Coming up is the most exciting week of the year in Canadian crime writing. And the Mesdames are immersed in both upcoming national award events.

May has been a whirlwind month of book launches, readings and publicity, including two weeks on CBC Canada Writes. Two of our Mesdames of Mayhem, Cathy Astolfo and Donna Carrick were featured!

First off is Bony Blithe’s Gun Club and Quilting Bee Gala Award Reception. On May 29th, 6:00 pm at the National Club in Toronto, we find out who is this year’s winner of the Bony Blithe prize for best light mystery.

This will be a fun evening with a surprise MC, prizes and tasty noms. And best of all, a chance to meet and greet the finalists.

BB is a newcomer to the awards scene: this is her sophomore year. Her midwives, the four Mesdames, Caro Soles, Cheryl Freedman, Jane Burfield and M.H. Callway, worried that she’d have legs. But she took off and ran a marathon.

Nearly forty books competed for this year’s prize. The final field proved so strong there are no less than six finalists.

Visit BB’s website for more information. All finalists’ books will be on sale at the gala.

On May 30th, the Crime Writers of Canada present the Arthur Ellis awards for excellence in Canadian crime writing. Details on the finalists and tickets to the banquet are on the website.

We are especially proud of Mesdames Vicki Delany and Melodie Campbell who are up for two of the awards. Vicki’s book, A Winter Kill, is nominated for best novella, and Melodie’s story, Life without George, is in the running for best short story. Fingers crossed, Mesdames!

Many kudos are also due to MM Cathy Astolfo, wizard organizer, and herself winner of two Arthur Ellis awards, for her hand in this year’s festivities.

We will be announcing the winners on the Mesdames website. Stay tuned.