MWA Event at NE Mobile Book Fair

For the local chapter of the Mystery Writers of America, we usually have our monthly meeting at the Brookline Library, to which the public is invited.
This one, however, was special, and so we held it at the NE Mobile Book Fair, a local bookstore that has been generous in support of local mystery writers.
It was well attended, and became a holiday party, with ample food and drink and conversation.

Chapter President Mo Walsh makes announcements and gives much thanks to store owner Tom Lyons for his continued support of our writing community.

Dave Zeltserman tells of the latest movie being made from his excellent books.

To see an interview with Dave, click here

 

 

Joanna Schaffhausen, Bruce Robert Coffin (down from Maine), and Sarah Smith.

To see an interview with Joanna, click here

To see an interview with Bruce, click here

And here's Joanna with Edwin Hill and Tilia Klebenov-Jacobs

To see an interview with Tilia, click here

Hank Phillippi Ryan with William Martin

Gary Braver with Sarah again

Lineup of ladies, including Linda Barnes and Hallie Ephron

And Stephanie MacPherson

A lovely night of good people getting together.

Thanks to everyone who made it a rousing success! 

Debut Author Nicole Asselin Book Signing at New Nashua Toadstool Bookstore

We have a new bookstore in Nashua, NH, a Toadstool Bookshop (affiliated with the other ones of that name).

They have not been open long, but are already doing signings for local authors. And they had a good one for debut author Nicole Asselin, a fellow member of Sisters in Crime.
(We'll soon have an interview with Nicole here on the blog, when she gets time from her busy appearance schedule!)

Lovely store, with a nice selection.

And a great opportunity for authors to meet new fans and sign books (in time for the holidays!)

A good crowd came out.

Let's hope Nicole gets lots of fans for her mystery Murder at First Pitch. 

And that the new bookstore is a rousing success!

Two new stories out

Happy holidays everyone! To help you celebrate- while you decide which books to buy as gifts this season- here's a couple of new stories of mine you can read for free.

Thanks to Tell-Tale Press!

“Registry”

“The Push”

Sisters in Crime Holiday Event 2019

Despite the impending Snowpocalypse, we held the Sisters in Crime Holiday Event at the Chelmsford Center For the Arts.
Thanks to Susan Gates and the Center for the community support.

It was a lovely get-together with food, drinks, and good conversation.

Lisa Jackson, here with Chapter President Connie Johnson Hambley, received special thanks for putting this event together, as she has for so many functions in the past number of years.

To see an interview with Connie, click here.

Despite the weather, we had folks come from far and wide across New England.
Here's a group from Maine, including Bruce Robert Coffin and Ed Hunt.
To see an interview with Bruce, click here.

And Arlene Kay, coming in from the Cape.

To see an interview with Arlene, click here. 

Joanna Schaffhausen brought the family.

To see an interview with Joanna, click here.

Toni (Leigh Perry) Kelner gets a new throne for Sid the Skeleton!

To see an interview with Toni/Leigh, click here.

Tilia Klebenov-Jacobs

To see an interview with Tilia, click here.

Mo Walsh and Stephen Kelner bravely sing a holiday ditty penned by one of our attendees.

Julie Hennrikus, Edith Maxwell, and Susan Oleksiw

To see an interview with Edith, click here.

A nice time was had by all.

Signing at Freethinker's Corner Bookstore

Had a lovely time at the Freethinker's Corner Bookstore in Dover, NH. Nice day and great chat with Chris Upton, the owner, who has some big plans. They'll be expanding the space to absorb the building next door, so they'll be hosting many local community events and artisans.

The buyers were avid book fans, and picked up enough books to make the day a success! Always great to get new fans of the Zack Taylor mystery series.

And I'll be signing at another local book store for Small Business Saturday, at the New England Mobile Book Fair.

My Third Newsletter

Hello All- so much to report, I had to do a newsletter- only my third one.


For those who are interested, on my website is my third newsletter, telling about all the new releases, a couple of upcoming stories you can read for free, recent events (including a trip to Las Vegas), and upcoming appearances and book signings.

Viva Las Vegas

Your author here went to Las Vegas to do some research for a number of upcoming books. After all, the last time I was there was in 1984, and let's just say the town has changed a wee bit since then.
A secondary reason was to play in some national-level poker tournaments I'd qualified for. (Had terrible cards for most of them, so didn't make the money- although one we were very, very close.)

After a flight on which I sat between two sick people (who passed it on to me, a nasty, two-week misery, may they rot in Hell), we landed in Shangri-La. Lots to see and do, even at the airport.

A big surprise was the prevalence of smoking indoors, something we haven't seen in years. I snapped a pic of this artifact, a cigarette-dispensing machine. Could have done without the smokers, frankly. Who still does that in 2019?

Cool decor at The Orleans, with a New Orleans vibe, including large plastic gators.

And giant Mardi Gras heads, balconies with wrought-iron railings, and colors.

We finally made it out of the place after a couple of days. Here's the exterior.

My friend Dave and I checked out The Strip, like George Clooney and Brad Pitt in Ocean's Eleven.

Amazing structures, inside and out.

So much cool glasswork

 

And Ceasar's Palace. Lives up to the hype.

People-watching is fun here. And you never know what you'll run into- like a Bobby Darin star! 

What a shame it's defaced. Should be fixed.

On another day, we went down to Fremont Street, for some lively street action. 

 Performers and artisans are given a space for their craft. And you can saddle up for some wild rides.

Fun time with the gang

We get to hang out with a million bucks!

Our crew at work during the poker tournaments

A visitor on party night

And just to be sure we know we're in the desert