Rick Blechta
Rick Blechta has been a musician all his life, and it shows in his writing. He brings a musician's viewpoint to the thriller genre in much the same way Dick Francis brought the expert horseman's eye. The results are "most entertaining" to quote the Regina Leader Post.
All of his novels have been praised for the "insider's knowledge of the music world" (Canadian Book Review Annual) which he injects into his plots. The Calgary Herald said in a review of his fifth novel, When Hell Freezes Over: "If this is the future of crime writing in Canada, it's a bright one indeed." His previous novel, Cemetery of the Nameless, was a finalist for the Arthur Ellis Best Novel Award in 2006.
His latest release is A Case of You, which has garnered some pretty impressive critical praise. The Hamilton Spectator said: "This is a tale of deceit, deeply buried pain and harsh reality. The realistic finale is a challenging moment and is an impressive piece of writing. A satisfying novel that is a must-read for my 2008 list." And from the Sherbrooke Record: A Case of You is Rick Blechta’s strongest book to date...a compelling tale that reaches from Toronto to New York to the secluded mountains of California, carrying the reader along effortlessly in his best novel to date."
Rick has been very active in CWC, holding every executive position, including president for two terms (from 2005 to 2007). He also twice edited the organization's directory of members’ works, In Cold Blood; handled all production and design duties for CWC's infamous cookbooks, Dishes to Die For and Dishes to Die for...Again; and was co-editor and designer of the newsletter, Fingerprints. In 2000, the CWC presented him with the Derrick Murdoch Award in recognition of his contributions to the organization.
Selected Bibliography:
Knock on Wood. Toronto: Castlefield Press, 1992
The Lark Ascending. Toronto: Castlefield Press, 1993
Shooting Straight in the Dark. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart,
2002
Cemetery of the Nameless. Toronto: RendezVous Crime, 2005
When Hell Freezes Over. Toronto: RendezVous Crime, 2006
A Case of You. Toronto: RendezVous Crime, 2008
Awards:
Winner, Crime Writers of Canada Derrick Murdoch Award, 2000
Finalist, Arthur Ellis Award for Best Novel, 2006, for Cemetery of
the Nameless
Website:
www.rickblechta.com
Email:
rick@rickblechta.com
| About the CWC | Arthur Ellis Awards | CWC Publications | Member Bios |
| Features | Contact Us | Links | Home |