I enjoyed meeting author Donna Fletcher Crow at Tuesday night’s Partners In Crime Reading at Owl’s Nest Bookstore. Donna wrote a nice post about the event. It includes pictures of Stephen, Linda and me reading. Thanks to our publisher, TouchWood Editions, and Owl’s Nest Bookstore for organizing the night. http://www.donnafletchercrow.com/articles.php?id=101
Monthly Archives: November 2011
November events
This month, my main focus is writing, but I have a few events coming up.
On Tuesday, November 22nd, I’ll be reading with two fellow mystery writers at Owl’s Nest Books; I’ll also be signing copies of Deadly Fall at Chapters Shawnessy on Saturday, Nov 19, 12:00-4:00 PM, and Chapters Chinook Mall on Saturday, Nov 26, 1:00-4:00 PM. Here are the details:
Partners in Crime
Join us for an evening with three local mystery authors, who will read from their latest novels, which are all set in our own backyard.
Where: Owl’s Nest Books & Gifts
815A 49th Avenue SW
403-287-9557.
When Tuesday, November 22nd 2011 at 7:00 pm.
The Authors
Susan Calder, author of Deadly Fall
Linda Kupecek, author of Deadly Dues
Stephen Legault, author of The End of the Line
Deadly Fall by Susan Calder
Paula Savard’s life has stalled. Her lukewarm love life, job as an insurance adjuster and grownup children are more frustrating than exciting. However, she gets more than she asked for when her once best friend, Callie, is murdered while jogging to Paula’s inner-city Calgary home. The police suggest Callie was coming to Paula for help, which is news to Paula since they hadn’t seen each other in ages. Soon, Paula’s suspicions zero in on Callie’s new husband, Sam.
An ill-considered investigation turns personal for Paula when she begins to get close to Sam, but is Sam’s interest a front to trick Paula? Lies begin accumulating. Suddenly, Paula’s not sure who she should protect and who she should fear. As the truth reveals itself, Paula hatches a plan to draw the killer out. The plan’s success would not only allow her to solve the murder, but also give her life a fresh start.
Deadly Dues by Linda Kupecek
When former TV star Lulu Malone finds her evil union representative stabbed to death, her first instinct is to run. Unfortunately, the exit is crowded, as she has four actor friends with her. Without much choice, Lulu becomes enmeshed in the real-life detective hunt, one that she has only experienced as an actor on TV. With her life in danger, and her beloved dog Horatio kidnapped, Lulu’s days are filled with threats, thrift store finds, and hindrances by unknown, overweight assailants.
Get ready for the Lulu Malone mysteries, a gutsy new detective series that presents meditations on the life of the artist, in between muggings, murders and mayhem.
The End of the Line by Stephen Legault
It’s the winter of 1884, and five hundred Canadian Pacific Rail workers have halted their push through the Rockies at Holt City, an isolated shantytown in the shadow of the Continental Divide. The men are tired and cold, and patience is as scarce as the rationed food. Then, Deek Penner, a CPR section boss, is brutally murdered at the end of the track. His body is found frozen on the banks of the Bow River.
Durrant Wallace, a veteran of the celebrated March West by the North West Mounted Police a decade earlier, is returned to active duty to investigate the murder. Durrant lost his leg in a gun battle with whiskey traders three years previous, and he struggles with being a Mounted Police officer who cannot ride. When Durrant arrives, Holt City is ripe with possible suspects: illegal whiskey smugglers, spies for rival railways, explosives dealers and a mysterious Member of Parliament who insists on getting his meddling fingers into everybody else’s business. Durrant must use his cunning and determination to discover to identify the killer before he finds his next victim and derails the great Canadian national dream in the process.
Susan Calder Book Signings:Chapters Shawnessy: Saturday, Nov 19, 12:00-4:00 PM
16061 Macleod Trail SE
Chapters Chinook Mall: Saturday, Nov 26, 1:00-4:00 PM
6455 Macleod Trail SW
Best wishes,
Susan
Sun, Sand & a Writers Festival
My short story “Freezer Breakdown” will be published in The Best of the Puerto Vallarta Writers Anthology 2012. The book is supposed to come out in time for the Puerto Vallarta Book and Authors’ Festival on Feb 24-26, 2012. It’s nice to think of my story in that warm place, especially given the story’s title.
I joined the Puerto Vallarta Writers group last spring after reading a travel article on Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, in the Calgary Herald. Author Wanda St. Hilaire mentioned the writers group. A few weeks earlier, a friend who spends half the year in Mexico had told me about the annual PV festival. I was intrigued, having spent one holiday at a PV all-inclusive resort. That week, in addition to lounging by the beach and pool, Will and I strolled the Malecon, hiked up Gringo Gulch, zip-lined and rode a speed boat to a village inaccessible by road. We often talk of returning to Puerto Vallarta some winter for a longer period of time.
A Google search of the festival led me to the Puerto Vallarta writers group website. It invites everyone to join online with no membership dues or requirements such as having any connection to Puerto Vallarta. Most members seem to be English speakers from cooler climates who live or winter in PV, although some members have Latino names. The group meets Saturday mornings at the Los Mangos Library for discussion and writing feedback.
I joined mainly to have a tiny connection to PV, which I felt I’d particularly appreciate during the long Calgary winter. Plus, I thought, if I ever did return I might like to attend a meeting of the writers group or the festival.
I started getting e-mail postings from group members. One with the subject header “Call for Submissions” caught my eye. The group was planning to publish an anthology. The requirements were a short story (1,000-5,000 words) and online membership in the group. You could submit up to two stories, but only the highest ranking one would be accepted. Each story was judged anonymously by 5 or 6 people, some members of the group, some outsiders. “Freezer Breakdown” made the cut.
The anthology is in production now. Its cover image is a beautiful Mexican beach. I’d like to do a warm weather holiday this winter and am thinking of Puerto Vallarta in February.
The Best of the Puerto Vallarta Writers Anthology 2012 will be available for purchase on Amazon.com. For a list of contributors, visit the Puerto Vallarta Writers Group facebook page.