As an avid reader and writer of crime fiction, Vanessa Westermann’s ideal day would be spent plotting fictitious crimes. Vanessa is a former Arthur Ellis Awards judge, and has given a talk on the evolution of women’s crime writing, at the Toronto Chapter of Sisters in Crime.Vanessa’s book review column entitled “Vanessa’s Picks” was published in the monthly newsletter of a popular Toronto mystery-specialty bookstore from 2012 to 2016. The column was developed into a blog, featuring literary reviews and author interviews.While living in Germany, she attained an M.A. in English Literature and went on to teach creative writing.She currently lives in Canada and is working on her next novel, while drinking copious amounts of tea. Readers can find her blog at www.vanessa-westermann.info or follow her on Twitter @VanessasPicks.