Jane Petersen Burfield

Events, Interests and Achievements

Welcome to my web home.  

Mysteries, a life-long passion, have become a profession.  

The characters of North Toronto seem to be too respectable to be capable of fraud, 

theft, jealousy, and murder, but I think they will surprise you. 

 I hope you enjoy discovering the hidden sides of my characters' natures as much as I enjoyed creating them.

Write to me at: mjpb2001@aol.com

Biography:  

Toronto born, I attended Bishop Strachan School for eight years before going to York University.  While studying English and Psychology, I met my wonderful late husband in a course only masochists would take, Shakespeare, Milton and Blake from a Political Point of View.  After graduation, I went to London, England, to attend a business and journalism course at St. Godric's College, but really to go to both London, and theatre.  Back in Toronto, I worked in journalism and public relations at the Canadian Real Estate Association, taught Communications at Humber College while having children, and then worked in business.  Writing mysteries is my fourth career.

Writing:  

Journalism course, St. Godric's College, London, England  

Assistant Editor, CREA Reporter, and other publications  

Editor, BSS Alumni Magazine and  co-editor, "Useful and Courageous Women", a history of Bishop Strachan School over its first 125 years

Editor, YMCA Geneva Park Newsletter  

Editor, Keynotes, newsletter for the Junior League of Toronto, and member of communications committee, JLT 

Won the Bloody Pete Award at Bloody Words, 2001, for my first short story, "Slow Death and Taxes" 

Won Second Prize at Bloody Words in 2002 and 2003 for "Crocodile Suitcase" and "Zucchini Soup"

Published in Bloody Words, The Anthology, 2003

Recipe, To Die For Brie, in Dishes to Die For, Again, 2004

Currently working on a mystery novel, Striking Death.

See entries in Canadian Who's Who, and Who's Who of Canadian Women   

Interests and Hobbies: - now for the fun stuff !

Photography: especially digital photography.  I need to take a course on Photoshop.

Web Page design:  I recently completed a course on Building Web Pages using Multi Media.  I still don't know how to build them!

Travel:  I've been fortunate to travel widely.  My travel experience has included being entertained by  Idi Amin in Uganda with the YMCA in 1973, dancing a traditional Phillippino dance in front of Imelda Marcos, and cruising around the Arctic Ocean a few summers ago for 17 days.   Multiple trips to Egypt with the Royal Ontario Museum have engaged my soul! 

Egyptology:  I have taken a number of courses at the Royal Ontario Museum on Egypt, including Mummies, Pyramids, and Ancient Egyptian Literature.  An online course through the Oriental Institute, Chicago, was focused on Folklore in Ancient and Modern Egypt.

Bridge:  Playing bridge is a test of civilization - it demands good communication, good manners, trust and duct tape on your lips when your partner is challenged in bridge knowledge.

Theatre:  I've had a life-long interest in theatre, including several courses in acting.  I'm delighted to be a member of the 1000 Club at the Globe Theatre, London, England.

Literary Studies:  Reading is one of my greatest joys.  I participate actively in literary discussion groups both online and in real time.