Our Guest Author, Hope Thompson, is launching her short story collection, Dark Thoughts & Other Stories, this Wednesday, March 4th, 7 pm at The Churchmouse Pub, 475 Church Street. Hosted by broadcaster, Nora Young and featuring surprise guests!
The Mesdames and Messieurs had yet another stellar year in 2025! It was The Year of Hard Work and Fun! Altogether, we published four crime novels, two non-fiction books, six novellas and 17 works of short fiction in leading anthologies and crime fiction magazines.
And wehad amazing energy to hold book launches, to attend conferences and writers’ festivals, to participate in Podcasts as well as to give talks and workshopsto emerging writers and fans.
Many of us received recognition for our work. And that includes our 6th anthology, The 13th Letter. Mme Therese Greenwood’s story, “Hatcheck Bingo”, WON the CWC Award for Best Short Story and our book was a finalist for the Derringer Best Anthology Award!
Wonderful new books and stories are coming your way in 2026. We’re really looking forward to meeting you in the Real World. And stand by for our upcoming 7th anthology, The Power of 13.
KUDOS FOR THE MESDAMES AND MESSIEURS!
Carrick Publishing released our sixth anthology, The 13th Letter, in October 2024. It received warm reviews from CWC Grand Master Maureen Jennings, Joanne Culley of the Peterborough Examiner and Claire Murray of Kings River Life.
The 13th Letter was a finalist for the 2025 Derringer Award for Best Anthology, the first year of this new award. Even better, Mme Therese Greenwood’s story, “Hatcheck Bingo” WON the 2025 CWC Best Short Story Award.
In September 2025, we announced our seventh anthology to be published in Fall 2026 by Carrick Publishing, Editor Donna Carrick, Story Wrangler, M. H. Callway. Our title is The Power of 13 since thirteen is our “lucky number seven”.
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
CWC AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE
Therese Greenwood
The Mesdames and Messieurs were thrilled that three of us were recognized by the Crime Writers of Canada awards. Therese Greenwood’s story, “Hatcheck Bingo” WON for Best Short Story. HUGE CONGRATS!!
Heartfelt congrats are due to Catherine Astolfo, for her story, “Farmer Knudson”, one of the inter-connected tales in her book, Auntie Beers and to Melissa Yi, for “The Longest Night of the Year” in the December 2024 issue of Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine. Melissa is one of the authors listed on the front cover, too!
Catherine Astolfo
Melissa Yi
Melissa’s critically acclaimed YA mystery, The Red Rock Killer, was also nominated for CWC’s Best YA Mystery Award!
MORE RECOGNITIONS!
Cat Mills
Cat Mills worked on the six-part TVO docuseries Unrigged, which explores the challenges that democracies are facing and how they can be strengthened for the future; and how the broken parts can be fixed – one solution at a time.
Unrigged was nominated for a 2025 Canadian Screen Award for Best Political News Program or Series.
Melodie Campbell
Rosalind Place
The winner of the first Derringer Award for Best Anthology was Murder Neat, all stories by authors who are members of Sleuthsayers. The collection was edited by Michael Bracken and Barb Goffman. Melodie Campbell’s story, “The Mob, The Model and The College Reunion”, was part of this awesome collection!
Roz Place’s psychological suspense story, “Too Close to the Edge”, was part of the noir anthology, Dastardly Damsels. It was voted Best Anthology in the Critters Annual Readers Poll.
Sylvia Warsh
Marilyn Kay
Melissa Yi
Marilyn Kay, Sylvia Warsh and Melissa Yi were all recognized by the Killer Nashville 2025 Awards. Sylvia’s YA Mystery, The Orphan, and Melissa’s, The Red Rock Killer, were listed as the Judges’s Best Picks for the Silver Falchion Award and for the Readers Choice Award.
Marilyn Kay’s police procedural, Love Thy Neighbour, was short-listed for the Claymore Award for Best First 50 Pages in The Best Investigator category.
WONDERFUL EVENTS!
FAB BOOK LAUNCHES
Melodie Campbell
Melodie’s second book in her Merry Widow series, The Silent Film Star Murders, Cormorant Press, launched on May 10th at A Different Drummer Bookshop in Burlington, Ontario. A large and enthusiastic group was on hand to listen to the readings and to buy books!
Lisa De Nikolits
Lisa launched her new thriller, Mad Dog and the Sea Dragon, Inanna Publications, at the Supermarket Bar, 268 Augusta Avenue, Toronto on October 15th. A packed house celebrated with Lisa and her fellow Inanna authors!
Therese Greenwood
On Monday, November 17th, the Community Book Launch was held for The Many Names of Robert Cree (ECW Press) at the Wood Buffalo Regional Library, Fort McMurray, Alberta. Robert Cree and Therese Greenwood co-wrote Robert’s critically acclaimed memoir. Distinguished actor, Lorne Cardinal, led the onstage Q and A.
Rosemary McCracken
Rosemary’s newest Pat Tierney mystery, Riversong, launched at Brews and Clues, Stout Irish Pub, Toronto on December 11th. With cake! The pub was packed with fellow authors, friends and fans and lots of copies sold!
Lorna Poplak
Lorna’s new true crime book, On the Lam, about great – and not-so-great Canadian prison escapes, launched at Mezes Event Space, 456 Danforth Ave., Toronto on October 21st. A large crowd of fans, friends and family were on hand to celebrate.
GUESTS ON THE CWC PODCAST
Erik d’Souza
Intrepid host Erik D’Souza interviewed many of us on CWC’s popular podcast.
In April, Erik and Melodie Campbell discussed the history of women’s rights, which she highlights in her cozy Merry Widow series. Do readers know that in the 1920s, a married woman in the UK was not allowed to own property? It automatically transferred to her husband upon marriage!
In May, Erik spoke with Catherine Astolfo, Therese Greenwood and Melissa Yi about their Best Short Story recognitions. And Melissa’s second nomination for Best Young Adult Mystery.
Melissa was also interviewed by best-selling author Debbi Mack on Episode 21 of Debbi’s podcast, Crime Cafe.
And on September 16th, Melissa gave the CWC Webinar, Medical Errors 101, or how to get the medicine right in your murder mystery.
CONFERENCES AND WRITERS’ FESTIVALS
ONTARIO LIBRARY ASSOCIATION SUPERCONFERENCE, JANUARY 2025
M. Blair Keetch
Sylvia Warsh
M. H. Callway
The OLA Super-conference once again invited the Crime Writers of Canada to present at the 2025 Idea Hub. Blair Keetch and MmeM. H. Callway presented The 13th Letter (Carrick Publishing) on January 31, 2025. And it is now in the TPL! Sylvia Warsh introduced her YA mystery, The Orphan. It, too, is available in the TPL.
Many thanks to Jass Ajula of CWC for organizing this event!
YORK REGIONAL WRITERS CONFERENCE, APRIL 26, 2025
Jane Burfield
Madona Skaff
M. H. Callway
Sylvia Warsh
Rosemary McCracken
Jane Burfield, M. H. Callway, Rosemary McCracken, Madona Skaff and Sylvia Warsh travelled north to Newmarket to meet, learn and mingle with writers from the GTA. Big hugs to Madona for travelling all the way from Ottawa and to Rosemary for leading the way to do outreach in the GTA.
BONY BLITHE, MAY 9TH
The Bony Blithe Minicon took place on May 9th. Once again, a grand day out for crime writers and their fans, thanks to the hard work of chief organizer Mme Cheryl Freedman.
The Mesdames participated on several panels. Mme Sylvia Warsh moderated the panel, When Reality Strikes, Social Issues in Crime Fiction.
M. H. Callway led the discussion on noir fiction, The Dark is Rising: How Much is Too Much Noir? In other words, when does noir segue into darker genres like horror?
And Melodie Campbell lightened the mood with fellow cozy author, Vicky Delany, in Cozying up to Cozies.
The day’s closing panel, Writing the Other, Characters and Events Outside Your Realm of Experience, was moderated by Marilyn Kay.
Bony Blithe will be back on Friday, May 15, 2026. Save the date!
APPLEBY COLLEGE FESTIVAL OF AUTHORS
On May 24th, Appleby College held its inaugural Festival of Authors in Oakville with more than 60 participating authors.
Lisa De Nikolits participated on the Dark Ambitions panel representing crime fiction!
MOTIVE: TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF AUTHORS, JUNE 27 to 29, 2025
In 2025, the Toronto International Festival of Authors was back in Toronto with MOTIVE, celebrating international crime writers from June 27 to 29th.
Melodie Campbell was a featured author, joining CWC Grand Master, Maureen Jennings, in a discussion of Murder, Mystery and Mistaken Identities. And Lisa De Nikolits moderated the panel on Tea, Cake and Murder: Fatal Friendships.
Crime Writers of Canada hosted a booth for book sales, attended by several CWC members, including Rosemary McCracken, Lorna Poplak and Madona Skaff. Rosemary read from her new Pat Tierney mystery, Riversong, on June 29th.
WORD ON THE STREET, SEPTEMBER 27 and 28, 2025
Toronto’s annual book festival, Word on the Street, changed venues in September 2025 and relocated to David Pecault Square.
Melodie Campbell was on hand at the Cormorant Press booth to sign copies of her historical mystery, The Silent Film Star Murders, and she was on the panel, The Grounding Power of Escapist Fiction, on Saturday, September 27th.
BURLINGTON LITERARY FESTIVAL
The Burlington Literary Festival took place on November 2nd at the Burlington Public Library. Melodie Campbell was featured in conversation with historical mystery writer, Iona Wishaw.
TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF AUTHORS
TIFA took place in Toronto between October 29 and November 2, 2025. Lisa De Nikolits moderated two panels, both on November 2nd.
The first panel was a salute to romance writers. Lisa led the discussion on Young Adult Romance. And next, she moderated the panel of two literary writers: Adam Haslett, Pulitzer Prize finalist and Shari Mootoo, four-time Giller Prize nominee.
GREATREADING VENUES!
QUEER NOIR AT THE BAR
Hope Thompson and Jeffrey Round continued hosting Queer Noir at the Bar. On October 22nd at The Black Eagle pub. M. H. Callway was honoured to be one of the featured authors and read her crowd-pleaser scene, Karaoke Strip Night, from her thriller, Windigo Fire.
BREWS AND CLUES
Des Ryan, retired police detective turned crime writer, founded Brews and Clues, a monthly reading series for crime fiction writers at his local, Stout Irish Pub. Readings take place on the second Thursday of every month. Happily, Des has continued the series again for 2025 to 2026 season. Lorna Poplak has been on hand to co-host!
On December 11, 2025, Rosemary McCracken launched the fifth book in her popular Pat Tierney series, Riversong, to a packed crowd – with cake!
OPEN MIKE AT THE WRITERS’ UNION OF CANADA
The literary community continues to show an interest in crime writing. Three of the Mesdames were invited to be part of TWUC’s Open Mike readings on Zoom. Rosemary McCracken led the charge on January 7th, followed by M. H. Callway on February 4th and Sylvia Warsh on April 1st.
NEW KID ON THE BLOCK:DRUNK FICTION
The last Tuesday of every month, the Caledonian Pub, 856 College Street, hosts Drunk Fiction, which features readings by literary and genre authors.
Lisa De Nikolits was a twice-featured guest. On March 26th, she read from her chilling story in the SF anthology, Devouring Tomorrow (Dundurn Press) and on August 26th, she shared her new thriller, Mad Dog and the Sea Dragon (Inanna Publications).
M. H. Callway was a guest on the spooky horror readings on October 28th, reading from her dark thriller story “Snake Oil”.
CWC PUB NIGHTS
Jass Ajula and Lorne Tepperman, CWC’s Toronto reps, continued their popular pub nights at different venues throughout 2025. A terrific way to tell fellow authors about new publications and to share info about the challenges of today’s publishing.
JUNCTION READS
Type Books Junction, 2887 Dundas Street West, is spearheading hybrid book readings where supporters can attend in the real world or via Zoom!
On December 7th, Lisa De Nikolits read from her new novel, Mad Dog and the Sea Dragon, together with humour writer, Rod Carley, author of Ruff.
WORKSHOPS AND READINGS
Huge congrats to our hard-working Mmes who gave many workshops and talks to share their authors’ journeys and their writing expertise.
Jayne Barnard
In three 2025 sessions, Jayne Barnard shared her skills with the Northern Ontario Writers Workshop and Sudbury Writers Guild. All made possible through Zoom!
Our fav session title: “Shaping Sherlock and Making Moriarty”.
Melodie Campbell
In addition to her official book launch and guesting at several conferences and festivals, Melodie was a guest speaker at the Burlington Masons Convention Ladies Program on April 25th. Her subject? Comedy writing, of course!
Lisa De Nikolits
Lisa De Nikolits was welcomed back to the Writers and Editors Network of Toronto in March, 2025 to discuss her stories in the two anthologies, Devouring Tomorrow (Dundurn Press) and Imagine (Windtree Press).
On April 19th, she gave her intensive workshop, The A to Z of Publishing, at Agincourt Branch, TPL.
Lorna Poplak
Throughout 2025, our true crime author, Mme Lorna Poplak,gave more than a half-dozen talks on Canada’s criminal history, including the Don Jail, both via Zoom and in the Real World.
Lorna’s talks on the grim history of the Don Jail and criminal punishment in Canada were heard at Open Doors Toronto, the Festival of Bizarre Toronto History and several branches of the Toronto Public Library!
TORONTO PUBLIC LIBRARY, MARIA SHCHUKA BRANCH
Mmes Lisa De Nikolits, M. H. Callway and Rosemary McCracken were honoured to give two workshops to emerging writers at the Toronto Public Library, Maria Shchuka Branch, 1745 Eglinton Avenue West. Many thanks to Librarian, Maureen Copping, for her support!
On June 21st, the three Mmes shared their authors’ journeys in How to Get Published. And on November 8th, they ran an intensive workshop entitled Make Your Prose Sing, A First Course in Editing. The workshops were designed to help emerging writers polish their unpublished manuscripts so that publishers take notice.
REACHING BEYOND THE GTA
Mme Rosemary McCracken was back at Bookapalooza in Minden on July 12th. This year’s guest of honour was leading sci-fi author, Robert Sawyer.
HOLD IT – THERE’SMORE !
In May 2025, Lorne Tepperman launched a monthly newsletter for Ontario CWC members. Several of the Mesdames have become steadfast contributors with articles ranging from “Are Writing Groups Worth It?” to “Murder at the Crime Writing Awards”!
Big thanks are due to Melodie Campbell, M. H. Callway, Rosemary McCracken, Lynne Murphy, Madona Skaff and Melissa Yi.
AND AT LONG LAST, A BIG BEAR HUG AND THANK YOU TO:
Marilyn Kay and Roz Place for keeping our newsletter running!
The Mesdames and Messieurs of Mayhem are delighted to announce that crime writer, Hope Thompson will be our Guest Author in our upcoming anthology, The Power of 13.
Hope Thompson has a background in theatre, film and television, and in true crime podcasting. Her plays have been produced in Toronto, Vancouver and Los Angeles; she was a story editor on CBC’s Baroness Von Sketch Show and wrote for the preschool drag variety show The Fabulous Show with Fay & Fluffy. A licensed PI, Hope has also researched and written for the true crime podcasts Crimehub and Whereabouts Unknown. In 2019, she wrote and performed her one-woman show, The Talking Grave—a séance with deceased crime writer, Cornell Woolrich.
Wow! Have we got a busy February for you, Dear Readers.
Despite the bone-chilling cold and snow, we have a month of stories, readings, presentations and new ways to reach writers and readers. And don’t forget, Bony Blithe in May, when we can all breathe a sigh of relief about spring weather.
CONGRATULATIONS
Mme Madona Skaff for being on the Bouchercon anthology long list for her story, “The Eye of the Storm”, from a field of 176 entries. Good to see a CANADIAN on the finalists list for a conference to be held in CANADA. Fingers crossed!!
Mme Lynne Murphy’s book, Potluck and Other Stories, is now in the Murray Library at the University of Saskatchewan. It is part of the Duff Spafford Collection of books written by U of S alumni. The collection honours the late Dr. Spafford, who was a student (with her) and then a professor at the University of Saskatchewan.
Mme Melissa Yi’s short story, “The Bad Guy”, has been accepted by Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine. It’s set at a BBQ much like the one thrown by Glengarry Memorial Hospital this past summer.
Mme Lisa DeNikolits has a brand-new website, which features a page about the Mesdames and Messieurs of Mayhem. You can check it out below.
On Saturday, February 7,Mme Melissa Yi will be at Coles Cornwall Square to promote her hockey romance novella, Home Ice, one of six interrelated love stories.
Melissa Yi
Mme Lisa De Nikolits will be one of the featured writers at the Phylum Press reading series and Q&A at the Niagara Artists Center, 354 Paul St., St. Catharines, on February 8 from 7 – 9 p.m.
Mme Rosemary McCracken will be speaking about “My Author’s Journey” at Sisters in Crime Toronto’s February Zoom meeting on Thursday, Feb. 19.
Rosemary McCracken
Lorna Poplak
Mme Lorna Poplak will be discussing her latest true crime book, On the Lam: Great (and Not So Great) Escapes from Prisonwith host Des Ryan at Crime Writers of Canada’s upcoming Brews & Clues event. This free eventwill take place at Stout Irish Pub, 221 Carlton Street,Toronto at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 12.
Mme Lorna Poplak will also deliver a presentation about Toronto’s infamous Don Jail at Beeton Hall,Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge St., Toronto, at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 26. As well as discussing the origins and development of the jail, Lorna will introduce a kaleidoscope of memorable characters who were involved in its evolution. This event is free and open to the public.
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND EVENTS
MesdamesM.H. Callway, Rosemary McCracken and Marilyn Kay attended the Arts and Letters Club on Tuesday, February 3, at 12 noon to hear Marianne Miller speak about her crime novel, We Were the Bullfighters, which centers on Ernest Hemingway’s time as a journalist with the Toronto Star. This was a special invitation to members of the Crime Writers of Canada.
M.H. Callway
Marilyn Kay
Rosemary McCracken
Bony Blithe Mini-Con
Tired of all the snow…and wind…and cold? Then it’s time to think ahead to the spring—to Friday, May 15, specifically—and the 2026 Bony Blithe Mini-Con.
The full-day event will include 5 panels, lunch and nibblies during the day, a book dealer, a lunchtime event, and whatever else we can think of. Plus, the bar prices are reasonable.
All this can be yours for $85 (e-transfer payment) or $89 (Paypal, Visa/Mastercard). Visit the Bony Blithe website, scroll down to How to Register, and follow the instructions on how to register and pay.
They‘re on the fully accessible first floor of The High Park Club, 100 Indian Road, Toronto. Free parking. Transit directions will be up on the BB website later.
A note re programming: They want suggestions from both authors and readers for panels and the lunchtime event. So send them your ideas with your filled-in registration form.
And hold the date – Friday, May 15 – for a criminously fun day with our bony bonny girl.
Our year is already purring with new life: an exciting new book in progress, an award-winning Blog, our own Year-End Review and another great Bony Blithe mini-conference later in the year.And don’t forget, our new anthology is coming out in the fall.
CONGRATULATIONS
Mme Melodie Campbell has signed a contract with Cormorant Books for The Kennel Club Murders, the fourth book in her Merry Widow Murder series.
Lady Lucy Revelstoke must investigate the shipboard murder of the owner of a Westminster Kennel Club-winning dog right after the 1929 stock market crash.
Mme Melissa Yi was named top blogger for 2025 by the Medical Post. Big congrats!!
DON’T MISS
TheOntario Library Association Super Conference will take place from January 28 to 31, 2026, at the Metro Convention Centre, Toronto. Registration is now open. See the link below for more information.
Stay tuned for the Mesdames and Messieurs Year-End Review for 2025 in early January!
COMING UP IN ’26
BONY BLITHE
Now that we’ve entered 2026 (scary thought: Q2 of the 21st century), it’s time to start the countdown to the 2026 Bony Blithe mini-con on Friday, May 15, at The High Park Club, first floor.
The 2026 Bony Blithe website will be up by January 15, complete with a registration form and any other useful information. Once you’ve registered and paid, feel free to suggest programming topics. Registration is $85 per person (by etransfer or cheque, $88 (by PayPal or Visa/MC, which includes the PayPal fee). Bring yourself and perhaps a friend.
Mary Patterson, officially our oldest Madame of Mayhem, passed away last week after a long illness. She kept her wonderful sense of humour up to the last day of her life.
Mary joined the Mesdames in 2017 after she won our short story contest for new crime writers. Her light-hearted winning story,” Night Vision”, starred a cat who was much smarter than his PI owner. Ironically, Mary didn’t know much about cats, having been a life-long dog fan!
She was a gifted ceramic artist until arthritis forced her to walk away from her potter’s wheel, but that gave her time to write crime fiction and to pen articles about gardening for community newspapers. She and her husband, Fred, remained active in the planning and planting of community gardens.
She was predeceased by Fred in 2022. They had many four-legged children, including at least one basset hound named Daisy.
Winter has arrived, and the Holidays are just around the corner. Books make great gifts. What’s more wonderful than snuggling up to a book or story by the fabulousMesdames and Messieurs of Mayhem?
Whether you love cozy crime, thrillers, historicals, whodunnits, noir, Sherlockania, romance or speculative fiction, we have something here for you. And as a special treat, true crime and a ground-breaking memoir.
Enjoy, have the best holiday ever and we wish you the best for 2026!
The New Year will be exciting for the Mesdames and Messieurs. Stand by for the cover reveal of our seventh anthology, The Power of 13. And more terrific news about our upcoming book and story publications and author events in 2026.
THE MESDAMES ANTHOLOGIES CELEBRATING CRIME FICTION!
NUMBER 6, OUR LATEST! Derringer Finalist for Best Anthology Featuring Therese Greenwood’s CWC Award Winner!
Spirits, mostly evil!
Music, mayhem and murder!
Cathy Astolfo’s CWC Award Winner!
Our Take on Father Time!
Our very first book!
FABULOUS NEW MYSTERIES AND THRILLERS!
Whodunnit set in the roaring 1920s
Noir thriller where no one can be trusted
The 5th Pat Tierney, financial analyst mystery
The 3rd book in the Dr. Hope Sze Deadly Sins mysteries
CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED NON-FICTION!
Critically acclaimed memoir of Chief Robert Cree, written with Therese Greenwood
Fascinating history of breakouts from Canadian prisons
TERRIFIC RECENT CRIME FICTION RELEASES!
Salty tales from an uncompromising Irish dame!CWC Finalistfor “Farmer Knudson”
Critically acclaimed historical YA mystery
CWC Award finalist for Best YA Mystery
Mayhem in Magazines!
“The Sailing of the Serpent Goddess” by Melissa Yi
“The Lost Diner” by M. H. Callway
Amazing Anthologies!
“King Larp” by Jayne Barnard
“Too Close to the Edge” by Rosalind Place
Winner of Derringer for Best Anthology and contains “The Mob, the Model and the College Reunion” by Melodie Campbell
“The Watching Game” by Lisa De Nikolits
“Number One: Enduring Across Time” by Madona Skaff
“Evil Ex, Silly Whys and the Hole of Doom” by Melissa Yi
“The Rama Cabin” by Jane Petersen Burfield
“Silence Is Platinum” by Madona Skaff
“Polly Wants a Freaking Cracker” by Sylvia Maultash Warsh
“Pressure Point” by Madona Skaff and “Cold Shoulder” by Melissa Yi
A Sherlockian poem by Kevin Thornton
“Time to Fly” by Lisa de Nikolits
Poems byMelissa Yi
“The Nice Capades” by Melissa Yi
“In the Interest of Transparency” by Lisa de Nikolits and “Delicate Creatures” by Melissa Yuan-Innes (Melissa Yi)
New publications, book readings, presentations, CWC Award submissions and Bony Blithe is gearing up for May. December looks to be a busy and festive time for our Mesdames and Monsieurs. We hope you can join us!
CONGRATULATIONS
The pub launch and book sale for Riversong, Mme Rosemary McCracken’s fifth book in her popular Pat Tierney series, will take place at Stout Irish Pub, 221 Carlton Street, Toronto, on Thursday, December 11, at 6:30.p.m. Arrive around 6:00 p.m. if you want a seat.
Mmes Lisa de Nikolits and Melissa Yuan-Innes (Melissa Yi) have stories in Navigate, a new anthology of mysterious tales by Windtree Press. The stories are inspired by the boundaries of imagination.
Lisa’s story is titled “In the Interest of Transparency,” and Melissa‘s story is titled “Delicate Creatures”.
READINGS AND PRESENTATIONS
Mme Lisa De Nikolits will be reading with crime fiction authors, Giles Blunt and Rod Carley, at the Junction Reads Season 2025 to 2026. The readings will take place on Sunday, December 7th, at Type BooksJunction,2887 Dundas Street West, Toronto. This is a hybrid event. Readers and fans may attend in person at Type Books or via Zoom.
Mme Jayne Barnard gave a joint crime-writing presentation on Zoom to Northern Ontario Writers Workshop and Sudbury Writers Guild on November 27th. It was her second Zoom and third overall for this lively and widespread collection of writers.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Stand by for our annual Year-End Book Review soon! Books make great holiday presents.
DON’T MISS
Holiday Parties!!!
Thursday, December 4th, 6:30 pm, Crime Writers of Canada at Pauper’s Pub, 539 Bloor St. West, Toronto. CWC members and guests.
Tuesday, December 9th, 6 pm, Sisters in Crime Toronto, Hot House Café, 35 Church St., Toronto. SinC Toronto members and guests.
CWC AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE
The submission deadline for published works for the CWC Awards of Excellence is December 15th.
Bony Blithe Is Back for 2026
We have a confirmed date and venue for the 2026 Bony Blithe mini-con: Friday, May 15, 2026, at The High Park Club, first floor (fully accessible). Unfortunately, this is the Friday of the Victoria Day long weekend, but it’s the only weekend we can get the first floor of the club.
We will start taking registrations in the new year. The cost will be $85 per person, with lunch and nibblies included as well as a full day of programming, a book dealer, and maybe some surprises.
So hold the date – Friday, May 15 – for a criminously fun day with our bony bonny girl.
The Toronto International Festival Authors salutes romance writing. On Saturday, November 22nd, 1 pm, Mme Lisa De Nikolits will be moderating the panel on YA Romance with authors, Jackie Khalilieh and M. K. Lobb.
The festival is taking place at the Yorkville Royal Sonesta Hotel, 220 Bloor Street West, Toronto.
Terrific news! The Many Names of Robert Creewhich Therese Greenwood wrote with her friend, Elder Robert Cree, is getting great recognition, including high praise from Publisher’s Weekly.
On Monday, November 17th, 6 to 9 pm, celebrated actor, Lorne Cardinal, who narrates the audiobook, will lead an onstage Q & A about Elder Robert’s book. The event takes place at The Wood Buffalo Regional Library, Fort McMurray.
FORT McMURRAY HONOURS ELDER FOR NATIONAL BOOK RELEASE
Elder Robert Cree to be recognized at community book launch with special guest Lorne Cardinal
FORT McMURRAY, Alta., November 10, 2025 — The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo and the Wood Buffalo Regional Library are hosting a celebration of respected Elder Robert Cree to mark the national release of his memoir, The Many Names of Robert Cree.
Published by ECW Press and released across Canada, the book is Elder Robert’s first-person account of survival in a brutally racist residential school system designed to erase traditional Indigenous culture, language, and knowledge. It is also the story of an epic life of struggle and healing, as Elder Robert becomes Chief of his First Nation and takes the wisdom of his ancestors and a message of reconciliation to the halls of government and to industry boardrooms.
Publishers Weekly, the leading North American publication for the book industry, has praised the book: “Cree charts his path from a horrific childhood to a fulfilling life in this moving debut. [His] optimism rings true, even as his blunt account of state-sanctioned abuse haunts. The result is an affecting, hard-won testament to the power of perseverance.”
Celebrated actor Lorne Cardinal narrates the audiobook version, available on platforms across North America. Cardinal will be in Fort McMurray to lead an onstage Q&A about Elder Robert’s book.
The event takes place Monday, Nov. 17, 2025, from 6 to 9 p.m. at The Wood Buffalo Regional Library, 1 C.A. Knight Way, MacDonald Island Park, Lower Level, Fort McMurray. The evening also includes drummers, dancers, books sales and autographs. Come for the full event or drop in any time, no ticket necessary.
The event is part of Time To Read, a literacy program sponsored by the city and library, and supported by Suncor.
Mesdames of Mayhem 