Bloody Gone

Canadian mystery fans were upset Saturday to learn that the Bloody Words Mystery Conference has been cancelled for 2007.

Bloody Words, which is usually held in Toronto, Ontario, was this year scheduled for Victoria, British Columbia, in June. The Victoria event was to have been hosted by Chronicles of Crime, a popular local bookstore with a crime-fiction bent. However, Frances Thorsen, the store’s owner, reported that government funding she’d hoped to secure for the event would not be forthcoming.

In a newsletter, Cheryl Freedman informed members of Crime Writers of Canada that “with only five months till the actual conference date, there’s no way we can pull anything together in Toronto for 2007, including booking our hotel.”

In 2008, however, those wanting a Canadian date on their conference calendar can plan on having Bloody Words back in Toronto as usual. Look for the conference from June 6 to 8, 2008, at Toronto’s Downtown Marriott Eaton Centre. Rosemary Aubert, author of the Ellis Portal mysteries, will be the Canadian guest of honor. The international guest of honor will be announced in the near future.

Meanwhile, West Coast conference-goers still have Left Coast Crime to look forward to, scheduled this year for Seattle, Washington, from February 1 through 4.