I am pleased to announce the birth of Conor (name of the lead character in a relevant book) Macpherson (my wife’s mother’s maiden name and Sir John A.’s cousin’s name) Viner on St Patrick’s Day 2016. Fifth grandson!

In the early hours of April 7th, 1878, D’Arcy McGee was assassinated on Sparks Street in Ottawa. I am in Amsterdam this week. A few days ago I visited the castle of William of Orange. Hmmm. I’ll be toasting the memory of D’Arcy McGee tonight.

An article on me in the Spring 2015 edition of the Ryerson Review of Journalism. Rather nice. No mention of the book though. http://rrj.ca/keeping-it-reel/

I’m going to be in Ottawa on March 11th for Politics and the Pen. A great event. A few years ago my son Stuart Henderson, the author of Making the Scene, was there. My turn this year.

Doesn’t have anything to do with novel but I sure am sad to learn that the iconic Canadian artist, Ted Harrison passed away. He was a great artist, great guy and great friend.

Steve Paiken interviewed me today on TVO’s The Agenda. Not sure when it will be aired. Sometime this week before Sir John A.’s birthday I assume. Stay tuned. Here is a sideways pix of me in the studio.

This Thursday at 5pm Roy MacSkimming and I will be on CKWS talking about historical fiction in Sir John A. Macdonald’s home town. That evening at the library we will continue the conversation.

Celebrating Sir John A.’s 200th birthday (which is January 11th)  I will be speaking in Kingston at 7pm on Thursday January 8th. Check out www.sirjohna2015.ca

The Stories We Tell: A Night of Historical Fiction (featuring authors Gordon Henderson & Roy MacSkimming with performance by the SALON Acting Company) at Kingston Frontenac Public Library.

• This theatrical and literary night will feature historical fiction authors Gordon Henderson and Roy MacSkimming as well as the SALON Acting Company speaking about and performing the genre of historical fiction: where fact meets fiction, when artistic liberties are taken, and more.

Sir John A.’s 200th birthday is a month away. I will be going to a dinner in Toronto on January 10th and speaking in Kingston on January 8th. I’m on a panel about writing historical fiction. On his birthday — January 11th — I may just toast him with a dram of whiskey.

I’m reading from MAN IN THE SHADOWS at the Rivoli on Toronto’s Queen Street Sunday October 19th at 8 pm. Part of Louis Bak’s Box Salon.