorced desk cop who likes the odd bottle of wine and sees the world through sardonic eyes. Much like most of my friends except for the divorced desk cop bit.

So writing, gift buying, partying (three lunches, a wine and cheese and a couple of dinners coming up this week), curling, baking and tree putting-upping on my horizon - oh yeah, and my full-time job. I'm actually starting to get in the Christmas spirit . . . time to deck the halls.

Canadian Mysteries Need Your Support

2010-12-04T08:08:00.003-05:00

These are difficult days in Canadian publishing. My publisher sent out a notice to her authors yesterday, informing us that while our latest books are in the Chapters/Indigo warehouse, and have been for over a month, they will not be in the stores until after Christmas. For smaller publishers and authors who have not written blockbusters like Going Rogue (and you might ask yourself how Sarah Palin became a bestseller in Canada), this lack of distribution is like a death knell. Our work is good. It deserves to be on the shelves.

I encourage each of you to take the time to write to Chapters or to call your local store and ask that your favourite Canadian mystery author's work be brought into the store right away. If we do not take a stand, good, new authors will stop writing, smaller publishers will go out of business, and a blossoming segment of Canadian writing will disappear. We need to start making noise.

On my writing front, Kitchissippi Times printed a little article this week about my book launch with Barbara Fradkin - it was a well written piece and will help to get our names out locally. I've been settling in to write the next installment in the Orca Rapid Reads series and have the first three chapters written. I'm still sorting out in my head where the storyline will go. I'm happy to be working on a new piece and not editing.

Well, the weather in Ottawa has been unbelievably mild as we head into December, with the odd sprinkle of snow followed by above-freezing temps and rain. As I look out the window, I see green grass and a coating of frost on the roofs across the street. Makes it hard to get motivated to go Christmas shopping. We better get some snow soon or there won't be many gifts under the tree.

Winding up November

2010-11-28T14:06:00.007-05:00

In Winter's Grip is now in stores across the country and the U.S. Unbelievable really when I stop to think about it. I've been getting some very postitive reviewing from those who've read the book, including an unexpected note from Tim Wynne-Jones - award winning children's author - saying he was at the launch and really enjoyed the suspense and story. Good to get such good feedback from another author, especially one as well respected as Tim.

I spent the week curling - five games since last I blogged. Yesterday, I curled in the morning and then drove out to Beaverbrook branch of the Ottawa Public Library to teach kids a short story-writing workshop. This is part of the Awesome Authors contest - all of the judges teach a workshop before the entries are due. I've agreed to judge the English short stories again this year and expect to spend several hours reading stories in the new year. Thirteen kids attended the workshop and they were just a great group - enthusiastic, engaged and filled with good questions. After a fun hour, I rushed back to Westboro to curl in the B-side final, and am happy to report victory.

I also spent part of last week looking up lyrics and notable quotes from 1970 and 1971 for my YA manuscript set in the Vietnam era - 1971 to be exact. I decided to add a quote to the beginning of each chapter, so that meant rereading each chapter, coming up with a theme or link to a quote. I'm thinking I got some spot on, but will wait to see what my editor thinks. Anyhow, I feel a big lifting of weight with the final submission of this manuscript to Napoleon. It was called "After Annie" but the title has now changed to Second Chances. I rewrote the ending and think the story a lot tighter. On va voir.

I also heard from Orca that they will entertain the idea of a sequel to follow The Second Wife. I'm going to take a little breather to get Christmas together before tackling an outline. Give the ideas time to ferment, like good wine.

So now the season of parties, dinners, shopping and decorating begins. I've ventured out to neighbourhood stores and started the annual gift-buying dance. I imagine you are all involved in the same tango. It's an annual ritual that unites us one and all.

May the sales be with you.

2010-11-19T17:20:00.011-05:00

So, In Winter's Grip is officially launched. The evening was hugely successful for Barb Fradkin and me as we launched our adult mysteries. Lots of people turned up to buy the books, listen to our readings and mingle over finger foods and wine. Most civilized although I have to say, I felt a little pang of longing for my pub launches of old. Thank you to all who came to help celebrate and who bought books. Your support means more than I can ever say.

My two curling teams waited patiently while I book toured, flew to Saskatoon for work and lounged sick at home - three weeks gone from my regular life. I've curled two club games this week and have a full day with my ladies' team this weekend at a spiel in Navan. It's good to have a balance between sitting at a desk typing and socializing over curling rocks and glasses of wine that follow the games. lately, I'm thinking some wine before the game might help me throw the rocks better, but the wiser course might be to get out and practise.

Also around this time of year, I start to get little twinges about Christmas. I don't know if others are the same, but by December 1st, the pangs turn into outright panic at the thought of all the work ahead - planning meals, baking, decorating, shopping, wrapping, socializing. Last year, my family escaped to Las Vegas for Christmas week and I have to say, I loved being away. Still, just like this week's launch away from the familiar pub, I also missed being home and doing all the traditions. Life can be poignant when you least expect.

I'm planning to finish editing my Vietnam era YA manuscript this week and think I've come up with a title. I agonize over titles. In fact, I spend more time coming up with one than I do writing a chapter, several chapters even. I had the same trouble naming my daughters. Books are kind of like children. You also don't want to send them into the world saddled with the wrong moniker, or worse, one that makes you wonder years later just what in god's name you were thinking.

Down but not out

2010-11-12T19:21:00.005-05:00

A week ago at this time, I was on a plane flying home from the work retreat at the Wanuskewin Heritage Park, fifteen minutes outside of Saskatoon. I'd never set foot in Saskatchewan before and had my first look at the flat land that stretched for miles only ending when it ran into the robin's egg blue prairie sky. Anyhow, when my plane finally landed in Ottawa after midnight and I'd made it safely home, a sore throat decided to take hold. My body was of the opinion that I needed another week off work to pay for my travels. It might have tried for two weeks but for a trip to the doctor and some mighty fine antibiotics that are working their magic.

Before taking to my bed, I managed to complete a review of the edits from Orca for the Rapid Reads manuscript. Most of the changes were style and some were questions about plot details so it didn't take me too long. The next time I see the manuscript, it will be the page proofs. I'm also looking forward to seeing the cover - I've no idea what it will be.

I also fit in a coffee chat with Barbara Fradkin last Sunday morning before I crashed. We divided up a few tasks for our launch this coming Tuesday evening - 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Library and Archives on Wellington Street - everyone is invited. Mary Jane Maffini will MC and it should be a fun evening. We're even going to do short readings, not something I ever managed for my kids' book launches in Whispers pub. (Kids' books in a pub; adult books in a library - not sure I got the sequence right.)

Well, this promises to be another gorgeous November weekend with temps around nine on Saturday. I swear to you and my sick husband (whom I can hear coughing upstairs) that I am planting tulips tomorrow and washing the car. Enough procrastinating. If I don't get the bulbs into the ground, just what are the squirrels going to dig up for their mid-winter snack?

Catching Up

2010-11-06T10:51:00.002-04:00

Home sweet home after nearly two weeks on the road.

I flew to Saskatoon on Wednesday for work and fit in a signing/reading at McNally Robinson bookstore. I was greeted by Nicole Berard and made to feel most welcome. The photo above is just some of the in-store publicity for the event. A few from the local community came out for the reading, including a girl from my old home town, whom I hadn't seen since we were kids. In fact, our families used to spend Christmas dinner together for a number of years. Hearing from people from my past is one of the most wonderful benefits of publicizing books. A number of my colleagues also came to the reading after a long day of work, many of whom I met on the trip. I was quite humbled by their support of me and my writing. A huge thank you to all who came out and bought books.

And now, down to the business of Barb Fradkin and my book launch on November 16th. We have details to sort out and people to invite. It promises to be a fun evening with my road trip mate Mary Jane Maffini as MC. I hope all can make it. Who knows what road stories she'll tell :-)

Also waiting in my in box is an edited version of "The Second Wife", the Orca Rapid Reads book due out this spring. That makes two manuscripts I'm editing for publication next year. Luckily, I have until December for the second one. Whew. Lots to do!

I never did get those tulip bulbs planted. Let's hope the snow holds off for a while.

Almost Home

2010-10-31T17:55:00.005-04:00

We arrived back at Shelley's in Chagrin Falls just after five-thirty this evening. This morning, I was part of a second panel, which dealt with early book, movie and tv influences on our writing. It was like a trip back down memory lane. We drove straight here after the panel and book signing ended.

All in all, it's been a great experience. The fans who come to these conferences are knowledgeable readers who love sitting with authors and talking about books and writing. I met so many lovely people, including two retired school principals whom I sat with at dinner last night. It turns out one has a review column on kids' books, and she was keen to get my book info for the YA books. I left two copies of In Winter's Grip with two other reviewers this morning. Not only do the people at these conferences expect you to promote your writing, they demand it - they are looking for new authors to read!

Tonight, we are heading into town to a wine bar and then back to Shelley's for the meal prepared earlier today (it smells like ambrosia). I'll be rounding up Mary Jane early tomorrow to get on the road before 7:30 as we have about a 10-hour drive ahead of us. Mary Jane is not an early morning person so we'll be fueling up on coffee as we cut across the states to Watertown. All in all, this has been a great road trip - we've spent a good deal of our time laughing - if you know Mary Jane, you'll understand how that happened! Looking forward to home . . . .

Murder in Muncie

2010-10-30T17:24:00.004-04:00

Well, we're nearing the halfway point in the conference. We pulled into Muncie around five o'clock yesterday and realized we had no idea where the six o'clock dinner was to take place, or the conference for that matter. Oops. Also turns out we are the only two authors in this particular motel. So, another mad scramble to change clothes, trowel on the make up (Mary Jane's expression, not mine) and careen over to the conference centre after only losing our way I once. You'll be glad to know they were short four dinners so we had to wait another half hour anyhow while they cooked new dinners for our entire table.

We've met many great readers and authors since then. This morning, I was interviewed for a PBS and Utube clip as were over twenty other authors, then had my panel on creating setting. It went well, and I even sold some books. Now, we're back in the motel resting up for the banquet and a night of networking.

As promised, Mary Jane has agreed to be my first ever guest blogger, and here she is to say a few words!

I am glad to be here and even more glad to be alive. Brenda is a great travelling companion, although our third passenger, Jeeves the GPS, tends to misbehave. One of the best parts of this trip has been the discovery of a reading America in the most unexpected places. On our way to Muncie, driving through Ohio (a very wide state it seemed to us) we needed to have a rest break and lunch. We were on a highway (don't ask us which one) surrounded by fields which seemed to stretch forever. Brenda and Jeeves got us off in search of a place to eat and we went backwards and sideways and through (big surprise!) fields when we got to the Village of Bluffton, which was nicely picturesque. At the Common Grounds Cafe, we discovered not only that the manager has Canadian friends, kids who are voracious reader, is a reader herself and also runs the cafe book club. Who knew? We got a great reception there and exchanged bookmarks, cards and promises of Facebook, blogs and more.

For me that was almost as much fun as being 'carded' in Muncie (a highlight of the trip) when I bought a replacement bottle of wine. I guess the drinking age is 62.

Now we are off to the dinner to schmooze and laugh. My big challenge is getting Brenda to wear the witch's hat that our good friends John and Toni at Foul Play gave us. I may have to blackmail her into it, so wish me luck. The adventure continues. And it is Brenda's birthday, so who knows what will happen.

It was a dark and stormy night

2010-10-29T08:16:00.002-04:00

Good morning from Chagrin Falls just outside Cleveland, Ohio. Mary Jane and I drove upstate from Columbus yesterday and landed in this picturesque town where we are staying with local author Shelley Costa and her husband Michael in their lovely home at the end of a cul de sac.

Ohio is a beautiful state - rolling hills and autumn colours with a lot of farm land and large homes. It's been warmer here than in Ottawa and most of the leaves are still on the trees - shades of yellow and orange.

The librarians from the Cuyahaga County Public Library took Mary Jane, Shelley and I for dinner last night at an Indian restaurant before we headed over for a talk and reading. We couldn't have been made to feel more welcome. Wendy Bartlett, Chris, Paula and Laurie - thank you for all the work you did to make the evening special. I know I've missed other names from your team and we thank them too. There were between thirty and forty mystery fans who came to hear our talk in the South Euclid-Lyndhurst Branch, which is a converted mansion. The room that we read in was stunning with a fountain and dark woodwork. With the rain lashing down outside, the evening had a mysterious feel - perfect for two Canadian mystery authors.

This morning, we are heading back into town for breakfast with Shelley at a local, very American diner. Then, Mary Jane and I are heading to Muncie, Indiana for the Magna Cum Murder mystery conference. It begins with an author dinner tonight. Heading into the final leg of our road trip!

On the Road Again

2010-10-28T09:51:00.005-04:00

Greetings from Columbus, Ohio. Mary Jane Maffini and I have been on the road since Tuesday. We spent the first night in Oakville with my good friends Deanna and Bill - Deanna had chicken in the slower cooker and wine at the ready upon our arrival. We'd made one stop along the way in Toronto at our publisher's new office and had coffee with Sylvia and Allister. I met Emma Dolan who was the creative mind behind the book cover for In Winter's Grip. Anyhow, back to Oakville where the weather had turned nasty just around the time we were to set out for Chapters for our signing. In fact, meteorologists were calling for a 'weather bomb', apparently scary enough to keep people indoors and away from bookstores. We managed a very pleasant evening anyhow since Deanna came with us and a few of Mary Jane's friends braved the dire weather forecast. A few strangers bought books too, and the Chapters staff couldn't have been more welcoming. Then, back to Deanna and Bill's for a few hours of wine and conversation with a fire burning in the grate. It was a lovely start to our trip.

Yesterday, Mary Jane and I puttered our way across the border and across upstate New York and Pennsylvania to the fine Ohio state. We are using GPS - a British man's voice - that gets quite upset if we make a wrong turn. Unfortunately, 'Jeeves' has led us to a few detours that added at least an hour to our trip. One very funny moment: We had entered Pennsylvania and smelled this strong odour of manure. Mary Jane said, "You sure can tell that we've entered farm country." I looked up and saw the head of a cow in the truck ahead of us. "I think if you get into the passing lane, we'll soon be out of farm country," I said.

We reached our hotel in Columbus around six in the evening, not the two or three o'clock that we'd planned (no more long lunches, we've now decided). We quickly changed clothes and hopped back in the car. "Two and a half kilometres to Foul Play bookstore," said Mary Jane. Jeeves led us to a bridge that was out and we had to back track and circle for a while until we found a way. Two and a half kilometres took us half an hour. Luckily, the store owners Toni and John waited for us with some book club members. We spent a few hours talking about books and sharing stories before Toni and John took us for pizza at a local restaurant - it was just terrific. Apparently, people drive down from Cleveland just to eat this pizza. I could taste why.

We slept in today and will soon be heading to Cleveland for a library visit tonight. Jeeves is helping us locate some fine shopping en route. One more cup of coffee and we'll be on our way. Let's hope we don't run into anymore detours :-) Until tomorrow . . . .

Indiana Wants Me

2010-10-23T07:49:00.005-04:00

The weather has turned. Frost on the pumpkin, wood smoke in the air, gloves and hat put on for the morning walk to the bus in darkness - winter is around the corner.

Mary Jane Maffini and I have been working on the details of our road trip south. We leave Tuesday morning with a quick stop at RendezVous Crime in Toronto, then on to Oakville for a Chapters booksigning. Wednesday morning, we cross the border into Ohio where we have a booksigning at a bookstore called Foul Play. The next night, we are reading at a library just outside of Cleveland, then on to Muncie, Indiana for the Magna Cum Murder conference. We are both on two panels - my first is on setting and the second is about books that influenced my writing.

One goal of these trips is to meet people and make connections. The mystery-writing community is smaller than you might think. There is definitely a pecking order with the best-selling authors like Michael Connelly and Lee Childs at the top. They do not attend smaller mystery conferences like this one unless they are guests of honour. For lesser known authors, the smaller, local conferences can widen your fan base and get you the exposure that is often hard to come by. They can also be a lot of fun! I'm going to attempt to blog while on the road, so please check back next week to follow along with me. I'm sure I'll be able to get Mary Jane to type a few thoughts as well.

(Okay you music fans - Who sang the 1970 hit "Indiana Wants Me"? No checking on the internet!)

Katherine Hobbs invited me to go with her to Randall Denley's book launch at the Heart and Crown pub on Wednesday evening. Randall is a reporter for the Ottawa Citizen and he writes a column giving his opinion on politics - you can imagine how much fodder there is lately with the municipal election this Monday. Anyhow, there was a list of politicians mingling in close quarters, including Larry O'Brien, Allan Rock, John Baird, Pierre Poilievre and a host of city councillors. it was all rather surreal. I kept expecting the Prime Minister to walk in! I bought Randall's book entitled One Dead Sister and am looking forward to giving it a read, perhaps while on the road.

So, lots of little details to take care of this weekend, including hauling out the suitcase. The weather people are calling for rain all week, but today the sun is out and it should be a wonderful day to be outside running errands and enjoying the fall colours.

A Room With A View

2010-10-16T07:50:00.004-04:00

My office. Years ago when I started writing, I didn't have a spot in our little house to work. Ted decided I needed my own space and worked with an architect to create this room for me. The window in front of my desk looks out over our pine and balsam trees and it's one of my favourite places to be. I have a reading nook at the opposite end of the room where Ted and I spend time every evening after work, catching up on our day. If a room could have personality, mine has become a friend.

I've had a busy week - Monday, I cooked a turkey dinner for ten - great fun. Tuesday night I read from In Winter's Grip at the Ottawa Library along with other writers in the Canadian Authors Association. Lots of variety in reading selections and an interesting evening. Wednesday, I began sending out notices about Barb Fradkin's and my launch on Nov. 16th at the Library and Archives. Publicity is time-consuming - that took all evening. Thursday, I appeared by phone on CBC Radio to talk about advance voting in the municipal election, then went curling. Friday, dinner with friends - and of course full work days all week. Today, I still have lots to do but will set aside writing time.

This week as well, In Winter's Grip also received its first review in Unfolding online magazine's blog. You can read it at http://www.unfolding.ca/ About the book's release. There has been an issue with the printer, which I hope is soon resolved. I will have some books for my trip south and have my fingers crossed that the rest are available soon. I know lots of people are waiting.

So time to get the day underway. I think I'll start with another cup of coffee . . . .

Imagine

2010-10-09T08:01:00.003-04:00

October 9, 2010 - If John Lennon had lived, he'd be 70 years old today. Imagine. I remember the first time I heard of the Beatles. We were visiting friends of my parents and their son Mark somebody told us we had to listen to this new record he'd just bought - my sister and I went into his basement and listened to "I Want to Hold Your Hand" on his little record player. We found it revolutionary. I was probably in Grade Five. Shortly after, the four mop tops appeared on the Ed Sullivan show and I was convinced Paul McCartney was my destiny - me and a billion other young girls believed the same . . . uh, hormonally charged fantasy. Back then, you were either a 'John' or 'Paul' girl. I fell into the latter group. Amazing that two such talented blokes got together at the right time and place, not to take anything away from George and Ringo. Ah yes, those were the days, my friend.

I haven't gotten in much writing this week but am itching to get back at it. Whenever I take a little break from the keyboard, I start to get this overwhelming need to write. I'll start rearranging my commitments to give myself time. This weekend could be tough to find that time. My nephew arrives this afternoon from Toronto where he's going to college and I'm cooking the big turkey dinner for nine on Monday. I bake pies and cook up cranberries - the whole she-bang. I love doing it, but the preparation is time-consuming.

Just two weeks until Mary Jane Maffini and I hit the road to promote our books. Our first stop is Oakville Chapters on October 26th. My friend Deanna is putting us up for the night so that will be a wonderful start. From there, we go to Ohio and Indiana. Just to keep my stress factor on red alert, there was a hold up at the printer and In Winter's Grip is still not available. Time is getting tight if the book is to be in all the places we'll be visiting. Keep your fingers crossed - the book should be out any day now.

Well, I have a full day ahead. I start with some door-to-door campaigning at noon with Katherine Hobbs, who is running for city counsellor in my ward (Kitchissippi). She has a lot to offer and my great hope is that our voters recognize gold when they see it. Then, we're off to the train station to pick up Dylan and the weekend festivities get underway.

Wishing each of you time this weekend with family and friends, a good meal and moments to recharge and reflect. The beauty of the fall colours is a gift to all of us.

Photographs and Memories

2010-10-03T11:52:00.006-04:00

What a gorgeous day we having going out there this first weekend of October. Ted and I sat on his new front deck this morning drinking coffee and watching the pine needles fall. I have tulip bulbs that need planting and a few plants that need to be moved around in the garden. We got in a cord of firewood as we start to batten down the house for the cold days ahead.

I spent a great part of the week rewriting the Viet Nam manuscript. What fun listening to music from the 70s on Utube. That was such a creative, passionate era in music. it was a great time to be in high school - hippies, long hair, bare feet, hitchhiking, rock n' roll, protest rallys, smock tops, clogs . . . . a free, exciting period, all in all.

The other day, I was remembering my first waitressing job at a pizza joint in Thunder Bay in the late 70s. It was the summer of my first year in university and I'd spent two days tree planting next to a busload of convicts and their armed guard. It seemed like a good time to make a career change. I got an interview for the waitressing job, which amounted to me trying on the red hotpants uniform. The manager and owner (yes, both men) had a look at my legs and said I would do. I'm almost certain I could file a complaint somewhere if this happened today. I lasted the summer, working the night shift and avoiding propositions from customers - made me realize why I was still in school.

As of this week, no In Winter's Grip on the shelves yet. It seems to have been delayed slightly, but I hear it should be out very soon. I'll post on my site when it is released. I'm looking forward to holding a copy. The Orca book, slated for spring 2011, now has a title - The Second Wife. Editing starts on this one soon.

So do you know who wrote the song title up above? "Photographs and Memories"? Think way back . . .

Old Dogs and New Tricks

2010-09-25T09:03:00.018-04:00

Technology is a wonderful thing. Twelve years ago when I began my first job in the government as a writer/editor, I had to ask how to turn on the computer. Who knew that one day I would be blogging, twittering, facebooking, Blackberrying and uploading? Yesterday at work, my coworker Katherine Brown showed me how to post pictures within the text of my blog. To the left and above is a photo that was taken at the Capital Crime Writers pub night in the spring and the big one above that (I can adjust size :-) is in Toronto at Bloody Words mystery conference this past spring. This is genius. Now, if only I could learn to work the remote and reset digital clocks, my world would be complete.

This week, I completed a detailed questionnaire for Orca publishers. I also confirmed a signing at McNally Robinson in Saskatoon on November 4th, a signing at Chapters in Oakville on October 26th with Mary Jane Maffini , a reading at Canadian Authors Association meeting at the Ottawa Public Library on October 12th, and the bookseller Books on Beechwood for the November 16th launch with Barb Fradkin. It's going to be a busy season. I also have to get working on completing the manscript for Napoleon due out next fall. Oh yes - curling starts this week with an opening bonspiel.

I think this calls for a list.

We were out to dinner last night with our good friends Ann and Ken at Petit Bill's restaurant on Wellington Street, just outside Westboro village. What a great little spot - I had crab cakes and shrimp and scallop on angel hair pasta topped off with the bread pudding. A place to try if you ever are in Ottawa. (I could come with you, if necessary.) We then dropped down to Whispers to see our daughter Julia.

I love watching my daughters, waitressing, curling, it doesn't matter - just seeing them makes my heart full and proud. This is a mother moment.

It's time to make another cup of coffee and get the day gently underway. I hope you are having a relaxing weekend and refueling for the week ahead.

September Saturday Morning

2010-09-18T07:47:00.006-04:00

Another weekend. "Fall is in the air," I said to Ted last night as we left Whispers pub. Every Friday night for the entire summer, we've made Friday night date night. We've taken to capping off the evening by dropping in on Whispers to have a chat with our daughter Julia, who waitresses there.

"Just what I was saying this afternoon," replied Ted. "Summer is pretty much over."

The circle of the seasons.
Great minds that think alike :-)

I love autumn. Planning Thanksgiving dinner for our family and friends - fresh turkey and homemade apple and pumpkin pies - pulling out the warmer clothes, beginning the curling season, watching season openers on tv, stretching out with a good book next to the fireplace . . . All satisfying. All good.

This fall is going to be particularly busy. Mary Jane Maffini and I are planning our trip to Muncie at the end of October with visits to a bookstore and library for readings along the way. I'm still waiting for the final word on when In Winter's Grip will be released, but it went to the printer's a few weeks ago and the target is the beginning of October. I'm also planning a joint book launch with Barbara Fradkin on November 16th. We were thrown a bit with word of the closing of Shirley Leishman bookstore, but we have time to line up a new bookseller.

Such a loss to have Leishman's close. I remember speaking with co-owner Diane Walker about my first manuscript, Running Scared, before I'd sent it off to any publishers. I briefly told her the premise and asked her if she knew of any publishers I should approach. At the end of our chat, Diane said, "I'd love to do your launch when you find a publisher." Since then, Diane has been the seller at all four launches and hosted signings in their store. She's become a friend. I mourn the loss of her store because I know that Diane and Sally are passionate about books and the community and the business they have built over so many years. Along with the closing of Prime Crime earlier this year, they will be sadly missed.

I received the final contract from Orca for my Rapid Reads book http://orcabook.com/ravenreads/ . I've sent in the manuscript and am awaiting feedback. I've got to say though, I'm happy with the story. A little murder mystery, colourful characters, humour and pathos - all in under 20,000 words.

So, this morning, Ted has ripped apart the roof to replace the skylight above the back entranceway. It's been leaking like a Swiss cheese all summer and driving him to distraction. Neighbours are already stepping outside to have a look. Along with the truck outside my office window, pumping insulation into my neighbour's newly renovated house and the sewer work going on down the street, it promises to be a lively and noisy Saturday.

Book 'em Dano

2010-09-11T08:37:00.003-04:00

Fall activities are revving up. I attended the first Capital Crime Writers meeting of the season where we learned about homicide investigations from Sgt. Tony Gagnon from Ottawa Major Crimes Unit. A few things I didn't know:

The police can't bring you down to the station for questioning unless they arrest you for investigative purposes (usually at the point where you become a suspect). They need to convince you to go to the station otherwise, and people sometimes refuse to go. Boy, I wouldn't have ever thought to say no if I was asked by the police to 'go downtown'. I'd be saying, "How fast do you need me there?"

The RCMP do not investigate homicides in Ontario although they do in other provinces. If somebody was murdered at RCMP headquarters in Ottawa, they'd have the Major Crimes Unit in to investigate. Of course, Major Crimes don't ride around on horses - hard to be an expert in everything.

Sgt. Gagnon also told us that a spin guy is someone working surveillance while the slab is what they call Highway 417. Little bits of trivia that can make a mystery authentic.

I guest blogged Monday, Sept. 6th on Mystery Maven Canada, which is the brainchild of Linda Wiken, previous owner of Prime Crime bookstore. In addition to blogging, Linda will also be posting book reviews and she'll continue with guests, including authors, librarians and others in the book industry. It's a site worth checking out: http://mysterymavencdn.blogspot.com/

I"ve also figured out how to post photos on this blog, so there'll be more visual interest from here on in. Sad to say though that Ted has pretty much wrapped up the deck project. We'll have to wait to see what he tackles next.

Last Days of Summer

2010-09-04T09:51:00.004-04:00

The Labour Day long weekend. Kids are getting ready to return to school, and the weather has turned from hot and stifling to cool and breezy. This always feels like the beginning of a new chapter - like one should sign up for courses and programs and get serious about doing something constructive. It also felt like a good morning to sleep in, so I went with that.

I've been reworking the ending of After Annie and will be giving the manuscript a new title. My Napoleon publisher tells me it is slated for release next fall, giving me lots of time to rejig. It's a YA book, but for older teens and set in the seventies. When I told my daughter about the setting, she asked what I knew about the seventies. I replied, "I lived through them." She said, " I forget how old your are." I'm thinking that's a compliment.

It's been a behind-the-scenes kind of week. Chris Forrest is trying to organize a launch of our new books in Toronto this November, but coming up with a date has proven to be difficult. Lots of to-ing and fro-ing with no resolution. I'm also in contact with Barbara Fradkin about our November 16th launch in Ottawa and we're meeting for supper next week to sort out details. The business of writing.

I met with Mike Levin, publisher of Unfolding online magazine, for coffee earlier this week. He wanted to talk about In Winter's Grip as he plans to put out a review closer to the date of release (end of September/beginning of October). Anyhow, it took me a bit to realize he was interviewing me and taking notes about the Orca book project. Another clue was when he pulled out his camera and had me sit on some steps to get a head shot. You can find the article on his blog (http://www.unfolding.ca/)

The deck railing and caps for the posts are installed. My weekly updates will be trailing away but rest assured. Ted has new projects on his radar. Wait until you see what he has planned for the back yard.

Wakefest Equals Fun

2010-08-28T16:24:00.005-04:00

Well, I'm a bit late this weekend with the blog, and somebody actually noticed! This feels like a weekly tv show, like Glee or House - people actually wait for it. I'm suitably humbled.

I just got back from Wakefield. What a gorgeous day to be in this small Quebec village - we had to postpone the workshop since the kids who were interested were mainly out of town for the weekend, but the readings carried on. There were five of us and a gathering of people outside in front of Solstice bookstore. The owner Roberta is just great - I haven't met any independent bookstore owners I haven't liked!

Phil Jenkins hosted and read from his poetry between authors. It was the first time I met Phil and hopefully not the last - great sense of humour and good writer. I particularly liked his poem about a girl he should have kissed in the parking lot . . . but didn't.

Nadine Dolittle read first. We met a few times before, and it was good to be reacquainted and to hear her read from her upcoming book. Tom Henighan was next, reading from his new adult murder mystery called Night Shade. I actually hitched a ride to Wakefield with Tom and his wife Marilyn and we had enjoyable chats each way. Tom was a prof at Carleton in the English department (now retired) and lives around the corner from us. I marked papers for his one of his mythology classes a number of years ago. There's that small world again.

I was third up and read two passages from In Winter's Grip and told a narcissist joke beforehand. If writing ever fails, I might try my hand at stand up comic. I'll keep working on my act. One joke might not cut it.

I also met the most lovely woman named Glennis, who is a retired volunteer at the Wakefield library - she even bought me Wakefield's fourth annual naked calendar, which has upstanding Wakefield citizens in artistic stages of undress. A great parting gift I'd say. Anyhow, photos of the day posted on my Facebook page (but none from the calendar - you'll have to imagine those).

I've carried on with my writing projects this week and am happy with my Orca story. It was so much fun to write. I also will be blogging for Mystery Maven Canada on Sept. 7th. I'll be sure to post on Facebook and Twitter. I actually stick to one topic :-)

Ted is working hard on the front deck - I'll post a photo tomorrow as I want to give him a chance to finish the day's work. Keep an eye out for the reveal. He still will have the fiddly bits to do, but the progress this week is stunning.

So Many Projects. So Little Time

2010-08-20T16:46:00.004-04:00

My seven a.m. walk to the transit station has gotten decidedly cooler this week. It's even dark when I wake up at six. I'm not sure I'm ready for jackets and sweaters, but it's not like there's a choice . . . unless you are my neighbour who dresses only in shorts, a tee-shirt and rubber boots in the dead of winter. Ted and I walked by him one 30 below evening, and he was shovelling his driveway in his shirt and shorts - we were so bundled up, all you could see were our faces peeking out of scarves (that's a bit of exaggeration as I've never actually seen Ted wearing a scarf). Anyhow, my neighbour has been reported on the radio: "Man in tee-shirt seen biking through Westboro during snowstorm." Yes, he's quite a sight to behold.

Anyhow, not sure why my mind went there. It is still hot in the afternoons. I should just cling onto that.

I had great fun writing the book for Orca. I'm done the first draft and have my critiquers giving it a read. So far, feedback has been most encouraging - glowing even (thank you Catharine Brown and waiting on you, Lisa Weagle). I'm also reading through In Winter's Grip one last time before it goes to press. I think I've read it just forty-five thousand times already - there's no more surprising me with the ending.

This is going to be an extremely busy fall. It all starts with Wakefest next Saturday. I'm teaching a three-hour workshop in the morning, then a little break, then readings from one to three. I've been preparing for the workshop and think it should be great fun. Also just got signed up to do a workshop at the library in November as I am going to judge short stories in the Awesome Authors contest again this year.

And the front steps . . . the lattice work is in and the railing is on the back of Ted's truck. Almost there - and we're now wondering if a hammock will fit so Ted can rest after all this exertion. As always, the weekly photo is on my Facebook fan page.

Summer Lull

2010-08-13T18:18:00.003-04:00

This has been a fabulous week - weather-wise and writing-wise. The Orca contract arrived today, but I've been working all week on the manuscript. I'm really liking the main character of this story. It's great when the writing is flowing and sitting down at the computer is a pleasure. My next big task is to come up with a title. I'd rather write an entire book than have to come up with a title. Now that's where I get writers' block!

So, the rest of my life has been quiet - lots of thinking about the plotline when I'm not writing. I did hear from Rachel (publicist) and she'd putting posters for In Winter's Grip in all the B.C. Chapters. She's working on building a buzz. I'm also finishing up some preparation for my workshop and reading at Wakefest - only two weeks away. The summer is going way too quickly.

BIG NEWS - the steps are finally on the front deck. Neighbours are coming over and people are stopping by. I'm beginning to think people were getting worried that the project had stalled for good. This little bit of progress has been the talk of the neighbourhood :-)

Laying the Groundwork

2010-08-07T07:33:00.004-04:00

My big news this week is a contract with Orca Publishers in Vancouver to write a book for their Rapid Reads series. The editor sent e-mails to some mystery authors asking for proposals. I submitted two chapters and a synopsis for a story idea and he liked it! These books are short - about 15,000 words and aimed at adults with literacy issues. It's a relatively new project but one that has been well received so far. I'm really thrilled to be writing one of these books since I taught reading for so many years to kids and adults who were struggling - it was difficult to find books at lower reading levels with appropriate, age-level content. Anyhow, I have to get writing as Orca want this book for the spring 2011 list.

Emma Dolan of RendezVous Crime sent along the final front and back covers of In Winter's Grip for me to see, and they are absolutely fabulous. Our good friend Frank Bowick (who was best man at our wedding some years back) took a photo of a forest in winter that I knew was perfect for the cover, and he agreed I could use it. Emma took the photo and came up with the final concept. It meant a photo shoot in Toronto to get the woman's face that you see super imposed on the woods. The final result has a thriller feel that reflects the suspense inside the covers. I hope you think so too.

Travel news: I'll be heading to Saskatoon in November for work and Rachel has set up a book signing and reading at McNally Robinson for the evening I arrive. I've never set foot in Saskatchewan and am looking forward to the visit. I hear Saskatoon is a pretty city - I'm hopeful it won't be snowed in by early November!

So, my evenings and weekends are busy with writing. In addition to the new manuscript, I'm revising the ending of another and waiting for the final draft of In Winter's Grip from Allister to give it one last going over before it goes to printing. We're getting close . . ..

And on the home renovation front, progress on the front deck stalled this week as Ted fusses with final measurements and prepares to build the steps. A few tenacious door-to-door salesmen have managed to ignore the fact we do not have stairs and climbed up to ring the doorbell. (I wonder if our insurance covers broken legs and sprained ankles if they were to slip or something.) In any event, stay tuned for next week. Ted promises the progress will be rapid from here on in . . . . and who am I to question such optimism?

Taking Care of Business

2010-07-31T09:45:00.003-04:00

It's a fabulous sunny Saturday morning to start the August 1st long weekend. I've been up early reading Harlan Coben's thriller One False Move, realeased in 1998. It's a snappy read, full of humour and one-liners. But enough frivolity. I need to get down to business.

I heard from my publisher about the manuscript entitled After Annie. While she likes all the plotlines, she would like me to pick one to bring to the fore and pull the book together. I think she's hit a flaw in the book, but now it's what do I cut and what do I beef up? Whatever I pick, it means a lot of reworking . . . and I'm already working on two other projects and have a final review of In Winter's Grip coming. Like that old Tommy Roe song . . . you're making me Dizzy, My head is spinning, Like a whirlpool it never ends . . . I'm known for botching up lyrics and getting the names of singers (and friends) wrong so hope that was a proper rendition. Anyhow, you get the idea.

Mary Jane Maffini and I have booked two events on our road trip to Muncie Indiana. In addition to the Foul Play bookstore in Westerville, Ohio, we've now got a stop in the South Euclid branch of the Cuyahoga Public Library in Ohio. The library is in an old mansion and there is a fountain in the room where we'll be reading. Both stops include dinner or lunch with the organizers - this trip is shaping up to be great fun. I've never set foot in Ohio so it'll be a new state notch in my belt.

So, an update on what you're really interested in - our front steps. Two photos on my Facebook fan page this week - one of the progress and one of the reason why. Ted might just get to the backyard projects if this keeps up. Ted, Tiger and Weirsy are all in a slump, and that's not all bad.

Back to Work

2010-07-24T08:15:00.003-04:00

A sluggish kind of week - back at work and catching the early bus to settle into the office routine.
Working five days a week is hard on the system. Today is Saturday, and I could barely get myself out of bed. I'd probably still be in it if Ted hadn't climbed the stairs with a cup of coffee.

I did some housekeeping this week behind the scenes, including signing up for Bloody Words 2011 in June in Victoria and updating the appearances on my website with more additions to come. This should be a busy fall. Only two more months before In Winter's Grip is released and the date of the launch with Barbara Fradkin has been set - Tuesday evening, November 16th at the Library and Archives in Ottawa. Barbara writes the Inspector Green series set in Ottawa and two of her books won the Arthur Ellis award for crime novel of the year, so a popular local author with a growing fan base. It's odd that all the launches for my kids' books were in a pub and my adult one will be in the Archives. We'll still have wine available though!

I wanted to say what great friends and family I have. I am humbled by the support I have received and am often amazed by your generosity. Thank you for coming out to my events, sending encouraging e-mails, travelling around the city and province with me and enjoying my books - I am one fortunate cookie.

Well, Ted has been beavering away on our front steps. The latest photo on my fan page shows incredible progress. The orange thing is still there but now is just for show (he tells me). At this rate, we'll be sitting on the deck, drinking our morning coffee before much longer. I might not even have to wear my parka. Speaking of coffee, there's time for another cup before I start on the day. I will be going through my current manuscript beginning to end to adjust the plot as required and to tidy up some editing before I head into the home stretch . . . . but no rush today. I have no buses to catch or deadlines to meet . . . life is all good.

The Holiday Continues . . .

2010-07-16T11:46:00.003-04:00

My holidays are drawing to a close and just when I was getting into a good rhythm of reading, writing and visiting friends. Yes, the log jam in my noggin with my latest manuscript has been broken and I am back writing away with ideas coming freely. I'm liking it again!

I've also been back working out, believe it or not, to get in shape for curling this fall. I'm on two teams - skipping a ladies' team and playing lead in the open competitive - as we say in curling, I got "picked up" by three men. Perhaps, they should look at changing this expression. Playing lead means a lot of sweeping, which requires lots of muscles if you would like to be effective. Anyhow, my recent workouts have been balanced out by eating in restaurants and drinking wine in the evenings. (I'm on holidays after all, not in boot camp.) Therefore, the before and after photos of me show about as much progress as our front steps being built by Ted. Have a look at my Facebook fan page for the latest development (yes, development is singular on purpose).

A little article by Katherine Hobbs is in my community paper this week about the library award I received a few weeks ago. Very nice and mentions my upcoming release. Thanks Katherine!

The manager of the Chapters in the Pinecrest mall invited me to a book signing tomorrow from 1:00 to 3:00 so that's where you'll find me. I'm hoping to see a few familiar faces :-)

I've was invited yesterday by the Ottawa Public Library to lead another writing workshop for kids in November and we've settled on a Saturday. I'm not sure which branch yet - it's kind of cool when you start getting invitations without advertising. Other authors had told me this starts happening once you've had a few books published, and I'm becoming a believer.

Well, two weeks of vacation have left me very relaxed and full of energy. I'll just go have a little nap and watch some of the British Open while I think how to put this energy to good use . . . .

I hope you are letting the long, lazy days of summer take hold too.

When the Weather is Hot

2010-07-09T13:32:00.004-04:00

The heat this week has been incredible - mid-forties every day since the weekend if you include humidity. (I could be a stand in for Shirley Temple if she needed a hair double.) Luckily, I am on holidays and have access to a pool and air conditioning and hair gel.

Ted and I went to see a matinee - The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo yesterday at the Rainbow theatre in St. Laurent shopping centre. I had no idea they even had a theatre but that was the only place this movie was showing in Ottawa. The theatre was cozy and freezing - I stumbled when we walked out after the show, my feet were so cold. The oddest thing. Two women sat down behind us (there were empty seats everywhere) and spoke to each other through all the opening trailers until another person told them to be quiet. As the movie started, one of these two women tapped my on the shoulder a few times and asked me to move seats - she said she couldn't read the subtitles . . . and she came in after me! I stayed where I was. sheesh. Then, another woman behind us (not in the same two) kept getting up to leave when a violent scene was on - she had to step over several people each time. As the ending carnage began, she and her husband excused their way down the line and out the door. I think the heat is making people stranger than normal.

I've been writing every day, trying to get past the feeling that I don't like the manuscript anymore. This seems to happen with every one at some point. I think it's spending too much time going over the same words and losing perspective. I'm around 50,000 words though and reluctant to stop until I see it through. I wonder if this happens to Atwood?

I've also been finalizing what I'll be doing for Wakefest in August and setting up a book launch for November with Barbara Fradkin. Diane Walker of Leishman books is booking the Library and Archives but having trouble getting the date we want. Fingers crossed.

So, I have another week off. Tonight, my old bookclub is meeting for the first time after a brief hiatus. We are about ten women, mostly neighbours or neighbours who've moved away, and we try to meet once a month. To belong, you have to host once a year and supply wine. We select a book every month, but very few ever read it. Our main rule is the one about serving wine.

I hope everyone is managing to stay cool. Environment Canada is calling for lots more heat ahead . . . .

Hot Time Summer in the City

2010-07-02T16:55:00.004-04:00

The day after Canada Day and the official first day of my summer vacation. I spent a lovely afternoon with author Mary Jane Maffini - lunch on her balcony overlooking the Rideau River - and then, we got down to business. We're plotting our October road trip to Muncie Indiana where we will take part in Magna Cum Murder, an annual mystery conference. We managed to book an engagement at a bookstore called Foul Play in Westerville, Ohio en route, and the store owner would like to take us out to dinner after our readings. We've sent out e-mails to other spots along the way, gauging where we will be when and then figuring out what we can manage. Mary Jane has a lot of contacts in the U.S. and that makes planning much easier. It's a thirteen hour drive each way so lots of potential bookstores and libraries. I'll post a listing on my website once all is finalized.

If you've read Mary Jane's books, you know that she has three series going, all mysteries with a comedic bent. Mary Jane is also a very funny lady so if we manage half the laughter we had over lunch, this trip should be a ton of fun. Too bad we can't bring everyone along with us :-)

I'm settling in to a bit of writing. It's felt more like work than fun lately so I'm hoping to get into a writing groove now that I have time to relax and rejuvenate. And the meteorologists are calling for sun and heat all week . . . does life get any better?

I've taken a weekly photo of 'my front steps', which my husband optimistically tells me should be done in two weeks (which is next weekend since he made the pronouncement last week). I'm thinking the odds in Vegas would not be in his favour on this one. Have a look on my Facebook fan page and you be the judge.

Shaken, Not Stirred

2010-06-25T16:59:00.003-04:00

So, the earth shook two days ago while I was in my fourth floor office, a point five on the Reichter scale. It was enough to have the floor and walls move and was about as surreal a feeling as one can expect mid-afternoon on a typical work day. My first thought was earthquake, but as it built in intensity, I thought the building might be going down. It was ten seconds of disbelief and some fear. I met co-workers in the hallway and everyone was confused about what to do - we had a huddle and talked over options. We were calm but definitely worried. In the end, we evacuated like everybody else. Our fear was an aftershock or damage to the building's structure. In the end, we found out that our building is a solid structure that should withstand even stronger quakes. I've got to say though, the floor shifting under my feet gave me pause.

I've been invited to my first writers' festival! The bookstore owner of Solstice Books in Wakefield, Quebec has invited me to be part of Wakefest - the website is not up yet, but it looks like four days of fun and local artists at the end of August. I'll be there on Saturday, August 28th to teach a writing workshop to kids in the morning with an author event in the store in the afternoon. The day culminates with a local performer who has reached 'international fame' at the Black Sheep Inn that evening. It would be great to get a crowd out for supper and music - I'm just planting a bug in your ears . . .

I also was interviewed by a L.A. magazine called Eerie Digest with the article coming out August 1st. This was set up by Rachel (publicist) in advance of In Winter's Grip. I'll give the link once it is released. The editor was super to deal with.

Writing went slowly this week. I wrote my character into a bit of a boring corner and am trying to change direction in my mind before sitting down again. I'm also about to start holidays and will be disciplined - at least 1,000 words a day is my target. I might have to buy some super glue to keep my butt in the chair.

Our front steps are progressing as fast as my manuscript. I'm posting weekly photos of the progress on my fan page. I'm not telling my husband, so keep the secret :-)

June Heat

2010-06-19T06:47:00.001-04:00

The heat has settled over Ottawa like a warm blanket . . . and it's not a dry heat. Ottawa summers can be so humid, you're left with curly hair and the need to stay inside with the air conditioning cranked up. In 2001, we were renovating our house and had the air conditioning disconnected. It happened to be one of the hottest summers ever. We would go into our neighbour's pool before bed and just float there for an hour or so trying to get cool. I'd go to bed with an ice pack between my legs and would wake up an hour later with the ice pack warm and no use whatsoever.

Lee Child. An American author I met at Bouchercon two years ago in Baltimore. He's a tall, quiet man who writes the Jack Reacher series - I'm currently reading Gone Tomorrow, which starts with Jack trying to prevent a woman from committing suicide on a subway train. Jack is an ex-major in the U.S. army who's given up on living a conventional life - he travels around the U.S. without any possessions, plans or family - he always ends up in a heap of trouble and always with a new woman who ends up alone but better for having known him. Good escapist reading if you're looking for a new author to read.

My latest manuscript is coming along. I'm about half way through the first draft and still not sure if it is all hanging together. My plan is to keep on until the end and then reshape and edit. Summer holidays are coming soon and I'll have more time to write in my deliciously cool air conditioned office. Happily, this year, the renovations are going on outside. Our front steps are now a heap of rubble and the deck has been hauled away in pieces. We should have a completely new deck . . . well, before the snow falls. My husband is doing all the work himself and he tends to take a long time on projects. He's a perfectionist who also likes to go golfing . . . and in the big scheme of life, who really needs a front door anyhow?

2010-06-12T08:02:00.000-04:00

And the rains came. It's a soppy day to run errands, but I'll soon be forced outside. Today is a luncheon for some children's authors and illustrators in Ottawa at a friend's home not far from mine. I've been invited before but never able to attend because the get togethers were mid-week when I was working. Anyhow, I have to get to the store and get some ingredients for my donation to the potluck. I'm thinking something simple with smoked salmon.

Media kits. Rachel (publicist) sent me proofs yesterday for a little kit to send out to bookstores and reviewers - it's attractive with a wintery grey background on each page. Marketing is such a big part of this writer business. I'm glad to have a professional helping me. Latest word is that In Winter's Grip will be out end of September. I'm planning a joint launch with Barbara Fradkin, author of the Inspector Green series set in Ottawa. We're looking at November 9th at the Library and Archives, but the date is to be confirmed. Barb's book is out after mine and we needed to allow a bit of time.

Monday, I'll be hiking it out to Cumberland with J.C. Sulenko (poet and picture book author) to receive an award for volunteer work from the Ottawa Public Library. I'll post a pic or two on Facebook as Katherine is coming to take some for the Capital Crime Writers' newsletter.

This is a special day - my good friend Carol's daughter Karly is getting married this evening and we will be at the church and cocktail party that follows. We spent a lot of time visiting when they lived six doors down - from the time Karly was three years old. I'm sure I don't need to tell anyone about the swift passage of time :-)

2010-06-05T07:16:00.001-04:00

So much to do and so little time.

My weekend ahead has a number of things I need to accomplish: update my website, send a book off to a reviewer for a podcast in September, write to our foster child in Bolivia, update my expenses for my tax return next year, get groceries, work on a manuscript . . . and read The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest (because my friend Ken is waiting to read it on his holiday in a weeks' time).

Hornets' Nest is an interesting read - I'm just over half way through. It's less action than the previous two books by Larsson in this series, and the plot intertwines and folds back on itself with lots of political shenanigans. Steig Larsson died before any of the trilogy was published - I wonder if he imagined the universal success these books would have - I doubt it.

I met with a New York agent at Bloody Words. The idea is to pitch a book and hope they will ask to see it. I wasn't really prepared but had signed up weeks ago and figured it was a chance to get an agent's take on my work. She said that they are just looking for the next blockbuster and middle-list mysteries were dead. Books need 'a hook' to reel in readers. What do you think? Do you like formula-type blockbusters or do you prefer something more subtle?

2010-05-31T19:35:00.000-04:00

Hazy Monday.

I stepped outside at my usual 7:15 a.m. to walk to the transitway where I catch the bus to work - and partway down the first street, I smelled something burning. It was a whiff of what seemed to be burning garbage. I stopped and searched for smoke in case someone's shed or house had caught on fire, but I saw nothing. When I went out for a lunchtime walk, the air was thicker and the smell of burning filled my nose and throat. News reports said the wind had shifted and brought smoke from forest fires burning in Quebec across the Ottawa Valley. We just had a taste of how horrible it must be for communities close to the blaze. Let's all start wishing for a steady all day rain across Northern Quebec and Ontario.

I arrived home from Bloody Words in Toronto late Sunday afternoon. It was fun to meet up with friends I haven't seen in a while and to meet new ones. The Friday night panel on bad girls in crime fiction was a hoot - good crowd and lots of laughter. Therese Greenwood, a Kingston short story writer, is an adept moderator, and she kept the questions coming. We had varied backgrounds - Pat Capponi (Toronto) writes about poverty and mental illness in her mysteries and she is herself an activist fighting for systemic change in how we look after marginalized people. Mary Jane Maffini (Ottawa) has three mystery series underway, all featuring comedy and strong female protagonists. Jill Edmondson (Toronto) is a professor at George Brown College, and her main character works for a phone sex line when she's not detecting. All interesting people with great senses of humour.

I've posted photos on my fan page (link at www.brendachapman.ca) if you want to see the panel in question.

There were two cocktail parties, one foolishly before our panel, perhaps explaining some of the laughter, and one before the banquet on Saturday night. All in all, we were well fed and watered and it was an enjoyable few days away. Still, nice to get back home.

Next on the social agenda is Capital Crime Writers' wind-up pub night at the Brewmasters Pub.

Cocktail parties, pub nights, nights at the Hilton - this writing life isn't too hard to take at all!