Dear Readers,
March is upon us and excitement is in the air. As all await the winter thaw, we have new books, a capital talk about the dark world of crime and the prospect of a Dem Bones newsletter to accompany the May Bony Blithe Mini-Con for you to explore.
CONGRATULATIONS AND PUBLICATIONS
Mme Melodie Campbells new book The Silent Film Star Murders, Cormorant Press, is set to be released on March 22nd. The Silent Film Star Murders: Campbell, Melodie: 9781770867833: Books – Amazon.ca
Lady Lucy Revelstoke and her pickpocket-turned-maid Elf are once again embarking on a transatlantic crossing. Also on board are Renata Harwood, star of the silver screen, and her bitter rival, Stella Burke. Roy Armitage may be Renata’s husband, but he used to be Stella’s man.
Everyone expects these leading ladies to serve up delicious drama at dinner, but things take a tragic turn when Renata’s little sister goes missing. Then Elf’s friend, stewardess to the Harwoods, is found brutally murdered.
Lucy is determined to investigate, proving once again that sometimes it takes a savvy woman to unravel the intricate relationships that lead to murder.
Mme Melissa Yi’s Glengarry Guards series of ice-skating romances; Fire and Ice, Icing Down, Just the Tip of the Iceberg and Icing on the Cake are available on Kindle at Amazon.
And Melissa’s second SF poem for 2025 was published in Polar Starlight, Issue # 17 Polar Borealis & Polar Starlight | Two Free Online Magazines Devoted to Canadian Speculative Fiction
Radiant Press has taken over the publishing arm of Inanna Press, which had closed down due to financial difficulties. Radiant Press will release Mme Lisa’s latest book in September/October 2025.
EVENTS
Mme Lorna Poplak will be guest speaker at the March meeting of Ottawa-based Capital Crime Writers at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 12, 2025. In her virtual presentation entitled “My plunge into the dark world of true crime”.
Lorna will discuss her circuitous journey as a writer and the importance of research in her work. She will also share stories and images of the Don Jail, and reveal how she copes when things get really dark.
More details available on the CCW website at https://capitalcrimewriters.com/
Mme Lisa de Nikolits will be reading her short story from Devouring Tomorrow, the Dundurn published anthology edited by Jeff Dupuis and A.G. Pasquella at The Caledonian, 856 College Street, Wednesday, March 26 at 6 p.m.
DON’T MISS!
The Bony Blithe Mini-Con, Saturday, May 9th at the High Park Club, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
It’s nine weeks to the Bony Blithe Mini-Con (have you registered yet?), but less time than that to the first issue of Dem Bones, the official BB monthly newsletter.
Dem Bones will have something for everyone: author announcements, writing tips, articles, games and puzzles and amusing bits and bobs.
What would you like to see in Dem Bones? Maybe you have an idea for a panel that we don’t have time for at the mini-con, but that would make a good article for Dem Bones. What would you be willing to write about or contribute your wise words to? Let us know at info@bonyblithe.ca.
Whether you’re a published author, an aspiring author, or a voracious mystery reader, we want your input for Dem Bones. The first issue is coming out in March.
So what are you waiting for, my criminous friends? Register now by visiting http://www.bonyblithe.ca, send us your suggestions for Dem Bones, and join us at the con.
The Derringer Awards. If you’re a member of SMFS don’t forget to vote! Voting for Best Anthology begins on April 1, 2025.
Wow! What a Year 2024 Part 2. It’s coming in early March.
THIS MONTH’S STORY
Our story for March is by Mme Sylvia Warsh. “The Ranchero’s Daughter”, first appeared in the Mesdames’ third anthology, 13 Claws, Carrick Publishing, 2017. This wonderful story was short-listed for a CWC Award of Excellence for Best Short Story AND was listed in “Other Distinguished Stories: in Otto Penzlar’s Best American Mystery Stories, 2018.
Mesdames of Mayhem 