Bernadette Calonego's Blog: Eventful - Posts Tagged "being-creative"
A Sinister Island
When I've finished writing a crime novel, I'm in a good phase. It's done! I still have the feedback from my test readers ahead of me and later the editor will work with the text and suggest changes. But basically there is a book again and I can breathe a sigh of relief. My new Detective Calista Gates sequel will be published on December 5 under the title "Dark Moon Island". You can pre-order the e-book already on Amazon and read there what it is all about.
It is never easy for me to pass on my manuscript, which for months has belonged to me alone. At the same time, however, I suddenly have time for all kinds of things again, while other people deal with my text. I can meet friends more often, linger in the café, read books not only in the evening, I can organize my bureaucratic life, try new recipes, read online newspapers in more detail, take two walks in one day, make long phone calls, darn socks, go through unopened moving boxes, look up the names of flowers and birds, make vacation plans for the coming year. That's luxury for me!
"You have to be very disciplined," people keep telling me, "to write books at home." That's right. Every morning, even on weekends, I sit down and work. Nevertheless, I also need the laziness, the free-floating thoughts, or the option to do mundane things at unfamiliar times, not having a guilty conscience when I postpone work to meet someone, or to attend a Zoom conference or an event. I also love doing nothing. What a pleasure to just spend a rainy Saturday morning in bed!
My favourite fisherman feels the same way. He goes out on the ocean almost every day during the fishing season, and in summer he often goes non-stop, without a break, out of the bed at three in the morning. But if he is forced to stay at home because of bad weather or strong winds, he cannot really enjoy it because he loses a load of fish and the income that is attached to it. He ponders his options incessantly: Maybe the wind will die down, maybe we can set the fishing nets tonight.
When I go out in the evening and it lasts until late at night, I'm too wired to fall asleep immediately. Hours later, when I finally doze off, I wake up early in the morning out of habit. Unfortunately, I can't be creative when I'm tired in my head. That's why I'm glad that I live in a remote area of Newfoundland where there is little temptation to spend half the night out of the house. I save that for my travels.
By the way, If you want to learn more about my life in Canada, or read my opinion on movies, books and all kinds of interesting facts, then you can subscribe to "Bernadette's Letter": Go to the homepage of my website www.bernadettecalonego.com, scroll down and press the e-mail button.You can unsubscribe easily. Take care!]
It is never easy for me to pass on my manuscript, which for months has belonged to me alone. At the same time, however, I suddenly have time for all kinds of things again, while other people deal with my text. I can meet friends more often, linger in the café, read books not only in the evening, I can organize my bureaucratic life, try new recipes, read online newspapers in more detail, take two walks in one day, make long phone calls, darn socks, go through unopened moving boxes, look up the names of flowers and birds, make vacation plans for the coming year. That's luxury for me!
"You have to be very disciplined," people keep telling me, "to write books at home." That's right. Every morning, even on weekends, I sit down and work. Nevertheless, I also need the laziness, the free-floating thoughts, or the option to do mundane things at unfamiliar times, not having a guilty conscience when I postpone work to meet someone, or to attend a Zoom conference or an event. I also love doing nothing. What a pleasure to just spend a rainy Saturday morning in bed!
My favourite fisherman feels the same way. He goes out on the ocean almost every day during the fishing season, and in summer he often goes non-stop, without a break, out of the bed at three in the morning. But if he is forced to stay at home because of bad weather or strong winds, he cannot really enjoy it because he loses a load of fish and the income that is attached to it. He ponders his options incessantly: Maybe the wind will die down, maybe we can set the fishing nets tonight.
When I go out in the evening and it lasts until late at night, I'm too wired to fall asleep immediately. Hours later, when I finally doze off, I wake up early in the morning out of habit. Unfortunately, I can't be creative when I'm tired in my head. That's why I'm glad that I live in a remote area of Newfoundland where there is little temptation to spend half the night out of the house. I save that for my travels.
By the way, If you want to learn more about my life in Canada, or read my opinion on movies, books and all kinds of interesting facts, then you can subscribe to "Bernadette's Letter": Go to the homepage of my website www.bernadettecalonego.com, scroll down and press the e-mail button.You can unsubscribe easily. Take care!]


Published on September 20, 2025 14:55
•
Tags:
author-life, being-creative, canada, fishing, newfoundland, remote, writing-books
Eventful
Right now, I am multitasking, juggling several books at the same time, emerging from one, diving into another one.
My new mystery novel "Stormy Cove" is released on May 24. But another things is happe Right now, I am multitasking, juggling several books at the same time, emerging from one, diving into another one.
My new mystery novel "Stormy Cove" is released on May 24. But another things is happening: My next novel that is set in the Arctic is being edited. And I am already thinking of a future novel with cowboys, horses and a series of unexplained high-profile accidents/murders in it.
Sometimes, when people inquire about my books, I mix up my heroines`names or the locations or even the plot. That is what happens when you are pulled out of your quiet and solitary occupation of writing, and all of a sudden you find yourself out in the open, surrounded by people and bombarded by questions. But I enjoy that part, too, I really do. I just have to manage the transition.
What I am really looking forward to is the exchange with my readers. It is amazing what they come up with and what a particular book means to them and their lives.
All I can say: Bring it on. ...more
My new mystery novel "Stormy Cove" is released on May 24. But another things is happe Right now, I am multitasking, juggling several books at the same time, emerging from one, diving into another one.
My new mystery novel "Stormy Cove" is released on May 24. But another things is happening: My next novel that is set in the Arctic is being edited. And I am already thinking of a future novel with cowboys, horses and a series of unexplained high-profile accidents/murders in it.
Sometimes, when people inquire about my books, I mix up my heroines`names or the locations or even the plot. That is what happens when you are pulled out of your quiet and solitary occupation of writing, and all of a sudden you find yourself out in the open, surrounded by people and bombarded by questions. But I enjoy that part, too, I really do. I just have to manage the transition.
What I am really looking forward to is the exchange with my readers. It is amazing what they come up with and what a particular book means to them and their lives.
All I can say: Bring it on. ...more
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