The Big Event
Ottawa, Ontario | June 5 to 7, 2009
Agenda | Updates
Our Guests
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Canadian Guest of Honour
Louise Penny
Louise Penny is the international bestselling author of the Chief Inspector Gamache mystery series. Her first book, STILL LIFE, won the UK Dagger, the Canadian Arthur Ellis, as well as the US Anthony, Barry and Dilys awards. Her second book, DEAD COLD, won the Agatha Award for Best Novel, the first Canadian writer to win that award. Her third, The Cruellest Month, was shortlisted for the Arthur Ellis for Best Novel and debuted at #1 on the US IMBA bestseller lists. Her latest novel is THE MURDER STONE.
Louise is deeply grateful to the Crime Writers of Canada, as an organization, and to the writers themselves, for being such a genuinely supportive community. And to the readers, who are passionate, smart and kind. What could be better than getting together with other mystery readers and writers? Despite her great good fortune in being published, and with these awards, Louise knows her greatest award is being married to Michael, and living a life of bliss in Sutton, Quebec, with friends, family and two smelly golden retrievers.
www.louisepenny.com
www.louisepenny.blogspot.com |
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International Guest of Honour
Denise Mina
Denise Mina was born in Glasgow. Her first novel 'Garnethill' won the Crime Writers' Association John Creasey Dagger for the best first crime novel and was the start of a trilogy completed by 'Exile' and 'Resolution'. A fourth novel followed, a stand alone, named 'Sanctum' in the UK and 'Deception' in the US. In 2005 'The Field of Blood' was published, the first of a series of five books following the career and life of journalist Paddy Meehan from the newsrooms of the early 1980s, through the momentous events of the nineteen nineties. The second in the series was published in 2006, ‘The Dead Hour’.
She also writes comics and wrote ‘Hellblazer’, the John Constantine series for Vertigo, for a year. In 2006 she wrote her first play, “Ida Tamson” an adaptation of a short story which was serialised in the Evening Times over five nights. As well as all of this she writes short stories published various collections, stories for BBC Radio 4, contributes to TV and radio.
www.denisemina.com |
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Master of Ceremonies
Mary Jane Maffini
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Mary Jane Maffini is the author of two Fiona Silk mysteries, the Camilla MacPhee books, the Charlotte Adams mysteries and nearly two dozen short stories. A six-time nominee for the Crime Writers of Canada’s Arthur Ellis Awards, she scored two awards for best short story as well as nominations for best first novel with Speak Ill of the Dead and best novel Lament for a Lounge Lizard, the first Fiona Silk book. In 2006, The Dead Don’t Get Out Much was nominated for a Barry Award, (sponsored by Deadly Pleasures Magazine). Toronto-based Thump Entertainment has optioned the Camilla MacPhee characters and plans are underway for a made-for-TV movie.
Mary Jane was born in Sydney, Nova Scotia, and has her BA (Hons) and MLS from Dalhousie University. After a career in libraries, and a wonderful ride as a co-owner of Prime Crime Mystery Bookstore in Ottawa, she has settled into a life of crime, surrounded by her two miniature dachshunds, and her long-suffering husband. She's a former President of Crime Writers of Canada, and a former member of the board of directors of the Canadian Booksellers Association. She's a frequent speaker on writing mysteries and on the importance of Canadian crime fiction. In real life, although she is a member of the Ladies' Killing Circle, she has never killed anyone.
www.maryjanemaffini.ca |
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