10 Dec A Happy December
Two events this week. Last Saturday, I was on the police procedural panel as part of the Maple Leaf one-day mystery conference. Glenn Rivard moderated and my co-panelists were Jim Napier and Michael Kent. I spent the entire rest-of-the-day taking in the other panels and interviews, getting inspired to keep writing. Â Then on Monday afternoon, I dropped in on a bookclub in Perth, Ontario. They were reading Cold Mourning and invited me to appear through Zoom to talk about the book and my writing. It was a most enjoyable hour. Here’s a screenshot of me during the chat.
If any bookclub would like me to pop in, I’m happy to do so – anywhere in the world with Zoom!
My last event of the season comes this week when I’ll be guest speaker at the Capital Crime Writers Christmas dinner. I’ve got my talk ready to go and look forward to seeing everybody.
Writing is going well. I’m nearly at 18,000 words on this latest manuscript. The When Last Seen audiobook is also making progress. Heather Williams is nearing the half-way point. It really is a help to hear the book read aloud as I catch small things I want to change that I didn’t find on the numerous edits.
This week, I also received the new covers for the Stonechild and Rouleau books from Dundurn. While I can’t share them yet, I think they really refresh the series. The last five books will all be released as audiobooks this March with When Last Seen coming out April 1st. It plans to be a very busy spring!
So Christmas is two weeks away. I’m surprisingly on top of things, having completed my shopping and already sent out my Christmas cards. Ted and I made a trip to the LCBO to buy our Christmas alcohol, one of my favourite yearly activities, always putting me in the festive mood 🙂  Cookie-baking is up next, something I’ve done every year since high school. I used to bake with my sister Donna and those are good memories. It really is all the rituals and traditions that make this season. That and the lights – I love all the illuminated houses and trees that brighten the night. The lights give a sense of community and hope.
Happy Saturday, everyone.