My goodness, what a wild and exciting Giller list. And amazing news about the doubling of the purse. It’s a great day for Canadian writers, listed or not.

My own fall, those less wild and exciting, is nonetheless beginning to take shape. First up is a retreat, to the beach house in Tatamagouche this month with the Common. It has been a long time since we’ve all been together, and that house was a very good writing spot for me last time. It has a woodstove that I intend to tend all weekend long, and a big verandah on which I’ll sit to drink coffee and an expansive view over water. It’s just the place to really dive in to the new project.

A task which will be made easier by the cortisone shot I had a few weeks ago, which has completely relieved my tendonitis. Relieved being the operative word. That’s gonna make writing a novel go a little more smoothly.

I’m excited to have been invited to Fog Lit this year in Saint John. I’m doing a Saturday night event called Authors, Ale, and Acoustics, which feels exactly right for Fallsy Downsies.

And November is shaping up to be busy indeed. I am again teaching at Tatamagouche, teaming up with my friend Steve Law to offer a weekend workshop to writers who need a kick in the pants. Are you such a writer? Come, let me kick you, gently but firmly, in the pants.

Later that month I have two readings scheduled, in parts of the province I’ve not yet read in. I’m looking forward to travelling to Sydney to read at Governor’s Pub on Tuesday, November 18, and then heading to Wolfville to read at Box of Delights on Wednesday the 19th.

I’ll come to your town, too, if you invite me! And if your book club is reading my book, I’ll drop in via Skype or Face Time…just ask!

Alright, that’s enough shameless self-promotion for one night. An artless update, but an update nonetheless.