キャミー・タング著「戌年」連載小説 プロのドッグトレーナーであるマリ・ムトウは、厄年を迎えている。 犬小屋と訓練所の改築をしながら、いつも不服そうにしている家族と同居することになった。母と姉に言わせれば、犬の毛とよだれかけにまみれる仕事は、家族にとって恥ずべきものだという。彼女は元カレを説得し、数ヶ月間犬を預かってもらうことにした。しかし、彼の兄は、数週間前に彼女が誤って車に追突した、怒り狂ったセキュリティ専門家であることが判明する。 アシュウィン・ケイトウは十分な問題を抱えている。叔母が玄関先に現れ、同居を希望している。彼は彼女にすべてを借りているので、断ることができません。母親が家を出て行った後、ネルおばさんはアシュウィンと弟を引き取り、愛のあるキリスト教の家庭で育てた。しかも、弟のダスティもアパートを追い出され、居場所を求めている。しかし、彼は犬を飼っている。そして、その犬の飼い主は誰だと思いますか？ しかし、旧友でオアフ島のノースショアでデイスパを経営する私立探偵のエディサ・ゲレロから依頼を受ける。マリの施設で奇妙な破壊行為があり、3年前に失踪したエディサの妹の財布を発見する。エディサはマリが危険な目に遭っているのではと心配する。警備の専門家であるアシュウィンがすでにマリを知っていることを知ったエディサは、忙しい若い女性を密かに監視することを彼に依頼する。 アシュウィンは、活発でのんびりとしたドッグトレーナーに不本意ながら惹かれていく。彼女は、幸せそうな母親を思い出させる。その母親の裏切りによって、彼は人と距離を置くようになったのだ。マリは、アシュウィンの冷たい外見を見抜き、彼が家族に忠実な男であることを認める。彼は、彼女のキャリア選択を批判するだけの母親や姉とは違う。 マリのバラバラな家庭とアシュウィンのバラバラな家庭の中で、過去を隠そうとする人たちから、彼らの周りに危険が迫ってくるようになる。彼らは、影で動く秘密に光を当てることができるのか？ 過去に発表されたパートへのリンクはこちら。 *** 第8章 - 恐ろしくも真っ白な不動産書類 『みんな仲良くできないのかな？』 マリは無用に力を込めて箱に本を投げ入れた。最近、なぜ彼女は人生の中で全員と言い争いをしているのだろう？もしかすると、これは本当に悪いアイデア
Captain's Log, Stardate 07.11.2007
I started the day with a great meeting with Al Hsu, an editor at InterVarsity Press. We discussed Asian Americans—fiction, non-fiction, the church, family. He’s been in publishing for many years and is very wise. We had a great discussion. I also met his wife Ellen, who’s totally nice and is also into card-making!
I wandered the floor and happened to meet Robin Jones Gunn. She asked if I’d eaten yet, and since I hadn’t, said to join her for lunch. On the way to lunch, we met Mark Mynheir, and he gave me a copy of his book, got The Void. Isn’t that cool?
Robin has so much wisdom. I loved having lunch with her. She gave me such good advice, both professionally and spiritually. I hope I’ll get a chance to have lunch or dinner with her at the ACFW conference in September.
I met up with agent Steve Laube, and walked with him to his next meeting, but on the way we were hailed by Cec Murphy and agent Jeff Dunn. Jeff had been the first editor to request my manuscript, at Mount Hermon several years ago when he’d been an editor at RiverOak, and he and I have remained friends. It was fun chatting with them, and then Steve went to his meeting and I let Jeff and Cec continue their own talking.
I wandered the floor again and caught up with Sarah Sumpolec. We were at a doll booth and entered the drawing for that afternoon at 3 p.m., and I won a children’s Bible! I gave it to Sarah.
We swung by the Zondervan booth where Karen Kingsbury was signing, and the line was just mega-long so we didn’t get in it. However, I saw my senior editor Sue Brower, Joyce Ondersma (Author Relations), Karwyn Bursma (Marketing Director), and Karen’s kids Kelsey and Tyler. They were all dressed in SF 49ers jerseys with Alex Smith’s number 11 on them to promote her book coming out in November, Between Sundays, which is about a football player and inspired in part by quarterback Alex Smith.
We stood in line for Catherine Palmer’s, The Briton, and FRANCINE RIVERS got into line behind us!!!! I refrained from gushing, but introduced myself. She was with her daughter Shannon, and Shannon and I chatted while Francine chatted with Sarah and Steve Laube, who happened by.
Francine Rivers, her daughter Shannon, and me
While we stood in line to get Melody Carlson’s book, These Boots Weren’t Made for Walking, a guy recognized me and started talking about my book. Stuart McGuiggan is a Key Account Manager for WaterBrook Multnomah, and he loves Christian fiction. We had a great time discussing good books we’ve read lately, and he’s excited to read Sushi for One. I was so thrilled to talk to him!
Melody Carlson and me
I chatted in Starbucks with Sarah, her husband, and also Jennifer Schuchmann, who joined us. Then I had a great dinner with my agent Wendy Lawton, Janet Kobobel Grant, Sue Brower, and ZonderKIDZ senior editor Barbara Scott.
After dinner, I got to talking first with Jeanne Wynn (Wynn-Wynn Media), then with Chip MacGregor (MacGregor Literary), Andy Meisenheimer (Zondervan), and Beth Jusino (Alive Communications). We were joined first by Kathleen Y’Barbo, Cathy Marie Hake, and Kelly Eileen Hake, then by Sigmund Brouwer. I had never met Sigmund and when I found out who he was, I managed not to gush too much, but at least I didn’t gush as much as Andy. ;)
Chip abandoned us to meet with someone at the Westin, so Beth and I went to get a drink at the bar and saw Steve Laube at a table surrounded by his harem, which consisted of Kathleen, Cathy, Kelly, and Tracey Bateman. Andy and Susan May Warren joined us later.
Susie had been waiting on a couple, and when they arrived, she introduced us. It was noisy and I didn’t notice at first when they arrived, but then she introduced me to the guy, I said hi, she said, “This is Ted Dekker and his wife LeeAnn.” Then I really did gush, I’m ashamed to say, but he took it in stride. He then got into an intense discussion with Steve, so I was unable to embarrass myself further.
Sigmund Brouwer and Andy Meisenheimer
Me and Beth Jusino
Me and Chip MacGregor
Continued: ICRS Wednesday
I started the day with a great meeting with Al Hsu, an editor at InterVarsity Press. We discussed Asian Americans—fiction, non-fiction, the church, family. He’s been in publishing for many years and is very wise. We had a great discussion. I also met his wife Ellen, who’s totally nice and is also into card-making!
I wandered the floor and happened to meet Robin Jones Gunn. She asked if I’d eaten yet, and since I hadn’t, said to join her for lunch. On the way to lunch, we met Mark Mynheir, and he gave me a copy of his book, got The Void. Isn’t that cool?
Robin has so much wisdom. I loved having lunch with her. She gave me such good advice, both professionally and spiritually. I hope I’ll get a chance to have lunch or dinner with her at the ACFW conference in September.
I met up with agent Steve Laube, and walked with him to his next meeting, but on the way we were hailed by Cec Murphy and agent Jeff Dunn. Jeff had been the first editor to request my manuscript, at Mount Hermon several years ago when he’d been an editor at RiverOak, and he and I have remained friends. It was fun chatting with them, and then Steve went to his meeting and I let Jeff and Cec continue their own talking.
I wandered the floor again and caught up with Sarah Sumpolec. We were at a doll booth and entered the drawing for that afternoon at 3 p.m., and I won a children’s Bible! I gave it to Sarah.
We swung by the Zondervan booth where Karen Kingsbury was signing, and the line was just mega-long so we didn’t get in it. However, I saw my senior editor Sue Brower, Joyce Ondersma (Author Relations), Karwyn Bursma (Marketing Director), and Karen’s kids Kelsey and Tyler. They were all dressed in SF 49ers jerseys with Alex Smith’s number 11 on them to promote her book coming out in November, Between Sundays, which is about a football player and inspired in part by quarterback Alex Smith.
We stood in line for Catherine Palmer’s, The Briton, and FRANCINE RIVERS got into line behind us!!!! I refrained from gushing, but introduced myself. She was with her daughter Shannon, and Shannon and I chatted while Francine chatted with Sarah and Steve Laube, who happened by.
Francine Rivers, her daughter Shannon, and me
While we stood in line to get Melody Carlson’s book, These Boots Weren’t Made for Walking, a guy recognized me and started talking about my book. Stuart McGuiggan is a Key Account Manager for WaterBrook Multnomah, and he loves Christian fiction. We had a great time discussing good books we’ve read lately, and he’s excited to read Sushi for One. I was so thrilled to talk to him!
Melody Carlson and me
I chatted in Starbucks with Sarah, her husband, and also Jennifer Schuchmann, who joined us. Then I had a great dinner with my agent Wendy Lawton, Janet Kobobel Grant, Sue Brower, and ZonderKIDZ senior editor Barbara Scott.
After dinner, I got to talking first with Jeanne Wynn (Wynn-Wynn Media), then with Chip MacGregor (MacGregor Literary), Andy Meisenheimer (Zondervan), and Beth Jusino (Alive Communications). We were joined first by Kathleen Y’Barbo, Cathy Marie Hake, and Kelly Eileen Hake, then by Sigmund Brouwer. I had never met Sigmund and when I found out who he was, I managed not to gush too much, but at least I didn’t gush as much as Andy. ;)
Chip abandoned us to meet with someone at the Westin, so Beth and I went to get a drink at the bar and saw Steve Laube at a table surrounded by his harem, which consisted of Kathleen, Cathy, Kelly, and Tracey Bateman. Andy and Susan May Warren joined us later.
Susie had been waiting on a couple, and when they arrived, she introduced us. It was noisy and I didn’t notice at first when they arrived, but then she introduced me to the guy, I said hi, she said, “This is Ted Dekker and his wife LeeAnn.” Then I really did gush, I’m ashamed to say, but he took it in stride. He then got into an intense discussion with Steve, so I was unable to embarrass myself further.
Sigmund Brouwer and Andy Meisenheimer
Me and Beth Jusino
Me and Chip MacGregor
Continued: ICRS Wednesday
Comments
PS. My daughter was looking over my shoulder and said you look really happy.
Simply amazing. A friendly sort, you are. Awesome. Your book signing sounded like it was great.
Does your face hurt from smiling?(Probably not. Those muscles are in great shape, I think.)
Deleting your entry and re-adding it in Blogarithm made all the difference. Now I can read you daily again without needing to remember to hop over.
Glad you had a great trip. And I hear your signing went really well. Congratulations!
I have a feeling that I would have made an absolute idiot out of myself had I met Ted Dekker unexpectedly... everyone would have probably pretended not to know me. Forever.
I didn't realize Jeff Dunn was an editor now. He's a super nice guy.
I'm jealous you got to meet Ted and Francine. I was hoping to bump into both. At least I got to bump into you though!
And I am SO looking forward to getting my copy of Sushi For One?