It’s tricky sustaining interest in a book when it’s sold out. That was the happy situation TAINTED found itself in for most of July. But now it’s back in a second printing — a high-five to the good people at ECW Press. A couple of inconsistencies in small details have been corrected (thanks to a hawkeyed doctor-reader friend). And in the opening scene, Zol defines prions and BSE more clearly for the reader. There was no time for me to draw up a glossary, but I’m going to do that for Zol and Hamish’s second outing.

Frank Moher, a Canadian playwright, wrote a really nice review of TAINTED in yesterdays National Post. I’ve placed it here on the website under the BOOKS tab. (click on More reviews).

Last weekend, Lorna and I had a wonderful time in Owen Sound, Ontario. What a gem of a place: immaculate downtown business district, flowers planted everywhere, user-friendly waterside paths, bucolic picnic spots overlooking waterfalls, and beautifully restored nineteenth-century Ontario mansions (somehow, the funeral parlours do the best job of the restorations; too bad you have to die to be an honoured guest). Mayor Ruth Lovell Stanners and her husband Bruce Stanners (a doctor friend and colleague) hosted us in their home and organized a terrific book-lovers evening in support of TAINTED. After a delicious buffet supper that spilled into their back garden, we all trooped over to the Downtown Bookstore on the main street of Owen Sound. Hazel and Andre Lyder, the proprietors, were engaging hosts at their shop — one of the nicest I’ve been to.  After treating us to sangria, Hazel gave me a most simpatico introduction; then I spoke about the transformation of the doctor into the writer. I told anecdotes about famous figures in history who died of tainted food, and described the genesis of TAINTED and my first book, THE UNFORGIVING TIDES. I finished with three short readings.

I believe in keeping readings short. Mostly, the audience wants to know personal details about the writer and how the book came about. I don’t know about you, but my mind quickly wanders when I’m sitting being read to.  Linwood Barclay, author of  the highly successful thriller No Time For Goodbye, has been an inspiration to me on this score. He gives a lively, engaging monologue and tops it off with a very short reading.

Anyway, we had a terrific time at the Downtown Bookstore in Owen Sound and I’m raring to take the show on the road — hoping to be invited elsewhere.

It’s time I got back to writing about Zol and Hamish’s next adventure. We’re getting close to the climax where everything falls apart.

Cheers, Ross