The Internet is a funny place

I have discovered via the Internet that I am a Program Director, that my first novel, ICED UNDER is a work of erotic fiction and it is selling for $161. Good to know.

Happy holidays to one and all. May 2013 be a blessed and joyful one for us on the Internet as well as in Real Life. Now that we've put that pesky Mayan calendar thing behind us, we can get on with living.

According to a source of mine who owns an e-reader, THE GREY LADY is available on Kindle. Possibly other formats as well. Forgive my cluelessness. My eyes glaze over when the various reader formats are discussed. Blame it on my age. Space age for my generation was Tang.

It's Fifty in the Shade

Hey it's hot here! I am not exploiting the title of E.L. James bestselling novel.

Am not. 

I haven't read Fifty Shades of Grey. (I'd link it but I'm too lazy. Google it if you honest-to-god have no clue.) I have nothing against the book or its author or how it came to be written or its subject/theme/point. I realize many readers have fallen passionately in love or passionately in hate with this trilogy.  I haven't read it. I'm not curious about it.

But I had to post this. Culled from the book:

"My subconscious has passed out, and my inner goddess is endeavoring to look brave."

I fell down laughing.

C'mon. You have to admit--whether you love the book or hate it--that's funny.

Hey. "My inner goddess is not pleased."

Laugh already or you'll get a spanking.

Colin Mochrie

I am shamelessly tagging COLIN MOCHRIE's name. Although I haven't seen him in years (except on television) I've learned he's written a book and sold it to Penguin. Yippee!

Colin's Book News

Colin and I went to theatre school together. He was at my wedding and I have pictures of him holding my son soon after he was born. A book is just one more achievement in a long list of achievements for this generous and talented guy. (We worked together once presenting tomatoes on Granville Island Market. We were in historical costume. I can't remember why.)

I'm very happy for him. He knows that deep down, I am. When I'm not grinding my teeth. I didn't mind my theatre cronies finding success in film, television and on stage (which they did) while I toiled away writing fiction. Because I was writing books and writing a book is a big deal. And it was MY thing.

Now Colin has done it too. Swell. Even though I have two books coming out myself, I'm experiencing feelings of possessiveness and misery. Like a seven year old who doesn't want her friends to play with her toys. Writing is my toy. There is no point pretending I'm not pouting about sharing.

I had a conversation just now with a man who said the only person he was ever jealous of was the guy who managed the trails for the Gatineau Park. This man has a passion for trail-making and forestry. He said "I'm not jealous of mayors or millionaires, but a guy who makes trails for a living."

I could relate. I'm not jealous of the acting accolades of my friends, or their awards, or their wealth. But tread into my writing waters and a snarl comes to my lip. Our passions drive us to distraction, to jealousy, piques, to moments of being less than gracious when we hear good news.

Colin, forgive me. I know you will because you're a decent guy. Forgive me for hoping you suffered a little writing your book. (Say you did. I'll feel better.)

Love Nadine

THE GREY LADY Reviewed

My writer buddy, C.B. Forrest recently congratulated me on the review written by Sarah Lolley for Montreal Review of Books of THE GREY LADY.

So I'm posting it because that's what we authors do when our babies get noticed. Sarah Lolley is a fine writer in her own right which makes her assessment of the novel doubly cheering.

PS: C.B is blogging for Open Book Toronto. Wickedly funny stuff.

In my news, I'm teaching a writing workshop for the Quebec Writers Federation. We've just finished our fourth class and I'm dazzled by the output, the fearlessness and the imaginations of these writers!

When I'm not being humbled by my class, I'm working on THE RIVER BRIDE. It'll never be said of me that  I am a fast writer.

What I'm reading: The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett (Faber and Faber, 2007). Wonderful, funny, astute book about the pleasures and lifelong necessity of reading fiction. Thank God for writers like Alan Bennett. Plus, it has loads of laughs.

Farewell M&S

I attended a conference a few years ago in which a Canadian agent recommended Canadian authors set their books in the U.S. if they wanted to get sales in that market. In her experience, she found it very difficult to sell Canadian settings to U.S. publishers. Unless we were Atwoods or Munros, she said, we should do what we could to get our books sold in the U.S.

I bristled. Before Atwood and Munro were Atwood and Munro, they were Canadian writers facing the same hurdles Canadian writers face today--with one exception: they had a gutsy publisher in their corner. Atwood and Munro would not be Atwood and Munro if it were not for Jack McClelland--a publisher of such grit that he would plug his Canadian authors to riders on the streetcar. Because of his courage and faith we have the literary legacy we enjoy today.

Canadian culture has always had a fight on its hands. I remember the seventies. I was in high school and our Social Studies class debated the issue of compelling radio stations to give Canadian bands more airplay. I recall it was a foaming-at-the-mouth-big-deal for many stations who claimed they'd lose listeners. They didn't and we gained Canadian musicians, talent, inspiration, world-class songwriters, and a healthy stream of revenue from a thriving music industry.

I guess what I'm trying to say is I hope the new owners of M&S are as gutsy as Jack. I hope they nurture that subtle difference that is Canadian in our literature and a whole new crop of Atwoods and Munros are birthed into the world.

Farewell M&S

(The beautiful lady pictured in the article is my publisher, Kim McArthur)

Knock, knock....is this thing on?

I'm here and I'm doing writing-related things....I'm just not blogging about them as I should be doing.
To catch one and all up on This Writer's Life, I am:

1. Speaking tonight at the Ottawa Public Library (Main) on a panel with C.B. Forrest and Brenda Chapman. We were invited by Capital Crime Writers to talk about the life of a writer. Brenda and C.B. are fast, smart and funny. I have my work cut out for me. Capital Crime Writers
2. Participating in the Quebec Writers Federation Writers Out Loud series on February 18, 2012 at Solstice Books in Music in Wakefield, Quebec. The festivities begin at noon. I'll be reading from my novel, THE GREY LADY. Solstice Books and Music
3. March 5 to April 30 Monday 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm, I'm teaching a mystery writing workshop for the Quebec Writers Federation in Montreal at the Atwater Library, 1200 Atwater Avenue, Room 3. This workshop will tackle my bugaboo: PLOT. Quebec Writers Federation

So there you have it! I do get out of the house once in awhile!  I'm actually looking forward to doing interviews, signings and events as we get closer to the launch of THE GREY LADY. Meeting readers and talking about about books is the great perk in This Writer's Life.