Tapas on the Ramblas (35 page)

I
love the office where I work each day, poking away at my keyboard, the peacefulness, solitude and deep quiet of it rarely broken by two little dogs who keep me company (or I them). Then comes the time to reveal what I've been toiling at. There will always be a special place in my heart for each of you who share this with me.. .those who show up at events, bring friends, read these books, recommend them to others, surprise me with your generosity, the cards, e-mails, thoughtful gifts, notes of support...I am so fortunate and truly grateful...you are amazing.

To each incredible bookseller, store manager, event coordinator, festival and awards organizer: I am forever in your debt-and to my special team of Deneen G, David R, Bill S, Sharanpal R, Megan, Louann S, Holly M, Janine, Jackie, Billy A, Ron G, Larry B, Adrienne, thank you for the continuing support.

My gratitude to the reviewers, interviewers, columnists and news reporters who spend time with writers and their books-you help keep our words alive.

And then one evening at the Saskatoon Club.. .talk about starting things off with a bang.. .I realize now I cannot say it enough: Shelley Brown is a gem...Murray, my fellow E&Y alumni, what a fantastic group of people you are.

Special thanks to: Patty-o Lantern, Lynne, Rhonda, Kelly, Catherine, Karen for sitting around in witch hats; Grant Park for the giant martini glass display; the Opus cocktail partygoers; Jilly Bird for edible flower pots; David Rubin of DavidTours-a man who truly knows luxury travel; the incomparable Robert Taylor for his graciousness in allowing me to hop aboard his mighty coattails for a ride down America's beautiful west coast; to all our friends aboard tine Silverseas; the many who became the voice of my Sicilian tender captain; Eldeen for making RQ one of her picks; Moo's stew; Paul J for sharing with me Cadbury's Caramilk Bar Secret and the fate of Sour Cream and Onion Flavoured Rings; Paul & Jan for my very own MVA shrubs; Dori, I love my wall hanging; Fran-pahmyatie meneh, and, Johanna, the best mom ever.

Insomniac Press-thank you for keeping Russell alive.

Michele Karlsberg-for opening up new doors, answering all my questions and keeping it going-my thanks.

Excerpts from an editor's letter: "...Anyway it's late, my handwriting sucks and my eyes hurt...remarkable how you have inter-textualized the RQ series...with a little more treatment you can colour the characters up a touch...ultimately I can't picture it... your use of language is, as always, particularly intriguing.. .that plot line comes out of no where... just a thought...you've achieved an incredible pique of interest here...maillot? What's a maillot?... Russell is certainly developing a larger-than-life-of-his-own...You have my support and sincere affection."
And you, Catherine
Lake
, have mine.

Thank
you
for being a reader.

And Herb.

Anthony Bidulka has enjoyed time well spent and misspent in the worlds of academia, accounting, fashion, food sen and farming. An avid traveller, reader and party-giver, In lives in Saskatoon. This is his third book in the Russell Quant mystery series. The first two,
Amuse Bouche
and
Flight of Aquavit,
were also published by Insomniac Tress. Anthony invites you to visit his website at www.anthonybidulka.com Praise for Anthony Bidulka's work: another bright and witty novel from Anthony Bidulka...There's plenty of action here, and Bidulka spreads it out with witty dialogue, smart commentary and plenty of good, sharp writing." -
The Globe and Mail

"Bidulka treats the reader to enough red herrings with which to open a fishmarket and more than one writer’s fair share of keen observations and appealing bonsmots." -
Outlooks

"...the pages turn at a frantic speed, each suspenseful chapter a chaser for the one preceding." -
Swerve