09 May Closing Time Failure to Launch
So kind of a sad day today because this was supposed to be the Closing Time launch day 🙁
It was going to be a great day, mainly because I’d be celebrating with so many of my friends. My university buddy Dawn Rayner was coming from Toronto, my cousin Janet Chapman and her partner Rod were driving up from Montreal, good friends Katherine Hobbs and Ric making the trek from Brockville, and the wonderful Bernie Haughian and Darlene Cole coming all the way from Collingwood so that Bernie and the Haughian Brothers Band could entertain us with some great music … and of course, family and friends from right here in Ottawa. We were going to see the Stonechild and Rouleau series out in style at the Granite Curling Club of West Ottawa. Mike Adair was preparing snacks, Perfect Books was going to sell books, Julia Weagle was giving the opening remarks and Fred Taylor would be taking photos. A party for the ages.
Bernie and the band from the 2019 Turning Secrets launch
Ahh well. The coronavirus had other ideas.
Thank you to all those planning to help out and to everyone who planned to come out and raise a glass. While we can’t celebrate together, I have one request. Sometime over the course of the day, please raise a glass not only to Closing Time but to all the frontline workers and all those staying home to protect yourselves and those who are vulnerable to becoming really ill from the virus. One day we will all be back together again and able to raise a glass in person 🙂
American crime fiction writer Frank Zafiro interviewed me for his podcast Wrong Place, Write Crime and the episode was posted this week. (If you listen closely enough, you’ll hear me give Victoria its own island so I apologize for my geography skills in advance.) Frank has an interesting past as a police officer in the U.S. and is a prolific writer in his own right. He’s also an excellent interviewer and asks questions that get a good conversation going. Check out his podcast where he interviews some terrific crime fiction writers every month or so.
Writing went a bit slower this week but mainly because I’ve been thinking about where the story is going. This is part of the process when you plot as you go, but it can be painful trying to work through the storyline arc. The challenge is leading the clues toward the killer without making the motive too obvious. It’s tough being devious! Anyhow, I wrote about 2500 words this week and plan to up that in the week to come.
My book order from Perfect Books arrived and I have some happy reading hours ahead. They tell me that they have lots of copies of Closing Time and the other books in the Stonechild and Rouleau series and have curbside pick up or will deliver to your door for a $5 fee for those living in Ottawa. They also have a wide selection of crime fiction (like the books below) or can special order for you.
So we had a bit of snow this week, making the month of May even more bizarre, but sun and warmer temperatures are around the corner. These last few months have been a roller coaster. I’m constantly impressed by the resilience and adaptability of the human race, and the creative ways people find to reach out and care for each other. We really are all in this together.
Cheers, my friends. I raise a glass to each of you today.
