Well, well, well... We have some BRILLIANT attendees following us online.

As you may know, we’ve been running a “guess the theme” contest the last couple of months, dropping very vague, very sneaky clues wherever you find us online. Guesses have been coming into my email, and I am excited to report that WE HAVE A WINNER!

Actually, we have two. Two of the guesses came VERY close on their own, but just didn’t quite capture the theme, according to our judges. Put the two together, and you’ve got as close a solution as our evidence is ever likely to produce. Our board was unanimous that these two add up to our winner. That means that TWO lucky guessers will win a book prize they can pick up at the conference.

The amazing thing to me is that one of those people was the first person to guess! Talk about being a good detective!

So, shall I tell you the winners first, or the theme? How about I tell you the winners AND their guesses?

The very first guess came from Vicki Barrow, who suggested “Come as your favourite detective.” So close…

Later, Ashley-Anne Churchill chimed in with “Crime and Punishment.” Oh so close…

Put them both together, and what have you got? Our theme.

What is that theme, you ask? At long last I can tell you it is

Crime Scene Investigation. That’s right! CSI.

And the mystery Night Owl event? The amazing Chris Mathieson, Executive Director of the Vancouver Police Museum, will be bringing us his entertaining and insightful look at everything you ever wanted to know about blood spatter. Creepy, but fun!

Have you been spotting hints about our Saturday Night Owl event at various places SiWC board members and I pop up around the web? We’re being pretty subtle, I must admit, but keep watching. I think I might just offer a prize to the first person who puts the clues together and solves the mystery. Yes, I think I will. Keep watching and see if you can figure it out before I tell you one of these days… if you think you have it, email me at kathychung at siwc dot ca. I'll post the winning entry - if there is one - here on the blog.

In conference news, we’ve added a title for Jack Whyte’s previously “TBD” master class. If you’ve been waiting to see what he was going to teach before you registered, now’s your chance. In “Le Mot Just”, he’ll delve into the subtle but important idea of rhythm and flow in your use of language. Word choice isn’t just about accuracy, but about the feel and sound of your prose, and that’s a huge part of what creates that unique voice agents and publishers are always on the lookout for. Come explore how to make your prose sing exactly the sort of song you want it to. This class is limited to 20 participants. Space remains, but don’t wait too long!

Another good news story to share! Attendee and former writing contest winner Stasia Kehoe sent us this: “Hi there. Just thought it might be fun to let you know that my book, AUDITION, which won the SIWC Writing for Young People prize as a short story in 2008, will be published as a verse novel by Viking in Spring 2012.” Congratulations, Stasia! We love hearing good news stories from our attendees, so keep them coming.