This evening (April 26), McNally Robinson threw a party to launch its newest bookstore in Don Mills. Parents Holly and Paul McNally as well as their two daughters were on hand to welcome publishers, authors, and even local bookselling rivals. Guests were treated to champagne and hors d'oeuvres from the adjoining Prairie Ink Restaurant. Her voice breaking with pride in the handsome new two-storey emporium, Director of Operations Tori McNally said, "We'd like to be a neighbourhood bookstore for the whole of Toronto." Among the representatives of RendezVous Crime, were--right--Morley Torgov (Murder in A-major) and--left--Mel Bradshaw (Victim Impact).

Vicki Delany will be one of the guest authors at this year's annual
GenreCon conference at the Sarnia Public Library, Saturday APril 25th.
Providing fans and local authors with the opportunity to talk with other
genre fans and authors, GenreCon presents a wide range of panels on
writing, reading and publishing genre fiction, including mystery, horror,
fantasy and science fiction. There will also be book signings and sales.

“GenreCon provides a unique opportunity to talk with and learn from
experienced authors and other fans of genre fiction,” said Jeffrey Beeler,
Reference Librarian. “Our past participants speak highly of their
experiences.”
Vicki will be discussing, and signing, her newest book, Gold Digger: A
Klondike Mystery.

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On Tuesday April 28, at 7:00 PM, Vicki Delany will be appearing at the
Picton Public Library, Picton, Ontario, as part of the library's author
series. Vicki will be discussing writing mysteries and signing her newest
book, Gold Digger: A Klondike Mystery

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On Wedensday April 29, at 7:00 PM, Vicki Delany will be appearing at the
Belleville Public Library, Belleveill, Ontario, as part of the library's
author series. Vicki will be discussing writing mysteries and signing
her newest book, Gold Digger: A Klondike Mystery

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Vicki Delany will be signing her newest book, Gold Digger: A Klondike
Mystery, at the Festival of Mystery, Oakmont, Pennsylvania. Monday May
4th, 4:00 PM. Tickets to the festival are $7.00. For further
information:
http://www.mysterylovers.com/books/events/20090504festival.php

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Vicki Delany will be at Indigo Spirit, First Canadian Place, Toronto,
Thurdsay May 7th at Noon.

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Vicki Delany will be at Chapters, Belleville, Ontario, Sunday May 17th at
Noon.

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Vicki Delany and Barbara Fradkin will be at Chapters, Kingston, Ontario,
Saturday May 24th at Noon.

Mel Bradshaw will be signing his new crime novel, Victim Impact, at Indigo Richmond Hill, 8705 Yonge St. (north of Hwy. 7) on Saturday, April 4 from noon to two p.m. His previous novels, Death in the Age of Steam and Quarrel with the Foe will also be available for signing.

More photos from the Hawaiian odyssey ...

1. R.J. deep inside the Thurston Lava Tube in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
2.Vicki next to a giant fiddlehead of the unique Hawaii tree fern
3. Mary Jane on the look-out for hump back whales on a whale watching cruise.

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.”