GOT A BOOK IN YOU? I can help get it out. My next eight-week online writing course starts April 15, 2025. Who: Me, obviously. How about you? What: Your best first 2,500 words of a story in any genre (No passages from the middle. How you start your book is everything.) You’ll get constructive criticism from your [...]
My 2022 Writer-in-Residence program at the Toronto Public Library (North York Central Branch) last fall received outstanding evaluations. This was sent by TPL in December. Writer in Residence Program Comments / Opinions / Ideas We would like to learn more about your experience of the Toronto Public Library’s 2022 Writer in Residence Program (eight one-hour [...]
Got a book in you? I can help get it out. The next session of Howard Shrier's Book Camp© runs for ten Wednesdays, April 12-June 14. Cost: $499 + HST ($563.87). (Courses I designed and taught at U of T for nine years start at $649+HST.) Who: Me, obviously. How about you? What: Your best first 2,500 words [...]
The first night of my residency at the North York Central branch will focus on the hero's journey and the courage and resourcefulness it takes to see a case through to the end. I am pleased to announce that I've been appointed Writer-in-Residence at the Toronto Public Library's North York Central branch for [...]
The gives When It Was Cold a rave review in its March 2022 issue. Writes critic Jim Napier: "The whole makes for a diverse and entertaining collection of noir tales that is vintage Shrier, the pervasive mood taking its force from the dark settings and damaged characters that we have come to expect from the talented [...]
From the award-winning author of the Jonah Geller comes a new book of stories that show why Howard Shrier has been called one of Canada's top thriller writers and a rising star in crime fiction. When It Was Cold showcases his complex characters, razor-sharp dialogue, expertly rendered settings and killer sense of humor. His range has [...]
Howard Shrier follows up last year’s prize-winning Buffalo Jump with a foray into another American city in High Chicago that I thought was, if anything, even better than the first. When Jonah Geller first appeared last year, in Buffalo Jump, he was a rather low-profile employee of Beacon Security, where he spent his time largely doing [...]
Tikkun olam. It’s a Hebrew phrase that translates roughly to “making the world a better place,” and an expression that ended up on Jonah Geller’s newly hung shingle in Toronto. Last year, Shrier won an Arthur Ellis Award from the Crime Writers of Canada for Buffalo Jump, his memorable introduction of Geller, a Jewish P. I. [...]
Shrier nails his first crime novel with the aplomb and impact of a seasoned pro. A completely satisfying read that made me wish Jonah Geller could work cases on my shows. -- René Balcer, Executive Producer, Law & Order; Creator, Law & Order, Criminal Intent
In sleuthing style, Shrier’s astute Toronto PI, Jonah Geller, is more European than American, more a Kurt Wallander than someone along Harry Bosch lines. Geller is expert and dogged in doing the legwork, interviewing the witnesses and linking the clues. When he draws his gun, the violence seems an aberration for a decent guy like Jonah. [...]
Howard Shrier is a two-time winner of the Arthur Ellis Award, Canada’s highest prize for crime fiction. The author of the acclaimed Jonah Geller series and other works, he publishes new stories and helps emerging authors finish their books, all on this site.
