ARTHUR ELLIS SHORTLIST
Confined Space has been nominated for an Arthur Ellis Award for Best First Novel by the Crime Writers of Canada.
The Arthur Ellis Awards celebrate excellence in Canadian crime writing – and there is a lot to celebrate! So much wonderful crime writing happening in this country right now. If you are looking for something to read, you can’t go wrong with any of the titles on the Arthur Ellis shortlists.
The winners will be announced at a banquet in Toronto on May 30.
ONE BOOK ONE KOOTENAY
Confined Space has been selected as one of the shortlisted titles for the One Book One Kootenay celebration! OBOK is very fun event organized by the Kootenay Library Federation. Never Going Back by Antonia Banyard and The Dolphin’s Tooth by Bruce Kirkby are also nominated.
Over the next few months, Kootenay readers will have a chance to read and discuss these titles, meet and arm-wrestle with the authors (okay, not really) and vote for their favourite book.
As part of the One Book One Kootenay celebration, I will be reading at the Nelson Public Library on May 23rd at 7:30 p.m. Hope to see you there!
More details here.
MYSTERY CAMP
I will be co-facilitating a mystery/suspense writing retreat with Holley Rubinsky, from July 29 – August 2, in beautiful Kaslo, BC.
This four-day retreat will be a great opportunity to work on your mystery in a supportive atmosphere with Holley and I to guide you along. You can find full details about this retreat, here.
I had an opportunity to test out on of Holley’s mini-retreats last week. What a treat! Everyone works hard, the atmosphere is low-key, there’s lots of support, and Holley knows just when to break open a bag of chips, make tea or massage sore shoulders. I’m really looking forward to going back in July!
HOLIDAY BOOK SIGNINGS
I’ll be signing books and chatting with readers and shoppers in Creston and Nelson on these dates:
Friday, November 23rd -1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Coles Books,Chako Mika Mall, Nelson BC
Saturday, December 1st – 2:00pm to 4:00 pm
Black Bear Books, Creston, BC
Saturday, December 8th – 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Save-On-Foods, Chako Mika Mall, Nelson, BC
VANCOUVER WRITER’S FESTIVAL
I will be at the Vancouver International Writer’s Festival on Saturday, October 20 at 10:30 a.m. on stage with Louise Penny and Robert Rotenberg.
Notice how calmly I said that?
Details and ticket information here.
Hope to see you there!
REVIEWS and MEDIA
It has been a wonderful month and a bit since Confined Space was launched into the world! Lots of people are talking about the book. Here are some highlights:
Reviews:
Jack Batten in the Toronto Star, June 2, 2012:
“…an intelligently conceived, suspenseful and elegantly written story.”
Margaret Cannon in the Globe and Mail, June 20, 2012:
“…introduces ex-Canadian Forces commander Bern Fortin in what is sure to become a popular series.”
Sarah Weinman in the National Post, July 6, 2012.
“…she doles out ingredients in an appealingly low-key fashion and paces the book and clues at a steady clip. Deryn Collier is a welcome addition to the crime fiction scene here, and I’ll be looking out for her next book in due course.”
Media:
Interview on CBC’s North by Northwest with Sheryl Mackay, aired on Saturday, June 30, 2012. Click here to listen.
Interview with Hilary Davidson, Ian Hamilton, Robin Spano and I, with Kevin Sylvester on CBC’s The Sunday Edition, which aired on July 1, 2012. Click here to listen.
Feature in Nelson Star News, July 5, 2012.
Blogs:
Yummy Mummy Book Club featured Confined Space as their June pick. We had a live Twitter chat which was so, so much fun.
Local stunt artist turned fantasy author Kristene Perron (remember that name, folks!) blogs about the local launch of Confined Space, here.
I love librarians, and I think that misbehaving librarians must be the best kind. Here’s what the Misbehavin’ Librarian had to say about Confined Space.
Fictionophile (Lynne LeGrow – who is also one of my fabulous blog readers) also has a lovely post about Confined Space, and she also chose it for a Staff Pick for the Halifax Public Library website. (Thanks, Lynne!)
Yummy Mummy and Twitter pal Sheilagh Leigh posted a review of Confined Space on her blog.
And, there are lots and lots of reviews on Goodreads. I, for one, am too chicken to read them all. But my mom says they are good. You can find them here.
Guest Blog Posts:
I was honoured to be the guest editor for a week on the National Post Books Blog. My posts told the story of a dead body that my son and I found – fact, not fiction. You can read the whole series here, starting at the bottom and working your way up.
I was THRILLED to be a guest blogger on the amazing Jungle Reds blog. You can find my post, How to Die in a Brewery, here. I was so excited to be invited by Julia Spencer-Fleming. To say I’m a fan of hers is truly an understatement. She’s been incredibly supportive and has had the most wonderful things to say about Confined Space.
Wow, that’s a lot, isn’t it? There are some more guest blog posts coming up. I’ll be sure to post them.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Kootenay Shenanigans
Murder in the Brewery – Nelson Launch
June 15, 2012
Confined Space launch and Nelson Public Library fundraiser will be happening at the Nelson Brewing Company at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $25 each and are available at Otter Books and the Nelson Public Library. All proceeds will go toward enhancing the mystery collection at the library. There will be music, delicious appetizers, and (of course!) beer. I’ll be reading from Confined Space and Otter Books will be on hand selling books if you’d like to pick up a copy.
AND… The whole thing will happen in a 100 year old brewery next to a bottle line straight out of Laverne and Shirley. In short – it’s going to be incredible! BUT… the brewery can only hold 50 people. So, if you want to come, I’d suggest you hop on over to Otter Books (398 Baker Street) or to the Nelson Library (602 Stanley Street Nelson) to book your tickets!
Lower Mainland “Crime Tour”
I am so excited to be taking part in a series of events we’ve called The Crime Tour: Three Hip Chicks & One Old Fart. “The Chicks” are Hilary Davidson, Robin Spano and Deryn Collier (yes, that would be me!). The self-proclaimed “Old Fart” is Ian Hamilton. These events are going to be loads of fun – hope to see you there!
Real Vancouver Crime
Sunday, June 17th from 2-5 p.m., W2 Woodwards
Join Sean Cranbury of Books on the Radio as he hosts The Crime Tour for an afternoon of readings in a funky space on Vancouver’s Lower East Side.
There is a $5.00 cover charge for this event, to cover cost of the room rental.
Murder in the Woods
Monday, June 18th from 6:30-8:00 p.m., Squamish Library
The Crime Tour travels up the Sunshine Coast for an evening of chatting mystery and writing in the wooded beauty of the Sea-to-Sky highway. This event is free and open to the public. Books will be for sale on site by Armchair Books.
Meet and Greet at Chapters
Tuesday, June 19th from 1:00-3:00 p.m. Chapters (Robson & Howe)
Come down to Chapters on Robson & Howe to meet and visit with The Crime Tour authors and get your books signed. Books will be available for sale/signing.
A Mystery Evening to Die For
Tuesday June 19th from 7:00-9:00 p.m. at the Richmond Public Library Brighouse (Main) Branch.
Join up with The Crime Tour for a full evening of author readings, a panel discussion on the writing process and a lengthy Q&A. Books will be available for sale on site from Dead Write Books.
Triple Threat: Chicks Who Solve Crime!
Thursday June 21 7:00-8:30 p.m., Burnaby Public Library, McGill Branch
Join The Crime Tour chicks for a fun, all-female night of mystery readings and discussion in Burnaby. Books will be available for sale on site from Dead Write Books.