October, 2009
My time has been taken up with the start up of back to school at Humber, the busiest time in our academic year, and being on deadline for the second novel, A Brush with Death. But two really fun events in September. My Humber colleague, Andrea Tavchar, invited me to her monthly book club meeting in Toronto and I had a wonderful time. The ladies asked great questions, were very perceptive and came up with a wonderful idea for the website, which I am going to try to implement. If you have a book club and you’d like me to participate, please contact me.
On October 1, I joined best-selling UK mystery author Peter James, creator of the Roy Grace police procedural series set in Brighton, for the launch of the Fine Print Mystery series, sponsored by Ben McNally books. Peter was in Canada to promote his new book, Dead Tomorrow which deals with the trade in human organs. Great read! It was wonderful to see friends and family at the event – many thanks to everyone who turned out to make the evening so successful.
Here’s a photo of me with Peter James:
Friday, August 28, 2009
LIVERPOOL, UK – Have been in Britain for the past week, on holiday, and doing the last bit of research for the new Penny Brannigan, called A Brush with Death. More about that in a minute. I spent the first five days of my UK break in Llandudno, a Victorian seaside resort on the coast of North Wales. If you follow me on Twitter, as I hope you do (elizabthjduncan) you will have seen lots of photos of Eleanor and me having our little adventures. We saw a beautiful steam train with our new friend Gilbert Roberts and had a grand day out on the island of Angelesey. On Tuesday, Aug, 25, went to Llanrwst where we did a presentation at the wonderful local library. It was a delightful evening. The Cold Light of Mourning is set in Llanrwst, so it was wonderful to bring the book home, as it were. About 20 people attended, and we had a lively discussion. One of the main questions was why is the town called Llanelen in the book when we know it’s really Llanrwst? Well, if the setting is going to called by its real name, then every detail has to be accurate. No poetic license allowed. And because I live across an ocean, I can’t get everything right, so sometimes I have to make things up. Special thanks to the wonderful library ladies who organized the evening and got everything absolutely right: Gaynor L. Jones, Cheryl Hesketh, Rhian Williams, Myfanwy Evans Jones and Rhian Owen. (Beautiful Welsh names!)
In Liverpool finishing up research for new book, which will be delivered to the publisher on Oct. 15. Some of the action takes place in Liverpool, both past and present, so I am here for a few days to check things out. This morning I went on the National Trust tour of the childhood homes of John Lennon and Paul McCartney. These properties have been deemed of such historical and cultural significance. that they are managed by the National Trust and are held and preserved for the nation. The homes have been restored to look as they did in 1957 – the year the two Beatles met. It was fascinating and moving to be at ground zero, as it were, of such enormous musical creativity and talent and amazing to think how young they were to be creating so many of those tunes in John’s bedroom or Paul’s sitting room.
John Lennon's childhood home at 251 Menlove Ave., Woolton, Liverpool
Paul McCartney lived in this house at 20 Forthlin Rd., Liverpool
Over the next few days I’ll visit a few major art galleries and spend loads of time at the Liverpool Central Library, then back to Canada. For those of you who wrote to say you didn’t want The Cold Light of Mourning to end, I hope to have the first chapter of A Brush with Death here for you in the next month or so. It begins the day after Cold Light ends, so the story continues!
August, 2009
FEATURE STORY COMPETITION
We recently held a feature writing competition in our post-graduate public relations certificate program at Humber College. Congratulations to the winner, Katherine Galley. Here is her story … hope you like it as much as I did!
FIRST TIME AUTHOR BRINGS CHARMS OF NORTH WALES TO THE ARMCHAIRS OF NORTH AMERICA
By Katherine Galley
Amid the photographs and awards on the top shelf of Elizabeth Duncan’s desk sit a small flock of sheep. Knitted by friends, bought at yard sales or, in the case of Eleanor, purchased specially, the sheep provide inspiration for her latest creative venture: writing fiction. Duncan recently completed her first novel; a murder mystery called The Cold Light of Mourning. The book debuted to an enthusiastic reception from murder mystery buffs and won both the William F. Deeck-Malice Domestic Grant for unpublished writers and the St. Martin’s Press/Malice Domestic award for best first novel.
An accidental author, it was never Duncan’s life goal to write a novel. Rather, it was her keen interest in malice domestic, or traditional murder mysteries, and her love of North Wales that led her to pen her first work of fiction. “Books have always been a large part of my life,” she says. “It only recently occurred to me that I could be one of those people who work full time and write books on the side.” Duncan recalls Sherlock Holmes as her first “grown-up” book, and claims that the mystery genre has stuck with her ever since. Make no mistake about it: writing has always been in Duncan’s veins.
Duncan graduated from Carleton University in Ottawa with a Bachelor of Arts in English. She worked for a number of years in Canada as a writer and editor before relocating to London, England, where she took up freelance writing and broadcasting. Duncan stayed in London for five years, giving her just enough time to fall in love with the culture, the atmosphere and the beautiful British landscape.
It is, in fact, that same lush British landscape Duncan has always cherished that provides the setting for the novel’s intricately-woven plot and all of its twists and turns. The story, which takes place in a picturesque Welsh village called Llanelen, chronicles the disappearance and murder of a beautiful bride named Meg Wynne Thompson and the subsequent investigation into her death by manicurist and amateur sleuth Penny Brannigan.
Duncan’s writing boasts vivid imagery and well-developed characters, allowing the reader to become completely immersed in the drama and mystery of Meg Wynne Thompson’s death. The Cold Light of Mourning is the type of book that one might curl up with in front of a fire, letting hours pass and hot tea go cold before coming up for air.
It is common speculation within the literary community that many first novels are largely autobiographical. Although Duncan denies modeling the protagonist after herself, she admits that she sees shades of herself in the novel, even if it does not necessarily reflect her own characteristics or experiences. Her love for the setting, however, is obvious in the rich descriptions of the quaint town, the quirky characters and the pretty scenery.
When asked why she left Great Britain, despite being clearly enamored with the people and environment, a coy smile plays on Duncan’s face. “There was a man,” she admits. “There is always a man…” If this love story has a happy ending, Duncan is hesitant to reveal it. She simply shrugs and says that she has come to love living in Canada again. In fact, she claims to do her best creative brainstorming while meandering through Toronto’s parks neighbourhoods with her dog, Dolly.
Dolly is not Duncan’s only furry companion, however. She carries a stuffed sheep, who she calls Eleanor, to literary conventions and book signings. Of Eleanor’s significance, Duncan says, “It started as an inside joke with one of my fellow mystery enthusiasts. There are also 11 million sheep in North Wales, so they are definitely a fixture in my writing.”
So what is next for this budding author? Duncan is working on her second novel, which recounts a hit-and-run death in 1970, and begins one day after the end of The Cold Light of Mourning.
With the success of her first novel and the support of two very special (and furry) friends named Dolly and Eleanor, it is clear that Duncan has established herself as a force to be reckoned with on the Canadian literary scene.
Katherine Galley, holding Eleanor, wrote a great feature story.
BOOKS BY SUSANNE ALLEYN
I was thrilled to win the "grand prize" of a copy of THE CAVALIER OF THE APOCALYPSE along with a copy of GAME OF PATIENCE. Both books are by Susanne Alleyn, and set during the time of the French Revolution. If you like your mysteries meticulously researched, you won’t find better. Looking forward to having dinner with Susanne when she is in Toronto this fall. Thanks, Susanne!
http://susannealleyn.com/
OFF TO WALES
I am off to Wales for 10 days at the end of August, so my next blog should feature lots of photos and news from Llandudno and Llanrwst. If you’d like more news from that part of the world, here’s a link:
http://www.northwalesweeklynews.co.uk/
June, 2009
I love Twitter! If you’d like to keep up with my book news, or what’s happening in my personal life, you can follow me on http://www.twitter.com/elizabthjduncan
Many thanks to librarian, book reviewer and blogger Lesa Holstine in Arizona who not only gave The Cold Light of Mourning a great review, but invited me to be a guest blogger on her site. You can read my contribution here:
http://www.lesasbookcritiques.blogspot.com/
And another shout out to another librarian!
Carol Kubala, of Columbia, CT, has posted the following on her blog.
http://www.engagedpatrons.org/Blogs.cfm?SiteID=9336&BlogID=183
Carol says she will also feature my book at her circulation desk in the Saxton B. Little Free Library and guarantees “it will go out by tomorrow.”
In early June I attended Bloody Words in Ottawa and took part in two panels. One on females sleuths, led by Robin Harlick the other, all about the importance of settings, led by John Moss. Both facilitators did a wonderful job. A highlight of the convention for me was to hobnob with Lynwood Barclay, winner of this year’s Arthur Ellis award for best novel. Lynwood and I both worked at the Peterborough Examiner newspaper back in the day, but not at the same time. I think he would agree with me that working on a small to medium sized newspaper is a great way to launch a writing career.
And speaking of newspapers, The Vancouver Province newspaper is excerpting The Cold Light of Mourning. You can read the first chapter here:
http://www2.canada.com/theprovince/features/firstchapters/index.html
Thank you to all of you who have written to tell me how much you enjoyed The Cold Light of Mourning. Many of you ask if there’s going to be a sequel and the answer, is yes. I am working now on Left for Dead, which we hope will be available next spring. It begins the day after Cold Light ends, as Penny begins to explore Emma’s cottage. As she peels back the layers of Emma’s secrets, she discovers that objects hold memories, some of them connected to a cold case of murder.
And for those of us of a certain age who like our print a little larger, plans are in the works now for the large print version of The Cold Light of Mourning.
May 17, 2009
I have been deeply touched by the many messages of support I have received from so many people. My students at Humber College gave me a beautiful card and I was moved by their good wishes. It amazes me that this little novel seems to have struck the right chord with readers, especially in the United States. I had a wonderful e-mail this morning from Mary Beth in Maryland that was wonderfully inspiring.
I love the idea that a book I wrote will be available in public libraries across North America. That a woman I don’t know in a small town I’ve never heard of in, say, Kansas, will be able to spend some time with Penny and her pals in North Wales.
I am so happy to be part of your reading lives. I know you have many choices of what to read now and what to read next, so thank you for choosing to devote your precious reading time to The Cold Light of Mourning.
Many of you are asking for another book, and yes, I am working on it now.
May 14, 2009
Official launch of The Cold Light of Mourning at the Sleuth of Baker Street, 1600 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, 6 to 7 p.m.
What a wonderful event! So many wonderful and dear family members, friends and colleagues turned out. I can’t name them or I’ll leave someone out! But I would like to give a special shout out to Carol Putt who did so much editing work on The Cold Light of Mourning and really whipped it into shape. Our hosts J.D. and Marian at the Sleuth made the event flow smoothly and I was thrilled that Maureen Jennings, creator of the Murdoch mystery series and one of Canada’s best-loved mystery writers, was able to join us.
Afterwards, a few of the ladies, including Carol, treated me to a lovely Italian meal.
Was really tired when it was over, but such a good tired, if you know what I mean.
Here are some great photos, taken by Karen Archer.
Interviews
I was so excited to be a featured novelist on Rebecca Chastain’s brilliant blog, Number One Novels. You can read the interview
here
Malice Domestic 2009
Attended the 21st annual Malice Domestic convention for aficionados of the traditional mystery May 1 to 3 in Arlington, Virginia. Guest of Honor was Nancy Pickard, Toastmaster was Elaine Viets and the lifetime achievement honoree was Anne Perry.
I booked too late to get a reasonable Air Canada rate, so had to fly with a U.S. carrier, with a stopover in Detroit. Really impressed by the airport. Like a brand new shopping mall, with aircraft benefits.
Sitting in the departure lounge, I realized that everyone travels now with some kind of electronic device -- a cell phone, a BlackBerry, an MP3 player, a laptop. What is the world coming to, I asked myself, as I gave in and pulled out my Mac book.
What am I like? I thought wifi was free in airports. Well, apparently it is, in some, like Halifax, but not Toronto or Detroit. So I wasn’t quite sure what to do next and then I remembered some advice from my son … watch a movie. So I loaded in Stone Cold with that rugged Tom Sellick and lots of other fine actors (including Viola Davis.) Not five minutes into it and already there’s a lovely dog and a dead body. Perfect!
This was my fourth Malice. In 2006 I was a prize winner (William F. Deeck – Malice Domestic grant), in 2007 I was nobody in particular, in 2008 I was a prize winner again (St. Martin’s Press/Malice Domestic contest) and this year, I attended as a published author.
Of course my book, The Cold Light of Mourning had only been been out for five minutes (published April 28). There was a stack of 12 of them in the dealers’ room on Friday. I walked by every now and then. Yep, still 12.
On Saturday morning I attended the new authors breakfast, sponsored by Kate Stine and Brian Skupin, publishers of Mystery Scene magazine. Talking to facilitator Cindy Silberblatt, we got a chance to promote our books to a very targeted audience. Then it was on to my first panel as an author. Imagine how thrilling it was for me to share a platform with Katherine Neville, Ann Cleeves, Hannah Dennison, Maria Hudgins – all authors of wonderful novels – to discuss mysteries set in foreign places. Mine is set in North Wales, where every hillside is dotted with sheep. Hold that thought!
We were up against stiff competition as the nominees for the best novel were having their panel at the same time, so we were especially pleased that attendance in our salon was rather good!
Then it was on to the group author signing session. This was my first signing as an author. I wasn’t nervous about the signing part – I was afraid no one would show up as I was signing at the same time as Carolyn Hart, Anne Perry, Louise Penny, Rhys Bowen and other heavy hitters in the traditional mystery world. Remember those 12 copies of The Cold Light of Mourning stacked up in the dealers’ room? Not anymore! I was delighted to be kept rather busy signing copies for readers and bless their hearts, I hope they enjoy the book.
The highlight for me, of course, was renewing my acquaintance with my good friend Ellis, the wonderfully wise sheep I met at Malice 2008. He belongs to my friend Susan Van Hyning and this year he brought along his friend Esme, so there were two. Ellis attended the signing with me, and the two of them attended the Saturday night banquet. They attract attention wherever they go. People can’t figure them out. Why do we have them? Why do we carry them around? What do they do? Not quite cuddly toys, not quite real but made from real fleece, they take on a life of their own. Well, you either get it or you don’t, I guess.
Susan and I went in together to create a basket for the silent auction. I put in an autographed copy of The Cold Light of Mourning, some lamby slippers, Godiva hot chocolate and other goodies. Susan created an adorable ewe and her lamb. Our basket sold really well and raised about $80 for a good cause.
Susan’s mother, Polly, is wonderfully sharp, funny lady and everyone enjoyed talking to her.
The banquet menu was standard three-course fare for this sort of event at a hotel of the Marriott standard: salad, pecan crusted chicken breast (yum!) with pureed sweet potatoes and sautéed green beans. Dessert, or pudding as we say in Wales, was a triple chocolate Charlotte – a richly layered mousse.
The awards presentation started during dessert and I was touched when Harriette Sackler, who is a lovely, gracious woman, acknowledged me and G.M. Malliet, two previous winners before she named this year’s winner of the William F. Deeck – Malice Domestic Grant (Kimberly Gray).
And in case you haven’t heard yet, here are this year’s
Agatha Award Winners
Best novel - The Cruelest Month, Louise Penny, St. Martin’s Press
Malice Domestic 22 will be held April 30 – May 2, 2010 at the Crystal Gateway Marriott, Arlington, VA, with honorees Parnell Hall, guest of honor, Rhys Bowen, toastmaster, and Mary Higgins Clark, lifetime achievement.
And now it’s on to Bloody Words, Canada’s mystery get-together, Ottawa, June 5 – 7. More about that next month.
All About Malice 2008
Saturday, April 25, 2008
Lucas and Rick did arrive, tired after the 12 hour drive, but here.
They drove in my niece’s car, so it was a real family effort, and I’m so grateful to all of them.
The banquet went well, and it’s official. My book will be published by St. Martin’s Press and it’s on to the next stage.
Thank you to Ruth Cavin, Luci Zahray and all the others who made this happen.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
TORONTO -- Lucas is flying in from Nova Scotia tonight and I am meeting him at the airport and we’re flying out tomorrow morning to attend Malice. My friend Carol Putt, who did so much to help make Dead Posh, as it was called then, work, is coming with us.
I had a busy day, and got lots done. Started off with a manicure, took the car to the car wash, and even squeezed in a mammogram, so to speak. Then off to the Woodbine Centre to pick up my new glasses, and a free make up session at The Bay. Free! I ended up spending an absurd amount on Lancôme cosmetics, but I’m worth it. No, that’s something else. Anyway, passed the time browsing and buying books, and then I left for the airport to pick up Lucas, who arrived at 8 p.m. About two hours later, I was in the kitchen making him a snack when he started shouting in the living room.
“Oh, no! Oh, no!” He was frantically searching in his laptop case, but he knew what he was looking for wasn’t there.
I rushed in from the kitchen.
“I left my passport on the plane! I put in the pocket in the seat in front of me!”
And, of course, with no passport he can’t fly into the United States.
We started to work the phones … called WestJet, plane had already departed for Calgary. Finally, we called my brother, Rick Ball, who had been thinking about going to Malice but had decided not to. Although he spends most of his time at his home in PEI, he also has a place in Toronto and fortunately for us, that’s where he was. He suggested we go to the airport as planned as see if they’d let Lucas go anyway.
Now it’s getting late and we have to phone Carol and let her know the plans have changed and she should make her own way to the airport in the morning.
So in the morning Lucas and I headed to the airport. First stop, the WestJet customer service counter to see if the passport managed to make the red eye flight from Calgary. The WestJet people were sympathetic but sorry, they didn’t have the passport.
We went to the Air Canada terminal and after a long, anxious wait in line, found ourselves in front of the ticket agent. We explained the situation, and she called in a supervisor. Sorry, no passport, no flight to Washington today.
Knowing how much this meant to me, Lucas could not have felt worse. Dejected, we said our goodbyes and I watched him walk away from the check in line and out of the terminal. He looked so tall and carried himself with such dignity in his Calvin Klein suit.
I completed the check in, met up with Carol in the security line and we made our way to the US departure area. I must have looked terrible. As I was sitting in the concourse a stranger came up to me and asked if she could pray for me.
Carol’s a stiff upper lip kind of gal and not one for tears. I think they make her uncomfortable in a helpless kind of way.
So I cried silently as the plane took off for Washington, leaving Lucas behind.
WASHINGTON – When Carol and I arrived at the hotel I told I was going to check with the desk to see if there were any messages for me (hoping against hope).
The clerk handed me a slip of paper …
Your brother and son are driving from Toronto and should arrive about 12:30 a.m.
You could still cross the border on land without a passport, and they were on their way.
I enjoyed that Friday at Malice so much. I couldn’t stop smiling.
And that’s when I met Susan and Ellis, the sheep. I told Susan the story and she was very happy for me. In his laid back way, Ellis was a little more reserved.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
I can’t remember what kind of day it was; an early spring kind of day, I guess. I went to Campbell’s in the morning and spent $10 on two small bunches of daffodils, a fund raiser for the Canadian Cancer Society – daffodils for Wales, I probably told myself. I brought them home and put them in a small vase on the window sill. They were closed tightly but I knew they’d open soon.
I had been thinking about getting organized for Malice, coming up in a few weeks, and decided to book my flight from Toronto to Washington. Logged on to the Air Canada web site and got a good price, so thought I’d call my son, Lucas, and ask if he’d like to come, too. Some time ago, I had asked him if he’d come to Malice with me if I won the St. Martin’s competition and even though it didn’t look as if I’d won maybe he’d like to come anyway. I phoned him in Nova Scotia, where he goes to university, and he said he thought he’d like to come. He could explore the city while I attended the convention.
I turned my attention to a pile of student papers waiting to be marked and wondered if I should put the kettle on for a cup of tea and make a start on them or take a nap.
I was leaning towards the nap when the phone rang and everything changed.
“Hello, this is Ruth Cavin in New York,” said a firm, clear voice.
New York, I thought, as a feeling of excitement started to well up inside me.
“I’m calling to tell you that you’ve won the St. Martin’s Press competition ……”
I didn’t hear much after that.
I called two friends to let them know I’d won -- Carol Putt, who had helped so much with the manuscript, and Madeleine Matte, at the Humber School for Writers, who had been so encouraging.
And then I called my son.
“Hi Lucas. Remember you said you’d come to Malice with me if I won the competition?”
“You won?! I am so proud of you!”
And he even phoned me later that night so we could go over it all once again.
And as this story goes, we haven’t heard the last of Lucas.
Eleanor arrived in time to make her debut at the launch party. Isn't she lovely?
Elizabeth signs a book for Carol Putt, who contributed so much to the manuscript.
With special guest Maureen Jennings, one of Canada's best-loved mystery writers
From left, Hannah Dennison, Ann Cleeves, Katherine Neville, Maria Hudgins, Elizabeth Duncan.
Elizabeth signs a copy of The Cold Light of Mourning, under the watchful eye of Ellis
Susan Van Hyning, left, holds Esme while Elizabeth looks after Ellis
Susan and Elizabeth's basket generated lots of bidding.
Elizabeth shares a moment with Harriette Sackler, who has just finished speaking at the Awards banquet. Harriette called Elizabeth on Academy Awards Sunday, 2006, with the great news that she had won the William F. Deeck - Malice Domestic Grant and the two have become great Malice friends.
Best first novel – Death of a Cozy Writer, G.M. Malliet, Midnight Ink
Best non-fiction – How to Write Killer Mysteries – Kathy Lynn Emerson, Perseverance Press
Best Short Story – “The Night Things Changed” – Dana Cameron, Wolfsbane & Mistletoe, Penguin Group
Best Children’s/Young Adult – The Crossroads, Chris Grabenstein, Random House
www.MaliceDomestic.org
Elizabeth was thrilled that her son Lucas Walker, left, and brother Rick Ball, were able to attend the awards banquet.
Elizabeth, second from left, with previous Malice/St. Martin's Award winners Julia Spencer-Fleming, left, and Meredith Cole, right. On Elizabeth's left is Luci Zahray, a toxicology expert, who short-listed all these winners!
Looking a little sheepish, Lucas holds Ellis, the wise and distinguished ram who was a conference favourite.
