So, here we are in October. From where I sit, typing this post, I can see through the window to where the leaves are turning yellow, ready to fall and scatter. I love the turn of the seasons: there’s something thrilling and wonderful about the year in transition. It gives me a frisson of excitement and makes me want to be writing. To write is usually my first urge when faced with feelings of gladness. I suppose that’s called inspiration, but if so it’s the sort driven by a general elevation in mood rather than by the arrival of a Specific Idea.
The only problem is, I’m a monogamous writer and don’t seem able to work wholeheartedly on a new story whilst still seeing the former into the world. And so, until December, when the first wave of book tour events are ended, I’m happily wedded to The Lake House. The characters and setting and story of the next book won’t disappear, but will remain as glimpsed figments, just out of reach on the edge of my peripheral vision – like a dream I look forward to revisiting.
In the meantime, I’m pleased to tell you that there have been some very nice early reviews* of The Lake House. Publishers Weekly gave the book a starred review:
People Magazine named it one of The Best Books of the Fall:
iBooks has selected it as one of the 25 Best Books of October, and The Lake House has been named as one of The November 2015 Indie Next List picks. Carol Schneck Varner from Schuler Books & Music in Okemos, MI, gave it the following lovely write-up:
“The Lake House explores an unsolved kidnapping that occurred between the World Wars at an isolated country house in England. Morton here continues to do all the things she does so well: weaving together a multi-generational family story from numerous perspectives; showcasing different facets of the same events; and bringing a wonderfully complex plot together in a kaleidoscopic web of uncovered secrets, past and present. With delightful characters, fascinating settings, and a captivating mystery, Morton draws us into a world we’re sorry to leave. Highly recommended!”
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If you’d like to hear more about The Lake House, writing, reading, my thoughts on any of the above and more, I’ll be touring in the northern hemisphere throughout October, November and December. The Spanish language edition will be published in November, the Dutch in October, and the German in February 2016. I’ll keep you posted with all other release dates as soon as I have them. So far, the 2015 tour schedule looks like this.
UK:
Canada/US:
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* I was asked in a recent interview whether I read reviews and how I feel about them. The truth is, sometimes I do, other times I don’t. I don’t seek them out in newspapers, mainly because I don’t know they’re there until after the fact. But I don’t avoid them either. I like it when they’re positive, but I’m quite comfortable with differing opinions on my books: that’s one of the wonderful things about life, we’re all allowed to like different things.
The only reviews that make me feel a bit exasperated (no matter whose book they’re about) are those that don’t play fair: namely, critics who reveal too much of the plot or give away the mystery (!); and those who hold a book up to a set of expectations it never sought to meet. It’s a little like criticising a meal at a French bistro because it didn’t look or taste like Italian food. Pointless and nonsensical and, worst of all, of no help to readers.