Murder and Mayhem

By Doreen  Marion  Gee

My heart is pounding and I am trembling with fear as I follow Daniel Plain through one terrifying situation after another. The author holds me captive, luring me into a magical tale of intrigue and suspense. I race through the streets of Paris with every turned page. Paris '97 by Eric Wilson is a pure joy to read. He has a clever way of describing the finest details of his characters' lives so that you are right there smelling those stale cigarette butts and old pizza. Eric's book is a wild roller coaster ride, throwing out words to hook and electrify the reader. It goes at lightning speed - at a mere page and a half into the story, we have a villain and a gun. But there are deeper nuances inside the action. And the author's story is just as engrossing as his novel. He is on a mission to open up the wonderful world of books to us all.

This is Wilson's first book for adults and is definitely not for children. He uses a different last name, Hamilton, to distinguish it from his children's books under his true name Wilson. So as not to reveal too much, I will only mention that it leaves you thinking about conspiracies and the real dirt behind Princess Diana's death. A flash of genius is when Wilson actually states grisly facts about some of the players, really leaving you scratching your head! Wilson calls his work 'historical fiction', a delicious cocktail of fantasy and reality. It is a challenge for any writer to pull that off, but Wilson does it with finesse. His research is impeccable and all historical references are absolute fact. 

In a phone call from Winnipeg, Eric talks passionately about his reasons for writing Paris '97. First of all, he wants young adults to know the Princess that we all loved. Wilson's book has a strong anti-war message and it deals with Diana's humanitarian crusade to ban land mines. Paris '97 alludes to the evils of war for profit: "Every time a land mine blows off a child's foot, someone makes a dollar." Eric is a determined advocate of peace and he is eager to instill these values in his young adult audience. He dedicates his book "with love to my dear wife Flo and to all those who believe in peace". There are strong themes of forgiveness in his book, another important value to Wilson.

As a James Bay resident, the natural beauty of the area inspires the artist in Eric Wilson. His writing career started when he was a teacher. Wilson wanted to capture the minds of children who did not like reading. So he wrote accessible books just for them with words that entertained and made reading fun. His first novel, published in 1976, Murder on the Canadian,  was the beginning of his series about Tom Austen, boy detective. Over his career, Wilson has written twenty-two best-selling mystery novels for children. They have taken off like wildfire and are used in schools right across the country. A hugely successful author, Eric has sold one and a half million books in Canada and another one million around the world. His works have been translated into ten languages. These books teach children about the wonder of Canada. Each of the twenty Tom Austen books takes the reader on a journey to a different part of Canada, teaching them about the geography and history of this great nation. One of his newest, The Emily Carr Mystery, takes place right here in Victoria.

Eric Wilson is a dedicated and passionate promoter of literacy. When I spoke with him, he was in Winnipeg to foster a love of books in schools there. He has traveled across the country and made over two thousand personal appearances in schools to motivate children to read. In 2002, Wilson won the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal for his contributions to literacy and for instilling a love of Canada in his readers. He was voted Author of the Year by the Canadian Booksellers Association in 1992 and won the Arthur Ellis Award for Lifetime Achievement from the Crime Writers of Canada.

Eric acknowledges the contribution of his wife: "We are a team. I work very closely with Flo - she is my primary editor and gives me ideas and suggestions." To learn more about Paris '97, visit his website, www.paris97.com.