LATE BLOOMING: Finding Success Later in a Writing Career by Amy Tector—Wednesday September 13th, 2023 at 7 pm (EST).

Amy Tector will discuss her long experience with rejection, finding a publisher without an agent and the power of her critiquing group to keep her going.

Amy Tector is a 2023 Crime Writers of Canada Finalist for her novel, THE FOULEST THINGS, the first in her Dominion Archives Mystery series. Amy’s standalone novel, THE HONEYBEE EMERALDS, is set in Paris and follows the adventures of courtesans, jewellers and spies. When not writing, Amy works at Library and Archives Canada and lives in Ottawa with her husband, daughter and dog.

Finding Your Path to Publication: Judy Penz Sheluk – Wednesday, May 10, 7 pm.

The road to publishing is paved with good intentions…and horror stories of authors who had to learn the hard way. Judy’s new book, Finding Your Path to Publication, explores the ins & outs of five paths to publication:

·         Traditional (Big 5)

·         Independent Publishers (Micro, Small, Medium, Large)

·         Hybrid/Assisted

·         Self-publishing

·         Social publishing (Wattpad, Inkitt, etc.)

Whether you’re an aspiring author, a published author considering alternative options, or merely curious, you’ll learn tips on getting ready, understanding royalties and contracts, advertising & promotion, and more. All attendees will receive a PDF with links to Additional Resources.

A former journalist and magazine editor, Judy Penz Sheluk is the bestselling author of two mystery series: The Glass Dolphin Mysteries and Marketville Mysteries, both of which have been published in multiple languages. Her short crime fiction appears in several collections, including the Superior Shores Anthologies, which she also edited.

Judy is a member of the Independent Book Publishers Association, Sisters in Crime, International Thriller Writers, the Short Mystery Fiction Society, and Crime Writers of Canada, where she served on the Board of Directors for five years, the final two as Chair. She lives on the shores of Lake Superior in Northern Ontario. Find her at www.judypenzsheluk.com.

The Muddle in the Middle: Hank Phillippi Ryan — Wednesday, April 19, 7 pm EDT (Note that this meeting is one week later in the month than usual).

Your fingers are poised over the keyboard. You have a rocking first act to your novel, and you even have an idea of how to end your story with a twist and a bang and a shot at certain bestsellerdom. But now what? You’ve hit 36,000 words—how are you going to get from that great beginning to the kickass ending? You’ve hit the muddle in the middle. But USA Today best-selling author Hank Phillippi Ryan will show you how these central pages can be crafted to intrigue, surprise and delight your readers—and have them turning the pages as fast as they can. Never fear—with practical advice and specific tips, Hank will show you the way to the magic in the middle.

Hank Phillippi Ryan is the author of 14 thrillers, winning five Agathas, five Anthonys, the coveted Mary Higgins Clark Award, and 37 EMMYs for her television investigative reporting. National book critics call her “a superb and gifted storyteller;” she’s the only author to win the Agatha in four categories: Best First, Best Novel, Best Short Story and Best Non-Fiction. Her newest is the page-turning standalone thriller THE HOUSE GUEST, released in February 2023. A story of psychological manipulation exploring the dark heart of marriage and friendship, it’s Gaslight meets Thelma & Louise. Publishers Weekly says, “Ryan is a master of suspense!” The Library Journal starred review calls it “Binge-worthy.”

Why and How to Sell Your Next Book on Kickstarter: Kelly Brakenhoff/Melissa Yi —Wednesday, March 8

What if you could earn money before your books are even launched on regular sales platforms? In 2022, Kelly Brakenhoff ran her first two Kickstarter campaigns. Both lasted 17 days and made US$2,500 each. Those campaigns were in the sparsely tested children’s picture book genre, but her experiences convinced her to work Kickstarter campaigns into the publishing schedule for future releases, including her upcoming cozy mystery.

Kelly Brakenhoff is an author of seven books and an ASL interpreter. She divides her writing energy between two series: cozy mysteries set on a college campus, and picture books featuring Duke the Deaf Dog. Parents, kids, and teachers love the children’s books and activity books because they teach American Sign Language using fun stories. And if you like a smart female sleuth, want to learn more about Deaf culture, or have ever lived in a place where livestock outnumber people, you’ll enjoy the Cassandra Sato Mystery series. The mother of four young adults and a hunting dog, and grandma to a growing brood of perfectly behaved grandkids, Kelly and her husband call Nebraska home.

Melissa Yi is an emergency physician in Alexandria, ON, and is also an award-winning writer. Her thriller series featuring Dr. Hope Sze has been recommended by The Globe and Mail, CBC Books, and The Next Chapter. Under the name Melissa Yuan-Innes, she also writes medical humour and has won speculative fiction awards. She recently ran a successful Kickstarter campaign to launch her newest crime novel, The Shapes of Wrath, released February 2023

The Gory Details of Forensic Science: Erika Engelhaupt — Wednesday February 8, 7 pm EST

Science journalist Erika Engelhaupt will talk about some of the most fascinating stories she has investigated, including the mystery of disembodied floating feet washing ashore in British Columbia, the strange and surprising science of blowflies (the first visitors to show up at a crime scene), and the gross but fascinating question: Would your dog eat you if you died? She’ll also discuss the emerging science of transfer DNA, or “touch DNA,” which has started to turn up as evidence in criminal cases, including possibly the recent murders in Moscow, Idaho.

Erika Engelhaupt is a freelance science writer and editor, formerly online science editor at National Geographic in Washington, DC. She writes about all kinds of gross, taboo, and morbid science subjects, including forensic science. Her book, GORY DETAILS: Adventures from the Dark Side of Science, explores oft-ignored but intriguing facets of biology, anatomy, space exploration, nature, and more. She lives in Knoxville, TN, with her husband and two cats. Find out more about her at https://erikaengelhaupt.com/

Bog Bodies: From Lab to Literature: Cate Moyle — Wednesday January 11, 7 pm EST.  

Cate will explain the somewhat macabre phenomenon of bog bodies—human cadavers that have been naturally mummified in peat bogs. Call them moors or bogs, they are one of the strangest ecosystems on earth, and the corpses lifted from within inspire our awe and curiosity. She will share her research on bog bodies, layered deep with forensics, and discuss examples of the mysterious bog body in works of literature.

Catherine (Cate) Moore is a college professor, author, and poet. She writes in her favorite genre—mystery—under the pen name Cate Moyle.  A member of the Middle Tennessee chapter of Sisters in Crime, her mystery stories have won numerous recognitions, including the latest as a Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Award finalist. Her  recent works appear in Mystery Tribune and Bowery Gothic, and is forthcoming in Crimeucopia. She is also an award-winning poet, having been published in literary journals from The Southeast Review to Wicked Alice. Find her on the web (and socials) at https://catemoylepens.weebly.com/

On December 14, Capital Crime Writers had its first in-person event since 2019. Our dinner speaker was Brenda Chapman, who gave an interesting talk about how do you know you’ve made it as a writer. An audio recording of her talk is on the Members Only Section of the CCW website.

Happy holidays and see you in the New Year when our meetings will continue on Zoom.