Gala Mystery Night 2016

For the fifth year, the biggest and best mystery bookstore north of New York, the New England Mobile Bookfair held a Gala Mystery Night, with top-name mystery authors, many of them NY Times best-sellers. We had authors from all over New England.

Once again, I was a featured author with these literary lights. It's great to be in such good company. Lots of my fellow Sisters in Crime were signing as well.

Thanks to owner Tom Lyons and the hard-working staff (Lisa and Amanda deserve special thanks) who made the night glorious and fun!

To see a writeup and pics of previous year postings of this annual celebration, click here.

 Once again, we had a big crowd of buyers and supporters.

Here's our two biggest supporters- Robin and Steve. They come to chat with the authors and buy a basketful of books. Thank you on behalf of all of us!

 

 Here I am, looking authorly. with Coralie Jensen and Clea Simon

 

Our erstwhile host, Tom Lyons. on the right

Here's author Bruce Robert Coffin, with wife Karen and fan Jay Shepherd. 

Bruce's debut novel, Among the Shadows, is terrific, and tearing up the charts with richly-deserved sales. And is now on sale on Kindle that is irresistible.

To see an interview with Bruce, click here

Tom strikes a pose with author Ray Daniel

To see an interview with Ray, click here

Superstars of the mystery writing world: Linda Barnes, Kate Flora, and Connie Johnson Hambley

To see an interview with Kate, click here

To see an interview with Connie, click here

Gina Fava with Arlene Kay and Jay

To see an interview with Arlene, click here

Judy Copek, Susan Oleksiw, and Hans Copek

Coralie with a new fan

Ben Coes, a writing star, discovers a wonderful new author (yes, he bought the first book in my Zack Taylor series, A Memory of Grief)...

William Landay, another star (yes, I made him pose with his own books)

Frances MacNamara, who sat next to me

Ray with Joe Finder

 

Linda Barnes gets in the spirit

Gina got her spot placed right under some Adult Books. Ahem... Hi, Mom!

Then it was time to give out the annual Robert B. Parker Award, given each year for outstanding long-term achievement in the mystery world. Here Tom announces this year's winner- Archer Mayor

Here's a previous winner, Linda Barnes, with Tom and the most recent winner

And Connie with her sweetie and Number One Fan

Not pictured were others, who slipped away from the roving camera eye: Michael Urban, Robin Stratton, Steve Ulfelder

Author Appearances Times Three

Been a busy last few days, with three different author appearances.

First was the Groton Mystery Book Group, who had the pleasure of a visit from Archer Mayor, Vermont writer of the Joe Gunther mysteries. He's an entertaining speaker, with a lot of good stories from his checkered past. Thanks to the Groton Library for hosting and making ths happen.

Book clubs like this are a great resource.

Then came the Boston Book Festival, and we were at the Sisters in Crime booth, meeting the public. Thanks to Sheila Connolly for helping get us scheduled and ready.

Authors Arlene Kay, Edith Maxwell, and Clea Simon

 

Jessie Crockett and Elissa Grodin-- and me, shooting instead of signing

 

Then came the New England Library Association convention in Portland, Maine, with another Sisters in Crime appearance. Thanks to Barbara Ross for taking the chores of scheduling and setup on this one.

 

Authors Coralie Jensen, Sheppard Ferguson, and Leigh Perry. Barbara Ross standing.

 

Marian Lanouette and Dale T. Phillips