The Write Spot: Elle Wild

The Write Spot is back and for this 26th edition we're celebrating the release of author Elle Wild's debut novel, Strange Things Done, winner of the 2015 Arthur Ellis Award for Best Unpublished First Crime Novel.

I was intrigued by the premise of a murder in Dawson City – a town about to be cut off from the rest of the world – and jumped at the chance to read an advance copy. I absolutely loved it. Here's my review. 

Elle says she grew up in a dark, rambling farmhouse in the wilds of Canada where there was nothing to do but read Edgar Allan Poe and watch PBS mysteries. She's an award-winning short filmmaker and the former writer/host of the radio program Wide Awake on CBC Radio One. Her short fiction has been published in Ellery Queen Magazine and her articles have appeared in The Toronto Star, Georgia Straight, and Westender. Elle makes her home on an island in the Salish Sea named after the bones of dead whales.

Welcome, Elle! Please tell us about yourself and your Write Spot.

I recently returned to Canada after four lovely years in England and three in California. I've settled on a small island off the rugged coast of British Columbia with my husband and son. Bowen Island is a wonderful place for artists of all sorts, and indeed there are almost as many of this species as there are deer, seals, and giant slugs.

My personal "write spot" is a little office off of the kitchen with a banana-yellow desk and a leafy view of the forest out back, where my son's tree house is perched (next to the "owlery"). I enjoy being able to look up from my work and watch the wildlife, including my son and his small friends. This island is also a great place for long walks.

Currently I'm working on a few different things. I'm chipping away at a new novel, called The Secret Bones, which is set in Victorian London and Dorset. It's based on a Mary Anning type of character who makes an astonishing but dangerous archaeological discovery, putting not only her own life at risk, but also those she cares about.

Readers who might be curious about my work can follow at:

Twitter: @ElleWild_writer

Facebook:  facebook.com/StrangeThingsDoneNovel

                facebook.com/ElleWildNovelist

Instagram: ellewild_novelist  

Website: strangethingsdone.ca

My character, Jo Silver, runs a small newspaper in Dawson City, which you can follow on Twitter at: @TheDawsonDaily 

Thanks for visiting, Elle. Loved the book and, I have to confess, I'm a wee bit (okay, maybe a lot) envious of your beautiful island home. ;-)

Strange Things Done by Elle Wild is a dark and suspenseful noir thriller, set in the Yukon.

As winter closes in and the roads snow over in Dawson City, Yukon, newly arrived journalist Jo Silver investigates the dubious suicide of a local politician and quickly discovers that not everything in the sleepy tourist town is what it seems. Before long, law enforcement begins treating the death as a possible murder and Jo is the prime suspect.

Strange Things Done is a top-notch thriller – a tense and stylish crime novel that explores the double themes of trust and betrayal.

Watch the trailer:

Buy the book:

Dundurn Press | Chapters-Indigo

Amazon.ca | Amazon.com

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About The Write Spot:

I've always been fascinated by what goes on behind the scenes. Whether it's backstage photos from my favourite play, a peek into the kitchen where a chef is working her culinary magic, or simply a glimpse through an uncurtained window into a stranger's private world, there's an undeniable thrill of discovery, a sense of secrets shared. It's no surprise, then, that I'm immensely curious about where other writers do their work.  I first blogged about it in this post about my own 'write spot' and so enjoyed the comments, I was inspired to launch a regular feature here at stillpoint. Join me as I discover the many and varied places where writers write.

stillpoint is the blog of Canadian author Cheryl Cooke Harrington.

The Write Spot: Linda Wiken

Welcome back to The Write Spot, a bi-weekly author series spotlighting the many and varied places where writers write.

My special guest for this twenty-fourth edition is mystery author Linda Wiken, aka Erika Chase. Good to have you with us, Linda!

A former mystery bookstore owner, Linda turned her computer to writing. As Erika Chase, she has penned five Ashton Corners Book Club Mysteries. And these days, under her real name, Linda Wiken, she writes the Dinner Club Mystery series. All are from Berkley Prime Crime.  Linda also writes short stories and is part of The Ladies' Killing Circle, a dangerous gang of dames who have put out seven mystery anthologies. Linda was honoured to be shortlisted for an Arthur Ellis Award from Crime Writers of Canada for Best Short Story, and for an Agatha Award from Malice Domestic for Best First Novel. She is owned by two Siamese cats who allow her to pursue her passion for chorale singing, and the eating of chocolates!

Linda's Write Spot

What makes this The Write Spot for you?

It’s The Write Spot mainly because it’s a room with a view. :-) I look out at tree tops and morning sun (which sometimes isn’t too helpful when trying to see the screen, I must admit).  

This dedicated office space is on the second floor of my home, a small room with two desks (one for writing; one for other things, such as paying bills and other personal matters), and bookcases along two walls. The room is bright and cheerful no matter what the weather, and that’s a great boost to the writing mind!

Love the leafy view, and I see your gorgeous Siamese cats enjoy the bookcases, too. :-) 

Other than your computer or laptop, what's the one thing you couldn't be without in your Write Spot?

My books! I love being surrounded by books. Many are reference and research books but the majority are for inspiration. Just looking at a cover or picking up a trade paperback gives me such a feeling of well-being and incentive, I could write forever. Or until dinner time, at least.

What are you working on now?

I'm working on the third book in my Dinner Club Mystery series, from Berkley Prime Crime. The first one, Toasting Up Trouble, was released yesterday (yay!) and I handed in the second one, Roux the Day, in May and it will be out next summer. The title of the third is, Marinating in Murder. You heard it here first! I'm having such fun with these characters and especially the cookbooks. I'm a cookbook junkie and this allows me to have my fill.

Thanks for the scoop, Linda! Love the titles. Where can readers find out more about you and your books?

I love to connect with readers. My website is lindawiken.com. I can also be found at my alter ego website, erikachase.com. 

My Twitter handle is @LWiken; also @erika_chase. And, I make regular appearances on two wonderful blogs – Mystery Lovers' Kitchen, and Killer Characters.

Linda's latest, Toasting Up Trouble, from Berkley Prime Crime was released yesterday (July 5, 2016). Get it while it's hot!

A delicious new cozy mystery series featuring the Culinary Capers Dinner Club – who are fearless when it comes to cooking up new dishes and putting the lid on crime...

Event planner Jennifer "J.J." Tanner has a full plate, but that's the way she likes it. First, it's her turn to choose the recipe for the next meeting of the Culinary Capers Dinner Club, a gathering of foodie friends who experiment with entrées for their creative and gastronomical pleasure. Second, she's organizing an Italian princess party for the twenty-one-year-old daughter of a high-tech millionaire.

But one thing J.J. didn’t plan on is that the caterer for the event – hotshot chef Antonio Marcotti – would end up murdered the night of the party. Or that she'd end up being a prime suspect after having had a heated argument with the unscrupulous chef. Now it's up to J.J. – with help from her fellow Club members and a handsome if mysterious private eye – to turn the tables on the real killer...

Amazon.ca  | Amazon.com 

Chapters-Indigo | Barnes and Noble

And don't miss the latest from Erika Chase… 

The author of Book Fair and Foul reconvenes the Ashton Corners book club to solve a murder in their own backyard…

Bob Miller, retired police chief and member of the Ashton Corners Mystery Readers and Cheese Straws Society, is stunned by the arrival of his twenty-one-year-old granddaughter, Darla, whom he has never seen. Bob has been estranged from his own daughter for decades and hopes to make up for his absence in Darla's life. But some of the ladies of the book club find their Southern hospitality strained as they question the motives behind this sudden reunion.

After a dead man is found in Molly Mathews's backyard, their concerns grow more serious. Lizzie Turner saw Darla arguing with the stranger the day before, but when the police question her, Darla proves to be an unreliable narrator. It's up to the book club to uncover the real story . . . before another victim is written into the plot.

Amazon.ca | Amazon.com

Chapters-Indigo | Barnes and Noble

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About The Write Spot:
I've always been fascinated by what goes on behind the scenes. Whether it's backstage photos from my favourite play, a peek into the kitchen where a chef is working her culinary magic, or simply a glimpse through an uncurtained window into a stranger's private world, there's an undeniable thrill of discovery, a sense of secrets shared. It's no surprise, then, that I'm immensely curious about where other writers do their work. I've blogged about it before in this post about my own'write spot' and so enjoyed the comments, I was inspired to launch a regular feature here at stillpoint. Watch for The Write Spot every other Wednesday and join me as I discover the many and varied places where writers write.

stillpoint is the blog of Canadian author Cheryl Cooke Harrington

   

The Write Spot: Susan Fox

Welcome to The Write Spot, a bi-weekly author series spotlighting the many and varied places where writers write.

My guest for this twenty-third edition of The Write Spot is romance author Susan Fox. Susan wrote something like ten romance novels before striking it lucky twice in 2005: she finaled in Romance Writers of America®’s Golden Heart contest for unpublished authors and she signed a two-book contract with Kensington. Since then she has published two dozen books and a number of novellas, writing as Susan Fox, Susan Lyons and Savanna Fox for Kensington and Berkley. She also has two self-published books to her credit.

Susan's books have won numerous awards and this year she’s a finalist for Romance Writers of America®’s RITA award for long contemporary romance (for Love Somebody Like You). She’s an international bestselling author and her books have been translated into French, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, and German. Many are available in audiobook format as well as in e-book and print.

Susan has degrees in law and psychology, and has had a variety of careers, including perennial student, computer consultant, and legal editor. Fiction writer is by far her favorite, giving her an outlet to demonstrate her belief in the power of love, friendship, and a sense of humor.

Welcome to The Write Spot, Susan! Please tell us a bit about your personal Write Spot.

This is my at-home write spot—my office. It's temporary because our house is under renos (I’ll end up with a different room) and it's set up for efficiency rather than beauty, but it's great because it's a separate room with a door that closes and a woodsy view out the window.

Occasionally something catches my eye and I look up from my writing to see a deer wander by. Okay, it's a distraction, but it's good for the soul! I go back to my writing refreshed. Also, I have a nice big desk, a good chair, space for my business files (though my books are on shelves in the basement), and enough room to spread out. (And did I mention the door that closes, so I can cocoon myself and shut out the rest of the world?)

But I do also have two other write spots. In summer, we often go boating on our old 37' Shepherd (which looks a lot like a Chris Craft), so then I work with my little laptop, usually on the dinette table or sprawled on a seat—at least when I'm not lounging on the deck with a book in my hand or going kayaking (and hoping to see a seal).

In winter, we take our motor home (named Rex) to warmer, sunnier climes. When I'm not playing tourist, hiking or sprawling in a lounge chair with a book, I do manage to get in a few hours of writing every day. On Rex, I write in a recliner, on the bed, or at the dinette, and I take a small printer along to plug in when needed (and when we have power).

The writing setups on the boat and on Rex aren't as comfortable or as spacious as at home, but they have the bonus of lovely and frequently changing scenery. And, of course, sunshine in winter! I share photos of our journeys on my Facebook page, if you're interested.

What a wonderful assortment of Write Spots, Susan! You must find lots of inspiration on your travels. Other than your computer or laptop, what's the one thing you couldn't be without in your Write Spot?

Two things: my engagement calendar and the to-do list I print out each week. I know it's old-fashioned to use paper rather than a fancy app, but I love the photos in the Sierra Club books. Also, I like the constant reminder provided by having something tangible on my desk—and a place to make a physical tick-mark when I complete tasks!

There is something very satisfying about checking off tasks on a list. I do that, too. What are you working on now?

Authors have to have at least four things on the go at once, right? I'm celebrating the release of Ring of Fire, which is my seventh Caribou Crossing Romance from Kensington Zebra, and I'm doing page proofs for Holiday in Your Heart, the final book in the series (October 2016). I've almost finished Fly Away with Me, the first book in a new series called Blue Moon Harbor (also with Kensington Zebra) and have started work on the second title (both of which will come out in 2017).

I'm delighted that Publishers Weekly gave Ring of Fire a great review, saying "Fox…proves again that she knows what women want in a contemporary romance."

Where can readers find out more about you and your books?

My website is susanlyons.ca. It has information on all my books, including blurbs, excerpts, behind-the-scenes notes, review quotes, and recipes. I run a monthly opinion poll contest on my website, and you can also sign up there for my newsletter.

I'm on Facebook at facebook.com/SusanLyonsFox.

Susan's latest release, Ring of Fire, is available now.

She’s raising her son on her own, but that’s just fine with Lark Cantrell. Caribou Crossing’s fire chief comes from a long line of strong, independent women—who have lousy luck with men. Lark’s ex-husband walked out when Jayden was born with cerebral palsy. No matter—Jayden, now ten, is a bright, terrific kid, and the love of her life. When it comes to men, Lark is content with the occasional casual hookup; there’s no room in her heart for more disappointment.

Major Eric Weaver is in Caribou Crossing for one reason: to complete his rehabilitation so he can return to active service. Haunted by what went down in Afghanistan, his wounded soul isn’t healing as quickly as his body. But it’s almost impossible to resist the appeal of the sexy, feisty fire chief and her plucky son—not to mention the friendly, caring small town way of life. In Lark’s loving arms, the scarred soldier begins to believe he may finally have found his true home…

Amazon.com | Amazon.ca

Barnes and Noble | Chapters-Indigo

The Book Depository

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About The Write Spot:

I've always been fascinated by what goes on behind the scenes. Whether it's backstage photos from my favourite play, a peek into the kitchen where a chef is working her culinary magic, or simply a glimpse through an uncurtained window into a stranger's private world, there's an undeniable thrill of discovery, a sense of secrets shared. It's no surprise, then, that I'm immensely curious about where other writers do their work. I've blogged about it before in this post about my own 'write spot' and so enjoyed the comments, I was inspired to launch a regular feature here at stillpoint. Watch for The Write Spot every other Wednesday and join me as I discover the many and varied places where writers write.

stillpoint is the blog of Canadian author Cheryl Cooke Harrington

My A-Z of Books...

A few weeks ago writer Shelley Wilson blogged a challenge called My A-Z of Books. Of course, I hopped right on over to read all about it. And then, of course, I had to take the challenge myself. What a great way to get to know other book lovers! Here are my answers:

Author You've Read the Most Books From:

That would have to be the late Lilian Jackson Braun. I have paperback copies of all twenty-nine books in The Cat Who series on my keeper shelf and duplicates of quite a few of them in audio format, as well. Narrator George Guidall personified Jim Qwilleran for me. His voice is firmly in my head whenever I re-read the books.

Best Sequel Ever:

This is a tough choice for a committed series reader like me, but I have to confess I was unreasonably impatient and excited for the release of The Tesla Legacy (Joe Tesla Series, Book 2), by Rebecca Cantrell. It was everything I hoped it would be, so I immediately became unreasonably impatient and excited once again for Book 3. (Now I'm unreasonably impatient and excited for Book 4!)

Currently Reading:

Verdict in Blood, A Joanne Kilbourne Mystery (Book 6), by Gail Bowen. I read the first book in this series a few years ago but somehow lost sight of the rest in the limbo that is my TBR pile. Happily re-discovered last month, I've been binge reading to catch up and enjoying every word.

Drink of Choice While Reading:

Coffee in the morning, tea from noon to midnight. (Unless there's wine.)

E-Reader or Physical Book:

Both, please! And let's not forget audiobooks. Some of my favourite reads have been listens.

Fictional Character you Probably Would Have Actually Dated in High School:

You're going to make me choose?!

Hmm…

Mitch Walker, my bush pilot hero in Sparks Fly. What the heck, he's a figment of my own imagination so he'd have to be the perfect date, right? ;-)

On the other hand, who needs fiction? Here's me with my real-life high school boyfriend, on our way to the Sweetheart Swirl formal in 1967. I married him four years later.

Glad You Gave This Book a Chance:

The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin. A short book with a pretty cover. It's a beautifully told story of a quiet life, heartbreaking but hopeful. I confess I cried a bit, but mostly this book made me happy. Not my usual fare, but I'm so glad I didn't pass it by.

Hidden Gem Book:

Daggers and Men's Smiles: A Moretti and Falla Mystery by Jill Downie – Canadian author, Isle of Guernsey setting, intriguing mystery, and truly engaging characters – these are people I'd like to know in real life. Try it, you'll like it! This series is on my auto-buy list.

Important Moment in Your Reading Life:

For me, it was a series of important moments, each one marked by a package from England. I never met my great aunt Win in person, but her letters and the books she shared launched me onto the reading road.

Just Finished:

The Crossing Places (Ruth Galloway, Book 1), by Elly Griffiths. I've listened to the later books in this series (2 through 7) about a forensic archaeologist in Norfolk, England, but somehow missed this story of how it all started. An excellent beginning! Now I'm looking forward to The Woman in Blue (Book 8). 

Kind of Books You Won't Read:

I close the cover on stalkers, torture, and extreme psychological suspense. I read to relax. There's more than enough terror in the real world.

Longest Book You've Read:

That would probably be Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke at 1,024 pages.

Major Book Hangover:

The Blue by Lucy Clarke – my favourite book of 2015. This one haunted my dreams for weeks.

Number of Bookcases You Own:

Six? […counting…] Seven! And some shelves have books stacked two deep. (There's no such thing as too many books/bookcases.)

One Book You've Read Multiple Times:

Pick any one of the Harry Potter books. I've read and listened to all of them many times over with my son, J. Discovering this series was literally life changing for him.

Preferred Place to Read:

In my comfy chair on the balcony with Sam the Cat nearby.

Quote That Inspires You/Gives You All The Feels From a Book You've Read:

From Anne of Avonlea by Lucy Maud Montgomery: "I believe the nicest and sweetest days are not those on which anything very splendid or wonderful or exciting happens but just those that bring simple little pleasures, following one another softly, like pearls slipping off a string."

Reading Regret:

That C. C. Bennison's Father Christmas series seems to have ended with only three of twelve tales told. Cozies are an endangered species!

Series You Started and Need to Finish:

I'm impatiently waiting for the audio versions of The Promise (DC Gary Goodhew Mystery #6) by Alison Bruce, and The Hanging Tree (Peter Grant #6) by Ben Aaronovitch. What's taking you so long, Audible?

Three of Your All-Time Favourite Books:

Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome

The Dragonriders of Pern by Anne McCaffrey

Still Life (Inspector Gamache #1) by Louise Penny

Unapologetic fangirl for:

Audiobooks!

Very Excited for This Release More Than All Others:

Likely to change week-to-week, but right now: A Great Reckoning (Inspector Gamache #12) by Louise Penny.

Worst Bookish Habit:

Reading at meal time. It's the worst because (a) it puts my books at risk of food stains and (2) my brain has decided this pairing of activities is a good and pleasurable thing and now suggests I should eat something whenever I read. I read a lot. (Danger! Danger!)

X Marks The Spot: Start On The Top Left of Your Shelf And Pick The 27th Book:

Her Royal Spyness by Rhys Bowen. Such a fun series!

Your Latest Purchase:

A Cast of Falcons: A Birder Murder Mystery by Steve Burrows – a May 2016 release and third in a terrific series. (Here's my review of book one, A Siege of Bitterns.) Steve is another Canadian author on my automatic "must read" list.

Zzzz-Snatcher Book (Last Book That Kept You Up Way Too Late):

Definitely The Blue by Lucy Clarke. Sam liked it, too.

And that's my A-Z of Books (pronounced eh to zed because I'm Canadian). I'd love to read your version, so please let me know if you take the challenge – I'll stop by your blog to check it out.

Now … what are you reading this week?

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stillpoint is the blog of Canadian author Cheryl Cooke Harrington

The Write Spot: Peggy Blair

I'm delighted to welcome Peggy Blair, author of the Inspector Ramirez mystery series, as my guest for this twenty-second edition of The Write Spot. Set in Cuba with intriguing Canadian connections, this series has become one of my favourites. (Here's my review of book three, Hungry Ghosts.) Watch for book four in the series, Umbrella Man, coming June 7th from Simon and Schuster.

Peggy Blair was a lawyer for more than thirty years. A recognized expert in Aboriginal law, she also worked as a criminal defence lawyer and Crown prosecutor.

She spent a Christmas in Old Havana where she watched the bored young policemen lean on light posts on the street corners along the Malecon, visited most of Hemingway’s favourite bars, and learned to make the perfect mojito. A former member of the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal, she is named in Canadian Who’s Who. She currently lives in Ottawa.

Welcome to The Write Spot, Peggy, a bi-weekly author series spotlighting the many and varied places where writers write. Please tell us a bit about your personal Write Spot.

I write at the lake. I have no Internet, television or landline out there, although I can pick up email messages on my Blackberry smartphone, so no interruptions. I'm not a disciplined writer; I write like a fiend when I'm working on something, starting early in the morning and ending when it's time to go to bed. 

I love the fact that at my cottage, I can stop and go kayaking or take a dip when I need a break, whereas at home, I just keep going and going, like the Energizer Bunny. But the lake is such a nice spot to write that I've even managed to convince my freelance editor, Alex Schultz, to visit.

I can see why you love your lake, Peggy - what a beautiful spot! 

Other than your computer or laptop, what's the one thing you couldn't be without in your Write Spot?

My dog, Scout, nothing like having your best pal's support to keep you grounded and remind you when it's time to take a walk. 

I could do without Phoebe, the cat, sometimes (LOL) when I'm trying to work at home: she loves to climb on the keyboard and leave me editing notes like this one: pffffffffffffttttttttttttt

Poor Phoebe. She's just reminding you about priorities: you should be stroking her, not the keyboard. ;-) 

What are you working on now?

Nothing! I have just finished (if you can ever finish) an historical fiction manuscript called The PeaceWoman's Daughter, set in 1687, that I am shopping around. I plan on taking a little break now after five books in five years plus one massive non-fiction work (Lament for a First Nation) and work on my other business, the one that pays the bills: real estate.

Enjoy your break, Peggy, but I think I speak for all your fans when I say, don't make it too long. We want more Ramirez and Pike!

Where can readers find out more about you and your books?

The link to my website is peggyblair.wordpress.com (While you're there, be sure to check out the exclusive audio short story, The Angel's Share – An Inspector Ramirez Podcast, free to listen.)

You'll also find me on Facebook and Twitter.

Umbrella Man is the fourth book in the gripping Inspector Ramirez series by bestselling author Peggy Blair.

When Mama Loa, a witch doctor, tells Inspector Ramirez that people in the sky are going to die, he thinks she’s crazy. After all, there hasn't been a violent death in Havana in months.

But things quickly change when a Russian is murdered, execution-style, on the Malecon and three flight crew members die in suspicious circumstances. When Russian intelligence officer Slava Kadun arrives in Havana warning that a CIA hitman has plans to assassinate Raul Castro, Ramirez starts to wonder if the deaths are connected. With the political future of Cuba at stake, he has only hours to stop a cold-blooded killer.

Order Umbrella Man by Peggy Blair:

Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Chapters-Indigo

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Many thanks to Patricia Anderson for the use of her wonderful Havana photo, the perfect background for this week's invitation to #TheWriteSpot.

About The Write Spot:
I've always been fascinated by what goes on behind the scenes. Whether it's backstage photos from my favourite play, a peek into the kitchen where a chef is working her culinary magic, or simply a glimpse through an uncurtained window into a stranger's private world, there's an undeniable thrill of discovery, a sense of secrets shared. It's no surprise, then, that I'm immensely curious about where other writers do their work. I've blogged about it before in this post about my own 'write spot' and so enjoyed the comments, I was inspired to launch a regular feature here at stillpoint. Watch for The Write Spot every other Wednesday and join me as I discover the many and varied places where writers write.

stillpoint is the blog of Canadian author Cheryl Cooke Harrington