11 Sep I’m Back!
The heat of summer is over and the crisp, autumn nights are here. Time for me to start back blogging about the writing life. I hope you also had a chance to enjoy the long summer days.
I’ve had a good summer, straying as far as St. Catharines to visit friends and frequent some wineries with a day in Toronto visiting another friend on our way home. This only happened because we were double-vaxxed and felt a degree of comfort. As we round into fall with the fourth wave underway, we’re sticking close to home and preparing for another long winter.
Enjoying a hot August day at Creekside Winery, Niagara
So, I made the momentous decision at the start of the summer to Indie publish the first book in my new series. I’ve been generously guided through the process by author Judy Penz Sheluk, who has shared her expertise in emails and phone calls. Mike Martin also imparted valuable advice to get me started. This is a huge, scary, exciting undertaking, but one that I think will suit me in the long run. So far, I’ve had the manuscript edited professionally and am working my way through the business and set-up details. I can tell you that Blind Date, first in the Hunter and Tate series, will be released early 2022 – I’m aiming for March 1st. Meanwhile, I’ve continued to work on book two and now am about a third of the way through the first draft. I’m still enjoying the creative process and itch to get back at the keyboard if I’ve taken a break.
I was lined up to visit the Smiths Falls Library for an author reading in early October, but this was cancelled last week because of Covid. This is two years now that all of my events and signings have been cancelled thanks to the virus. It’s a tough time for authors, but it seems readers are coming through by buying more books and supporting independent bookshops. Case in point, my good friend Jim Sherman has doubled the size of his store Perfect Books on Elgin Street!
So, what’s on my plate for the near future?
I’ve stayed on for a second term as the Crime Writers of Canada Director for Ottawa and Eastern Ontario, and the work is underway. This is CWC’s 40th anniversary year and we have lots of events and plans in the works, even if we’re still going virtual. I’m so hoping that we can start gathering again safely in the spring. In this regard, I’ll be interviewed by Erik D’Souza on the CWC Facebook live this coming Thursday at 2 p.m. EST if you have a chance to drop by.
I’m still blogging every other week on 7 Criminal Minds blogspot with my next post coming this Monday.
And work continues on Blind Date and its March release, including coming up with a marketing plan. So I’m far from bored and am looking forward to this upcoming season. I’m happy to be back blogging and sharing my writing journey with you!
Wishing everyone a happy week ahead 🙂