That Dog Won't Hunt by Lou Allin, Orchestrated Murder by Rick Blechta, The Goddaughter by Melodie Campbell and, of course, A Winter Kill by Vicki Delany. Among others not shown.
Thursday, May 9, 2013
And a picture!
The books I brought to South Sudan from Rapid Reads.
That Dog Won't Hunt by Lou Allin, Orchestrated Murder by Rick Blechta, The Goddaughter by Melodie Campbell and, of course, A Winter Kill by Vicki Delany. Among others not shown.
That Dog Won't Hunt by Lou Allin, Orchestrated Murder by Rick Blechta, The Goddaughter by Melodie Campbell and, of course, A Winter Kill by Vicki Delany. Among others not shown.
Friday, April 19, 2013
An AE Nomination!
Colour me pleased. I found out when I got up this morning that A WINTER KILL, my book for reluctant readers from Rapid Reads has been nominated for an Arthur Ellis Award for best novella.
The news is timely as well, as I'm in Juba right now and working on the next book in that line, JUBA GOOD, which will be about an RCMP officer with the UN here in South Sudan.
Education is a priorty here, and the good people at Rapid Reads donated a stack of books for me to bring. I handed them out to what I hope will be eager readers. I wonder if they will quite be able to understand the signifigance of the fact that the dead body in A WINTER KILL isn't wearing gloves in the snow.
Probably not.
The AE awards will be presented in Toronto on May 30th. I am so disappointed to have to miss it, but I'll be in Yellowknife at the NorthWords Literary Festival. (http://northwordsnwt.ca).
Barbara Fradkin, who I am travelling to the north with, has been nomiated for the same award. It sould be a lively evening in Yellowknife.
Want a peek: http://www.amazon.com/Winter-Kill-Rapid-Reads-ebook/dp/B007QZBJNY/ref=sr_1_1_bnp_1_kin?ie=UTF8&qid=1366363087&sr=8-1&keywords=a+winter+kill Only $2.95 for Kindle, special offer.
The news is timely as well, as I'm in Juba right now and working on the next book in that line, JUBA GOOD, which will be about an RCMP officer with the UN here in South Sudan.
Education is a priorty here, and the good people at Rapid Reads donated a stack of books for me to bring. I handed them out to what I hope will be eager readers. I wonder if they will quite be able to understand the signifigance of the fact that the dead body in A WINTER KILL isn't wearing gloves in the snow.
Probably not.
The AE awards will be presented in Toronto on May 30th. I am so disappointed to have to miss it, but I'll be in Yellowknife at the NorthWords Literary Festival. (http://northwordsnwt.ca).
Barbara Fradkin, who I am travelling to the north with, has been nomiated for the same award. It sould be a lively evening in Yellowknife.
Want a peek: http://www.amazon.com/Winter-Kill-Rapid-Reads-ebook/dp/B007QZBJNY/ref=sr_1_1_bnp_1_kin?ie=UTF8&qid=1366363087&sr=8-1&keywords=a+winter+kill Only $2.95 for Kindle, special offer.
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Juba, South Sudan
I'm spending three weeks in South Sudan visiting my daughter. Long time readers of this blog will remember that I was here in November 2011.
South Sudan is the world's newest country having achieved independence from Sudan in July 2011. It was a long, hard struggle - about twenty years of civil war.
The war meant that South Sudan is, essentially, about 20 years behind the rest of East Africa in terms of development and economy. It's either the world's poorest country, or pretty close to the bottom. It has the world's highest maternal mortality rates.
Juba is a busy, busy, place. People are flooding in from the countryside in search of a better life; the UN and NGOs are here to help.
You might have heard of the attack on a UN peacekeeping convoy last week, which killed a substantial number of UN soldiers and civilian staff. But that was in the countryside, far to the north. We're pretty safe here in Juba.
There have been some changes since I was here last. Buildings are under construction. I think in 2011 there wasn't one building over two stories tall. Now there are some of five or six stories.
The potholes in the road are now trenches, and there is more garbage. Largely because the governmen tran out of money. Because of conflict with Sudan, the oil fields were shut down for several months. The oil is in the South, and the pipelines go through the north to the sea.
Just this month the oil was turned back on, and everyone is hopeful it will stay on!
I don't take a lot of pictures here. The concept of a tourist is completely unknown (I like to say I am the first tourist) and many people are suffering from severe PTSD, one of the consequences of which is paranoia. You're not allowed to take pictures of anything militarily sensitive. And they will decide on the spur of the moment what's sensitive. A lot of people don't like to have their picture taken.
Today, I snuck out with my little camera and tried to act nonchalant. Here are my results.
These pictures were all taken on the street where my daughter lives. So, if you think diplomats live a life of luxury - think again.
South Sudan is the world's newest country having achieved independence from Sudan in July 2011. It was a long, hard struggle - about twenty years of civil war.
The war meant that South Sudan is, essentially, about 20 years behind the rest of East Africa in terms of development and economy. It's either the world's poorest country, or pretty close to the bottom. It has the world's highest maternal mortality rates.
Juba is a busy, busy, place. People are flooding in from the countryside in search of a better life; the UN and NGOs are here to help.
You might have heard of the attack on a UN peacekeeping convoy last week, which killed a substantial number of UN soldiers and civilian staff. But that was in the countryside, far to the north. We're pretty safe here in Juba.
There have been some changes since I was here last. Buildings are under construction. I think in 2011 there wasn't one building over two stories tall. Now there are some of five or six stories.
The potholes in the road are now trenches, and there is more garbage. Largely because the governmen tran out of money. Because of conflict with Sudan, the oil fields were shut down for several months. The oil is in the South, and the pipelines go through the north to the sea.
Just this month the oil was turned back on, and everyone is hopeful it will stay on!
Today, I snuck out with my little camera and tried to act nonchalant. Here are my results.
These pictures were all taken on the street where my daughter lives. So, if you think diplomats live a life of luxury - think again.
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Uganda
I've just finished a wonderful vacation in Uganda. I just loved the country and the people. So many wonderful places. This picture was taken at Chobe Safari Lodge in Murcheson Falls NP. Perhaps the most spectacular setting of any hotel I have stayed at.
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Books, books, books
I love books. I love paper books, I love shopping at bookstores.
But sometimes you just can't beat an e-reader.
I am soon going to Africa for five weeks. The places I will going be don't have bookstores or libraries. In the old days I would have had to take an extra suitcase for all the books. For a long flight I'd need three books just in my carry on luggage. Two to read, and one extra in case one of them wasn't any good.
Now,I can just load up my e-reader.
Because I worked all those years in the computer business I know all about backups and rates of failure. Thus I own a Kindle AND a Kobo. And a new iPad.
I'm prepared for any eventuality.
In case you're interested here's the list of book I've bought to get me started. Note that I haven't read any of them yet, so I'm not making any recommendations, just a list of what looked interesting, and varied.
The Christie Curse by Victoria Abbott
A Little History of Philosophy - Nigel Warburton
The Impostor Bride - Nancy Richler
Human Croquet - Kate Atkinson
The Light Between Oceans - M.L. Stedman
Dead Water - Ann Cleves
Wolfe Hall - Hilary Mantel
Half Blood Blues - Esi Edugyan
Seven Days - Deon Meyer
The Broken Shore - Peter Temple
An Inquiry into Love and Death - Simone St. James
Hum. 11 books. 34 days. 4, 8-hour plus flights.
But sometimes you just can't beat an e-reader.
I am soon going to Africa for five weeks. The places I will going be don't have bookstores or libraries. In the old days I would have had to take an extra suitcase for all the books. For a long flight I'd need three books just in my carry on luggage. Two to read, and one extra in case one of them wasn't any good.
Now,I can just load up my e-reader.
Because I worked all those years in the computer business I know all about backups and rates of failure. Thus I own a Kindle AND a Kobo. And a new iPad.
I'm prepared for any eventuality.
In case you're interested here's the list of book I've bought to get me started. Note that I haven't read any of them yet, so I'm not making any recommendations, just a list of what looked interesting, and varied.
The Christie Curse by Victoria Abbott
A Little History of Philosophy - Nigel Warburton
The Impostor Bride - Nancy Richler
Human Croquet - Kate Atkinson
The Light Between Oceans - M.L. Stedman
Dead Water - Ann Cleves
Wolfe Hall - Hilary Mantel
Half Blood Blues - Esi Edugyan
Seven Days - Deon Meyer
The Broken Shore - Peter Temple
An Inquiry into Love and Death - Simone St. James
Hum. 11 books. 34 days. 4, 8-hour plus flights.
Saturday, March 2, 2013
A New Book for Rapid Reads
I was delighted to be offered a contract for a second Rapid Reads book from Orca Press. The first one is titled A Winter Kill and is about a new police officer with the O.P.P. in Prince Edward County.
When rookie police constable Nicole Patterson discovers a body on the edge of town, she's drawn into a murder investigation that's well beyond her experience and expertise.
The Rapid Reads books are very special. They're meant for adults with low literacy skills, ESL students, or those with not a lot of time to read who are looking for a quick yet fast-paced, suspenseful book.
I myself love to have these books to take with me on the plane. You know that horrible time when you have to turn off all your electronic devices and end up searching the well-thumbed in-flight magazine for something anything! to read until you can get back to your book?
The Rapid Reads books are perfect for that. They're very small so they tuck neatly into your carry-on bag and then into the compartment in the seat in front of you. One book should see you through take off and landing.
My new book will be different than anything I've done before. It's called JUBA GOOD. For the first time I have a male first person POV protagonist. Ray Robertson is an RCMP officer serving with the UN in South Sudan.
As it just so happens I'm going back to South Sudan soon, so I'll be able to refresh all the details.
Can't wait.
In the meantime, if you're looking for an exciting short read, check out the full list of Rapid Reads books, by some of your favourite crime writers. www.rapidreads.ca
If you're an educator or otherwise interested in expanding your understanding of the books, Orca has provided a reading guide. Beware - the guides are intended for people who've finished the books, so the full plot is discussed.
When rookie police constable Nicole Patterson discovers a body on the edge of town, she's drawn into a murder investigation that's well beyond her experience and expertise.
The Rapid Reads books are very special. They're meant for adults with low literacy skills, ESL students, or those with not a lot of time to read who are looking for a quick yet fast-paced, suspenseful book.
I myself love to have these books to take with me on the plane. You know that horrible time when you have to turn off all your electronic devices and end up searching the well-thumbed in-flight magazine for something anything! to read until you can get back to your book? The Rapid Reads books are perfect for that. They're very small so they tuck neatly into your carry-on bag and then into the compartment in the seat in front of you. One book should see you through take off and landing.
My new book will be different than anything I've done before. It's called JUBA GOOD. For the first time I have a male first person POV protagonist. Ray Robertson is an RCMP officer serving with the UN in South Sudan.
As it just so happens I'm going back to South Sudan soon, so I'll be able to refresh all the details.
Can't wait.
In the meantime, if you're looking for an exciting short read, check out the full list of Rapid Reads books, by some of your favourite crime writers. www.rapidreads.ca
If you're an educator or otherwise interested in expanding your understanding of the books, Orca has provided a reading guide. Beware - the guides are intended for people who've finished the books, so the full plot is discussed.
Friday, February 22, 2013
Something to look forward to: Blood, Ash, and Bone
This looks like a good one!
Blood, Ash, and Bone,
the third in the Tai Randolph/Trey Seaver series. Available this March from Poisoned
Pen Press.
"Whittle’s snappy prose and nonstop action revolving around these fascinatingly flawed characters combine to make this series a must." Booklist STARRED Review
"Whittle’s snappy prose and nonstop action revolving around these fascinatingly flawed characters combine to make this series a must." Booklist STARRED Review
“Tina
Whittle’s novels are a mix of Pat Conroy writing and Dashiell Hammett
storytelling, and with Blood, Ash and Bone, Whittle has established
herself as one of the top mystery writers working today.”
—
Robert Dugoni, NYT-Bestselling author of The Conviction
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