What with all the gloom & doom news about the publishing industry, it was a pleasure to receive in the mail the latest issue of Quill & Quire, 'Canada's Magazine of Book News and Reviews', and see the cover given over to crime fiction! In fact, the headline reads: "The Boom in Crime Fiction". Yay! (The 'yay' is mine!)
Canadian crime and mystery writers take heart! Writer Sarah Weinman's article explores the impact of Swedish author's Steig Larsson's success on the Canadian crime scene, stating that publishes are looking for the next big thing and that "interest in the crime genre (is) at an all-time high". She goes on the mention the big names in publishing, HarperCollins Canada, McClelland & Stewart, and the Knopf Random Canada Publishing Group.
Now, we all know these are and will remain out of reach to the majority of mystery
writers. However, she also singles out Napoleon & Company, "which publishes established crime authors such as Mary Jane Maffini and Barbara Fradkin on the RevezVous Crime list..."
It's good to see that Sylvia McConnell's publishing company is duly recognized. It has been responsible for the Canadian crime wave that's seen many new, wonderful crime writers finally get into print. RendezVous Crime has been a leader in giving new authors a break, and by doing so, has given the reading community a wealth of well-written, imaginative new series. It's not a surprise that there's at least one RendezVous Crime title short-listed for an Arthur Ellis Award from Crime Writers of Canada each year.Congratulations Sylvia & company! The mystery writers thank you for your devotion to
the genre; the mystery readers thank you for your determination to publish the best in Canadian crime writing.Have you read a RendezVous Crime novel today? Still a few hours in which to get to it.
Linda Wiken/Erika Chase
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