I was in France this last week for the release of Sépulcre - that's the French edition of Sepulchre. Interestingly, I thought the book was going to be called Sépulture in France, because that's the name of the Baudelaire poem from which part of my inspiration came. However, my publisher decided that Sépulcre sounds 'plus noble' - and who am I to disagree?

Anyway, one of the events in Toulouse coincided with the build up to the final match in the French rugby union season, in which Stade Toulousain were going for the title. Of course, we brought one another luck - the red and black of Toulouse were victorious and we had a great time too.

I say 'we' because my husband Greg came with me on the French trip. After all, when we visit southwest France we are, in a way, going home. It would be strange not to be there together. In fact, Greg was at Montségur recently filming a TV documentary and it was an odd feeling for us both.

Now I think of it, that was also the weekend when the Toulouse rugby union side won the European Cup. Could this be the start of another mystery ... ?

One of the best things about being a writer is that you can work almost anywhere.

One of the worst is that sometimes your friends - other writers - take advantage of this. They drift off to the far side of the globe and work there instead of on your doorstep.

I have done this myself with my family a couple of times - to France and back, depending on our children's commitments. Even when home educating, with all of its freedoms, there were ties that we were reluctant to relinquish.

Anyway, I recently received an email from C C Humphreys - actor and author. He is publishing his blog from his new home in Vancouver. He says:

I am going to be blogging about all facets of a writer's life - from the craft of creating a character, to the graft of getting a book published. From library research to hanging out in Dracula's castle. What I am most looking forward to is interacting with my readers and my fellow bloggers. As my friend Jack Absolute might say: 'Huzzah!'

Sounds good. I'll be there.

A bientôt

Kate

I mentioned meeting Danielle Trussoni last week. That was because I was out and about at literary festivals.

Mostly travels around publication time are to sell copies of your new book - if you can find your audience. In this case it was different.

In fact, the trip in question was to a literary festival in Bulgaria where Sepulchre has not yet been translated. I and my husband Greg were guests of the Elizabeth Kostova Foundation. We spent four days in the Black Sea resort of Sozopol - once the playground of the Communist Party elite - learning about the Bulgarian publishing industry.

It was such a revealing trip - and so different to consider a country of just a few million people with a language unlikely to be spoken beyond its borders. What a challenge for writers and publishers!

Truly, one of the greatest pleasures of the writer's life is meeting other authors. It is fascinating to chat about this and that - how the imagination finds its way, how vague ideas become substantial ones; as Auden said - how 'relevant thoughts occur' and not 'lip-smacking imps of mawk and hooey'.

Also in the last few days the Orange Broadband Prize for Fiction - I'm honorary director - was awarded to Rose Tremain for The Road Home
.

So, it's all go, because I have also been delighted to find Sepulchre at number 1 in the UK paperback fiction chart. That's the sort of news that revives, as my grandmother might have said.

A bientôt

Kate