Yesterday, The Tapestry of Time hit shelves in the UK and many export markets, and the audiobook and ebook versions are available now in much of the world, including Canada. The print edition hits shelves in Canada in a few days, on Oct. 1. (A reminder that the US edition will be out in June.)
It's a novel about four clairvoyant sisters in the summer of 1944, fighting the Nazis for control of the Bayeux Tapestry. It's based in part on the true story of the tapestry during that summer, so it follows the events of real history, but as usual for me, there's some fantastical weirdness going on as well. I hope it honours, in some small way, the real people who have given or risked their lives to resist fascism in many generations and countries, and those who do so today.
I’ve put together a little kit of material that might be useful for book clubs (or anyone who wants a little more background about the novel).
I'm not sure an author can ever get used to the feeling of releasing a new book. Anxiety about a book release can easily overwhelm the joy and connection that comes with sharing one's art with other human beings. (It can also get in the way of writing the next book!)
I have learned that two things help me to deal with book-week jitters. First, I try to set aside some time to just celebrate the book and mark the moment in some personal way, whether it's a nice dessert or a quiet, contemplative walk in the woods. Sort of like birth and death, there’s a level on which you’re fundamentally alone, when you make something that matters to you, which I think is one reason it feels spiritual in some aspects, at least to me. At another level, it’s always a team effort, and part of what I’m celebrating, when I celebrate, is the faith and hard work of everyone involved in making the book and sharing it with readers.
Second, I try to keep busy with things that don't involve staring at Goodreads or Amazon rankings or some other bad idea. For recent books, my wonderful publicist at HarperCollins Canada, Lauren Morocco, has helped me set up whirlwind stock-signing tours in which I spend a day driving from one bookstore to another, to talk to booksellers and sign the book. This is, frankly, the best. It hits all the points that are important for me: it marks the book's release, it keeps my mind and body occupied, and it connects me with readers.
I'm hoping to do some stock-signing for Tapestry, and I was also able to celebrate the book by reading from it at the annual awards night for the University of Ottawa department of English, where I'm writer in residence (another thing keeping me usefully busy!). This weekend I've got another event lined up that I'm looking forward to: I'll be at the Toronto International Festival of Authors, where I'll be on a panel with Anna Rasche on Saturday, moderated by Catherine Graham, and where I’ll be teaching a masterclass on Sunday.
I'm not holding a book launch in Ottawa, because I'll be a guest at the Ottawa International Writers Festival on Oct. 24, and that'll be my Ottawa event to celebrate the book. Would love to see people there! I’ll be on a panel wiith JM Miro, whose books I like and admire, moderated by my dear friend and talented writer Brandon Crilly.
I'll end with a link to a sample of the audiobook, beautifully read by Frankie Porter. If you're able to buy a copy of the book, mention it to a friend, or request it from your local library or indie bookstore, I'm so grateful, and thanks for sticking around!