Three’s a charm

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 01/09/2015 (3719 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Karen Bate is hoping her new novel gives readers a chill.

Bate will officially launch her third book — titled Ice — in the Travel Alcove at McNally Robinson Booksellers (1120 Grant Ave.) on Thurs., Sept. 10 at 7:30 p.m.

The 242-page paperback, published through artbookbindery.com, marks a departure from her first two books — 2013’s Tales of Lake of Two Mountains and Tales of a Starving Actress, which was released last December — which were both memoirs.

Set in the fictional city of Mayfair and featuring detective Emily Starr and her new partner Iain Webster, Bate said the newbooktakes a sharp turn away from the autobiographical route and takes the reader down the path of fiction.

“It relies heavily on popular culture and is certainly influenced by TV shows and movies, but it’s not a comedy. It’s a murder-mystery,” Bate, 59, said. “The town of Mayfair is fictional and the country is not defined completely, so it has universal appeal. There are references to London and New York, so there’s definitely an element of international intrigue. And there are puns, suspense, drama and a hint of romance — maybe.”

Whether or not there is love in the air will be revealed in due course — but it may not be this time around. That’s because the River Park South resident is planning a set of three sequels to follow Ice, which is set in the dead of winter.  

“The characters really took on a life of their own, and there are stories to be told as the community of characters evolves. I felt they should go through a year together.”

Bate said next up will be Flood, which will be set in the spring, followed by the mid-summer Steam. The series will end with Frost, which will be set in the fall.

“It was time to leave memoirs behind and time to let my imagination get going. I’ve always been fascinated by police procedurals and how they unfold, so this seemed like a good fit. I had so much fun doing this, it was a hoot,” she said.

Bate has a theatre background and decided early in life that she wanted to be an actor. She has a degree from the University of Winnipeg, with a double major in theatre and psychology, and went on to complete the professional post-graduate diploma course at Webber Douglas
Academy of Dramatic Art in London, England, from where she recently returned after seeing some of her “old theatre chums” on a family trip. She is married to John and has a daughter, Allison, and a son, Devon.

“Writing has been a phenomenal creative release for me. There are parallels between writing and acting, as the process of creating the characters is very much the same. You’re watching people, living life and experiencing all that you can because you never know what you’ll draw from,” Bate said.  

At the launch event, Bate plans to talk briefly about and read from her book. There will also be time for a book signing. All are welcome. Tea, coffee and dainties will be served.

To learn more, visit www.mcnallyrobinson.com/event-14390/Karen-Bate—-Book-Launch#.VeD7oXp2NI0