TUESDAY BRINGS TROUBLE

LAUNCH TIME – ALMOST

Who was it said that producing a book is a process that makes childbirth look easy? Not a woman, certainly, and most certainly not an actual mother. But writing a book, from the first empty page – or blank computer screen – to the finished manuscript, and then having it shepherded through to a finished product between covers is a sometimes wrenching process; and when not actually wrenching, really difficult and wearying. Well, for this writer, anyway. In just over ten years I have produced three novels; and a half-dozen unfinished works – many hundreds of pages, hard copy and electronic copy both. Stillbirths, I suppose one could call them, if one were being graphically crude – or just criminally evocative. Which, come to think on it, is what I do.

I have friends and fellow writers (most of them female, though) who produce a novel a year; and one notable friend, the uniquely talented Mary Jane Maffini, who produces more than one book per annum, and juggles three different series.

How does she do it? I have no idea. I think the output would be even greater if she could type more quickly, but thus far that’s only a rumour.

Anyway, my third book is about to appear. Yesterday, I picked up five copies of the advance reading copy of Death Of A Lesser Man from my publicist, Taryn Manias. She had been busy all of that day preparing press kits for mailing out to some 60 reviewers in Canada and the US. We will hope for a good outcome. The release date is a month from now, May 15th. The Ottawa launch will happen a few days later. A launch in St. John’s – scene of all three Inspector Stride novels – is a possibility for later in the summer.

On the last weekend in May, as part of the book-promotion process – I will be in Halifax, Nova Scotia, for a luncheon event with the Canadian Library Association as part of their annual meeting. I will be traveling to and from Ottawa with Barbara Fradkin – she of the very successful Inspector Green series – and the aforementioned amazing Mary Jane.

It seems that I will be the lone male writer on the menu for the luncheon, surrounded by homicidal females. And not for the first time in my writing career. It’s been my – and others’ – observation that the crime-writing milieu is almost dominated by the ladies. There is even an organization known as “Sisters In Crime”, and a local Ottawa branch called “The Ladies’ Killing Circle”. (Imagine, if you will, the hubbub that might erupt if there were organizations known as “The Gentlemen’s Killing Circle”, or “Brothers In Crime”.) There is probably some very good explanation for all this. Perhaps MJ and Barbara will enlighten me on the flight to Halifax.

The week after my return from Halifax, I will be winging my way to Victoria, British Columbia, for the annual gore-fest of the Crime Writers of Canada, Bloody Words 2011, June 3-5. The last time I attended that gathering it was held in Ottawa in 2009. On that occasion I chaired a panel on historical mysteries. At the Vancouver conference, I will sit on a panel on “Cold Cases” (perhaps because I come from an island in the North Atlantic where most cases are chilly?); I will also introduce and moderate a session with Barbara Fradkin and Garry Ryan, “Inspired To Murder”. That should be an interesting session, and this time – for once – the males have the female outnumbered, two to one – although Barbara would probably see that only as evening the odds.


Thomas Rendell Curran was born in St. John’s, Newfoundland. His novels are set in the post-war, pre-Confederation Newfoundland of the late 1940’s. His protagonist is Inspector Eric Stride of the Newfoundland Constabulary. (The designation Royal was added to the Constabulary’s title in 1979.) The first, Undertow, was short-listed for an Arthur Ellis Best First Novel Award from Crime Writers of Canada. The second is Rossiter. And the third Eric Stride novel is on its way.

CRIME ON MY MIND

Read any good books lately?

I'll bet you're a reader. You wouldn't be reading this if that wasn't so. What we read reflects our lifestyle and interests but also can influence what we write.

I know of some mystery writers who won't read a mystery while they're writing their own books. That's to ensure nothing bleeds into their writing, be it the other author's style or information.

While I do agree with that premise, I've found myself reading the latest cosies from Berkley Prime Crime as quickly as they're hitting the shelves (in the Independent bookstores, I might add). Since that's my publisher, I feel I need to stay on top of what they're looking for and where their line is heading. Publishing trends change so quickly and by the time mine is published (2012), I may already be lagging. And this month it just so happens that Mary Jane Maffini's latest Charlotte Adams, the 7th in the series, The Busy Woman's Guide to Murder, is one of those. It's hot off the press!

So, I have a stack of books on my bedside table, on two ends tables in the living room, and in my purse (never leave home without it). And these are just the books I have on the go -- more than one at any given time. I have books I've bought, books I've been given, library books and advance reading copies.

Along with the mysteries, I've just finished reading, a bit after last month's deadline for my Book Club, Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson. I loved it! The writing flows, with well-chosen words and descriptions that take you right into the story. And, what a wonderful love story. I'll say no more! Hate to ruin it for you.

This month we read Saving Cee Cee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman, also a feel-good story. Seems we're on a roll here. For me, there was the added benefit of a cast of wonderfully eccentric Southern women and although the state was Georgia, that's not far from where I've set my novels.

There are a variety of books on my TBR piles but those I'll review in the near future, as their publication dates approach, are Among the Departed by Vicki Delany, Reluctant Dead by John Moss, and Dead Ends by Don Easton. And I have it on good authority Thomas Rendall Curran's latest Eric Stride, Death of a Lesser Man, will soon arrive, along with The Witch of Babylon by Dorothy McIntosh. So many books...so little time! Don't you love it!!

I'm not at a loss for books to read, as my TBR piles now spills onto the floor. How these will influence my writing remains to be seen because even though we try to remain a unique voice in the writing world, all things that touch our lives end up influencing what we write.

I think I've made some good choices here and I welcome what they have to show me. Why do you read? And, what are you reading right now?


Linda Wiken/Erika Chase
Mystery Book Club series coming from Berkley Prime Crime,
April, 2012

LADIES' KILLING THURSDAYS

Creating a Masterpiece.

I was reading in an art book about how Leonardo da Vinci created his masterpiece, the Mona Lisa. First he created a detailed underpainting in a neutral grey, and then applied his colours in transparent glazes on top.

Sometimes the underpainting would show through the layers, helping to create form. He muted his palette in a narrow tonal range to give a sense of unity to the painting. He softened the facial features and made his shadows darker and more monochromatic as they grew further from the focal point.

His technique of softening colours and edges with dark glazes is called sfumato, from the Italian fumo, meaning smoke. It's as if all the edges have been obscured by a haze of transparent shadows, or smoke.

It struck me that writing a mystery follows this pattern. First we lay down the central storyline and plot. Then we add in the details and colour. Sometimes you can see the understory. Other times it's obscured by vibrant bits of detail. If we keep the story within a tonal range, it has unity. The further we are from the core of the story, the more vague the details become.

They always said mystery was all smoke and mirrors. Maybe it's sfumato.

Are you on your way to creating a masterpiece?


Vicki Cameron is the author of Clue Mysteries and More Clue Mysteries, each 15 short stories based on the board game Clue. Her young adult novel, Shillings, appeared in 2007. Her stories appear in the Ladies' Killing Circle anthology series and Storyteller Magazine. Her young adult novel, That Kind of Money, was nominated for an Edgar and an Arthur Ellis.

WICKED WEDNESDAYS

It's no lie!

A few years ago, this crazy idea for a panel at mystery conferences was hatched. They called it The Liars' Panel and I laughed, and shelled out, through several renditions at Bloody Words and Left Coast Crime.

If you've never been in the audience, here's how it goes. The panel -- all mystery authors, known and respected (that's a key word), each take turns telling a short story involving themselves. At the end of it, those doubting Thomases in the audience shout out "Liar", thus challenging the author to 'fess up. If it is indeed the truth, the accuser must put some money in the pot. If it's a lie and the author is caught out, it's that author who pays up.

The money at the end of the session is donated to a worthy cause.

The Ladies' Killing Circle did a version of that at a fundraiser we were headlining last fall. We invited a few people, well-known in that community, to tell their tales. At the end of the evening, many laughs were shared and a nice donation was added to the fundraising event.

It just goes to show, it's often hard to spot a liar.

But the crime writers were onto a good thing. And now, others are following. CBC Radio 2, on Julie Nesrallah's Tempo program, is holding a Two Truths & A Lie contest. Noted conductor Yannik Nezet-Seguin reads out three statements about himself. The listener is invited to decide which is the false statement and send in their answers. It's a great promotion, both for Yannik and for the program. No one has to pay up though but there are prizes -- CD's, of course! This is their second go at this contest. The first featured violinist James Ehnes.

So, my point? How wonderful that the crime writing community has led the way! The idea could have been going around the entertainment scene for years, but let's take the credit, shall we? Now, wouldn't it be nice if one of these media types would acknowledge the crime writing community and our version of it?

So, told any good lies lately?


Linda Wiken
writing as Erika Chase
the Mystery Book Club series coming April, 2012
from Berkley Prime Crime

TUESDAY BRINGS TROUBLE

Just add the cats!

Have you ever noticed how important cats, (ok, and dogs too but this blog is about cats) are to the writing process? Many books have been written over the years about writers and their cats. Where would we be without them?

There's cat-as-muse. This particular cat is fond of stretching out its full, langurous length across the desk, sometimes choosing a tiny open space between computer and the edge, but most often right on top of whatever you need to be reading at the moment. She lies there inviting you to marvel in her sleek lines, let your mind drift into free association, and thereby return to your task refreshed and enlightened.

Cat-as-editor frequently appears, doing the rounds of the house, and checking in to make sure their are no typos. This requires the cat to walk across the keyboard, pausing on a particular letter, probably one you need to pay more attention to. Or, he may be pointing out that the word you've chosen, the one he's highlighting, is simply the wrong word. Editor Cat is also very good at deleting entire pages but of course, that page wasn't working and needed to be re-written.

Cat-as-diva likes to check in periodically, helping the writer become more focused by posing dramatically in front of the computer screen. And not budging. Note the concentration of Diva Cat. Writers should be able to apply this lesson to their writing, being able to get totally into a scene and be oblivious to anyone who might be asking said writer to move out of the way.

Of course, cat-as-researcher is one of the most important roles. I have two Siamese cats in my mystery book club series. Not surprisingly, I share my house with two Siamese cats. When fictional cats chase each other up the stairs and play fight, it's probably because my two real cats have just done the same. The ability to hear a bag of treats being taken out of the kitchen cupboard when the cats are in the far upstairs TV room...well, that's fiction imitating real life again.

And, let us not forget the most important one, cat-on-the-lap, whose main task in life is to give non-judgmental love and support. And where would a writer be without these?

I suppose that in all honesty, a writer should mention her cats in the acknowledgements of each book. But then we might end up with Ego Cat and who knows where that would lead us!

Are you willing to admit, there's a cat (ok, or a dog) that plays a vital role in your writing? And as a reader, are you looking for the cat?

MAYHEM ON MONDAY

What will it be this time: celebration or sympathy?

Uh oh, here they come again: butterflies in the stomach. Tomorrow, April 5th, The Busy Woman’s Guide to Murder will hit the shelves. Today I will worry about that. Oh sure, it’s my thirteenth book and the fifth in the Charlotte Adams series. I am well aware of that and you’d think I’d get over those butterflies when I think about it. Shouldn’t I be blasé after all these years? Maybe. But there’s something about the first ‘official’ day of a new book. Will it have all its fingers and toes, um, pages? Will readers reach for it? Will they like what they read? Will reviewers be kind to it? Will the series still feel fresh? Will the characters actually stay in character and continue to intrigue? Will all the former loose ends that were fixed in the last draft stay knit up? And of course, the all-important question: will the readers guess the ending or will I win the game of wits with them? There’s no way to know that until the book has been read. Believe me, they’ll let me know if they catch on before the ‘darkest hour’.

It’s a bit like being a parent. We authors get very attached to our projects, sort of like our children. A book does take longer than a pregnancy as a rule and is often painful at certain stages too. The results are worth it, of course, for the author and we hope for the reader. We are also, by and large, very proud of our literary (and criminous) offspring. Rightly so. But there’s something about that day before the official publication date that stirs up any worries, anxieties, whatever. Of course, in my case I could worry over a longer period, but this is an intense business and who’s got time? Once a year for one day has to do the trick.

So wish me well and join me in a small bit of fun to celebrate or sympathize with two of my on-going characters in the Charlotte Adams books: the rescued miniature dachshunds and reigning canine royalty in Charlotte’s small apartment,Truffle and Sweet Marie.

As the story starts, the spoiled little darlings are trying to pass their therapy dog test (third time and you’re out). They’ve been working on this since book three, with woefully embarrassing results. Of course, there is murder and mayhem and investigating by Charlotte, but we are talking about the dogs here. To celebrate the arrival of the book, I am having a little contest and I thought you might be interested. The winner will be drawn from among the correct answers and will get the cute little watch shown here.

The ‘skill-testing question follows:

Truffle and Sweet Marie have their last chance to pass their Therapy Dog Test. What happens?

a) Truffle passes and Sweet Marie disgraces herself.
b) Sweet Marie succeeds and Truffle snarls at the instructor (automatic fail)
c) Both dogs leave Charlotte mortified
d) Truffle and Sweet Marie pass with flying colors
e) None of the above

If you think you have an answer, email me at detect@rogers.com Good luck! Psst, you have until the first week of May.

MJ

The Busy Woman’s Guide to Murder: a Charlotte Adams mystery
(April 5, 2011)
A TOP PICK! RT Book Reviews, April 2011 4 1/2 stars


Mary Jane Maffini rides herd on three (soon to be three and a half) mystery series and a couple of dozen short stories. Her thirteenth mystery novel, The Busy Woman’s Guide to Murder (April 5, 2011), is brimming with names, no two the same.

CRIME ON MY MIND

It's raining crime this April!

There's plenty of crime and mystery afoot this month, with so many opportunities to see and hear local authors. In case you haven't checked the Events side-bar on Mystery Maven Canada, what follows is a brief outline of these mysterious goings-on.

Starting with Sat., April 9th at 7 p.m., popular authors Brenda Chapman (In Winter's Grip), C.B. Forrest (Slow Recoil), Barbara Fradkin (Beautiful Lie the Dead), and Mary Jane Maffini (The Busy Woman's Guide to Murder) will share the spotlight with a wine tasting...and we all know that wine and crime go so well together! It's a fundraiser for the Ottawa School of Speech & Drama... a great way to get your fill, so to speak, and help a good cause.

On Tues., April 12th, busy authors Brenda Chapman and C.B. Forrest headline the Talk 2 Writers event at the main branch of the Ottawa Public Library, Auditorium, 7 p.m. Another local mystery writer, Tim Wynne-Jones will be the host. It's a great way to enjoy a reading, ask questions, and perhaps, crack the mystery of what makes these two such popular mystery writers.

The final event for April takes place on Thurs. April 28th, again at the OPL Auditorium, at 7 p.m. It's a triple event starting off with The Perilous Path to Publication -- a panel of authors Peggy Blair, Randall Denley who have taken a different route. They're happy to share experiences in this wacky world of publishing. Katherine Hobbs, local Councilor, will be moderating the well-behaved panel.

Also at that event, the short-list for the prestigious Arthur Ellis Award from Crime Writers of Canada will be announced. Are there local mystery authors on it? You'll want to be the first to find out. Plus, the short-list for the Audrey Jessup Award in the short story contest from Capital Crime Writers will be announced.

It's an exciting evening for the local mystery scene...in fact, an exciting month! And May promises to be just as busy as mystery conference season is in full swing, plus Mary Jane Maffini's launch of her latest Charlotte Adams mystery, and Vicki Delany's new Const. Molly Smith book, will take place on May 9th.

It would be criminal to miss any of it!


Linda Wiken/Erika Chase
Book Club Mystery series coming April 2012
from Berkley Prime Crime
Murder By the Book