Don Butler
butlerdon.bsky.social
Don Butler
@butlerdon.bsky.social
Former Ottawa Citizen journalist turned novelist: A Life of Bliss (2021) and Norman’s Conquest (2024). More to come …
Crime for Christmas, a mystery author book fair, will take place this Sunday, Nov. 23, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Barrhaven Legion. I'll be there with eight other top Ottawa mystery writers, signing copies of my two novels, A Life of Bliss and Norman's Conquest. Hope to see you! #booksky
November 20, 2025 at 3:17 PM
If you like to wash down your books with a fine craft beer, join me and six other Ottawa authors this Saturday. We'll be at the Kichesippi Beer Company from 1 to 4 p.m., signing copies of our books. Cheers!
November 6, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Today's author panel at the St. Lawrence Writers Festival was a big success, mostly due to the thoughtful and entertaining responses from mystery writers Brenda Chapman, Katie Tallo and John Delacourt. They made it easy for me to do my job as moderator.
September 8, 2025 at 12:38 AM
Today's the day! At 1 p.m. I'll be at the brilliant new St. Lawrence Writers Festival in Brockville, moderating a panel discussion between three top Ottawa mystery/thriller writers: John Delacourt, Brenda Chapman and Katie Tallo. It should be great fun!
September 7, 2025 at 2:16 PM
ATTENTION READERS. There's a terrific new writers' festival at ArtsHub in Brockville, opening Friday and running until Sunday. I'll be there too, moderating a panel of Ottawa mystery/thriller writers – Brenda Chapman, John Delacourt and Katie Tallo – at 1 p.m. Sunday.
September 3, 2025 at 1:11 PM
There's a new twist to Habitat for Humanity's annual ReStore book sale in Stittsville Aug. 8-10. For the first time, a lineup of Ottawa-area authors will be be on hand to to chat with customers and sign copies of their books. I'll be there Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Stop by and say hello!
August 6, 2025 at 9:40 PM
More than four years after its release, my first novel, A Life of Bliss, has hit an all-time high on amazon.com. It currently ranks #56,030 in books on Amazon's American site – far above the #278,364 ranking it reached shortly after its release. I'm so grateful!
August 2, 2025 at 3:57 PM
This is a heads-up about an event I'm part of in Portland, Ontario on Aug. 23. Somehow, I cracked this lineup of stellar Ottawa-area mystery authors. If you're in the Rideau Lakes, come and hang with us as we talk about writing our mysteries. Nibbles and cool drinks included!
July 11, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Ottawa Press and Publishing is offering Kindle versions of my two novels, A Life of Bliss and Norman's Conquest, for just $2.99 in Canada until July 11. Readers rate the novels 4.6 and 4.7 out of 5 on Amazon. Here are the links:
amazon.ca/dp/B0953RKNWV
amazon.ca/dp/B0D3DZKWGZ
Amazon.ca
amazon.ca
July 8, 2025 at 2:51 PM
If you live in the U.S. or UK, pay just 99 cents for Kindle versions of my novels A Life of Bliss and Norman's Conquest until July 11. Here are the U.S. links:
www.amazon.com/dp/B0953RKNWV
www.amazon.com/dp/B0D3DZKWGZ

And the UK links:
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0D3DZKWGZ
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1988437709
A Life of Bliss
A Life of Bliss - Kindle edition by Butler, Don. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading A Life of Bliss.
www.amazon.com
July 8, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Successful signing today at Hintonburg ArtsPark with Ottawa mystery author Katie Tallo. The weather was fine, the readers enthusiastic. You can still pick up a copy of our books at The Spaniel's Tale Bookstore's booth at ArtsPark until 5 p.m. today, or at the store itself after that.
June 14, 2025 at 7:03 PM
It's Father's Day weekend and the weather will be lovely. I'll be at Hintonburg ArtsPark in Parkdale Park Saturday from noon to 2 p.m., signing copies of my two mystery novels, A Life of Bliss and Norman's Conquest. Either – or both! – would make an ideal Father's Day gift. See you there!
June 13, 2025 at 9:58 PM
Great Father's Day deal from Ottawa Press and Publishing on mysteries by Ottawa authors, including yours truly!
May 31, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Attention readers in Ottawa's east end. I'll be at Indigo Innes Saturday from noon to 3 p.m., signing copies of my 2024 novel Norman's Conquest and it's 2021 predecessor, A Life of Bliss. Stop by and pick up some great summer reading! #booksky
May 9, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Hope to meet many readers who also enjoy excellent local craft beer at this event Saturday in Bells Corners! #booksky
May 1, 2025 at 5:19 PM
A reminder that I'll be at Indigo Barrhaven today from 1 to 4 pm signing copies of my two mystery novels. It's a rainy day, perfect for shopping, so stop by and say hello!
April 26, 2025 at 3:55 PM
ATTENTION BARRHAVEN READERS: I'll be signing copies of my novels A Life of Bliss (4.6/5 on amazon.ca) and its sequel, Norman's Conquest (4.7/5) at your Indigo stores Saturday from 1 to 4 pm. Stop by and say hello!
April 24, 2025 at 7:24 PM
I'll be signing my novels A Life of Bliss and Norman's Conquest Sunday at the first-ever book fair at Robert Plante Greenhouses in Navan from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.. The Ottawa Citizen calls it one of this weekend's Best Bets, featuring more than 30 Ottawa-area authors. Support Canadian writers!
February 22, 2025 at 1:26 PM
I recently finished reading You Light Up My Death, by Ottawa author MaryJane Maffini. I loved it! It combines humour, mystery and murder in an entertaining frolic. The story unfolds in Cape Breton and is filled with eccentric characters from that region. Highly recommended!
February 9, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Disappointed that Angelina Jolie didn't get an Oscar nomination for her incredible performance as Maria Callas in Pablo Larrain's film Maria. I haven't seen any of the nominees, but it's hard to believe Jolie's Callas didn't make the top five.
January 23, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Ottawa Public Library update: There are now 112 holds from people waiting to read my 2024 murder mystery, Norman's Conquest. Fifty-seven people are also lined up for the library's copies of my 2021 novel, A Life of Bliss. Loving the love!
January 2, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Just finished Kate Heartfield's new novel, The Tapestry of Time. Set in WW2, it focuses on the four Sharp sisters and their skill as clairvoyants, which helps them protect the Bayeux Tapestry, a 1,000-year-old relic depicting the Norman Conquest of Britain. A gripping read from start to finish.
January 2, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Both my novels – 2021's A Life of Bliss and 2024's Norman's Conquest – have recorded huge jumps in their sales ranking on amazon.ca in recent days. As of last night, sales of the paperback versions of both ranked in the top 25,000 of all books sold on Amazon. Thanks to all my new readers!
December 31, 2024 at 2:30 PM
Just watched Maria, by Callas, an Apple TV documentary that uses Maria Callas's own words to tell the opera legend's story. Callas's ghost appears in my 2021 novel, A Life of Bliss, so I found it fascinating. But I recommend it to anyone interested in learning about one of history's great singers.
December 30, 2024 at 8:42 PM
Honoured that Postmedia books columnist Jamie Portman included my new murder-mystery, Norman's Conquest, in today's Ottawa Citizen piece about his favourite Canadian books of 2024. Also delighted that Ottawa writer Kate Heartfield's amazing new novel, The Tapestry of Time, made his list as well.
December 28, 2024 at 10:25 PM