The lull before the launch… the calm before the crazy
Writing life: 92
As we approach the launch of my tenth book, I have found over the years that in these final days before a new novel hits bookstores, there’s this all too brief period of calm and contemplation—a time of quiet reflection. I’m in that zone right now… but not for long.
There’s really nothing left to do before The Marionette is launched into the world in a couple weeks. The book has been out of my hands now for quite some time—recording the audiobook in July and August was really my last official pre-launch duty beyond some important marketing and planning meetings. Now we calmly wait for the October 7th publication day—The Marionette’s book birthday—that kicks off a frenetic but rewarding few months of touring and talking. Of course, when the new novel is finally out in the world, there’s also the usual anxiety and agonizing wait to see if it is warmly embraced, damned with faint praise, or just damned outright—and it doesn’t usually take long to find out.
But until then, in these last two weeks before launch day, I often have some time to think about the writing life—my writing life—and what it means to me. Don’t worry, I’m not about to turn all maudlin and sentimental (as I fear I might have in this post I wrote back in December 2022). But it seems a natural and logical time—just before the release of a novel—to take stock, if only briefly. And in these quiet moments before all the promotional work begins, I find myself calm, even serene, fulfilled, and very, very happy.
The St. Lawrence Writers Festival
Earlier this month, I appeared at the inaugural St. Lawrence Writers Festival in beautiful Brockville, Ontario. My pal and fellow writer, Rod Carley, was among the small group of dedicated volunteers who conceived and then organized the festival.
I participated in two sessions. First off on the Saturday morning, was a session entitled, Life is a Humour Highway. I was one of four writers on the panel alongside Drew Hayden Taylor, CBC funny man Ali Hassan, and the aforementioned Rod Carley. Needless to say, we spent a good part of our session laughing.
Later that afternoon, I had the privilege of interviewing my friend, Linwood Barclay. Over the years, we’ve done several events together and we always seem to enjoy our time hanging out at festivals. And Linwood kindly blurbed my seventh novel, Albatross. So it was great catching up, even if we were doing it partly onstage. It was a fascinating discussion as we talked about his new book, Whistle, a bestselling horror novel—a departure from his traditional thrillers, which, by the way, sell in the millions around the world. Yes, millions.
As usual, Linwood was in fine form and he held the audience (not to mention his interviewer) in the palm of his hand for the entire hour.
Having attended dozens and dozens of writers festivals across Canada, I can say with authority that this first St. Lawrence Writers Festival was superbly organized and executed with not even the slightest hint that this was a debut event. A fantastic weekend for writers and readers alike.
Here’s the promotional video I recorded to help promote the event. I know, I know. I’m definitely not ready for my close-up!
Turning the tables on Steve Paikin
Steve Paikin, host of TVO’s The Agenda for 19 years until this past June, has spent his career interviewing politicians, business leaders, sports figures and other prominent figures. And on the side, he is regularly drafted to moderate provincial and federal leaders’ debates, for which he clearly has a gift. He’s collected an Order of Canada and many honourary degrees along the way as well as serving as Chancellor of Laurentian University. And let’s not forget all the great books Steve has written, usually about politics and/or politicians. Through it all, his passion and curiosity have never dimmed, nor has his nice-guy demeanour ever flagged. Steve has also been my friend for a very long time. (He went to university with my twin brother, Tim.)
As noted a couple of posts ago, I was recently invited to turn the tables on Steve and interview him before a Toronto audience.
Clearly, old habits die hard. At various junctures in our hour-long interview, Steve would cut in and ask me a question or two about my writing life. But I eventually managed to bring the focus back to him. It was a really fun evening—I think even Steve enjoyed being on the receiving end of my questions.
Talks in Bobcaygeon, Lindsay, and Sutton…
Last week was busy with three appearances in two days in the Ontario towns of Bobcaygeon, Lindsay, and Sutton. Just getting in shape for the start of The Marionette tour! All seemed to go well with many books sold and signed.
A restful week in Nova Scotia
This past Friday morning, the whole family flew to Halifax. You see, every summer, for many years now, my wife, Nancy Naylor, and our two sons, Calder and Ben, head east for a gathering of Nancy’s family. We rent a house for a week somewhere near the ocean—usually in Nova Scotia, but we have done Prince Edward Island and the Magdalen Islands, too. There ends up being ten of us in all—from different ends of the country—hanging out together, cooking together, eating together, reading together, swimming together, and most importantly, just being together. It’s always a lovely and restorative time. We all get along so well.
This is the house we’ve rented for the week. It’s the second time we’ve enjoyed this lovely home and location on Millet Lake in Chester Basin, Nova Scotia.
It was the perfect way to recharge after a busy summer and prepare for the frantic and frenetic schedule that awaits me when The Marionette is launched into the world on October 7.
On a sad note, we lost one…
I know over the life of this Substack, I’ve written on a couple of occasions about the band I was in at university with fellow engineering students, more than 40 years ago. (Here’s a post from back in January.) Given our advancing years, I guess it was going to happen sometime, but I’m saddened to report that one of our bandmates, our lead guitarist—really our leader—Art Rebek, passed away in early July. In my head, it was not completely unexpected given the illness he’d endured in the preceding few years, but in my heart it was still a shock.
When I write that Art was really our leader back in 1980 when four McMaster engineering students and a Commerce student got together to jam, it’s because he was six years older than the rest of us, and had already toured the continent for several years with his own band as a full-time professional musician. The rest of us could play—and still do—but not like Art—not then, and not now. After that first jam session it’s a wonder he ever played with us again. But he did. We all learned so much from him and had such a blast playing together, with or without an audience.
After we graduated, we scattered to start our careers, but never lost touch with one another. Those friendships run deep. As we grew older, we found ourselves pining for the old days—you know, when we played in a rock band. So for years now, we’ve been getting together at least once a year to play some songs, and relive our glory years as rock stars (ha!). We may get old, but that amazing feeling of playing music with good friends never does.
Our last time together as a band was in November of last year when we gathered in Hamilton for The Skydiggers concert, the great band that our lead singer, Andy Maize, went on to cofound after our university band had run its course. After nearly 30 albums and a Juno Award, The Skydiggers are still going strong. The photo below is the last shot of us all together. Andy Maize kindly joined us for dinner before putting on a great show at the Westdale theatre.
Wrapping up…
Thanks for checking this out. Here’s hoping you like what you see and you decide to subscribe—it’s free and easy—so you don’t miss future posts. Coming up, final preparations for the launch of The Marionette and looking ahead to my first two weeks on the road.
Congratulations on your upcoming book Terry and so sorry to hear about the loss of your friend. I have a question for you and your followers. If I want to introduce your work to my book club - which book would folks recommend? We need some levity in out lives!! Thank you. 🙏
Condolences on the loss of your band mate, Art, Terry...