Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, has made 88 new appointments to the Order of Canada, including Maureen Jennings.
The Order of Canada is the cornerstone of the Canadian Honours System. Thanks to nominators across the country, it has celebrated the outstanding achievements and wide-ranging contributions of over 8 000 individuals since its creation in 1967.
Maureen Jennings is an author known for her historical crime novels, particularly the Detective Murdoch series, which inspired the long-running TV show Murdoch Mysteries. Her works explore important aspects of Canadian history, especially women's roles during the Second World War. A mentor to fellow writers, she received the Grandmaster Award from Crime Writers of Canada.
Out of almost 700 submissions, Judy's e-book, Finding YOUR Path to Publication: A Step-by-Step Guide, was awarded First Place in the Prescriptive/Informative Nonfiction category of the 12th Annual Writer’s Digest Self-Published E-book Awards. This self-published competition spotlights today’s self-published works and honors self-published authors.
Blurb from Crime Fiction Lover:
The corpse always has something made of a precious substance in this series from Cathy Ace, which features Welsh-Canadian criminal psychologist Cait Morgan and her retired cop husband, Bud. In their latest outing, a champion pearl diver is found floating in the lagoon at the new Tahitian resort where Cait and Bud are staying. It’s just opened and its reputation is on the line, and Cait is sure the death was no accident. A prodigious swimmer wouldn’t drown like that, would they? Whether Cait and Bud are at home or abroad in some luxury location, you can always be sure that a cosy mystery will follow them. Perfect escapism from Cathy Ace. See our review here and/or order your copy here.
See all the winners at The Crime Fiction Lover Awards 2024: The Winners | Crime Fiction Lover
The front cover of Dianne Scott's novel, SABOTAGE, Won the 2024 Kobo Writing Life Indie Cover Contest for mystery. Kudos to the design artist Lance Buckley. Click on the button below for more information.
We recently sent you an Email regarding a discounted rate for 2-year membership renewals; an issue was identified with the some of the instructions in that Email and we wanted to send a follow-up with corrected instructions, as well as clarify some details of the renewal process with the new website, based on questions and feedback we've received.
In the previous Email, we mentioned that members currently on 1-year membership terms could take advantage of the December discount for 2-year renewals by changing their membership level -- however, the membership management system will not allow for a level change if renewal is pending for their existing membership level (which is the case for members with a renewal date of December 31st).
If you attempted to follow the previous instructions but were unable to find the option to change your membership level, please follow these steps:
Since the launch of the new website earlier this year, we've been using a new membership management system & that has introduced some changes to the renewal process. At 30 days before your renewal date, the system will generate and send a renewal invoice -- this is done so that members have sufficient time to renew their membership before the due date; the renewal invoice is not due until the actual renewal date, and is not a receipt/payment notice.
If membership hasn't been renewed by 30 days past the renewal date, then that membership will be considered "Lapsed" and the renewal invoice will be automatically voided. And there are several additional renewal reminder notice sent before that point (15 days before the renewal date, on the day-of, and 15 days after the renewal date) to ensure that memberships don't expire unintentionally.
The membership management system that's part of the new website includes support for automated, recurring renewal payments -- due to technical factors and policies of the payment processing system we use, this is currently available only for the 1-year membership terms, and not for 2-year terms. If your membership is currently 1-year and you renewed your membership 2024 via the new website, then automated recurring payments are most likely already enabled for your membership.
When paying online for a 1-year membership renewal (or new membership), the system will automatically enable recurring payments -- though this can easily be turned off if you would rather send payment manually (see below for the steps to check if automatic recurring payment is enabled, and how to disable it if desired). On the renewal due date, the system will automatically process membership renewal & payment; a copy of the invoice & the normal renewal reminders will still be sent before that point, however you don't need to take any action related to them if you have enabled automatic payments, as your membership will be renewed automatically.
HOW TO CHECK IF AUTOMATIC RECURRING PAYMENTS ARE ENABLED
The easiest way to determine if automatic recurring payments are enabled for your account is to go to the "Invoices and payments" portion of your account profile: https://members.crimewriterscanada.com/Sys/Profile/Finances
From there, if recurring payments are enabled you should see a button labeled "STOP RECURRING PAYMENTS"; if that button isn't present, then recurring payments aren't enabled for your membership.
HOW TO DISABLE RECURRING PAYMENTS, IF ENABLED
If you currently have recurring payments enabled and wish to turn them off (E.g. if you prefer to send payment manually or offline), simply go to the go to the "Invoices and payments" portion of your account profile: https://members.crimewriterscanada.com/Sys/Profile/Finances
From there, click on the "STOP RECURRING PAYMENTS" button. After doing that, your next membership renewal will not be processed automatically & you will need to re-enter your payment information (or send payment offline) instead.
If you have questions, or need assistance related to membership renewal, please don't hesitate to ask. The quickest way to get assistance is to Email us at membership@crimewriterscanada.com, and we will get back to you as quickly as possible.
We are asking for your support for our ambitious plans to do more of what we already do well—expanding our programs to promote and support Canadian crime writing. To do more, we need additional financing, staff, and volunteers over the next year. You can help!
As you probably know, we’re currently in a period of transition. We have a new management team. We’re upgrading our membership management and accounting operating systems, improving the performance of our website, and expanding our communications channels and social media presence. During this challenging period, we’ve continued to deliver essential membership services, manage our internationally recognized awards program, produce webcasts and workshops, podcasts, and author interviews, and we’ve significantly raised the profile of CWC, our author members, and their published work.
We plan to continue improving our member services and our mission of promoting and supporting Canadian crime writing.
However, our capacity to expand these programs for greater impact is severely limited by our lack of funds and staff resources. So, we’re asking for your help to raise funds and actively support our efforts. The current CWC management team is limited to two contracted part-time staff members and a few pro-active volunteers. Our annual budget is thinly stretched across these limited activities so we can avoid operating at a deficit.
Our primary sources of funds, until now, have been membership fees, sponsorships, and the annual awards program. However, we now have the opportunity to solicit donations as a registered charity under our official designation as a National Arts Service Organisation which supports Canadian crime writing.
Our ambitious plans for the future are being documented in an updated Strategic Plan.
To fulfill our mission of promotion and support of Canadian crime writing more effectively, this updated plan will focus on the following themes:
You can help Crime Writers of Canada achieve these important improvement objectives now. Please consider supporting our mission, and help us provide more stable and predictable financial resources and additional staffing for key committees, staff positions and programs by contributing in any of the following ways:
Accept our Special Offer for early renewals and new memberships received before December 31,,2024 with a 20% discount for a two-year membership.
Professional Author Member @ only $224 versus 2 X $140 = $280, saving $56.
Associate Member @ only $152 versus 2 x $95 = $190, saving $38.
Supporting Member @ only $152 versus 2 x $95 = $190, saving $38.
This discount is valid until December 31, 2024. Your early membership renewal will NOT affect your expiry date (e.g, if your membership expires in February 2025, a two-year early renewal before December 31 will extend that membership until February 2027).
If you are currently on a 2-year membership term, then simply click the "RENEW NOW" button (below) before December 31st to take advantage of the discount.
If you are currently on a 1-year membership term and would like to take advantage of the discount, you will need to change your membership level. To do so, please see the instructions here.
If you have already renewed your 1-year membership, you can still take advantage of the discount by changing to a 2-year membership -- to do so, please follow the instructions above. Once payment has been received for your new membership level, we will send you a refund for the difference between your previous membership level and the new one.
OR
You can also renew your 1-year membership on your renewal date at the regular membership rate of $140 (Professional Author Member) or $95 (Associate and Supporting Members).
Make a tax-deductible donation to Crime Writers of Canada as a National Arts Service Organisation before December 31 and immediately receive a tax receipt applicable for 2024. Any amount, large or small, will make a difference and inspire us to do more for Canadian crime writing.
Volunteer your time and expertise
with one of the national committees – Strategic Planning, Membership, Awards, Marketing or Finance – or actively support your Regional Director with local activities and author events.
Please contact our Executive Director or Regional Director to discuss our needs and where you might be able to help.
We look forward to your continued support and active engagement in promoting and supporting Canadian crime writing and working with your fellow members. Please share this appeal with your contacts, readers, friends, and fans of Canadian crime writing who may also wish to join us in these efforts.
We sincerely thank you for your time and appreciate your consideration of this appeal.
The Executive Committee of Crime Writers of Canada,
Winona | Del | Ludvica | Erik |
Winona Kent | Del Chatterson | Ludvica Boota | Erik D’Souza |
Chair | Vice Chair | Executive Director | Marketing & Communications Manager |
Join author Amy Tector as she shares insights on leveraging her newsletter to amplify her writing and connect with readers. Discover how she crafts engaging content that promotes her work and builds a vibrant community.
Presenter
Amy Tector has spent more than 20 years plumbing the secrets squirrelled away at Canada’s national archives, Library and Archives.Amy’s debut novel, THE HONEYBEE EMERALDS was published in spring 2022 and was a finalist for the Indie Book Award Best - First Novel. Her second novel, THE FOULEST THINGS, was the first in a loose trilogy centered on murders and mayhem in the archives. It was a finalist in the Crime Writers of Canada awards. SPEAK FOR THE DEAD was the second in the series and the third is HONOR THE DEAD.Amy has a PhD in English literature and lives in Ottawa, Canada with a daughter named Violet, a husband named Andrew and a dog named Daffodil. She is an enthusiastic, but incompetent, cross-country skier.
All CWC members will receive an email invitation to join us on November 21th.
Celebrate the launch of Shane Peacock's latest book, As We Forgive Others, at the official book launch on Tues. Nov 5, 5:00 to 7:00pm, at Ben McNally Books, 108 Queen Street East, Toronto ON.
Celebrate the launch of Wayne’s latest book, JOHNNY DELIVERS, the stand-alone sequel to the CWC award-winning LETTERS FROM JOHNNY, and support the Yet Keen Seniors’ Day Centre with food, fun, raffles, a silent auction, mahjong, music and more!
Tax receipts will be provided for donations above $20.
📕About JOHNNY DELIVERS by Wayne Ng
In 1977 Toronto, eighteen-year-old Johnny Wong tries to save his chaotic family and their Chinese restaurant from debt, by invoking the spirit of Bruce Lee and selling weed with deliveries. All this while juggling a first love, high school, and uncovering sordid family secrets.
🏮About The Yet Keen Seniors' Day Centre
Yet Keen is a program of the Somerset West Community Health Centre, dedicated to reducing isolation and enhancing the wellbeing of Chinese-speaking seniors in Ottawa. Established by the community for the community nearly 40 years ago, it remains the only language- and culturally-specific drop-in centre in Ottawa where Chinese seniors can socialize in their mother tongue—a crucial aspect of supporting both their physical and mental health.
Join us to hear from members of the Crime Writers of Canada as they share about their writing and the process. Experts in the field of crime writing, these authors are local to Southern Ontario and ready to share their varied stories and tips. From political crime thrillers to paranormal novels and noir mystery, there is something for everyone in this author showcase.
Save the date! Refreshments included.
Author Lineup:
Jim McDonald - Jim's writing experience covers journalism, theater, a completed novel, a second novel in progress, and a published book of short stories Smash Palace.
Peter Thomas Pontsa, author - His political crime thriller, Outfoxed: An Inspector William Fox Adventure, is an international mystery filled with action, suspense, adventure, and romance.
Angela Van Breemen - Past Life's Revenge, is a suspenseful crime thriller with a twist of spiritualism that solves cold cases using the paranormal.
Hyacinthe M. Miller (H.m. Miller) - In Kenora Reinvented, a former soccer mom is shoved by a series of life events into having to start over in middle age. After many rejections and rookie mistakes, she ends up wining as a private investigator and in second-chance romance.
Kris Purdy - Writing myster fiction drawing inspiration from real people, without exposing their identities or getting too personal.
Alexis Stefanovich-Thomson - Writes a wide variety of crime and crime- adjacent fiction. His first novel, The Road to Heaven, a noir mystery set in Toronto during the 60s, was recently released by Dundurn Press.