Mystery Writers Ink

This Blog is No Longer Active

2011-09-23T16:12:00.000-07:00

This blog remains as an archive only. The society is dissolved and the email address in the header is no longer being monitored.

For current information on activities of interest to Calgary and area crime writers at all levels of interest and experience, see Calgary Crime Writers

The End of an Era

2011-09-14T23:21:00.000-07:00

At its general meeting on Thursday, September 8, the members of Mystery Writers Ink Society voted to dissolve the Society, as we do not have enough volunteers for a new board.

The bylaws call for the distribution of net assets, after obligations are met, to other groups in Alberta with similar objectives.

Members decided to divide the net assets between the Alexandra Writers Centre Society and the When Words Collide Writers Conference.

The Alexandra Writers Centre offers courses and other resources on writing, including courses on writing mystery fiction. Several writers who are, or have been, members of Mystery Writers Ink have taught courses at AWCS.

We will offer the Ink library to the Alexandra Writers Centre Society.

The first annual When Words Collide conference was held in Calgary in August, 2011. Mystery Writers Ink sponsored the panel “Dead Men Do Talk” with Ink board member Ann Cooney and Det. Dave Sweet of the Homicide Unit, Calgary Police Service. This event was an outstanding success, with an SRO crowd. WWC has already invited Det. Sweet back for the 2012 conference. In addition, mystery writer Anthony Bidulka will be a featured speaker at WWC 2012.

As your outgoing board, we encourage all members of Mystery Writers Ink to consider taking advantage of the opportunities offered by the Alexandra Writers Centre and When Words Collide.

We want to thank all of our members over the years who have contributed to Mystery Writers Ink in every volunteer capacity.

Thanks to everyone who has come to speak to our group, sharing professional expertise and insights that have supported us as crime writers in creating our best work.

Thanks to the authors on the Mystery Writers Ink panel at Bloody Words in Victoria in June 2011: Susan Calder, Joan Donaldson-Yarmey, Garry Ryan, Sharon Wildwind, and moderator Anthony Bidulka,

Thanks to Owl’s Nest Books for providing the venue for our meetings for the last few years. Owl’s Nest offered a warm, friendly, and bookish environment for our meetings.

It has been an honour to serve on the Board and to work and meet so many interesting writers and resource people. We look forward to seeing you at writing workshops and conferences.

Anne Jayne, Jayne Barnard, Ann Cooney
Board of Directors

September Meeting - Change of Location

2011-09-02T15:58:00.000-07:00

Mystery Writers Ink Sept. 8th, 2011 - 7 p.m.

Change of Venue!

the program room of the Louise Riley Library,

1904 14th Ave NW, Calgary.

(Located in the annex behind the library.)

There is no speaker.

The purpose of this meeting is to elect a new Board of Directors or dissolve the Society in accordance with the bylaws.

When Words Collide: Dead Men Do Tell Tales

2011-08-26T17:28:00.000-07:00

By Anne Jayne

Detective Dave Sweet from the Homicide Unit of the Calgary Police Service spoke about homicide investigation to a standing-room-only crowd at the When Words Collide convention.

The Homicide Unit has a strategy that allows them to assign a maximum number of detectives to a case in the early hours and days. The process is called Major Case Management, which is used elsewhere in Canada, as well.

The detectives in the Homicide Unit take turns being the primary investigator, the file coordinator, and members of the team. While both the primary investigator and the file coordinator report to the team commander, a staff sergeant, these officers normally exercise their professional judgment in handling the investigation.

The primary investigator controls the speed, flow, and direction of the investigation. The primary investigator will have a dozen or so detectives available to assign to all the tasks that must be done as rapidly as possible. When a detective reports back with new information, then the primary sets a new task for that officer.

What the primary investigator does not do—at least in the first days of the investigation—is to go out into the field, not even to visit the crime scene or to interview witnesses. The investigation has to move too fast, and it simply isn’t possible for the primary to lose time going out to the field. There is too much to do to ensure that the entire team is working efficiently and at full speed to gather information. Time is of the essence because, they believe, if they don’t have a good idea of who is responsible within two days, it will be a long investigation.

The file coordinator tracks everything that is written, such as witness statements and officer statements, forensic information, and so on. The file coordinator isn’t just filing all of this material: he or she is monitoring the incoming information and keeping the primary in the loop.

All of these officers are seeking the pieces of the puzzle they’ve been assigned to get. As the pieces come in, they can start putting the puzzle together. Those pieces will deal with the three major elements that must be investigated: the body; the history; and the scene. The detectives let evidence form their theory, rather than trying to fit evidence into a theory.

Det. Sweet talked about the pattern of homicides in Calgary. The most homicides in a year was 34; the average is 28. The solve rate is 69% (based on a five year average). The preferred weapon: knives. The highest number of homicides are in the months of January and August, and June has the fewest. Saturday night has the highest number of homicides during the week; Monday has the fewest. The most common times: between 3 and 4 in the morning, which corresponds to when the bars close. The fewest: between 5 and 6 a.m.

There is a protocol for calling in the Homicide Unit. When a uniformed officer who is first on the scene believes that it is a sudden death situation, he or she will call it in with a 1032 code, and will describe it as “good” (natural death) or “bad” for a possible homicide. If the assessment of either the uniformed officer who is first on the scene, or the investigator from the Medical Examiner, is that the Homicide Unit should be called in, that’s when the process begins. The next step is that every detective will be called in, whether it is 1 a.m. or the middle of a child’s birthday party.

The Medical Examiner determines the cause and manner of death. The manner of death may be natural, accidental, suicide, homicide, or undetermined.

When will the Homicide Unit be called in? The Unit handles not only homicides, but all suspicious deaths and all cases which involve a handgun and a person in custody or a police officer. In the latter situation, the Calgary Police Service handles the investigation concerning the subject, while an independent team—the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team—investigates the officer.
The Homicide Unit has access to other resources: profilers, including geographical profilers; dentists with expertise in forensic odontology; experts on blood pattern analysis, fibre and trace evidence, knot craft; and the like; forensic anthropologists; forensic computer animators, and many, many, more experts. They can get access to satellite imagery, which has proven to be particularly helpful when bodies are found in rural areas. The images can be so precise that a vehicle can be identified. (This is costly, however.)

Calgary’s Homicide Unit sends extremely detailed information about homicides to the Violent Crime Linkage Analysis System (VCLAS), which is intended to link similar murders across the country. Every police service is required to participate.

Detective Sweet closed by saying that the Homicide Unit investigates cases with equal thoroughness. There are no second class citizens when they are investigating a homicide. They will work as tirelessly on the case of a gang member caught up in gang violence as they do for any other homicide.

Detective Sweet’s presentation was informative and well-presented. Not only was the audience appreciative—but a good many people at this workshop stayed behind to ask him even more questions.

Bloody Words 2012 Registration Now Open

2011-08-18T01:19:00.000-07:00

& SAVE almost 10%

Panels & presentations, the Mystery Café, dealers room, loot bags, agent appointments, ms evaluations, the Bony Pete short story contest, opening reception, banquet, Friday night special event, and more...

And don’t forget to submit your book, if eligible, to our new

Canadian literary award...

Register online with Paypal or register by mail with a cheque.

www.bloodywords2012.com

June meeting is this Thursday, June 15th at Owl’s Nest Bookstore

2011-06-13T16:51:00.000-07:00

Reminder that the June meeting is this Thursday, June 15^th at Owl’s Nest Bookstore in Brittannia Plaza SW (49^th St and Elbow Drive SW).

The discussion this month is all about writers conferences: who goes, why they go, where they went, what they got out of the experience. While the focus is on Bloody Words, where there were at least 6 Inksters prowling the halls and appearing on panels, anyone who has been anywhere is welcome to chime in with their experiences.

Following the fun part, we’ll spend a few minutes on business, mainly presenting the audited financial statement held over from May and voting on a membership fee for next year.

Meanwhile, to get the flavour of just some of the activity at Bloody Words, check out recent entries here and at www.writingtheopenrange.blogspot.com

See you Thursday!

Jayne

Secretary/Treasurer/blogmistress

Grizzly Lies by Eileen Coughlan

2011-06-08T22:23:00.000-07:00

As we were giving away several copies of 'Grizzly Lies' at Bloody Words (some donated by the author and some purchased with funds from the Alberta Foundation for the Arts - at a good discount from the owners of Owl's Nest Books), I thought it a good time to re-post my review of this title from its release in 2005:

Until her landlord's body is found beneath the gazebo, freelance journalist Hellie MacConnell's biggest worry is the tourists baiting an irate elk on the lawn. The former happens frequently in the beautiful mountain resort town of Banff, Alberta; the latter is unusual enough that the RCMP sends for a special crimes unit from Calgary. Is it murder or did 'Doc's' old heart simply give out? Why was Doc in Banff at all when he should have been in deepest Africa? Inheriting the house along with oddball environmentalist Arthur, who lives on the property, Hellie must unearth dead loves and buried lies if she is to clear both their names. But Arthur, a noted save-the-grizzlies crusader, has disappeared, leaving butchered bear paws in his cabin.

Meanwhile, anti-hunting protesters rally against a much-publicized auction for a mountain-sheep license. Developers try to drive a wedge between the town and the National Parks bureaucracy that limits its growth. The eternal winter ski-bum party gears up with the usual hard drinking and soft drugs. Between following Arthur's sketchy trail and dodging those gate-crashing bores from the fudge shop, Hellie must interview the publicity-shy winner of the sheep auction, a Texas millionaire whose killing history leads back to the same region of Africa where Doc first met Arthur. To top it all off, a family crisis is flaring up back East. Hunting guides clash with protesters, Arthur's alibi is unstable at best, and somebody seems able to enter Hellie's house unseen, day or night. It's inevitable that she'll find herself staring at the small end of a gun; the only question is, whose?

The pace builds steadily, the heroine's troubles become our own, and the varied mountain landscapes are aptly and beautifully integrated into the changing moods of the story. The writing lifts to occasional flights of enchanting whimsy, as when 'two black crows sailed past like a nasty joke,' or 'dreamy light settled in like dust.' 'Grizzly Lies' is a solid sophomore outing for Eileen Coughlan, whose first novel, 'Dying by Degrees', was short-listed for the 2001 Arthur Ellis Award for Best First Novel.

Blogs reporting on Bloody Words

2011-06-07T00:41:00.000-07:00

The usual suspects over at 'Type M for Murder' talk about their Bloody experiences and what makes a good panel.

Author Brenda Chapman talks about the weather, the Canucks fans, and signing her books at Bloody Words.

One woman's summary of the panels she attended at her first crime writers conference

Inkster brings home the Bony Pete short story award

2011-06-06T23:34:00.000-07:00

As previously reported by president Anne Jayne, Inkster Jayne Barnard won the short mystery story contest at Bloody Words 2011 in Victoria BC.

Runners-up were Melodie Campbell and Gloria Ferris, both of Ontario.

The prize is $100 and publication in Victoria's Monday Magazine this week, followed by publication on the Monday Mag website.

Edited to add: And the story is now online for all to see!

Here's a photo of Jayne receiving the traditional award statue, in its hand-crafted carrying case, from Grant McKenzie of Monday Magazine:

2011-06-06T15:35:00.000-07:00

A delightful woman and a goddess of Canadian crime, Mary Jane Maffini blogs about why writers' conferences are good for us:

Ten Reasons to attend crime writing conferences

The big moment arrives!

2011-06-04T02:17:00.000-07:00

Prepping for the prize draw: Sharon Wildwind stuffing the ballot box

The panelists getting ready to face the lions... er, audience: Sharon Wildwind, Joan Donaldson-Yarmey, Garry Ryan and Susan Calder listening while moderator Anthony Bidulka lays out the ground rules.

Somebody's getting excited !!!!

Audience members filing in to their first panel of the weekend. We had a full house thanks in part to our prime placement on the schedule and also to the stellar work of our panelists in pushing a draw-ticket/advertisement to every single person at the conference's opening reception.

And they're OFF!

It all winds down in a surprisingly short time, with a happy woman named Benny as the proud winner of the prize basket stuffed to the gills with books and other goodies provided by the panelists (plus a bottle of wine and and an Ink mug to drink it from).

This panel brought many positive comments and a lot of interest from mystery readers from across Canada. Many thanks to the Bloody Words Committee for hosting, the panelists for participating, our wonderful moderator Tony B for keeping all the conversational balls in the air, and Mystery Writers Ink and the Alberta Foundation for the Arts for funding support.

The Ink-sponsored panel at Bloody Words, June 3 at 6:30 p.m.

2011-06-01T21:57:00.000-07:00

Moderator Anthony Bidulka.

Would you cross this man?

The Russell Quant series is a multi award nominee including for the Crime Writers of Canada Arthur Ellis Award and Saskatchewan Book Award. The second book in the series, Flight of Aquavit, was awarded the Lambda Literary Award for Best Men’s Mystery.

Tony rides herd Friday, June 3 over the

'Writing the Open Range' panel at Bloody Words:

Panelist Sharon Wildwind

Sharon, a nurse, lives in Calgary and writes the Elizabeth Pepperhawk - Avivah Rosen series, a Vietnam-War era set of mysteries about a nurse, a military policewoman and their combat-hardened pal Benny. A fascinating look at attitudes and anguish of a time almost forgotten only 40 years later. Sharon is a long-time member of Mystery Writers Ink in Calgary.

Panelist Garry Ryan

Garry lives in Calgary and writes the Detective Lane series set in that city. A veteran of 30 years teaching teenagers to properly punctuate, he is more laid-back than his previous career would indicate. The fifth book in his series, Malabarista, is coming out this September.

Panelist Joan Donaldson-Yarmey

Joan, a travel writer with seven titles to her credit, used to live in Edmonton. She takes readers off the main roads into rural regions of Alberta with her mystery series starring travel writer Elizabeth Oliver.

Panelist Susan Calder

Susan's debut mystery, Deadly Fall, features insurance adjuster Paula Savard, and has recently been released from TouchWood Editions. Susan is a long-time member of Mystery Writers Ink.

Follow the full Bloody experience at

Writing the Open Range

A New Canadian Mystery Award: the Bony Blithe

2011-05-25T01:43:00.000-07:00

The Bloody Words Mystery Conference, Canada's largest and longest-running conference bringing together mystery authors and readers, is pleased to announce a NEW Canadian literary award: The Bloody Words Light Mystery Award (aka the Bony Blithe) "for books that make us smile."

This award, which includes a $1000 cash prize as well as a stunning trophy, will be awarded annually at the Bloody Words Mystery Conference. The inaugural award will be presented next year at Bloody Words XII (June 1-3, 2012) in Toronto.

Eligibility:

The award is open to any Canadian citizen or permanent resident and is for full-length (at least 60,000 words) mysteries (print or e-book) published in the previous year. The 2012 award is for books published between January 1 and December 31, 2011. Books may be submitted by the publisher or the author. No YA or noir, please.

You do not have to be registered for Bloody Words to enter this contest.

What is a "light mystery"?

"Light mysteries" cover anything from laugh-out-loud books to gentle humour to good old-fashioned stories with little violence or gore.

Submission procedure:

Send four (4) hard copies of the book(s) by December 15, 2011, to:

Caro Soles
12 Roundwood Court
Toronto ON M1W 1Z2

You may start submitting books now. For the deadline of December 15, we go by the postmark or equivalent. If the book has not come back from the printer by December 15, 2011, you may send us copies of the ARC.

Note: If you are sending the book(s) from outside Canada, make sure the customs declaration has NCV (no commercial value) or $0 for the dollar value.

If your book is an e-book, contact us about submitting it electronically. Please be aware, however, that we may require hard copy for e-books.

Shortlist and award announcements:

The shortlist for the 2012 award will be announced on March 28, 2012. The award will be presented at the Bloody Words XII banquet at the Downtown Toronto Hilton on Saturday, June 2, 2012.

For more information:

Write to bw-award@bloodywords.com

or visit http://www.bloodywords2012.com/BW-award.html

Good luck...
Cheryl Freedman

Jayne Barnard Shortlisted for the Unhanged Arthur

2011-05-11T18:12:00.000-07:00

Jayne Barnard Shortlisted for the Unhanged Arthur - by Anne Jayne

Crime Writers of Canada celebrated mystery writers on Thursday, April 28, with events in cities across Canada. Local groups held very different events, but they all ended the same way, with the announcement of the shortlists for the 2011 CWC Awards.

In Calgary, CWC members Jayne Barnard, Susan Calder, Linda Kupecek and Garry Ryan took to the podium at the Calgary Public Library to read their work to an appreciative audience that included a number of Ink members.

For Inksters, the news was excellent: Jayne Barnard, a long-time member and current Secretary-Treasurer of Mystery Writers Ink, was chosen by Crime Writers of Canada for the shortlist for the Arthur Ellis Award for Best Unpublished First Crime Novel (popularly known as the Unhanged Arthur). The judges selected only three manuscripts this year from more than sixty that were submitted to the contest.

Jayne's novel, When the Bow Breaks, is set in France and the Lower Mainland, and features RCMP officer Lacey McCrae. While off duty, Lacey intervenes in a child abduction. She rescues the victim but soon realizes the little boy is still in danger. Her determination to uncover the source of the threat causes conflicts at home and at work. How much will she sacrifice to save a child she only met once?

The other two nominees are John Jeneroux for Better Off Dead and Kevin Thornton for Uncoiled.

The Unhanged Arthur was a brainchild of world-renowned mystery author Louise Penney, who launched her career as a novelist by winning the Debut Dagger Award in the U.K. She thought that Canadian writers deserved a similar contest, and the Crime Writers of Canada agreed.

The Unhanged Arthur contest is open to Canadian citizens and permanent residents who have never had a novel of any kind published commercially. Participants first submit the 5,000 words and a synopsis. The judges then invite up to ten authors to submit the full manuscript. Of those, up to five will be selected for the shortlist.

McArthur & Co. presents the Award and a cash prize to the winner at the annual Crime Writers of Canada banquet, which takes place in Victoria on June 2, 2011. McArthur & Co. has the right of first refusal, and may offer a book contract to the author who wins the Unhanged Arthur. The author may choose to accept that offer or to pursue other publication options.

Winners of the Award include Gloria Ferris for The Corpse Flower; Douglas Moles for Louder; D.J. McIntosh for The Witch of Babylon (Penguin Canada); and Phyllis Smallman for Margarita Nights (McArthur & Co.).

Congratulations to Jayne Barnard on the selection of her manuscript for the shortlist, which is a testament to her dedication to the craft of writing. Good luck at the Crime Writers of Canada banquet in Victoria: we'll be rooting for Jayne to receive the Award!

The Arthur Ellis Awards Short List is announced!

2011-04-28T22:36:00.000-07:00

Best Crime Novel:

A Criminal to Remember, Michael Van Rooy, Turnstone Press

Bury Your Dead, Louise Penny, Little, Brown UK

In Plain Sight, Mike Knowles, ECW Press

Slow Recoil, C.B Forrest, RendezVous Crime

The Extinction Club, Jeffrey Moore, Penguin Group

Best First Crime Novel:

The Damage Done, Hilary Davidson, Tom Doherty Associates

The Debba, Avner Mandleman, Random House of Canada

The Penalty Killing, Michael McKinley, McClelland & Stewart

The Parabolist, Nicholas Ruddock, Doubleday Canada

Still Missing, Chevy Stevens, St. Martin's Press

Best French Crime Book:

Cinq secondes, Jacques Savoie, Libre Expression

Dans le quartier des agités, Jacques Côté, Éditions Alire

La société des pères meurtriers, Michel Châteauneuf, Vent d’Ouest

Quand la mort s'invite à la première, Bernard Gilbert, Québec Amerique

Vanités, Johanne Seymour, Libre Expression

Best Crime Nonfiction:

Northern Light, Roy MacGregor, Random House

On the Farm, Stevie Cameron, Alfred A. Knopf Canada

Our Man in Tehran, Robert Wright, HarperCollins Canada

Best Juvenile/YA Crime Book:

Borderline, Allan Stratton, HarperCollins

Pluto's Ghost, Sharee Fitch, Doubleday Canada

The Vinyl Princess, Yvonne Prinz, HarperCollins

Lost For Words (The Worst Thing She Ever Did), Alice Kuipers, HarperCollins

Victim Rights, Norah McClintock, Red Deer Press

Best Crime Short Story:

In it Up to My Neck, Jas R. Petrin, Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine

So Much in Common, Mary Jane Maffini, Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine

The Big Touch, Jordan McPeek, Thuglit.com

The Piper's Door, James Powell, Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine

The Bust, William Deverall, Whodunnit: Sun Media’s Canadian Crime Fiction

Showcase

Best First Unpublished Novel:

(Unhanged Arthur)

Better Off Dead, John Jeneroux

Uncoiled, Kevin Thorton

When the Bow Breaks, Jayne Barnard

Book Review: Those Who Fight Monsters

2011-04-26T01:17:00.000-07:00

Those Who Fight Monsters: Tales of Occult Detectives

Edited by Justin Gustainis

An anthology can be a tricky assemblage. A strong theme can result in stories of a similarity that wears on the reader, while a weak theme leaves disconnects from one story to the next, gaps that allow the reader's attention to leave the book entirely. Editor Justin Gustainis found a good balance with 'Those Who Fight Monsters.' All stories have a monster (or more than one) and a detective, yet each stands alone in respect to characters and plot.

The detectives cover the gamut from hard-boiled PI's giving - and getting - low blows on the mean streets to intellectuals expounding on crime in refined quiet rooms. Sleuths include the demon-fighting soccer mom trying to shepherd her daughter safely past demon-snares as well as the normal risks of adolescence, the disgruntled Security sorcerer who battles bureaucracy as well as beasts, and other detectives both amateur and professional.

The paranormal elements are equally varied. In addition to the usual vampires and werewolves, there are demons of compelling variety and more than one style of shape-shifter. Snakes, ugh. Fairy-tale creatures such as gnomes and fairies also appear. The detective isn't necessarily chasing a monster, nor is the monster always the villain. The settings are mostly urban, mostly modern, with an overlay (or underbelly) of fantasy elements.

One reservation about this collection was that some authors presumed a familiarity with their series work and left me faintly lost at first, while others seemed to be trying to fit several novels' worth of back story into the opening paragraphs and slowed the pace accordingly. Apart from that disparity, the collection was a joy to read and introduced me to several paranormal/mystery crossover authors I'd not heard of previously but will certainly follow up now.

All in all, these fourteen stories provide plenty of meat for both the detective-story aficionado and those fascinated by paranormal fiction. And, if you've ever pondered the fictional detective as a reflection of archetypes, Gustainis' introductory essay is a treat.

Jayne Barnard

Those Who Fight Monsters: Tales of Occult Detectives Edited by Justin Gustainis Edge Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishing March 2011 Available in both trade paperback and electronic formats.

Advance Review: The Witch of Babylon

2011-04-06T20:47:00.000-07:00

You know you’re in good hands with an author when, half a page into the prologue, you are bewitched to the point you forget what century you’re in. The return to the book’s current reality (2003) half a page later was a brutal but effective wrench; it assured my intense interest throughout the remaining 370 pages.

But enough about the writing.

‘The Witch of Babylon’ is at once a complex art-history mystery centered on biblical scholarship, a breath-stealing thriller set in the early months of the Iraq invasion, and an intellectual exploration of links between Mesopotamian myths and European alchemical processes. Not to mention the archaeological journeys into subterranean realms. Oh, and a personal journey of growth by a spoiled young art broker after the death of the older brother who has always shielded him from consequences.

This is a square-on hard stare at the murky world of antiquities looting and trading. Add a soupcon of travelogue flavour over the streets of New York City and various parts of the Middle East, and there is much to enjoy about this book.

‘The Witch of Babylon’ was short-listed for a Debut Dagger in 2007, and won an Arthur Ellis award for Best Unpublished Crime Novel in 2008. It is being released by Penguin Canada in Spring 2011 and (at last count) has sold rights in 15 languages around the world.

My ARC was sent by the author, D.J. McIintosh, after my bugging her for three years to be allowed to read the full manuscript. When it finally arrived I read the whole book in a sprint, with only meal breaks, and will now read it again more slowly, to savour the unfolding story.

‘Witch’ is the first book of The Babylon Trilogy.

Jayne Barnard

April Speaker and Announcements

2011-04-02T02:23:00.000-07:00

Hi, Inksters and Friends

Apologies if you're getting multiple copies of this announcement over the past week. Some mail servers are currently rejecting mail from our mail host due to spammers (not us) abusing the system.

April Speaker: Susan Calder on the post-sale editing process. Susan's first mystery novel Deadly Fall was accepted for publication last spring. She was immediately assigned an editor and plunged into the process of whipping the novel into publishable shape. Susan will share the joys and challenges of working with your editor after the novel's acceptance. 7 p.m. on April 14 at Owl's Nest books.

This month's guest blogger is Alberta playwright, personality and YA mystery author Marty Chan, encapsulating for those of us who missed his AWCS workshop the rationale behind his low-key promotional style.

Meeting Marty Chan

Arthur Ellis Awards Shortlist Event 2011

Join us for the announcement of the shortlist for Canada’s national award for crime writing. Hear author readings by local mystery writers Jayne Barnard, Susan Calder, Linda Kupecek and Garry Ryan. Come and join the conversation.

Presented by Calgary Public Library and the Crime Writers of Canada.
Thursday April 28
6.30-7.30pm
Calgary Public Library
Central Library
Main Floor
New and Notable Area
No registration required

In other news:

The Alexandra Writers' Centre Society Spring Session begins April 20th with a wide array of courses, workshops and weekend intensives. Included this session are 8 week courses in Creative Writing, Novel, Short Story, Humour, and Writing for Young Markets with Shirlee-Smith Matheson. Last year's INK speaker Caroline Russell-King offers a weekend intensive in playwriting; INK member Susan Calder will teach a Dynamic Dialogue workshop on Saturday, April 23.

For a full course list and more information visit: www.alexandrawriters.org or phone 403-264-4730.

The Shuswap Writers' Festival takes place May 27-29 in Salmon Arm, BC. This year's presenters and workshop leaders include mystery authors William Deverell and Michael Slade.

And TWO short story contests upcoming:

The Wolfe Island "Scene of the Crime"

SHORT MYSTERY STORY CONTEST, 2011
• Contest open to Canadian citizens or those resident in
Canada and not previously published in the mystery or crime
fiction genre.

First Prize: $100 Second Prize: $50 Third Prize: $35
Contest Guidelines

Robin Herrington Memorial Short Story Contest

• Adult category: 5000 word limit, prizes: $125, $100 and $75, plus two honourable mentions $25 each
• Student category (author is under 18 years old): 3000 word limit, prizes: $75, $50 and $35 plus two honourable mentions $20 each

Prize winners announced at When Words Collide a festival for readers, writers, artists, and publishers of imaginative fiction — Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery, Thriller, Romance and other genres.

August 12-14, 2011 in Calgary, AB.

REMINDER: If you have news or upcoming events of general interest to Inksters and other Calgary-area mystery writers and readers, send them to info@mysterywritersink.com for inclusion in the next e-nnoucements.

Jayne Barnard
Secretary-Treasurer
Mystery Writers Ink

2011 Derringer Awards for short mystery fiction

2011-03-31T00:32:00.000-07:00

The Short Mystery Fiction Society is pleased to announce the winners of
the 2011 Derringer Awards for short mystery fiction:

Best Flash Fiction Story (under 1,000 words) - (TIE)

"The Book Signing," by Kathy Chencharik, _/*Thin Ice: Crime Stories by
New England Writers*/_, Leslie Wheeler, Mark Ammons, Barbara Ross, Kat
Fast, Eds., Level Best Books, November, 2010

and

"The Unknown Substance" by Jane Hammons, *A Twist of Noir*, December 27,
2010

Best Short Story (1,001-4,000 words)

"Pewter Badge," by Michael J. Solender, *Yellow Mama*, August, 2010

Best Long Story (4,001-8,000 words) - (TIE)

"Care of the Circumcised Penis" by Sean Doolittle, _/*Thuglit Presents: Blood, Guts & Whiskey*/_, Todd Robinson, Ed., Kensington Publishing Corp., May, 2010

and

"Interpretation of Murder" by B. K. Stevens, *Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine*, December, 2010

Best Novelette (8,001-17,500 words)

"Rearview Mirror" by Art Taylor, *Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine*, March, 2010

We offer hearty congratulations to these authors for their demonstrated
excellence in short fiction, and our sincere thanks to all who submitted
stories.

Presentation of the Awards will take place in conjunction with the short
story panel at Bouchercon 2011, held in St. Louis, MO in September.

Larry W. Chavis
Derringer Coordinator, 2011

BLOODY WORDS 2011 PROGRESS REPORT #3

2011-03-22T22:57:00.000-07:00

June 3-5, 2011 Victoria, BC

We’re excited about the way the Bloody Words program is taking shape. From a Canadian Mystery Trivia game to a session on The Future of Publishing, a three-hour CSI Victoria workshop, and Michael Slade’s Heart-Stopping Shock Theatre and Ghost Walk around the olde city, there’s something for everyone. Take a look at the tentative schedule at the end of this report and tell your friends. You’ll want to stay an extra day or two or five to greet our returning whales, visit a winery, or stroll world-famous Butchart Gardens. Did we mention the special Emily Carr exhibit?

REGISTER!

Registration is fast approaching our limit of 200 attendees. If you know people who intend to come but haven’t registered yet, encourage them to sign up at www.bloodywords2011.com! Banquet includes your choice of delectable BC wild salmon, meat, or vegetarian entree.

BOOK A MANUSCRIPT EVALUATION!

You still have time to have a short story or chapters of a novel critiqued by a published author. Print the form from the website. Submissions must be postmarked by April 15.
Agent interview slots are filled, and so is the waiting list. If you missed out, you can still sign up for a manuscript evaluation.

STAY AT THE CONFERENCE HOTEL!

Luxuriate in the facilities offered by the 5-Star Hotel Grand Pacific. Guests have full access to the Athletic Club with its weight room, yoga/dance studio, and several pools. Or pamper yourself at the Spa. Rooms are still available at the conference rate of $179 plus tax per night. If you need a roommate, contact our Roommate Coordinator through the website.

ORDER T-SHIRTS!

It isn’t too late to order T-shirts! Get our surfing skeleton logo on a black shirt for $20. Email your request with size and quantity to registration@bloodywords.com and pay by cheque or PayPal.

VOLUNTEER!

Local volunteers are working hard to get ready for the conference. If you are coming early and would like to help with last-minute preparations or conference tasks, Volunteer Coordinator Judy Hudson would love to hear from you. See the sign-up sheet on the website.

Meeting Marty Chan

2011-03-20T00:37:00.000-07:00

Alberta author Marty Chan has mysteries, plays, radio and television tales to his credit. Since 2004, when Thistledown Press launched his first YA novel, The Mystery of the Frozen Brains, he has learned a lot about the promotional side of the publishing industry. In this interview, he shares his perspective on Selling your Novel, not your Soul (taken from his recent AWCS workshop of the same title):

Welcome, Marty!

The title of your AWCS presentation was 'Sell your book, not your soul'. What of your own experiences and observations inspired it, and what were you hoping attendees would take away from the day?

My experiences as a playwright producing my own work at the Edmonton Fringe Festival inspired the workshop title, Sell Your Book, Not Your Soul. I'm an introvert who despises having to go on the street to hawk flyers. At my first festival, I quickly realized that if I didn't promote my own show I wouldn't be able to cover my expenses, so out of sheer desperation I hit the streets. On site, I noticed other producers getting in people's faces and acting like desperate used cars salesmen. I didn't want to sell myself out to sell my show, so I approached people the way I wanted to be approached. I was low-key, respectful and positive. My style worked!

From then on I approached promotion with the same diplomatic and generous style that I used the first time out. You can promote without being pushy and you can sell your book without selling your soul. The key is to find a style that is true to who you are. I hoped that's the lesson the participants came away with.

There are a great many options for publicizing one's book nowadays. How can authors figure out where best to focus their time and dollars?

The best way to figure out how to focus your efforts is to take a step back and do some goal setting. If you set realistic goals for yourself, then you can better plan what resources you need. If you want a national bestseller, but you don't have any money or time to make this happen, you're bound to be frustrated with the results. Often times writers have more time than money to put into promotion, so I always advise writers to make the best use of their time by finding people who are willing to help spread the word. The key is figuring out what's in it for those people who help. If they're your friends and family, you know you owe them a favour. If they are strangers, find an offer that gives them an incentive to see you succeed.

For True Story, my picture book about my two cats, I set the launch at the Edmonton Humane Society and promised them 30 percent of my book sales for the day. This gave them incentive to include me in their publicity and marketing plans.

Do you have a personal favourite publicity tactic and why - or why not - should other writers use it?

My favourite publicity tactic is to research the media outlet and figure out what they need, then brainstorm a segment that fills that need. You can't go wrong if you provide a TV producer, a visual segment (ie. actors performing an excerpt from your novel) with a funny and/or engaging talk. Think about what the media outlet needs and how you can plug into their needs, and your chances of getting some air time or ink greatly increase.

Mystery Writers Ink thanks Marty for sharing his expertise with us.

Marty's newest YA novel is

The Mystery of the Cyber Bully
(Thistledown Press Sept 2010).

How do you find a bully who lurks on the internet and lashes out at helpless victims? Intrepid kid detectives Marty, Remi and Trina must answer that question if they're to stop a cyber bully targeting their classmates.

We'll be drawing for this book at Ink's April meeting.

Jayne Barnard

Why blog?

2011-03-16T14:28:00.000-07:00

Why Blog?

A youtube video story from ProBlogger

March Meeting 10th

2011-03-08T19:21:00.000-08:00

At the meeting on Thursday, March 10, we'll be discussing book contracts, led by Anne Jayne. This will be a more informal discussion than many of our meetings--more like a workshop than a presentation.

Even if you haven't finished a manuscript that's ready to send to publishers, it isn't too early to become acquainted with what you'll see in a book contract when the time comes.

We'll look at topics such as:

- What are the terms that you'll usually see in a book contract, and why are there?
- What are some terms that you'll want to have in the contract for your own protection?
- What about negotiating better terms?
- What are the clues hidden in the contract that can warn you that this might be a sleazy "publisher" who's trying to exploit you, or an inexperienced publisher who may fail you?

We hope that this workshop will help to prevent a tragic case of eyes-glazing-over when you receive your first book contract from a publisher who is offering to publish your book.

Remember the example of Agatha Christie, who was so delighted to have her first novel accepted that she signed the book contract on the spot. It was a five-book deal, and even after the remarkable success of her mysteries the publisher refused to budge from terms that were very unfavourable to the author.

She served out her time on that contract. She submitted the manuscripts required of her, but held back her better work until she was set free from that publisher. She stayed with her second publisher for the rest of her life.

There's a moral in this for greedy publishers, and a moral for writers.

Blog Workshop Followup Questions

2011-03-05T14:09:00.001-08:00

This is the place to add questions for Kevin when you've gone away and are trying to figure out things afterward.

Just add a comment to this post and Kevin will answer it. Ask freely; others may be wondering the same thing.

Susan Calder's first novel cover

2011-03-02T18:57:00.000-08:00

Exciting for all of us! The book launches on March 24th, 2011.

Congratulations to Susan!

Investigating the Investigators

2011-02-05T18:04:00.001-08:00

Questions about how complaints against police officers are investigated? Please join Mystery Writers Ink for a discussion of the Calgary Police Commission how it operates and complaints against officers.

The Mystery Writers Ink speaker for February is Brian Edy, a member of the Calgary Police Commission. The task of the Police Commission is to provide independent civilian oversight and governance of the Calgary Police Service to ensure a safe community." Brian, a Calgary lawyer, is the chairperson of the sub-committee on citizen's complaints.

Thursday, January 10th

From 7 - 9 p.m.
Owl's Nest Books in Britannia Plaza

Elbow Drive and 49th Avenue SW, Calgary
(Note: the doors open at 6:45p.m.)

About Mystery Writers Ink

MWI supports aspiring and emerging mystery writers in Calgary. Annual membership is $25.00.

Drop-in fee of $5.00 for non-members.

For more information, please contact: info@mysterywritersink.com

Tax Tips for Writers

2011-01-24T21:30:00.001-08:00

On January 13^th, Sandra Fitzpatrick gave a presentation on Canadian income tax law for writers to Mystery Writers Ink. Sandra Fitzpatrick has been doing taxes professionally since 2006; she shared with us some important tips about organizing your tax information and tracking your income and expenses.

Income

Sandra recommends that writers keep track of their income on a monthly basis. An Excel spreadsheet is one of the best methods to track income. Keep a record of the date that you received income, the source of the income, the total amount and the amount of GST collected. Writers should issue a receipt for income and record the receipt number in the spreadsheet.

Expenses

Keep track of your expenses on a monthly basis as well. Set up another Excel spreadsheet to track expenses.

You need to be able to prove to the Canada Revenue Agency that you have a real business and that you are trying to show a profit, so for each expense that you claim; you should have a receipt to support it. On the receipt, write the reason for the expense, if it is not obvious.

A credit card statement is not a sufficient receipt. For example, if you pay for gas at a service station, then you need to be able to show that what you paid for was gas for your car, not a newspaper, coffee or snacks that tempt you as you pay for the gas.

Some expenses that writers can claim are:

Two writer's conventions per year (keep track of editor and agent appointments)
Research expenses, including travel
Meals – 50% of the bill including the tip and GST
Courses taken to further your business
Office supplies
Magazine subscriptions for research purposes
Guidebooks and maps for research purposes
Books on writing
Office equipment where you may have to claim Capital Cost Allowance (ask your accountant)

Car Expenses

The easiest way to claim your car expenses is to keep track of your mileage. CRA sets a rate per kilometre that you can claim as an expense. (About $.50 per kilometre) Check the CRA website as the rate changes from time to time.

Home Office Expenses

Home office expenses, unlike other expenses, can be deducted only against your writing income. If you have a home office, then keep track of your mortgage interest or rent, taxes and utilities. If your home office is 10% of the area of your home, then you can claim home office expenses of 10% of house expenses. If your home office expenses are more than your writing income, you can carry the unclaimed amount over to future years to be claimed in the year when you get that big advance.

If your business is successful, in April, you will have to pay your taxes. One method to make certain you have the cash on hand is to save 25% – 33% of every check you receive. At the end of the year, after you pay your income tax, you can either save or spend the rest.

Record Keeping

Find a filing system that works for you. If CRA ever knocks at your door, you will have to be able to produce your records to confirm your income and your expenses. You will have to be able to show that the there was a good business reason to pay the expenses that you claim in your income tax return.

GST

If you make more than $30,000 per year, you need to collect and pay GST to CRA. You will need to apply for a GST number. It is easiest to pay GST annually. Every time you collect GST, transfer it to your savings account, so at year-end, you have the money to pay the tax. Otherwise, you may be paying penalties and interest.

WRITING THE MYSTERY SHORT STORY

2011-01-22T06:09:00.000-08:00

WRITING THE MYSTERY SHORT STORY

By Kate Thornton

Back when I first started writing, many years ago, I assumed because I thought I was a writer, I was a novelist. I just started writing, throwing in everything I could think of to tell my heartbreaking tales of timeless wonder, deathless prose and obvious genius. Heck, I didn't even really know what a short story was when I started writing.

I ended up with lots and lots of words, but still they were inadequate in conveying the grand ideas I thought I had.

Something was wrong. Well, plenty was wrong, but mostly I was trying to tell stories in too many words - way too many words. Fortunately, I discovered that I wasn't really trying to write novels, I was trying to write short stories. Once I realized that my ideas were better suited to a short form, I got better with practice. Maybe the things I learned about short stories can help you.

What is a short story?

All short stories share some similar basic characteristics. They all have a beginning, a middle and an ending. If your piece does not have all three, you may have a delightful slice-of-life or vignette, but without the basic form, you don't have a short story.

Your beginning is very important. You have only a few words in which to capture your reader and make him want to continue reading. You need a "grabber," an opening sentence that gets your reader's attention immediately.

There are lots of opening lines so memorable that we know them by heart. Go for an opening that won't let your reader stop, a specific event or idea that makes them want to find out what is going to happen.

The middle is where you expand on your idea, describe your setting or characters and get the reader to want to know more. It's where you tell the story. It's where the mystery or crime happens, where we get to know the good guys and bad guys. Ideally, a short story will have one central idea or plot line and no more than three main characters.

The end - especially in a mystery story - is where you hit your reader hard with what happened. It's the place where they either say, "Wow! I didn't see that coming!" or "Yes, that's exactly it!" Twist stories are designed to surprise the reader with an ending that is unexpected but satisfying.

Where do you get your ideas?

I get them from everywhere. I read, eavesdrop on conversations, skim the newspaper, mis-hear what people say on television and play the what-if game. What if that guy in line at the supermarket buried his wife in the basement. What if that person the cops are looking for is your husband. What if you heard someone planning a crime. You get the idea!

One thing that really helps me is my Idea File. Every time I think of an idea that might be of use, I stash it in my idea file. Then, when I'm staring at The Blank Screen of Death, I can rummage through my file until something starts to grow.

Getting the story written

I think there is nothing like the BIC method: Behind In Chair. Sit down and do it - get out that idea file and start writing. Don't worry about perfection, just tell the story to yourself and write it as you go. There will be plenty of time to edit once you have the basics down. And you can always write that killer opening line after you write the rest of the story.

What to do with a finished story

1. Revise. It's never really done, is it?

2. Get a sound critique.

3. Submit.

Revise. Write the story, then go back and rewrite it until it makes sense. Then rewrite it until it sounds good. Then go back and rewrite it until it sounds great. You might have to rewrite a dozen times to get it the way you know it can be.

Get a sound critique. Kiss your mom, but listen to your Sisters. As much as your mom loves your work, remember, it's probably you she loves and your work only by extension.

Sisters in Crime, however, is an example of a good writing group - there are many chapters worldwide and an internet-based chapter for those who do not have a local live chapter. The Short Mystery Fiction Society is an online group devoted to mystery short stories, and offers a wonderful list of markets, as does Absolute Write, a forum for writers of all genres.

These groups have writers who will let you have the benefit of their expertise. Take advantage of sound feedback and good advice.

Submit. Your story needs to find readers, so you must find venues for it and begin the submission process. You will discover paying and non-paying markets, anthologies, ezines, print magazines, even your church bulletin and garden club newsletter. And don't forget non-fiction venues - you may find one that will publish fiction.

Here are a couple of excellent market listings for mystery short fiction:

http://www.shortmystery.net/markets.html

http://www.mysterywriters.org/?q=ApprovedPubList

Remember to become familiar with places in which you wish to publish and read each venue's submission guidelines carefully - the guidelines will tell you exactly what that market will publish (subject matter, length, etc.) and the exact format they want, too. Also listed in the guidelines will be pay and rights information.

Rejection - we all get it. So send your story somewhere else. Then work on your next story while you're waiting to hear. Keep writing, revising and submitting. And let us know when you get published!

KATE THORNTON lives near Los Angeles and has over 100 short stories in print. She writes mostly mysteries and science fiction, teaches a short story workshop and has a new book of short fiction out, INHUMAN CONDITION Tales of Mystery and Imagination.

Bloody Words Progress Report #2

2011-01-22T05:52:00.000-08:00

BLOODY WORDS 2011 June 3-5, 2011 Victoria, BC

Bloody Words, Canada's foremost mystery conference for readers and writers, comes to the West Coast for the first time! Join us in Victoria, BC, June 3-5, 2011.

Guests of Honour:

International Guest of Honour: Tess Gerritsen, medical doctor-turned-author of 3 series (romantic suspense, medical thrillers, and the police procedurals made into the TV series Rizzoli and Iles)

Canadian Guest of Honour: Michael Slade, acclaimed author of the Specialx series and other crime/horror novels. Enjoy a blood-chilling 1940s radio play at Michael Slade's Shock Theatre (open to all conference attendees) and his Ghost Walk to some of Victoria's haunted sites (pre-registration required; details to be announced).

Special Guest of Honour: William Deverell, author of award-winning legal thrillers and creator of Street Legal. Deverell will be presented with a lifetime achievement award in recognition of his contributions to Canadian crime writing.

Registration Deadline

Registrations for Bloody Words 2011 already exceed half of our available banquet space, if you haven't signed up yet, REGISTER NOW.

Agent Interviews: Available slots are filling up fast. Act now.

Bony Pete Short Story Contest: Monday Magazine, Victoria's alternative newspaper, will publish the winning entry online, with a lead-in from the print edition. Entries must be postmarked no later than March 1, 2011. complete guidelines.

Manuscript Evaluations: Submissions must be postmarked by April 15, 2011. See the website for details.

Notes to Published Authors:

1. Programming Deadline: Programming is already underway. To be guaranteed consideration, you must register byMarch 1.

2. Bios and pix: If you wish to be on the program, please send a bio of 50-100 words and a black and white head shot (300 dpi, jpg or tiff ) to pam.barnsley@gmail.com NOW. Deadline is March 15.

3. Bumpf: Send 250 books, bookmarks, postcards, pens, other promotional items that will fit easily into goodie bags (no flat sheets) to Kay Stewart, #206-71 Gorge Road West, Victoria, BC V9A 1L9, postmarked no later than May 1. Material sent later may not make it into the bags.

4. Ads: Encourage your publisher to take out an ad in the program book or do it yourself byMarch 31. For information, email John Thornburn, Advertising Director, at chaosconsultants@shaw.ca.

5. Books: Dead Write Books, our conference dealer, will bring in books of published authors who are on the program. Self-published authors can arrange for Dead Write to handle your books. For queries, email whitedwarf@deadwrite.com.

Hotel Reservations: The conference block at Hotel Grand Pacific is already fully booked. However, the hotel will continue to accept BloodyWords bookings at the conference rate ($179 per night, single or double, plus tax) as long as non-harbourside rooms are available. Don't forget to mention BloodyWords when you make your reservation.

Arthur Ellis Awards Banquet June 2: the Hotel Grand Pacific. Come early and see the show. For information, consult the Crime Writers of Canada website: www.crimewriterscanada.com. For banquet tickets, email arthur_ellis_banquet@crimewriterscanada.com beginning April 1.

Kay Stewart and Lou Allin, Co-Chairs

Guest Lou Allin - Moonscape to Paradise?

2010-12-14T02:16:00.000-08:00

Moonscape to Paradise and Back?

Canada is known for its sea-to-sea-to-sea pristine, jaw-dropping scenery, but one place has been a national joke since World War One: the moonscape around Sudbury, the Nickel Capital. At the opposite end of the country, both geographically and environmentally, is Paradise, aka Vancouver Island. They're more alike than you'd think.

I knew nothing about Sudbury in 1977 when I jumped at a job offer at the college. Surveying the core mining operations in Coniston and Copper Cliff, I saw the blackrock as vast as Manhattan which had earned it world-class shame for hosting the training astronauts on its barren hills. Lumbering, act one, had started in the 1880s. Discovery of nickel meant that the next decades brought open-pit roasting and then fifty years of acid rain. With no trees or ground cover, soil melted off the bare land, and the rocks darkened. Clear blue lakes became too acid to sustain life. Then in 1972, the Superstack (1247 feet high) was built to scrub the air pollution. Taking their cue, the entire community, business, students, government and private citizens began a monumental re-greening extending into the twenty-first century. Thanks to a cocktail of "rye (grass) on the rocks" and twenty million hardy pine seedlings, when I left in 2006, that moonscape was green again. For its unprecedented comeback, the city received an award from the Earthsummit in Rio.

As a mystery author emissary, I did my part in the Belle Palmer series to convey the chronicle, warts and all. Every book traced the long and worthy journey, even to the last, Memories are Murder, which involved the relocation of elk after an absence of eighty years. I knew I had succeeded when readers from across Canada told me that they wanted to visit.

I moved to the other end of the country to Vancouver Island. "Welcome to Paradise," everyone said. Expecting to marvel at the temperate-rainforest wilderness, I found a country under siege.
Those who keep to the streets of Victoria and ferry across the picturesque straits don't realize the dirty secret that is clear-cutting. Not that the island hasn't been logged several times in most areas over the last hundred and fifty years. Now the timber companies now have found ways to transmute that scarred land to pure gold. In a recent backroom deal, they convinced the government to let them turn their cutting leases into real estate at a million an acre.

By the time islanders woke up, considerable damage was done. A few places were saved, such as the Potholes area in Sooke. However, the surfing territory around Jordan River and back into the hills may be dotted with hundreds of vacation cabins. The government squirms in the ironic position of having to buy back land from the timber companies who were to have served as stewards, not self-servers. Clayaquot Sound, once a clarion call for activism, is one again threatened with mining as well as logging. Where I live west of Victoria, hundreds of logging trucks speed by weekly, loaded with timber barely twenty years old as well as spindly pulpwood. Raw logs sail to China, hardly a value-added proposition.

Douglas firs and the holy mother cedar are among the largest trees on the planet. Blessed by rainfall, they have found the optimal growing conditions. Why can't a tree over five feet in diameter, around when Columbus sailed, be left in threatened Avatar Grove for future generations who don't want to visit a tree museum? Imported tourists could be a far more lucrative and moral way to conserve our precious resources. Trees have become our ivory and chainsaws our poachers.

Sadly, most people never see this destruction unless they travel inland or fly over. The entire island is a poisonous patchwork quilt. My Holly Martin mysteries, And on the Surface Die and She Felt No Pain, rely heavily on setting and reveal the devastation a few metres beyond the narrowing margins. Is squandering a heritage a lesser crime than murder?

As century farms become condos, one giant housing development threatens, from Tofino to Port Hardy to Campbell River. Where the magical island once was self-sufficient, now it's on life support. Stop the ferries for one week, and we all would subsist on blackberries, eggs, and apples. The island used to provide 95% of its food. Now ships arrive in flotillas from South America with tasteless grapes and unripe avocados, burning diesel to pollute the air.

The island has lost its vision, or perhaps a hundred years ago it didn't need one. Groups such as The Land Conservancy and Dogwood Initiative are trying to stem the tide and marshal public opinion. Will this evil path be reversed in time or will Vancouver Island become another moonscape, paradise lost because of those who loved it to death?

Join Mystery Writers Ink for an Evening of Plotting

2010-12-04T14:04:00.001-08:00

Mystery Writers Ink is delighted to host an exercise in "Plotting the Perfect Murder – Who Slew Santa?"

In this festive season, please join us to share some snacks while we have some fun, get to know each other better and explore the craft of plotting.

In "Plotting the Perfect Murder – Who Slew Santa," we will discuss plotting for a mystery story. We will look at the crime, character development, motivation and subplots. How can we weave them all together to create a page turning mystery? This is a group discussion, so bring your questions and please come prepared to do some plotting.

Thursday, December 9

From 7 - 9 p.m.
Owl's Nest Books in Britannia Plaza

Elbow Drive and 49th Avenue SW, Calgary
(Note: the doors open at 6:45p.m.)

There will be great Ink-themed prizes and please feel free to bring some seasonal treats for our snack table.

About Mystery Writers Ink

MWI supports aspiring and emerging mystery writers in Calgary. Annual membership is $25.00.

Drop-in fee of $5.00 for non-members.

For more information, please contact:

info@mysterywritersink.com

Barbara Fradkin on the Supporting Cast

2010-11-28T23:31:00.000-08:00

Creating and Maintaining a Supporting Cast

Ten years ago I blundered into this mystery business without a whit of foresight or experience. I had published a few short stories, but when Inspector Green first hit the bookstores in 2000, I had no idea I was creating a series.

As a reader, I was never a slave to series. I rarely read them in order, and generally sampled only a few from each writer. I love British detective novels, but there are too many other wonderful books out there for me to read all the Rebus or Dalgleish books, no matter now much I loved them.

So I didn't know a thing about how to set up a series. How to create a memorable and enduring main character, and even more important, how to surround him with a cast of characters that grew and changed as they followed him from book to book. I wrote Inspector Green as a character I would like to meet - creative, iconoclastic, intelligent, passionate and single-minded when he was on the hunt. As a result, he was a tactless superior, an unreliable husband, and a willfully deaf subordinate, but definitely someone you'd want solving your murder.

I gave him a sergeant who made up for all his flaws. Sergeant Brian Sullivan was patient, pragmatic, and fatherly with rookie cops and grieving families alike. I gave him a wife who put up with his short-comings (barely, at times) because she knew, deep down he was a good man. I rounded out the supporting cast with a boss, a few other subordinates, and a baby to make him human.

I recently launched the eighth in the series, BEAUTIFUL LIE THE DEAD. Over eight books, all these characters have grown. So have I! Mike Green is a far more complex and layered character than my initial creation. Each case has touched him and changed him, moving him forward on his quest for balance and maturity. One of the joys of writing a series is this chance to live with a character, to let him grow and to deepen and enrich his life. I think I have been lucky with Mike Green, for readers seem to enjoy this journey as well. They eagerly await the next book, wondering what he will confront this time, whether his wife will throw him out and whether he and his teenage daughter will mend their fractured bond. Readers react passionately to his transgressions, and their reactions help me to understand how he comes across. This is important to a series author. I don't mind if the reader wants to slap him upside the head for forgetting his wife. But I do mind if they want to throw the book against the wall or abandon the series, for that means the Inspector Green in my heart is not coming to life on the page.

Even more surprising to me, however, has been the power that supporting characters play in the success of a series. Again, I blundered into this discovery purely by serendipity, as readers began to voice their opinions. Different readers have their favourites, but there is always some continuing character that captures the hearts and loyalties of readers. Minor continuing characters provide novelty, opportunities for fresh conflict, and an element of unpredictability which keeps tensions high. Everyone knows that Green will live to solve another crime. But will Brian Sullivan? Will Sue Peters recover? Has Superintendent Jules truly crossed the line?

If the author listens too closely, these loyalties can have a paralyzing effect. Once I idly mused that I was thinking of shaking up Green's life with a major personal crisis. One reader immediately wagged a warning finger. "Don't you dare kill off his father!" Given that his father is edging towards ninety and has been in fragile health throughout the series, I have to face that sometime. But now I worry. Killing off Sid Green will be traumatic enough for me and Green. But for my readers too? Will they give up on the series without their favourite character to revisit?

Recently, several readers have told me they were upset about Brian Sullivan's crisis. Others worried that I was going to write Green's teenage daughter out of the series. I never know what I'm going to do ahead of time. In fact, new characters usually come into the series on the spur of the moment, to serve a purpose to that plot, and they stay around because I enjoy them. Little did I know that readers would care about them too. Or that they'd be an integral part of the appeal and success of the series. Authors, agents and publishers devote a lot of effort to creating an appealing and enduring series lead, but little to the supporting cast who make up the back story and emotional depth of the series.

To keep a series fresh, the drama high and the author entertained, new characters have to burst on the scene and old ones have to fade away. Most of us weigh how each new character will complement the existing characters, creating new contrasts, tensions and intrigue. Maybe we need to give equal thought to how to get rid of them, lest our books become populated with dozens of secondary characters with nothing to do. Getting rid of boring, annoying or inconsequential characters is easy, but those much-loved ones are a different story. We authors write them out or kill them off at our peril.

Ultimately it is our series and our story to tell, but it helps to consider the supporting characters that stir such a passionate following. To ponder what about them is so compelling and what they contribute to the power of the series. The gaping hole will have to be filled somehow, not by a similar character, but perhaps by a character who provides the same emotional context or fills the same need.

I'd love to hear people's experience with this. Any authors who've wrestled with dispatching popular characters? Readers who've been horrified to find their favourite dead at the end of a book?

Barbara Fradkin is a psychologist with a fascination for how we turn bad. Her gritty, psychological detective series featuring Ottawa Police Inspector Michael Green has won two Arthur Ellis Best Novel Awards for Fifth Son and Honour Among Men. The eighth in the series, Beautiful Lie the Dead,, has just been released by Napoleon & Company.

A delightful evening with Gail Bowen

2010-11-22T14:52:00.000-08:00

You know she’s from Saskatchewan – three days of snowstorms, -20°C weather and icy roads were no match for Canada’s mystery darling Gail Bowen. Gail’s warm and exuberant personality captivated Mystery Writer’s Ink November meeting as she shared her insights on writing and on being a writer.

On craft:

• The biggest problem with writing is that opportunities to use the basic elements of fiction are missed. Consider: theme, character, secondary characters, point of view, setting, symbolism, structure. There is interplay between all these elements which gives your characters depth and your work meaning.

• Mystery writing falls flat when plot is the primary tool used to advance the novel and the other elements of fiction are neglected.

So how do you create a robust and captivating story? Remember to:

o Give depth to your protagonist. Ask: What does she want more than anything in the world? What does she fear more than anything in the world?

o Create a secondary line of characters who’ll add depth to your protagonist, theme and plot.

Look at a book you admire – if it goes off rail, then the author has failed to use these basic elements. Understand why it didn’t work.

Good mysteries are more than just a who-dun-it and catch the criminal. Every good mystery also explores a theme. What is the larger issue behind the book? Who is your audience? What are you trying to say? For example, in Gail’s latest book of the Joanne Kilbourn series, The Nesting Dolls, the larger question or theme is one of nature versus nurture. A theme adds depth not only to primary and secondary characters, but also embellishes the other elements of fiction such as symbolism and setting. Theme can be carried along by the secondary characters which helps avoid a strictly plot driven novel.

Ask yourself what you hope to accomplish with this piece of writing. Is the genre you’re working in taking you where you want to be? If not, go somewhere else. For example, is mystery the best vehicle to explore your theme or observations on humanity? Is it romance, fantasy or a literary novel?

With a series, there are a lot of pages to develop a character – it is akin to living a human life. The character grows, changes and is affected by the world around them (especially by those secondary characters).

On being a writer:

• No manuscript is ever finished – have faith in what you’re doing and send it off.

• Consider your manuscript a university essay – after doing the best you can, hand it in and wait for the grade.

• High school is the hardest thing we’ve all done and we survived it. We’ve all been rejected in high school so what’s a rejection by an editor?

• For anyone to write anything is a miracle so never be critical of effort. It takes a lot of courage to write, to send it off and be rejected. But, it’s worse to never have taken the chance.

• Gail doesn’t read in her genre and there are many authors who don’t. Why? She doesn’t want to pick up echoes of someone else’s work in her own. As she so eloquently put it, “You always run your own race and that’s hard to do if you’re always watching the other guy.”

Find your passion and the genre to express it. Think about your themes and characters while never forgetting about the basic elements of fiction. But always remember, what writers do is special and takes a lot of courage. So, keep your courage up and run your own race. Happy writing!

For more information about Gail and her work, visit Gail's website

Summarized by Ann Cooney for Mystery Writers Ink

Gail Bowen: The Craft of Character Driven Mystery

2010-11-14T15:23:00.001-08:00

Please note the change of time for Mystery Writers Ink Meeting on
Thursday, November 18. We will be meeting at 5:30 instead of our usual time of 7:30.

We are pleased to welcome Gail Bowen, author of the Joanne Kilbourn Mysteries, for a presentation on The Craft of Character Driven Mystery. Gail will be available before the meeting to sign copies of her books.

About Gail Bowen

Gail Bowen is the current writer in residence at the Calgary Public Library. Her latest novel, The Nesting Dolls, was released August 17, 2010. The first six books in the Joanne Kilbourn series were made into television movies. A Colder Kind of Death, released in 1994, was the winner of the Crime Writers of Canada Arthur Ellis Award. In 2008, Reader's Digest named Gail as Canada's Best Mystery Novelist.

2010-11-08T17:15:00.000-08:00

!!! NOTE November Meeting DATE CHANGE !!!

***Thursday, November 18: Gail Bowen, author of the Joanne Kilbourn Mysteries***

Gail will be speaking on the craft of character-driven mystery.

Note November TIME change: runs 5:30 - 7 p.m.

instead of the usual 7-9 pm.

Finger foods will be provided.

Writing Isn’t a Wholly Solitary Endeavour

2010-11-07T07:45:00.000-08:00

There is a misconception that writing is a solitary activity. insofar as the first steps of the process are concerned, it is. The first draft and rewrites can only be done by the writer. But check out the thank you or acknowledgement pages of any published book. It lists writing groups, friends, family, editors, research contacts, mentors - in short, it's a community of support and resources which helped the author create a publishable book.

Support systems are integral to our success. Good writing groups provide the diverse range of knowledge and skill. Fellow writers inspire us. They challenge us to perfection. They help us perfect our craft. From them, we learn about the business of writing - writing the synopsis and cover letter, how to approach publishers and agents, which ones to contact, etc.

I love Mystery Writers Ink and other writing groups I belong to. The best ones, like MWI, provide awesome speakers and resources to augment my mystery writing needs while another is an awesome critiquing group. Going to meetings with great guest speakers like homicide detectives or successful mystery writers saves me hours of research and allows me to spend more time writing.

Every good writing group has members who help each other by giving advice on craft and genre. Most importantly, we need to be with like-minded people - those who understand the writing life with its successes or the struggles and crazy times. These are the people who celebrate with us when the first draft is complete. They share our angst as we rewrite and perfect the manuscript. They commiserate with us through the rejections. Then, they party with us when the manuscript becomes a published book.

The support we receive, we must give back. That is the nature of the writing life and I find that most successful writers do that. We are there for each other. So, look at the writing group you belong to. Does it feed your need for expert knowledge on craft and genre? Does it inspire and encourage you? Then, ask yourself, how can I do for this group? Writing groups succeed because of dedicated volunteers. But, those volunteers can only do so much without jeopardising their own writing. The old adage, many hands make light work, seems trite but it's true. If we all do a little, we all get a lot back.

So remember, successful authors have a community of support around them ......

Ann Cooney

Getting the Most out of your Critique Group

2010-11-01T18:27:00.000-07:00

Getting the Most out of your Critique Group
By Vicki Delany

Oct. 2010

Whenever I'm asked by aspiring or beginning writers for some advice on getting published, I always say the most important thing is to be sure that you have someone else read and critique your work before you consider it finished. Not only do you want to make sure your manuscript is as free of spelling and grammar and punctuation errors as possible (and this is very important) you need another set of eyes to spot potential problems.

It's simply not possible to edit your own work. By the time you've revised it for the tenth time, you're no longer seeing what's on the page, but what you THINK is on the page. The author is a poor judge of use of motivation - YOU the author know why your character is acting in such a way, but have you explained it to the reader? Same for backstory. YOU know the backstory, but have you sufficiently explained what led up to these events, or alternately have you so flooded the book with unnecessary detail it's slowing down the plot?

One of the best and most reliable ways to get good, productive, useful criticism on your work is to join a critique group.

Be careful when setting up or joining a critique group. You don't want anyone who's nasty or mean or jealous of better writers. All criticism should be offered with the intent of making the work BETTER not running it and the author down.

I'd advise against joining an online critique group. If you don't know them personally, how can you trust their advice? Bad critiquing is potentially very dangerous.

Here are some general guidelines for what works as I see it:

The group members should be on the same level more or less. If you're a serious writer with the intent of seriously producing a book (or short stories) and sending it out for publication, then you want to be joined with others of like mind.

Each member of your group should have some understanding of the basic concepts of creative writing (unless you are all rank amateurs starting out together, and then you might need an instructor). Your time's important: you don't want to have to explain how to use tense properly or what it means to show not tell.

Do not join a group with writers whose work you don't respect. If you think that so-and-so can't write a word worth a darn do you want her giving you advice on your writing?

Don't defend your work to the group. It's all right to explain "that will come later", but if you have to defend the story, it isn't standing up on its own. You won't be able to discuss what you really meant with your readers. I know of groups in which it's a rule that the person being critiqued isn't allowed to speak.

Don't waste everyone's time on work that you haven't done to the best of your ability. If you're experimenting, trying to find out if something works, that's fine. Perhaps explain right up that you're not sure about this and looking for input.

Your job is not to rewrite anyone else's work. First of all it's patronizing, but do you really want parts of your book to have been written by someone else? Make suggestions, yes. Suggest a change of words, or rephrasing. But rewriting? No.

A critique group is about give and take. You need to be committed to your group to the best of your time and ability. Are you yourself able to give constructive criticism? Do you know why something works in a book or doesn't? Can you explain your thoughts?

Every member of your group must be prepared to critique every other member's work. If you end up with someone who sends chapters to every meeting, but doesn't seem to have the time to read anyone else's, ask her or him to leave. (Having said that, of course, cut them a bit of slack once in a while.)

If you write faster than your group can read, select what you think needs work. Don't let your ego take over and find yourself giving what you think is the best of your work to your group. They are there to criticise, not to praise.

When you're looking for a group, or thinking of forming one, think about what suits your style best. There are many, many different types of groups, the only rule is: join one!

With a nod and thanks to the members of my critique group: Dorothy McIntosh, Jane Burfield, Madeleine Harris-Callway, Donna Carrick, Cheryl Freedman.

Vicki's newest book, NEGATIVE IMAGE, was published by Poisoned Pen Press in November 2010. If you'd like to read the first two chapters, please go to: www.vickidelany.com. Most of Vicki's books are available in Kindle and other electronic formats as well as hardcover and trade paperback, large print and audio. Vicki blogs about the writing life at One Woman Crime Wave

Bloody Words 2011 - Cool Canadian Crimes Coming!

2010-10-28T00:01:00.000-07:00

BLOODY WORDS PROGRESS REPORT #1

Registration for Bloody Words 2011 has already reached almost half of our available space, so REGISTER NOW at www.bloodywords2011.com.

Published authors must register no later than March 1 to be considered for a spot on the program. As soon as you have registered, please send a bio between 50-100 words and a black and white head shot to publication@bloodywords2011.com (Pam, at that email, will have the information on size of digital photo to send)

NEW HOTEL RATE!

Hotel Grand Pacific has lowered its Bloody Words conference rate to $179 per night, single or double, plus tax. The rate is good for 3 days before and 3 days after the conference. Only a small block of rooms is reserved. Book early to guarantee your stay at this award-winning hotel on Victoria's Inner Harbour. Don't forget to mention Bloody Words when you make your reservation.

COME EARLY FOR THE ARTHUR ELLIS AWARDS BANQUET!

Join the excitement as the winners of the 2011 Arthur Ellis Awards are announced on Thursday, June 2. The banquet will be held at the Hotel Grand Pacific-another great reason to book early.

THIS IS NOT THE BLOODY WORDS BANQUET; THAT ONE IS SATURDAY NIGHT And IS INCLUDED WITH YOUR REGISTRATION FEE.

For information about the Arthur Ellis Awards Banquet, consult the Crime Writers of Canada website: www.crimewriterscanada.com.

For banquet tickets, email arthur_ellis_banquet@crimewriterscanada.com

FRIDAY LATE NIGHT SPECIAL EVENT!

Another good reason to come early-get your beauty rest on Thursday night so you can stay up for our spine-tingling Friday Late Night Special Event:

MICHAEL SLADE'S SHOCK THEATRE AND GHOST WALK will present a blood-chilling 1940s radio play to put you in the mood for a Ghost Walk to - and reading at - some of Victoria's notorious haunted sites. In the past, SLADE'S SHOCK THEATRE has featured such players as Anne Perry, Diana Gabaldon, Jack Whyte, and Robert McCammon. At Bloody Words, there will be new famous players. Slade's last Ghost Walk was to Poe's Grave in Baltimore at midnight on Friday the 13th for a reading of "THE TELL-TALE HEART" and "THE MONKEY'S PAW." Poe's Graveyard was unlocked twice in the past for midnight events by Vincent Price and Robert (PSYCHO) Bloch. With luck, Bloody Words' Ghouls will conjure its Ghost of Honour - Amor de Cosmos - from beyond the grave.

Plotting for Research and Plotting from Research

2010-10-19T22:08:00.000-07:00

Ink was fortunate to have award-winning author Donna Fletcher Crow as our guest speaker on October 14, 2010. Donna's writing career spans 3 decades and covers an impressive range of literary styles from 'Choose Your Adventure' tales in the 1980's through historical mystery and inspirational romance to epic novels of the British Isles. Now she concentrates on mysteries, promoting 'A Very Private Grave'(first of the Monastery Murders), now out in the USA, UK, and Canada, while simultaneously testing the waters of e-books with a different series. Busy lady!

With all those historical novels in her personal backlist, Donna has become an expert at research, specifically pertaining to historical fiction but also to contemporary novels. She was generous with her acquired wisdom, which can be summarized very briefly as: start wide and zoom in, go there in person, and leave room for serendipity.

Simple, you say? The devil, as they say, is in the details.

Start wide: in your background reading, read as broadly and deeply as possible. Look for maps and other illustrations - of clothing, transportation, and buildings - made in the era that interests you. (If you aren't interested in this era, why try to write about it at all?) Find out about the political situation, including any wars or religious movements. Then refine your story idea to take advantage of actual dramatic elements such as elections, riots, unusual weather (such as the winter the Thames River froze), maybe even an assassination/attempt. All these can feed your central conflict and add depth and veracity to your characters. On some books, this phase took years of Donna's part-time focus.

Zoom in: Donna likes to write the opening chapter or two to get her essential characters and conflicts in place before plotting in detail. Then she writes a summary of the rest of the book, aiming for four pages on the theory that, if she can't explain her story in that space, she doesn't know it well enough yet. Now Donna can list of exactly what she still needs to know and start tracking down specific sources: rare books, places to be visited, people to interview. Make email contacts and set up phone or in-person appointments.

Interviews: Know what you need to know but keep an open mind and leave plenty of time. The experts you consult may have unexpected stores of useful information that will only come out when their passion for their subject overrides their polite short answers to specific questions.

On-site research: Let the site suggest the plot elements where possible; if there's a bridge, might someone fall or be thrown off it? Listen to local gossip (yes, eavesdrop in coffee shops); not only will you taste the dialect and cadence of regional speech, you never know when a chance tale of someone's grandmother will provide a spark for your fictive dream.

Buy books. Especially local histories and guidebooks that may not be widely available.

Take photos. In this digital age, you can play an on-location slide show on your screen while you're writing the relevant scene. Note with your senses, not sight alone. If you're writing in a local setting, you may think you know all you need about an area but it's still a good idea to visit the key locations. See how they look and feel in different weather, different seasons. Let your characters feel the squishy mud underfoot in springtime or the crush the rattling leaves in fall or breathe frostily in the desolate industrial area on a winter's night.

When you write, relive all those sensory inputs and realistic details through the viewpoint character. Don't try to cram in all your research. Concentrate on producing a single vivid impression in each scene. The more fully immersed you and your plot are in the place, time, political and social setting of your characters, the more real the fictive dream becomes for you the writer and for the eventual reader.

Some spare handouts will be available at the November meeting. For more information on Donna's books and her other interests, visit her website

Jayne Barnard

Income Tax Tips for Writers (Beginner and Pro)

2010-10-09T18:54:00.001-07:00

Questions about your income tax? What can a writer deduct? The Mystery Writers Ink presentation for January is "Income Tax Tips for Writers."

Sandra Fitzpatrick will discuss income tax for writers. Gearing up for tax season, it is important to know how to calculate your writing income and what deductions you can make. What records are necessary to support your income tax return? Bring your tax questions.

Thursday, January 13th

From 7 - 9 p.m.
Owl's Nest Books in Britannia Plaza

Elbow Drive and 49th Avenue SW, Calgary
(Note: the doors open at 6:45p.m.)

About Sandra Fitzpatrick

Sandra Fitzpatrick has been doing taxes professionally since 2006, for clients who have small businesses like writing and acting. Her goal is to minimize taxes and run simulations to assist in tax planning. Sandy is a writer who has written five novels, three novellas and a pile of short stories. She has published several stories. Her current project is a novella dealing with human exploration of the galaxy and encountering planetary deities who do like to get involved.

About Mystery Writers Ink

MWI supports aspiring and emerging mystery writers in Calgary. Annual membership is $25.00.

Drop-in fee of $5.00 for non-members.

For more information, please contact: info@mysterywritersink.com

Pizza for Mayor at the Old Y

2010-09-12T22:21:00.000-07:00

Mystery Writers Ink is a member of the Old Y, which is co-hosting the Pizza for Mayor event 4:00-6:00 Friday, October 1, at 223 12th Ave SW. Candidates will be there with their favourite pizza from their favourite pizza places. You can talk to the candidates, sample their selections, and mull over which one (candidate or pizza) impresses you the most. RSVP to 403-536-9044 or info@pizzaformayor.com by Sept. 23 so they can order enough pizza.

My Journey Through the Editing Process - Part Two

2010-09-10T15:40:00.000-07:00

In May, INK member, Susan Calder, signed her first book publishing contract for her mystery novel A Deadly Fall. She spent the summer editing the manuscript. Here is Part Two of My Journey Through the Editing Process.

On Tuesday, August 24th, I finished the major edits for my novel A Deadly Fall and e-mailed the revised manuscript to my editor, Frances Thorsen. She will read the novel in one swoop for overall effect and send me any further comments. Then, it's off to the copy editor. After the copy edit is done, I'll have a couple of weeks to proof-read the final version before the book goes to press.

Frances and I began our editing journey in June. I may be one if the few Calgarians who didn't mind our summer of less-than-wonderful weather. I rarely longed for the outdoors as I tapped away at my desk, editing my manuscript chapter by chapter.

Frances divided the novel into chunks of ten chapters. Using the Track Changes feature of WORD, she e-mailed me her suggested changes and comments one or two chapters at a time. I replied with my agreements or counter-suggestions or further comments. She'd volley back her replies. We'd keep going with this until we more or less reached a consensus for that chapter(s), at the same time moving forward with edits to the rest of the story. When chapters 1-10 were done, we worked on 11-20. My original novel had 33 chapters. It now has 32. We cut most of Chapter 20 and combined the remnants with a new small scene and the former chapter 21 to create one long chapter that seems to work.

Overall, I'd say Frances and I were in agreement about the story's major points. She understood all of my characters the way I did; we saw the story arc the same way. We sometimes differed on smaller points, such as word choices and punctuation. I deferred in cases where I wasn't sure what was right or felt her change wouldn't make a significant difference. These were relatively easy matters in terms of work load. More time consuming was writing new scenes and figuring out how to handle the effects of a deleted character and subplot.

Frances also raised questions I hadn't considered. These led us both to research such things as cell phone call tracing, Calgary transit schedules and criminal code terms.

When we were done, my task was to re-assemble the edited chapters into a new whole. This was harder than I'd expected due to my poor organization system. I also felt a need to read the novel through once again to check for errors due to the changes we'd made: references left in that should no longer be there, details inadvertently removed with the deleted character or subplot and extra spaces, double periods and crossed out letters left behind from the Track Changes.

Between the additions and deletions, the edited manuscript is about 6,000 words less than my original. I believe it's more focused and interesting to readers.

Now I get a brief rest before plunging into the next book. On September 9th, TouchWood publisher, Ruth Linka, has arranged a conference call with Frances and me to discuss future novels in the mystery series. I'm almost glad I had to wait three years to find a publisher, as this gave me time to write and revise a sequel. I feel a step ahead, rather than panicked about facing the blank page. As a result of this editing experience, I'd like to do another revision before sending the sequel to Ruth and Frances. Meanwhile, I'm mulling ideas for novel number three.

I had to push myself to make the September 1st target for the edits in the midst of my summer activities: hiking, visitors and short trips. The push has paid off. The day after I sent Frances the edited manuscript, Ruth Linka contacted me. A mystery novel scheduled for spring 2011 had to be postponed. Frances told her the editing has gone well. How would I feel about moving my fall 2011 publication date forward six months to spring 2011, possibly March?

I feel excited and scared. March isn't so far away. This book is really going to happen.

For Part One of this series, see Susan's previous post.

Learning Opportunities

2010-09-10T15:26:00.000-07:00

Gail Bowen: Writer-in-Residence for Calgary Public Library from September through November, 2010. She will evaluate manuscript pages and consult with you on your writing’s strengths and weaknesses.Get your submission in early to ensure her schedule doesn't fill up.

September 25: Chris Roerden, author of “Don’t Murder Your Mystery” and “Don’t Sabotage Your Submission,” offers a full-day workshop, “Learn What Editors Want,” at the Greenwood Inn, Calgary. Sponsored by ARWA.

Online Class: Starts September 29. Crime author Kris Neri teaches “Committing the Perfect Crime: Writing Your First Mystery” online for 10 weeks through UCLA Extension Writers’ Program

Gail Bowen: Welcome Reception and Book Launch at the Library

2010-09-07T10:24:00.000-07:00

Gail Bowen is the Writer in Residence at the Calgary Public Library this fall, which will please mystery writers and readers alike.

The library is holding a reception to welcome Gail and to launch her newest Joanne Kilbourn mystery, The Nesting Dolls. Everyone is welcome at this reception and launch, which is scheduled for 2:00-3:30 on Saturday, Sept. 11, at Memorial Park Library, 1221 2nd St. SW.

Ink Presents the Speaker You've All Been Waiting for!

2010-09-05T17:30:00.000-07:00

Mystery writers in Calgary won't want to miss our September 9 meeting, when our speaker is Det. Dave Sweet from the Homicide Unit of the Calgary Police Service. Det. Sweet will provide us with an overview of the work of the Homicide Unit, and then go into detail about the areas that are of particular interest to mystery writers.

Det. Sweet will talk about how the detectives of the Homicide Unit handle cases, from the first report until the case is wrapped up and the accused is headed for court.

Please note that there will be some slides of crime scenes that may disturb some viewers.

Ink members, if you have questions you'd like to get answers to, please add them as comments to this blog. We can't guarantee that any of our speakers will address all of the questions, but we will pass your questions on to the detective.

This will be a terrific presentation for all mystery writers. During the summer, Det. Sweet and I met, and he explained what topics he'll cover. This will be a remarkably comprehensive overview of the work of the Homicide Unit, given the time limitations of our meeting.

Meeting time: 7-9 pm on Thursday, September 9. Doors will open about 6:30.

Venue: Owl's Nest Books at 815A 49 Ave SW, Calgary.

Cost: Members: This year, the annual membership fee is a mere $25! Please bring your cheque made out to Mystery Writers Ink, or cash, to pay your membership at this meeting. As you all know, we have an extraordinary volunteer, Jayne Barnard, as our Treasurer. We'll make her life as Treasurer much easier if we renew at the September 9 meeting.

Non-members pay a drop-in fee of $5. If you drop in to this meeting, pay the $5, and find that you like what you see of Mystery Writers Ink, you can sign up for a year's membership by paying the additional $20 at the end of the meeting.

Bringing Dead Politicians to Life

2010-08-31T20:30:00.000-07:00

I was working in Toronto, helping my husband run his pool hall, and not writing at all. I vaguely still dreamed of writing one day, but after trying to write one book in my twenties and junking it, I was pretty sure I had no talent and could never make it a career. To compound my negativity, I was fed up with the way local government seemed to be on a sabotage mission to put our bar out of business. Since I normally hate the helpless victim role, but for some reason at that moment I felt powerless to change things, I decided I should kill the mayor.

I have never dived more happily into a project. My fingers flew across the keyboard, creating a secret society with a murderous mandate, a young cop who could speak her mind more freely than I could, and a supporting cast I wanted to spend time with. In my fantasy world, I could kill anyone. I didn't care anymore about the socialist hypocrisy running rampant in the real world; I had my personal power back.

I wasn't a very good writer. I'd taken one writing class in high school fifteen years before. I signed up for a workshop course at Humber, and I was matched with a group of enthusiastic and honest critics. They helped me transform Clare from a beat cop into a rookie undercover, which later helped me shape the series. They suggested making her younger, so she'd blend in more convincingly with the students-another bonus, because starting her young means I can play a lot more with her learning curve. (Belligerence can be amusing at 22, but might be immature at 28.) And - probably the most significant part of the course - they took a lot of my bad writing habits, slaughtered them, and replaced them with real skills.

I also learned at Humber that writing isn't some elusive Shakespeare-or-nothing dream where you either have heaps of talent or you might as well pack it in, but a series of steps (like anything else), where we can start where we are and get better over the course of our lives.

I left that week-long course buoyed with confidence. I didn't suddenly think I was a fabulous writer, but I felt-finally-like publication was an attainable goal. I took a few night courses, moved to Vancouver (we ended up closing our fun but ill-fated pool room), and made it a mission to turn my first twenty pages into a kickass crime fiction manuscript.

This was my favourite time of all: the writing part. My amazing husband told me to take a solid block of time and devote it to just writing, and we'd figure out in a year or two if it was worth continuing. So when he went off to work, I worked, I shaped, I deleted, I despaired. I Rollerbladed into the nearby fishing village for groceries most afternoons. I stared out my window at the North Shore mountains when I couldn't figure out where to take the story. And I found out that this is exactly what I want to do with my life.

I'm thrilled that my first book is actually going to hit shelves this September. I love the people I'm meeting and the things I'm learning about the industry. But I miss the year I had to myself - the year I started writing.

Robin Spano

Don't miss Robin's great Virtual Book Tour, coming all month to blogs only a click or two away!

An editor on the editing process

2010-08-27T13:51:00.000-07:00

One of my authors says that when I point something out as weak, he either cuts it (knowing I’m right) or re-doubles his efforts to make it work. I think that’s a great response to editorial feedback.

Andy Meisenheimer

From "Novel Journey"

What cops take along on narcotics work

2010-08-27T13:43:00.000-07:00

From an officer with years of experience working plainclothes drug investigations. Plain clothes being, in some cases, really plain.

Officer.com

What goes in a query letter?

2010-08-17T00:09:00.000-07:00

There's a simple way to figure out what goes in the first paragraph of a query.

1. What is your main character's name?

2. What problem/choice does the character face? (20 words or fewer)

3. Who wants to foil the main character's plan and why? (20 words or fewer)

Query Shark

Guest Nadine Doolittle: On becoming a published author

2010-08-08T19:49:00.000-07:00

On becoming a published author...

I was just as eager (and just as desperate) to get my manuscript published as any writer. But after ICED UNDER was released in November 2008 at a wildly successful launch party hosted by my local bookstore, I was stricken with terror. I lost five pounds. I couldn't eat, had trouble sleeping, and certainly couldn't write. Not anything worth reading at any rate. What I thought would be the most exhilarating time of my life turned into an intense year of trying to understand what just happened. When I was an unpublished novelist, I knew what I wanted-to get published. Now that I was published...where did I go from here?

My publisher is a small press: advances are not paid nor does my contract extend beyond the book under contract. No three book deals here. I had a book out but I was back in the starting gate for the next. I had to earn a living, promote the book that was on the shelves and somehow write the next novel. No problem, I told myself. Getting published was the hard part.

I drew up a plan of action. I scheduled my day. Write, do "business" and somehow earn money. I sharpened my pencils, sat down at my desk to launch into the next book-and promptly developed writer's block. (Which I thought was a myth until I had it.) Writer's block doesn't prevent you from putting words down; it prevents you from wanting to. I felt physically sick every time I faced the computer.

Panic set in. If I didn't produce another book, the first book would be for nothing. All that work, the struggle to get published in the first place-for nothing. And I was broke! I'd burned every employable bridge I had to write this book. I was aging too. Starting over again in another career was out of the question-I'd already had three. I spent long hours huddled in my office, sobbing. I was suffering a severe crisis of confidence, second-guessing the intuitive voice that led me to write in the first place. If getting published was so great, then how come I was so miserable?

At this time, readers started to pop up expressing how much they enjoyed ICED UNDER. I was almost too ashamed to hear their compliments. I felt like a fraud. Until it dawned on me that the only person I had to please in all of this was the reader. If the reader liked my book, who was I to say it was a mistake?

Then I fell in with a couple of writers who wanted to form an online critique group. We would send pages to each other twice a month. I was terrified but took the leap. The process restored me to the computer. Progress!

Writers are shy to begin with when it comes to promotion, but for a writer who has lost confidence, promotion is the seventh circle of Hell. Local writers and booksellers came to my aid with advice, wisdom and common sense and a bit of promotion of their own. The best tip I received was from a savvy old author and marketer extraordinaire who said to regard my first book as my loss leader. I should do what I could do to promote it, but this one book was not the career. A weight lifted off my shoulders.

One day while rocking in front of the computer as I worked out a tricky bit of plot, I had a revelation: Writing wasn't something I chose to do-writing chose me. In sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, I was a writer and there was no going back. I finally finished my second book. At this writing THE GREY LADY is with an agent in the U.K. who requested the full after reading the first ten pages. ICED UNDER continues to sell well through word of mouth and has received three decent professional reviews.

And I've plunged into my third novel.

Nadine Doolittle is an award-winning reporter formerly with the Low Down to Hull and Back News, and On Track columnist for the Ottawa Metro News covering transit issues in the nation's capital. "Iced Under" (published by Bayeux Arts Inc. in November 2008) was short-listed for the Arthur Ellis Best First Novel in 2009.

Podcast on Sherlock Holmes

2010-08-08T19:46:00.000-07:00

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle speaks on film about the development of his famous sleuth, Sherlock Holmes.

Thanks to Janet at Mystery Fanfare.

Guest blogger Grant McKenzie

2010-07-20T21:28:00.000-07:00

Grunt goes to Canada

By Grant McKenzie

It was likely the strong, undiluted accent, but it could have been shyness or the overwhelming heaviness of being suddenly different.

Whatever it was, to their Canadian ears, my name sounded like Grunt.

You can imagine the laughter — and the sound effects.

There I was, as Scottish as can be: orange hair so bright it practically glowed, the McKenzie nose, freckles (masses of them since it was a hot summer) and the pale white skin that comes after painful lessons learned on the sandy beaches of Troon.

Most people believe there shouldn't be any language barriers when one emigrates between English-speaking countries, but they're wrong.

This was 1976. I was thirteen years old. And I didn't speak English, I spoke Glaswegian with an East Kilbridian burr.

My working-class brogue had erased the "th" sound from my vocabulary, so words like "think" and “thought” became "fink" and “fought”. I also used such foreign phrasing as "Aye" for "Yes" and "Ta" in place of "thanks". There were even times when you would have thought I was speaking Gaelic rather than just trying to ask a teacher for permission to go to the washroom. “I’m burstin’, miss. Canna no use the loo?”

This language barrier became even more impenetrable when I attended French class at A.E. Cross Junior High. As an official bilingual country, Canada tries to place an emphasis on its second national language. Fortunately, I had a year of French at Claremont High School before leaving Scotland, and so I believed I was in with a shot. I was a good student and knew how to ask for the time, close the door and hang up my hat, all in French.

The teacher, however, thought I had been sent by Candid Camera. She was from Quebec (a province that speaks a different variety of French from France, just to confuse matters) and to her, I sounded like a tractor ripping her language up by the roots and shredding it to tatters before her ears.

My ability to master the written portion of the exams seemed to only frustrate her further as I believe she thought I was actually speaking some form of Scandinavian.

Scotland has changed dramatically since I left, but in 1976, we only had three television channels (although BBC2 barely counted) and the only American shows I can remember were a few cartoons, occasional John Wayne movie and Wizard of Oz every Christmas.

Canada didn't look or sound like any of them, even though my family landed in Calgary, the cowboy capital of the country. This wasn’t Cowboys and Indians (although there were plenty of both), this was oil country with belt buckles the size of your face and ¾-ton, extended-cab pickup trucks larger than a council flat. The city was clean and noticeably graffiti free with large blue skies and powerful Chinook winds that could pick up a small dog and carry it off to Saskatchewan.

It was like nothing I had ever seen or imagined. The city sprawled, stretching itself across hills and valleys, spacing everything out so that people didn’t walk ¾ they drove. And they drove a lot. In Canada, but especially in the prairie provinces, people think nothing of driving hundreds of kilometers to find a nice spot for lunch.

But although Calgary was newer and shinier than the city I left, it still had problems that wouldn’t arrive in Scotland for several more years.

I discovered this on my first week of school when my English teacher gave the class an essay assignment to write about a “pot party”. The other students thought this was hilarious, but I was completely befuddled. The only pot party I could imagine was one where a group of people brought over their fat-blackened chip pots and made a huge load of steaming, hot chips.

Now, although that sounded like a fun time to me as I loved a good poke of vinegar-soaked chips, the teacher went on to say that our story should end with the police arriving at the door and the consequences that would entail.

I had to raise my hand.

What the heck could the criminal charges be? Too much hot fat bubbling on top of a stove at the same time?

I was clueless. Drugs just hadn’t entered the mainstream of Scottish education at that time. We had alcohol and violence ¾ I knew all about that. You would be hard pressed to find any schoolboy or girl who hadn’t been a victim and/or witness to some horrific thuggery, but drugs weren’t part of that ¾ not yet.

In Canada, however, every teenager was well versed about cannabis and all its various and colorful aliases.

It sounds horribly naive, but I didn’t even know what you did with it.

The teacher seemed dumbfounded when she had to explain to the foreign kid ¾ who, with the exception of his bright ginger hair, looked just like everyone else in class ¾ that pot was an illegal plant that grew all over Canada (but especially in British Columbia) that people dried and smoked to get high.

As you can imagine, the other students loved this and my status quickly dropped from unusual but kinda cute foreign kid to weird loser who no one could understand.

I further cemented my weird reputation when the school announced that the first theme day of the year was Greaser Day. Naturally, I once again had no clue what a greaser was, but I was determined to find out.

No one sticks out further on theme day than the kid without a costume ¾ or so I thought.

In my research of greaserdom, I discovered it was a term used to describe a 1950s-style rocker. No problem. My dad, a joiner from Burnbank, and my mum, a Glasgow seamstress, had met at the big city dancehalls that were all the rage in the ’50s and ’60s. My dad was so cool back then that he spent his carpentry paycheques on handmade suits from an Italian tailor and had even won a contest to meet Bill Haley and His Comets on their first visit to the UK.

I told my parents that I wanted to look like a ’50s rocker, and they did their best. Unfortunately, the ’50s in Glasgow was an entirely different beast from the ’50s in Canada. Canada basically stole its ’50s memories from America, or more specifically from American TV shows and movies that glamorized that era.

So while every other kid looked like The Fonz from Happy Days in black leather jacket, white T-shirt, blue jeans and greased hair, I arrived looking dapper in a collared shirt and skinny tie, suit jacket borrowed from my mum, and my unruly hair blow-dried into a giant, orange pompadour.

After that disaster, even the really weird kids started ostracizing me.

Fortunately, I switched schools at the end of that year and was given a chance to start again. This time my accent was not quite as broad (although I still cling to it even to this day); I knew what the traditional teenage delicacies of Slurpees, Hoagies and Big Macs were; I could use cool words like “keen” and “keen-o”; I had a cowboy hat for the summer and a toque for the winter; I became an avid downhill skier and I even learned how to roller-skate.

I never stopped being proud of my heritage, but I also became equally proud of growing to be more than I was, a citizen of two countries with memories in each that make me the person I am today: the weird adult with the ginger hair and a stubborn perseverance that refuses to give in even when the odds seem stacked against me.

Without that indefatigability, I would have used all those numerous rejection slips of my early work as an excuse to stop writing. Instead, they became stepping stones to become a better writer and signposts that to my stubborn, Celtic blue eyes read: Never Give Up.

Grant McKenzie is the author of SWITCH, an edge-of-your-seat thriller, available in Canada from Penguin on Aug. 3. SWITCH is already a bestseller in the UK and Germany. You can visit the author’s website

My Journey Through the Editing Process - Part 1

2010-07-02T20:38:00.000-07:00

INK member Susan Calder signed her first book publishing contract in May for her mystery novel A Deadly Fall. She immediately plunged into editing.

Here is Part One of My Journey Through the Editing Process:

As soon as we signed the contract for my novel A Deadly Fall, TouchWood publisher, Ruth Linka, introduced me by e-mail to my editor, Frances Thorsen. Ruth reminded Frances and me the edited manuscript was due September 1st and left us alone to whip my novel into shape.

Frances and I began by exchanging personal details. She is the owner/operator of Chronicles in Crime, a Victoria bookstore specializing in murder mysteries. She founded the store with her personal stock of 8,000 books. An editor who is a bookseller and avid mystery reader: Cool. We discovered we shared some common ground. Frances graduated from the University of Waterloo. So did my son. She lived in downtown Toronto near Bloor Street. So does my other son. She longs to fly a glider plane. I ... I admire her spirit of adventure.

Frances assigned me my first editing tasks: write a detailed character sketch of my main character and prepare two spreadsheets: (1) a timeline of events that impact the plot and (2) a character chart listing each character's purpose to the book, relationship to the protagonist and the chapters in which the character appears. Part of the purpose of the chart is to determine if characters are lacking or if certain people aren't needed because they are duplicating other characters' roles.

Uh oh, I thought, she's going to ask me to cut characters. I like them all and every one is essential to the book.

I haven't worked with spreadsheets for years, but came up with the charts without much difficulty, thanks to outlines I'd prepared while revising the manuscript. Right away, the character chart requested by Frances pointed me to one person I might cut from the novel. I started to mull over ways someone else might take over the cut one's contribution to the plot.

Next, Frances sent me her general comments on the manuscript, so I'd know where she was coming from during the edits. A few of her comments struck me as requiring major changes. How would we ever get through this by September 1st? This was going to take tremendous work. It looked like A Gruelling Summer would precede A Deadly Fall.

I skimmed through the novel in light of Frances' comments and considered the ripple effects of any changes to the story. I decided I could apply most of Frances' comments and e-mailed her questions and concerns about the rest. She replied that her comments were just suggestions. Her answers to my specifics assured me we were on the same page.

Deep breath. Exhale. Feeling better.

Frances sent me the edits for the first two chapters. We will be working with Track Changes. It took me awhile to find these on my WORD menu - they are under "Review". I was unfamiliar with the mechanics of Track Changes and am still getting the hang of them, but find it fun clicking "accept" or "new comment" to her proposed changes. She also highlights scenes for me to cut and paste into a separate file of material that might used later in the story. We agreed I would write two new scenes for Chapter 2. These turned out to be shorter and easier to do than I'd expected. The character sketch I'd written helped with one of the scenes.

Aside from some niggling bits, we've finished the Chapter 1 & 2 edits. Frances says the first part of the book is always the hardest. So it isn't only me who thinks that? She's now working on her edits for Chapters 3-10. I wait for this next batch, feeling good to have gotten this far. This editing process will be okay, even enjoyable, I think - at the moment.

Susan

Book promotion north of 60

2010-06-15T21:44:00.000-07:00

Hello crime writers and fans. This is my first post to Mystery Writers Ink, so I'll start with a short introduction.

When I was 11, I told my mom I'd be a writer. In fact, I'd be a long-haul truck driver and write about what I'd seen from an 18-wheeler. Great idea, until I turned 16 and realized I can barely drive around the block. I'm still a crappy driver, but the writing thing stuck.

In October, 2009 my first Markus Fanger adventure crime From Ice to Ashes was published by NeWest Press in Edmonton. In From Ice to Ashes Fanger and a young offender fight a terrorist threat on the course of the Yukon Arctic Ultra. It's a thriller set in today's Yukon. The only corsets and garters you'll find are in our annual Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous festival.

From the day the first box of books arrived, I went into the bookselling business, Yukon style. With only four bookstores in the territory, most sales are rung in at gas stations (good thing I work at one), cafes, gift shops, and museums. Writers have to make our own marketing opportunities, so this winter I jumped on the Alberta SuperNet, and followed it way off the beaten track to Delia, in the Hand Hills.

The SuperNet connects Albertans to every government facility in the province. It achieves exactly what the province wants: for Albertans to leap the digital divide. Tandberg Communications unifies all the disparate operating systems, from dial-up to high speed to fiber optic for podcasts, broadcasts and live play. Presenters can display photos, clips, other websites, and record the presentation. It's a vast improvement over video conferencing.

Delia is linked to 35 libraries in the Marigold region and 338 branches province-wide. Regardless how much money and energy I had, I could never reach that many venues on a physical book tour.

Like filaments of a web, the SuperNet is lightweight and invisible. The hour-long reading flew by in real time as natural as if I'd been in the room. To "sign" books, I mailed bookplates commemorating Delia's first "no-fly author at home".

Two weeks later, I was in Scroggie Creek, the heart of Jack London country, staffing a Yukon Quest Dog Drop. We hosted two dozen dog teams on the 1000-mile international sled dog race.

Each musher who crossed our threshold received a complimentary copy of From Ice to Ashes from NeWest Press.I wasn’t going to make everyone pack an extra 12 ounces for 400 miles of trail, so at Meet the Mushers I handed out the copies.

From there Adventure Canada asked me to read to their Yukon Quest tour guests. After a short walk to the Takhini River with visitors from Ontario to California we returned to a roaring bonfire with reading and discussion

Not everything I try is a raving success. On a recent trip to Toronto I learned other tactics are needed for the big city, but to reach the Yukon’s 30,000 residents, and beyond, a personal touch works best.

For more on Jessica's distance-promotion techniques, check out:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/yukonwriter

Authors on the Delicacy of Foreshadowing

2010-06-15T21:14:00.000-07:00

"For me the problem with obvious foreshadowing--the "had I but known" variety--is that it makes the reader aware that this is a story of past events, being retold, AND that the narrator got away safely, or wouldn't now be telling the tale.

I like my readers to feel that a story is unfolding before their eyes, that they are watching from behind a curtain, so to speak. Also that the outcome is not certain."

Rhys Bowen, author of the Evan Evans, Molly Murphy and Royal Spyness mystery novels, winner of the Agatha and Anthony Awards.
www.rhysbowen.blogspot.com

"You lay the groundwork early, well before you need it. For example, show up-front that a supporting character's morals are ambiguous, then plot your protagonist into a position of being forced to trust that supporting character at a crucial moment. By the time your protagonist goes forth to trust the other character, you don't need a blatant "If only I had known" statement because the reader is already squirming with implied foreshadowing."

Suzanne Adair, author of Paper Woman (2007 Patrick D. Smith Award winner), The Blacksmith's Daughter, Camp Follower (2009 nominee for Daphne du Maurier and Sir Walter Raleigh awards)
www.suzanneadair.typepad.com

MWIS June Meeting & AGM

2010-06-06T18:50:00.000-07:00

Mystery Writers Ink will meet at the usual time and place
(7 p.m. second Thursday of the month, at Owl's Nest Bookstore in Brittania Plaza, SW Calgary).

On the murderous menu are:

* the Annual General Meeting & induction of new executive

* readings from some Master Class participants

* a mystery readers' scavenger hunt through the bookstore (time permitting)

* refreshments and volunteer appreciations

Postcard Perps 2010: Fatal Family Reunion

2010-06-06T18:18:00.000-07:00

Postcard Perps 2010: Fatal Family Reunion

The Challenge:

Old Ebenezer is making his will at last, and he wants one more look at all his descendents before picking his main beneficiary. Eccentric uncles, outrageous aunts, cussing cousins and a few obnoxious in-laws are gathered at a guest ranch for the first family reunion in forty years. Mix a bit of brotherly loathing and some seething sisters-in-law with plenty of plain old greed, and one or more of them will not survive the weekend. Your narrator might be a family member or an outsider, a do-gooding sleuth or a villain in mild-mannered disguise. Surprise us. Who dies, how, and why?

The Solution:

Head for Business
by Sherry Wilson McEwen
All Rights Reserved

A spasm of pain shot through me. I gritted my teeth and looked out the big picture windows at the Cypress Hills. The great room of the Bar None Guest Ranch easily held all my estranged relatives-my older brother Silas, younger brother Harold, their wives and miscellaneous grown children-as well as my lawyer and my personal nurse. Only when I had the stabbing pain under control did I turn back to the assembled group.

Harold waved a dirty and crumpled piece of paper. "What'd you say, Ebeneezer? Winner takes all." Following my careful co-ordinates and map, Harold had managed to pull a metal container out of the roots of a twisted pine. Inside was the first page of my will, which Harold now held up in triumph.

Silas's beefy face turned red. "What kind of contest d'you call that?" He groaned and nursed his arm. "Sending us racing over the prairie horseback ... white-water rafting down a river for gawd's sake ... then wandering around in the back woods with the bears, grubbing for a blasted piece of paper. You trying to kill us?"

The thought had crossed my mind. If my useless brothers and their scruffy offspring hadn't survived the test I'd set them, it was no loss to the world. "You haven't changed a bit, Silas. Still a poor sport."

My sister-in-law Dora's shrill shot through the room like a dentist's drill. "Well somebody cheated." She shot a venomous look at Harold. "Besides, Silas didn't have enough time to learn that fancy GPS gizmo of yours."

I shifted in my wheelchair. "Seems fitting that my beneficiary learn how to use the device that made the family business a success."

Harold's wife Gwen snorted. "You were handed the business on a platter. Why your father chose to leave it all to you with nothing for Harold or Silas . . ."

I swivelled my head in her direction. Hard to believe she'd once been the belle of the Mount Royal debutantes. The only remnant of her beauty was the same musky perfume she'd used back then. "It was an obvious choice, my dear. Father recognized me as the son with enough brains and guts to build a small electronics company into the leading corporation it is today-which I accomplished with my GPS invention."

I motioned to my lawyer, who stepped forward and cleared his throat. "It's highly unusual, but my client has asked me to read out the contents of his will before his, uh, passing. In essence, he has allotted enough funds for his funeral, death duties, and creditors. The remainder is to be disbursed to the residuary beneficiary-the winner of the race. As it stands, I estimate this amount will amount to roughly, ah, one hundred dollars."

Later that night, after my nurse had settled me in bed, I savoured the eruption that had followed the lawyer's reading. Disbelief, outrage, shock and anger. I smiled in the dark. All the elements needed to stir up old resentments that had been simmering for forty years. The group reaction only confirmed my opinion-none of them had a head for business. Otherwise they'd have understood about the economy, high research and development costs, overextended credit, and eventual bankruptcy. Weaklings, all of them. Yet even I had a weakness-my penchant for TV reality shows. The Amazing Race had given me the idea for pitting my brothers and their families against each other in a survival of the fittest, winner take all. The joke was there wasn't much to take.

The house was quiet and dark. When the door to my room opened I could see a shadowy figure in the doorway. I lay still. The shadow slipped across the room, drawing nearer. There was a clunk followed by a muffled oath. The person, en route to the bed, had met up with the wheelchair. I smothered a laugh. Even as murderers my relatives were inept. As the figure bent over me, I caught the faint musky scent-the same perfume she'd used four decades ago during our secret affair. Gwen hadn't been too happy when I ended it. Her hurried marriage to Harold was just in time for the child that came along nine months later. I never believed her claim it was mine.

I wondered if they'd drawn straws and she'd won. Through my lowered lids I could see the pillow in her hands. Even a woman should be able to smother a feeble old man. As death neared I congratulated myself on my scheme. No lingering final months of pain and medication for me. I had brokered the last and best deal of my life.

Contests, conventions, submission calls

2010-06-06T17:51:00.000-07:00

CanWrite Victoria June 24-27, 2010

Wicked East Press Anthologies: Open Calls

International Thriller Writers Contest: scripts for radio, screen and stage

Love is Murder Conference (includes short fiction contest) February 4-6, 2011 in Chicago

Arthur Ellis Award Winners

2010-06-06T17:43:00.000-07:00

The Arthur Ellis Awards took place on May 27th at Mysterious Yours Dinner Theatre in Toronto.

AND THE WINNERS ARE...

Best Novel - Howard Shrier High Chicago

Best First Novel - Alan Bradley The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie

Best Non-Fiction - Terry Gould Murder Without Borders

Best Juvenile - Barbara Haworth-Attard Haunted

Best Crime Writing in French - Jean Lemieux Le mort du chemin des Arsene

Best Short Story - Dennis Richard Murphy "Prisoner in Paradise"

Best Unpublished First Crime Novel - Gloria Ferris The Corpse Flower

Congratulations to the winners! For a description of all short-listed books and short stories, visit our website

"On Being an Unhanged Arthur Finalist"

2010-05-18T23:57:00.000-07:00

Guest Blogger Pam Gross Barnsley is a finalist for the Unhanged Arthur Award for the second time.

Now that we’re in the last, nail-biting weeks leading up to Crime Writers of Canada’s Best Unpublished Novel Award (the Unhanged Arthur), I’m trying to be all Zen about it. After all, this is my second year making it to the shortlist. Just breathe, Pam, let it go; your chances of winning are nil. Still, the odd fantasy manages to creep in when I’m supposed to be sleeping, flossing my teeth, listening to the CBC news, or earning a living. I can feel that Bony Pete statuette in my hands, count the sales to Kindle and Sony e-readers, action doll figures, movie rights, Oprah, the Giller and Guv General committees coming to their senses as they realize crime writing can be fine literature too; and I just know Bobby Hepditch will finally regret dumping me after the high school prom. Okay; being Zen ain’t easy.

But then writing a novel isn’t easy either. All of you fellow crime writers know this. The only thing harder than writing is getting published.

Contests can improve your chances of publication, and increase your sales once you are published. Just making it to the longlist is enough to get you a closer reading from agents and editors. So enter! And when you get longlisted or shortlisted, put it in the first line of your query letter.

Louise Penny entered the UK’s Crime Writers Association Debut Dagger Award and her unpublished novel, Still Life was shortlisted. She didn’t win, but making the shortlist garnered her attention from editors and agents and secured her an agent. Louise has gone on to write four more novels and win numerous awards. That first contest set her on her way.

Phyllis Smallman won the first ever CWC Unhanged Arthur and was published by McArthur and Co Publishers, who have just published the third novel in her Sherri Travers series. Phyllis was also shortlisted for the CWA Debut Dagger.

For unpublished crime writers there is also the St. Martin’s Minotaur/ Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel Competition; again, the winner is considered for a publishing contract.

The Killer Nashville/ Claymore Dagger Award comes with a chance at publication with Avalon.

More information for each of these contests can be found on their websites. CWC and the UK’s CWA both offer valuable tips on how to give your manuscript the best chance of impressing the judges. Fees range from $35 to $50.

Last year, after my novel, This Cage of Bones, made the shortlist, I attended the CWC Awards ceremony in Ottawa, followed by the Bloody Words Conference, and I had a blast. It was wonderful to finally meet other writers whom I’d known online for years. I schmoozed like a campaigning politician, made some good connections in the writing biz, and hob-nobbed with sundry ink-stained wretches, Attila-the-Hun agents, media types and fans. I maybe should’ve been cut off after the third glass of wine when I pitched my novel to one of the waiters. But hey, he liked the idea of being an agent and said it would save him having to graduate high school, which apparently was looking kind of dodgy anyway. In the meantime he cut me a bigger percentage of the chocolate mousse.

I did pitch to a real agent at the Conference, and she asked me to send her the manuscript. I decided I’d first eviscerate my novel, so I cut two hundred pages of the most compelling, heart-wrenching, literary prose. Re-wrote the thing for the four hundred and twelfth time, slashed, wept, replenished my lost electrolytes with carrot juice and added three semi-colons.

By then I was also fifty thousand words into the next book in the series and it was time to enter the Unhanged Arthur again. Tempus fuggit, eh? A second agent saw the announcement when I was shortlisted last month and asked to have a look at it. Ultimately it wasn’t for her, but she did compliment me on my writing.

Even if I don’t win (again) this year, making the shortlist provides credibility for my career and a boost to my saggy self-esteem. Being a writer means living on an emotional roller coaster that seems to not just plummet earthward, but actually crash through the earth’s crust and take you down to where that infamous slough of despond is stashed.

If I don’t win I’ll go home and pick up the beast and carry on. I will try to improve it again; I will try to find someone who loves it. I will keep writing because I have no other choice. I will find joy in the words I craft that come alive off the page for me and keep waiting for my time to be ready.

So enter those contests, and keep on writing!

Give depth to your police characters

2010-05-18T21:51:00.000-07:00

How police talk during briefings

How the job changes the officers doing it

Get eye-witness information at the Edmonton Public Library - three sessions remaining

and, for writers searching for agents and publishers:

Why it's wise to check Writer Beware before signing with an agent

The Rest of My Long Journey to a Book Contract

2010-05-15T22:33:00.000-07:00

INK member, Susan Calder, signed her first book publishing contract this week for her mystery novel, "A Deadly Fall." Here is Part Two of her story of how she got there. Check out Part One, posted last week.

My Long Journey to a Book Contract

Part 2:

In spring 2007, I completed my first mystery novel A Deadly Fall. After five drafts, I prepared to query publishers and agents. The story is set in Calgary and my preference was to publish in Canada.

My preparations began at a Writers Union of Canada one-day presentation on publishing. The presenters offered advice on manuscript submissions and query letters and a list of reputable Canadian agents. At home, I checked the agents’ websites and found a half dozen who were receptive to both unsolicited submissions and mystery genre books. I got my list of potential publishers from the Crime Writers of Canada website. That spring, they listed all the books submitted for the Arthur Ellis Awards, with authors’ and publishers’ names.

Large Canadian presses don’t have submission guidelines on their websites, since they don’t officially accept unsolicited submissions. They also don’t mention their editors’ names, probably so they won’t be flooded with queries from aspiring writers. The WU presenters said the big presses secretly comb the slush pile, not wanting to miss the next hot thing. They recommended sending a query letter and the novel’s first three chapters to the appropriate editor. I found those editors by going to the library and bookstores and studying the acknowledgements in the Arthur Ellis nominees’ books.

Small Canadian presses generally welcome submissions and post guidelines on their websites. Typically, they want a synopsis and the first few chapters, although some request the entire manuscript from the start.

My next step was to draft a query letter. People say this letter is vitally important. I modelled mine on the WU presenters’ sample, ran it by friends and scrutinized every word.

In June, 2007, I mailed my first batch of queries – to five large or medium-sized Canadian publishers and one agent. Three weeks later I received a request for the full manuscript from the agent. Wow. I was on my way. Four months later the agent sent an encouraging letter rejecting my novel. She liked the book, but felt new mystery writers were too hard a sell and had a few problems with my story. Her critique led me to make another, minor, revision before sending out more submissions.

I continued querying agents and publishers in batches and received form rejections and rejections with positive comments. Many publishers and agents did not reply. A second agent asked for the manuscript. She also liked the book but felt Canadian publishers weren’t buying mysteries from new authors. I entered unpublished mystery novel contests and didn’t place. I discovered more possible publishers through sources like Quill and Quire magazine. In July-Aug, 2008, I queried my 14th to 17th publishers. In November, one of them requested my manuscript – my first publisher’s request after almost a year and half of querying. In January, 2009, I got a request from Publisher Number 17, TouchWood Editions.

Statistically, publisher’s requests have about a 10 percent chance of leading to a contract. During the coming months, I queried 10 more publishers, knowing some were extreme long-shots. I sent e-mail follow-ups to the publishers who had my manuscript. An editor I’d sent it to unsolicited said he was passing it along to his publisher. I had a third faint hope.

In January 2010, I received an e-mail from Ruth Linka, the publisher of TouchWood Editions. She asked if my novel was still available and said she wanted to give the manuscript to another reader. I was too afraid to hope and knew my novel could go down to a final meeting, where it would be passed over for someone else’s.

I felt I was down to the wire with Canadian presses. I had tried all the ones I knew of that might conceivably publish my mystery novel - 26 in total. I expected to know by spring if my three hopes would fall through and came up with a Plan B: Revise the novel and try the US and British market. I was not looking forward to this.

In March, I went to Australia on holiday. Three days after I left, Ruth Linka called my home. The following week she e-mailed, asking for a convenient time to phone me. It took a week for me to get these messages and longer to find a suitable time to phone her from Australia. She made an offer to publish my novel. I was thrilled to say yes.

Back home, it all seems to be happening so quickly. I signed the contract with TouchWood this week. Next week, Ruth will put me in e-mail touch with my editor and in-house promotions person. I’ll be spending the summer editing and the year after that gearing up for the book launch.

It has been a long, hard eighteen years that don’t feel so bad now that they’re over. There were many times I felt like quitting, felt my writing didn’t measure up and felt I’d never get here. What kept me going, I think, is that I enjoy the writing process. I like sitting in my room making up stories. I like going over and over them to develop their meaning and make them come across to others. I like learning techniques to make my writing and stories better.

I also enjoy the social aspect – attending writing group sessions and gatherings and classes, meeting fellow writers and making new friends.

Now, I’ll enjoy the social part of giving readings, presenting at festivals and conferences and, I hope, connecting my stories to readers.

Susan Calder
Author of "A Deadly Fall"
coming in 2011 from TouchWood

My Long Journey to a Book Contract

2010-05-06T19:15:00.000-07:00

INK member, Susan Calder, signed her first book publishing contract this week for her mystery novel A Deadly Fall. Here is Part One of her story of how she got there. Tune in to Part Two next week

Part 1:

Nineteen years ago, I decided to become a writer. Aside from letters and term papers, I hadn’t written anything since high school. I plunged into a semi-autobiographical novel I expected to finish in a few months. Within a few years, I knew it would hit the bestseller lists.

It didn’t work out that way.

I quickly realized I had a lot to learn about writing and enrolled in Concordia University continuing education courses in Creative Writing and Magazine Writing. For the latter, we had to write an article and query letter targeted to a magazine or newspaper. At the time, I was living in Montreal and was an avid reader of The Montreal Gazette newspaper travel section. I wrote a travel piece about the Calgary Stampede, which I had visited the previous summer, and sent my query to The Gazette travel editor.

I sweated his reply. Two months passed. Why was he taking so long? One night, while I was at a school parent committee meeting, the editor phoned. He wanted to publish my article. I couldn’t stop smiling for a week. This writing-thing had been the right choice. It was going to be easy.

I queried magazines with other travel article ideas. And received rejections. I wrote a short story and sent it to a literary magazine. Rejected. I started two murder mystery novels and abandoned them after a couple of chapters.

A short story I started morphed into a novel. A year later I had a first draft – 1,000 pages. Even I could see that was a tad long for a first book. I ruthlessly cut it in half.

My husband’s job transfer took me to Calgary, where I discovered a thriving writing community. I joined the Calgary Writers’ Association (now defunct) and the Alexandra Writers’ Centre Society, where I took courses and later served as president. I became a member of the Writers’ Guild of Alberta and Mystery Writers’ INK. All of these groups taught me much about the writing craft, offered tips on getting publishing and brought me into contact with fellow writers. Many have offered support and advice over the years and become valued friends.

All this time, I worked on my novel in workshops, classes and critique groups. I radically revised it, polished it up and sent it out to the publishing world.

No one was interested.

Discouraged, I turned to short stories, which I could finish in a much shorter period. My plan was to publish some for recognition and a feeling of accomplishment. The plan worked, albeit slowly. I kept sending my stories out, receiving rejections, sending them elsewhere. Gradually a number were accepted. Each acceptance gave me a mental boost. My story credits lead to an offer to teach writing courses at the Alexandra Writers’ Centre, an activity I thoroughly enjoy. They also provided a track record that became a selling point down the road when I queried publishers about my murder mystery novel.

I started the mystery novel in the fall of 2003 and finished the first draft by Christmas. The following summer I brought the first two chapters to a one week workshop with author Fred Stenson at the Alexandra Writers’ Centre. Fred and the class attacked my work. I wound up with a tighter, much improved opening. A fall novel course at the AWCS with author Eileen Coughlan gave me direction for the rest of the book. I wrote the second draft and took a few middle chapters to The Sage Hill Writing Experience Fiction Workshop with Steven Galloway, a literary writer who believes in the importance of plot. My Sage Hill critiques propelled me into draft number three. When I finished it, I considered beginning queries, but something about the book didn’t feel right. I registered for a Booming Ground online mentorship with Lawrence Hill, another author who values plot. After a gruelling year of work I had the book I wanted. I did a fifth draft based on comments by Hill and friends who had read the manuscript. I was ready to query agents and publishers.

[end of Part 1 - watch for Part 2 next week]

The 2010 Derringer Awards

2010-05-05T23:01:00.000-07:00

The Short Mystery Fiction Society is pleased to announce the winners of the 2010 Derringer Awards for the categories of:

Flash Fiction (1,000 words or less) :

"And Here's to You, Mrs.Edwardson," by Hamilton Waymire.
This appeared in Big Pulp .

Short Fiction (1,001 to 4,000 words):

"Twas the Night" by Anita Page.
This appeared in the Gift of Murder anthology.

Long Fiction (4,001 to 8,000 words):

"Famous Last Words" by Doug Allyn.
This appeared in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine.

Novelette (8,001+ words):

"Julius Katz" by Dave Zeltserman.
This appeared in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine.

Golden Derringer (for lifetime contributions to the field short mystery fiction):

Lawrence Block

Stories eligible for the Derringers must have appeared in a recognized paper or online publication during the previous year. Panels of judges for each category complile a short list from among all nominees, from which member voting determines the winners.

Book Review: The Art of War for Writers by James Scott Bell

2010-05-05T10:12:00.000-07:00

The Art of War for Writers by James Scott Bell
$17.99, Writers Digest Books, 2009
--Reviewed by Anne Jayne

About 2400 years ago, Sun Tzu, a Chinesse general, recorded his advice for the battlefield. The Art of War is a field manual covering tactics and strategies for winning battles, and wars.

James Scott Bell is a contemporary novelist, as well as being the author of two books on writing. Inspired by Sun Tzu's work, Bell wrote The Art of War for Writers. It is a compact little book (suitable for carrying in your field jacket pocket) that covers reconnaissance, tactics, and strategy for writers.

He describes his objective for writing this book thus:

"What I want to do with this collection is offer you some helpful observations based on more than twenty years in the fiction writing game. This is not a comprehensive 'how to' on fiction. I've written two other books in that form. rather, I see to fill in some 'cracks' in what is normally taught in writing books and classes."

I think he's achieved his goal. Each of the chapters is short, but punchy. While I was already familiar with some of the advice he offers, I also found great ideas that were new to me. I've implemented some of those great new ideas already.

Bell often illustrates his points with anecdotes. From these I learned, among other things, that a writer should not try to pitch his or her book to an editor who is giving birth to her daughter. Nor should a writer literally get down on her knees to beg an agent to accept her as a client. Desperation does not win the hearts and minds of editors or writers.

The book has three parts: reconnaissance, tactics, and strategy.

Reconnaissance: Bell talks about the fundamental principles of establishing a successful writing life.

Tactics: By this stage, you're in the midst of writing your novel, or perhaps you've finished the first draft. Here, Bell offers pithy words of advice on how to make your novel better. Characters. Plot. Comedy. Pacing. Suspense. (And more.)

Strategy: With your novel finished, and polished up, it is time to attend to the business of writing. Bell offers advice on agents, editors, and publishers; on writers' conferences and elevators; on cover letters and synopses; and on criticism.

As already noted, this is a compact book: three parts, seventy-seven chapters, 259 pages.

This isn't the book that will teach an aspiring writer everything he or she wants to know about the craft of writing, or the business of writing. However, I bet that most writers, aspiring or experienced, will discover some new ideas, some inspiring (or funny) anecdotes, and some great quotations on the writing life within the pages of the book.

Contests and Submissions

2010-05-04T22:25:00.000-07:00

Anthology Submissions on a Military theme

The Times/Chicken House Children's Fiction Competition 2011

Writers' Police Academy Novel Writing Contest

Love is Murder 2011 Short Story Contest

Resources for Writers

2010-05-04T21:45:00.000-07:00

Ever wondered what an FBI agent earns?

"Writers who are actually ready for agent submission have mastered the art of seamlessly integrating back story and relevant character details into a plot that moves the story forward."
Denver, Colorado Lit agent Kristin Nelson on her blog "Pub Rants"

Two big reasons why good writers' submissions don't land them an agent

Twitter for Authors: a Primer

Writing Classes, Workshops, Readings

2010-05-04T21:29:00.000-07:00

Novel Weekend with Gail Bowen in Muenster, Saskatchewan

Travel Writing Workshop with Marcello Di Cintio
June 5th at Memorial Park Library, Calgary

Anthony Bidulka, author of the very popular Russel Quant PI series set in Saskatoon
Saskatchewan Festival of Words in Moose Jaw

FLYWHEEL:
Hear local poets the first Thursday of each month at Pages Books on Kensington
Next: Thursday May 6th at 7:30pm Kevin Stebner, Preet Gill, Bernadette Wagner

May 13th Meeting

2010-05-04T21:23:00.000-07:00

May 13th Meeting at Owl's Nest Books, Britannia Plaza, 49th St & Elbow Drive SW

Speaker: Judith Duthie, Manager of Owl's Nest Books, will discuss promoting your book: things to do before, during and after publication of your first novel, including exercises in how to hand-sell your book to booksellers. Short blurb-writing exercises will also occur if time permits.

Mystery Writers Ink Special Meeting (same night as above):

If you did not receive your email with notice of bylaw changes last month, please check your spam folder and then, if you still don't have it, email info@mysterywritersink.com with 'bylaws' in the subject line for a re-send. We will be voting on May 13th.

Arthur Ellis Awards Shortlist Announced

2010-04-22T22:53:00.000-07:00

Best Crime Novel
Anthony Bidulka – Aloha, Candy Hearts (Insomniac Press)
R.J. Harlick – Arctic Blue Death (RendezVous Crime)
Lee Lamothe – The Finger’s Twist (Ravenstone)
James W. Nichol – Death Spiral (McArthur & Co.)
Howard Shrier – High Chicago (Vintage Canada/Random House)

Best First Crime Novel
Alan Bradley – The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie (Doubleday Canada)
Elizabeth Duncan – The Cold Light of Mourning (Minotaur Books)
C.B. Forrest – Weight of Stones (RendezVous Crime)
Eugene Meese – A Magpie’s Smile (NeWest Press)
Dennis Richard Murphy – Darkness at the Break of Dawn (Harper Collins)

Best French Crime Book
Genevieve Lefebvre – Je compte les morts (Groupe Librex)
Jean Lemieux – Le mort du chemin des Arsene (la courtee échelle)
Jean-Jacques Pelletier – La Faim de la Terre 1 & 2 (Éditions Alire Inc.)
Diane Vincent – Peaux de chagrins (Les Editions Triptyques)

Best Juvenile Crime Book
Barbara Hayworth Attard – Haunted (HarperCollins)
Vicki Grant – Not Suitable for Family Viewing (HarperCollins)
Norah McClintock – Homicide Related: a Ryan Dooley Mystery (Red Deer Press)
Arthur Slade – The Hunchback Assignments (HarperCollins)
Tim Wynne-Jones – The Uninvited (Candlewick)

Best Crime Nonfiction
Patrick Brode – The Slasher Killings (Painted Turtle Press)
Alex Caine – The Fat Mexican (Random House of Canada)
Terry Gould – Murder Without Borders (Random House of Canada)
Robert Remington and Sherri Zickefoose – Runaway Devil (McClelland)
Jon Wells – Postmortem (John Wiley & Sons)

Best Crime Short Story
Rick Mofina – Backup (Ottawa Magazine)
Dennis Richard Murphy – Prisoner in Paradise (Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine
James Petrin – Nothing is Easy (Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine)
Twist Phelan – Time Will Tell (“The Prosecution Rests” by Little Brown)
James Powell – Clowntown Pajamas ((Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine)

Best Unpublished First Crime Novel – Unhanged Arthur
Pam Barnsley – This Cage of Bones
Deryn Collier – Confined Space
Gloria Ferris – Corpse Flower
Blair Hemstock – Bait of Pleasure
Peter Kirby – Putting Them Down

April Announcements

2010-04-20T20:03:00.000-07:00

May 13th Meeting Advance Info:
Judith Duthie, Manager of Owl's Nest Books, will discuss promoting your book: things to do before, during and after publication of your first novel (with emphasis on good author-bookseller relations). Short writing exercises included.

Mystery Writers Ink Special Meeting (same night as above): If you did not receive your email with notice of bylaw changes last week, please check your spam folder and then, if you still don't have it, email info@mysterywritersink.com with 'bylaws' in the subject line for a re-send. We will be voting on May 13th.

Alberta Literary Awards Nomination Night
Friday, April 30, 2010 - 7 p.m.
100 Wines store
1109 Olympic Way SE, Calgary

Free admission & open to the public

As a prelude to this year's Alberta Literary Awards Gala—come out and raise your glasses to the 2010 nominated authors at Calgary's exquisite 100 Wines. The celebration will feature a complimentary wine tasting and tapas (tasty!), wine and literary pairings (fun!), a series of slam readings (entertainment!), book sales courtesy of Owl’s Nest Books, and an opportunity to relax and socialize with friends. Many of the nominated authors will be available for signings. Readers include Will Ferguson, Lori Hahnel and Lee Kvern among others—check out the full shortlist here

For catering purposes, please RSVP to swarwick@writersguild.ab.ca
(or call the store at 403 452 8820)

Ask an Editor Anything:

First Tuesday of the month at The Blood Red Pencil

Need a second set of eyes on your query letter? Try the Query Shark

Guest Author Jill Edmondson on "Captive Audiences and Book Promotion"

2010-04-19T15:57:00.000-07:00

Captive Audiences and Book Promotion

I’m sure many of the followers of this blog are published or aspiring writers. Like me, you probably read blogs (and countless other sources) about writing and the publishing industry. A common thread in many articles is book promotion. More and more authors are devoting time to marketing and publicizing their mysteries. But I think many of us planned to be writers when we grew up... not marketing wizards.

In many cases, authors are sort of flying blind when it comes to promotion and PR. I’m no different; I’m making it up as I go along. When something seems to work, I keep doing it, and the ideas that go bust get shelved.

One thing I am starting to place a bit more focus on is events with other authors. The idea of “sharing the spotlight” may seem counter-intuitive, but it can actually be very beneficial. You can potentially invite twice (or thrice!) the number of guests to an event, you can draw on each other’s crowds, and it’s nice to have a fellow author support you along the way.

Besides “sharing the spotlight”, the other angle I am focusing on as I promote my novel Blood and Groom is “captive audiences.” Think of how easy it can be for shoppers at a bookstore to whiz right past you. Think also of how limited your chat time with anybody at a retail event can be. Finally, think of all the missed opportunities when you do establish a rapport with a reader but you have no way to maintain contact or to follow up. Bring a “guest book” to all of your events! Pass it around and ask people for their email addresses. You will then have a way to reach your target market instead of passively promoting your novels. Create a mailing list and send out occasional updates or a monthly e-newsletter about your, your book, your character, upcoming events, new titles, reviews and so on.

Here’s a look at some group ideas I have come across or come up with that might work for you:

Themed Readings - Special Occasions: The obvious one here should be Halloween, but there are creative ways to plan events for any time of year. For example, find two or three authors whose mysteries have a “spurned lover” in them. Plan an event called “The Lonely Hearts Club Mystery Night” and schedule the event for Valentine’s Day. Promote the event to singles’ clubs, matchmaking services, or event networks such as Meet Up, Meet In, or Meet Market Adventures.

Readings Based on the Book’s Background: Another idea is if food/cooking/baking is a significant part of your novel, pair up with 1 or 2 other authors who have a similar theme. Offer to visit a cooking school. Many cooking classes end the session with a semi-social dinner they’ve prepared in class. Offer to be the “dinner entertainment.” Or, if your sleuth enjoys a pint of beer, why not arrange an event at your local micro-brewery?

An Evening of Books and Wine: This is not a carbon copy of the beer idea above, and I heard of this event from another source (can’t remember who or where...). The idea is to have a wine and books night with discussion led by a sommelier. A wine bar or a wine club might very well be interested in doing this event with you and some other authors.

The idea is to give the books to the wine steward ahead of time. The sommelier would then plan a wine tasting evening with wines paired with each of the books, not with the character. For example, a light and fun mystery à la Janet Evanovich might suit a Gewürztraminer, while a Spenser novel might match a full-bodied Amarone, and Sherry would be well paired with anything by Agatha Christie. For Blood and Groom, I bet the wine steward would recommend a white Zinfandel.

This kind of event could involve several genres, which could lead to new readers for you.

Schools: First of all, don’t limit yourself to classes in writing mysteries. Look into creative writing classes in general at your local college or university. Aspiring writers are like sponges and will gladly listen to and ask questions of published authors. Again, you could do this with another author or two, which makes it that much more appealing to the teacher and the students. A series of guest speakers attending part of the class adds value to the learner and gives authors a captive audience.

Don’t just look in to post-secondary classes, though. High schools may also welcome guest authors for their composition or English classes. I have an event in the works at the City Adult Learning Centre (where adults can go to get the high school diploma they never completed...). We’re planning to meet with an adult literacy class and our focus is on ‘reading can be fun’ and our angle is on books with a local setting. Again, this is a captive audience and has great word of mouth potential.

Public Institutions and Charities: Events of these sorts are worthwhile for altruistic reasons, sure, but there are many selfish reasons to seek out events with charities or public institutions. You can get a lot of press out of them! Two of my library gigs led to TV interviews (on a local cable show, okay, so it’s not Oprah’s book club...). Most of my library gigs have led to interviews with local papers. A charity event I participated in recently did a lot of local promotion about the fundraiser, including several radio spots. A museum at which I have an upcoming event has sent out tons of media releases. I also swung another cable TV interview out of this.

Many of these kinds of events involved more than one author, so we have the opportunity to connect with new readers. As well, most of these events were of the captive audience nature, so there’s opportunity to build your fan base.

The challenges in marketing a book seem greater and greater just about every day. There are so many types of social media – such as Twitter and Facebook, there’s so much competition, and there are the changing dynamics of the book industry. It seems to me that doing whatever everyone else ISN’T doing may be the way to get noticed.

Jill Edmondson

Ink April Speaker: Author Linda Kupecek

2010-04-06T23:49:00.000-07:00

April 8th, 7 - 9 p.m. at Owl's Nest Books, Brittania Plaza, SW Calgary

Linda will dish on shoes, her debut mystery, the many jobs she held that fed into her writing, shoes, her debut novel, shoes....

Alexandra Writers Announcements

2010-04-06T23:40:00.000-07:00

Instructor Reading and Registration Night

Friday, April 9, 2010 7:30 p.m.

Rose Room (Main Level Alexandra Centre)

922, 9th Ave SE

Calgary, AB

Alexandra Writers Shining Stars

16 April at 19:00 Alexandra Dance Hall

Admission AWCS Members: Free Non-Members: $10

Inksters Shirlee Smith Matheson and Faye Holt are among the authors who will be reading and/or selling their books at this event.

AWCS is now accepting applications for our 2012 Writer in Residence. Please visit our website for more details.

Mystery Writers Ink Master Class with Garry Ryan

2010-04-06T23:13:00.001-07:00

Saturday afternoons April 24, May 1, 8, and 15

[NB: Note the change from an April 17 start date to an April 24 start date; schedule changed due to circumstances beyond our control - we apologize for the inconvenience]

2 - 4:30 p.m. at Louise Riley Library Annex

1904 - 14 Avenue NW

No fee BUT... All participants must come prepared to share 5-10 double-spaced pages of their own mystery fiction and read/comment on the same amount of other people's work.

Bring SIX copies of your work to the first session. The schedule for discussion of works will be decided after Garry has had a chance to look over your submissions.

Paricipants are encouraged to arrange individual swaps of larger works outside of class time.

Your Master Class Committee,

Anne Jayne

Jayne Barnard

Susan Calder Arnold

Debut Mystery Author Linda Kupecek: As Inspired By...

2010-03-18T22:12:00.000-07:00

Deep breath. My debut blog. Should I be inspiring, confessional, funny or soul-searching? Should I rant? Should I riff? Should I rap? Should I gaze at my navel or at my shoes? (Shoes are infinitely preferable, just check out the cover of Deadly Dues and you will totally know what I mean.

I have made a decision. Let's talk mysteries, the first ones I read and the ones I read now, and how they have influenced me. (If I may be so presumptous as to refer to great writers in the same breath as MOI.....)

I read my very first traditional mystery when I was barely a teenager. The book was a black hardcover, Vamp Till Ready, by Terry Rieman. I think my mother had picked it up on a sales table at the old Eaton's store in downtown Calgary. I loved it. I read it again and again, sometimes three times in one year. As a young artist (really young) I reveled in the world of classical and jazz music which was the setting for this book. I adored the strong, savvy first person heroine, Gerda Leedon, a singer with a big heart and a jaded eye. Our home reverberated with opera music and classical piano, and I was agog, at my young age, that there was actually a mystery set in the world of opera. The characters were vividly written. The dialogue was great. Ms. Rieman knew how to make a restaurant or hotel come alive on the page. I especially liked the clarity of the first person dialogue. Of course, at that age, I didn't know this consciously. I just knew I loved the book and wished I could live in that sophisticated world. I had no idea, that years later, the structure of this book might guide me through my first mystery. When I was into the second or third draft of Deadly Dues, feeling slightly befuddled by what I had taken on, I found Vamp Till Ready in my basement, and re-read it in one sitting. It inspired me to focus.

I put mysteries aside for some years, reading non-fiction and drama in university. Then, for a while, I read serious self-help, spiritual books, which were dull as dishwater but made me think I was becoming a wonderful, evolved person, haha. Then I read Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way, and suddenly, the world opened. After months of the morning pages, I roared into a new life as an author with a vengeance.

Somewhere along the way, I picked up a Mary Roberts Rinehart mystery at a garage sale. It was old, it was yellow, it made me sneeze, but I couldn't put it down. I read it in one sitting. It might have been The Circular Staircase. I enjoyed it so much, as a welcome escape into fiction, that I started looking for more Mary Roberts Rinehart. I then found Marjorie Allingham, Ngaio Marsh, and Dorothy L. Sayers. I loved them all, especially A Surfeit of Lampreys. Of course, I had read Agatha Christie, and still enjoy every one, but, finding these new (to me!) authors got me hooked on actively looking for mysteries to read.

I found an old Eric Ambler at a flea market, and was entranced. Wit, suspense, character, in one package. Then I revisited some of my favourite films, The Maltese Falcon, Mask of Demetrious, Laura, and realized they had originated with great detective mystery novels. Of course, I had to go back and read them all. I have a battered copy of Laura, which is falling apart, but which I revere.

As I realized that reading mysteries was a therapeutic exercise, I began discovering more authors. On a library clearance rack, I found two books by an author I had never heard of: Four to Score and High Five by Janet Evanovich. When I laughed out loud in the first paragraph of Four to Score, I knew I was hooked. I remember standing in the hushed Shaganappi Library, hooting, while more serious citizens looked at me askance. I now have every book in the Stephanie Plum series, most of them first editions.

Although it sounds as if I buy books exclusively secondhand, this is not the case. Buying on the cheap allows one to discover new authors without risk, and then one can zoom to the retail bookstore and search for their latest. I buy books from independent bookstores, large chains, and Amazon.ca.

Then I expanded my reach. Elizabeth Peters, so witty, so erudite. I love the Vicky Bliss series, more than the Amelia Peabody. Dorothy Gilman, not the Mrs. Polifax series as much as the stand alones, like The Tightrope Walker (a wonderful mystery set in the world of antiques, with compassion and dry humour) The Nun in the Closet (laughs, with spirituality) and Caravan (which may be less of a traditional mystery, but still has a surprise ending). I laughed out loud when I read K.K. Beck. Then I discovered Jeff Cohen, with his hilarious Double Feature mysteries. And Kerry Greenwood. When I read Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache series, I was stunned: such depth, character, wit. I had met Louise at Wordfest in 2007 (I was at Wordfest with my humour/entertaining book, The Rebel Cook: Entertaining Advice for the Clueless, while she was one of the big stars with her latest mystery. Meeting her was an inspiration.) A playwright friend recommended M.C. Beaton and I was delighted. Sometimes I wanted to box Agatha Raisin on the ears. Other times, I wanted to snort with laughter at such an unreasonably crabby protagonist. My editor, Frances Thorsen, of Chronicles of Crime (a wonderful bookstore in Victoria, B.C.) sent me a copy of Anthony Bidulka's Aloha Candy Hearts, and I became a fan of yet another mystery author: an offbeat hero who is gay, funny, tough, compassionate and who gets the job done. Sharon Wildwind has written a great series about a nurse returning from a tour of Viet Nam. I was sorry to hear she is ending the Pepperhawk series, because I was hooked, there, too. I enjoyed Garry Ryan's The Lucky Elephant Restaurant, and am just about to start another of his mysteries. I recently discovered Lou Allin's mysteries set on Vancouver Island and look forward to finding more. Last week, I read Jeri Westerson's Veil of Lies, and was mesmerized. Love the whole medieval noir concept. Nash Black has a great short story collection, Haints, which was a different genre for me to explore.

How does reading mysteries inform one's creative process? I don't have a definitive answer. I don't know how much I have been influenced by the multitudinous mysteries I have read, except for perhaps having my mind permeated by plot. And this is a good thing, as in my conscious mind, I do not see plotting as one of my strengths. But I am guessing that osmosis has helped me plot, even though I don't always know what I am doing. Strangely, it seems as if the most significant influence was that long ago book, Vamp Til Ready, which affected me so much.

I am pleased (flattered, even) that you might think my words useful. Thanks so much for asking me to contribute. A year ago, I never dreamed that I would have a Lulu Malone mystery series on the go, my very own website and a YouTube book trailer, and be asked to share my thoughts on mystery writing. Go figure.

Perhaps, I might add - that to read and then, to write, is a wondrous gift.

Linda Kupecek

Deadly Dues (TouchWood Editions, 2010)

New Research Links of Interest to Crime Writers

2010-03-18T21:56:00.000-07:00

Lying for DNA - when and how it's legal to obtain a suspect's genetic blueprint

Short video on the interior of a modern Canadian police car

Mapping out the scene of the crime

Classes and Awards Announcements

2010-03-18T21:46:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, April 22nd, from 6:30 to 7:30 pm, there will be an Arthur Ellis Awards short list announced at the W.R. Castell Central Library in downtown Calgary.

Book Publishers Association of Alberta (BPAA) and Writers Guild of Alberta (WGA): Albertan writers and publishers will toast the best in Alberta books with the 2010 Alberta Book Awards Gala on Friday, May 14 in Edmonton. Among the awards at stake will be the inaugural Reader Choice Award. More details on this event will be available soon on the BPAA’s website and the WGA’s website.

Reminder: Ink's Master Class on the Mystery Novel with Garry Ryan

Saturday afternoons - April 17, 24, May 1, 8 - at Louise Reilly Branch in the annex. Free to Ink members but you must register your intent to attend with Anne Jayne or email info@mysterywritersink.com to reserve your seat. You must submit some writing for critique and put your best effort into critique of other participants' writing (minimum and maximum page limits will apply).

Bloody Words 2010 - Toronto Canada's Crime and Mystery Conference May 28-30, 2010

Online Classes of Interest:

Creating a Web Presence for the Techno-Challenged

Understanding Scene: How Goal, Motivation, Conflict and Disaster Factor into it

Review of Writer's Software: Scrivener

2010-03-10T21:15:00.000-08:00

Reviewed by Anne Jayne

Scrivener is a word processing and project management program for writers.

Designed for writers who have projects that require research and structure, including novelists, screenwriters, playwrights, academic writers, journalists, non-fiction writers...

Available: Scrivener at Literature and Latte
Mac OS X 10.4 and higher (including Snow Leopard). No Windows version.
Price: U.S. $39.95 (About $43 Canadian)

If you’re writing a mystery, and you own a Mac, check out Scrivener.

A writer friend who had used Scrivener to write her novel strongly recommended this program to me. I took advantage of the 30-day free trial, and decided to buy it within a week. It is a brilliant program.

Scrivener combines a word processor with project management tools which help writers with outlining, story-boarding, writing, and editing. It was created by a novelist, but its usefulness is not limited to fiction writers.

Scrivener offers an easy way for writers to store all the data gathered along the way—ideas, notes, character information, plans, research material, you name it. All of this material, whether it is text, PDF, audio, video, or photos, can be stored in the “research” section of the Scrivener “binder” for a specific project.

When the writer is ready to outline the manuscript, she can choose either the outliner tool or the index cards and corkboard method. Outlines, drafts, and research materials can be easily brought together with the split screen function.

The snapshot feature allows the writer to save the current version of a document on the screen with one click, in case it is needed later. The writer can then move immediately to editing the draft, knowing that the previous version of the text is still available—as are all the other versions saved before that one.

I highly recommend it. So does David Hewson, who writes the best-selling mysteries featuring Detective Costa. Hewson wrote a testimonial that is on the Scrivener website: “The more I use it, the more I realise it can replace every other application I've adopted over the years for writing books.”

If you take advantage of the 30-day free trial, start with the tutorial, which takes about 30 minutes. That will give you a good overview of what Scrivener can do.

Incidentally, Scrivener is not one of those software programs for writers that tries to tell you what to write. You decide what to write. Scrivener just helps you to manage all of the data you collect when you are working on your book, and all of the drafts, until you complete the final manuscript.

Team Literature and Latte is composed of two Brits: Keith and David.

Keith created Scrivener when he was writing his own novel. David handles marketing and, reportedly, tea-making. Together they set up Literature and Latte, and made Scrivener available to the wider public.

Two industry views on ebook publishing

2010-03-05T02:16:00.000-08:00

New York Times article on ebook pricing

Macmillan ceo John Sargent on ebooks and the agency model of pricing

Ink March 11th Meeting

2010-03-05T01:08:00.000-08:00

Next meeting: 7 pm, March 11, at Owl's Nest Books, 815A 49 Ave SW, Calgary.

Do you set your stories in Canada? If you do, don't miss this speaker.

Every Canadian mystery writer needs to understand how our Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms affects the way that the police and the courts handle criminal cases.

Our speaker on March 11 is the ideal person to guide us through the Charter in the criminal justice system.

Linda McKay-Panos is an Alberta lawyer who started her legal career as a staff lawyer at the Alberta Court of Appeal. She is now the Executive Director of the Alberta Civil Liberties Research Centre. She also teaches courses on civil liberties and human rights at the University of Calgary.

The Charter sets out fundmental principles. As courts decide, case-by-case, how to apply these principles, the rules are clarified.

So what does the Charter cover, when it comes to criminal law? Here are some examples:

- What is a legal search and seizure?
- What happens if the police don't follow the rules when they search someone or someplace?
- In the movies, the police officer might tell someone: "You can talk to us here or we can go downtown." If Canadian police want you to go "downtown" to be questioned, do you have to go?
- What do the police have to do if they want to arrest someone?
- In American movies, the cops "read them their rights"--their Miranda rights, that is ("You have the right to remain silent...."). In Canada, we have Charter rights. What do Canadian police tell someone they're arresting? What are the consequences if they don't get it right?
- What rights does a person have, once arrested?
- Does a person who has just been arrested get just the one call?
- What information does the prosecutor (the Crown) have to give to the accused person before trial? What about the other way around: what does the accused person give to the Crown?
- How does the Charter affect the way that the trial is conducted?
- What happens if the prosecutor or the judge makes a mistake? What are the consequences?

And more! Bring your questions to this meeting.

If you would like to read the sections of the Charter before the meeting Charter Excerpts Here
Look for Legal Rights, sections 7-14.

Calgary Mystery Author Signing

2010-03-05T01:03:00.000-08:00

Mystery author Linda Kupecek will be signing her debut mystery DEADLY DUES (TouchWood)

at Indigo Signal Hill in SW Calgary on Saturday, March 6 from 1-4 p.m.

Contests, Classes, Manuscript Calls

2010-03-05T00:35:00.000-08:00

MARCH 11 DEADLINE:

Postcard Perps 2010: Fatal Family Reunion

MARCH 15 DEADLINE: Mystery Women Short Story Competition 1,000 words, open to unpublished writers only. Full details here

Scene of the Crime Short Story contest. $100 first prize. Mystery/crime etc. open to Canadians who have not previously published in the mystery/crime genre. Full info here

For the crossover writers: Wild Rose Press is seeking romance novellas 25,000 - 64,000 words for e-book-only publication. Submission guidelines here

Sage Hill Summer Adult Experience will take place July 19-29, 2010 in Lumsden. Application deadline is April 19, 2010.

FEMFEST 2010: On the Edge is currently seeking submissions of finished scripts and proposals of work in progress. Subject matter is wide open but our focus this year is ‘edgy’ work that takes risks. The play must be written by a Canadian female playwright and have a running time of no more than one hour. All submissions must be received in the office by April 1st, 2010 Details and link to past Femfests

Five Scribes: No Limit For Better

2010-02-28T03:06:00.000-08:00

Five Scribes: No Limit For Better

Musings on writing

Ten Rules for Writing Fiction

2010-02-22T14:35:00.000-08:00

Ten rules for writing fiction

Get an accountant, abstain from sex and similes, cut, rewrite, then cut and rewrite again – if all else fails, pray. Inspired by Elmore Leonard's 10 Rules of Writing, we asked authors for their personal dos and don'ts

"Remember that all description is an opinion about the world. Find a place to stand." Anne Enright

"It is only by writing, not dreaming about it, that we develop our own style." PD James

From the Guardian Newspaper

! ! ! Inkster Calgary Launch ! ! !

2010-02-19T20:25:00.000-08:00

Amazing Flights & Flyers

by Shirlee Smith Matheson

Sunday, February 28
2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
at the Aero Space Museum
4629 McCall Way NE, Calgary

Bring your invite to the launch and you will receive free admission to the Aero Space Museum Razzzama Jazz will perform big band and swing
music to make it a “really big shew.” Light refreshments will be provided.

Come and meet some of the people whose stories are
featured in the book:

• The “Rev” Hal Tetz, helicopter pilot and engineer who has clocked over 11,000 hours in the air – “9,500 of those hours on rotary, involving lots of sweat time.”

• Jeff and Brenda Collins whose family founded and operated Air Transit Ltd. in Newfoundland, where the weather can differ completely and drastically on three sides of the island at the same time.

• Kenn Borek Air personnel, whose motto “Anytime – Anywhere” sent an intrepid crew on two incredible journeys in mid-winter to the ends of the earth - the dark Antarctic - on life-or-death missions.

• Civil Air Search and Rescue Association (CASARA) people who volunteer their time,
talents and machinery to search for the lost, “so others may live.”

For further information, contact the Aero Space Museum at 403-250-3752
or see their website at Aerospace Museum

Bloody Words 2010

2010-02-19T19:53:00.000-08:00

Bloody Words 2010 - Toronto

Canada's Crime and Mystery Conference May 28-30, 2010

Not only are there will be great author guests and social/networking opportunities, but there's also the Boney Pete Short Story Contest, open only to conference attendees. The deadline for Boney Pete is April 15, 2010

Mystery Writers' Retreat

2010-02-19T19:44:00.000-08:00

Mystery Writers' Retreat

One week. Salt Spring Island. Mysteries. Start writing.

Imagine spending a week with some of Canada’s top mystery writing minds: picking their brains, learning their techniques, and getting the how to’s of writing a successful mystery novel.
In this inaugural residential workshop, some of Canada’s best mystery experts will guide you through the crafting of writing crime fiction. You will work on your own manuscript in progress in one-on-one sessions with faculty advisers and attend group presentations by faculty and guest speakers.

You will be paired with a faculty adviser, who will have seen a sample chapter and outline of your manuscript. The adviser will act as your editor and guide, providing you with daily feedback and work assignments.

Faculty will include authors Gail Bowen & Linda L. Richards, columnist and lecturer Margaret Cannon, and Dinah Forbes, head of McClelland & Stewart's crime fiction program, as well as guest speakers.

More information here

[Rumour has it that not only is Gail headlining the faculty at the Salt Spring Island Mystery Retreat, but she will be writer-in-residence for Calgary Public Libraries next fall. If you can't get to the retreat, you may still submit work and get feedback from Gail then.]]

DEADLINE EXTENDED!!!! Postcard Perps

2010-02-07T20:41:00.000-08:00

POSTCARD PERPS deadline has been extended

to 10 p.m. on March 11th (regular meeting night).

For complete contest rules, see our previous post

Postcard Perps 2010: Fatal Family Reunion

Mystery Writers Ink Meeting on Thursday, February 11

2010-02-07T17:49:00.000-08:00

Mystery Writers Ink Meeting on Thursday, February 11,

7:00 pm. Owl's Nest Bookstore, 815A 49 Ave. SW

Write on the Wing, Feedback on the Fly

Bring your notebook, sharpen your pen, and let your creative spirit soar with a short writing exercise led by Garry Ryan, followed by group feedback session on the in-flight results of anyone who wants to share.

The focus of this sweatshop will be on the integration of character development and dialogue.

Garry will be leading our workshop series on mystery writing his spring. He is the author of three Detective Lane mystery novels, which are set in Calgary. He has taught creative writing for many years at the Calgary Board of Education.

See You Thursday!

Calgary Mystery Writer Launch

2010-02-07T17:41:00.000-08:00

Linda Kupecek, author of Deadly Dues (TouchWood Editions), will be reading

from and signing her book at the launch party on

Thursday, February 18, 7:30 p.m.

Pages Books on Kensington, 1135 Kensington Road N.W., Calgary.

No admission charge. Open to the public.

Wine, cheese, garlic stuffed olives, shoes and more!

Writing- and/or Mystery-related Classes

2010-02-07T17:35:00.000-08:00

MYSTERY WRITERS INK PRESENTS:

4 Sweatshop Sessions with Garry Ryan

The workshop series will be open to all members of Ink, without additional charge. You must submit some writing for critique and put your best effort into critique of other participants' writing (minimum and maximum page limits will apply).

Time: Saturday afternoons, April 17, 24, May 1, 8. Venue: Lousie Riley Library. More details at the meeting!

University of Calgary Extension Winter Session Classes:

WRI 203 Intensive Grammar and Style Clinic
Sat 9:00AM - 12:00PM     6 Feb 2010 to 13 Mar 2010

WRI 210 Travel Writing
Wed 7:00PM - 9:30PM    17 Feb 2010 to 24 Mar 2010

WRI 106 Novel Idea: From Idea To Novel
Sat 9:00AM - 4:00PM       20 Feb 2010 (1 day only)

WRI 211 - 002 Writing and Publishing Your Children's Novel
Sat 9:00AM - 4:00PM      20 Feb 2010 (1 day only)
http://conted.ucalgary.ca/

ONLINE CLASS: Web Design on the Skinny

Do you need a website, but have no clue, and little or no budget? In this four week class Wilburta Arrowood will guide you to free online tools and teach you how to use them so you will have a basic website up in no time.
Story Stew University

ALBERTA PLAYWRIGHTS NETWORK:

Calgary Playwriting Circle with Gordon Pengelly

Are you struggling to complete that next play (or even that first play)? Are you seeking constructive feedback and criticism? Would you benefit from the support and encouragement of your peers? Perhaps a Playwriting Circle, run by APN, is what you're looking for.

Each Playwriting Circle runs one night a week for 8 weeks. You bring the piece you're currently working on, or would like to start working on. You set your own goals for the process.

For more information or to register in an upcoming playwriting circle, contact Johanne Deleeuwor call (403) 269-8564 or toll-free 1-800-268-8564

Looming deadlines: contests and a grant

2010-02-07T17:08:00.000-08:00

THE 2010 DAPHNE DU MAURIER AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN
MYSTERY/SUSPENSE is closer than you think: The Contest begins January 15,
2010 with an eye-blinking deadline of March 15, 2010. Published and unpublished categories.
Further Details Here
Questions to Coordinator Donnell Bell

LESS THAN 30 DAYS LEFT TO SUBMIT YOUR SCRIPT TO THE

ALBERTA PLAYWRITING COMPETITION 2010!!!

Deadline for submission March 1st 2010

Grand Prize $3500

Discover Prize $1500

Full Details Here

BRENDA STRATHERN "LATE BLOOMERS" WRITING PRIZE
Brenda was a native Calgarian who began writing after turning forty. She was a mother of two, and a loving wife. She died prior to publishing any of her work, in her late forties. She would be delighted to know, that with the support of this $ 5000.00 financial award, she would be helping writers accomplish their writing goals.

Brenda Strathern "Late Bloomers" Writing Prize" in pdf

Globe & Mail cancels print edition of Crime Fiction Review

2010-01-24T20:25:00.000-08:00

The Globe & Mail has decided to stop including Margaret Cannon's wonderful Crime Fiction review column in its print edition. Instead they will only publish it online. We believe this will have a detrimental impact on the mystery fiction readership and in particular Canadian crime fiction, since Margaret is one of the few reviewers that does review Canadian works. We believe most people would only read Margaret's column as part of their Saturday perusal of the printed version of the newspaper and would not take that extra step of reading it online. Moreover many readers of mysteries are in their senior years and aren't necessarily nimble with computers and the internet.

If you are a fan of Margaret Cannon's column and don't see yourself taking that extra step, we're asking that you let the Globe & Mail know. You can show your support by joining the facebook group Don't Let the Globe & Mail Bury Canadian Crime Fiction http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=wall&gid=263995427820 and by sending e-mails to the editors, John Stackhouse, jstackhouse@globeandmail.com and Erika Lang, elang@globeandmail.com. Hopefully if enough people let them know they want her column back in the print edition, they will pay attention.

Vertigo Theatre Forensic Friday

2010-01-24T20:16:00.000-08:00

Vertigo Theatre's upcoming production: The Woman In Black

Forensic Friday is an engaging post-show discussion with Vertigo Theatre's Artistic Director Mark Bellamy. Accompanied by a member of the Calgary Police Service, the audience is taken through the forensic "truths" found in each production.

Next Forensic Friday is February 12, 2010.

Ink does not have a block of seats booked but anyone wishing to book along with other Inksters can make their interest known in the comments section of this blog.

Debut Dagger Deadline fast approaching!

2010-01-24T20:07:00.000-08:00

Go on, take a stab at it, send us the opening chapter(s) – up to 3000 words – and a short synopsis of your proposed crime novel, and you could be a published crime writer.

Debut Dagger Deadline is February 6th, 2010

AWCS Killer Thriller

2010-01-24T19:54:00.000-08:00

SEATS STILL AVAILABLE

Weekend Writing Intensives

January 29-31, 2010

How to Write a Killer Thriller with Mike Harrison

This course covers the A to Z of writing a first-class mystery. All great stories take you on a journey and this course shows how to build yours to a shattering climax. It teaches character development from a unique perspective and shows how to keep your story entertaining. It also deals with the pitfalls of over-plotting and answers the writer's nagging questions about descriptive narrative: how much is enough and how much is too much. It's great fun, interactive and you'll learn more than you ever thought possible.

Mike Harrison Is the author of more than half a dozen short stories published in various editions of the Pan Book Of Horror in the UK. Upon moving to Canada he published everything from business profiles, movie reviews, horoscopes, quizzes and circulation building contests for many major Canadian newspapers and various trade magazines including Roger’s Video and Reader’s Digest.

Mike is the author of Mind Your Manors, a stage play that was produced as a dinner theatre piece by the Dewdeny Players, as well as several movie scripts, including The Fifth Rule, that was optioned by a major Hollywood studio.

In the last several years he has written three Eddie Dancer mystery novels, All Shook Up, for which he won a Best First Novel award, Wild Thing, and Ruby Tuesday. Mike was also a runner up in the prestigious Arthur Ellis Awards.

Currently Mike runs Write Away! – a writer’s group in Okotoks, and is writing a non-fiction entitled Witness and a fiction entitled The First Hole. There are another eleven hundred novels in his head.

Put Your Past On Paper with Shirley Serviss

Have you always intended to write your life story "someday"? This workshop will help you discover the story in your life and how to bring it to life on the page. We will also discuss many different ways to present your memoir and some of the difficulties of writing our truth. Come prepared to write and share.

Shirley A. Serviss writes poetry and non-fiction, teaches creative writing and works part-time as a literary Artist on the Wards for the Friends of University Hospitals in Edmonton. She has published three collections of poetry: Model Families, Reading Between the Lines and Hitchhiking in the Hospital (Inkling Press, 2005). She just completed a term as the Writer-in-Residence for the Canadian Authors Association— Alberta Branch and is the former editor of WestWord, the Writers Guild of Alberta member magazine.

Please contact AWCS by phone or email if you wish to register for either of these upcoming weekend intensives.

"To enhance the creative writing experience through learning, community and support."

The Alexandra Writers Centre Society

922, 9th Ave SE, Calgary, AB T2G 0S4

P. 403.264.4730

E. awcs@telusplanet.net

W. www.alexandrawriters.org

FreeFall 20th Anniversary Prose & Poetry Chapbook Contest

2010-01-24T19:42:00.000-08:00

Get your work published here in Calgary

(click on underlined words for live links to the original websites)

FYI - January Speaker's contact info

2010-01-20T19:15:00.000-08:00

The speaker at our January meeting was Cpl. Lloyd Schoepp, in the Commercial Crime Section of the RCMP. He is attached to the International Anti-Corruption Unit. He said he would be willing to field questions from INK members. If you're working on a plot that includes an element of commercial crime--he's the expert you're looking for!

For obvious reasons we don't want to post his phone number or email address out in public. If Ink members want his contact information, email info@mysterywritersink.com and we'll send it out to you.

New England Crime Bake Short Fiction Contest

2010-01-20T19:11:00.000-08:00

The Al Blanchard Awards Committee of the New England Crime Bake is currently accepting submissions for the 2010 contest.

Your entry should be a crime story by a New England author or with a New England setting, previously unpublished (in print or electronically), no more than 5,000 words in length, and may include the following genres: mystery, thriller, suspense, caper, and horror (no torture or killing of children or animals.) We will accept two submissions per author, and are willing to look at a previous submission, provided we have only read it once before. For New England authors, it´s fine to submit the same story to both the contest and the current Level Best Books´ anthology.

The prize includes: a $100 cash award, publication in Level Best Books´ Crime Fiction anthology for 2010, admission to the Crime Bake contest, and a handsome plaque. The award is presented at the Crime Bake conference in November, but the winner is not required to attend the conference.

There is no entry free, and the deadline for submission is April 30, 2010. For details on how to submit, visit the crime bake website:

www.crimebake.org