November 2026 Meeting

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Everything You Need To Know To Write Your Novel – In One Hour with Hank Phillippi Ryan on November 11, 2026 at 7 pm

Full disclosure: actually writing it is going to take longer than that. But if the question is: can USA Today bestselling thriller author Hank Phillippi Ryan show me exactly how to take my idea for a crime fiction novel and turn it into a living breathing book? Yes, indeed. You’ll need talent, and persistence, and craft. And some magic. But in this fast-paced high-intensity class, suitable for any genre, Hank will give you a structure, a template, an architecture-exactly what you need to help you structure your idea and grow it into the novel it is meant to be. You’ll leave this class with a personal plan for your book, a list of absolute necessities, and even some inspiration.

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN is the USA Today bestselling author of 17 thrillers, including THE MURDER LIST and ONE WRONG WORD. Her newest is MOTHER DAUGHTER SISTER STRANGER from Minotaur Books, which Lisa Scottoline calls “Riveting!” and Mary Kubica says, “readers will devour this in one sitting!” Her thriller ALL THIS COULD BE YOURS is an instant USA Today bestseller, the 2026 Mary Higgins Clark Award winner, and nominated for the 2026 Anthony and Macavity Awards for Best Novel. Hank has won every major award in the mystery genre, with her thrillers translated into multiple languages worldwide. Her fiction is inspired by a lifetime of investigating true crime during her storied career as an on-air reporter for Boston’s WHDH-TV, where she was awarded multiple honors for her groundbreaking journalism, including an unprecedented 37 Emmy Awards. Her work has resulted in new laws, people sent to prison, homes removed from foreclosure, and millions of dollars in refunds and restitution for victims. A TedX speaker and in-demand literary moderator, national reviewers call her a “a superb and gifted storyteller. ” Hank was a founding teacher at Mystery Writers of America University, and the past president of national Sisters in Crime. She’s co-host of The Back Room, and host of CRIME TIME on A Mighty Blaze. A Chicago native with roots in Indianapolis, Ryan lives in Boston with her husband, a nationally renowned civil rights and criminal defense attorney. Follow Hank: HankPhillippiRyan.com, @hankpryan on Instagram, and on Facebook HankPhillippiRyanAuthor.

A Capital Mystery, volume 2 Launched Last Week!

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It is available now in bookstores across Ottawa and on Amazon. 23 mystery stories from Ottawa. A special congratulations to the 14 Capital Crime Writers members who are part of the anthology!

Here are some photos from launch week:

CBC Radio Interview: Left to right: members Maya Valenzuela, Kim Blanche and Mike Martin, September 16, 2026

A group of A Capital Mystery, volume 2 authors including co-editor Bernadette Cox, with Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, September 16, 2026

Launch party at Metropolitain Brasserie Restaurant in Ottawa, September 17, 2026. A great night of author panels and authors reading excerpts from their stories.

From CTV Ottawa Morning Live, September 18, 2026: Early birds, members Maya Valenzuela and Jennifer Jorgensen were a joy to watch. Good job!

October 2026 Meeting

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How To Make Your Story A Little More Interesting: Writing About Police Misconduct Investigations with Art Pittman, on Wednesday, October 14, 2026 at 7 pm

Police procedurals often explore the impact of police bureaucracy, and professional standards, on police officers. Nothing could be more dramatic than an active police misconduct investigation involving one of your main characters. How would that investigation be conducted? How would it effect police officers who are the subject of the investigation, or work with officers who are under investigation? What would the outcome of the internal investigation be?

Art is a published author (three police procedural short stories), and a member of Capital Crime Writers, with a passion for reading and writing mystery fiction. He is a graduate of Carleton University and Osgoode Hall Law School, and a retired police officer. His 32-year career in the RCMP included conducting internal investigations, serving as a discipline-reviewer for misconduct cases, serving as legal counsel for discipline hearings, and working as the Appeals Adjudicator for decisions involving discipline and/or discharge proceedings.

Art Pittman's Photo
A smiling Art Pittman is sitting in his office with an open book on his lap

September 2026 Meeting

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Beyond the Book: Making Some Noise
Creative ways to get your writing noticed, build buzz and connect with readers

Writing the story is only part of the journey. How do you get people to notice it—and, better yet, talk about it?

In this practical and engaging session, Alexis St-Cyr will explore creative ways writers can build interest around their work and connect with readers. Using real examples from A Capital Mystery and A Capital Mystery 2, she’ll look at how storytelling, social media, visual content, partnerships and collective promotion can help create engagement and build momentum—without making marketing feel like a second full-time job.

Because it all starts with giving people a reason to care, connect and share.

Alexis St-Cyr is a writer, communications and event strategist, and founder of Kanvas Events by Design, where she brings together storytelling, strategy and creative design to help ideas connect with the people they are meant to reach.

With experience spanning communications, events, social media, visual storytelling and audience engagement, Alexis has a particular interest in finding creative ways to build momentum around stories and the people behind them. She has worked closely with Capital Crime Writers on the promotion of A Capital Mystery and is currently helping shape the promotional campaign for A Capital Mystery 2.

June 2026

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Capital Crime Writers is pleased to announce the winners of the 2026
Audrey Jessup Award.

Thanks to an anonymous donor, this year the Honourable Mentions were
awarded a prize of $50.

First Place: Kathy MacLellan for Maid of Orleans
Second Place: Wynn Quon for The Case of the Violin-Shaped Object
Third Place: Grace Quon for Secrets and Silence
Honourable Mention: Jennifer Jorgensen for A Bad Pairing
Honourable Mention: Suzan Mandla for Lucky Charm

The dinner was held at Biagio’s Kitchen, on Richmond Road in Ottawa. We’d like to
thank them for delicious food and excellent service from Abby. Thank you
also, for Art Pittman for arranging the restaurant.

From left to right: Madona Skaff, President Capital Crime Writers, Wynn Quon, Kathy MacLellan. Grace Quon, Jennifer Jorgensen and Ross Fattori.

Suzan Mandla who could not be present at the dinner.

Short Story Contest – Finalists

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Here are the finalists for the 2026 Audrey Jessup Short Story Contest (in no particular order):

· A Bad Pairing (Jennifer Jorgensen)

· Lucky Charm (Suzan Mandla)

· Maid of Orleans (Kathy MacLellan)

· The Case of the Violin-Shaped Object (Wynn Quon)

· Secrets and Silence (Grace Quon)

The winners will be announced at the June meeting.

May 2026 Meeting

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Forensic Science at the Royal Canadian Mounted Police with Vivian Lo on Wednesday, May 13, 2026 at 7 pm. PLEASE NOTE THIS MEETING WILL NOT BE RECORDED.

Vivian Lo is a Forensic Strategist at the Forensic Assessment Centre of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. She has worked at the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for the past 11 years. She graduated from the University of Ottawa with a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master’s degree in Cellular and Molecular Medicine.  

April 2026 Meeting

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What Authors Want, What Publishers Want with Ron Corbett on Wednesday, April 8, 2026 at 7 pm.

Ron Corbett is a writer, journalist, broadcaster and co-founder of Ottawa Press and Publishing. He is the author of seven nonfiction books, including Canadian bestseller The Last Guide. His fiction work includes the Danny Barret crime novels (The Sweet Goodbye; Cape Rage) as well as Edgar®-nominated Ragged Lake, part of the Frank Yakabuski mysteries.

As a publisher, Ron has published some of the most popular local books in Ottawa, including the Ottawa Road Trips series, the Ottawa Rewind series, and the Sgt. Windflower mystery series. He lives in Ottawa, Canada.

Author Ron Corbett
(Photo by Julie Oliver)

March 2026 Meeting

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Craig Johnson’s Journey as a Writer: An Interview with Craig Johnson on Thursday March 26, 2026 at 7 pm.

Craig Johnson is the New York Times bestselling author of the Walt Longmire mystery novels, the basis for Longmire, the hit Netflix original drama. His books have won numerous awards in America and abroad: The Western Writers of America’s Owen Wister and Spur Awards, the Wyoming Historical Association Book of the Year, the Will Rogers Medallion Awards, Publishers Weekly’s Book of the Year, Library Journal’s Best Book of the Year, Le Prix du Polar Nouvel Observateur/Bibliobs, Le Prix 813, and the SNCF Prix de Polar. The Spirit of Steamboat, Johnson’s first novella was selected by the Wyoming State Library as the inaugural One Book Wyoming. Craig Johnson lives in Ucross, Wyoming, population 26.

Craig Johnson’s 22nd novel in the Walt Longmire mystery series, The Brothers McKay, will be available on May 26, 2026.

The format of this meeting will be a structured Q&A session (with Art Pittman interviewing Craig Johnson), followed by an opportunity for other members to ask their own questions.