Mesdames of Mayhem

In our blog, The Mesdames Walk the Talk: The Setup:  Mme. Joan O’Callaghan wrote about what goes into preparing for a library reading. This month, Mesdames Rosemary McCracken, Lynne Murphy and Catherine Astolfo write about the personal side of public appearances.

Rosemary McCracken

Rosemary McCracken:

Before the Mesdames got into full swing, I organized a few library appearances for a fellow writer and myself. It was a lot of work. Joan O’Callaghan’s efforts have made it easy for her fellow Mesdames.

Library appearances don’t often generate many book sales at the actual event but the branch usually buys the books of the authors who are speaking so they will be available for their members to borrow. And books in the library mean payments to their authors through  Canada’s Public Lending Right Program. Not to mention word-of-mouth publicity from more people reading our books.

You meet all sorts of people at library appearances. People who love reading and who love crime fiction are a delight to meet. I met an old friend I’d lost contact with who came out after seeing my name on the library’s poster announcing the event. But some people can present a problem, like the book-lifting lady (See Cathy Astolfo’s comments below.)

My hat is off to the librarians who make these events possible. One librarian in particular I’d like to thank: Janet Nanos at Toronto Public Library’s S. Walter Stewart Branch. She really went all out for author Steve Shrott and myself a few year ago.

Lynne Murphy:

I have learned that the success of a reading depends greatly on the effort the local librarian has put into publicizing the event.  Joan can only start things off. The librarians put up posters in the branch and elsewhere, contact local media and see that the branch’s book club turns out. At Riverdale Library we had an excellent turnout in spite of a snowstorm.

My personal best memories: The reading at Kennedy-Eglinton Library where a teenaged girl showed up with her mother for moral support. She was an aspiring writer and had many questions. Melodie Campbell was especially helpful and the young woman was very appreciative. That was one event where I felt we made a difference to someone.

Most unusual event;  Not at a library but at Signs Restaurant on Yonge St. in Toronto. The restauarant employs deaf waiters and had sign language interpreters for our readings. Unfortunately, I couldn’t watch the interpreter while I was reading. I would have liked to see what she did with the sentence, “You girls are growing pot in your pots.”

Best Ego Booster: At the Guelph Public Library I read from my story Being Leda Fox in Thirteen o’clock. And a lady actually bought the book so she could see how it came out!

Catherine Astolfo

Cathy Astolfo:

As you know from Mme. Joan’s article on arranging reading events for authors, there are many pieces to the organizational puzzle. Lists of items to ensure you cover (e.g. what should the authors wear [or not wear] on their heads?). One of the items on that list should not have to be theft. Of course, we authors understand the temptation that overtakes a reader when they spy our novels and anthologies sitting there on the table, unsupervised, gorgeous and just waiting to hop into your bag. Yet the key word in this cautionary tale must be: unsupervised. Change that to supervised. Even at a reading for strictly librarians, I lost four books – the entire collection of my Emily Taylor series that was in a boxed set, lovingly crafted by my husband as a sample.

At another reading, I was cleverly outwitted by an audience member who was “just looking” and then would “gladly pay you Tuesday for a Sweet Karoline today.” Which, in the end, translated to the loss of five books. Advice to organizers everywhere: invite a friend who doesn’t mind sitting next to the book table. Sometimes they’ll even handle your financial transactions for you. After a reading, we authors are often dazed by the attention, adulation and admiration, so much so that we don’t recognize the fourth “A”: acquisitiveness.

Coming up:Mesdames M.H. Callway and Melodie Campbell share their experiences when meeting the public.

Over the next few months, we Mesdames will share our thoughts on public appearances in the blog series “Walk the Talk”.  We will share what worked well and pass our  suggestions on to you, our fellow authors. Here we are, respectable as always, at the launch of 13 O’clock!

Editor Lynne Murphy

Introduction by Lynne Murphy

On February 6th, the Mesdames of Mayhem will appear at the Burlington Heritage Fair as part of an event honouring and celebrating women in the arts, business, politics and history. The theme of the event this year is Women on the Move and  it marks the 100th anniversary of the Women’s Suffrage Movement in Canada. The Mesdames planning to attend are  M.H. Callway, Melodie Campbell, Rosemary McCracken, Lisa de Nikolits and Joan O’Callaghan. They will discuss our anthologies, Thirteen and Thirteen O’clock, and their own books. The Fair will take place at the Central Branch of the Burlington Library from 10:00 a.m to 3:00 p.m.

The invitation came about as a result of an appearance at the Burlington Library last year by some of the Mesdames and is quite an honour for our group. In the past two years, the Mesdames have made dozens of appearances at libraries, book clubs and other venues.

In this first article, The Set-Up, Mme. Joan O’Callaghan tells just what goes into arranging these events.

Joan O’Callaghan

WALK THE TALK #1: THE SET-UP

The Mesdames have had a very successful run at many  libraries not only in Toronto but in other cities as well. Libraries are great places for authors, both seasoned and newly minted, to appear. Librarians are always interested in new books and by hosting authors, they learn about what’s new, give authors a chance to promote their books, and at the same time serve their communities by providing interesting and entertaining programs. In short, librarians can be your best friends and deserve all the support we can provide.

A visit to a library generally begins with a little research. This involves scouting out suitable locations and determining how to go about making contact. This will vary from location to location. In Toronto, the public library system invites people to submit a proposal on its website. Presumably, if the proposal meets the established guidelines, it is circulated through the various branches. The Mesdames received two invitations as a result of this. (Of course, there is nothing to stop an enterprising author from visiting a branch of the library and making their own arrangements.) In other places, there might be a program director or a librarian charged with this responsibility.

A proposal should include an introduction-in this case I introduce myself and explain the Mesdames of Mayhem. Then there should be a description of how a program might unfold. I always point out that while we do not charge for an appearance, we do ask permission to sell our books. I conclude with an invitation to visit our website (and include the link) to learn more about us. Once we receive a favourable response, there is a lot of negotiating back and forth. This includes date, time, duration of the program, and number of Mesdames appearing. The library may also require that we sign a contract.

Later, the negotiations become more focused. I always request a table and chairs for us, a table to display our books, and drinking water (reading and speaking tends to be dry work.) I also request that they forward to us any promotion that they are doing for the event so that we may post it to our own website and our individual Facebook pages. The library almost always asks for the names, brief bios, and sometimes photos of those who are coming.

We have been fortunate in our dealings with libraries. Some Mesdames, such as Catherine Astolfo, have forged an ongoing connection with the local librarian and have been able to build that relationship. In another case, we had a librarian participate in an interview about us with the local radio station, and arrange for a reporter from the local newspaper to attend our session. This resulted in an article and photograph. Welcome publicity!

Next in the series:  Mesdames Catherine Astolfo, Lynne Murphy, M. H. Callway, Melodie Campbell and Rosemary McCracken will share their experiences and the pleasures and perils of public appearances.

Happy New Year everyone. We are beginning 2016 with a special event. On Thursday, January 21st, the Toronto launch of Maverick Publisher: J. Patrick O’Callaghan, A Life In Newspapers will be held at Ryerson University, Room RCC 103, 80 Gould St., Toronto. Pat’s widow, Mme. Joan O’Callaghan, is a founding member of the Mesdames and she was instrumental in the publication of the memoir.

The first launch was held in Calgary in November, 2015 (see our interview with Joan, November 14th, 2015) but Pat had many friends in Toronto who were unable to attend so a second launch has been organized.

A number of the Mesdames have been involved in the book. M. Ed Piwowarczyk  is the editor assisted by Mme. Rosemary McCracken and the publishers are Donna and Alex Carrick of Carrick Publishing.

Globe and Mail  columnist Margaret Wente, a friend to both Pat and Joan, will act as MC at the launch.

Mme. Melodie Campbell’s newest, The Goddaughter Caper, will be available on Jan. 19th in print in Chapters, Indigo, Amazon and Barnes & Noble and in all the usual places in ebook.  Details on the launch in our next blog.

Mme Rosemary Aubert will speak at Taylor Memorial  Library, 1440 Kingston Rd., Toronto on Tuesday, January 27th at 2:00 p.m. Rosemary,  whose latest book in the Ellis Portal series is Don’t Forget You Love Me,  will talk about the issues the Ellis Portal novels have raised and what it takes to be a mystery novelist.

On Wednesday, January 28th, several of the Mesdames will attend the Ontario Public Libraries Confence in Toronto as part of the CWC program. This is an event for librarians to meet Canadian writers and learn what is new and forthcoming. Participants will be Mesdames M. H. Callway with Thirteen O’clock,  Melodie Campbell with The Goddaughter Caper,  Lisa de Nikolits with  The Nearly Girl, (due in the Fall of this year), and Rosemary McCracken, who is almost finished her third Pat Tierney novel, working title Raven Lake.  Rosemary’s publisher, Imajin Books, has expressed interest in the new book and so have her readers.

The Mesdames were honoured by being asked to participate in a City of Burlingon Museums event, the Burlington Heritage Fair on Saturday, February 6th. This year’s theme is “Women on the  Move”.

Melodie Campbell

Joan O’Callaghan

M. H. Callway

Lisa De Nikolits

The event celebrates women in the arts, business, politics and history on the 100th anniversary of the Women’s Suffrage Movement in Canada. It will be held at the Central Branch of the Burlington Library. Mmes. M.H. Callway,  Joan O’Callaghan , Lisa de Nikolitis and Melodie Campbell will represent the Mesdames  to talk about our anthologies and their own work.

HAPPY NEW YEAR from the Mesdames of Mayhem!  We had an amazing year in 2015, culminating in the publication of our second anthology, 13 O’clock!,  an eclectic collection of 15 twisted tales of time and crime.

The 14 authors of 13 O’clock are showing off their criminal spirits in the above photo taken at the October launch at our favorite bookstore, Sleuth of Baker Street. From L to R, back row, Cathy Dunphy, Donna Carrick, Joan O’Callaghan, Rosemary McCracken, Ed Piwowarczyk, Cheryl Freedman, Lisa De Nikolits, Cathy Astolfo, M. H. Callway. From L to R front row, Sylvia Warsh, Rosemary Aubert, Jane Peterson Burfield, Melodie Campbell and Lynne Murphy.

WOW! NEW BOOKS!

Several Mesdames had new books and short stories published this year.  Catherine Astolfo launched her new comedy series with her novella, Up Chit Creek, where retirees get up to no good. (Imajin Books)

Melodie Campbell and Cynthia St. Pierre co-wrote the second book in their highly enjoyable “fashionista”  series, A Killer Necklace. (Also with Imajin Books.)

Inanna Publications brought out Lisa De Nikolits fifth novel, Between the Cracks She Fell, a crime story that explores homelessness and conflicting religious values. Her book  received great reviews in Quill and Quire, Canadian Living and many other publications. She also had literary stories published in the anthology,  Postscripts to Darkness and in the debut issue of Maud. Lin House.

Rosemary McCracken’s wryly comic story, “Plastic Paddies”, appeared in the gripping travel anthology, Destination Mystery (Darkhouse Books).

Penguin released D. J. McIntosh’s third book in her critically acclaimed Mesopotamian thriller trilogy, The Angel of Eden. Margaret Cannon of the Globe and Mail has praised Dorothy’s  for her “stellar research and superb writing”.

The Mesdames were also busy as editors. Through Carrick Publishing, Mme Joan O’Callaghan  brought out, Maverick Publisher, the memoirs of her late husband, J. Patrick O’Callaghan, one of Canada’s leading publishers and journalists. The book was co-edited by Ed Piwowarczyk and Rosemary McCracken.

Caro Soles and fellow author, Nancy Kilpatrick, created the Poe tribute anthology, Nevermore, featuring macabre tales by many acclaimed authors, including Margaret Atwood, Barbara Fradkin and David Morell.  We were delighted that Jane Petersen Burfield’s gothic tale was singled out for critical praise.

WOW! AWARD NOMINATIONS!

This year M. H. Callway and Melodie Campbell both received Arthur Ellis nominations. The photo below shows them at the Arthur Ellis shortlist event with fellow nominee and friend, Rick Blechta and host, Alison Dore (far right).

M. H. Callway’s critically acclaimed thriller, Windigo Fire, (Seraphim Editions) was a finalist for Best First Novel and Melodie Campbell’s story “Hook, Line and Sinker” (Northword Literary Journal) was nominated for Best Short Story.

2015 was also a great year for Carrick Publishing. Their anthology, World Enough and Crime, received nominations for two stories: M. H. Callway’s story, “The Ultimate Mystery”, was a finalist for the Derringer Award for Best Long Story and  Kevin P. Thornton’s story, “Writer’s Block”, was a runner-up for the Arthur Ellis Award for Best Short Story.

Donna Carrick has mentored many aspiring crime writers through the CWC Mentoring Program.  This year, she was especially delighted that her mentee, Elle Wild, won the Unhanged Arthur Award for Best Unpublished Manuscript for Strange Things Done – and signed a contract with Dundern Press.

WOW! PUBLIC APPEARANCES!

The Mesdames gave several readings at public libraries and book clubs this year and supported each other and fellow crime writers at many book launches. (Check out our events pages for full details.) Big bouquets of roses and warm hugs go to Joan O’Callaghan, Catherine Astolfo and Melodie Campbell for arranging the lion’s share of these events.

The Mesdames of Mayhem wish to thank their wonderful readers for making 2015 the best year ever! Now that the holidays are here, do give books as gifts – especially crime fiction!!

Our two fab anthologies give readers a chance to find a new favorite author.

13 O’clock, features twisted tales of crime and time by 14 authors.

Thirteen, the book that started it all, contains two Arthur Ellis runners-up and one Derringer finalist.

Many Mesdames also have stories in the leading anthologies below. Nevermore was edited by Mme Caro Soles with fellow author, Nancy Kilpatrick. World Enough and Crime was edited by Mme Donna Carrick with Alex Carrick.

Now curl up in front of the fire with exciting novels and non-fiction by the Mesdames!

Mesdames!

Catherine Astolfo

Rosemary Aubert

M. H. Callway

Melodie Campbell

Donna Carrick

Lisa DeNikolits

D. J. McIntosh

Rosemary McCracken

Sylvia Maultash Warsh

Joan O’Callaghan

Caro Soles

Mme Melodie Campbell, our Queen of Comedy, writes this week’s blog!  She is an award-winning author of 40 short stories and 9 novels, including A Purse to Die For, co-written with Cynthia St-Pierre. Melodie has won 10 awards for fiction, including the 2014 Derringer (US) and Arthur Ellis (Canada) and is the Executive Director of Crime Writers of Canada.

Okay, I admit it. Along with coffee, dark chocolate, and foreign men named Raoul, I have an addiction.

I’m a sucker for the “You won’t guess the ending” Whodunit.

I blame Agatha Christie for this addiction. She is also to blame for a lot of eleven-year-old sleepless nights, as well as my father’s near heart attack in 1970 when I announced at the dinner table, “I know thirteen ways to poison people and not get caught.”

Christie was indeed the Queen of Plot. After an appetizer of Nancy Drew, I whipped through Poirot, Marple, and Tommy and Tuppence in less than two years. Then I moved on to Sayers, Allingham, Marsh and any traditional mysteries I could get my hands on.

Why? It’s the chess game. The sheer bliss of pitting my mind against the author’s to see if I can guess the killer before the story’s detective.

To this day, I relish a book that plays fair, leaves me the clues, and stumps me at the end.So it’s no surprise that my ninth published book, co-written with good friend Cynthia St-Pierre, is a traditional whodunit.

Welcome, A KILLER NECKLACE, which hit the Amazon.ca mystery Top 100 bestseller list on its day of release! It appears we are not alone in loving that killer surprise ending.

My favorite lines from the reviews posted thus far?

“The pacing is sharp, quick and very funny, a good combination for a mystery that is hard to put down. But the special ingredient is an ending I sure didn’t see coming.”

THAT is what we set out to do. THAT is the kind of book that makes me smile and gives me chills.

Like a classic “You won’t guess the ending” whodunit? See if you can guess the killer in A KILLER NECKLACE. Here’s a short excerpt:

Jewelry was something Gina knew about, just as she knew about fashion. What’s more, she knew about the women who had real jewelry…how they behaved. What they thought. How they felt about it. So there was one question that still haunted her. Yes, they had found Louisa’s sapphire and diamond necklace. But where was all the other stuff?

To read Mel’s mystery on Amazon, click the book page image above. Here are the Smashwords, Kobo and Googleplay links:

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/581823

https://store.kobobooks.com/en-ca/ebook/a-killer-necklace

https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Melodie_Campbell_A_Killer_Necklace?id=DPKnCgAAQBAJ

When my publisher first launched me into space (Internet space that is), I was more than a little out of my element. Before Imajin Books took me on, I was strictly a paperback girl. One of the burning questions I had about e-books was: how do readers get an author’s autograph?
Well, along came Evan Jacobs and his great invention: Authorgraph. Now I am able not only to get the autographs I want, but I can also sign for readers of my books who are halfway across the world.
Below is almost all the information you can possibly want about Authorgraph. Here’s the other thing you need: https://www.authorgraph.com. Go ahead, sign up – it’s FREE.
1. What is an Authorgraph?
It’s a personal, digital inscription for an e-book. It is sent directly from an author to a reader’s digital reading device.
2. What does an Authorgraph look like?
Here is an examplehttps://www.authorgraph.com/authors/cathyastolfo
3. Is Authorgraph.com affiliated with Amazon?
No, Authorgraph.com is not affiliated with Amazon except that Authorgraph.com earns an affiliate fee for any books purchased from Amazon.com after clicking on one of the Amazon links on Authorgraph.com.
4. Do readers need to own or buy my book in order to receive an Authorgraph?
No, but readers who request your Authorgraph are very likely to be current or future readers.
5. Do readers need to own a Kindle device to receive an Authorgraph?
No, Authorgraphs are viewable on a wide variety of platforms. Readers can simply enter a regular email address at the time of their request and they will receive an email with links to download a PDF version (viewable in applications like iBooks) or an AZW version (viewable in all Kindle apps on iPad, iPhone, PC, Mac, etc.) of their Authorgraph.
6. Is the Authorgraph inserted into the e-book?
No, it is a separate document. This allows a reader to create a “collection” where she can keep all of her Authorgraphs together.
7. Do I need to have a Kindle version of my book to sign up for Authorgraph?
Yes. Paperback, hardcover, and audio versions of books aren’t accepted.
8. Does an Authorgraph use my real signature or does it just print my name in a script font?
One of the most distinctive features of Authorgraph.com is the ability to actually draw your signature. This signing takes place completely in the browser window using a mouse (or your finger if you use a tablet). However, there is also a default option that allows authors to print their name in a script font if they don’t want to use the signing feature.
9. Can Authorgraphs be personalized?
Yes! Every Authorgraph goes only to the specific reader that requested it so an author can write a custom message for each reader. In addition, readers can include a short message to the author in order to provide a bit more context for personalizing the Authorgraph.
10. Is there a cost to send or receive an Authorgraph?
Requesting, sending and receiving Authorgraphs are free! However, if a reader uses Amazon’s Personal Document Service to receive the Authorgraph on his/her Kindle then Amazon may charge a small delivery fee.
PS Evan is always happy to hear about authors’ and readers’ experiences with Authorgraph, so feel free to contact him: evan@authorgraph.com