Do you keep getting in trouble because of your insatiable need to make
up stories? Use your talents for good instead of evil and write those
stories down. Then enter them in our short story contest. Open to all
members of CCW and everyone living in Ottawa and the National Capital
Region. Deadline is April 2, 2024. Click here for more details.
It is with great sadness that we share the news that long time member of Capital Crime Writers, Jim Napier, passed away on December 23. He was the author of the Colin McDermott series, and a crime fiction reviewer. A talented writer and a dedicated friend to many.
If you would like to leave a message for the family or share some of your memories of Jim, please visit the Elkas Funeral Home site.
Congratulations to the top 5 finalists in the 2020/2021 Audrey Jessup story contest.
Listed in random order are;
Join us on Zoom on June 9th, as we announce the winners. This is the last meeting before we break for the summer and what better way to end the year than with readings from our finalists and the chance to socialize with each other. Don’t forget to bring a glass of wine, or cup of tea to toast our authors. The Zoom link will be sent to the contest entrants and to all members of CCW. Anyone who would like to join us and cheer on the finalists; please contact: treasurer@capitalcrimewriters.com for the Zoom link.
Juggling Writing Three Books A Year: Edith Maxwell – May 12 at 7:00 pm
Edith Maxwell is under contract for three books a year in three different series. She’ll talk about how she juggles her writing obligations, which also include one or two short stories a year, with all the other business of being an author – oh, and with having a personal life, too. And she has a particular fondness for Ottawa, as her sister is a long-time resident of city.
Agatha Award-winning author Edith Maxwell writes the Quaker Midwife Mysteries, the Local Foods Mysteries, and short crime fiction. As Maddie Day she pens the Country Store Mysteries and Cozy Capers Book Group Mysteries. A past president of SinC New England, she’s a member of Mystery Writers of America and a lifetime member of Sisters in Crime. Maxwell lives with her beau and energetic kitten north of Boston, where she writes, gardens, cooks, and wastes time on Facebook. Find her (and Maddie) at EdithMaxwell.com, wickedauthors.com, Mystery Lovers’ Kitchen, and on social media.
Great Beginnings: Hank Phillippi Ryan – January 13 at 7:00 pm.
You know the great opening lines: Ishmael, Manderley, the last camel. Why do those work? And how can you create one for your own novel? And then–what about that crucial first paragraph? And a first page that will entice editors and enchant readers? How can you set the proper expectations for the story to come—and make every word work?
This workshop, led by award-winning thriller writer Hank Phillippi Ryan, will dissect and analyze acclaimed first lines and opening paragraphs, and reveal the writing secrets these brilliant examples offer. If you are brave enough–please bring your own first line!
HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN is the USA Today bestselling author of 12 thrillers, winning five Agathas and the Mary Higgins Clark Award, and 37 EMMYs for TV investigative reporting. THE MURDER LIST (2019) won the Anthony Award for Best Novel, and is an Agatha, Macavity and Mary Higgins Clark Award nominee. Her newest psychological standalone is THE FIRST TO LIE. The Publishers Weekly starred review says “Stellar. Ryan could win her sixth Agatha with this one.”
More information can be found at her website.
My road to publication: Katie Tallo – December 9 at 7:00 pm
Ottawa author Katie Tallo’s debut novel, Dark August, was published in June 2020 by Harper Collins. Glowing reviews of the book have appeared in the New York Times, the Toronto Star, and on CBC Radio among others. CrimeReads, Booklist, and Publishers Weekly have recommended it highly. Amazon labels it an “international bestseller.”
Tallo already had an established career as a screenwriter, but getting published as a novelist was a different challenge. She’ll be describing the hurdles she faced along the road, and how she overcame them.
There will be a draw for a free autographed copy of her book which will be open to all members attending the meeting.
You can find out more information about Katie at her website: https://katietallo.com
Crime Writers of Canada’s prestigious Arthur Ellis Award for Crime Writing has been renamed the Crime Writers of Canada Award of Excellence.
The annual award for the crime writing genre includes, crime, detective, espionage, mystery, suspense and thriller as well as true-crime literary works. The award was originally named for the nom de travail of Canada’s hangman, Arthur Ellis; the award was a wooden statuette of a hanged man. But, it was time to update the award, especially in light of the changes in the world, and the award has been renamed – Crime Writers of Canada’s Award of Excellence.
For more information, visit https://crimewriterscanada.com/
Our next meeting, “Poisons as Murder Weapons” will be on October 14, 2020 at 7:00 pm.
Dwayne Clayden combines his knowledge and experience as a police officer and paramedic to write crime thrillers. He is the best-selling author of the Brad Coulter Series. The 5th book in the series will be released in 2021. His new series, Speargrass-Opiod is available for pre-order from Kindle.
He is a popular speaker at conferences and to writing groups presenting on realistic police, medical and paramedic procedures. And we’re honoured to have him. Check out his website.
Dwayne’s books are available from: Kobo and Amazon.
As a reminder, due to COVID-19 and the need to maintain physical distancing, CCW will not be having in-person meetings until further notice. Instead we will be going on-line. Members will be emailed the Zoom link to join the meeting each month. If you’d like to check us out before joining, you can attend one meeting for free. Please email treasurer@capitalcrimewriters.com for the link.
The September 9th meeting began with the election of our executive.
President – Elizabeth Hosang
Programming – Lis Angus (assistant)
Communications – Linda Standing
Webmaster – David Koren and Elizabeth Hosang
Treasurer – Madona Skaff
Short Story Contest – Madona Skaff and Jim Napier
Due to COVID-19 and the need to maintain safe physical distancing, CCW is unable to have our end of year dinner to announce the results of the Audrey Jessup writing contest and socialize. But rather than end on a low note, we’ve decided to celebrate virtually, using Zoom.
DATE: Wednesday, June 17, 2020 at 7:00 pm, EST.
There’ll be readings and wine. Our contest finalists will provide the readings, you will provide your own wine (or beverage of choice).
If you’re interested in attending, please RSVP to madonaskaff@gmail.com, and the Zoom link will be sent to you.