Happy New Year, Dear Readers!
The Mesdames and Messieurs had another stellar year in 2024. It was the Year of the Comeback with the return of Bony Blithe and Noir at the Bar.
We had terrific real-world events – and recognitions, too! We were guests on CWC’s Podcasts and hit the theatre stage. Plus we had energy to spare for many book launches, conferences, writers’ festivals, talks and workshops.
Best of all, in 2024, Carrick Publishing released our 6th anthology, The 13th Letter. M is the 13th letter of the alphabet and it stands for Mesdames, Messieurs, mayhem and, of course, murder!
OUR SIXTH ANTHOLOGY!
M is the 13th letter of the alphabet. The Mesdames and Messieurs interpreted M to stand for a multitude of nefarious things like mischief and mayhem – or to use it like an actual letter. Our stories range from outrageous comedy to locked-room mysteries to dark thrillers.
Carrick Publishing released The 13th Letter in October 2024. Huge thanks go to our amazing editor and publisher, Donna Carrick and book cover artist extraordinaire, Sara Carrick.
The 13th Letter received a warm review from CWC Grand Master, Maureen Jennings who wrote:
Another great outing by the Mesdames and Messieurs of Mayhem. This 6th anthology is a wonderful variety of stories; some very funny; some sad; some even a little troubling. All engrossing. Well done.
Joanne Culley of the Peterborough Examiner featured The 13th Letter on her annual holiday round-up of recommended reads, saying:
These entertaining stories are a mix of funny and dark, with plots featuring not only murderers but stalkers, liars, cheats and more.
Claire Murray of Kings River Life wrote a wonderful, warm review of each and every story in The 13th Letter. Read her full review here.
WONDERFUL EVENTS!
LAUNCH OF THE 13TH LETTER, NOVEMBER 2, 2024
Huge thanks to Mme Marian Misters and Sleuth of Baker Street for hosting the launch of The 13th Letter. And thanks go to J. D. Singh, Prince and Pixie, too! All copies of The 13th Letter sold out!
Each of the authors in the above photo shared a teaser of their story to a full house of readers and friends. (Blair Keetch was there, too.) Nibblies and coffee were served. The rosemary shortbread by Mme Lynne Murphy from her story, “Scamming Granny”, proved especially popular. The recipe is available on request!
MAUREEN JENNINGS HONORED WITH CWC’S GRAND MASTER AWARD, APRIL 27, 2024
The Crime Writers of Canada honored Maureen Jennings with the Grand Master Award on April 27, 2024, in recognition of her many accomplishments. Maureen is the creator of the world-famous Detective Murdoch mysteries and long-running TV series. She has written three further mystery series: the Tom Tyler, Christine Morris and Paradise Cafe crime novels. She also created the acclaimed TV series, Bomb Girls and has penned several mystery plays, which are regularly performed in Ontario.
Unfailingly supportive of fellow authors, many of Maureen’s creative writing students have gone on to become published authors. The Mesdames and Messieurs were delighted to be part of her wonderful celebration.
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
CWC AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE
In April, M. H. Callway and Melissa Yi received nominations for the CWC Awards of Excellence . Mme Mad‘s dark cozy story, “Wisteria Cottage”, published in Malice Domestic, Mystery Most Traditional (Wildside Press), was nominated for Best Short Story. Mme Melissa‘s novel, The Shapes of Wrath, the first book in her new Dr. Hope Sze series, was short-listed for the Howard Engel Award for Best Crime Novel Set in Canada.
MYSTERY QUEEN!
Our Queen of Comedy, Mme Melodie Campbell, was featured in the 2024 Spring Issue of Queen’s University’s Smith Magazine. She was recognized as one of the university’s prominent alumni and named Mystery Queen!
GUESTS ON THE CWC PODCAST
In December 2024, The Mesdames and Messieurs of Mayhem were interviewed by CWC’s Erik d’Souza In Season 2, Episode 42, we talked about our history, our memorable real-world events and our new anthology, The 13th Letter.
It couldn’t have been easy wrangling all eight of us: Jane Burfield, M.H. Callway, Donna Carrick, Blair Keetch, Rosemary McCracken, Lynne Murphy, Lorna Poplak and Melissa Yi! Perhaps it turned out a bit chaotic but we loved being there.
Erik also interviewed M. H. Callway and Melissa Yi about their short-listed crime fiction. Both their podcasts were among CWC’s most down-loaded in 2024 with over 300+ each!
You can listen to M. H. Callway’s podcast here and Melissa’s here.
Melissa also appeared on Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine podcast with “Blue Christmas”.
FAB BOOK LAUNCHES
THE ORPHAN LAUNCHES AT SLEUTH OF BAKER STREET!
With huge thanks, as always, to Marian Misters and Sleuth of Baker Street, Sylvia Warsh launched her historical YA novel, The Orphan, on Saturday, May 5th. The bookstore was packed with readers, friends and fellow authors – and there was cake! The Orphan has gone on to critical acclaim both in Canada and the USA.
AUNTIE BEERS LAUNCHES ON ZOOM
On May 25th, Cathy Astolfo and Donna Carrick launched Cathy‘s new book, the salty, connected tales of Auntie Beers (Carrick Publishing). The launch took place on Zoom.
And Auntie Beers will soon be on Audible, narrated by perfect voice actress, Meredith Henderson.
THE PLAY’S THE THING!
Many crime writers share a dark secret: they are clandestine playwrights and screenwriters! Some, like award-winning comedy mystery writer A.J. Devlin, even started out as screenwriters. In 2024, the Mesdames wrote and/or worked on three theatrical productions!
Melissa Yi’s play, Terminally Ill, is based on her Dr. Hope Sze’s mystery novel of the same name.
Chained. Nailed. In a coffin. In Montreal’s St. Lawrence River. Will Elvis survive?
Dr. Hope Sze restarts the escape artist’s heart but uncovers sabotage. She plunges into the merry – and murderous – world of magic and illusion to solve the crime.
Terminally Ill premiered at the Ottawa Fringe Festival on February 8 to 10, 2024.
Melodie Campbell’s light-hearted romance, The Italian Cure, was dramatized by the Long Island Books for Dessert Club, a club for adults with disabilities.
In Melodie‘s novel, Charlie, the main character, has a sister who’s confined to a wheelchair because of her Cerebral Palsy. Charlie writes to her beloved little sister every night, during her tour of Italy to tell about her adventures.
Rehearsals began at the Port Washington Library, Long Island, New York in June 2024.
Mme Cheryl Freedman was the dialogue coach for Elaine Freedman’s play, Alas, Poor Romeo.
Robert “Romeo” Coates’s life plays out as Charles Dickens interviews him and exposes his bad performances, both on and off the English stage.
Alas, Poor Romeo was brought to the stage by the Village Playhouse players, on June 6 to 9, 2024.
CONFERENCES AND WRITERS’ FESTIVALS
ONTARIO LIBRARY ASSOCIATION SUPERCONFERENCE, JANUARY 2024
The OLA Super-conference once again invited the Crime Writers of Canada to present at the 2024 Idea Hub. M. H. Callway presented her new story collection, Snake Oil and Other Tales (Carrick Publishing) on January 26, 2024. And it is now in the TPL!
Many thanks to Jass Ajula of CWC for organizing this event!
LEFT COAST CRIME, SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, APRIL 2024
Left Coast Crime 2024 took place from April 10 to 14th in Seattle, Washington. The rainy west coast surprised more than 200 authors and fans with some glorious sunny weather. Many Western Canadian crime writers attended: Cathy Ace, A.J. Devlin, Winona Kent, Merrilee Robson, Iona Wishaw and Sam Wiebe among many more. A grand highlight was the Canadian cocktail hour hosted by A.J. Devlin and Winona Kent, where they served up Canadian crime and, of course, Bloody Caesars!
M. H. Callway was honored to be on the Mix It Up: Writers Who Bend Genres panel, moderated by award-winning comedy mystery author, Rob Osler. Apparently, her crime fiction is so dark it crosses over into horror!
MOTIVE: TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF AUTHORS, JUNE 2024
In 2024, the Toronto International Festival of Authors was back in Toronto with MOTIVE, celebrating international crime writers from June 7 to 9th.
Crime Writers of Canada hosted a booth for book sales, attended by several CWC members, including Blair Keetch, Lynne Murphy, Rosemary McCracken, Lorna Poplak and Sylvia Warsh. Sylvia read from her new work, The Orphan, on June 9th.
BONY BLITHE, JUNE 15TH
A great comeback: The Bony Blithe Minicon returned to the Real World! A grand day out was had by authors and fans on June 15th: kudos and thanks to Mme Cheryl Freedman for organizing.
The Mesdames participated in several panels. Whose Life Is It Anyway, which explored incorporating your own life in your writing, was moderated by Mme. Caro Soles.
Mmes Jane Burfield, Marilyn Kay and Rosemary McCracken discussed the Rise and Glorious Future of Short Crime Fiction, moderated by M. H. Callway.
Melodie Campbell and Caro Soles discussed the Devil’s in the Details with Cheryl Freedman moderating and Sylvia Warsh led the discussion on When Paranormal Meets Mystery. The day finished with OMG, My Book’s Been Published, moderated by Marilyn Kay.
More good news: Bony Blithe will be back on Friday, May 9, 2025. Save the date! Here are some pics:
WHEN WORDS COLLIDE, CALGARY, AUGUST 2024
The multi-genre conference, When Words Collide, is now managed by the Alexandra Writers’ Centre Society. Mme Madona Skaff attended from August 16 to 18, 2024 and happily reported that the conference was as terrific as before.
Madona participated on two panels: Mastering the Macabre, Techniques in Crime, Mystery and Thriller Writing and We are the Heroes Not the Sidekicks: Building Worlds and Stories in SFF that Centre on Disabled Protagonists.
When Words Collide will be back in 2025 from August 14 to 17th. Save the date.
EASTERN ONTARIO WRITERS FESTIVAL
The inaugural Eastern Ontario Writers Festival took place on September 7, 2024, at the Cornwall Public Library. Its aim was to help local writers learn from established authors and to support networking. The 22 featured authors represented a variety of genres – and Mme Melissa Yi was one of the founders! She gave a workshop presentation on world-building for novels.
WORD ON THE STREET, SEPTEMBER 2024
Toronto’s annual book festival, Word on the Street, returned to Queen’s Park on September 28 and 29th. Huge thanks to Mme Sylvia Warsh for organizing and managing the Mmes booth, which we shared with Toronto Sisters in Crime.
Booth duties were carried out by M. H. Callway, Blair Keetch, Lynne Murphy, Rosemary McCracken, Lorna Poplak, Caro Soles and, of course, Sylvia Warsh.
Melodie Campbell was on hand at the Cormorant Press booth to sign copies of her historical mystery, The Merry Widow Murders.
READING VENUES RETURN!
RETURN OF NOIR AT THE BAR!
Another Grand Comeback: Rob Brunet returned from his world travels and restarted Noir at the Bar Toronto on April 25th at the Duke of Kent pub. Rob plans to invite a co-host for each new Noir.
M. H. Callway was honored to be asked to co-host the evening, which featured six Canadian crime writers, among them Mme Sylvia Warsh.
Hope Thompson and Jeffrey Round continued hosting Queer Noir at the Bar on June 5th as part of Pride Month and on December 4th at The Black Eagle.
Lisa De Nikolits and Lynne Murphy were delighted to be featured readers in The Noir Before Christmas.
A huge thank you to Rob Brunet, Hope Thompson and Jeffrey Round for their support of Canadian crime writers – and the Mesdames and Messieurs of Mayhem.
BREWS AND CLUES CAME BACK, TOO!
Des Ryan, retired police detective turned crime writer, founded, Brews and Clues, a monthly reading series for CWC members in September 2023. Readings take place on the second Thursday of every month. Happily, Des started up the series again for 2024 to 2025.
On January 11, 2024, Rosemary McCracken and Lynne Murphy were featured followed by Lisa De Nikolits on February 8th. The Mesdames and Messieurs were the guests on November 14th, reading from The 13th Letter.
NEW KID ON THE BLOCK: CWC PUB NIGHTS
Jass Ajula and Lorne Estleman, CWC’s Toronto reps, held the first of a series of CWC pub nights on October 24th at the Union Social Eatery pub. Drinks, presentations of newly published crime books and book exchanges were the order of the day. Lynne Murphy represented the Mmes and Messrs and talked about The 13th Letter.
A most successful evening! The next CWC pub night is scheduled for Thursday, January 23, 2025.
WORKSHOPS AND READINGS
The Mesdames participated in a large number of book-reading events, podcasts and social media events in 2024. Look for full details by author in WOW What a Year, Part 2.
Here are some of the highlights:
TORONTO PUBLIC LIBRARY, WYCHWOOD BRANCH, THE TEA AND MURDER CLUB
The Toronto Public Library computers were hacked in 2023, but wisely staff did not give in to the ransom demands from the black hats. Fortunately, the TPL systems were rebuilt and back up and running later in 2024.
Despite the challenges faced by TPL, we had a most rewarding event on January 18, 2024 at Wychwood Library when we met with the crime fiction fans of the Tea and Murder Club. M. H. Callway, Blair Keetch, Lynne Murphy and Rosemary McCracken spoke about Canadian crime fiction and shared their stories. Many thanks to Isobel Lang at Wychwood Branch for her support!
REACHING BEYOND THE GTA
Mme Rosemary McCracken had two great book events outside the GTA where she connected with crime fiction fans in small-town Ontario. On July 13, 2024, she had a book booth at Bookapalooza in Minden where best-selling author, Linwood Barclay, was guest of honour.
And on Saturday, October 19, 2024 she joined a panel of four CWC authors for the CWC Forum held at New Tecumseth Public Library. The program aimed to encourage emerging authors to learn from established writers.
STEP INTO THE SURREAL!
On October 22nd, Lisa De Nikolits was invited to read at Halloween Spooktacular held by Minstrels and Bards to celebrate the scary season.
This costumed event encouraged participants to come as their alter ego, muse, fantasy or simply dress to be scary. And Lisa did!
NOT WRITING, BUT FANTASTIC
Mme Lisa de Nikolits represented Canada at the International Karate Daigaku (IKD) World Cup in Georgetown, Guyana. Her team, Kata, Female 50+ won the GOLD medal, BEST IN THE WORLD!! And Lisa herself won a bronze medal for Canada in Individual Kata, 50+!!
AND AT LONG LAST, A BIG HUG AND THANK YOU TO:
Marilyn Kay and Roz Place for keeping our newsletter running!
Mesdames of Mayhem 