What are you doing tonight? If you are in Creston, BC, I certainly hope you’ll be at your local library.

Here’s why: Tonight is the long-awaited, much-anticipated book launch for Tanna Paterson’s Butterflies in Bucaramanga, which is published by NeWest Press.

 The book is a fictional account of the journey of Creston miner Ed Leonard, who was kidnapped and held hostage in Columbia in 1998. Ed’s story is  moving all on its own. And Tanna’s interpretation – well, it does this amazing story proud. You’ll just have to read it to understand.

I have not read the whole thing yet, but the few chapters that we worked on in our writing group were gripping, to say the least. So, I’m very excited to buy a signed copy direct from my friend the author, and then read the whole thing cover to cover.

If you are in town, come on out. We’ll see just how many bodies can squeeze into the Library conference room. 7-9 PM. Tonight. Creston Public Library.

See you there!

I’ve been reading the same book for two weeks. Unheard of, I know. Part of the reason is that it’s a hardcover and was too heavy to take on my trip last week. But there’s more to it than that.

It’s a Tana French, and you know my past experience with her books. I normally can’t put them down. I arm wrestle with librarians to be the first on the reserve list.  But Faithful Place is different somehow.

No, not the writing – it’s fantastic, as usual for this author. Characters? Convincing. Setting? I want to move to Ireland.  Last night as I tried to finish the last 100 pages I realized what it is. The main character has already lost two of the people most dear to him in the world. He’s in shreds. The murderer has just been revealed, but there are still 100 pages to go.

So, you know what means? Only one direction left for this plot. Only one thing left at stake for this poor guy. Something has got to happen to his lovely 9 year old daughter that we’ve just spent 300 pages falling in love with.

Child in peril.

I can hardly stand to read it. Which makes me wonder what it would be like to write about a child in peril. I’ll have to go to that place at some point I’m sure, but feel distinctly uncomfortable with that thought right now.

In other news, I’m very excited about the blog contest. Subscriptions are coming in and not all of the subscribers are related to me! It’s wonderful. Remember, if we get 100 subscribers this month, everyone wins. So, what are you waiting for? Subscribe!  Exercise your power as a reader. It’s free, and as Janet Kellough figured out for us, it’s easy too! Just leave a comment, and click “subscribe” at the bottom of the comment box.

At least we think that’s how it works. Subscribers…did you get this?