Crime writers across Canada were out in force on Thursday, April 23rd for the annual Arthur Ellis short list event held across three time zones in Vancouver, Calgary, Ottawa and Toronto.

CWC’s hard-working Nate Hendley hosted the Toronto event at the Chapters/Indigo bookstore, Manulife Centre before a crowd of readers, fellow writers, friends and fans. Cheering on the event were Mmes Cheryl Freedman, Rosemary McCracken, Lynne Murphy, Joan O’Callaghan and Sylvia Warsh.

Three Mesdames of Mayhem are honoured to be finalists for Arthur Ellis Awards!

Mme M. H. Callway’s debut novel, Windigo Fire, (Seraphim Editions), is on the short-list for Best First Novel. Under different titles, it was a runner-up for the Unhanged Arthur and the CWA’s Debut Dagger awards.

Mme Vicki Delany’s gripping novella, Juba Good (Orca Book Publishers), is nominated for Best Novella. It was also short-listed for this year’s Derringer Award for Best Novelette.

Mme Melodie Campbell’s hilarious short story, “Hook, Line and Sinker”, published in Your McMurray Magazine, is short-listed for Best Short Story.

In addition, Kevin Thornton’s imaginative story, “Writer’s Block”, is a finalist for Best Short Story. More kudos for Mme Donna Carrick, who together with Alex Carrick, are the editors and publishers of the crime fiction anthology, World Enough and Crime (Carrick Publishing).

Earlier this year, Mme M. H. Callway’s story, “The Ultimate Mystery”, also featured in World Enough and Crime (Carrick Publishing), was short-listed for a Derringer award.

Finally, Mme Joan O’Callaghan also earned a badge of honour when her story, “Torch Song for Two Voices”, won first prize and was featured in That Golden Summer (Polar Expressions Publishing).

In lead-up to the announcements, 16 crime writers read from their latest works. Mme Rosemary Aubert read the poignant opening passage from her newly released Ellis Portal novel, Don’t Forget You Love Me (Carrick Publishing).

Mme M. H. Callway voiced a humorous turn from Windigo Fire where the villain, Santa, grapples with a Prius.

And Mme Melodie Campbell had the audience in stitches describing a speed-dating event for unreformed, geriatric criminals in The Artful Goddaughter.

Not forgetting the noir side of crime, Mme Lisa de Nikolits, shared a gripping scene from her upcoming novel, Between the Cracks She Fell.

For a complete listing of finalists for the Arthur Ellis Awards, visit the website of Crime Writers of Canada.