Happy Thanksgiving and Halloween!

Strange spooky times, dear Readers! This October  the Mesdames  begin two terrific ventures not in the real world, but the new one…the Digital World!!  This is our official start of  the MESDAMES  ZOOM BOOK LAUNCH MARATHON which will run through to December. And this Halloween is the launch of Carrick Publishing’s new anthology, its title, most appropriately, A GRAVE DIAGNOSIS. 

The Mesdames Zoom Book Launch Marathon!

We can’t meet you in person, but we can meet you on Zoom. This Saturday, October 3rd, is the official opening of the Mesdames  Zoom Book Launch Marathon.  From October 3rd, through November to the beginning of December, we are hosting Mesdames’ book launches on Zoom.

This is your chance to meet and chat with your favorite Mesdames authors. There may be prizes and free books, too.

First out of the gate is Mme Rosemary McCracken this Saturday, October 3rd at 3 pm and A Grave Diagnosis on October 31st, 2 pm (see below).

Schedules  confirmed so far:

Madona Skaff
November 7th

 

 

Jayne Barnard
November 14th

 

 

Lisa de Nikolits
November 28th

 

 

Schedules in progress for Rosemary Aubert, Melodie Campbell, Blair Keetch and Caro Soles.

 

FIRST MARATHON  ZOOM BOOK LAUNCH!

We’re thrilled that Rosemary McCracken will be our first author in the Book Launch Marathon. Meet her on Zoom, this Saturday, October 3rd at 3 pm.

 

Note: As of Sept 27th Zoom meetings require a meeting ID and Password. To get your info, please email mcallway1@gmail.com.

UNCHARTED WATERS  (Carrick Publishing) is the fourth book in Rosemary’s popular Pat Tierney mystery series. It’s currently  #16 on Amazon.ca ‘s list of top financial thrillers.

Pat Tierney, an ethical financial planner, has longed to run her own business. Back in Toronto, she finds a financial planning business that she thinks will meet her needs and has to take out a big loan against her home to buy it.  The only risk she hasn’t factored in is a murder!

Unchartered Waters is now available in paperback and ebook on Amazon.ca, and through a number of other retailers, including Kobo and Barnes & Noble.

A GRAVE DIAGNOSIS – OFFICIAL BOOK LAUNCH!

It’s official , the date for the Zoom launch for Carrick Publishing’s anthology, A Grave Diagnosis, is Saturday, October 31st at 2 pm ET.

The launch will be hosted by editor Donna Carrick, and will include an interview with Donna, surprise guests and one-minute readings by authors. Eighteen of the 35 crime stories are by members of the Mesdames!  Stay tuned for further details by News Flash later in October.

Note: As of Sept 27th Zoom meetings require a meeting ID and Password. To get this info,  please email carrickpublishing@rogers.com.

MORE EVENTS!

RENAISSANCE VIRTUAL CONFERENCE: October 24 – 25, 2020

Madona’s publisher, Renaissance Press, is hosting a Zoom conference from October 24 to 25th.  

Registration is free. Spots are limited so sign up early for the panels you’d like to attend using the registration and full program link. The Zoom link will be sent to registrants at a later date.

PUBLICATION NEWS!

Melodie Campbell has two humour columns included in the City of Burlington anthology, Voices in the City, edited by Nikki Rosenberg. The titles are “Bathing Suit Blues” plus “Yoga-pants Wife and Hold the Blue Bins”. Now you know why the Toronto Sun called her Canada’s Queen of Comedy – though we’ve always known that!

 

Jayne Barnard has a story coming out in the Sisters in Crime West anthology, Crime Wave, to be published later this fall. Melodie Campbell shows her dark side in this collection: she penned the foreword.

 

 

Kevin Thornton’s story, “The Impossible Death of a Cad”, appears in the tribute anthology by Derrick Belanger, Sherlock Holmes, Vol. 3, Adventures Beyond the Canon.

 

 

Lisa De Nikolits‘ and Caro Soles‘ latest novels, The Rage Room and Dancing with the Chairs in the Music House will be released by Inanna Publications on October 30th!

In addition to being in the Mesdames Zoom Book Launch Marathon, Lisa and Caro will be part of the official Inanna Zoom launch on November 19^th at 7 pm. Details to come.

 

MORE NEWS!

M. H. Callway successfully completed her virtual 2020 Ride to Conquer Cancer on August 29th. To thank her donors, who have supported her through 13 rides, Madeleine biked 200 km in August. Despite COVID, the Ride raised 50% more than expected to support cancer research at Princess Margaret Hospital.

Read about Madeleine’s Ride to Conquer Cancer journey through Toronto on her blog.

REMINDERS!

BONY BLITHE AWARD NOW OPEN FOR SUBMISSIONS

Our favorite skelington, Bony Blithe, is back and looking for entries to the 2021 Bloody Words Light Mystery Award (aka the Bony Blithe Award). You can find the submission rules for Bony Blithe on the website.

Cheryl Freedman sends this message: We’re still keeping our fingers crossed that we can celebrate Bony Blithe’s 10th birthday with our annual Bloody Words Mini-con and Award Gala on Friday, May 28, 2021, at the High Park Club, Toronto. 

DEADLINE FOR CRIME WRITERS OF CANADA AWARDS

The submission rules for the Crime Writers of Canada Awards of Excellence (formerly the Arthur Ellis awards) are up on the CWC website.

The deadline for the Best Unpublished Manuscript Award (formerly the Unhanged Arthur) is fast approaching on October 15th.  The deadline for published works is December 15th.  This year, because of COVID, the entry fees are reduced for CWC members in good standing.