News and Upcoming Appearances

It has been a singularly devastating spring. You can check my Substack if you'd like to know why. But I thought it high time I updated my schedule.

First, Contemplation of a Crime was longlisted for the Leacock Medal for Humour. This is the fifth time my books have been longlisted and I think that makes me the most nominated woman in Canadian history. The other nominees are: Miss Smithers, The Woefield Poultry Collective, Republic of Dirt, and Mindful of Murder. I've been shortlisted three times and won once. No shortlist for me this year, but still nice to be recognized. Good luck to the finalists!

Contemplation has also been nominated for the Ethel Wilson Prize. It is given to the best book of fiction by a BC resident. It's the first time one of my books has been nominated for that award, and I'm quite honoured to be in such illustrious company. Thanks to the BC and Yukon Book Prizes for supporting BC-Yukon literary culture.

I'm flitting about quite a bit over the next several months. Not only will I be swimming in every body of water near our home in Nanaimo, I'll be reading in Vancouver as part of the Twisted Poets series organized by Daniela Elza. Thanks for inviting a non-poet. Looking forward to appearing with Taryn Hubbard and Heather Ramsay on July 8, 6:00 - 7:45 p.m. at the Brittania Library at 1661 Napier St., Vancouver.

July 16-19th I'll be appearing at the Denman Island Readers and Writers Festival. On Thursday, July 16th, I'm teaching a Character Bootcamp Workshop, which is a fun one, and I'll be appearing throughout the weekend. The festival is one of the best in the country and I'm looking forward to taking part.

September 25-27 I'll be giving a keynote address and teaching a workshop at The Wine Country Writer's Festival in Salmon Arm. More details on that to come soon.

So that's the official work update. I'm still working away on two different novels and happy with how they're coming along. It's been a bit slower than I'd like, but you know. Life... Quite a few people have written to ask whether there will be any more Helen books and the answer is maybe. If you haven't purchased a copy of Contemplation of a Crime, please do so. Whether or not series are able to continue depends on how well they sell. I have a couple of ideas for stories for side characters from Helen's world. We'll see!