It’s the highlight of my year so far: my book One for the Raven made the top-five shortlist for the 2019 Unhanged Arthur Ellis Award, which recognizes the “best unpublished first mystery novel” written by a Canadian or permanent resident. Thank you, Crime Writers of Canada.

So … what does that mean?

For one thing, I got to go to a fancy party in Toronto.

The 2019 Arthur Ellis Awards Gala

Two airplanes and three trains took us to Toronto’s Arts & Letters Club on Thursday, May 23. My arm candy included my bestie Quinn (who happened to be attending a work thing in Toronto that week) and my mom, who is a huge mystery fan and challenged me to write my first mystery novel.

Our goals for the evening included:

1. Take as many photos with professional mystery writers as possible. No shame.
2. Get my copy of Still Life signed by Louise Penny, who was a nominee for Best Crime Novel. (I made myself have low expectations for this goal: Facebook said my idol had flown to New York on the Monday. Her attendance was unlikely.)
3. Eat, drink and be merry.

Photos of Heather with Professional Mystery Writers

Here are some of my souvenirs from the evening:

Sadly, Louise Penny was not in attendance. That bucket list goal of meeting her and saying “thank you for helping me find my genre” remains unchecked for now.

Nonetheless, we did manage to eat, drink and be merry.

What’s Next?

I didn’t win in my category — Liv McFarlane took home the trophy and $500 from Dundurn Press for her book, The Scarlet Cross. But Dundurn Press will consider all five shortlisted manuscripts for publication, and that’s pretty darn exciting. Congratulations to my fellow newbie shortlisted folks: Darrow Woods, Jim Bottomley, Don Macdonald and the incredible Liv McFarlane.

The big lesson I learned from our whirlwind Toronto adventure was that I’m still a baby in this genre. Most of the writers I met have agents, editors and publishers.

I’m super proud that the first draft of my mystery made the shortlist. It will be even better once I finally finish the second draft. If Dundurn doesn’t offer me publication, I’ll have a strong manuscript and resume to lure another publisher.

United We Stand, Divided We Fall

When I started reading Louise Penny’s books, I found my genre. University writing courses had taught me that “literary” writing (not “genre” fiction) was the “best” writing. But my favourite books to read are mysteries, and Louise Penny showed me that “literary mysteries” could succeed.

I’m too sensitive to read gory mysteries or thrillers: I prefer Agatha Christie dramas and Sherlock Holmes puzzles. While some of the books we celebrated at the awards gala aren’t books I’d read, I’m happy for the authors and proud to see mystery writers applauding and celebrating one another.

I want to (continue to) be part of this tribe of crime writers. And someday I want to win an Arthur Ellis trophy: a macabre noosed figure, with a rope on the back that makes the limbs dance when pulled.

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