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!

June is about to begin and R.J. Harlick has a very busy next couple of weeks planned. She’ll be attending the Bloody Words conference on June 6 to 8 at the Eaton Centre Marriott. Her panel is on the Saturday at 4:30 pm, with book signings taking place afterwards. So if you’re attending the conference please drop by and say hello.

While she is in the Toronto area, she’ll be signing her latest book THE RIVER RUNS ORANGE at the following stores.

Peterborough - June 4, 1:00 pm to 3:00 - Peterborough Chapters, 873 Lansdowne St
Oshawa - June 8, 1:00 pm to 3:00 - Oshawa Chapters, 419 King St. W.
Ajax - June 8, 3:30 pm to 5:30 - Ajax Chapters, 90 Kingston Rd.
Toronto - June 12, 4:00 pm to 6:00 -Yorkdale Indigo, Yorkdale Shopping Centre
Mississauga - June 12, 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Queensway Chapters, 1950 The Queesnway
Toronto - June 13, 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm - Royal Bank Plaza Indigospirit, 200 Bay St.
Kitchener - June 14, 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm - Kitchener Chapters, 135 Gateway Park Dr.

And she’ll be at Book Expo Canada on Sunday June 15 in the Metro Conference Centre. She’ll be signing her books at 10:00 am at the Crime Writers of Canada booth. From 11:30 am to 12:30 pm, she’ll be participating in a new event called Speed Dating, which promises to be great fun. Then at 2:00 pm she will be signing her latest THE RIVER RUNS ORANGE at the Napoleon and Company booth.

Back in Ottawa, on June 21, she will be signing at Books On Beechwood, 45 Beechwood Rd. from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm

If you are in any of the locations, please drop by and say hello and get your book personally signed.

Authors R. J. Harlick and Barbara Fradkin visited the Stittsville Public Library on May 22nd along with Ottawa children's author Brenda Chapman to read from their latest books and to discuss the writing process.

Mary Jane Maffini Events

OTTAWA ON Thursday, May 22. Loch March Golf & Country Club. Tournament Poet Laureate. The Ottawa Community Coalition for Literacy (a wonderful and effective organization) hosts this annual fundraising golf tournament. It is one of the tournaments founded by Peter Gzowski and is called the PGI Golf Tournament for Literacy. In 2008 they will be hosting the 20th tournament at the Loch March Golf & Country Club. There are 15 PGIs across the country and by the end of this golf season they had collectively raised $10 million over the years. In 2007 the Ottawa group netted $48,000 from their tournament. One of the unique features of the PGIs is the tournament poet laureate. At the dinner program, I'll read a poem I'll have written in honour of the day. Naturally, that means murder. For more information, contact the OCCL office at 613-233-3232 or abcline@occl.ca

ORANGEVILLE ON Friday, May 30. What was your first clue? Connecting your readers with contemporary mystery fiction, a workshop for the Southern Ontario Library Service. WORKSHOP IS FULL!

ORANGEVILLE, ON Friday, May 30, 5 - 6 pm. I'll be reading, chatting and signing at BookLore, a wonderful independent bookstore. Please come by BookLore at 121 First Street, Credit Creek Village, Orangeville. Call or email for info: 519-942-3830 or booklore@bellnet.ca. This is a free event, at which chocolate is a distinct possibility.

TORONTO, ON June 6-8, 2008 I'll be attending Canada's crime conference which promises to be wonderful fun. My panel is Saturday at 2:30. Sex & Violence. How much is too much? Where to draw the line . other panelists: Rick Blechta,Marianne Macdonald, John McFetridge, Michael Slade and Moderator: John Ballem. You need to be registered to attend this workshop. For registration information, check this site and follow the links: www.bloodywords.com

OTTAWA, ON June 13, 5 p.m. Books on Beechwood, 35 Beechwood Ave Sign and Schmooze. Drop in to this terrific independent bookstore for a fun and mysterious chat. For more info phone: 613 742-5030 or email bksbeech@on.aibn.com

More events are firming up at Toronto Book Expo, Vancouver, Wolfe Island, ON, Collingwood, Windsor and even Hawaii - check back soon for more details.

To arrange a workshop or a book club visit, contact me through www.maryjanemaffini.com

With the release of the next Meg Harris mystery, THE RIVER RUNS ORANGE, R.J. Harlick has a number of events planned for the month of May:

Launch
May 12, 2008 - 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm – R.J. Harlick will be launching THE RIVER RUNS ORANGE at Library and Archives Canada, 395 Wellington St., Ottawa ON – Mary Jane Maffini will also be launching her latest Charlotte Adam mystery.

Readings
Thurs. May 22, 2008 – 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm – Stittsville Public Library, 1637 Main St. Stittsville, ON – An Evening with some Cool Canadian Crime Writers – R.J. Harlick will be joined by Barbara Fradkin, Brenda Chapman and Margaret Stoddart in a discussion about their latest books.

Thurs. May 29, 2008 – 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm – Main Branch of the Ottawa Public Library – In Celebration of National Crime Writing Week – Guest author, Louise Penny will be discussing and reading from her latest book –Barbara Fradkin will be leading local authors R.J. Harlick, Adrian de Hoog, J.D. Carpenter and Suzanne Kingsmill in a discussion on crime writing and their latest works.
Interviews/media

Thurs. May 1, 2008 – 6:30 pm – R.J. Harlick will be discussing The River Runs Orange on Literary Landscapes, CKCU 93.1 FM

Wed. May 7, 2008 – 5:00 pm, R.J. Harlick will be discussing The River Runs Orange on Click Here, CHUO 89.1 FM

Store signings

R.J. Harlick will be signing her latest Meg Harris mystery, The River Runs Orange at the following stores

Sat. May 3, 2008, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm – Chapters South Keys, South Keys Shopping Centre, 2210 Bank St., Ottawa, ON

Wed. May 7, 2008, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm – Chapters Pinecrest, Pinecrest Shopping Centre, 2735 Iris St., Ottawa, ON

Thurs. May 8, 2008, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm – Chapters Kanata, Kanata Centrum, 400 Earl Grey Dr. Ottawa, ON

Fri. May 9, 2008, 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm – Coles Billings Bridge, Billings Bridge Plaza, Ottawa, ON

Fri. May 9, 2008, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm – Chapters Rideau Centre, 47 Rideau St., Ottawa, ON

Sat. May 10, 2008, 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm – Coles Bayshore, Bayshore Shopping Centre, 100 Bayshore Dr. Ottawa, ON

Sat. May 24, 2008, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm – Chapters Gloucester, 2410 City Park Dr., Ottawa, ON

Sat. May 31, 2008, 11:00 am - 2:00 pm – Chapters Kingston, 2376 Princess St., Kingston, ON – as part of the store’s 10th anniversary event, R.J. Harlick will be participating in a writing workshop

Rick Blechta Tour

Sat, April 5, to Sat, April 26, marks RICK BLECHTA’s southern Ontario tour for his new musical thriller, A Case of You (RENDEZVOUS). Rick will be signing his book at the following locations:

· Sat, April 5, 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Chapters Oshawa Centre, 419 King St. W.
Oshawa, ON

· Sun, April 6, 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Chapters Yonge Centre, 17440 Yonge St.
Newmarket, ON

· Sat, April 12, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Chapters Richmond Centre, 85 Fanshawe
London, ON

· Sun, April 13, 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Indigo, 1250 Brant St.
Burlington, ON

· Sat, April 19, 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Chapters, 76 Barrie View Dr.
Barrie, ON

· Sat, April 26, 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Chapters, 189 Rathburn Rd. W.
Mississauga, ON