Catherine Astolfo's Blog, page 18
June 25, 2012
Tag! You're IT!
I was challenged by Alison Bruce, author of Deadly Legacy, to go to page 7 of my current work-in-progress (Emily Taylor Mystery #5, Sweet Karoline) and post 7 lines. Then, find 7 authors to tag in turn. Here are the 7 lines from page 7...now, on to find 7 other poor suckers...I mean, fun authors...
Ethan and Officer Peters put on plastic gloves and leaned over the railing, up on tiptoes, as though they too would hurl themselves into space.She looks like a jigsaw puzzle with a couple of pieces gone. The line from the song zigzagged through my head. Ethan looked around and back at me, his eyes searching and quizzical, and at first I was afraid that I’d sung out loud. “How did she make it over the railing?” he asked, his voice catching in his throat, as though every time he looked at me he wanted to sob or cough. “It’s pretty high and she’s awfully short.”
Ethan and Officer Peters put on plastic gloves and leaned over the railing, up on tiptoes, as though they too would hurl themselves into space.She looks like a jigsaw puzzle with a couple of pieces gone. The line from the song zigzagged through my head. Ethan looked around and back at me, his eyes searching and quizzical, and at first I was afraid that I’d sung out loud. “How did she make it over the railing?” he asked, his voice catching in his throat, as though every time he looked at me he wanted to sob or cough. “It’s pretty high and she’s awfully short.”
June 19, 2012
Me & Nik & The Highwire
My husband Vince and I go on a little jaunt to Niagara Falls. It’s a Travel Zoo deal that includes breakfast, $25 off dinner, 2 glasses of wine or beer, a night in the Marriott, shuttles to the casino, and 4 winery tours. A great price and everything we love! So, off we go, just the two of us, during the week, truly retired people.
It’s a gorgeous, sunny day, warm but sans humidity. Perfect for walking and sightseeing. The hotel room is on the 29th floor, so we can see up the Niagara River, all across the Canadian Horseshoe Falls in front of us, and the American Falls to our left. The flow of the water is staggering. The currents pick up speed as they head for the canyon, ripple over rocks and eddies, then pitch themselves over the sides. From this height, the horseshoe is spread at our feet; it feels as though we are moving when we peer through the bottom glass. Waves and swirling pools are juxtaposed with the tidiness of artificial walls and dams that direct the water forward. This time of year, the vegetation is so lush! All the shades of green, lime and lettuce, frame the white and blue of the river. And today the added glory of a clear sky dotted with white and a view that extends for miles.
We’re here, as it turns out, on an historic occasion, though in my point of view it’s a dubious one. Nik Wallenda will walk over the falls tomorrow night. A tight rope is strung across the water from the U.S. to Canada. Apparently Wallenda will take about 40 minutes to make the trip. ABC, CTV and Global trucks already line the street where he will alight. I look up some stuff. The Wallenda Family started out working for the Ringling Brothers Circus in the 1920’s. Despite all kinds of death from the high wire (they seem to kill off in-laws in particular), the tradition continues. Nik started walking on tight ropes when he was four. His great grandfather died on a walk in Puerto Rico between two hotels. Nik and his mother have since completed that, stopping to pay the old man homage at the point where he fell. They show the clip a few times on television of the poor guy grasping at the wire and then flopping out of sight. They also show the family’s fall from their signature pyramid trick, which killed off those afore-mentioned in-laws. Nik’s ultimate goal is to cross the Grand Canyon, so maybe this Niagara trip is a test case. They expect 120,000 people to gather here tomorrow night, so I’m glad we’ll be leaving. Not to mention the audience who will tune in to see him on television. This feat is going to cost nearly a million and a half dollars. Wouldn’t that money be better spent on something worthwhile? Like a planeload of food for starving people? I dunno – saying this is historical when a guy is risking his life in front of us all – I’m just not a fan, I guess. I do get some interesting facts from the Internet. 184 feet is the height of the escarpment. 740,000 gallons of water per second go over it. It’s 12,000 years old. There will be 1800 feet of wire for Nik to cross. We take a walk in the warm but breezy day. Next door is the Loretto Christian Centre, which brings back a lot of very pleasant memories of retreats with Kitty and others. The walkways are still traversable, though there are lots of people around – can you imagine what it will be like tomorrow? We descend the hill, our skin sunshine warmed, so when we reach the falls, we welcome the mist. The roar of the water out-shouts the crowds and the vehicles cruising the roads. I never tire of this sight. This natural wonder of the world, so close to where we live. The rush of the water is overwhelmingly inspiring. It makes me want to write! We stand and stare and let the sun and water spray us simultaneously. As we walk along, we get closer to the site of Wallenda’s stunt. Somehow we can’t help but get caught up in the excitement. Vince takes pictures of the enormous cranes and lights and film trucks crowding the area. It’s our love of the movie/television business that propels us, I think. Draws us into the sheer spectacle of this event. We figure out how the camera will follow Nik along the wire. Watch the crew set up. Try to guess what role the two young women atop the platform play.
Always I return to thoughts of my books, my daughter’s producer/casting skills, my son’s scripts, my daughter-in-law’s acting career. Some day the cameras will be trained on them. Where they walk will be an event. We decide to take the incline train (though we call it the funicular, that word’s way more fun) up the hill. We have to go through the Welcome Centre to reach the overpass for the train. As we make our way through the crowded hallways, we notice a big crowd gathered and lots of “camera guys”. Turns out Nik Wallenda is here being interviewed and photographed. He is really trying hard to get my attention. We see him close up, but forget to take a picture until he’s on his way out. So all you can see is the back of his head.
Finally at the incline train, we see a sign that says “Keep body parts inside”. I urge Vince to take a picture of it. He jokes about Luca Magnotta. See why he can be married to a crime writer? Here’s the picture he comes up with.We are soon back in the hotel, lounging in the bar with our free drinks. We talk and laugh and comment on how lucky we are to be able to do this. In our room once more, we again marvel at the view. Too bad awesome is such an overused word, because this really is awesome.
It’s a gorgeous, sunny day, warm but sans humidity. Perfect for walking and sightseeing. The hotel room is on the 29th floor, so we can see up the Niagara River, all across the Canadian Horseshoe Falls in front of us, and the American Falls to our left. The flow of the water is staggering. The currents pick up speed as they head for the canyon, ripple over rocks and eddies, then pitch themselves over the sides. From this height, the horseshoe is spread at our feet; it feels as though we are moving when we peer through the bottom glass. Waves and swirling pools are juxtaposed with the tidiness of artificial walls and dams that direct the water forward. This time of year, the vegetation is so lush! All the shades of green, lime and lettuce, frame the white and blue of the river. And today the added glory of a clear sky dotted with white and a view that extends for miles.
We’re here, as it turns out, on an historic occasion, though in my point of view it’s a dubious one. Nik Wallenda will walk over the falls tomorrow night. A tight rope is strung across the water from the U.S. to Canada. Apparently Wallenda will take about 40 minutes to make the trip. ABC, CTV and Global trucks already line the street where he will alight. I look up some stuff. The Wallenda Family started out working for the Ringling Brothers Circus in the 1920’s. Despite all kinds of death from the high wire (they seem to kill off in-laws in particular), the tradition continues. Nik started walking on tight ropes when he was four. His great grandfather died on a walk in Puerto Rico between two hotels. Nik and his mother have since completed that, stopping to pay the old man homage at the point where he fell. They show the clip a few times on television of the poor guy grasping at the wire and then flopping out of sight. They also show the family’s fall from their signature pyramid trick, which killed off those afore-mentioned in-laws. Nik’s ultimate goal is to cross the Grand Canyon, so maybe this Niagara trip is a test case. They expect 120,000 people to gather here tomorrow night, so I’m glad we’ll be leaving. Not to mention the audience who will tune in to see him on television. This feat is going to cost nearly a million and a half dollars. Wouldn’t that money be better spent on something worthwhile? Like a planeload of food for starving people? I dunno – saying this is historical when a guy is risking his life in front of us all – I’m just not a fan, I guess. I do get some interesting facts from the Internet. 184 feet is the height of the escarpment. 740,000 gallons of water per second go over it. It’s 12,000 years old. There will be 1800 feet of wire for Nik to cross. We take a walk in the warm but breezy day. Next door is the Loretto Christian Centre, which brings back a lot of very pleasant memories of retreats with Kitty and others. The walkways are still traversable, though there are lots of people around – can you imagine what it will be like tomorrow? We descend the hill, our skin sunshine warmed, so when we reach the falls, we welcome the mist. The roar of the water out-shouts the crowds and the vehicles cruising the roads. I never tire of this sight. This natural wonder of the world, so close to where we live. The rush of the water is overwhelmingly inspiring. It makes me want to write! We stand and stare and let the sun and water spray us simultaneously. As we walk along, we get closer to the site of Wallenda’s stunt. Somehow we can’t help but get caught up in the excitement. Vince takes pictures of the enormous cranes and lights and film trucks crowding the area. It’s our love of the movie/television business that propels us, I think. Draws us into the sheer spectacle of this event. We figure out how the camera will follow Nik along the wire. Watch the crew set up. Try to guess what role the two young women atop the platform play.
Always I return to thoughts of my books, my daughter’s producer/casting skills, my son’s scripts, my daughter-in-law’s acting career. Some day the cameras will be trained on them. Where they walk will be an event. We decide to take the incline train (though we call it the funicular, that word’s way more fun) up the hill. We have to go through the Welcome Centre to reach the overpass for the train. As we make our way through the crowded hallways, we notice a big crowd gathered and lots of “camera guys”. Turns out Nik Wallenda is here being interviewed and photographed. He is really trying hard to get my attention. We see him close up, but forget to take a picture until he’s on his way out. So all you can see is the back of his head.
Finally at the incline train, we see a sign that says “Keep body parts inside”. I urge Vince to take a picture of it. He jokes about Luca Magnotta. See why he can be married to a crime writer? Here’s the picture he comes up with.We are soon back in the hotel, lounging in the bar with our free drinks. We talk and laugh and comment on how lucky we are to be able to do this. In our room once more, we again marvel at the view. Too bad awesome is such an overused word, because this really is awesome.
June 10, 2012
It's A Mystery
Here is the column that I wrote for the National Post's online Arts blog, Afterword. I wrote it when I was Past president of Crime Writers of Canada, but I am now Past Past! (Oh and PS, I did tell you that I won the Short Story category mentioned here, right?)
I believe what I said in the column - and I am still puzzled about why we appear to love other countries' books over our own. What do you think? Make a comment here or email me (cathy@catherineastolfo.com). I'd love a discussion!
It’s a mystery to me why Canadians aren’t more aware of the proliferation of homegrown writers in the crime genre. Next to romance, it’s the most popular field in terms of book/ebook purchases, not just in Canada, but worldwide. Fictional mysteries run the gamut from dark and gritty to cozy. They feature trained professionals or amateurs caught in a dangerous situation as heroes or heroines. Often the topics included in the stories are a reflection of our societal concerns and fears. There’s a puzzle to be solved and, perhaps more enticing, the bad guys are usually punished. Non-fiction crime gives us insight and information about national and international injustice, from a Canadian perspective.On Thursday, April 19, I became a finalist for the Arthur Ellis Awards for excellence in mystery and crime writing published in the year 2011. This is a huge honour for me and my fellow nominees. Some of the biggest names in Canadian mystery appear on this list. For instance, in the category of Best Novel, you’ll see Louise Penny, Peter Robinson, Alan Bradley, William Deverell, and Robert Rotenberg. If don’t really recognize some of these names and you didn’t know about the Arthur Ellis Awards, I hate to tell you: you haven’t been paying attention to the Canadian scene, and you’re not alone. So why don’t Canadians know more about our own writers and the highest award for our authors of mystery and crime? First, a little help from Jack Bumsted, from the Whodunit Mystery store in Winnipeg (www.whodunitcanada.com):“The Canadian literary canon does have a problem with the thriller [mystery/detective] in that it does not recognize the genre as a legitimate one for important writing.” He goes on to say that, “The historical invisibility of the Canadian thriller before the 1960s is a complex product of a colonized culture.”Fortunately, things are beginning to look rosier as we move away from that old colonized cultural perspective. Mystery has emerged as a genre that is often very “literary”; that is, “important writing”. Just sample a few of the books on the Arthur Ellis shortlist and I think you will agree. The phenomenon of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo has caused readers to sit up and pay attention to crime books. Someone recently stated that the “Canadians are the new Scandinavians” because our authors have become internationally beloved.The CBC has pursued many of our national authors for television programs (think Murdoch Mysteries), because it’s also the most popular genre in that medium too. Anansi, a well-respected Canadian literary publisher, opened an imprint for mystery. The National Post, last year, became the media sponsor for Crime Writers of Canada (CWC), and therefore the best source for what’s new in the genre.CWC’s mission is to raise the profile of mystery authors in Canada. One of the ways of doing that is through awards for excellence: hence, the Arthur Ellis Awards.Seems to me there is a crime wave in Canada, of the write kind. And I think that this is a good thing. So pay attention, Canada, and you’ll be treated to puzzles, wild rides, thrills, justice, and, in general, important writing.Catherine AstolfoPast Past President, Crime Writers of Canadawww.crimewriterscanada.comMy Website
I believe what I said in the column - and I am still puzzled about why we appear to love other countries' books over our own. What do you think? Make a comment here or email me (cathy@catherineastolfo.com). I'd love a discussion!
It’s a mystery to me why Canadians aren’t more aware of the proliferation of homegrown writers in the crime genre. Next to romance, it’s the most popular field in terms of book/ebook purchases, not just in Canada, but worldwide. Fictional mysteries run the gamut from dark and gritty to cozy. They feature trained professionals or amateurs caught in a dangerous situation as heroes or heroines. Often the topics included in the stories are a reflection of our societal concerns and fears. There’s a puzzle to be solved and, perhaps more enticing, the bad guys are usually punished. Non-fiction crime gives us insight and information about national and international injustice, from a Canadian perspective.On Thursday, April 19, I became a finalist for the Arthur Ellis Awards for excellence in mystery and crime writing published in the year 2011. This is a huge honour for me and my fellow nominees. Some of the biggest names in Canadian mystery appear on this list. For instance, in the category of Best Novel, you’ll see Louise Penny, Peter Robinson, Alan Bradley, William Deverell, and Robert Rotenberg. If don’t really recognize some of these names and you didn’t know about the Arthur Ellis Awards, I hate to tell you: you haven’t been paying attention to the Canadian scene, and you’re not alone. So why don’t Canadians know more about our own writers and the highest award for our authors of mystery and crime? First, a little help from Jack Bumsted, from the Whodunit Mystery store in Winnipeg (www.whodunitcanada.com):“The Canadian literary canon does have a problem with the thriller [mystery/detective] in that it does not recognize the genre as a legitimate one for important writing.” He goes on to say that, “The historical invisibility of the Canadian thriller before the 1960s is a complex product of a colonized culture.”Fortunately, things are beginning to look rosier as we move away from that old colonized cultural perspective. Mystery has emerged as a genre that is often very “literary”; that is, “important writing”. Just sample a few of the books on the Arthur Ellis shortlist and I think you will agree. The phenomenon of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo has caused readers to sit up and pay attention to crime books. Someone recently stated that the “Canadians are the new Scandinavians” because our authors have become internationally beloved.The CBC has pursued many of our national authors for television programs (think Murdoch Mysteries), because it’s also the most popular genre in that medium too. Anansi, a well-respected Canadian literary publisher, opened an imprint for mystery. The National Post, last year, became the media sponsor for Crime Writers of Canada (CWC), and therefore the best source for what’s new in the genre.CWC’s mission is to raise the profile of mystery authors in Canada. One of the ways of doing that is through awards for excellence: hence, the Arthur Ellis Awards.Seems to me there is a crime wave in Canada, of the write kind. And I think that this is a good thing. So pay attention, Canada, and you’ll be treated to puzzles, wild rides, thrills, justice, and, in general, important writing.Catherine AstolfoPast Past President, Crime Writers of Canadawww.crimewriterscanada.comMy Website
June 4, 2012
May 31, 2012
On Thursday, May 31, Crime Writing Month came to a close with a HUGE day of excitement for me. A quadruple day!!
My article was in the National Post’s Afterword, entitled “It’s A Mystery”. Afterword: It's A Mystery My Tips for Writers appeared in CBC Canada Writes. CBC: CanadaWritesThe Instant Cash episode with my daughter and me appeared on television. Instant Cash, Episode 18
I was so busy organizing the Arthur Ellis Dinner for Crime Writers of Canada that I couldn’t find a second to go and look. But then came the best moments of all.
Mary Jane Maffini, one of my idols, read out my name as the winner of the Best Short Story. I immediately began to cry. Completely undignified.I had given all the finalists instructions about having a 2 minute speech ready, so I had to follow my own rules. This is the speech I read/squeezed out between tears.
“Thank-you to NorthWord Magazine for giving my story a home. To the Arthur Ellis judges for picking mine from all the fabulous stories on the final list. I’m sure it was an out-of-the-hat kind of choice. To my family, friends, and Crime Writers of Canada colleagues, I wouldn’t be standing here if it weren’t for you, especially my husband Vince. This story is about a teacher and a child, so I dedicate my award to all teachers and to the children who have made my life spectacular.”
Later, the President of Crime Writers of Canada presented me with the Derrick Murdoch Award, for outstanding contribution to the organization. Once again, I read the speech, since I didn’t trust myself to be able to remember it.“Thank-you from the bottom of my heart, especially to Garry Ryan. I feel like an interior decorator who gets credit for the beautiful house. Meanwhile there are so many people in this room who built the foundations that are unseen but which hold everything together. Next were the electricians and the plumbers who had to weather sparks and floods to ensure that everything worked. I came along and added some furniture, paint and accessories, and this year, I’m getting the credit for that. Luckily, this house that Crime Writers of Canada built has no roof. We can continue to climb skyward and I have no doubt that we will. Melodie and Alison, I would go out and engrave your names next to mine, but I have a feeling that you’ll get your own some day.”
Oh what a night!!! Next to the birth of my children, one of the best ever.
May 27, 2012
Should I Be Worried?
The other day, I am at my doctor’s office for a complete physical. This means that I have a little more time with him than usual. As it happens, I am also in the midst of a rewrite on the fourth Emily Taylor Mystery.Seventh Fire tells the story (finally) of what happened to Emily and Langford in Vancouver. Some fans have mentioned that they disliked the references to their past, when this has nothing to do with the plot. I obviously didn’t do my job well enough for those who missed it.Emily’s motivation for becoming an amateur sleuth in The Bridgeman had everything to do with her past. She is terrified that the media and police presence in their idyllic hideout, Burchill, will lead to Langford’s unmasking. For now, the couple wants–no, desperately needs–to remain incognito. They’ve been through too much; they are trying to heal. The BridgemanIn Victim, Emily is struggling with the secret. She can’t feel as close to May as she would like, since she is withholding so much of herself from her friend. Her interaction with Agnes Lake is a gift that wouldn’t have happened had she not faced the source of her unhappiness. Emily’s meeting with Agnes coincides with the search for May’s Aunt Oona. Not only that, the discovery they make allows a financial freedom that they would not have otherwise had. All the stories are closely intertwined. The hovering personal history has a direct impact. VictimAlthough Legacy barely mentions the past at all, Emily’s childlessness was caused by what happened in Vancouver and is the reason she gets so involved with the Sanderson family. When she and Langford end up being parents, Emily finds the strength at last to deal with the legal issues they’d abandoned. LegacyThus the thread does have a purpose within each of the plots, moving Emily to act and react.Seventh Fire is the culmination of the couple’s growth, from hiding and an attempt at healing through anonymity, to revelation and confronting the legal tasks.However, back to my doctor’s office, where I am undergoing that joy of joys, the Pap test. I like to have an idea for distracting myself during especially compromising situations. I tell my doctor that I have another question and he says, ask away.“If someone were strangled to the point of death, but technically did not die, instead, they were cut up by their murderer and bled out, would you say they’d died of strangulation or exsanguination?” He looks up at me, his eyebrows raised, and says, “Should I be worried about you?”I privately think that perhaps he should be worried about someone else, lest I decide to test the theories on an unsuspecting victim. Instead, I laugh, and explain that I am editing my fourth novel, and this question has come up.
He answers from his own store of knowledge,then does some research for me to confirm.He does ask two things.One, do not use his real name.Two, make him tall, dark and handsome.
Little does he know, that's how I picture him anyway. Especially the night before an exam such as this one.
May 20, 2012
Oh The Voices in My Head
If you heard an echo of “Gloria” in yours at that title, you are probably close to my advanced age!I don’t want anyone to get the wrong idea, but I have to admit that I go around hearing voices. They are pretty real to me, since I gave birth to their owners.The characters in my novels have birthdates, full names, height, weight, colour of eyes, hair and skin, personalities, quirks, strengths and weaknesses – all from me. Most of them live in a little village that I created too. Although Burchill (my town) is based on Merrickville (near Ottawa, Ontario, Canada), my characters have no such origin. They are totally fabricated.Well, okay, maybe they’ve got some basis in fact. I do know a lot of people, have met many more, and worked with lots of different personalities. But my characters would be insulted if they were told they were based on someone else. They’re full-fledged people in their own right. (That does sound a bit crazy, I know.)The characters of Burchill—Emily, Langford, May, Alain, Edgar, Frances, Chief Dan and so on—are all people I can picture instantly. Like old friends whose faces you can never, ever forget. The moment you are back in one another’s company, it’s as though you’ve never been apart. The stories and the plots are always there in my head, too. (It gets very crowded sometimes and circuits do tend to overload.) Formulating scenes causes me to stare at everything and everyone, and (nowadays) make notes. Life is endlessly fascinating this way, even the low points. I have written my way through my sister’s early death, breast cancer, and my mother’s dementia.
The Bridgeman was a reaction to my niece’s job in a vet clinic that dealt with animals from “farms” as well as a study of how someone very ordinary can be quite—far from ordinary.
The Bridgeman, Book One
The Bridgeman is on sale for May ($1.99), to get you started on the series.
Victim gave me a chance to explore my fascination with the Ojibwa culture and philosophy.
Victim, Book Two
For Legacy, I drew on some experiences from the schools in which I taught or administered. As well, I was able to throw in a vision I had long ago about an evil preacher.
Legacy, Book Three
In Seventh Fire (can't reveal this cover yet, but it's awesome), I gave the back story for Langford and Emily, the dark past that had been lurking since the first book. Now I’ve got 3 books on the go: one about a psychopath who betrays her best friend, a “cozy” about a retirement home, and a children’s story about a ghost I once knew. Oh the voices in my head!
The Bridgeman was a reaction to my niece’s job in a vet clinic that dealt with animals from “farms” as well as a study of how someone very ordinary can be quite—far from ordinary. The Bridgeman, Book One
The Bridgeman is on sale for May ($1.99), to get you started on the series.
Victim gave me a chance to explore my fascination with the Ojibwa culture and philosophy.
Victim, Book Two
For Legacy, I drew on some experiences from the schools in which I taught or administered. As well, I was able to throw in a vision I had long ago about an evil preacher.
Legacy, Book Three
In Seventh Fire (can't reveal this cover yet, but it's awesome), I gave the back story for Langford and Emily, the dark past that had been lurking since the first book. Now I’ve got 3 books on the go: one about a psychopath who betrays her best friend, a “cozy” about a retirement home, and a children’s story about a ghost I once knew. Oh the voices in my head!
April 28, 2012
The Music of Words
In my family, we sing all the time and always did. Once when my nephew Jacob was little, buzzing around at our feet as my sisters and I worked in the kitchen, he lifted his gorgeous blond head and asked, “Does everybody sing like this?” We laughed but we didn’t have an answer. We just knew it was natural to us. Any bit of conversation, any line, can remind us of some lyrics and cause us to burst into song. Usually, laughter follows, particularly when the song is an oldie or particularly funny.
For me and my two sisters who came right after me, our mother was a stay-at-home mom. She sang in the kitchen and told us stories of her childhood, painting pictures of the farm, the depression, and a little red-haired girl who loved school. She had to quit when she was fourteen to work in a woolen mill miles away. I could always picture her long shapely legs carrying her up the hill at Norval, through the Brampton laneways, into the middle of town where the woolen mill still stands. It’s now an office building and a restaurant – even my dentist has his practice there. Mom told me she’d always wanted to be a writer, which was why she was especially proud of the fact that I inherited her gift and obsession. Her support and encouragement allowed me to actually become the author she’d dreamt about.
<!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Times;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {p </style><span style="font-style: normal;"></span> It was a little different for our two younger sisters, because Mom went to work when they were quite young. However, the singing never stopped. Even through her dementia, our mother is beloved by her caregivers and her fellow residents for her propensity to burst into song at any moment. It makes them smile.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div> <span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I began to write as soon as I acquired the skill to string words together, around seven years old. I hear this often from other authors: that the desire to put sentences and ideas on paper began in early childhood and never abated. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;"> I wake up in the morning with song lyrics, tunes, and stories in my head. How lucky is that? <a href="http://www.amazon.com/author/catherin... Emily Taylor Mysteries</a></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com...' alt='' /></div>
April 23, 2012
Never Would've Imajin'd
The last time I sent Emily Taylor for a tour around the world, she created a storm. An Amazon Kindle ratings storm, that is. The Bridgeman went to #11 with 9300 downloads. Victim went to #14 with 14,000 downloads. Afterward, the sales were brisk. My wonderful Twitter world began to talk and spread the word and buy. Not only that, they emailed and tweeted that they enjoyed my characters, the setting of Burchill, and the story (despite the sometimes tough messages embedded).My Imajin publisher, Cheryl Tardif, is a genius at marketing, and I say this without bias: I had watched her career as a writer before I even became an author at her new publishing company. She was then, and is now, one of those people who is both creative and savvy. She researches, experiments, and follows the results. Now she brings her authors with her.
When she suggests something, I do it to the best of my ability. I'm not very tech savvy and I tend to get frustrated with the ins and outs of the virtual world. Rather than looking under another internet rock, I'd rather slam the lid down on my laptop, walk away, and pray the icon I'm looking for will pop up while I'm gone. Lucky for me, I have Cheryl and my husband, Vince, who often intervenes before Laptop goes flying.
So when Cheryl said, Let's do another Bridgeman promo, I was hesitant, but I did as I was told. We held the promo on a Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I'm not sure the day of the week is relevant, though I thought perhaps people would be around on a weekend looking for a book to read. Especially if the weather sucked in their part of the world, they way it does in mine currently. Friday night, 9:30 p.m., the stats were thus: The Bridgeman 760; Victim 13277; Legacy (the third in the series who's not yet had her coming-out party) 32614. Only 560 downloads.
Another secret I must tell you. I am somewhat easily crushed. Doesn't mean I don't get back up and fight, but I do have to lay on the mat for a while and nurse my bruises. Virtual or not. So on Saturday, I must admit, I tried not to think about The Bridgeman. Since one of my short stories had been nominated on Thursday for an Arthur Ellis Award, I had lots to keep my spirits buoyed.
But I did have to peek on Saturday night, again 9:30 p.m. The Bridgeman 491; Victim 18297; Legacy 40426. Legacy was actually doing worse! Huh?
After a busy Sunday morning, I finally peeked at 1:30 p.m. The Bridgeman 516, Victim 17128; Legacy 44060. Readers appeared to be sampling Victim. Perhaps after reading The Bridgeman? Or downloading it for free?
At 11 p.m., after family stuff on Sunday afternoon and more than one glass of red wine, I spied a Tweet from Imajin. The Bridgeman had hit #21 overall. So in I went to Amazon and checked. I was surprised, thrilled, amazed, puzzled...The Bridgeman was now #6 in mystery & thriller combo; #4 in mystery alone; #3 in women sleuths category.
What was the huge difference between the other two days and this one? It couldn't all be my hourly (and sometimes half-hourly) tweets. In fact, I was terrified of boring my followers into unfollow-dom. I used World Literary Cafe, which I am certain helped a great deal. I posted on Goodreads, another great service to readers and authors. I did the same all three days, though.
On Sunday, I paid $20 to Kindle Author. I'm not sure if Kindle Author made the difference, or whether it was a cool rainy Sunday and everyone felt like reading. It's hard to conduct an experiment when there are so many variables. At this writing, I'm not sure of the number of downloads, but suffice it to say that if The Bridgeman got to #21, a whole bunch of new readers are involved in my series!
I think I've told you before, I do have faith in my writing. I love doing it, I love sharing it, I am thrilled every single time someone tells me they like my books. But I was never that good at the marketing angle. Then along came my miracle, Imajin Books and Cheryl Tardif, and I am, at a rather advanced age, just beginning my career as an author. Loving every single minute (expect for those pauses on the mat). Never would've imajined!
The Emily Taylor Mystery Series
Imajin Books
Trailers
April 20, 2012
Goosebump Friday
This has been a full day of goosebumps. Last night at the Arthur Ellis Shortlist Event in Toronto, our RVP, Mike McPherson, actually read out my name when he got to the short story category. I was flustered (fell apart as the emcee at that point) and thrilled. To have my name in that list is a dream come true. Since I was seven, I remember wanting to be an author. I use the word author because I already had the compulsion to write - that was a pure gift from my parents and other ancestors in my gene pool - so I was already a writer. Being an author meant having written something that others read. I had that obsession, too; I wrote fairy tales for my friends in Grade 3. So to be one of the Arthur Ellis finalists - the Crime Writers of Canada's highest recognition of excellence in mystery writing - you can imagine the goosebumps. Then all day long - the congratulations from people whom I admire greatly. Those goosebumps just kept coming. On top of that, The Bridgeman is on another freebie promo this weekend, and people are continuing to download it from all over the world. I am lucky, humbled, grateful, filled with joy - can't describe the tumble of emotions. FREE! The Bridgeman April 20-22
April 15, 2012
In my mind, I'm gone to lovely Burchill
In my mind, I’m gone to lovely Burchill*(*sung to the tune of Carolina in My Mind)
Of course, unlike James Taylor, I couldn’t be gone to lovely Burchill anywhere else but in my mind, because Burchill is fictional. There are times, however, when I feel like it’s real. I hear voices in my head. I see imaginary places. I am a writer. I did base Burchill on Merrickville, Ontario, which is near our nation’s capital city, Ottawa. One night when the highways were plugged with accidents and traffic, we veered off the regular path and drove through the little town on the Rideau River. I couldn’t believe it. Even in the dusky evening, I could see the river, the canal, the old-fashioned lift bridge. It was exactly what I’d pictured when I imagined my fictional Burchill. My husband and I returned some months later to walk the streets. I’d found my village – almost.Naturally, I had to write in a few extras. For instance, I wanted a lake as well as a river. I called it Ogeechee after an obscure location in Ontario. I added a native reserve, with an enclave of Ojibwa-Ottawayans (which only makes sense in a very loose historical way). It's called Sahsejewon, which means “rapids”, because the raging river passes through the territory. I made up all the residents. I kept a few of the street names, threw in some descriptions of homes from the Merrickville brochure, and later, a gold mine popped up (which only makes sense in a very loose geological way). From a picture in a magazine, I designed Emily Taylor’s house. Right on the lake, of course, the place is huge and comfy with a big porch and a studio for Langford. She can look out from her kitchen and bedroom to watch the water’s changeable moods. No motorized boats are allowed on Emily's lake; instead, it’s dotted with sailboats and canoes. Perfect. The Native Council and Town Council get along, consult one another, and most people are friendly and welcoming. Perfect. How they manage to have so many murders and so much mayhem is a little odd. Especially since it all began with the arrival of Emily and Langford. It’s a bit of a challenge to ensure that I maintain the edge of believability where Burchill is concerned. I moved out to Vancouver for the fourth book but I'm coming back in the fifth. Sometimes I wish I’d called the series The Burchill Mysteries, because involving many different characters is one way to take the focus off Emily. I don’t want her to become Jessica Fletcher, where murder follows her everywhere. Plus I absolutely adore my lovely little village. Maybe that explains why I can never find the perfect place to live. It exists only in my imagination.
Now back to the fifth novel.I’m gone to lovely Burchill in my mind.
This is a picture from Merrickville, taken by my husband, Vince Astolfo.
