Yesterday afternoon I had the pleasure of viewing Louise Penny discuss her writing and her new book, All the Devils are Here via Zoom with Eric Friesen – he in Kingston, Ontario; she in her flat in London, UK.
Although fans are familiar with three Pines, the little village in the Eastern Townships in Quebec where other Louise Penny books are set, this latest one takes place in Paris. I wonder how readers, who have come to expect the familiar inhabitants of Three Pines, will react to this change of venue and characters. Will Penny be successful in “taking down the wall” – to allow the reader to comfortably enter the world of this novel?
We know that Armand Gamache’s son Daniel and his wife and children live in Paris, but the relationship between Gamache and Daniel has always be shrouded in mystery. Apparently now we will learn more about their history.
By Penny’s admission, she had only visited Paris with her late husband, Michael, and was apprehensive about spending time there alone to research All the Devils are Here. But renting an apartment with friends seems to have make the experience more palatable. Readers who know the city will recognize the names of restaurants and bistros in the two arrondissements in which the book is primarily set.
As a result of this interview, I am looking forward to reading All the Devils are Here. Eric Friesen is a consummate professional, always impeccably prepared and able to put authors at ease with his relaxed interview style.
The Louise Penny presentation on September 6th was a fundraiser for Kingston Writersfest. According to Barbara Bell, the festival’s Artistic Director, over 500 people tuned in from all across Canada and the U.S. – a tribute to the quality and popularity of this annual festival. As with many such events, COVID-19 means that the 2020 festival, taking place from September 23-27, will mostly be online. While those of us who usually attend in person will be disappointed with this forced approach, it will allow readers and writers world-wide to participate. Check out this year’s events at: http://kingstonwritersfest.ca
