Doing my final author signing of the year Saturday at the Orleans Christmas Arts Market at the Shenkman Centre. I'll be there from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. with fellow mystery author Brenda Chapman. It's your last chance to buy signed copies of our novels for mystery lovers on your Christmas list.

Crime for Christmas, a mystery author book fair, will take place this Sunday, Nov. 23, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Barrhaven Legion. I'll be there with eight other top Ottawa mystery writers, signing copies of my two novels, A Life of Bliss and Norman's Conquest. Hope to see you! #booksky

If you like to wash down your books with a fine craft beer, join me and six other Ottawa authors this Saturday. We'll be at the Kichesippi Beer Company from 1 to 4 p.m., signing copies of our books. Cheers!

Today's author panel at the St. Lawrence Writers Festival was a big success, mostly due to the thoughtful and entertaining responses from mystery writers Brenda Chapman, Katie Tallo and John Delacourt. They made it easy for me to do my job as moderator.

Today's the day! At 1 p.m. I'll be at the brilliant new St. Lawrence Writers Festival in Brockville, moderating a panel discussion between three top Ottawa mystery/thriller writers: John Delacourt, Brenda Chapman and Katie Tallo. It should be great fun!

ATTENTION READERS. There's a terrific new writers' festival at ArtsHub in Brockville, opening Friday and running until Sunday. I'll be there too, moderating a panel of Ottawa mystery/thriller writers – Brenda Chapman, John Delacourt and Katie Tallo – at 1 p.m. Sunday.

There's a new twist to Habitat for Humanity's annual ReStore book sale in Stittsville Aug. 8-10. For the first time, a lineup of Ottawa-area authors will be be on hand to to chat with customers and sign copies of their books. I'll be there Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Stop by and say hello!

More than four years after its release, my first novel, A Life of Bliss, has hit an all-time high on amazon.com. It currently ranks #56,030 in books on Amazon's American site – far above the #278,364 ranking it reached shortly after its release. I'm so grateful!

This is a heads-up about an event I'm part of in Portland, Ontario on Aug. 23. Somehow, I cracked this lineup of stellar Ottawa-area mystery authors. If you're in the Rideau Lakes, come and hang with us as we talk about writing our mysteries. Nibbles and cool drinks included!

Ottawa Press and Publishing is offering Kindle versions of my two novels, A Life of Bliss and Norman's Conquest, for just $2.99 in Canada until July 11. Readers rate the novels 4.6 and 4.7 out of 5 on Amazon. Here are the links: amazon.ca/dp/B0953RKNWV amazon.ca/dp/B0D3DZKWGZ

If you live in the U.S. or UK, pay just 99 cents for Kindle versions of my novels A Life of Bliss and Norman's Conquest until July 11. Here are the U.S. links: www.amazon.com/dp/B0953RKNWV www.amazon.com/dp/B0D3DZKWGZ And the UK links: www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0D3DZKWGZ www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1988437709

Successful signing today at Hintonburg ArtsPark with Ottawa mystery author Katie Tallo. The weather was fine, the readers enthusiastic. You can still pick up a copy of our books at The Spaniel's Tale Bookstore's booth at ArtsPark until 5 p.m. today, or at the store itself after that.

It's Father's Day weekend and the weather will be lovely. I'll be at Hintonburg ArtsPark in Parkdale Park Saturday from noon to 2 p.m., signing copies of my two mystery novels, A Life of Bliss and Norman's Conquest. Either – or both! – would make an ideal Father's Day gift. See you there!

Great Father's Day deal from Ottawa Press and Publishing on mysteries by Ottawa authors, including yours truly!

Attention readers in Ottawa's east end. I'll be at Indigo Innes Saturday from noon to 3 p.m., signing copies of my 2024 novel Norman's Conquest and it's 2021 predecessor, A Life of Bliss. Stop by and pick up some great summer reading! #booksky

Hope to meet many readers who also enjoy excellent local craft beer at this event Saturday in Bells Corners! #booksky

A reminder that I'll be at Indigo Barrhaven today from 1 to 4 pm signing copies of my two mystery novels. It's a rainy day, perfect for shopping, so stop by and say hello!

ATTENTION BARRHAVEN READERS: I'll be signing copies of my novels A Life of Bliss (4.6/5 on amazon.ca) and its sequel, Norman's Conquest (4.7/5) at your Indigo stores Saturday from 1 to 4 pm. Stop by and say hello!

I'll be signing my novels A Life of Bliss and Norman's Conquest Sunday at the first-ever book fair at Robert Plante Greenhouses in Navan from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.. The Ottawa Citizen calls it one of this weekend's Best Bets, featuring more than 30 Ottawa-area authors. Support Canadian writers!

I recently finished reading You Light Up My Death, by Ottawa author MaryJane Maffini. I loved it! It combines humour, mystery and murder in an entertaining frolic. The story unfolds in Cape Breton and is filled with eccentric characters from that region. Highly recommended!

Disappointed that Angelina Jolie didn't get an Oscar nomination for her incredible performance as Maria Callas in Pablo Larrain's film Maria. I haven't seen any of the nominees, but it's hard to believe Jolie's Callas didn't make the top five.

Ottawa Public Library update: There are now 112 holds from people waiting to read my 2024 murder mystery, Norman's Conquest. Fifty-seven people are also lined up for the library's copies of my 2021 novel, A Life of Bliss. Loving the love!

Just finished Kate Heartfield's new novel, The Tapestry of Time. Set in WW2, it focuses on the four Sharp sisters and their skill as clairvoyants, which helps them protect the Bayeux Tapestry, a 1,000-year-old relic depicting the Norman Conquest of Britain. A gripping read from start to finish.

Both my novels – 2021's A Life of Bliss and 2024's Norman's Conquest – have recorded huge jumps in their sales ranking on amazon.ca in recent days. As of last night, sales of the paperback versions of both ranked in the top 25,000 of all books sold on Amazon. Thanks to all my new readers!

Just watched Maria, by Callas, an Apple TV documentary that uses Maria Callas's own words to tell the opera legend's story. Callas's ghost appears in my 2021 novel, A Life of Bliss, so I found it fascinating. But I recommend it to anyone interested in learning about one of history's great singers.

Honoured that Postmedia books columnist Jamie Portman included my new murder-mystery, Norman's Conquest, in today's Ottawa Citizen piece about his favourite Canadian books of 2024. Also delighted that Ottawa writer Kate Heartfield's amazing new novel, The Tapestry of Time, made his list as well.

One of my most delightful surprises on Christmas Day was opening a present from my wife that contained novels by three Ottawa authors: Midnight in Havana by Peggy Blair, The Black State by John Delacourt and You Light Up My Death, by Mary Jane Maffini. Can't wait to read these excellent books!

These people on Dovercourt Avenue in Ottawa pull out all the stops for Christmas!

Maria Callas's ghost was a central character in my 2021 novel, A Life of Bliss. Last night, I watched Maria, Pablo Larrain's new biopic of Callas. Loved the music, the creative storytelling and Angelina Jolie's performance. You can stream it on MUBI in Canada. www.youtube.com/watch?v=fi1B...

After a successful signing with fellow mystery writer Brenda Chapman at the Orleans Holiday Arts Market, we have ceded our table to amazing authors Amy Tector and John Delacourt. They'll be signing copies of their novels at the Shenkman Arts Centre until 4 p.m. today.

Here's Tom McSorley's review on CBC's Ottawa Morning of Maria, the new Maria Callas biopic. cbc.ca/listen/live-... For a different take on Callas, read my novel A Life of Bliss, available from Ottawa bookstores and on Amazon.

Four Ottawa authors – Brenda Chapman, John Delacourt, Amy Tector and I – will be signing our mystery novels at the Orleans Holiday Arts Market this Saturday. Brenda and I from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., John and Amy from 1 to 4 p.m. The venue is the lovely Shenkman Arts Centre at 245 Centrum Blvd.

The film Maria, starring Angelina Jolie as opera legend Maria Callas, is now playing at the Bytowne Cinema. A Citizen review today called Jolie's performance "brilliant, daring and sad." For a different take, read my 2021 novel, A Life of Bliss, in which Callas's ghost is a key character.

It's the best sale of the year at Ottawa Press and Publishing. Until Dec. 6, all mysteries – including my novels A Life of Bliss and Norman's Conquest – are just $14.95! You can also buy Andrew King's three Ottawa Rewind books for half price. What are you waiting for?

Merchants of Murder: Looking for a novel by an Ottawa author for the mystery fan on your Christmas list? You're in luck. This Saturday, Brenda Chapman and I will be at the Hintonburg Artisan Craft Fair from 10 am to 4 pm, selling signed copies of our latest mystery books. Pop by and say hello!

It's always exciting when the Globe and Mail reveals its list of the top-100 books of the year – especially if you happen to have released a book that year. So let's check it out, shall we? www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books/a...

Fellow Ottawa writer Brenda Chapman and I will be selling our mystery novels at the Hintonburg Community Association's artisan craft fair on Saturday, Nov. 30 from 10 am to 4 pm. Demand for our books was heavy this week at the Crime for Christmas book fair so get there early for the best selection!

The city's first book fair for Ottawa mystery writers yesterday at the Barrhaven Legion exceeded expectations. People were actually lined up when it opened at 4 p.m. and the crowds didn't let up. People bought books galore from the eight authors present. We all really appreciated their support!

Tomorrow – Tuesday Nov. 19 – nine Ottawa writers will gather at the Barrhaven Legion between 4 and 8 p.m. for the city's first-ever mystery author book fair. Apt613.ca has written a terrific piece about this ground-breaking event. Here's a link to their story: apt613.ca/crime-for-ch...

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