Inspiration - Amuse Bouche
This is a set of photographs that inspired specific scenes, locales and/or storylines for the first Russell Quant mystery, Amuse Bouche, published in 2003.
Inspiration - Flight of Aquavit
This is a set of photographs that inspired specific scenes, locales and/or storylines for the second Russell Quant mystery, Flight of Aquavit, published in 2004.
Inspiration - Tapas on the Ramblas
This is a set of photographs that inspired specific scenes, locales and/or storylines for the third Russell Quant mystery, Tapas on the Ramblas, published in 2005.
Inspiration - Stain of the Berry
This is a set of photographs that inspired specific scenes, locales and/or storylines for the fourth Russell Quant mystery, Stain of the Berry, published in 2006.
Inspiration - Sundowner Ubuntu
This is a set of photographs that inspired specific scenes, locales and/or storylines for the fifth Russell Quant mystery, Sundowner Ubuntu, published in 2007.
Inspiration - Aloha, Candy Hearts
This is a set of photographs that inspired specific scenes, locales and/or storylines for the sixth Russell Quant mystery, Aloha, Candy Hearts, published in 2009.
Inspiration - Date With a Sheesha
This is a set of photographs that inspired specific scenes, locales and/or storylines for the seventh Russell Quant mystery, Date With a Sheesha, published in 2010.
Inspiration - Dos Equis
This is a set of photographs that inspired specific scenes, locales and/or storylines for the eighth Russell Quant mystery, Dos Equis, published in 2012.
Inspiration - When The Saints Go Marching In
This set contains photographs that inspired specific scenes and story lines from the first Adam Saint novel, When The Saints Go Marching In
Inspiration - The Women of Skawa Island
In this set I've collected photographs which inspired scenes, story lines, descriptions or actions in the second Adam Saint suspense novel, The Women of Skawa Island.
Inspiration - Set Free
In 2012 I was turning 50. In the year leading up to the milestone, I came up with the idea to mark the occasion by planning a solo getaway, no holds barred, sky was the limit. This of course immediately put a great deal of pressure on me to figure out what this should be. When, in our adult lives, do we get a week of two to do exactly what we want to do, and wherever we want to do?
Eventually I hit on the idea of visiting Morocco, specifically Marrakech and the Atlas Mountains. It was as exotic a place as I'd ever been, I knew my spouse had no desire to visit there, with French and Arabic the official languages and the souks of the old medina reputed to be the most daunting yet exhilarating, I knew this would be the perfect place for a special adventure. And an adventure it was.
The sights and sounds and smells of that trip inspired many of the scenes in Set Free. Here are a few of photographs that went along with it.
Book Covers: The Russell Quant Mysteries
These are the book cover images for the Russell Quant mystery series. The first (Amuse Bouche) and eighth (Dos Equis) are my own photos.
Book covers: The Adam Saint novels
These are the covers for the Adam Saint series of suspense/thriller novels.
Book Cover - Set Free
Set Free's cover was created by Kelly Nichols, also known as one half of the dynamic writing due P.J. Parish.
Book Cover - Going to Beautiful
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Book Covers - The Merry Bell Series
This Album represents the covers for the mystery series featuring PI Merry Bell.
Saskatoon Hometown Launches for Russell Quant
They say there's no place like home. I certainly found that to be true when it came to hosting book launches for my Russell Quant series of mystery novels.
My first event for each book has always been held at McNally Robinson Booksellers in Saskatoon. And over and over and over again, the crowds came out to celebrate with me.
And over and over and over again, McNally Robinson has pulled out the stops to create wonderful events inspired by the 'location' theme of each book.
When it comes to food, drink, music, and decorations for the launches we've had everything from African dancers, shots of Aquavit, a Hula hut and heaping platters of tapas.
This set of photographs is a small effort at trying to capture the shear exuberance and spirit of those evenings. Since the first one on a spring night in April 2003 to today, they just keep getting bigger and better. Thank you to all who attend and stand in lines, to the McNally Robinson events coordinators, restaurant managers, Prairie Ink chef and staff, and bookstore staff for all you do, and to everyone else who makes it possible for me to be there in front of that microphone. What an honour, what a thrill, not to mention loads of fun.
Saskatoon hometown launches for Adam Saint
My hometown launches for the Russell Quant series are legendary. For the first Adam Saint book, When The Saints Go Marching In, I wanted to try something new, to mark a new beginning, a new series, a new hero. So we changed launch formats. Instead of a weekday night, we went to Saturday afternoon. Instead of a long program with readings and entertainment, we had a signing from 3-4, then an onstage interview, then a final signing until all the books were signed (went to about 5:30).
The questions for the interview were solicited through social media (Twitter, email, Facebook). I enlisted my friends, local celebs Penney Murphy & Brent Loucks, to lead the interview.
By all accounts a huge success and lots of laughs...oh and did I mention the non-stop wine & cheese service?
Saskatoon Hometown Launch of Set Free
September 29, 2016 - Following an interview on CTV News, the hometown launch of Set Free was held at McNally Robinson Booksellers (which has hosted all of my launches), Saskatoon, SK. My last book launch in Saskatoon was June 2013, so I was a little worried about whether the people would come out as they had three years ago. I needn't have worried. Saskatoon showed up in droves. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Saskatoon Hometown Launch of Going to Beautiful
Friday, May 6, 2022 - The Roxy Theatre, Saskatoon, SK
Due to the pandemic and restrictions on space, guests allowed, food service still in place at McNally Robinson Booksellers (who have hosted every one of my hometown launches), we decided to hold this book launch at a historic local theatre, The Roxy, which would give us the space and amenities we needed while still observing pandemic protocols as required. It was a risk getting such a big space. We could have had 10 people or 110 people. Luckily, we had 110+++! Thank you Saskatoon - you always make my day!
Russell Quant Mysteries - Readings & Signings
Excluding my hometown (Saskatoon) book launches, this section has photographs of other launches, readings and signings I've done for the Russell Quant books that don't show up in other photos sets.
Adam Saint novels - Readings & Signings
Excluding my hometown (Saskatoon) book launches, this section has photographs of other launches, readings and signings I've done for the Adam Saint books that don't show up in other photos sets.
Conferences, Festivals & Special Events
This group of photos is from the literary conferences, festivals and special events I've attended since becoming a writer. It excludes book signings and my own book launches and tours which I'll have pictures of elsewhere. This does include sitting on panels, being Master of Ceremonies or Guest speaker at special events, attending award banquets, and appearing on TV, at libraries and even a Cherry Festival.
Bookstores & Bookstore People
I am eternally grateful to the bookstores and bookstore owners, managers, event coordinators who took me in when I was a newbie writer and wielded the most powerful marketing tool of all on my behalf: Word Of Mouth hand-selling.
Sadly, so many of the bookstores I visited on my early book tours no longer exist. But some do. I thank them all. And dedicate this set of photographs to those wonderful institutions called bookstores and the people who make them that way.
Authors & Colleagues
These are photographs of some of the many fellow authors and scribes I've had the wonderful opportunity to meet and get to know since becoming a writer.
Readers
These are photos of some of my readers. Some were taken at readings, signings, and other events. Others are pictures they've graciously sent to me. What is a writer without readers?
Inspiration - People & Places
As a writer a question I am often asked is: What inspires you?
For me the answer is not simple.
What is inspiration anyway? For a writer I guess it is all those things that make you write better, give you bigger and better ideas, things that make you want to write more, things that inspire creativity and unique thought, things that give you a boost when you need it.
I believe inspiration is a daily thing and comes in many varied packages. Sometimes you don't even realize something is inspiring until long after you encountered it.
I am constantly inspired by the people I meet, the places I travel to, friends & family, small moments, big ones, sometimes just simple everyday things will do the job.
The photographs in this set are meant to convey (probably poorly) a sense of some to the many inspirations I've had in my life so far.
Special Moments
This gallery is meant to be a repository of special personal moments caught on film.
We've all had them. Times in our lives that were memorable for one reason or another. Moments of: Celebration. Firsts. Achievement. Quiet reflection. Self Discovery. Awareness. New Direction. Ah-ha Moments.
Rarely captured on film, I'm sure, but some get close...
Author Photos
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Travel
Little did I know that when I boarded my first airplane at the not-so-tender-young age of 18, that I was igniting a thirst and beginning what would become a lifelong love of travel.
The world is a vast place. So much to see and do and experience. I've been so fortunate since that first trip (to the USSR of all places!) to travel to many different cites and countries. And I can truly say that I have found something wonderful about each one.
The list of places to visit is long. Plus there are places I especially love and return to, some - like Hawaii and France - many many times. My mom often says I must have been everywhere already. But I worry I'm going to run out of time before I do. And maybe that's okay.
