02 Nov November Catch-Up
First Saturday in November. We’ve had a topsy turvy last few weeks, weather-wise. Late in the day on Halloween, Ted and I sat in the backyard with a bottle of wine in the 26 degree C warmth. Yesterday, I had on my puffer jacket and touque as the temperature dropped to 9 degrees. No wonder we Canadians are fixated on the weather.
My Bayshore Coles signing last Saturday went well. It started off quiet but picked up speed the last hour. I chatted with some great people, including a couple who just moved to Ottawa for two years as he’s working in cancer research. That’s part of the fun of standing in a bookstore – meeting interesting people. I’m also meeting more and more strangers who’ve been reading my books, so that’s encouraging.
Sunday, I joined a bookclub in the Ashton Brew Pub to discuss the Hunter and Tate series. Of course, Fatal Harvest is set in and around Ashton with my detectives meeting in the pub, so it was the perfect location. I’d been a guest author at this book club last summer, meeting at one of their homes. Each member invited a friend this time as they’ve decided to help expand my readership. It was a lovely afternoon spent with warm, interesting women.
The woman to my right in the photo is Anita Manley, who spearheads Blues for Youth, an annual fundraiser for youth suicide prevention. This year, they raised raised: $35,985 for a 4-year total of $115,008.
I got back on my writing horse this week and completed a chapter in the eighth Stonechild manuscript. Dundurn also sent along the contract for the book yesterday for me to go through with a June deadline. I’ve been living in the Hunter and Tate world the last four years, so this is a shift, but I feel like I’m falling back into Kala Stonechild’s voice. I plan to reread what I’ve written so far and make notes before I tackle the next chapter.
I was also approached by another Ottawa book club, and we’ve set up a January visit. Between now and Christmas, I’ll be at Chapters Rideau for two Saturday afternoons and will be at three Christmas fairs/events. Hopefully, our paths will cross!
Finally this week, I blogged about my aversion to horror films and books on 7 Criminal Minds. You can read my post here in case you missed it.
One more cup of coffee and it’ll be time to get this day underway. Have a good weekend, everyone.
