Kingdom of the Blind

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

A funny thing happened on my way to not writing this book.

I started writing.

The truth is, I’ve known since I began writing Still Life that if Michael died, I couldn’t continue with the series. Not simply because he was the inspiration for Gamache, and it would be too painful, but because he’s imbued every aspect of the books. The writing, the promotion, the conferences, the travel, the tours. He was the first to read a new book, and the last to criticize. Always telling me it was great, even when the first draft was quite clearly merde.

We were truly partners.

How could I go on when half of me was missing? I could barely get out of bed.

I told my agent and publishers that I was taking a year off. That might have been a lie. In my heart I knew I could never write Gamache again. (And, sadly, would have to give back the next advance.)

But then, a few months later, I found myself sitting at the long pine dining table, where I always wrote. Laptop open.

And I wrote two words: Armand Gamache

Then the next day I wrote: slowed his car to a crawl

And the next day: then stopped on the snow-covered secondary road.

Kingdom of the Blind was begun. Not with sadness. Not because I had to, but with joy. Because I wanted to.

My heart was light. Even as I wrote about some very dark themes, it was with gladness. With relief. That I get to keep doing this.

Far from leaving Michael behind, he became even more infused in the books. All the things we had together came together, in Three Pines. Love, companionship, friendship. His integrity. His courage. Laughter.

I realized, too, that the books are far more than Michael. Far more than Gamache. They’re the common yearning for community. For belonging. They’re about kindness, acceptance. Gratitude. They’re not so much about death, as life. And the consequences of the choices we make.

Now, the publishers, wonderful people, had no idea I was writing. It wasn’t until six months later that I told them. But even then, I warned them the book might not be ready in time.

My wonderful agent, Teresa Chris, and Andy Martin, my U.S. publisher with Minotaur Books, were magnificent. Telling me not to worry. To take whatever time I needed. Stop writing, if I needed.

And that was all I needed, to keep going.

And so Kingdom of the Blind was born. It is the child that was never going to be. But happened. My love child.

I want to thank a number of people for their patience and kindness.

My assistant, Lise, my great friend, who held my heart when it was too heavy for me.

Andy Martin, the head of Minotaur Books in the U.S. My editor, Hope Dellon, to whom this book is dedicated. Paul Hochman and Sarah Melnyk. Sally Richardson and Don Weisberg. All so much more than colleagues.

Thank you to Kelley Ragland, for leaping in where needed.

To Teresa Chris, my long-suffering and passionate agent and friend.

To Ed Wood, Kirsteen Astor, David Shelley, and all the team at Little, Brown UK.

Thank you to Louise Loiselle at Flammarion Québec, for placing the books in the hands of so many French Canadians.

Thank you, Linda Lyall in Scotland, for the great social media design, and for answering so many of the emails.

I want to thank Kirk Lawrence and Walter Marinelli, for their unwavering friendship and support. And Danny and Lucy at Brome Lake Books.

Thank you to Rocky and Steve Gottlieb for their courage in allowing me to use a story from their own lives.

Thank you to Stephen Jarislowsky, a great character himself, for being, with good humor, the inspiration for a new character.

To Troy McEachren, who helped me with a legal plot point. Where there’s a will …

And my family. Rob and Audi. Doug and Mary. My nieces and nephews. For enveloping me in their lives. I promise not to make too much of a mess.

As I sit here, at the long pine table, writing to you, I see forests and hear birds. I see a bench inscribed with Surprised by Joy. Just down that path through the trees is a café, and the bookstore.

I choose to live in the beautiful little Québec village of Knowlton. For the simple reason that this is home.

I want to thank my neighbors, for their patience and kindness. For saving a place at the table for both Michael and me.

And I want to thank you. For your company.

We are very fortunate, aren’t we? To have found each other in Three Pines.