The RVP gang is back from Hawaii and had a wonderful time at Left Coast Crime Conference 2009 at the Waikoloa Marriott on the Big Island of Hawaii. Lou Allin, Vicki Delany, R.J. Harlick and Mary Jane Maffini regaled audiences with their Cool Canadian Crime Characters and Cool Canadian Crime Settings. R.J., Mary Jane and Vicki were also honoured to be invited to discuss their books at a local library, the Thelma Parker Memorial Public Library at Waimea, where they each received a real flower lei. That's the three of them with their lei and their very kind hostess, Roberta.

Yesterday (March 21), Indigo Stoney Creek hosted Mel Bradshaw from noon to 4 p.m. for a signing of his crime novels. Victim Impact, a modern story of law and disorder in the Golden Horseshoe, was the featured work. But Mel’s backlist, including the Ellis nominated historical mystery Death in the Age of Steam, sold just as well. At the end of March break, parents seemed ready for some adult entertainment. The combination of bright sun and cool temperatures made for excellent shopping weather, and as always customers’ questions and stories made time fly for the author. Thanks to manager Sandy Kennedy for facilitating this event.

Barbara Fradkin events:

Here are details of the Spring and Summer events already in the works.

April 2 Read's Bookstore Book Club 7:00 pm

Barbara is delighted to be the invited guest of Read's book club in Carleton Place, and she looks forward to a lively discussion. Book clubs are a wonderful way to connect with fellow book lovers to discuss books and get reactions to one's own book. Besides being supportive, welcoming and enthusiastic, they understand the connection between good books and good food!

May 12 Greenboro Public Library Time TBA

Barbara joins other Ladies Killing Circle members for an evening of readings and discussion about Going Out With a Bang. Free admission. Everyone welcome, and bring a friend! Stay tuned for more details.

May 20 Spencerville Book Club 1:30-3:30 pm

As part of National Crime Writing Fortnight, Barbara is the guest of the Spencerville Book Club, which meets in the Spencerville Library for an afternoon of refreshments and book talk about Inspector Green and Canadian mysteries in general. Books will be for sale. Guests welcome!

May 23 Kingston Chapters, Princess St. Store, Time TBA

Continuing the celebration of National Crime Writing Fortnight, Barbara joins other area crime writers for an author event and book signing at the Chapters in Belleville. Stay tuned for more details!

June 5 - 7 Bloody Words Mystery Conference All weekend Barbara joins fellow authors Louise Penny and Denise Mina as Guests of Honour at the 2009 Bloody Words, which is Canada's premiere mystery conference held this year in Ottawa at the Marriott Hotel. Check out the website for details on all the exciting panels, interviews and workshops being offered throughout the weekend.

June 7 Evening with Jewish Authors 7 pm.

The Canada-Israel Cultural Foundation is hosting two evenings with Jewish Authors, and Barbara is honoured to be one of the authors featured at the June 7 event, held in Rm. 156 at the Library and Archives Canada. There will be readings, discussion and a chance to meet the authors during this interesting event. Stay tuned for further details.

Aug. 15 Scene of the Crime 9:00 am. - 7 pm.

Catch the ferry from Kingston to Wolfe Island and enjoy a day in the country with mystery readers and writers, both aspiring and established. Barbara is one of five featured authors who will be doing readings and participating in panel discussions. As the highlight, the iconic author Peter Robinson will receive the Grant Allen Award for his outstanding contribution to Canadian crime writing. Check out the website for more details.

A bevy of RVP authors are getting a chance to escape the snows of winter. Lou Allin, Vicki Delany, R.J. Harlick and Mary Jane Maffini will be heading to Hawaii to attend the 2009 Left Coast Crime Conference on the Big Island, where they will be strutting their stuff under the palm trees of the Marriott Waikoloa Beach Resort. They might even attempt a hula dance or two. The conference runs from Mar. 7-12 and is packed with a dynamite program of author panels, Talk Story sessions, plays, movie screenings and of course book signings. And when they aren't talking up their books, they might even get a chance to sneak off to the beach or go on one of the many exciting sightseeing excursions.

On Saturday, March 7 at 11:00 am, VIcki Delany, R.J. Harlick and Mary Jane Maffini have been invited to talk about their latest books at the Thelma Parker Memorial Public and School Library at the 'Meet Some Cool Canadian Crime Writers' event.

They promise to take lots or pictures, which will be posted when they get back to where winter still reigns.

Last June I had the immense thrill of winning the Best Novel award at the Arthur Ellis yearly banquet for my Victorian historical called TRUMPETS SOUND NO MORE. It had received good reviews--particularly one from Joan Barfoot on the webpage for The London Free Press. What a sensation it is to know your efforts have been recognized and that the research you did has impressed a critical reader like Barfoot, a prize-winning novelist in her own right. My research for TRUMPETS led me to England in the fall of 08 where I walked the streets in London, the same ones charted in my book as the locale for my detective's home, on Cursitor Street, and views of the street where the murder took place. An eery feeling grabbed hold of me as I walked with my camera, shooting doors and entrance ways that had figured so strongly in my plot. There is no doubt one can find remnants of the past so readily in London. So please, if you have read or are planning to read TRUMPETS as your next prize- winning detective novel, take a look at the pictures I have posted. One shows me on Cursitor Street standing in front of Detective Owen Endersby's London address. The other are shots taken on Doughty Street where the fictional murder took place and where, as well, there is one of the houses Charles Dickens lived in during the 1840s. The black bust is of the famous writer himself. I am working on a sequel to TRUMPETS and will soon discuss its publication but be alerted, it will be a dark story of workhouses and London's criminal world during the early years of Queen Victoria's reign.....JON REDFERN

Tues, Feb 24, 11:00 a.m.
Sanibel Island Bookshop, 1571 Periwinkle Way
Sanibel Island/Fort Myers, FL

The six dangerous dames of the LADIES’ KILLING CIRCLE – MARY JANE MAFFINI, BARBARA FRADKIN, LINDA WIKEN, JOAN BOSWELL, VICKI CAMERON, and SUE PIKE – have temporarily abandoned the Ottawa deep-freeze in favour of Florida sun and fun. They’ll be signing copies of their newest mystery anthology, Going Out with a Bang (RENDEZVOUS CRIME), which the Ottawa Citizen calls “an explosive mix” and “an anthology packed with lethal goodies.”

The Ontario Library Association Superconference is on at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, and yesterday (January 29), the Organization of Book Publishers of Ontario hosted two Napoleon & Co writers at their booth. OBPO administrator Marg Anne Morrison welcomed Mel Bradshaw at 2 p.m. Mel inscribed and gave out copies of his latest mystery Victim Impact (RendezVous Crime ) while supplies lasted, and was succeeded at 3 p.m. by Laurie Channer who did the same for her debut novel Godblog (Darkstar Fiction). Blowing snow didn't keep school and public librarians from turning out in force, and many stopped by for a chat even after the books were gone.

Rick Blechta will be taking part in a series of food, wines and "mystery" cocktails presented by the LCBO.

Date: Tuesday, February 10th
Time: 6:30-8:00 p.m.
Location: LCBO Bayview Village, 2901 Bayview Avenue (at Sheppard), North York, ON
Cost: $35
Space is limited, so you must call the store to reserve your space: 416-222-7658.

The "mystery" cocktail will be invented just for the occasion and inspired by Rick's most recent RVC novel, A Case of You. Rick himself will be discussing and reading from the book during the evening. A free copy of the book will be made available for pickup after your registration.

Because of the food and liquor (and the book), there is a $35 charge for the event.

If you haven't read the novel yet, you should because Rick has been asked to talk about "the story behind the story". He will also be reading from "deleted scenes" and discussing why they were deleted and how the story needed to be modified because of this.

These LCBO Literary Evenings are very enjoyable. Be sure to put this on your literary to-do list.

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.