Happy Holidays, Dear Readers!

Wow! This past year has been a rollercoaster of book launches, short story publications and online events for our Mesdames and Messieurs And December is no exception. But in between the flurry of activities, we are taking time for our loved ones during this season of merriment and goodwill. We wish you too will find peace, love and hope among you and yours. And, of course, time to put up your feet and read some books.

CONGRATULATIONS AND PUBLICATIONS

Big congrats to Melissa Yi for her new thriller, White Lightning, which launches on December 1st at 7:30 p.m.

Mega congrats to Melodie Campbell for her contract with Cormorant Books for her new series, The Merry Widow Murders, set in the roaring 1920s. An unconventional heiress with a mysterious past is traveling from New York to London in 1928 via steamship when she discovers a murdered man in her stateroom. Can’t wait to read it!

On a thought-provoking note: Melodie goes serious and writes a compelling blog about violence against women in crime fiction. Here’s the link: SleuthSayers: How Much Violence Against Women can YOU Read in your Fiction?

Congrats to Kevin Thornton for his terrific success in publishing NINE Sherlock Holmes stories in 2021 plus his tale, “One Good Thing”, in Asinine Assassins. That’s a word count of more than 70,000! Here’s the complete list for all readers who are secret – or not so secret – Bootmakers: list follows:

Asinine Assassins, “One Good Thing”. Note: Blair Keetch’s story ‘Killings 4 Sale’ is also in this anthology.

Sherlock Holmes, After the East Wind Blows, Part I, “The Odd Telegram’.

Sherlock Holmes, After the East Wind Blows, Part III, “The Odd Event”.

The MX Book of New Sherlock Holmes Stories, Part XXII, 1877 – 1887 Some More Untold Cases – “The Dundas Separation Case”. 

The MX Book of New Sherlock Holmes Stories, Part XXIV, 1895 – 1903 Some More Untold Cases – “The Murdered Millionaire”. 

The MX Book of New Sherlock Holmes Stories, Part XXX, More Christmas Adventures – “Christmas Magic”

The MX Book of New Sherlock Holmes Stories, Part XXX, More Christmas Adventures – “Santa’s Little Elves”. 

Sherlock Holmes: A Year of Mystery 1882 – “The Spofforth Effect” COMING SOON! – Belanger Books

The Nefarious Villains of Sherlock Holmes, Volume II – “The Adventure of the Lustreless Client” COMING SOON! – Belanger Books

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS AND INTERVIEWS

December 7^tth, 7 p.m. CWC Ottawa / Eastern Ontario Region, is hosting a Facebook Event with Perfect Books on Elgin Street. Madona Skaff joins Mary Jane Maffini and other great local crime writers to read from her latest book, Shifting Trust.

Here is the link to join: https://www.facebook.com/events/636533957376648

Join Madona Skaff on Saturday, December 11th from 4 to 6 p.m. for a celebration of the holidays and new releases from Renaissance Press. As part of the festivities, readings and prizes, Madona will read from her latest book, Shifting Trust. To join the fun, register at Eventbrite.

Lisa de Nikolits has an interview with Chapters4Change on December 8th. You can catch the interview on the Chapters4Change Interview page.

She is also reading from her latest book, Rage Room, on December 21st at Hirut Cafe, Danforth just west of Woodbine as part of the Bright Lit, Big City Reading Series.

The CWC / SinC holiday party on Zoom on Saturday, Dec 11^th at 7 pm EST. Fun, Pub Quiz and prizes. For members of CWC and SinC only.

FRIENDLY REMINDERS FROM CRIME WRITERS OF CANADA

December 15th is the submission deadline for the CWC Awards of Excellence.

December 31st is the submission deadline for the CWC 40^th Anniversary Anthology, Cool Canadian Crime

Mega Congratulations to Mme Melodie Campbell, our Queen of Comedy, who just signed with Cormorant Books to publish her new book, The Merry Widow Murders. Mel thanks Marc Cote at Cormorant and Brenna English-Loeb at Transatlantic Agency.

In the Merry Widow Murders, An unconventional heiress with a mysterious past traveling from New York to London in 1928 via steamship, discovers a murdered man in her stateroom on their first night at sea.

We Mesdames and Monsieurs can’t wait to read it!

Big congrats to Mme Melissa Yi for her new book,  White Lightning, a Prohibition-inspired thriller.

On December 1st at 7:30 ET, you’re invited to join Melissa’s virtual speakeasy launch party. Artisan distiller, Nathalie Gamache of Gin*Eco*Logic will teach you how to mix a cocktail called the Corpse Reviver #2. Vintage 1920’s clothes optional but encouraged and cheered.

Register here: https://www.library.cornwall.on.ca/events/virtual-speakeasy-book-launch-white-lightning-melissa-yi

Jane is an award-winning author of short fiction. She loves to show the darkness that lurks behind the facade of sweet domesticity and respectability. Recently she is experimenting with writing for young adults. Her story, “There Be Dragons”, was a finalist for the Crime Writers of Canada Award of Excellence for Short Stories.

Mesdames: How do your readers see you when they meet you today?

Jane: They’ll find a rumpled, COVID-haired, brain-fogged lady who looks a little bit like a benevolent granny and a little bit like Lear on the Heath!

Mesdames: You’ve had a fascinating life from training as a ballerina to meeting notorious Idi Amin. What more secrets can you tell us?

Jane: I once did an impromptu Hula dance for the Mayor of Atlantic City at a large reception. They gave me the Key to Atlantic City! I was four at the time so I wonder if the Key is still good. Perhaps it will get me a free coffee!

Mesdames: You have to use this dance in your next story! Have you thought about writing for children?

Jane: I do want to include a young child in the story that is starting to form in my mind. The Mesdames of Mayhem anthologies have given me the opportunity to be free, to try writing from different points of view. My story, “There Be Dragons”, in 13 Claws, let me explore a magical world through the eyes of children. 

Mesdames: And “There Be Dragons” was a finalist for the Crime Writers of Canada Award for Best Short Story. This could be the start of your career as a children’s writer!

Jane: I do love the sense of carefree spontaneity in children. Where do we lose that freedom of spirit? That bravery? But I’m finding that I can have a more enjoyable adolescence in my later years. This time I’m living it with money and a car!

Mesdames: Jane is one of the stars of the CBC documentary, The Mesdames of Mayhem, directed by award-winning director, Cat Mills. (Also a Mme!) View on GEM here to learn more about Jane’s fascinating life. CBC Gem – The Mesdames of Mayhem – The Mesdames of Mayhem

The Mesdames: Many readers know that you were a financial journalist, because Pat Tierney, the protagonist of your four mystery novels, and the financial crimes she comes up against were inspired by your work.  But you’ve had many other thrilling adventures on the job. What’s one of your favorites?

Rosemary: I nearly got booted off a Royal Tour! In 1976, Queen Elizabeth II was visiting parts of eastern Canada during the Summer Olympics. Security was tight after the massacre at the 1972 Munich Olympics.

I was covering the Tour for the Montreal Star when another reporter and I showed up at what we thought was a cocktail party at Montreal’s Ritz Carleton Hotel. It turned out to be the Royal Suite where the Queen was freshening up before dinner! Officers from Scotland Yard and the RCMP were embarrassed that we had come so close to the Queen. We could have been terrorists.

The Mesdames: And today they might have shot you! What happened?

Rosemary: They escorted us down the back stairs and out into the alley. I was screaming, “Get your hands off me! I work for the Montreal Star!” The next day, I was advised to apologize to the head of Scotland Yard…or else. I refused and fortunately it blew over.

The Mesdames: You also met and interviewed a big movie star, right?

Rosemary: Yes, I once interviewed the late British actor Oliver Reed. The Montreal Star’s managing editor told me to ask Reed what he thought of Montreal women. So I did. “Well, I only arrived in Montreal last night,” Reed said, “but from what I see right in front of me, I’d say Montreal is a city of beautiful women.” And I’ve been telling that story ever since!

The Mesdames: And this interview inspired one of your recent stories.

Rosemary: Yes, I adapted Oliver Reed’s reply and included it in my story, “Hooked”, which appeared in the 2020 anthology, A Grave Diagnosis (Carrick Publishing). I haven’t used my Royal Tour adventure and perhaps I never will. Real life is often less believable than fiction!

The Mesdames: You also had an encounter with Elvis Presley.

Rosemary:  Yes, I flew to Memphis in August 1977 with an airplane full of Elvis Presley fans to cover the King of Rock ’n’ Roll’s funeral for the Montreal Star. On the 40th anniversary of his death in 2017, I sat down to write “Farewell to the King”, about a young woman with a secret who travels to Memphis with her friends to pay final respects to their idol.  My story appeared in the Mesdames‘ fourth anthology, In the Key of 13, in 2019.

The Mesdames: You’ve also had a secret identity and worked undercover.

Rosemary: Yes, I was a restaurant reviewer for the Calgary Herald during the 1980s. I ate at the best restaurants in and around the city. Restaurateurs feared me. A great many loathed me. I drew on my experiences for “Dining Out”, a story about an ill-fated restaurant reviewer that appeared in the Malice Domestic anthology, Mystery Most Edible, in 2019.

The Mesdames: How do your readers see you when they meet you today?

Rosemary: The years I spent as a newspaper reporter and reviewer were the most exciting years of my life. These days I keep a low-profile as a middle-aged writer and teacher – and save my energy for my fiction.