Donna Carrick

The Mesdames of Mayhem bring you their third crime anthology: 13 Claws. Holy Menagerie The Mesdames of Mayhem, a group of established, acclaimed Canadian crime writers, have teamed up with three talented newcomers to create a book to add to your library favorites 13 Claws includes 17 fantastic tales (pun intended), featuring cats, dogs, dragons and snakes With thrillers, cozies and mysteries of every variety, 13 Claws is sure to find a sweet spot with crime lovers.

What happens when an old flame is murdered in a half-forgotten prairie village? Or when a new love threatens a growing young family in Ontario's isolated cottage-country? Donna Carrick is the author of The First Excellence (winner of the 2011 Indie Book Event Award), Gold And Fishes and The Noon God, as well as several short story collections. Her story "Watermelon Weekend", featured in Thirteen (Carrick Publishing), was shortlisted for the prestigious Crime Writers of Canada Best Short Story Award, 2014. Carrick's novels have reached over 100,000 readers worldwide. Praise for The First Excellence: "An exquisitely-crafted saga of one person's search for her roots set against a clash of cultures. An intricate plot that mirrors the subtlety of China itself...." Jim Napier, The Sherbrooke Record, also Deadly Diversions "...compelling storylines... A complex mystery with multiple plots and a host of intriguing characters. ...pleasantly unpredictable..." Kirkus Discoveries

**Finalist for the 2015 Arthur Ellis Best Short Story Award Writer's Block, by Kevin Thornton. From the dangerous streets of Johannesburg to the hallowed halls of Toronto's academia, from the raging swell of the English Channel, to the white sands of Canada's Atlantic playground, crime is indeed a global affair. World Enough and Crime, the second in our Excerpt Flight Deck series of anthologies, features stories by such award-winning authors as: Rosemary Aubert, Kevin P. Thornton, Melodie Campbell, M. H. Callway, Steven Moore, Joan O'Callaghan, Jayne Barnard and Rosemary McCracken, as well as emerging authors John Thompson, Bianca Marais, Judy Penz Sheluk and Ed Piwowarczyk. Donna Carrick is the author of The First Excellence, Gold And Fishes and The Noon God, as well as several short story anthologies. In 2011, The First Excellence won the Indie Book Event Award. Her story "Watermelon Weekend," featured in THIRTEEN by the Mesdames of Mayhem (Carrick Publishing) was a finalist for the prestigious Arthur Ellis Best Short Story Award in 2014. Alex Carrick is the author of four books of short stories. "Four Scoops" Is Over The Top features "Caboose Follies," which received Honorable Mention in the 2011 Lorian Hemingway Short Story Competition. "Three Scoops" Is A Blast includes the 2010 Lorian Hemingway Honorable Mention winner, "The Size Of The Skip." In May 2012, Writer's Digest chose Alex's site for its Blog of the Week. The accompanying description said, "Alex Carrick's blog is clean, crisp and entertaining. His stories range from humorous to thought-provoking, making it a fun read." Contents: Crime... Noun, Michael C. Slater Doctor Shediac, Donna Carrick The Case of the Carriageless Horse, Steven M. Moore Cover Girl, Melodie Campbell The Prime Suspect, Rosemary Aubert What Fresh Hell Is This? John Thompson The Savages Among Us, Bianca Marais Antonia, Rosemary McCracken Delights in Novelty, Brad Ling Runaway, Joan O'Callaghan Live Free or Die, Judy Penz Sheluk Writer's Block, Kevin P. Thornton Belief, Jane Petersen Burfield Ghost Protocol, Angie Capozello The Angels Wait, Ed Piwowarczyk The Ultimate Mystery, M. H. Callway An Inexpensive Piece, C. A. Rowland A Locked Room Puzzle, Anne Barton Danger by Moonlight, Anne Barton Leverage, Andrea Kikuchi Potluck, Lynne Murphy Easter Aches, Jayne Barnard The Peace of Mind Thief, Alex Carrick

Living in the shadow of 'greatness' can be a difficult thing. Just ask Desdemona Fortune. When her father, the magnificent J. Caesar Fortune, is found murdered inside the offices of the Faculty of Art, there is no shortage of people who may have carried a grudge. From the lover who could not capture his affection to the colleagues whose efforts were repeatedly ignored, many resented the immensity of his literary success. For though the 'Man of Words' is lying dead on a slab, his legacy will live on. But as Desdemona knows, the legacy of greatness can carry a heavy price. In a household pummeled by the dual forces of addiction and narcissism, Desdemona must face the fact the father she loved has hurt those closest to him. Now, as the head of a once illustrious family, she must do whatever is necessary to save her one surviving sister from the far-reaching influence of an immortal. Donna Carrick grew up in Canada's military and now resides in Southern Ontario with her husband Alex and their three children. Along with their beloved family pets, the Carricks spend most of their free time in Ontario's North Country. She is the host of the Podcast and YouTube Channel: Dead To Writes. A former executive member of Crime Writers Of Canada, Donna has mentored aspiring CWC authors. With her husband Alex, she's an independent publisher (Carrick Publishing). She's also a founding member of the Mesdames and Messieurs of Mayhem, and remains active in the Canadian writing scene, supporting Sisters In Crime, Word On The Street, and a variety of other venues for the literary arts. The First Excellence draws on their own experience in adopting a child from China.