It is now late January, and in northern Newfoundland, we still have at least three winter months ahead of us. I will use the time to write the draft for a new Calista Gates mystery and plan a hiking vacation in Europe’s warmer climes. It’s not that winter in Canada doesn’t have its pleasures. If you adjust to it, it can sometimes be quite enjoyable. Our tiny fishing village is also home to an artist, Carolyn Gotjen-Pilgrim, who offers painting classes from time to time, and I never say no. Painting isn’t my strong suit, but it’s fun!
I survived Christmas and New Year’s Eve without any lasting damage. In Newfoundland, Christmas is celebrated for twelve days, and people visit each other in the villages during this time. In the past, the mummers or Jennies would also come by, locals dressed up in old clothes and masks, making music and dancing, who were treated to drinks and snacks. This year, there were no mummers active in our village, perhaps because the ground was so icy everywhere. But I was able to paint mummers in acrylics on canvas in Carolyn’s painting class. I devoured the drinks and snacks myself.
Good news and bad news; first the good news: Dark Moon Island got some fantastic reviews!
The bad news: my long-time translator Gerald Chapple died of a stroke at the beginning of November last year, practically after he had translated Dark Moon Island into English. This is a painful loss for his wife Nina, his children, and friends, but also for me. Jerry was a fantastic translator. Readers in North America told me you couldn’t tell that my crime novels had been translated. I will certainly continue to have my books translated, but I will miss Jerry, who was also a mentor and important sounding board, immensely.
Due to the winter storms, we had to endure several power outages in our remote area. Fortunately, we have a generator, but it doesn’t cover everything in the house. The wood stove, some lights, internet and telephone, and microwaves are important, but neither the stove nor the lights in the kitchen are serviced. During the last storm, the wood heating, microwave oven, and internet also failed! My fisherman discovered that the generator was frozen and was able to fix the problem. I was totally happy to have at least some of the power back. Which led me to the realization that when you go without something for a while and then get it back, you’re totally happy about it. I think I’ll try that with chocolate pudding.
I received many books as Christmas gifts. The volume A Year of Wonders by Clemency Burton-Hill presents a classical piece of music for each day, which I then listen to. I have been familiar with the more well-known works of classical music since childhood, thanks to my parents, but I am also a fan of rock and other pop music. This book opens up a new world of music for me, one that I have neglected far too much. One piece that I discovered in this way enchants me above all others: O Magnum Mysterium by Arthur Sullivan (1842–1900). I have been listening to it every evening since then, and the harmonies of the choir voices carry me away on wings.
I wish you all the best for 2026 (even if things look rather threatening at the moment)!
