BernadineLaPointe

pic2018

Bernadine LaPointe

Date:  2019-11-13
From: Bernadine

Hi Dan,

A thought crossed my mind... when you asked if I would ever do another mystery again, and I replied "In a heartbeat.", I think a great idea would be to "pass the torch" along to members of the youth group (or anyone in their 20's or 30's who'd be interested, by my mentoring them on how to write, organize and perform these mysteries). As a member of the Crime Writers of Canada, I was asked to mentor a Nova Scotia writer named Alice Walsh. She had published several children's books, but had write and wanted to publish a murder mystery. She'd been rejected several times, until I became her mentor. Over the course of a year, I read and re-read her script, edited it, offered advice, etc., and after that process, improved her script enough that it was accepted by Penguin books (I think that was the publisher. I have a bad memory. I could easily find out though.)

So I was thinking, if any of the "younger" generation (I can't believe I'm the "older" generation myself now!!!!) were interested in learning how to write these kinds of plays, and perform it for the community for Pride for instance, I'd be happy to do that. It would be a great generational project, between members of the youth group (or younger adults) and us "oldies".

Keep in mind, the process takes many months (if you've got a full-time job) as most probably do. For a July performance, the process would start probably in early January. And if several people were interested, it would lessen the work load. One person do costumes, one or two (or even three) people doing the writing: character names, backgrounds, the script itself, songs, etc. So there could be one person doing the playwriting, one songwriter, etc.. I used to do it all, but it could easily broken down into various roles.

pic As Nadine LaPierre, the author of the thriller-romance series Constable Danielle Renaud featuring the lesbian RCMP officer and her best friend, Lillian Marsh, a lesbian Crown prosecutor. The series is set in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

2011
The Slayer
A year and a half ago a woman's body was found floating in the heart-shaped pond of a Halifax city park. Since then the case has grown colder than the North Atlantic. With no leads, no suspects, and under pressure to solve the case, the Cold Case Unit is so desperate they've resorted to a very long-shot. A long-shot named Danielle Renaud. RCMP Constable Danielle Renaud is thrilled when she's finally given the chance to prove herself worthy of a permanent position in Major Crimes. But be careful what you wish for... What starts off as a thrilling new assignment for Danielle quickly turns into a nightmare as everything around her once predictable life begins to unravel-including her same-sex relationship. Lilly Marsh is a beautiful Mi'kmaq Crown attorney working on Danielle's side of the law. Or is she? Could her own ambitions be so lofty that she'd sabotage her best friend's case to further her own career? Though it might not matter since Danielle might get done in by her own inexperience first-if she doesn't learn quickly from her mistakes, that is. As Danielle unveils the depths of her complicated case layer by layer, she must decipher where to put her trust and learn some valuable lessons, or she too might end up getting slayed. After all, not all slayings are of the body. Some are of the heart and soul.
Late 1980s
Served on the executive of GaeGala. Was instrumental in purchasing 2112 Gottingen where Rumours was finally located.
1987
ran a coming-out support group called ComingForward?
1986-1990
Performed at various fundraisers for the gay & lesbian community
1987 - 89
Editor of the GAEZETTE
1990-2007
Wrote musical murder mystery lesbian-themed plays which were performed annually (including Frought With the Sin, Your Bleedin' Heart, Hot Katz vs Boykers, Training to Paris).
2001
Created OutAndAboutWomyn, a social group for lesbians in the Halifax region.
2003
OutAndAboutWomyn produces Bernadine's murder mystery show, Disturbing the Dead. Here's a WayvesMagazine article about it.
2001-2004
Organized countless fundraisers, social events, and promoted womyn's events heavily through online websites and other womyn's organizations throughtout the maritimes, Canada and the U.S.
August, 2010
Wayves September 2010 article, "Suffering Sappho, It's Murder!" about the her murder mystery book featuring lesbian Mountie Danielle Renaud.

Oral History

On November 13, 2020, DanielMacKay and BarendKamperman spent an afternoon with Bernadine talking about her and her work in Halifax.

Here's the recording of that interview.

And here's an index of what they talk about, prepared by PoppyRiddle:

This page is in the OralHistoryCategory