Murder and mayhem this week

October is a busy time of year for crime writers in the Toronto area. It’s also a fun season because we team up to do readings, talks, and to promote and celebrate our achievements. Teamwork works to our advantage in so many ways.

Here’s what some of us will be up to in the next week or so:

• Tomorrow, Saturday Oct. 18, we’ll help Madeleine Harris-Callway celebrate the release of her debut thriller, Windigo Fire, at Sleuth of Baker Street. Madeleine and I have been in a writing critique group for many years so I’m familiar with this terrific work and looking forward to reading the final, polished version.

Sleuth of Baker Street is a favourite spot for Toronto crime writers to celebrate their new releases, and it will be great to catch up with fellow crime writers tomorrow. Join us between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., 907 Millwood Road in Leaside. Tel. 416-483-3111

•  Sunday, Oct. 19, Sharon A. Crawford celebrates the launch of her debut novel, Beyond Blood, with fellow Blue Denim Press author Klaus Jakelski (Dead Wrong). I’m honoured to be a guest reader at the event, along with true crime author Nate Hendley. Join us at 3 p.m. at Toronto’s Paintbox Bistro, 555 Dundas St. East.
• Tuesday Oct. 21, I’ll be reading from Safe Harbor and Black Water at Bendale Library in Toronto, and talking about writing with fellow authors Rosemary Aubert, Sharon Crawford, Nate Hendley and Steve Shrott. Join us at 2 p.m. at 1515 Danforth Road.
• On Saturday Oct. 25, I’ll venture farther afield with the Mesdames of Mayhem to the public library in Barrie, Ont. The Mesdames are a collective of 13 Canadian crime writers, and eight of us will read from the 2013 crime fiction anthology Thirteen at the library. I’ll read from my Pat Tierney short story, “The Sweetheard Scamster,” which was a finalist for a 2014 Derringer Award. The seven other Mesdames who’ll be on hand are Catherine Astolfo, Rosemary Aubert, Melodie Campbell, Catherine Dunphy, Madeleine Harris-Callway, Joan O’Callaghan and Lynne Murphy. Join us from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Barrie Public Library, 60 Worsley St., Barrie, tel. 705-728-1010.
• The following day, Sunday Oct. 26, those of you who are on Facebook are invited to a cyber party to celebrate the launch of Carrick Publishing’s latest crime fiction anthology, World Enough and Crime. Twenty-two authors are featured in the collection, and I’m proud to be among this group, which includes several award-winners. My contribution is my latest Pat Tierney story, “Antonia.” My husband, Ed Piwowarczyk, makes his fiction debut with “The Angels Wait.” Drop by Carrick Publishing’s Facebook group between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Oct. 26 by clicking here.

I’m also doing my best to ensure that Deadly Dozen, Imajin Books’ e-book bundle of 12 bestselling mystery/thriller novels, gets off to a first-rate start. Deadly Dozen, which includes my first Pat Tierney mystery Safe Harbor, has been doing extremely well since its release four weeks ago. Such an honour to be one of the dozen!