LADIES' KILLING THURSDAYS

Mystery Festivals

We've been reading a lot about last week's Bloody Words on Mystery Maven Canada and I agree with everything that's been said. It was a wonderful conference – beautifully organized and full of fun and laughter and opportunities to meet and exchange ideas. I enjoyed every minute of it and can hardly wait for the next one to take place in Toronto, June 1-3, 2012.

But for me, that's simply too far in the future. I need to satisfy my craving to get together with like-minded writers and readers before a whole year goes by. Luckily, there's another opportunity coming up soon. Scene of the Crime Festival will be held on Wolfe Island, the largest of the Thousand Islands, on Saturday, August 13.

A couple of years ago one of the guest authors referred to it as a tiny, perfect mystery festival and I think that just about captures it. Wolfe Island is a free twenty-minute ferry ride from Kingston, Ontario but when you step off the boat it feels as though you might have time-travelled back fifty years. Quaint gingerbread houses line the streets of Marysville, the only village on the island. People say hello to you as you wander along and last year one local gentleman actually tipped his hat to me.

The number of festival registrants must be limited each year because the venues are small. Two charming churches, built around the turn of the last century to meet the needs of an island-sized population, provide the meeting and meal spaces.

And speaking of meals - they are delicious. Sixty-five dollars buys you your festival pass as well as the meet-and-greet coffee and muffins event overlooking Lake Ontario in the morning and a substantial lunch and church supper at the end of the day. And keep your forks, folks, because there's always home-made pie!

August 13th will be a day full of panel discussions, readings, book signings, lectures, awards and plenty of food. This year's Grant Allan Award winner is Maureen Jennings, author of the William Murdoch Series (and T.V.'s Murdoch Mysteries.) Guest authors are Elizabeth Duncan, C.B. Forrest, R.J. Harlick, and Howard Shrier. These are by no means the only authors coming to the festival though. Many of us come back year after year, just to experience the fun of a day on the island with other writers and readers of mystery fiction.

Check out the Scene of the Crime Website (www.sceneofthecrime.ca) and sign up if you can. You won't regret it!


Sue Pike has published a couple of dozen stories and won several awards including an Arthur Ellis Award for Best Short Crime Story. Her latest, Where the Snow Lay Dinted appeared in the January issue of Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine.

Sue and her husband and an opinionated Australian Shepherd named Cooper spend the winter months in Ottawa and the rest of the time at a mysterious cottage on the Rideau Lakes.

WICKED WEDNESDAYS

What is this thing called blog?

So, it's almost a year since I started the Mystery Maven Canada blog. July 21st will be the first anniversary. And after Bloody Words (there's that conference again), I started wondering, why do I do it?

There was an excellent series of workshops on Sunday morning, dealing with this electronic, web-based, social networking world we now live in. I'll devote Friday's blog to some of the great tips I busily wrote down.

But I started wondering, why blog? I guess my main reason was to stay connected to many of my former customers who had asked for continuing advice. This may not have turned out to be what they had in mind, though. I've found it much more difficult to stay on top of new Canadian releases, now that I'm out of the mainstream bookselling world. And so, to those customers, an apology. But I hope you're finding enough information about Cool Canadian Crime at this URL to stick with it.

I've asked a variety of crime writers, especially my gang of The Ladies' Killing Circle, to do blogs. And I've also had readers, publishers, sales reps and others who love mysteries contribute guest blogs. I haven't yet snagged a librarian but I live in hopes! My intent was to offer a variety of approaches to writing, and reading, mysteries plus a peak at what's happening in this fast-changing world of publishing.

The usual way to gauge the success of a blog is by the number of comments. If so, I would be totally discouraged. However, I've been cheered by the comments I've gotten when talking one on one with those who read the blog. So, maybe that's not the way to judge it. The readers stats are also an indicator and if that's so, I have to beat the bushes for new readers because it seems there's a loyal number who drop by on a regular basis, but not a whole lot of growth.

But blogs are supposed to be a good publicity tool, along with being informative. But how do you publicize the publicity? More on that on Friday.

I've concluded that I enjoy doing this blog -- the contact with other authors and their guest blogs and the writing (I always wanted to be a columnist!)so I will continue and hopefully, you will continue to read it.

Dare I ask, what would you like to read about in Mystery Maven Canada?


Linda Wiken/Erika Chase
A Killer Read coming April, 2012
from Berkley Prime Crime

TUESDAY BRINGS TROUBLE

There once was a conference...

You'll probably be hearing and reading about this on many blogs, websites, facebook pages, twitter accounts, etc. over the next few days. But let me get my dibs in here, too. Bloody Words was bloody good!

As I slowly wend my way home, I'm enjoying my version of conference afterglow and offer my reasons for authors to give serious thought to attending Bloody Words 2012 in Toronto...or/and other mystery conferences throughout the year.

There's no better way to network! What a great time re-connecting with author friends and making new ones. Schmoozing is such a part of this community, especially since it's such a supportive community, and unless you're able to traverse the country on a whim, or a signing tour, you're not going to get to meet up with such a great gang.

And the readers! Wow! So much fun to talk to people who love to read mysteries!

I have been known to skip panels in favour of sightseeing -- the odd time. But I'm so glad I didn't this conference. There was a lot of intelligent talking going on and I found myself remembering writing tips I'd long ago forgotten or learning new ways to approach stumbling blocks. The questions from the audience were insightful and I came away feeling refreshed, renewed and energized. Thanks for that!

The conference was well organized and ran very smoothly, so hearty congratulations to all those involved in putting it together. Lou Allin and Kay Stewart, as co-chair, led an efficient team. The hospitality was amazing. And they even got the weather to co-operate! Who could ask for more.

Congratulations, also to the team from Crime Writers of Canada who organized the Arthur Ellis Awards Banquet on the night prior to the conference. And, congrats to all the winners, as well as those short-listed. We have a lot to be proud of in our crime writing community.

And then there's Victoria...but you've probably heard enough about this beautiful city from me already. I just hope the Bloody Victoria Gang will do it all again...and soon.

So, back to Ottawa...back to work. I'm so happy to be a part of this all!


Linda Wiken/Erika Chase
A Killer Read coming April, 2012
from Berkley Prime Crime

MAYHEM ON MONDAY

Ten reasons to attend a wonderful conference

I am just back from beautiful Victoria, British Columbia where I had the pleasure of attending Bloody Words XI, a terrific conference. On the return trip I was musing about how valuable conferences are to writers and readers and how many good reasons there are to attend.

First of all, it’s a chance to reconnect with old friends and to enjoy the shrieks of recognition in the foyer. Shriek and be shrieked at is the norm. And that’s before you’re even registered.

Plus for every old friend there’s a new one to be met in a panel, on an elevator or in the bar. Next time, these brand spanking new buddies will join the growing posse of old friends.

Speaking of bars, where else would you be comfortable in the wee small hours? This turns out to be entertaining and safe, despite the fact that your barmates are used to killing people in so many innovative and undetectable ways.

Of course, the panels are populated by authors, dispensing opinions, advice and witticisms. Just when you think you’ve heard every piece of writing advice, an author on a panel will offer a bit that will change the way you’re viewing your work in progress. Thank you, colleagues. Keep that coming.

While happily watching panels, any mystery writer worth her salt, will naturally come up with a plethora of excellent new ideas for killing people. What’s not to love?

In between panels, murderous insights, clustering with friends and endless meals, there’s the chance to mouse about the dealers’ room and see books by the authors who are present. Each conference showcases the authors from that part of the country (or the world!) Among the books I’ve taken home are A Hummingbird Dance by Calgary author Garry Ryan (NeWest) and Seaweed in the Soup, the fifth book by B.C.’s Stanley Evans published by (Touchwood). I am very much looking forward to these good catches among others to be mentioned in future posts.

Then there are the readers. And aren’t readers the reason we write in the first place? In addition to old friends, I was so happy to meet some people I’d only encountered online. What a treat to put faces to names and to talk about what they read and why. I also was lucky enough to meet new readers and felt very grateful to have that chance. If you want to learn something new, talk to a reader.

One of the conference highlights for me was the awarding of the coveted Bony Pete award for short stories. This year’s winners were: Jayne Barnard, Gloria Ferris and Melodie Campbell. These are all very talented and committed writers and we know we will continue on to create terrific works of crime fiction.

This all adds up to a joyous celebration of the genre and its contributors. We are reminded at a mystery conference that mystery and crime fiction matters, not only as entertainment but as a reflection of our culture, our stories and our desire to have justice done.

Lastly, never overlook the creative value of a tax deduction.

As I look over this partial list of the benefits of such a terrific conference, I must offer many thanks to the organizers of Bloody Words XI: co-chairs Lou Allin and Kay Stewart and their inspired and hardworking committee. When I look over the list of benefits I received, I am so grateful. Bravo!

Bloody Words XII will be back in Toronto. I’m signing up today.


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, which hit the bookshelves this spring, is brimming with names, no two the same.

CRIME ON MY MIND

And the winners are....

What a terrific event last night! The annual Arthur Ellis Awards Banquet was held in Victoria, B.C. at the Hotel Grand Pacific and what a flock of Canadian crime writers attended!

And here are the winners:

Best Novel: Louise Penny for Bury Your Dead
Best First Novel: Avner Mandelman for The Debba
Best Short Story: Mary Jane Maffini for So Much in Common, in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine
Best Crime Non-fiction: Stevie Cameron for On the Farm
Best Young Adult: alice Kuipers, for The Worst Thing She Ever Did
Best French Crime Book: Jacques Cote for Dans le quartier des agites
Best First Unpublished Novel: John Jeneroux for Better off Dead

Congratulations to all of the winners! And also, to everyone who was short-listed. It's always a difficult decision as there are so many wonderful writers in Canada.

Congratulations, too, to Crime Writers of Canada for this night of recognition of just how diverse and wonderful are our mystery writers. And to hold the event in Victoria was also an acknowledgement of just how widespread is this community. Of course, today is the start of Bloody Words 2011...so most natural to tie it in.

Let the weekend festivities begin! Hope to see you at Bloody Words!


Linda Wiken/Erika Chase
A Killer Read coming April 2012
from Berkley Prime Crime

LADIES' KILLING THURSDAYS

Hearing voices

In the last two MMC blogs by Linda Wiken and Mary Jane Maffini, there has been a lot of talk about the different voices of Canada. We have a vast and varied land, both ethnically and geographically, and each one of us writes with a voice that reflects our time and place, as well as our personality. It makes Canadian crime fiction hard to pigeonhole but great fun to explore. Do I want to travel to Newfoundland with Tom Curran next, or the Prairies with Gail Bowen, or the Yukon with Vicki Delany? We have excellent writers for every taste and mood.

Do they have a commonality, however? It’s one of the questions we will be addressing during my panel at Bloody Words this Saturday, entitled “Putting Canada on the World Stage”. I suspect the first question moderator Lou Allin will pose is “Do we deserve to be there?” A resounding yes, of course, but naturally she will want us to prove it.

A second question will likely be “Is there anything uniquely Canadian about our books?” Besides the usual jokes about our characters and stories being nicer, and maybe more polite that their British, European or American counterparts, I think there is a “feel” to Canadian books which is probably just as difficult to define as voice, but just as recognizable when you read it. It’s more than our mixed up spelling, which is sometimes British and sometimes American but we are never quite sure which is which. Is it ‘ess’ or ‘zed’ in advertise? Is it traveled or travelled? Note that my US version of MS Word underlines that word, after vainly trying to auto-correct it twice.

It’s more than our Canadian idioms, which are once again sometimes British and sometimes American. We drive trucks, not lorries, but we sit on our bums, not our butts. We may or may not call our mothers ‘Mum’. I do. And we have some words that are neither British nor American, but reflect our unique history, like the chesterfield and the two-four of beer. Beer being integral to Canadian identity! Besides the obvious regional differences in both pronunciation and idiom, there is a ‘Canada Speak’ as described in the Dictionary of Canadianisms: How to Speak Canadian, eh? , published in 2009 by Geordie Telfer. Our uniqueness goes well beyond ‘eh’.

The “Canadian feel” is more than the homegrown references to historical events, such as the FLQ crisis in Giles Blunt’s A Delicate Storm, or places and issues, like Inuit art fraud in RJ Harlick’s Arctic Blue Death. It’s more than the differences in police and legal procedure, hilariously depicted in William Deverell’s Arthur Beauchamp novels, and in the customs and laws surrounding crimes. Canadian writers are much less likely to use a gun to kill their victims, and also less likely to have their hero solve the crime using a gun. Even when that hero is a police officer with a legal right to carry a gun. Guns don’t seem nearly as central to Canadian crime fiction as they are south of the border.

Maybe the “Canadian feel” is the combination of all these things. Language, idiom, issues, context, and values which taken together reflect the place and the people we are writing about. So that when a foreigner picks up a Canadian book, he or she can feel immersed in the experience of Canada – subtly and gently different - much as we feel immersed in Britain when we read PD James and in Sweden with Henning Mankell. When a Canadian picks up a Canadian book, they feel at home.


Barbara Fradkin is a child psychologist with a fascination for how we turn bad. In addition to her darkly haunting short stories in the Ladies Killing Circle anthologies, she writes the gritty, Ottawa-based Inspector Green novels which have
won back to back Arthur Ellis Awards for Best Novel from Crime Writers of Canada. The eighth in the series, Beautiful Lie the Dead, explores love in all its complications. And, her new Rapid Read from Orca, The Fall Guy, was launched in May.

WICKED WEDNESDAYS

Writer on hold!

My dirty little secret is out! When I'm travelling, I'm finding it very difficult to write. Honestly, I don't know how you gals do it, especially those with deadlines looming. Those dasterdly things that wait for no one. I'm finding it difficult enough writing the blogs but there's that word again, deadlines.

There's too much to see, too many people to talk to and laugh with, too few hours to fit it all in.

Perhaps it's all a state of mind so when Bloody Words rolls around this weekend, the writing mentality will appear right along with it. Being in the right atmosphere must surely help! Maybe if my roomie buckles down and spends some quality writing time, that will also be all it takes to get my mind back down in Ashton Corners, Alabama.

But of course, that's not her responsibility. It's mine and that tricky concept of self-discipline needs to come into play. Maybe later today.

So, another blog done. Sorry if it's not overly informative. My brain is on vacation, don't y'all know! What's your trick for keeping up the work ethic when on the go?


Linda Wiken/Erika Chase
A Killer Read coming in April 2012
from Berkley Prime Crime