On Saturday afternoon (November 29) Mel Bradshaw signed copies of his latest novel Victim Impact at Ottawa's Prime Crime Mystery Bookstore. It was a chilly afternoon on Bank Street, but the snow held off, and the event couldn't have been more successful. Prime Crime owner (and RendezVous Crime author) Linda Wiken sold out, ringing up the last sale just as the event was scheduled to wrap up at 3:30. She promised to re-order.

The following RVC authors will be helping you make Christmas gift selection by greeting and signing their latest books in December - at the following times and places.

Sat, Dec 6, noon to 4:00 p.m.
Sooke Community Hall, 101 Eustace St.
Sooke, BC
Lou Allin will be signing all the books in her Belle Palmer series, set in Sudbury, ON, as well as book one in her new mystery series, And on the Surface Die, set in Fossil Bay on Vancouver Island.


The deadly dames of the LADIES KILLING CIRCLE and some of the other contributors to their newly published anthology, Going Out with a Bang, will be signing the anthology (and assorted backlist) at the following Ottawa-area stores:

· Fri, Dec 5, 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Coles, Orleans Shopping Centre
Orleans, ON
Signing: MARY JANE MAFFINI, BARBARA FRADKIN, LINDA WIKEN

· Sat, Dec 6, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Leishman Books, Westgate Shopping Centre
Ottawa, ON
Signing: MARY JANE MAFFINI, BARBARA FRADKIN, SUE PIKE

· Sat, Dec 6, noon to 2:00 p.m.
Coles, 1000 Island Mall
Brockville, ON
Signing: VICKI CAMERON

· Sun, Dec 7, 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Books on Beechwood, 35 Beechwood
Ottawa, ON
Signing: BARBARA FRADKIN, LINDA WIKEN

· Fri, Dec 12, noon to 2:00 p.m.
Coles, Carlingwood Shopping Centre
Ottawa, ON
Signing: MARY JANE MAFFINI

· Sat, Dec 13, 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Coles, Bayshore Shopping Centre
Ottawa, ON
Signing: MARY JANE MAFFINI and LIZ PALMER

Sun, Dec 14, noon to 4:00 p.m.
PRIME CRIME BOOKS, 891 Bank St.
Ottawa, ON
Signing: a gala event as many of the contributors and the Ladies Killing Circle meet, greet and sign for their fans and friends.

It’s also PRIME CRIME’s annual Xmas party! Come and help celebrate.

Lou Allin will be signing her Belle Palmer series and her new crime novel And on the Surface Die (both by RendezVous Crime) at two Sooke BC locales:

Saturday, Dec. 6th from 12-4 pm at the Sooke Community Hall, 101 Eustace St. Sooke BC

Saturday, Dec. 13th from 2-4 pm at the Reading Room Bookstore, Evergreen Centure, 6660 Sooke Road. Sooke BC

Contact number 250-642-0496

Sleuth of Baker Street, Toronto’s mystery bookstore, stayed open late Friday night (November 14) for the launch of Mel Bradshaw’s Victim Impact. Proprietors Marian Misters and J.D. Singh had book tables pushed back to accommodate a crowd that even so risked spilling out onto the street. The author of two historical mysteries, Mel was kept busy all evening signing and reading from his first contemporary crime novel, which he described as “a dark and twisted tale of revenge.” Napoleon & Company publisher Sylvia McConnell introduced the reading, and RendezVous Crime author Rick Blechta was among the numerous attendees.

Going Out with a Bang, an anthology of crime stories by the ladies Killing Circle, was launched in Ottawa in the rotunda of the National Library on Thursday November 20th. It was fun evening for everyone, and the boa wearing authors were well received. It was obvious that readers in the Nation's Capital really love their "Ladies".

Many, many copies of "Going Out with a Bang" were sold and signatures collected, making a fun evening for everyone.

Find your favourite Ladies in the photos!

Mel Bradshaw, the author of Death in the Age of Steam and Quarrel with the Foe, will be signing his latest crime novel, Victim Impact, at Prime Crime Mystery Bookstore, 891 Bank St., Ottawa, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 29.

Victim Impact brings Bradshaw's mystery novels firmly into the 21st century with a fictional study of the pursuit of justice, involving bikers and a criminologist, whose ideas on penalties for crime have been purely academic, right up to the point where the criminal act touches his life personally.

Ottawa will play host to Canada’s premier mystery conference Bloody Words 2009 from June 5-7, 2009. This national conference brings together authors, fans, librarians and those in the book industry from across Canada and the United States. Highlights of the conference will include panels of mystery authors, publishers and agents discussing books, the writing process and the publishing industry, while RCMP officers, private detectives, psychologists and forensic experts will deliver sessions on the intricacies of crime, criminals and detection. Author readings by the best in the mystery-writing genre will be held in English and French and will be open to the public. Confirmed authors include International Guest of Honour Denise Mina from Scotland, Canadian Guest of Honour Louise Penny and MC Mary Jane Maffini. Registrations are now being accepted at a discounted fee. For more information and registration forms, please visit www.bloodywords2009.com

Scene of the Crime Festival
Sat, Aug 9, all day starting 9:00 a.m.
Wolfe Island, Thousand Islands
Kingston, ON

The annual Scene of the Crime mystery festival this year features two RVC authors, guest MARY JANE MAFFINI, who will be reading and participating in a panel discussion “From Cozy to Noir”, moderated by BARBARA FRADKIN.

Take one of Ontario's most picturesque wineries, mix in several delightful wines and some delicious food, and add a dash (or two!) of mystery, and you have the recipe for a most unforgettable and unique literary evening: Crime in the Vines.

The brainchild of some enterprising folks in the Beamsville and Grimsby area in southern Ontario, it's the first of what is hoped to be an annual event supporting literacy in the Niagara region. Two of RendezVous Crime's authors, Barbara Fradkin and Rick Blechta, will be taking part in this event. You should be there, too!

Here's what you need to know:

Crime in the Vines, an evening of readings, wine and food in one of Niagara's most beautiful wineries, featuring Giles Blunt, Barbara Fradkin and Rick Blechta.
Date: Saturday, July 19, 2008
Time: 6:00 p.m. (wine tasting and hors d'oeuvres), 7:15 (readings)
Place: Organized Crime Winery (we kid you not), 4043 Mountainview Rd, Beamsville, ON (in Niagara wine country), 905 563-9802
Cost: $65 (It's a fundraiser for the Grimsby Library).

Hurry! Tickets are limited. For information visit: http://crimeinthevines.net

On Thursday May 29th, RendezVous Crime launched the first title in a new historical mystery series by noted author Morley Torgov. Held at the Gladstone Hotel in Toronto, with 250 of the author's friends in attendance, amidst good food, good conversation, and good spirits, Murder in A-major, the first title in the series was officially celebrated. The author spoke about how his writing career began, and signed over 200 books!