Maine Crime Wave Conference

We had a blast at the Maine Crime Wave Conference in Portland, Maine this weekend. Writers of crime and mystery fiction gathered to celebrate, network, and learn more about the other authors. Talk, roundtable discussions, and fun panels made the day a great one. 

Held at Mechanic's Hall, the authors present liked the library and lacy wrought-iron shelf ends.

Here's the downstairs area with prominent Matt Cost in blue, who presided at the Friday Nights readings

Bruce Coffin, Dick Cass, and Philip Baker

Gibson Fay-LeBlanc, who put the conference together

Our roundtable on hybrid publishing, with my co-host Maureen Milliken, along with John Clark and Dr. BJ Magnani.

Brenda Buchanan, part of the Planning Committee

Paul Doiron, winner of the Maine Crime Master Award, and Chris Holm

Jim and S. Lee Manning, a married writer team, with John

Rebecca Turkewitz, with a book of her short stories, which came highly recommended.

Lucas Brilliott, a writer from up Bangor way

Julie Selbo, who is represented by Virginia Lee, who, along with her daughter, runs the VLee Literary Agency

Kate Flora and Bruce 

The ever-fashionable Jessie Crockett

Barry Somes of the Paperback Writer Company

Carolyn Wilkins (L)

Jules O'Brien

S. Mason Pratt

The crowd listens to a talk while Jessie channels Madame Defarge...

At the end, a mega-panel of authors answer questions

A great day chatting with friends old and new, and much business discussed. 

Thanks to all who made this happen! 

Lotsa More Shows!

Well, this month got busy. Had a couple of live shows on air, and the hosts liked me so much, they're having me back.

Here's my chat today with author Mike Sanchez.

Here's the last one I did with him. A few minutes of tech issues to start, so forward to the good stuff. 

And I was a panelist on Bonnie Graham's show on AI.

And will be on another one tomorrow! A special birthday show!

This Saturday, I'll be leading discussions up at the Maine Crime Wave in Portland, Maine. 

And then I'll be on R Weir's video podcast, Bringing Life to Characters, on Sept 29th at 6PM Mountain time.

On the 30th, I'll be chatting with author Steve Womack for the Tewksbury Library Writer's Night.

Another show! Writers discuss AI

Here's a thing we're doing... give a listen

Cover reveal

Cover Reveal for the new SNAKEBERRY crime fiction anthology (and I've got a story in it!)

New interview!

Here's my recent writing chat with Author Mike Sanchez on his show!

And he liked it so much, I'll be on again!

Tuesday the 23rd, at 11. 

Come give a listen! 

New book!

 Just published another book! 

Journeys and Ends combines two smaller story collections, from Strange Tales and Apocalypse Tango. 

Here are two sets of tales. One set shows people going off the beaten track of reality to experience something completely new and unworldly. Individuals in pain who ride a rollercoaster of odd happenings that show life in a different perspective. People running to something or away from something. Places where mundane occurrences mix with myth and magic to turn life inside-out, where anything can happen. Gone is the workaday world of knowing the beginning and ending, or of a sound, sane, sedate frame of reference. 

Then we see various world-ending events. How does it happen? Self-launched bombs, asteroid from space, rain of fire, alien invasion, or virus and pandemic? Maybe none of those. Maybe it's giant lobsters. Or zombies. Here are different takes on the Apocalypse.

Interview on Thursday!

This Thursday I'll be having a chat with author Michael Sanchez on his Coffee Time show! 

Come give a listen! 

Newsletter now out

Here's my latest newsletter. 

Journeys and Ends, a collection of two different types of tales:

Characters on strange journeys, and apocalyptic stories.

Halls of Fear, a collection of scary stories, is now out.

Perfect for Halloween!

 A Great Reckoning, the seventh Zack Taylor mystery is now out.

 

My story, “Gas,” is out this Fall in Snakeberry: Best New England Crime Stories 2025. The anthology will be published as a trade paperback and ebook.
The story was inspired by a painting by Edward Hopper.  

YouTube

My channel has over a dozen different videos of me talking about writing! Here’s the link. 

Events

 

A couple of online chats with author Mike Sanchez on his show. 

I’ll be leading a discussion on the publishing business at Maine Crime Wave, a mystery conference in Portland, Maine.

 I’ll be on two podcasts: Bringing Life To Characters with R. Weir, and Bonnie D. Graham's The Future of Publishing + AI.

I presented on a Zoom call for the Citrus Crime Writers, along with author Steven Womack. He’ll also be my guest (September 30th) for the Tewksbury Library Writer’s Night Out.

Recent big book signings in Maine- the South Portland Barnes and Noble, and the Belgrade Book Bash.

New bookstores carrying my titles!

Felixology

2 Walnut St, Maynard, MA

Barnes and Noble

200 Running Hill Road South Portland, ME

The Corner Bookshop

104 Front Street, Bath, ME

 

Oliver and Friends

150 Main St Waterville, ME

 

Weird Providence

65 Weybosset Street, Providence, RI

Books on the Square

471 Angell St Providence, RI

New Bookstore!

Stopped by a great new bookstore today- Weird Providence, down in RI. Fun little place that specializes in the good kind of weird and scary books. 

The folks behind the counter are super nice, even bought a few of my scary books to sell to customers. 

Now I just need more time to poke around to the dark corners, and maybe pick up a Necronomicon! 

Might need a signing from a few of the New England Horror Writers!

Belgrade Book Bash

We had a great day Sunday up in Maine for the Belgrade Book Bash.

Lots of authors, and books galore. The weather was perfect for folks strolling through town and through our barn of book displays.

JM Taylor and I were in the first nook past the entrance.

Then meteoric Matt Cost

And Maureen Milliken, who set up this whole gig for us.

Next to her was Dick Cass

And Allison Keeton

Renee, of Oliver & Friends Bookshop, handled the many sales.

Good foot traffic throughout the day

Thanks to all who worked to make this happen, and to the Seven Lakes Inn, who graciously lent us the space to display and sell.

Danvers SinC panel

We had a great afternoon at the Danvers Senior Center.

We were there to have fun with a Sisters in Crime Mystery Making presentation, where the audience gives us clues to put together to make a mystery.

Our panel: Bonnar Spring, Ariel Rodman, Susan Oleksiw (standing)

Liz, our hostess who set it up, brought her book club to hear us, and ran the tech to display suggestions on the big screen- the one you can't see. 

So we had about 16 people involved in a lively discussion to find a victim, a sleuth, a weapon, a motive, and more.

They wrote down clues to put in discrete bags, which we complied to make separate lists.

Good time, and afterward, we had time to chat and sign books.

Thanks to Liz, the attendees, and the Senior Center for hosting!