About Me

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Melfort, Saskatchewan, Canada
I am a lawyer in Melfort, Saskatchewan, Canada who enjoys reading, especially mysteries. Since 2000 I have been writing personal book reviews. This blog includes my reviews, information on and interviews with authors and descriptions of mystery bookstores I have visited. I strive to review all Saskatchewan mysteries. Other Canadian mysteries are listed under the Rest of Canada. As a lawyer I am always interested in legal mysteries. I have a separate page for legal mysteries. Occasionally my reviews of legal mysteries comment on the legal reality of the mystery. You can follow the progression of my favourite authors with up to 15 reviews. Each year I select my favourites in "Bill's Best of ----". As well as current reviews I am posting reviews from 2000 to 2011. Below my most recent couple of posts are the posts of Saskatchewan mysteries I have reviewed alphabetically by author. If you only want a sentence or two description of the book and my recommendation when deciding whether to read the book look at the bold portion of the review. If you would like to email me the link to my email is on the profile page.

Friday, February 15, 2013

Member of Crime Writers of Canada

After reading about the Crime Writers of Canada (CWC) and the Edgar Awards for several years and now becoming a blogger I decided to join the CWC.

They have different classes of membership. As I am not a writer of crime fiction I have joined as an associate member. The annual dues are $86.00.

As part of the membership I get the monthly CWC newsletter, Crime Beat.

Because of all the other commitments in my life I have not asked to participate in any committees. I have asked for information on the Edgar Awards.

I do not anticipate ever becoming a judge. I am not so presumptuous as to think they would want me as a judge. Even were it possible, having looked at the lists judges are expected to read, the process would dominate my reading for the year. I do not want to spend all my reading time on the nominated books. I admire those judges who will commit to all the reading required. I have decided I am going to try to read all of the short list for Best Novel so that I can reach my own conclusions on what is the best for the year.

I am going to try to find out how the winning choice is made. I am not sure whether it is a straight vote of the judges or a vote after a discussion or an effort at consensus. In the past I have never read all of books on any short list so it is hard to say whether I agree or disagree with the chosen book.

For our vast country the CWC has come up with a method of joining the country together to announce the short lists for the different categories of the Edgars. There are reveal events in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal on April 18 with a different category being revealed at each event. I will pass on the short lists after reveal day.

As one of the almost 300 members of the CWC.I hope blog readers will drop by the website which is http://www.crimewriterscanada.com/.

 
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8 comments:

  1. AnonymousFebruary 15, 2013 at 5:55 PM

    Bill - That is great news! And based on your blog, I think you'd be a fine judge. Being in the CWC will be I'm sure a good experience.

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  2. Keen ReaderFebruary 15, 2013 at 6:03 PM

    I'm considering entering the next 'Unhanged Arthur' competition, but the entry date may be too far away.

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  3. BernadetteFebruary 15, 2013 at 9:25 PM

    I think it's nice to support these associations Bill, even for us non-writers. I am an associate member of Sisters in Crime Australia for the same reasons as you have described and would happily join the local chapter of the Crime Writers Association if it accepted such a thing (it doesn't at present).

    This year I was asked to be a judge for our local crime fiction award though and I deliberated for a while before accepting - we'll see whether it was a good idea or not :)

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  4. AnonymousFebruary 16, 2013 at 12:20 AM

    Good news. It will be quite interesting to see the short lists per category.

    We appreciate the inside scoop on the nominations.

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  5. Bill SelnesFebruary 16, 2013 at 2:50 PM

    Margot: Thanks for the comment. I think I have enough to do with judges in my real work life.

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  6. Bill SelnesFebruary 16, 2013 at 2:51 PM

    Dr. Evangelicus: Thanks for the comment. I hope you enter. Every competition benefits from more entries.

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  7. Bill SelnesFebruary 16, 2013 at 2:52 PM

    Bernadette: Thanks for the comment. I will be interested in learning if the judging process was a good experience for you.

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  8. Bill SelnesFebruary 16, 2013 at 2:53 PM

    Kathy D.: Thanks for the comment. I am curious each year as to the choices for the short lists as much as the winners.

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