|
Press Release:
For immediate release, June 24, 2004
Contact: Violette Malan, (613) 272 3591
Winners Of Short Story Contest Named By Scene Of The Crime
This year's Wolfe Island Scene of the Crime short story contest saw even more entries from across Canada as the event
continues to grow in popularity.
"We were delighted to see more Canadians turning to crime," jokes contest co-ordinator Violette Malan. "Since Canadian
crime writing started with a Wolfe Islander, it seems fitting the Island be a centre promoting new writers from across
the country."
The contest, part of the Scene of the Crime Writers Festival set to take place on Sat., Aug. 14, on Wolfe Island,
Ont., attracted more entries from across Canada. "This was a tough year for the judges," says Malan. "The quality of the
entries was high and it was a difficult choice to make." In fact, this year the judges took the step of awarding several
"honourable mentions" to its list of finishers. The winners were chosen through blind judging.
First-place finisher Selaine Henriksen of Ottawa, Ont., won for her story "Till Death Do Us Part." The second-place
finisher, who also hails from Ottawa, is Sheila Gallant-Halloran for her story "A Stab Of Reality." Third-place finisher
Bill Joslin, who penned "A Little Dab'll Do Ya," is a Kingston resident who grew up on Wolfe Island.
Honourable Mentions went to Barry Daniels of Western Shore, Nova Scotia, for "Redcap", and Wilma Kenny of Sydenham, Ont.,
for "The Onion Lamp."
First prize is $50 and publication in the event program. Second and third prizes are $25 gift certificates from Kingston's
Novel Idea bookstore.
The annual Scene of the Crime Festival is dedicated to celebrating Wolfe Island's heritage as the birthplace of Canada's
first crime writer, Grant Allen. Born on the Island in the mid-19th century and the first Canadian to write crime
fiction, Allen invented one of the most popular plot conceits of the genre, the thief who is actually the hero of the
story. He was also a good friend of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes.
Set for Saturday, Aug. 14, on land Grant Allen's family donated to the Island around the time of his birth, this year's
Scene Of The Crime includes:
-
Crime Scene Wolfe Island: Const. Jim Eadie is a leading footprint expert with the Ontario Provincial Police. His
detailed presentation, designed to be of interest to the general public, will include real exhibits, slides and expert
testimony.
-
Panel discussion, Sam Spade vs. Miss Marple: Our panel of expert authors investigate everyone from whiskey-swilling
tough guys to tea-drinking old ladies in their debate over the different styles that make up the crime-writing genre.
-
The Grant Allen Award: An intimate interview with Howard Engel by Wayne Grady, introduced by Alison Gordon, and followed
by the presentation of the inaugural Grant Allen Award. Held at historic Trinity Anglican church, where Grant Allen's
father was the first minister.
-
Author readings: Come hear some of Canada's top authors read short mysteries specially prepared for this event. Our
award-winning writers include Howard Engel, Alison Gordon, Barbara Fradkin, H. Mel Malton, James Powell, and Peter
Sellers.
The short story awards will officially be presented at the festival's popular old-fashioned church supper, where Canada's
top crime writers join festival-goers at the dinner table for a home-cooked meal, including unlimited home-made pie.
It's all done with a home-style flare that emphasizes the small-town feel of Wolfe Island, the largest of the Thousand
Islands. Festival events take place in the Island village of Marysville, and are all within walking distance of the free
ferry from Kingston.
Information on obtaining tickets is available at www.sceneofthecrime.ca, or by contacting Maureen Lollar
at 613-385-2540 or by email at [email protected].
|
