RVC Writer's Retreat!

RVP writers, Vicki Delany, Barbara Fradkin, R.J. Harlick and Mary Jane Maffini were hatching murderous plots at a recent writers' retreat deep in the woods of West Quebec. They were joined by furry friends, Lily and Daisy, the two miniature dachsunds, Sterling, the standard poodle and Kieffer, the Nova Scotia duck tolling retriever. A great time was had by all. Plus they, the writers that is, came away with lots of wicked ideas for their next murder mysteries.

RendezVous Crime Authors at Crime Writers of Canada Booth

The weather co-operated for Word on the Street, bringing smiles to the faces of writers and readers alike. RendezVous Crime authors Vicki Delany and Mel Bradshaw kicked off festivities at the Crime Writers of Canada booth, selling and signing books as well as signing people up for CWC's Cool Canadian Crime. Vicki went on to sign her books at the Napoleon/RendezVous booth, and her place was ably supplied by RV Crime author and CWC past president Rick Blechta.

VICKI DELANY WINERY EVENT


Vicki Delany, J.D. Carpenter, and Janet Kellough will be appearing in a very special Taste! event at By Chadsey's Cairns winery to preview their current works in progress. Food will be provided by Toronto chef Jamie Kennedy and Prince Edward County farms. Wines from By Chadsey's Cairns. Wander the vineyards, taste the wine, nibble Jamie's lamb poutine, and listen to Prince Edward County's top crime writers discuss the development of a new novel. FREE event.

Monday September 27. 7:00 PM. By Chadsey's Cairns, 17432 Loyalist Pkwy., Wellington. For information and to register call 613-399-2992. http://www.tastecelebration.ca/weeklong.html

TYPE M 4 MURDER

Multi-award-winning RendezVous Crime author Barbara Fradkin will be joining the Typists at Type M for Murder, posting on alternate Wednesdays. Type M for Murder has been recognized by Colleges Online as one of the top 100 creative writing blogs, and was recently declared one of the forty-five top mystery blogs.

RendezVous Crime authors Rick Blechta and Vicki Delany are already part of the blog's roster.

Brenda Chapman, author of the upcoming "In Winter's Grip", was interviewed in the August edition of Eerie Digest, 'the online mystery and Hollywood insider magazine'.

http://www.eeriedigest.com/wordpress/2010/08/interview-with-author-brenda-chapman/#more-1543

Brenda Chapman Honoured

The Ottawa Public Library Board has awarded the Ottawa Public Library Order of Friendship to the judges of the Awesome Authors Contest, including RVC's own Brenda Chapman. "This prestigious award recognizes outstanding volunteer contributions made to the Ottawa Public Library by individuals, groups and/or institutions." As one of this year's judges, Brenda will be attending the ceremony on June 14th at the Cumberland Branch.

GOLD FEVER TEA PARTY

For a different sort of launch party for Gold Fever, the second in the Klondike Mystery series, Vicki Delany hosted a formal afternoon tea at The Tea Room, Marine Drive, Oakville Ontario. It was a great event, the food was lovely, served with a variety of teas. The early spring afternoon was exceptionally warm so people enjoyed sitting outside as well as inside the restaurant.

BLOODY WORDS

Some of RVC's folks hobnobbing the Bloody Words conference in Toronto, May 28-29

Photo one: Linda Wiken, Brenda Chapman, Barbara Fradkin
Photo two: CB Forrest, Brenda Chapman

Cool Canadian Crime in Action

RVC authors, the publisher and the editor gathered on the evening of May 27 at the Mysteriously Yours Dinner Theatre for a banquet in honour of the nominees for the Arthur Ellis Awards of 2010. We were especially happy because two of the nominees were RVC authors, R.J. Harlick for Arctic Blue Death and C.B. Forrest for
The Weight of Stones.

Although neither of our nominees won, it was a fun evening where we celebrated the accomplishments of all crime writers in Canada. The evening ended with the presentation of the Derrick Murdoch Award for lifetime achievement to Peter Robinson, a two-time president of the CWC.

Photo 1: RVC authors Lou Allin and Joan Boswell
Photo 2: Barbara Fradkin and Linda Wiken, former owner of Prime Books and crime writer
Photo 3: Some of the RVC gang: (front) a rather intense Rick Blechta, Mel Bradshaw. (rear) editor Allister Thompson, nominee C.B. Forrest, nominee R.J. Harlick, publisher Sylvia McConnell

ARTHUR ELLIS SHORTLISTINGS!

On Thursday evening, April 22, there were Arthur Ellis shortlisting parties across the country, all well attended and convivial. We at RendezVous Crime attended the Toronto party at the Back Alley Grill in Kensington Market.

Maureen Jennings led a panel of award winners in a hilarious event which had the panellists (of which RVC author and two-time Arthur Ellis award winner Jon Redfern was a member) answer questions such as: When you won your first Arthur Ellis award, what were you wearing?

Today, RendezVous Crime is proud to congratulate two of our authors: R.J. Harlick has been shortlisted for Best Novel for "Arctic Blue Death" and C. B. Forrest for Best First Novel for "The Weight of Stones". Both are richly deserved nominations for two hardworking authors.

The party continues...