Upcoming Events

With the release of THE RIVER RUNS ORANGE only 2 months away, I'm busily filling up my calendar with lots of book happenings.

The LAUNCH - Have finally scheduled a date, May 12, 7:00 pm at the usual place, Library and Archives Canada. I'll be doing this with Mary Jane Maffini who'll be launching her second Charlotte Adams novel. I'll be posting more details on my events page in my webs site. And if you'd like an invite please send me an e-mail.

CONFERENCES - I'll be at MALICE DOMESTIC in Arlington, Virginia, Apr. 25-27. I had a super time last year. It's a terrific conference. Hope it's as exciting this year.

And of course, I'll be at BLOODY WORDS in Toronto, June 6-8. It is The Event for CANADIAN mystery writers and our fans and is always great fun. Don't miss this perfect chance to mingle with your favourite Canadian author or discover, if you haven't yet experienced, the unique and exciting world of Canadian crime writing. Register at bloodywords.com.

And hey, I'm even thinking ahead. I've registered for LEFT COAST CRIME 2009 in of all places, Hawaii, a place I've always wanted to visit. I couldn't pass up this conference.

SIGNINGS AND READINGS - On April 2, 7:00 pm, I'll be participating on a panel discussion on 'The Importance of Setting in Mystery Writing'. Hosted by Capital Crime Writers it is being held at Library and Archives Canada in room 156. The meeting is open to the public.

On my way home from Malice Domestic, I'll be stopping in Oakmont PA, to attend the FESTIVAL OF MYSTERY on APRIL 28. I'm told the doors open at 5:00 pm. Sponsored by Mystery Lovers Bookshop, I've heard it's a throng of mystery writers and buyers. Should be exciting. If you're in the area drop by and say hello. For more information check mysterylovers.com.

On APRIL 30, 7:00-9:00 pm, I'll be announcing the shortlist for the 2008 Arthur Ellis Awards at the Main Branch of the Ottawa Public Library. As the MC of this CWC evening of 'Winning at Crime', I'll be kicking off the evening moderating a panel of some of Ottawa's award winning authors, Barbara Fradkin, Mary Jane Maffini, Rick Mofina and Sue Pike. Then comes the big moment. We're all keeping our fingers crossed that Ottawa will have it's usual share of nominees. Come join us for the fun.

MAY 22, 6:30-8:30 pm, I'll be at the Stittsville Public Library participating on a panel on Cool Canadian Crime Writing. I'll be joined by Barbara Fradkin, Brenda Chapman and Margaret Stoddart.

May 30, 7:00-9:00 pm, I'll be emceeing Ottawa's celebration of National Crime Writing Week at the Main branch of the Ottawa Public Library. This year the internationally acclaimed Canadian author, Louise Penny will be headlining our event with a discussion about her award winning Inspector Gamache series and a reading from the latest in the series. The evening will start with a panel discussion by local authors J.D. Carpenter, Adriaan de Hoog, Suzanne Kingsmill, and of course, myself. It promises to be a fun evening with a chance to win door prizes.

RADIO INTERVIEW - Once again I'll be on Jane Crosier's popular Literary Landscapes program on CKCU radio. On May 1, 6:30 pm, she'll be interviewing me about the latest MEG HARRIS mystery, THE RIVER RUNS ORANGE. Please tune in to 93.1 FM.

My website is in the process of being updated. Once it is complete, all these events and more will be added to the Events page.

Hope to see you.

Fun Events

One of the great off-shoots of being a writer is that you are invited to all sorts of intriguing events. Apart from the usual store book signings and library readings, which I do very much enjoy, I've been invited to speak about writing at local high schools, most recently to the grade XI class at the Merivale H.S. in Ottawa. Last November, I spent a morning talking about writing as a career. While one or two students did nod off, I was glad to see a few keeners who seemed very intent on becoming writers. One had even written a children's book and was asking me how to approach a publisher. It made me wonder if I wouldn't be reading their Giller or GG Awards winning novel in the years to come. This is a picture of me with some of these students.

A week later I was very honoured to attend as a guest author the Ottawa Public Library Foundation's Gala Literary Evening, featuring internationally acclaimed Canadian author Jane Urquart as the guest speaker. It was quite the glittering event in the main ballroom of the Chateau Laurier with several hundred supporters of the library. I and my husband spent a fascinating evening as guests at one of the sponsored tables. I'm always interested in hearing other writers talk about their writing experiences and needless to say Ms. Urquart's talk - I feel I can't really call her Jane - was no less intriguing. And I even had the honour to sit beside her in the group author photo. That's me, seated first on the left.

And most recently I spoke at the Arts Night at the First Unitarian Congregation in Ottawa. The other two speakers were Ruth Secunda, a visual artist, and Angela Casagrande, an oboe player. We were asked to talk about our passion for our art. I must say it was a delight to hear about the experiences of artists from other venues and to discover we have a few things in common.

It was obvious that money was not our driving force, since none of us make much from our art, rather it was the tremendous satisfaction we felt on accomplishing something in our art, be it writing a novel, creating a weaving or playing an intricate piece of music. That's really what keeps us going. And the other aspect was perseverance. The three of us had at various times experienced ups and downs in our artistic endeavours, but we kept plugging at it until we succeeded. And we continue to do so, for being an artist isn't a straight narrow road to nirvana. It's a lot of work with many hurdles and set backs. But I tell you once you achieve what you set out to do, it's a tremendous feeling of accomplishment until you set out on your next artistic endeavour.

And I tell you I've reached one of those hurdles right now. I'm in the middle of the fourth Meg Harris. And for me middles are scary. After the initial rush of getting the new story underway, I begin to run out of steam. I know where I want the story to go, but I suddenly realize I've got to fill up a lot of space before I get there and I don't quite know what to fill that space up with. But invariably after many walks with the dog, many games of computer solitaire, a glimmer of a path starts to unfold and so one chapter at a time, I get Meg moving through the action until presto the murder's solved. And I'm amazed as my eventual readers will be as to who the killer turns out to be.