Last year, with seven published novels under my belt,
I finally joined the Crime Writers of Canada. I was part of our Crime Writers
Event in Orangeville last fall on September 28, 2019. I was nervous meeting
such talented writers but came away inspired.
Then again on March 7, 2020, I attended my second
CWC author event and I totally enjoyed it! This time, I was more relaxed and
felt more like I belonged among such talented company, especially since I’d
been on the Orangeville panel with Judy Penz Sheluk and Anita Arvast in
September.
Eleven authors (6 women and 5 men) met at the Tottenham Community Centre
and spoke to a small, but attentive audience about our process as well as
answering a few questions from our wonderful host librarian, Kim Burgess. I
found it intriguing that out of all eleven of us, only one professed to being a
true plotter, aside from the non-fiction crime writers.
The highlight for me was getting to mingle and talk
to fellow authors later. We exchanged stories about other events, how we come
up with ideas for books, what we do to promote our books, and even what printer
we use to get hard copies.
Our amazing panel:
Anita Arvast – Dr.
Arvast is a professor of humanities and writes books in the true crime genre
with an orientation to social justice. Her first book, Bloody Justice, was short-listed for the Arthur Ellis Award. Her
subsequent book, What Killed Jane Creba,
is being turned into a play.
David Albertyn – Born
in South Africa, David Albertyn immigrated to Toronto in 1993. Writing stories
since the age of six, a graduate of Queen’s University and the Humber School
for Writers, David’s goal is to write visceral novels that are both thrilling
and meaningful. He has coached tennis since 2005.
https://davidalbertyn.com/
Diane Bator – A born
writer and storyteller, once Diane Bator started writing, she’s never looked
back and is the author of several mystery novels. When she’s not writing, she
works in a theatre which may be subjected to immortality in a whole new series.
She might even try writing a play.
Karen Grose – Karen
Grose was born in Canada and lives with her family in Toronto. After a career
as a teacher, principal, and superintendent, she turned her attention to
writing. Set in Ontario,
The Dime Box
is her debut novel and she is currently working on a second.
https://karengrose.ca/
Jim McDonald – Jim
McDonald is a teacher, marriage officiant, DJ, actor, publisher and author. Jim
is close to completing
Heavy Weather,
a historical thriller that follows the 1970 guerilla actions of Weather
Underground, the terror group that bombed draft boards, courts of law and even
the Pentagon.
http://www.jimmcdonald.ca/
Daniel McTavish –
Daniel McTavish has worked in the computer industry for over twenty years,
spending thirteen years in North Carolina. He currently lives in Toronto,
Ontario, but spends what time he can at his cottage in Norway Bay, Quebec,
sharing morning writing sessions with passing porcupines and racoons.
https://mctavishpublishing.com/about/
Hyacinthe Miller – An
award-winning author, Hyacinthe’s work has been published in anthologies, magazines
and online. Her debut novel, Kenora
Reinvented, was released in late 2019. Hyacinthe is a founding member and
Past President of the Writers’ Community of York Region and a member of
numerous Canadian and International professionals writers’ groups.
Lorna Poplak – Lorna
Poplak is a Toronto-based writer, editor and researcher with a fascination for
the stories behind historical events. Her debut book,
Drop Dead: A Horrible History of Hanging in Canada, was released in
2017. She is currently working on a second non-fiction book about Toronto’s
infamous Don Jail.
https://www.lornapoplak.com/
John Simpson – John
Simpson was a journalist for many years as well as the author of crime fiction.
His first book, Undercut, was
runner-up to Kathy Reich’s Deja Dead
in the first-novel category of the 1997 Crime Writers of Canada Arthur Ellis
Awards. He lives in Barrie.
Judy Penz Sheluk – An
Amazon International Bestselling Author, Judy Penz Sheluk writes the
Marketville and Glass Dolphin Mystery series. Her short stories are included in
several collections, including
The Best
Laid Plans: 21 Stories of Mystery and Suspense, which she also edited. Judy
is a member of Sisters in Crime, International Thriller Writers, South Simcoe
Arts Council, the Short Mystery Fiction Society, and Crime Writers of Canada,
where she serves on the Board of Directors as Vice Chair. She splits her time
between Alliston and Goulais River.
http://www.judypenzsheluk.com/
Keith Weaver – After
a 37-year career in engineering, and more than 50 years into a continuing
reading addiction, Keith Weaver turned full time to a long-standing interest,
writing. But instead of technical writing, he focuses now on fiction. Eight
books later, this very active retirement continues.
While I’m still relatively new in the Crime Writers of Canada circle,
I’ve found being a part of the group beneficial and am branching out to other groups such as Sisters in Crime as well. I meet new crime writers,
learn more about the tax implications of being a writer, and find out more from
other authors about their processes. What works for some, doesn’t always work
for others.
For now, sharing their work, and mine, is what works for me!
Happy reading!
Diane
