Mesdames on the Move-June

Posted on May 27, 2016 by mesdamesofmayhem

BIG NEWS!

The Arthur Ellis Awards were held at the Arts and Letters Club, Toronto on Thursday, May 26th. Most of of the Mesdames were there to celebrate: Mmes Cathy Astolfo, Rosemary Aubert, M. H. Callway, Melodie Campbell, Donna Carrick, Cathy Dunphy, Rosemary McCracken, Joan O’Callaghan, Jane Petersen Burfield and Sylvia Warsh.

Mme M. H. Callway’s story, “Glow Grass”, in the Mesdames latest anthology, 13 O’clock, was nominated for Best Novella. This marks Mad’s third nomination for an Arthur Ellis award and more critical recognition for fabulous Carrick Publishing, run by the equally fabulous Mme Donna Carrick and husband, Alex Carrick.

Caro Soles

Jane Petersen Burfield

Mme Caro Soles and her partner in crime, Nancy Kirkpatrick’s Poe tribute anthology, Nevermore, won the Paris Book Prize for Best Anthology. Congratulations, Caro and Nancy! Nevermore was also short-listed for the prestigious Bram Stoker Award for Best Horror Anthology.

Nevermore contains stories by many Canadian authors, including Mme Jane Burfield whose gothic tale received very positive critical acclaim.

BOOK LAUNCHES – OH, MY!

Rosemary McCracken

June is turning out to be Mme Rosemary McCracken’s month! Her third Pat Tierney mystery, Raven Lake, is being launched and her story, “Crazy” was reprinted in the new noir anthology, Black Coffee.

Raven Lake will be released in e-book on June 1st on all Amazons. Readers may access their e-copy of the book through this universal link. (It is up for pre-orders at a special low price until then).

Rosemary will be hosting the cyber launch of Raven Lake on Sunday, June 5th from 4 to 7 pm. Join in through Facebook on the events page here. Rosemary will be on hand to answer questions and to award prizes throughout the celebration!

Running up to the cyber launch, from June 1 to 7th, Rosemary will be doing a blog tour, visiting Sylvia Kerslake in England; Sharon Crawford in Toronto; Imajin Books in Kelowna, B.C.; Judy Penz Sheluk in Alliston, Ont., Chris Redding in New Jersey; Madeleine Harris-Callway in Toronto; the Mesdames of Mayhem in southern Ontario; and Kristina Stanley in British Columbia.

On Saturday June 25, 2-4 pm, she will be having the print launch of Raven Lake at the Mesdames’ favorite bookstore, Sleuth of Baker Street. Be sure to join her and several Mesdames for the party!

Rosemary’s story, “Crazy”, is one of the noir stories in the anthology, Black Coffee , published by Darkhouse Books. In it, two characters play out a psychological endgame in the world of illegal immigrants. “Crazy” first appeared in a collection of Canadian cross-cultural stories entitled Mother Margaret and the Rhinocerous Café.

Darkhouse Books publishes 3 or 4 collections of stories a year. Rosemary’s story, “Plastic Paddies” appeared in the 2015 Destination Mystery anthology.

Black Coffee is now available on Amazon.

THE MESDAMES READ and MORE!

On June 2nd, Mme Rosemary McCracken will be reading at Noir at the Bar together with authors Giles Blunt, John McFetridge, June Lorraine Roberts and several writers of noir. The readings will be at 7 pm at the Wallace Gastropub, 1954 Yonge Street, Toronto.

M. H. Callway

On June 11th & 12th, Mme M. H. Callway joins 4000+ other cyclists to bike 200+ km from Toronto to Niagara Falls to raise money for the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation in the 2016 Ride to Conquer Cancer.

On June 29th, 7 pm Mmes M.H. Callway and Rosemary McCracken join fellow CWC member, Sharon Crawford, to discuss the art of short story writing with the East End Writers at S. Walter Stewart Branch, Toronto Public Library, 170 Memorial Park Ave.

And on June 30th, 1:30 pm, our Queen of Comedy, Mme Melodie Campbell, will be reading at the Mimico Public Library, 47 Station Road, Etobicoke.

Melodie Campbell

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged anthology, award winning authors, award winning writers, Bram Stoker Award, Canadian Crime writers, Caro Soles, Carrick Publishing, comedy, crime fiction, crime writers, e-books, Imajin Press, Jane Burfield, M.H. Callway, Melodie Campbell, mesdames of mayhem, mystery, Nevermore, Paris Book Award, Rosemary McCracken, short stories, Thirteen O'clock | Leave a comment

Mesdames of Mercy

Posted on May 19, 2016 by mesdamesofmayhem

You may think that the Mesdames of Mayhem spend their time thinking up ways to eliminate people in the most gruesome possible manner but this is not always true. We are also out there in the community, doing our best to help our fellow human beings. For some of us, it is fund raising, for others it is physical help but we all have projects that are dear to our hearts. Read on to see the kinder, gentler side of the Mesdames.

From Mme. M.H. Callway:

In 2008, a close family friend, who’s an accomplished cyclist, told us about a new charity event: a 200+ km bike ride from Toronto to Niagara Falls to support cancer research at Princess Margaret Hospital. We had both lost many friends and family members to this horrible disease, so I jumped at the chance.

Our first Ride to Conquer Cancer was a life-changing event. People of all ages and levels of fitness took part, riding pricy racing machines to old clunkers they’d hauled out of the garage. Traffic control was handled by a (friendly) motor cycle club. Route signs and riders – including me – got lost. The route itself was super hilly and tough. But together we all raised $14 million!

Since 2008, the Ride has gone from strength to strength, raising $140 million to date, making it one of the most successful fundraising events in Canadian history!!

Today nearly 5000 riders raise a minimum of $2500 each to participate in the 2-day event. The police handle traffic control although the motor cycle club still helps out. And the route has far fewer hills.

Best of all, cancer research supported by the Ride has helped treat – and cure – many patients at PMH, including personal friends of ours.

This June will be my 9^th Ride. I thank my many wonderful supporters for their generous donations year after year. And I intend to keep going as long as my quads let me!

From Mme. Rosemary McCracken:

Rosemary McCracken

I volunteer with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, an organization that brings emergency food, clothing and furniture relief to the poor. Vincentians operate out of Catholic parishes, but we don’t just help parishioners. Social Services refers people from all backgrounds who are in need in our area to us.

Since I’ve been doing this (for about 8 years), I’ve become painfully aware of the neediness in our city. Making food deliveries on Saturday mornings, I’ve been to apartments with no furniture—just mattresses on the floor. I’ve been to illegal rental units you wouldn’t want a dog to live in. Some of the people we’ve helped just had temporary setbacks and were able to turn their situations around. But the vast majority have mental or substance abuse problems, and will need ongoing assistance.

Mme. McCracken’s newest mystery, Raven Lake, will be launched on June 1st on line and on June 25th at Sleuth of Baker Street.

From Mme. Catherine Astolfo:

Many of my volunteer hours have, at this writing, gone to my local library. That sounds very self-serving and, in many ways, it is. However, I have given writing courses and panels for free in order to encourage new writers, so I feel good about that.

Cathy Astolfo

I also volunteered for my local political party during election time. Also self-serving, since I ran into some characters I can use in stories one of these days. I’m also part of a group called Positive Energy Practice, which does presentations in schools to inspire self-confidence. I give my time without compensation for the writing, planning and meetings. My grandson and I have also applied to volunteer for our local Food Bank, picking up and delivering donations. That should keep me busy and add more characters to the list, I should think. As long as they accept a crime writer!

Mme. Astolfo’s newest mystery, Operation Babylift, was launched May 14th.

From Mme. Joan O’Callaghan:

Joan O’Callaghan

Every year I participate in a crafting weekend as a fundraiser for cancer research. It is called Crop for the Cure, as most participants, myself included, are scrapbookers. Originally, this weekend was held in support of women’s cancers but more recently has expanded its mandate to include all cancers.We meet at a location in Oakville. In addition to the registration fee which covers expenses for the weekend, we are required to raise a minimum of $50 for cancer research. We craft, play games, and bid on silent auction and door prize items donated by local merchants, and generally have a good time. And the food, which is plentiful, is always good!! My favourite game is Chocolate Bar Bingo. One “pays” two chocolate bars per card. Twice I have won the “full card” game, which netted me about 40 chocolate bars each time. I am forced to share my winnings with my sister who hasn’t been so lucky!

Mme. O’Callaghan will be signing her late husband’s memoir, Maverick Publisher:J. Patrick O’Callaghan, at Chapters in the Bayview Mall on Saturday, May 28th.

More on the Mesdames of Mercy in June.

∗∗

News Flash from Mme. Cheryl Freedman, Co- Organizer of this year’s Bony Blithe Awards:

Only 5 days left to register for the 2016 Bony Blithe Mini-Con plus Award Banquet and Birthday Party.

Yes, my criminous friends, a mini-con featuring (a) two panels (run consecutively), (b) books for sale, (c) autographs to score, (d) nibblies throughout the afternoon, (e) the award banquet/birthday party in the evening, and, of course, (f) a great chance to get together with friends from far and near to schmooze.

Our first panel has our finalists reimagining their light mysteries as thrillers or police procedurals. Our second panel, which includes Mme Mel Campbell, explores whether dark and light mysteries are points on a continuum or two sides of a coin.

The event runs from 2:00 to 9:00 p.m. on Friday, May 27, and is at the High Park Club, 100 Indian Road, Toronto. The club is easy to get to by transit or by car, and it has lots of FREE onsite parking. And the bar prices at the club are anything but criminal.

The cost for all this fun is only $50. To register and pay, visit http://www.bonyblithe.com/. If you are buying more than one ticket, email bw-award@bloodywords.com to tell us the other person’s meal choice. If you don’t want to pay by Paypal, email bw-award@bloodywords.com to arrange another way to register and pay.

See you on May 27 for a grand afternoon and evening of law and disorder!

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged authors, award winning authors, award winning writers, Bony Blithe, Canadian authors, Canadian Crime writers, Cathy Astolfo, Cheryl Freedman, crime fiction, Joan O'Callaghan, M.H. Callway, mesdames of mayhem, Rosemary McCracken | Leave a comment

Baking, Happiness and Crime

Posted on May 10, 2016 by mesdamesofmayhem

Lisa De Nikolits

This week, Mme. Lisa de Nikolits writes about her new venture, a self help cookbook, entitled Bake Your Way to Happiness. Lisa’s novel, Between the Cracks She Fell, recently won a bronze IPPY for Contemporary Fiction.

The six degrees of separation between baking, happiness and crime

There I was, writing about one of my most objectionable and nasty characters to date. The book is titled Rotten Peaches — you get the picture – this dame ain’t nice!

What exactly does she do? Well, apart from being a morally nihilistic, self-indulgent narcissist, she inspired me to put together a self-help cookbook called Bake Your Way to Happiness. So I guess she can’t be all bad!

It’s really ironic that this joyful book came from such a nefarious origin. The character is, of course, a work of fiction, and she steals her recipes; she is a shameless thief. She does get caught in the end and she pays the price, I will say that.

She is also a therapist, but there’s more than one screw loose in her wacky head — so the scenario couldn’t be more different to the real cookbook which is out now (and available on Amazon. Just click the links here– shameless promo insert!)

The real cookbook has an awesome therapist, Marilyn Riesz, and an amazing food editor, Gilean Watts as the contributing authors. They are two of the nicest people you are ever likely to meet!

This is a great example of how fiction and real life are not the same thing at all – a seed planted in one will germinate into a completely different animal in the other. That Rotten Peaches was the seed of origin for Bake Your Way to Happiness is in itself quite comical!

In Rotten Peaches, the protagonist pens a number of Bake Your Way books; Bake Your Way to a Great Career, Bake Your Way to Mr. Right (or Ms. Right), Bake Your Way to a Happy Family and others. I can’t see the three of us doing any more of the books; we covered so much ground in this one by way of recipes and therapy.

The mouth-wateringly delicious recipes and associated therapy chapters include: How To Find Happiness (Melt Your Heart Blueberry Scones) ; Shower Yourself With Love (Coconut Whipped Cream Cake With Fluffy Icing) ; Achieve The Success You Want (Never-Fail Fudge); and Get A Good Night’s Sleep (Classic Biscuits).

When it came to the publishing side, I approached my wonderful publisher, Inanna, who said that while they don’t do self-help books, they thought it was a fabulous idea and that I should definitely pursue it.

So I did. I decided to self-publish it, for a number of reasons. Primarily, I was interested in checking out the quality of self-publishing. I was dubious, I will be honest, but I was extremely (and most pleasantly) surprised. The paper quality, the colours, the glossy cover, the sharpness of the typography and crispness of the artwork are all fantastic.

I will add that while I had the idea for the book, I had no part in the actual writing of it. I left that to Marilyn and Gilean as this was their area of expertise. I put on my art directing and design hat and happily set out trying to make the book look as beautiful as I could.

I worked with a large format (11 inches high by 8.5 wide) so that the book will also be a personal journal of each person’s path to happiness. We want this book to be a gift to each person who holds it. Our lives are so hectic and filled with so much stress, we would love for this book to be a sanctuary, a place where one can go after a harried day and connect with peace and happiness.

So truly, could anything be more different to its evil twin, Rotten Peaches? I say never mind — and who can really understand or explain the six degrees of separation in life?

We have a website that we hope you will visit, with more about us and more about the book: www.bakeyourwaytohappiness.com and follow the Amazon links on this page.

If you have any questions at all, please email me, I’d love to chat, or find me on Facebook, or LinkedIn.

lisadenikolitswriter.com

Between The Cracks She Fell called ‘a must-read’ by Canadian Living magazine!

Winner of IPPY 2016 Bronze Medal for Contemporary Fiction

http://amzn.to/1SW8gvc (amazon.com, print and kindle)

http://amzn.to/1WXmXUw (amazon.ca, print and kindle)

Or order directly from Inanna: http://bit.ly/1isocsA

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Mesdames on the Move–May

Posted on April 28, 2016 by mesdamesofmayhem

EXCITING NEWS!

Our latest anthology, 13 O’clock, has garnered an Arthur Ellis nomination! Mme. M. H. Callway’s novella, Glow Grass, has made the Arthur Ellis short list for Best Novella published in 2015 in Canada. Congratulations, Madeleine! And many thanks to Mme Donna Carrick and her husband and partner, Alex Carrick of Carrick Publishing!

Donna Carrick

M. H. Callway

The Arthur Ellis Awards will be presented on Thursday, May 26th at the CWC banquet at the Arts and Letters Club, 14 Elm Street in Toronto. This is always a gala evening and we hope the Mesdames will be out in force.

This month’s prize for most distant event goes to Mme Caro Soles, co-editor with Nancy Kilpatrick of nEvermore , an anthology of stories inspired by the writings of Edgar Alan Poe. nEvermore has been nominated for a Bram Stoker Award, the major American award for horror fiction. They will be presented in Las Vegas (a suitably horrific place) on May 15th.

Caro Soles

Jane Burfield

Even if we can’t get to Las Vegas, we’ll be sending our best wishes with Caro. Mme. Jane Burfield is among the authors whose stories are included in nEvermore.

Please note! Mme Melodie Campbell’s launch of her new Goddaughter novella, The Goddaughter Caper, will now take place on Thursday, April 28th, 7 pm at the Hamilton Public Library, Ancaster Branch, 386 Wilson St. East. Prizes for best gangster costume. All book sale proceeds to go to the Hamilton Literary Council.

Sylvia Maultash Warsh

Monday, May 2nd, Mme.Sylvia Maultash Warsh will be giving an after-dinner talk to Pursuits, a group of 100 women in the Midland area who meet monthly to pursue knowledge and interest. She will be speaking about her historical novel, The Queen of Unforgetting, which is set in Midland and the nearby Sainte Marie among the Hurons. So it is fitting that the dinner and talk will take place at the reconstructed Sainte Marie among the Hurons.

Also on May 2nd at 2 p.m., Mme. M. H. Callway will be giving a talk on “How To Get Published” at the Albert Campbell branch of the Toronto Public Library, 496 Birchmount Road, Scarborough. Mme Mad’s debut novel, Windigo Fire, was published in 2014 and short listed for Best First Novel in the 2015 Arthur Ellis Awards.

Melodie Campbell

Tuesday, May 3d, at 7 p.m., Mme. Melodie Campbell will join Hamilton Area Crime Authors, Jill Downie, Alexis Koetting and Ross Pennie, for a panel discussion and readings at the Turner Park Branch of the Hamilton Public Library, 352 Rymal Road East, Hamilton.

Saturday, May 14th, 10 am to 12 noon, Mme. Campbell is in action again conducting a crime writing workshop at the Central Branch of the Burlington Public Library, Holland Room, 2331 New Street, Burlington.

Cathy Astolfo

Saturday, May 7th at 2 p.m., Mme. Catherine Astolfo will appear on a panel highlighting Brantford’s newest authors along with seasoned crime writer, Rick Blechta, at Brantford Public Library, 173 Colborne St, Brantford.

Also on Saturday, May 14th, Mme. Astolfo is hosting an Open House Launch of her new book, Operation Babylift, a Kira Callahan mystery, from 1 to 4 p.m. A bevy of Mesdames will be in attendance. Details from Cathy at castolfo@rogers.com.

Cheryl Freedman

Friday May 27th the Boney Blithe Festival will take place at the High Park Club 100 Indian Road, Toronto. Beginning at 2:00 p.m. there will be panels and nibbles and the festival will culminate in a banquet where the Bony Blithe Award for light hearted crime fiction will be presented.

One of the five authors nominated will receive a plaque and a cheque for $1,000. No Mesdames on the list this year but we congratulate all the finalists: Victoria Abbott, The Marsh Madness (Berkley Prime Crime); Elizabeth J. Duncan, Untimely Death (Crooked Lane Books); Eva Gates, Booked For Trouble (NAL); Victoria Hamilton, White Colander Crime (Berkley Prime Crime); and Alexis Koetting, Encore (Five Star)

Joan O’callaghan

Saturday, May 28th Mme. Joan O’Callaghan will be at Chapters in Bayview Village Mall, just north of Sheppard Ave., and the Bayview subway stop, signing copies of her late husband’s memoir, Maverick Publisher;J. Patrick O’Callaghan: A Life in Newspapers. Time of signing not available just yet but watch this space.

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The Reviewers Speak (and they like us)

Posted on April 21, 2016 by mesdamesofmayhem

The Mesdames of Mayhem anthology, 13 O’clock, has garnered two recent reviews, both great.

Vanessa Westermann writes in Vanessa’s Picks in the April issue of the Sleuth of Baker Street newsletter:

M.H. Callway very kindly sent me a copy of 13 O’Clock ($15.99), the second crime anthology by the MESDAMES OF MAYHEM. I normally prefer to pick up a novel, rather than a short story collection, when looking for reading material. However, having just worked with a group of budding young authors in a creative writing club and given advice on crafting short fiction, it was a pleasure to read an anthology by lauded female Canadian crime writers and class it as ‘research’. These twisted tales offer entertainment to suit your every whim or perhaps, more appropriately, to suit the time of day. Over crumpets at breakfast, perhaps you’ll find yourself reading “Pulling a Rabbit”, about a woman whose adventurous spirit leads her from theft to abduction. Over a pre-dinner glass of merlot, you may choose to read “Glow Grass”, about dark deeds and blood-shed at a decayed family cottage. Whichever story you choose to read, at whatever time, you’re sure to find a tale of crime that will appeal to you, from the supernatural to comedy capers.

And Don Graves writes in Canadian Mystery Reviews:

A book of short stories is like a box of chocolates. There are those decadent dark chocolate truffles, those syrupy little beehives with a cheery inside and then…you get the picture.

Short story writing is a style where the author gets about a minute to ‘reel ‘em in and land ‘em’. No time to waste words. The author gets one shot to score. Short story writing can be the Waterloo that some authors fear. Enough.

13 O’Clock is a box full of delights. No assembly line writing here. It is short story writing that delivers. Did I like each story equally? No, but all of them got me in that critical first minute. In a long list of fine, hand-made “chocolates” includes “Perfect Timing” and “The Test of Time” by Melodie Campbell, “Thrice the Brinded Cat” by Joan O’Callaghan, “The Bench Rests” by Rosemary Aubert; this story took me back to those poignant legal series featuring Ellis Portal. Stories by Donna Carrick, Catherine Astolfo and M.H. Callway hit the spot. And I must mention one other. I’m sure you’ve heard the oldie about those can’t do…teach. Well, some say, those who can’t write…edit. But “Mirror, Mirror” by Cheryl Freedman blows that saying out of the water. Here’s one of Canada’s finest editors who can write!

Don’s review will appear in the next issue of Canadian Mystery Reviews and he has given us his permission to use the text of his review here.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged anthology, award winning authors, award winning writers, Canadian Crime writers, Carrick Publishing, Cathy Astolfo, Cheryl Freedman, comedy, cozies, crime fiction, crime writers, Donna Carrick, e-books, funny, humor, Joan O'Callaghan, M.H. Callway, Melodie Campbell, mesdames of mayhem, mystery, publishing, Rosemary Aubert, Rosemary McCracken, suspense, Thirteen, thriller, thrillers | Leave a comment

Authors For Indies – Support Your Indie Bookstore on April 30th!

Posted on April 11, 2016 by mesdamesofmayhem

By M. H. Callway and Lisa de Nikolits

This Saturday, April 30th, Canadian authors show their appreciation to independent book stores across the country! From small towns to our largest cities, authors will read, entertain and chat to customers in local bookstores about their favorite subject – books!

We all know how independent bookstores have suffered. Inspired by the Indies First Campaign in the US, several Canadian authors got together and set up Authors For Indies to reverse that trend here at home.

M. H. Callway

Last year I had the privilege of helping out at Books and Company, in Picton, Ontario. They have a wonderful selection of books and emphasize works by local authors. You can read your book in their adjoining café which offers yummy lattes and treats. They even have a resident cat, Miss Lily!

David Sweet was more than generous to us authors. He had stocked our latest books and all afternoon he directed readers to our signing table. Our only task: chat to customers – a job I love. And did I mention that our book sales were great?

This year, I’m joining Mmes Lisa de Nikolits and D. J. McIntosh at Beaches Book City while another troop of Mesdames, Cathy Astolfo, Mel Campbell and Joan O’Callaghan help out at Roxanne’s Reflections Book Shop in Fergus, Ontario.

Cathy Astolfo

Melodie Campbell

Joan O’Callaghan

But Lisa has a different take on selling than I do despite the fact that her most recent book, Between the Cracks She Fell, just won the Bronze IPPY for Contemporary Fiction! Here she describes the harrowing task of trying to sell her own book:

Lisa de Nikolits

I admit that when it comes to selling my own books, I am pretty darn useless. But I’m a firecracker when it comes to selling other people’s books and a good example of this is Authors for Indies Day.

D. J. McIntosh

My ’hood is Book City at the Beaches, and last year I got to hang out with Mme Dorothy McIntosh whose newest book, The Angel of Eden, was recently announced as a finalist by The International Thriller Writers for the best paperback original 2016. Awards will be presented on July 10th in New York. We also met Sandra Gulland who is an international bestselling author of historicals.

I am extremely passionate about Dorothy’s books, so selling her novels was a piece of cake for me. I admit that I wasn’t too familiar with Sandra’s books but from what the bookstore owner told us, Sandra’s books fly off the shelves without needing any help from anybody. Wouldn’t that be a wonderful ‘problem’ to have?!

I can flit happily around the store, advising on all manner of books for the various readers who stop by but when they ask me about mine, I become tongue-tied, sweat starts beading my brow and I stand there, wringing my hands and trying to form a sentence.

“Well,” I say, “the book is really rather an odd one and I’m not sure if you’d like it and I would hate you to buy a book and then wish you had bought something else.”

Great sales pitch! Good thing my publisher wasn’t around to hear my feeble attempts.

I recently visited my local Beaches Book City and I told the bookstore owner how dreadful I feel for not being a better salesperson for my books and he was incredibly kind about it.

He told me that Authors for Indies Day isn’t about selling books, it’s intended to be a meet-and-greet and a way for people in the area to get to know who their local authors are.

What a relief! So this year, I am really looking forward to going to Authors for Indies, without the (self-imposed) pressure to be a better saleswoman for my wordy little offspring.

I will be at Beaches Book City from 11-12 noon with my book, Between The Cracks She Fell. Dorothy will join me at the same time with The Angel of Eden. And Madeleine will be there at 2 pm with Windigo Fire.

I really hope you will stop by for a chat. Books are our friends, so let’s celebrate them and help support the indie bookstores at a time when they are struggling.

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Mesdames on the Move–April

Posted on April 1, 2016 by mesdamesofmayhem

Arthur Ellis and Bony Blithe Nominations–The Short Lists!

skeleton w book in hand and books in bg final w shadow

Bony Blithe

Arthur Ellis Award

Two of the biggest nights of the year for Canadian crime writers happen this month. On Thursday, April 14th, the finalists for the Bony Blithe Award are announced. Look for the list of nominees on the BB Award Website, the BB Facebook page, and of course, here on the Mesdames webpage and on our Facebook page.

Thursday, April 21st the Crime Writers of Canada announce the nominations for this year’s Arthur Ellis Awards at the shortlist event to be held 7:00 to 8:30 pm at Indigo Books, 55 Bloor Street West, Manulife Centre, Toronto.

Members of CWC will be reading from their works during the evening. We are delighted that Mmes Melodie Campbell, Lisa de Nikolits and Rosemary McCracken will be among them. Rosemary will read from her newest Pat Tierney mystery, Raven Lake and Lisa will read from her upcoming novel, The Nearly Girl.

The Biggest Nights of the Year, of course, will be Thursday, May 26th, when the Arthur Ellis Awards will be presented at the annual banquet at The Arts and Letters Club in Toronto. And on Friday, May 27th, an all-day celebration will lead up to the Bony Blithe gala and the announcement of this year’s winner.

New Book Contracts!

Rosemary McCracken

Catherine Astolfo

Congratulations to Mesdames Catherine Astolfo and Rosemary McCracken who have both signed contracts with their publisher, Imajin Books, for new novels. Rosemary’s latest, Raven Lake, is the third in the well reviewed Pat Tierney series. Cathy’s new book, Operation Babylift; A Kira Callahan Novella, is the sequel to Up Chit Creek. Watch this space for details about publication dates.

Readings and stuff!

Lisa de Nikolits

Monday, April 4th: Mme. Lisa de Nikolits will be reading with three other authors at The Central. 603 Markham St., Toronto at 6:45 p.m. in the Rowers Reading Series. Lisa’s most recent novel is Between the Cracks She Fell.

Joan O’Callaghan

Tuesday,April 12th: It’s a Crime at the Country Hills Library, 1500 Block Line Road, Kitchener from 6:30 to 8:00 pm. Mesdames Cathy Astolfo, Mel Campbell and Joan O’Callaghan will be reading with CWC members Alison Bruce and Janet Bolin.

M. H. Callway

Wednesday, April 13th: A celebration of crime writing at the Holland Landing Public Library and Community Centre, 19513 Yonge St., East Gwillimbury, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Mesdames M. H. Callway and Rosemary McCracken will be joining members of CWC and SinC: Judy Penz Sheluk, who will host the panel, Rick Blechta, Carol Newhouse and Cynthia St. Pierre.

Melodie Campbell

Thursday, April 28th: The launch of Mme Melodie Campbell’s latest book, The Goddaughter Caper, has been rescheduled. Same time and location, 7 pm, Ancaster Branch, Hamilton Public Library. Prizes for best gangster costume. All book sale profits go to support literacy.

Mme Mel is super busy this month with readings at Simcoe Public Library, 10:30 am, Saturday, April 16th and at Burlington Public Library, Tuesday, April 26th, 7 pm.

Saturday, April 30th: The Authors for Indies event takes place at independent bookstores throughout Canada where authors volunteer to show their support.

Mmes M. H. Callway, D. J. McIntosh and Lisa De Nikolits will all be at the Beaches Book City store in Toronto. Lisa is on from 11 am to 12 noon, Mad from 2 to 4 pm and Dorothy TBA. Mmes Cathy Astolfo, Mel Campbell and Joan O’Callaghan will be at Roxanne’s Reflections Book Shop in Fergus. Do come out and visit them and your favorite indie book store!

More good news!

Mme. Rosemary McCracken’s course in Novel Writing II at George Brown College was so well received that she will be teaching it again in the spring session. Class begins April 12th. Contact George Brown Continuing Education program for details.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Arthur Ellis, award winning authors, award winning writers, Bony Blithe, Bony Blithe Light Mystery Awards finalists, Canadian authors, Canadian Crime writers, Cathy Astolfo, comedy, crime fiction, crime writers, funny, humor, Joan O'Callaghan, Lisa de Nikolits, M.H. Callway, Melodie Campbell, mesdames of mayhem, mystery, Rosemary McCracken | Leave a comment

Lovely in Her Bones, The Bony Blithe Award by Cheryl Freedman

Posted on March 23, 2016 by mesdamesofmayhem

Cheryl Freedman

LOVELY IN HER BONES!

That’s Bony Blithe, patron of the eponymously named Bony Blithe Award (known formally as the Bloody Words Light Mystery Award, but try saying that 10 times quickly) “for books that make us smile.”

The award includes a plaque featuring Bony Blithe herself with her bony kitty, plus a $1000 cash prize. The award first saw the light of day at the Bloody Words 2012 banquet and has been presented every year since. Bloody Words, the conference, may be just a fond memory, but Bony Blithe and her award live on.

But, you ask, what is a “light mystery”? And why does it need its own award?

Light mysteries can include cozies and capers, gentle humour or laugh-out-loud guffaws. They can have paranormal or romantic elements. They can be set at any time and in any place. What they all have in common, though, is that you, the reader, should walk away feeling entertained…and hopefully with a smile.

Unfortunately, light mysteries like this often tend to be overlooked when awards are being handed out.

Well, not any longer, now that Bony Blithe’s on the scene.

The Bony Blithe 2016 shortlist will be announced on Thursday, April 14th. Look for the list on the BB Award Website, the BB Facebook page, and of course, here on the Mesdames webpage and Facebook page.

And come to the Bony Blithe Gala in Toronto on Friday, May 27, to cheer on your favourite shortlisted author. To celebrate our fifth year, the gala will include a full day of festivities starting in the morning and culminating with the award dinner in the evening.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged award winning authors, award winning writers, bony Blithe Awards, Bony Blithe Light Mystery Awards finalists, books, Canadian Crime writers, Cheryl Freedman, comedy, cozies, crime fiction, crime writers, funny, humor, mesdames of mayhem, mystery | Leave a comment

I’m Not My Protagonist by Melodie Campbell

Posted on March 13, 2016 by mesdamesofmayhem

Just released! THE GODDAUGHTER CAPER!

A smart talking mob goddaughter who doesn’t want to be one. A bumbling mob family that never gets it right!

Strange things keep happening in Steeltown. A body shows up in the trunk of Gina’s car. Another is mistakenly shipped to Nico’s new store. And what about that stack of coffins that appear to have fallen off a truck? When everything points to Mad Magda and the Last Chance Club from the Holy Cannoli Retirement home, Gina is determined to get to the bottom of it. But she’ll have to act fast, because the police are right behind her.

In today’s blog, Melodie talks about her writing and reveals her innermost secrets. Just don`t tell anyone what they are…

Melodie Campbell

I’m Not My Protagonist! Oh, wait a minute…

My college “Crafting a Novel” students often hear me say, “You can’t make every character sound like yourself.” And it’s true. Most beginning novelists (at least the ones in my class) write themselves into their books. The star of the book – the protagonist – sounds and looks an awful lot like the writer. Has the same likes, dislikes, and insecurities. But is, of course, more heroic.

In fact, we come slamming up against the famous saying, “Write what you know.” And some know themselves pretty well. (Others, not at all, but I digress…)

A protagonist who is a barely veiled, idealist version of yourself? We’ll allow you that for your first book. But if an author persists in writing the same protagonist over and over again, in every book and series they write, things get pretty stale.

So that prompted me to look at my own series to see what I had done. Ten books in now, I held my breath.

The Character I wish I was:

I started the Land’s End fantasy trilogy when I was dearly in need of escape. My mother was dying. I remember looking at her hospital bedroom wall, and thinking: if I could walk through that wall into another world right now, I would. That’s how the first of the series, Rowena Through the Wall, came about. I started writing it in the hospital.

Rowena isn’t me. She is the ‘me I wish I was,’ at least at that difficult time. I wrote the character I wanted to be. She’s prettier than me, more generous than I am, and in the end, more courageous. I was dealing with the issue of courage at that time. Courage to face what was coming and what was inevitable. I wonder how many readers of that series would nod their heads, hearing me say that now?

The ‘Me’ my Mother Wanted Me to Be:

Next I grabbed A Purse to Die For off my shelves. This book is in a different genre – it’s amateur detective, or classic mystery. The second book in the series, A Killer Necklace, has just come out.

The protagonist is a fashion diva – a television personality from the Weather Network. She’s drop-dead pretty, and always put together.

I am not. Spending more than ten minutes on my long hair is an impossible chore for me. You won’t find high heels in my closet. I like clothes, but am not a slave to fashion.

But my mother was. My mother was a fashion diva until the day she died. We’re pretty sure she was the longest subscriber to Vogue magazine, ever. Mom dressed me in designer clothes all my childhood. She was delighted when I did a little modeling, as a young woman.

I never quite came up to her standard of fashionista though. “Put on some lipstick,” she would say. “You look like a ghost!”

Looking at the series now, I can see that the main character is the ‘me my mother wanted me to be.’ It was, in a way, my tribute to her. Wish she could have been here when the first book was published.

The Closest I get to Me:

So where am I in all my books? That’s easy. I’m The Goddaughter. In this wacky crime caper series, the protagonist is a mob goddaughter, who doesn’t want to be one.

I’m half Sicilian. I had a Sicilian godfather. I had to wait until certain people died in the family before the first book could be published.

In Gina Gallo, the ambivalence is there. ‘You’re supposed to love and support your family…but what if your family is this one?” Gina says this throughout the series. Those words came directly from my mouth.

This book is meant to be laugh out loud funny. I let loose with my own wit, and shook off the inhibitions. Not that I’m very inhibited normally. But in The Goddaughter series, you get the real me. Not idealized. Not always upstanding. Sometimes just looking for a way out of a real mess, possibly of my own creation. But kind of fun to be with, I think.

So that brings us back to the beginning. One of the delightful things about being an author is allowing yourself to ‘become’ a character other than yourself, as you write. Fitting yourself into their skin, so to speak. As you write more, this becomes more fun, and more of a goal. I LOVE putting myself into the mind of a killer in a short story, if only for a little while. It’s a kick to ‘pretend’ to be someone else, by writing their story.

Let’s be honest: who needs drugs, if you’re an author? THIS is the ultimate escape.

***

And now for an Invitation You Can’t Refuse!

On Thursday, April 28th, Mme. Melodie Campbell, the Mesdames Queen of Comedy, will launch her latest novel, The Goddaughter Caper.

Come to the Ancaster Public Library Library, 300 Wilson St. East in Ancaster and be there on time, 7:00 p.m. Wear costumes, if you know what`s good for you. Fedoras are optional but there will be prizes for the best mob costumes.

Proceeds will go to the Hamilton Literacy Council so bring cash–lots of it.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged advice for writers, award winning authors, award winning writers, Canadian Crime writers, comedy, cozies, crime stories, crime writers, e-books, funny, humor, Melodie Campbell, mesdames of mayhem, mystery, Thirteen, Tips for Writers | Leave a comment

News from Left Coast Crime 2016, Phoenix, Arizona, Feb 25 to 28th

Posted on March 9, 2016 by mesdamesofmayhem

Mesdames Jane Burfield, M. H. Callway and Melodie Campbell joined several fellow Canadian crime writers in Phoenix, Arizona for this year’s Left Coast Crime conference.

Phoenix offers southwest architecture, fiery Texmex cuisine and sunny, 75 degree weather – what’s not to like! Frozen Canadians need no excuse to head south in February and Left Coast Crime offers a great way to connect with fellow crime writers, fans and readers.

Mmes Melodie and Mad were both featured on panels this year.

Melodie Campbell

Melodie, our Queen of Comedy, shared her comedic flair on “What’s so Funny about Murder?” And Mad was delighted to be on the panel, “A Brief Dance with Death: Short Mystery Fiction” with several accomplished Los Angeles members of the Short Mystery Fiction Society.

A Brief Dance with Death Panel L to R: Dale Berry, Mad, Sarah M. Chen, Stephen Buehler, Misti Dale

LCC works especially hard to connect authors and readers on a personal level. This year, organizers piloted Author Speed-dating on Thursday, Feb 25th. Pairs of crime writers rotated through 18 tables of readers and pitched their books at each table for 2 minutes. Exhausting!

Mme Mad had a terrific partner in L. C. Hayden, a critically acclaimed author who is published in a variety of genres. L.C. lives in El Paso, Texas. (Yes, the Texas city right across the border from Mexican murder capital, Juarez!) The infamous tunnels the drug cartels use are historical, built for smuggling during the 19th century. They are a key element in L.C.’s latest thriller, Secrets of the Tunnels.

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Meeting Tim Hallinan. Photo by Tim Moore.

LCC features Author-Reader connections where authors host short private events for fans. This way Mad met Tim Hallinan, author of the Simeon Grist and Junior Bender novels. Tim treated everyone to coffee, cookies and chatted for over an hour about the art and craft of writing. He has just completed a book on how to finish a novel. Stay tuned on where and when to buy a copy!

Mad also had lunch with 3 amazing women authors: Ellen Byron, who writes the Cajun Country series; Chris Goff , author of dark thrillers and bird watching mysteries; and Leslie Karst, who pens culinary cozies. A wonderful opportunity to bond over the challenges faced by women crime writers, especially women thriller writers. Men readers shy away from buying thrillers penned by women authors.

We Canucks certainly know how to party both with each other and with American friends. We enjoyed two fine dinners together: an American grill, one evening and one fine Texmex, the other. Freshly made guacamole and pitchers full of Margarita’s – yum!

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Jane a good sport about being in jail. We got her out in time for dinner!

On Friday evening, the Crime Writers of Canada hosted “Meet the Canucks” to raise the profile of Canadian authors with our American friends. Canuck authors were stationed at tables and Americans fans circulated to get the answers to a quiz. A great way for writers to chat with new readers. Prizes, of course, were Canadian books and maple syrup. The hotel chef even made poutine! By all accounts, a smash hit with everyone and sure to become a standard event at future conferences in the USA.

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Meet the Canucks!

The big highlight of the conference was the day the Canadians took Guest of Honour, Ann Cleeves to lunch. Ann is a delightful person who also happens to be one of the world’s leading crime writers. She is the author of the popular Vera Stanhope series and award-winning Shetland / Inspector Jimmy Perez novels. Both have been successfully adapted for television.

L to R: Brenda Chapman, Ann Cleeves, M. J. Maffini, Mme Mad, Alex Brett, Barbara Fradkin, Linda Wiken

The Lefty Awards were presented at the conference banquet and we are delighted to report that Jane’s friend, Donna Andrews, won the Lefty for Best Humorous Novel, for her book, Lord of the Wings.

Working dog, Koa

Award banquets can be a little long on occasion, but the evening sped by, hosted by the wonderful Catriona McPherson who moved things along with deft humour while raising $10,000 to benefit a children’s literacy charity. Mme Mad had great fun thanks to table companions, new writer, Bill Syken and new friend, Gay Coburn, whose working dog, Koa, stole the evening. Gay is heading up next year’s LCC in Hawaii. Until then, aloha!