Maffini, Mary Jane

Mary Jane Mafini   Mary Jane Maffini is a lapsed librarian, former co-owner of Ottawa’s Prime Crime Mystery Bookstore, member of the Ladies Killing Circle, and author of eleven books in three series, plus some on the way). She rides herd on the Ottawa-based Camilla MacPhee series, West Quebec’s Fiona Silk comic capers, and the Charlotte Adams mysteries, which are set in upstate New York. Her short stories – many of them indicating a deep mistrust of little old ladies – can be found in all seven Ladies Killing Circle anthologies, Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, Iced, Cold Blood V, Storyteller Magazine, and other popular publications.

 Although like many of her characters she is a native of Nova Scotia, MJ now lives in Ottawa with her long-suffering husband and two princessy miniature dachshunds.

Mary Jane served two terms as President of Crime Writers of Canada and frequently speaks and presents workshops on mysteries and writing. She was the guest of honour at Bloody Words 2006 and toastmistress at Bloody Words 2009.

Check out www.maryjanemaffini.com and keep up with the news through her newsletter. Sign up at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and your name will be entered in the latest contest! 

Closet Confidential: a Charlotte Adams mystery (July 6, 2010) No spoiled pooches were harmed in the following silly trailer. Check it out. TRAILER.

Selected Bibliography:

The Camilla MacPhee mysteries:

• Speak Ill of the Dead. Toronto: RendezVous Crime, 1999
• The Icing on the Corpse. Toronto: RendezVous Crime, 2001
•  Little Boy Blues. Toronto: RendezVous Crime, 2002
• The Devil’s in the Details. Toronto: RendezVous Crime, 2004
• The Dead Don’t Get Out Much. Toronto: RendezVous Crime, 2005
• Law & Disorder. Toronto: RendezVous Crime, 2009

The Fiona Silk mysteries:

• Lament for a Lounge Lizard. Toronto: RendezVous Crime 2003
• Too Hot to Handle. Toronto: RendezVous Crime, Fall 2007

The Charlotte Adams mysteries:

• Organize Your Corpses. New York: Berkley Prime Crime, 2007
• The Cluttered Corpse. New York: Berkley Prime Crime, 2008
• Death Loves Your Messy Desk. New York: Berkley Prime Crime, 2009
• Closet Confidential: New York: Berkley Prime Crime, July, 2010
• The Busy Woman’s Guide to Murder: Berkley Prime Crime, TBA 2011

Awards:

• Winner, Crime Writers of Canada's Derrick Murdoch Award, 2006, for being "The Tiny Perfect CWC Volunteer"
•  Winner, Arthur Ellis Award for Best Short Story, 2001, for “Sign of the Times” in Fit to Die, RendezVous Press
•  Winner, Arthur Ellis Award for Best Short Story, 1995, for "Cotton Armour" in The Ladies Killing Circle
  Winner, Ottawa Citizen Short Story Contest, 1994, for "Death Before Doughnuts"
• Nominated, The Barry Award – Best Paperback Original (Deadly Pleasures Magazine) 2006 for The Dead Don’t Get Out Much.
• Nominated, Crime Writers of Canada Arthur Ellis Award for Best Novel, 2003, for Lament for a Lounge Lizard
• Nominated, Crime Writers of Canada Arthur Ellis Award for Best First Mystery, 1999, for Speak Ill of the Dead
• Nominated, Arthur Ellis Award for Best Short Story, 1999, for "Kicking the Habit" in Menopause Is Murder  Getting Started in the Mystery Biz

Workshops:  

• Kickstart Your Characters!

• The Bare Bones of Mystery Writing

• The Business of Writing

• Step Over to the Dark Side: The Basics of Mystery Fiction (The Writers' Trust)

• What Was Your First Clue?: Connecting your readers with the contemporary mystery novel (Southern Ontario Library Service)

• Custom workshops can be developed by some mysterious process

Web site:
www.maryjanemaffini.ca

E-mail:
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