The Capital Crime Writers association celebrated its 20th anniversary at the main branch of the Ottawa Public Library on Saturday.
The day-long event recognized Ottawa’s local mystery writers, of which more than a dozen are published in Canada, the United States and internationally.
“We need to celebrate our local authors,” said NDP MP Paul Dewar, in his opening remarks. “It’s a blossoming of a genre,” he said, referring to Ottawa’s growing community of mystery writers.
Throughout out the day, local authors – including Rick Mofina, Barbara Fradkin and Mary Jane Maffini – as well as their fans and aspiring writers took part in panel discussions and writing workshops on how to write murder mysteries.
Discussions ranged from the amount of background research and planning needed to write a crime novel to the dangers of modeling characters on friends or family.
The event also included readings by local politicians and members of the arts community, including Capital Ward Coun. Clive Doucet, who read from Fradkin’s latest novel, This Thing of Darkness, which is set in Ottawa.
Linda Wiken, the owner of Prime Crime, a mystery bookstore in the Glebe, said Ottawa’s crime writers have a strong following, in part because they often set their novels here.
“People like to read about the place they live,” she said.
The Capital Crime Writers association was founded in 1988 as a writing and networking group. It also helps market and promote the work of its members through conferences and signings. The association has around 75 members to date, including unpublished authors and readers.