Home Sweet Homicide - but please don't try this in your own home

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In August, at Calgary's annual When Words Collide Festival for writers and readers I sat on a panel titled Home Sweet Homicide: the multitude of ways victims die at or near their homes. The moderator asked us panelists to describe the various methods we'd used in our mystery novels and why we'd chosen those approaches. 

I talked about my Paula Savard Mystery Series set in Calgary. Paula, my sleuth, is an insurance adjuster whose work gets her involved in crimes. In books # 2 and 3 of the series, Paula investigates a building fire and a hit-and-run collision near a victim's home. She comes to suspect both apparent accidents were coverups for murder. Book # 4 begins with Paula investigating a theft from a bicycle store during the COVID-19 pandemic. A murder takes place in the adjacent furniture store, which has closed for the pandemic and become the home of a squatter. The victim is bashed on the head with a weapon of opportunity: a candlestick from the store's dining room display. 

Home Sweet Homicide panel at WWC 2025

The panel's most engaging questions related to the allure of poisons and medications thanks to our expert panelist, Lee-Anne Hancock, a retired nurse who worked at the BC Drug and Poison Information Centre. Lee-Anne told us about ordinary plants and medicines that can kill if used incorrectly -- or correctly from a killer's perspective. She noted that poisoning has been called the female murderer's method of choice, perhaps because it is less messy and violent and doesn't require physical strength.

As a mystery writer, I'm intrigued by the medicinal method that can easily be disguised as an accident. In two of my short stories, someone kills a relative by administering an overdose of their prescribed medicine. Even if suspicions arise and victims are autopsied, it would be normal for traces of their own medicines to show up in their bloodstreams. 

In my novel, A Killer Whisky, set in 1918 Calgary, a man dies in his living room after drinking a glass of whisky. His symptoms are consistent with the "Spanish Flu" that has struck the city and the attending doctor diagnoses the flu as the cause of death. But the man's neighbour, who is the doctor's receptionist, suspects someone laced the whisky with a poison or a medicine that reacted with the alcohol to produce a toxic brew. She convinces a sympathetic police detective to investigate.       

The Home Sweet Homicide panel took a light hearted approach that entertained the audience at the end of a busy festival day. Afterward, I pondered why I've tended to kill off my novel victims in their homes or on nearby streets rather than farther away. I came up with three thoughts. 

1. My killers and victims always know each other, which is most common with real life murders, and relatives and friends often hang out together at or near their homes.  

2. Homes are, by definition, private rather than public. There will likely be fewer potential witnesses to a crime and perhaps no witnesses. Any friends or relatives present might lie or conceal information to protect themselves, someone else, or the victim.  

3. Home is supposed to be our safe place. A home break-in feels like a violation, and a killing in our home or neighbourhood threatens our sense of security.  

Me on the Home Sweet Homicide panel, perhaps contemplating a question 

 

     

It’s a Wrap – The Conference Review / by Barbara Baker

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Thanks for your suggestions and tips on how to handle my conference anxiety and for checking in to see how it all went. Your curiosity and concern made me blush.

Yes, I did make more than six contacts. Yes, I did attend sessions on networking, promoting and branding. Yes, I did talk to people I didn’t know. Was it nerve wracking? Yes. Did it get easier? Maybe by a hair. I have to admit though - I relaxed more when I was in sessions which dealt with the art of writing versus promoting my writing.

There were so many wise, well-versed and bestseller speakers throughout the weekend, but I want to give a shout out to two of my favourites.

The hilarious and energetic Christine Tsai Taylor held numerous sessions on Networking Sucks. At times there was so much laughter coming from our room that people stopped by to see what was happening. And Christine set the bar much higher than I did. She told us to connect with 100 writerly people throughout the weekend. 100? What? That’s crazy talk.

But like the good students we were, we used her techniques and introduced ourselves to new people. The awkward introductions like ‘is this seat taken’ to ‘nice cowboy boots’ felt a little less uncomfortable by the end of the weekend. Note – I said ‘a little less’.

Another great presenter was Kelley Armstrong with her no-nonsense approach to breaking down the aspects of writing - all the way from that killer opening to sub-plots to setting up the back story so it pays off … an endless list of need-to-know information which, when used correctly, will make the reader turn pages into the wee hours of the morning. I have scads of notes from her sessions and when I came home, I typed out the key points, highlighted my weaknesses and put it on the wall next to my monitor.

All weekend, the hallways hummed with chatter, people comparing notes and discussions about what’s next. By Sunday it felt cool to recognize faces, get the wave, head nod or thumbs up from new comrades. I felt like I belonged.

Here’s a list of a few take aways:

• keep the reader curious but not confused (Kelley Armstrong)
• even a house can be a character if you give it depth (Bradley Somer)
• to avoid getting caught, always clear your history browser (Dave Sweet)
• remember to make small goals – it’s a thrill to achieve them and gives you drive to attain the big ones (Miranda Krogstad)
• in writing, always come in late and leave early (Kelley Armstrong)
• working together we can achieve more than we can on our own (Bradley Somer)
• an unscientific study showed the weight of a human soul is 21 grams (Dave Sweet)
• show don’t tell (this was mentioned innumerable times by many speakers)
• READ IT OUT LOUD – an email, a message, a passage. You’ll be surprised how many errors you find. (Kelley Armstrong)
• be genuine, be generous, be bold (Christine Tsai Taylor)
• give hope, take hope away (Jaunita Violini)
• rigor mortis stops and disappears 24 – 36 hours after death (Dave Sweet)
• RUE – resist the urge to explain (Kelley Armstrong)
• not everyone will like me or what I write or my shoes - I won’t take it personally (ad libbed by me from numerous presenters)

It was energizing and exhausting but coming out of the conference with a number of new insights into writing and promoting techniques was a definite win for me. When Words Collide put on another great conference.

 

Baker, Barbara - BWL Publishing Inc. (bookswelove.net)

Barbara Baker Author Page Facebook

Summer of Lies by Barbara Baker — BWL Publishing

What About Me? by Barbara Baker — BWL Publishing

 

Comfort Zones and a Writer’s Conference - by Barbara Baker

 

Jillian of Banff XO — BWL Publishing

I’ll be attending the When Words Collide writer’s conference in five days. Yes, I’m on a countdown. Five more sleeps. I’m excited and nervous.

In 2023 I was there with over 780 people. The energy throughout the weekend was palpable. I heard snippets of chatter about best seller details, landing book deals, acquiring agents and contracts – all music to a writer’s ear. Unfortunately, I was hesitant to step into the circle of conversationalists.

I did attend numerous sessions on learning the intricacies of writing a great book and the struggles an author might need to overcome. I also listened to speakers who shared a roadmap of their writing career and sat at the back of the room during discussions about networking and promotional ideas. My notebook was full.

But during the breaks I hightailed it out of the building and went for a walk. Alone.

This year I told myself it’s time to put on the big girl panties, immerse myself in the excitement and energy of the conference and start to network with other writers, authors, agents, publishers, illustrators, educators … the whole spectrum of folks engaged in storytelling. This time, I shake a finger in the air, I promise to be an active participant – an extrovert trait which scares the bejesus out of me.

Don’t get me wrong. The people that attend this conference are engaging and enthusiastic and helpful and clever. I have nothing to be nervous about except myself. None of them bite. It’s just my approach. Or better yet, my lack of approach.

I’m challenging myself to make six significant writerly contacts. Why six and not 10? Because 10 seems unattainable which reduces my drive to attain it. Six is still a stretch for me to achieve even though it’s daunting. As I’ve said before, it can be a scary place inside my head when I process information and act out scenarios.

If you have any tips on how to walk up to another conference attendee and start a delightful exchange that will be memorable, please send them my way. Help me to not stick my size nine foot in my mouth and frighten anyone. At the very least, help me to say something engaging beyond ‘hi’. If it’s my only chance to make a significant impression, I want it to be a good one. And if you’re going to the conference, I hope to see you there.

In five days, away I will go, pushing myself far out of my comfort zone and since I’ve told you all about it, I feel accountable to succeed. Wish me luck.

 

Contact info: bbaker.write@gmail.com

Summer of Lies by Barbara Baker — BWL Publishing

What About Me? by Barbara Baker — BWL Publishing

A Fun and Inspiring Writers' Weekend

                                       Please click this link for author and book information

I'm still recovering from my hectic long weekend at Calgary's When Words Collide Festival for Readers and Writers. After three years of attending the festival online, it was great to see familiar faces in-person, make new connections, and participate in panels in front of live audiences. I also enjoyed spreading the word about BWL and Bouchercon Calgary 2026 at their Merchants' Room tables, which were conveniently located next to each other.  

BWL authors Astrid Theilgaard, Vicki Chatham, and me at the BWL table. 

As usual I especially enjoyed WWC's opening evening keynote addresses. The four Festival Guest Authors were each given twenty minutes to talk about anything they wanted. This year's speeches were intensely personal and brave. Writing coach and international speaker Angela Ackerman shared her struggle with imposter syndrome despite selling almost a million books in ten languages. I'm sure every writer in the room could relate. Stacey Kondla spoke about her stroke, which prompted her successful new career as a literary agent. Nicole Baart, author of "race-to-the finish family dramas," discussed how her need for multiple surgeries during childhood led her to becoming a writer. 

On my seven panels I discussed such topics such as creating characters, writing mental health, fiction in a world with COVID-19, putting your characters in danger, and how to write a series without losing your way (or your mind). About the latter, I confessed my method of combing through my notes and earlier series novels to recall a character's eye colour, age, or divorce date wasn't the most efficient way of keeping track of continuing series characters and suggested authors use a spreadsheet. Fellow panelist Cathy Ace prefers a series bible, which she described as a word document that she searches for a character's pertinent details. Whatever works for each writer. 

At the keynote event, WWC chair Randy McCharles passed the torch (a dragon statue) to the festival's new management, the Alexandra Writers' Centre Society. The AWCS was busy taking registrations for next year's festival in the Merchants' Room. WWC 2024 is already 70 % sold out. AWCS has put together an interesting lineup of Guests of Honour and Special Guest authors. Check their website for updates and to register for When Words Collide Volume Two: Every Chapter Has Another Great Story.

        

Thanks to Diane Bator (above) for organizing the BWL table. Author Layton Park stopped by to chat with Diane and do a table shift. Diane went home with ideas for sprucing up the BWL table next year. Even the Merchants' Room can be inspiring. 

WWC panel with mystery writers PD Workman, BWL author Joan Donaldson-Yarmey, Jonathan Whitelaw, and Cathy Ace. 

                  

BWL Publishing and Escape With a Writer are Heading to When Words Collide August 4 to 6! by Diane Bator

https://bwlpublishing.ca/bator-diane/

For anyone new to my blog, Escape with a Writer is the name of my blog where I have promoted fellow authors since 2018. I actually started it because while raising three kids, working all day, and writing, I never had time to figure out what to blog about! I started doing blogs every Sunday. Lucky for me, I have a lot of great friends who have been happy to share their books and their stories and I soon found myself posting twice a week.

Flash forward to 2022 and I teamed up with a public relations guy who sends me even more authors to share. Currently, Escape with a Writer is up to three days a week and may become a podcast as well! One step at a time, right? After all, I just moved!

Just when things have slowed down and the dust began to settle, I'm facing a whole new challenge. Attending one of the largest writing conferences I've ever been to! As a publisher!

Deep breath. I've got this. It's only When Words Collide, which has been sold out for months. How big could it be?

I started with the website and found the venue. Easy enough to get to. Seems to be lots of parking. One big breath out. Did I mention traffic makes me a bit anxious? Yes, I drove across Canada, but that was pretty much a straight shot. This is me driving in a city and... Taking one highway and one main street. No big deal!

When I get there, I need to set up the table for BWL Publishing. Another deep breath before I find THE VENUE MAP! Whew! No big. I'll keep it handy. This is why I love paper.

So what do I do when I'm not looking after the store? Did I mention it's a conference? I checked out the sessions available and had to sit down. Friday alone there are over 40 sessions! Saturday and Sunday there are about the same. Wow! How on earth is someone supposed to figure out what to attend? I don't see a cloning station on that map!

It seems as though the drive in might be the least of my worries!

Lucky for me, they provide a complete list that tells attendees about EVERY one of the sessions as well as who is leading them. Wait a sec! I know some of these people. Or at least I know their virtual versions from all the Zoom meetings I've attended since 2020. Maybe one solution to my problem is to find all the ones people I know are teaching and start from there. Then I can read the summaries and chose things I'd really like to learn about.

Would I prefer to learn about "Writing Short Mysteries that Sell" or "Murder, Mayhem, or Natural Causes? Inventive Ways to Kill of Characters"? Okay, bad example. I'm a mystery writer!

How about "Protagonists Under Pressure: Putting Your Characters in Danger" or "Why are Zombies Essential to a Writer's Group?" I think I may need to find out the answer to that one! 

Ooh! "Finding Time as a Writer" is on Saturday, but at the same time as "Troubleshooting Your Manuscript." Time for some serious coin flipping!

Back to more urgent matters. I need to pack my books and load the car. 

Now I need to decide which books I should bring.

Next month, I'll let you know how this conference went and fill you in on my next adventure in writing conferences! 

Keep Writing

Diane

When Word Collide Grand Finale

 

 

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I've attended Calgary's When Words Collide Festival for Readers and Writers every year since it began in 2011. That was the year I published my first novel, A Deadly Fall, but I didn't attend to promote the book. I went as a fan of one of their special guest authors Robert J. Sawyer and because a friend coaxed me into going and WWC was an inexpensive, local event. When I arrived at the host hotel, I was amazed at the festival's energy. The founders largely came from the science fiction and fantasy community and they know how to party. While WWC included all genres, it helped to understand the numerous Star Trek references. I attended several dynamic panels and presentations and did a shift at the book sale table, where I met some interesting people and sold copies of my new novel. 

The following year, I volunteered to lead a dialogue workshop, which had a huge turnout. Buoyed by this success, the next year I volunteered to sit on a few panels. WWC is entirely volunteer-run and presented, although the special guest authors receive expense money. The relative equality between authors and fans creates a democratic atmosphere. A highlight for me every year is the opening night's two-hour keynote addresses, where the five or six guest authors each introduce themselves and speak on whatever topic they want. Often the speeches are funny and/or thought provoking.  

My involvement increased when I joined the WWC board and helped develop ideas for panels. We aimed for topics that would appeal to readers of all genres and writers at every stage of the process, from learning the craft to finding a publisher to promoting their books. I met BWL publisher Jude Pittman at WWC 2017 when we chatted in the Merchants' Room. After the festival, I sent her a query and soon became part of the BWL family. 

 

                                 BWL's Nancy Bell and Jude Pittman at When Words Collide 

Connections also occur at WWC social gatherings. The Saturday evening banquet has sold out quickly since the festival started encouraging costumes. Here I am (left hand side) with two other ladies in red at the Roaring Twenties theme banquet.  

      

Then COVID-19 hit. WWC went online in August 2020 and continued with virtual conferences the following two years. I still participated in panels and attended some virtual social events, but not as many as I had previously. Staring at a computer screen wasn't the same as meeting in person. I left the board, feeling I didn't have the tech skills to contribute much of value. Other board members dropped off and the festival's main organizers ran out of steam. They decided to return to the in-person festival in 2023, but this will be the final year for When Words Collide. 

Registration for WWC 2023 has reached its cap of 780 attendees, but this is due to 2020 and later registrations being carried forward to 2023. Spots are expected to open up, so it's worth  putting your name on the waitlist if you're interested in attending.

I'm looking forward to the WWC finale on August 4-6 with bittersweet feelings, but this might not be a complete ending. Rumour has it another group is thinking of reviving the festival or creating something similar next year. This hope in the wings is all the more reason to celebrate When Words Collide's wildly successful thirteen year run this summer. Hats off to you, WWC! It's been grand. 

                                               Me with Special Guest Author Will Ferguson

 

                                    

WWC Festival For Readers and Writers - Online again and free

                                Please click this link for book and purchase information

My favourite writing festival, When Words Collide will be happening August 13-15, 2021. This year's online event will feature a full program with up to ten options every hour from Friday to Sunday. Most events will take place on Zoom. The festival is free, but you have to register in advance to prevent Zoom bombers from disrupting the panels and presentations. 

This year I'll be participating in six events, the most I've done since I attended the inaugural WWC ten years ago. A few of my panels were carried over from last year's cancelled in-person festival. The others are topics that appealed to me and needed volunteers to fill remaining spots. WWC is entirely organized and presented by volunteers, which contributes to its atmosphere of equality among writers and readers. 

  

"Roaring Twenties" banquet: me with author Will Ferguson at WWC - this year's socials will be online 

Friday, August 13th, I'll be driving back to Calgary from a hiking holiday in Jasper, Alberta. I hope to get home in time for the keynote speeches by the festival's five special guest authors. These are often thought provoking, hilarious, or both. 

My first panel, Chapter One: Your Debut Book, is scheduled for Saturday at noon. I'll moderate a group discussion on the experience of publishing a first book and how to attract readers. This is a timely topic for me, since my new novel will be released in August. Much has changed since my first book appeared ten years ago, but I hope to apply what I've learned to our increasingly digital world. 

            Signing Ten Days in Summer, book # 2 of my Paula Savard mystery series, at my book launch

Next on tap is Killer Dialogue, a panel about how to make your evil characters sound evil but real. My contribution to this topic might be different from that of my fellow panelists, since my bad guys tend to be regular people who do bad things and simply talk like themselves. Some of the other panelists write 'noir' books with heavier lingo. I'll probably learn as much from them as the viewers who tune into the discussion. 

Then, for something completely different, is a panel called Prophet and Loss: Cults and Extreme Beliefs in Fiction. My last novel, To Catch a Fox, was primarily set at a cult-like retreat in California. Despite the costumes, life at the story's New Dawn Retreat is a touch more mainstream than the experience of one of my fellow panelists, a former member of the Unification Church, colloquially called the "Moonies."   

I enjoyed dressing my characters in costumes like these at the retreat in To Catch a Fox 

Saturday night features social activities on Zoom. I skipped these last year, but people said they were almost like the real live thing. Especially popular were break-out rooms, where attendees got to know others in small groups. I hope to get involved this year, dressed in my pajamas from the waist down. 

Sunday I'm back at ten a.m. on a panel called Book Clubs for Readers. I've belonged to the same book club for 25 years, although the membership has changed through time. We all met though a group organized by the Calgary Public Library and used to meet at the Fish Creek branch. Since last September we've been getting together on Zoom. The online platform has worked well to keep our group going, but we look forward to discussing books in person next fall. 

The last minute addition to my schedule is a panel titled Imagery, Theme and Titles Aren't So Tough. I find all three of these tough at times, but interesting. My first writing instructors taught me to start each story with an image. While I can't say I've continued to do this all or most of the time, it was a good way to learn fiction writing. What makes the perfect title? I think it's often one that ties imagery and theme together on multiple levels. For instance, the title "A Red Balloon" (I made this up) might be a story with an actual red balloon. As the story progresses, the balloon and its colour signify meanings of increasing depth.    

Finally, this year I'll be doing my first WWC presentation: In the Beginning is the Sentence. Editor Tania Therien and I will geek-out on sentences. We'll talk about opening sentences, sentence length and type, sentences we've loved and hated, what makes a sentence a sing? We both feel out of our comfort zones, but trust we'll pull each other through. We also secretly hope that by our time slot - four p.m. Sunday afternoon - listeners will be too tired from the busy weekend to notice our goofs.  

My presentation and five panels are a small portion of the hundreds of offerings at When Words Collide next month. This online year is a chance for non-Calgarians to check the program out.  There's bound to be something for anyone interested in writing or reading books. In 2022 WWC hopes to return to its usual Calgary hotel, but  probably with online components.