Happy Holidays, Readers!

Amid the Holiday hustle and bustle, we’re still working to bring you great stories and more. So put up your feet and join us in a good book. We promise, there’s even more to come in January.

 

NEWS! NEWS! NEWS!

Mmes Book Launch Marathon a Winner!

In defiance of Anno Horribilis, we launched a series of terrific Zoom book launches to connect with readers and promote the many new books by the Mmes. While nothing can replace a Real World book launch –  Zoom launches stepped up.

The Mmes Zoom Book Launch Marathon launched on October 3rd and  crossed the finish line on November 28th!  We connected with readers and fellow writers across Canada – and as far away as the UK and South Africa! A huge thank you to authors  Rosemary McCracken, Caro Soles, Donna Carrick, Madona Skaff, Rosemary Aubert, Blair Keetch, Lisa De Nikolits and Melissa Yi for their planning and hard work in making this new venture a terrific success!

And a very special thanks to Marian Misters, co-owner of our favorite bookstore, Sleuth of Baker Street, for her support during the Zoom Marathon – and throughout Anno Horribilis!

We’re looking to repeat our Zoom Book Launch Marathon in the spring. Stay tuned for details in 2021!

Fingers crossed the new vaccines restore normal life ASAP and that we’ll meet you, dear Reader, in the real world in 2021!

BOOKS

A Grave Diagnosis Is Now Available

Huray! You can now find Carrick Publishing’s A Grave Diagnosis on Amazon or order from Sleuth of Baker Street where it is on back order.

 

 

 

 

 

Melissa Yi‘s Scorpion Scheme is available December 1, 2020 in bookstores and on Amazon.

 

 

 

The BOULD 2020 Anthology, which contains Sylvia Warsh’s story, “Flamingo Nights”, is now available on Amazon.ca.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

Kevin Thornton has been busy writing Sherlock Holmes stories. His story, “The Dundas Separation Case,”  recently published in The MX Book of New Sherlock Holmes Stories, Part XXII received a great review in Publisher’s Weekly. He’s also got a well-received story, “The Impossible Death of a Cad” in Beyond the Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, a special three-volume collection of sequels to the original stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

VIRTUAL EVENTS

Melissa Yi launches her new thriller, Scorpion Scheme, on Tuesday, December 1^st, 7 pm, on Facebook Live. For more information, visit the Scorpion Scheme World Premiere Jamboree event page on Facebook.

 

 

 

Lisa De Nikolits reads at Noir at the Bar Toronto’s second virtual event on Thursday, December 10^th, 7:15 pm. For more information and the link to join the event, visit Noir At The Bar – The December 2020 Edition on Facebook.

 

 

 

 

 

Many Mmes who are also Sisters in Crime will be at the SinC Toronto/CWC Virtual Holiday, Thursday, Dec 3^rd, 6:30 pm .(private event)

The Mmes of Mayhem will be celebrating their Virtual Cross-Country Holiday Party, Wed, Dec 9^th, 7pm (private event)

REMINDERS

CWC AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE

The deadline for submission to the published categories of the CWC Awards of Excellence (formerly the Arthur Ellis Awards) is December 15.

2021 Bony Blithe Light Mystery Award

The deadline for submission is December 18th.

Candy canes on store shelves and Christmas muzak everywhere must mean one thing: The deadline for submitting to the 2021 Bony Blithe Light Mystery Award – with its prize of a whimsical plaque plus $1000 – is fast approaching. We must receive your books by midnight, December 18, 2020. The award is open to all Canadian citizens and permanent residents, and we accept submissions from both publishers and authors. If you are self- or indie-published, you can have your books shipped directly to
us from the printer, distributor, Amazon, or Indigo.

For the full submission rules, visit http://bonyblithe.com/submission-rules/.
For more info, contact them at bw-award@bloodywords.com.

THE HAMMETT PRIZE

The deadline for submission to the Dashiell Hammett Prize for Literary Excellence in Crime Writing.s is December 15, 2020

Since 1991, the North American Branch of the International Association of Crime Writers has presented the Hammett trophy to the book of the year that best represents the conception of literary excellence in crime writing. Nominations for the Hammett Prize may be submitted by any interested party.

This is a distinguished award for a single book and is open to writers at any stage in their career.

BEST AMERICAN MYSTERY AND SUSPENSE STORIES

Houghton Mifflin is continuing its “Best of” series under a new editor, Steph Cha, and a new title, Best American Mystery and Suspense.  Authors and editors are welcome to submit published, online or in print, works of short fiction to bestamericanmysterysuspense@gmail.com by December 31, 2020.

Submissions for the 2021 volume:

Authors and editors who wish for their print short fiction to be considered should send their publications or hard copies to the following address:
Heidi Pitlor
The Best American Short Stories
125 High Street, 5th floor
Boston, MA 02110
Stories published by online journals and magazines can be sent to
thebestamericanshortstories@gmail.com

A list of magazines consulted appears at the back of the book

Eligibility for the 2021 volume:

The qualifications for selection are (1) original publication in nationally distributed American or Canadian periodicals in 2020; (2) publication in English by writers
who are American or Canadian, or who have made the United States their home; (3) original publication as short stories (excerpts of novels are not considered). Unfortunately, we are unable to reply to individual submissions from authors, but will consider work that meets the above criteria.

Looking Forward to:

• Our virtual writers’ workshop in 2021, sponsored by the Toronto Public Library. Several Mmes will share their writing and publishing knowledge over a day-long Zoom-a-thon. Date TBD.
• Lots and lots of new books and stories!

Give the Gift of Books!

What’s the best way to cope with renewed lockdowns? Escape into a great book! And the Mesdames published wonderful new books in 2020. Look for our End of Year Roundup of Books coming soon.