Episode 6: The Kootenays

December 8, 2022
The Western Wing
Episode 6: The Kootenays

Iona Whishaw, JG Toews, and Dave Butler discuss the Kootenays, a region in south-eastern BC, which has been the setting of their mysteries. Moderated by Erik D'Souza.

As Iona says: The Kootenays are such a great place to live, and die.

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Episode 5: Smashing Syereotypes

November 3, 2022
The Western Wing
Episode 5: Smashing Syereotypes

Crime Writers Canada's Erik D'Souza, chats with fellow authors Jayne Barnard, Tara Moss and Alan R. Warren.

Video descriptor: We see a Zoom screen split into four panels. The first shows Erik D'Souza. He wears a collared white shirt and glasses, and has dark hair. He is wearing ear buds.

The second panel shows Tara Moss. Tara is a tall white woman with long dark salt and pepper hair. She is using her wheelchair, Nyx, and is wearing a grey top and dark red lipstick.

The third shows Alan R Warren, a white man with grey beard and a baseball cap, with shelves of books behind him.

The fourth panel shows Jayne Barnard. Jayne describes herself as a short white-haired woman with red glasses and a straight-necked burgundy sweater.

One resource to get people started on understanding and avoiding stereotypes in their work

https://geekfeminism.fandom.co......

One targeting disability representation in particular:

https://www.npr.org/.../how-to.......

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Episode 2: Strong Female Characters

October 21, 2022
The Western Wing
Episode 2: Strong Female Characters

What makes a strong female character strong? Authors Tara Moss, Joanna Vander Vlugt, and Ardelle Holden discuss this issue with host Erik D’Souza. All three authors have written novels with compelling female protagonists but have also created secondary female characters that enrich their narratives. Crime literature has come a long way from female characters being slotted into stories as victims or femme fetales. Or has it?

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Episode 4: Romance in Crime Novels

March 27, 2022
The Western Wing
Episode 4: Romance in Crime Novels

Crime Writers Canada presents four BC authors, Debra Purdy Kong, Joanna VanderVlugt, Lyn E. Ayre and Merrilee Robson discussing: Is there a place for Romance in a Crime Novels?

The Western Wing is a series of panels by Crime Writers Canada members from the BC/Yukon region.

Hosted by Erik D'Souza.

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Episode 3: The State of Noir

February 9, 2022
The Western Wing
Episode 3: The State of Noir
The Golden Age of noir literature was in the 1950’s. Is the genre long dead like a corpse buried in the hot desert? Or has it been hiding in the shadows of sub-culture? It’s thriving in Vancouver. Three BC members of the Crime Writers of Canada, Sam Wiebe, A.J. Devlin and J.T. Siemens discus why Vancouver is the perfect setting for their hardboiled tales. Hosted by Erik D’Souza.
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Episode 1: What Makes an Amateur Sleuth an Amateur Sleuth

August 10, 2021
The Western Wing
Episode 1: What Makes an Amateur Sleuth an Amateur Sleuth

Crime Writers of Canada presents: The Western Wing

Episode 1: What makes an Amateur Sleuth an Amateur?

The Western Wing is a panel discussion between four Western Region members and includes a short reading from each of the guests. In our first episode, guests Winona Kent, Judee Fong, and Debra Purdy Kong discuss the amateur detective genre. We look for common factors that make the amateur sleuths a fascinating lead for a mystery novel.

Guest Bios:

Winona Kent

Winona Kent is an award-winning author of a series of books and stories featuring professional jazz musician/amateur sleuth Jason Davey. She's currently the BC/YT/NWT rep for the Crime Writers of Canada and is also an active member of Sisters in Crime – Canada West.

Judee Fong

After taking a mystery writing course from Nicola Furlong and encouraged by Lou Allin, Judee Fong, a Victoria writer, fell into a life of crime—embracing murder and mayhem. She and her sleuth, Newton Figby work best fueled by Belgian dark chocolate.

Debra Purdy Kong

Debra Purdy Kong is the author of the Vancouver-based Casey Holland mystery series. She’s currently working on her first Casey novella called Man in a Gold Satin Thong, and an urban fantasy tentatively titled, When Darkness Draws Nearer.

Host Bio

Erik D’Souza

Erik D’Souza is an author and publisher who lives in the suburbs of Vancouver, BC. His most recent novel, Death in Halfmoon Bay, is a cozy/traditional mystery set on the coast of BC. He’s currently the Webinar Coordinator for Crime Writers of Canada.

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