Crime Writers of Canada (CWC) is pleased to announce the Winners of the 2024 Crime Writers of Canada Awards of Excellence in Canadian Crime Writing. Since 1984, Crime Writers of Canada has recognized the best in mystery, crime, suspense fiction, and crime nonfiction by Canadian authors, including citizens abroad and new residents.
On behalf of CWC, Hyacinthe Miller, Board Chair, congratulates all the Winners.
THE 2024 AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE WINNERS
The Peter Robinson Award for Best Crime Novel sponsored by Rakuten Kobo, with a $1000 prize
Loreth Anne White, The Maid's Diary, Montlake
Loreth Anne White is an accomplished writer and The Maid’s Diary deserves this year’s Award of Excellence for a deceptively simple story that is, in the end, anything but simple. It is a dark, fast-moving, unsettling thriller that builds suspense as it hurtles towards its unexpected ending.
The twists are all anchored in the story and even the outlandishly nasty characters are believable. There are multiple perspectives, with each character adding to the others’ narratives, often contradicting what has already been told.
Nothing is as it appears except for Vancouver – the finely honed setting of The Maid’s Diary. White shows her deep knowledge of police procedures with intriguing crime scene details.
A unanimous choice of the judges, The Maid’s Diary is beautifully written, gritty and guaranteed to keep the reader turning the pages late into the night.
Best Crime First Novel, sponsored by Melodie Campbell, with a $1000 prize
Amanda Peters, The Berry Pickers, Harper Perennial / HarperCollins
The Berry Pickers is a beautifully written, immersive book with a unique, propulsive structure. Its enduring resonance inspired us to think deeply about the issue of kidnapping and family separation. The three-dimensional characters are well-drawn, revealing flaws that inspire empathy, strong family bonds, and the search for the truth that ties this story together in a deeply satisfying way. And, the novel's sense of place and time added nuanced depth to the page. The Berry Pickers is a deeply poignant read that we'd recommend to anyone. It's a wonderful achievement in crime fiction, marking the marvellous debut of an exciting Canadian writer. Bravo!
The Howard Engel Award for Best Crime Novel Set in Canada, sponsored by Charlotte Engel and Crime Writers of Canada, with a $500 prize
Joan Thomas, Wild Hope, Harper Perennial/HarperCollins
Wild Hope is a captivating contemporary crime novel set against the backdrop of a bucolic small town increasingly dependent on urban visitors. Joan Thomas skillfully weaves a tale of love, betrayal, and redemption, exploring the complexities of personal commitment amidst environmental concerns.
At the heart of the story are Jake Challis, a troubled artist grappling with the ghosts of his past, and Isla Coltrane, a talented chef navigating the challenges of running a farm-to-table restaurant. Their relationship is tested when Jake's childhood friend, Reg Bevaqua, a wealthy businessman with a dubious environmental record, reemerges in their lives.
As the narrative unfolds, Thomas delves into the intricacies of friendship, love, and moral responsibility. Through richly drawn characters and evocative prose, she explores the tensions between economic progress and environmental conservation, leaving readers questioning the true cost of success.
The brilliance of the narrative means that even though the reader understands what the outcome must be, both Isla and the reader maintain a 'Wild Hope' that all will end well.
The Whodunit Award for Best Traditional Mystery sponsored by Jane Doe, with a $500 prize
Nita Prose, The Mystery Guest, Viking
The judges for the Whodunit Award for Best Traditional Mystery had fun reading the many worthwhile entries submitted, but all three judges were unanimous in selecting The Mystery Guest among their top picks. The protagonist is a clever departure from the usual sleuth. The description of Molly’s neurodivergence is excellent and insightful, and we are carried along with her as she faces her dilemmas and demons. Molly is someone you want to root for. Almost everything about this book is perfect - language, characters, and descriptions of the setting. As Molly tries to solve the mystery of a famous novelist’s murder, the author builds the puzzle with inventive skill. Just when we are sure we have the answer, the plot turns another corner and we’re off again. Along with Molly, we learn that nothing is as it seems at first glance. The judges described The Mystery Guest as “delightful” and “hands down my favourite.”
Best Crime Short Story
Marcelle Dubé, Reversion, Mystery Magazine
Crisp dialogue and a rough prairie setting nicely complement the well-executed plot in this little gem. The crime is high stakes, and the narrative evokes tension to the very (neat) end. Dubé is especially deft with character development (no mean feat within the confines of a short story): the complex psychological backstory of protagonist Luke adds depth to themes about unreconciled pasts, the regenerative power of love, and our complicated relationships with those we think we know best.
The Best French Language Crime Book (Fiction and Nonfiction)
André Marois, La sainte paix, Héliotrope
Set in rural Québec, La sainte paix asks the question – How far will an elderly woman go to maintain her peaceful existence on the Mastigouche river? We, the readers, are drawn into Jacqueline’s machinations as she goes to great lengths to protect her “holy peace” from the possibility of bothersome intruders. The main character is drawn with humour and a certain vulnerable tenderness, despite her moral failings. We understand what drives her and, while we sympathise with the well-meaning officers trying to get to the bottom of her crimes, by the end, we too are in cahoots with Jacqueline! La sainte paix is a real page-turner. The novel is well-structured; the dialogue is effective throughout, and the story has flow and a purposeful drive. This is focused storytelling at its best.
Best Juvenile/YA Crime Book, sponsored by Shaftesbury Films with a $500 prize (Fiction and Nonfiction)
Cherie Dimaline, Funeral Songs for Dying Girls, Tundra Books
In Funeral Songs For Dying Girls, Cherie Dimaline has crafted a complex novel peopled with characters who live and breathe on the page. Indigenous/white teen Winifred is a loner, dubbed Wednesday Addams and ostracized by her classmates because she lives above the small-town cemetery where her mother is buried, and the crematorium where her father works. After she unwittingly gives rise to rumours that the graveyard is haunted because of her habit of wandering the grounds at all hours, and after she befriends Phil, an actual ghost girl, Win realizes that she can play this to her father’s benefit. He is in danger of losing his job to outsourcing but the ghost tours might be enough to save them. Dimaline’s prose and language are exquisite, beautiful and yet somehow gritty, and the judges found Win’s voice to be authentic and true. This raw look at grief, self-evolution, and big life change fully embraces all the contradictions, the formative moments—those both poignant and humiliating--that make up the young adult experience, and these were all present in Dimaline’s skillful portrayal of her main character. A meticulously-crafted page-turner that includes themes of indigeneity, sexuality, first love, and identity, this novel is a bittersweet coming of age story with a paranormal twist.
The Brass Knuckles Award for Best Nonfiction Crime Book sponsored by David Reid Simpson Law Firm (Hamilton), with a $300 prize
Michael Lista, The Human Scale, Véhicule Press
Hard to put down, Michael Lista’s The Human Scale is an intriguing compilation of ten crime reports of “murder, mischief and other selected mayhems”, each with the author’s own postscript which describes the development of the narrative as well as the ramifications of publication. The collection emphasises the author’s prowess in journalistic research resulting in engaging and believable stories.
Lista’s satisfaction in unveiling the truth is clear in his concise attention to detail which not only puts the reader at the scene of the crime, but elicits emotions of surprise, empathy, and horror. Further, his examination of how he became a true crime writer and his thoughts on writing about real life crimes were fascinating. A unanimous decision to win Crime Writers Canada Award of Excellence in the non-fiction category, this compelling collection of short stories is a must read for all true crime fans.
Best Unpublished Crime Novel manuscript written by an unpublished author
Craig H. Bowlsby, Requiem for a Lotus
CWC is grateful for the support of Our Award Sponsors
About Crime Writers of Canada
Crime Writers of Canada was founded in 1982 as a professional organization designed to raise the profile of Canadian crime and mystery fiction and non-fiction writers. Our members include authors, publishers, editors, booksellers, librarians, reviewers, and literary agents as well as many developing writers. Past winners of the Awards have included well-recognized names in Canadian crime writing such as Mario Bolduc, Gail Bowen, Stevie Cameron, Howard Engel, Barbara Fradkin, Louise Penny, Peter Robinson and Eric Wright. We would like to thank our sponsors and volunteers, and the many participating publishers, authors and contest judges for their continued support.
Full details about the competition can be found on the Crime Writers of Canada’s website: www.crimewriterscanada.com
For more information about the Awards of Excellence, contact Ludvica Boota at awards@crimewriterscanada.com
To enquire about becoming an Award sponsor, contact the CWC Chair, Hyacinthe Miller, at board-chair@crimewriterscanada.com
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Join us On June 4th when our new web designer, Stephen Butters, will discuss the new and improved features of the CWC website.
Topics discussed will include:
- member account access -- where/how to login, resetting your password, etc
- an overview of the account profile section/function, what's available & how to access, etc
- the public member directory profile function -- how to edit your profile, modify privacy settings for controlling visibility of the profile & individual profile fields, etc
- membership renewal process, how & where to renew, automated recurring payments function
- the book catalogue -- how to post new books, how members can find their own books in the catalogue, and via the members-only section for editing/removing, how to edit or remove existing books, etc
Q&A to follow.
All members will receive an email invitation on May 30th. If you don’t receive the invitation, please email webinar@crimewriterscanada.com.
The 2024 Bony Blithe Mini-Con will be held on Saturday, June 15, at the High Park Club (100 Indian Road, Toronto), the home of our last 3 mini-cons, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
As always, we’ll have panels and other programming, along with lots of free books for you to take, so bring your biggest book bag. There’ll be breakfast treats, a lunch, and afternoon nibblies.
Book Sales: We will have tables set up so authors can sell and sign their books. If you want a spot, please email us at info@bonyblithe.ca so we can (1) make sure you have a place, and (2) let attendees know your books will be available.
Panels: If you are a published author and want to be on a panel (no guarantees, though, sorry), please tell us in an email to info@bloodywords.ca what your books or stories are about and what you’d be comfortable discussing.
Visit http://bonyblithe.ca for details and to register.
This 3-hour workshop is aimed at authors who are in the beginning stages of their writing careers, who have written a book and now need some guidance regarding the editing and publishing options available to them.
Attendance is free. Light refreshments will be served.
Please register in advance at winonakent@shaw.ca
Seating is limited to 20.
EDITING, FROM THE “BIG PICTURE” TO THE PERSNICKITY
Facilitator: Allyson Foster
This session will demystify the different types and stages of editing, from the “big picture” to the persnickety. We’ll discuss how to identify your editing needs, choose the right editor for your project, and make the most of your editing budget.
THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PUBLICITY AND MARKETING
Facilitator: Joanna Vander Vlugt
Multi-published Vancouver Island thriller author Joanna Vander Vlugt will provide an engaging discussion distinguishing the differences between publicity and marketing and how that equates to book sales. She’ll discuss fuelling the promotion wheel while avoiding burn out, drawing upon her own experiences with book signings, approaching bookstores and markets, as well as the importance of book reviews.
SELF-PROMOTION
Facilitator: Paulette McCarthy
Paulette will discuss one-to-one self-promotion and what tools she’s found which are helpful and have led to success. The session will inlude a brief discussion on what the authors envision for themselves in their writing careers.
WRITER ORGANIZATIONS: WHAT THEY CAN DO FOR YOU DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU’RE LOOKING FOR
Facilitator: Winona Kent
National Vice-Chair of the Crime Writers of Canada, Winona Kent, will provide a quick overview of the main writer organizations in Canada and BC, along with what membership in each of the organizations provides, and the cost.
The website Writer Beware has posted a warning of an Email scam impersonating the the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi). Please see the post on their website full details of the scam and information on how to avoid it.
Wayne Ng is excited to be in the lineup along with writers ViNa Nguyễn, Jean Van Loon and filmmaker Desmond Simon for the next Riverbed Reading Series S5:i1 – Familial Roots.
The theme of Familial Roots will be brought to life as Wayne reads from his latest novel, THE FAMILY CODE, and gives a sneak preview of his upcoming work, JOHNNY DELIVERS, the standalone sequel to the 2022 Crime Writers of Canada award-winning novella, LETTERS FROM JOHNNY.
Wednesday, May 15, 2024 | 7:30pm | in Ottawa
Location: Club SAW 67 Nicholas Street, and via Zoom
Operation Series News Release
Friday, May 10, 2024
Helen C. Escott’s Operation Series optioned for film and TV
May 10, 2024 -- Bestselling author Helen C. Escott’s five-book Operation Series published by Flanker Press has been optioned by Rink Rat Productions for film and television.
The series is set in Newfoundland and Labrador and follows the careers of Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Sgt. Nicholas Myra and RCMP Corporal Gail McNaughton. This bestselling, award-winning series takes you on lightning-paced, chillingly current criminal investigations that are surprising at every twist and completely unpredictable right up to their astonishing conclusions.
Flanker Press is celebrating 30 years in publishing and continues to provide a quality publishing service to the local and regional writing community.
Publisher, Jerry Cranford - “I would like to congratulate Helen C. Escott on taking this huge step in her professional writing career. When I published Operation Wormwood in 2018, I felt right away that this talented writer is going places. Adaptation of her novels into film and television seemed inevitable to me."
Rink Rat Productions has produced high-quality programing for over 25 years. Most recently they co-produced the critically acclaimed feature film Maudie, an international co-production between Newfoundland (Rink Rat), Ontario (Screen Door), and Ireland (Parallel Films). Rink Rat also produced the movie-of-the-week - A Christmas Fury, for CBC. Mary Sexton, President of Rink Rat Productions has a new feature film being released in the Fall -Skeet, which she produced and is written and directed by her son Nik Sexton.
Sexton is thrilled to be optioning Helen C. Escott's Operation Series. She added, “We are very much looking forward to working with Helen & a local scriptwriter to bring the Operation Series to Life! The best part of my job is telling Newfoundland and Labrador stories. Helen is an amazing writer; I have high expectations!”
Author Helen C. Escott is thrilled with the news. “I always knew the Operation Series would make great TV, and I love that they will be shot here. Newfoundland and Labrador are a main character in all my books, and I am very happy that they were picked up by a local production company with such a great track record.”
Escott’s eighth book will be released in July 2025 - We Will Meet Again, is a testament to the strength of Newfoundland women.
If you would like more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
Helen C. Escott: h.escott@hotmail.com 709-727-1927
Jerry Cranford/ Flanker Press jcranford@flankerpress.com 709-739-4477
Mary Sexton/ Rink Rat Productions msexton@rinkratproductions.com 709-727-7465
The Operation Series and other books by Helen C. Escott are available at: Chapters, and Coles. Also, online at indigo.ca Apple – iTunes, Nook – (Barnes & Noble), Amazon, and Kobo. Or at https://flankerpress.com or https://www.helencescott.com/books
We Will Meet Again
News Release - May 08, 2024
We Will Meet Again – A Testament to the strength of Newfoundland and Labrador Woman.
Bestselling, award-winning author Helen C. Escott’s eighth novel, We Will Meet Again, from Flanker Press will be released in July 2024. The book launch will take place Saturday, July 6th from 1-3 pm at Chapters, Kenmount Road, St. John’s.
Escott says the novel honours the women of Newfoundland and Labrador who kept the home fires burning during the Second World War while the province lost a generation of men. The release coincides with the repatriation of the Unknown Solider at the National War Memorial and Memorial Day on July first.
When Newfoundland soldiers were killed in World War II, it sent shock waves through families that are felt to this very day. We Will Meet Again follows the lives of four women from the same family who learn to turn this generational trauma into generational strength.
It is about the special bond between mothers and daughters. Hadley Hynes is days away from celebrating her 100th birthday. Her daughter, Patricia, granddaughter Ava, and great-granddaughter Christine are planning one last birthday party in her house on Victoria Street which Hadley has lived in for over eighty years.
While cleaning out the cupboards Ava comes across a hidden box of love letters from Hadley’s first love, John Vincent, a Newfoundlander who volunteered to serve in the British Royal Navy. It is only then they discover that John died during WWII and Hadley married his best friend, Michael.
As the story unfolds each woman reveals a secret that has paralyzed their life. They pack up boxes and bags only to discover how each of them has nurtured a generational trauma and turned it into a family tradition.
We Will Meet Again is the love story of four generations of women and how they healed their past to protect their future. Escott says it touches on everything we hold sacred in this province: Nan, Jesus, and Elvis.
“I don’t know how you can listen to Elvis and pray to Jesus at the same time,” Ava yelled over the music. “I can hardly hear myself think.”
“Maybe I’m listening to Jesus and praying to Elvis.” Hadley quirked a grin. “They’re both kings.”
Helen Escott acknowledges the support of ArtsNL for this novel. Last year they invested $3.2 million to foster and promote the creation and enjoyment of the arts for the benefit of all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.
If you would like more information or to arrange an interview, please contact Flanker Press at (709) 739-4477. Helen C. Escott can be reached at h.escott@hotmail.com
Other books by Helen C. Escott are available at: Chapters, and Coles. Also, online at indigo.ca Apple – iTunes, Nook – (Barnes & Noble), Amazon, and Kobo. Or at https://flankerpress.com or https://www.helencescott.com/books
Saturday, June 15th, from 1-5 p.m.
The last event, held in March 2020 (just before the pandemic shut everything down) was a great success. There were eleven of us, and we had lots of time to network as well as speak about and sell our books. For this event, the library is inviting eight authors to participate. Peter Pontsa and Hyacinthe Miller are coordinating on behalf of Regional Representative Jass Aujla.
Here is an overview of the afternoon:
1 to 2 p.m. – author setup. Depending on the space available, we may need to share tables for promoting/selling our books.
2 to 3:15 p.m. – Welcome and author presentations
3:15 - 3:45 p.m. Question & Answer period with the audience
3:45 – 4:15 p.m. Refreshments, networking, book sales
If you are interested in participating, please email board-chair@crimewriterscanada.com with the subject line – New Tecumseth Public Library Author Showcase, by May 10th.
Once the list of participants has been finalized, authors will be asked for a 50-word bio, headshot, photo of your book cover, two questions for the librarian to ask, and an indication of what you would contribute to the draw. If we have more authors interested in participating, we will organize another Showcase at a later date.
Due to a number of circumstances, we are rescheduling the AGM from May 30th to June 20, 2024. You will receive the meeting package – agenda, minutes of 2023 AGM, proxy voting form, review Report on Motion re: AM voting by May 30th. Signing up to attend the AGM will be a breeze this year, as that functionality is included on the new website.
In advance of that, an has been sent to all active members with details of the call for nominations Call for Nominations. Background information is included on the Roles & Responsibilities page. We have an excellent group of directors from across Canada, and you can look forward to joining an energetic, creative team planning the future of CWC. The board and committees hold monthly business meetings.
Here are the vacancies for which we are seeking volunteers:
We also have several committees needing members: Marketing &
Promotions, Fundraising, Membership, Jury Selection and Awards. The
latter two committees are well established, so there would be a short
learning curve. The others are new.
The
coming years will be exciting ones for Crime Writers of Canada as we
build a stronger foundation for the future. Volunteer to join the CWC
team – there will always be experienced folks around to support you and
ease your transition to your new role. We’d love to have you bring your
skills and ideas to the table.
Please send your expression of interest to Cathy Fynn at ed@crimewriterscanada.com. Cathy will forward that information to our Nominating Committee Chair.
Cathy Fynn
Executive Director
Crime Writers of Canada