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.

It's a Mysterious Christmas with SinCNE

Sisters in Crime (New England chapter) started the holiday season with a lovely gathering at the Chelmsford Center for the Arts, who graciously hosted a terrific spot for us to meet.
(And we've already booked for next year! Bigger and Better! Thank you, Susan!)

Seen far R is Arlene Kay

To see an interview with Arlene, click here

We had authors galore! Here's Edith Maxwell, Connie Johnson Hambley, and Sheila Connolly

To see an interview with Edith, click here

To see an interview with Connie, click here

Hans Copek, Leslie Wheeler, Connie (again) Lisa Haselton, Judy Copek

Soon-to-be-debut author, Nicole Asselin

We had a cash bar! Lisa Lieberman goes for holiday cheer, while Scott looks on.

And food! The line for tasty treats by local company, Carven Catering

 Kathryn Gandek-Tighe and Lisa

Katy Lee joins in the fun

Diane Kane (R) and co-author friend, with new book!

Connie, Scott, and Mo Walsh

We also had a book swap- bring one, get a new one!

First reader to pick- getting Ursula Wong's Amber Wolf.

Ursula provided lovely decorations, and guests got to take home the scented candle centerpieces.

To see an interview with Ursula, click here

Mo gets a good one

Connie gets some more reading

Lovely time for chatting and catching up

So mark your calendars for the first Sunday of next December, for the next one!

Boston Book Festival and Sherlock at the Huntington

It was a busy weekend, with great events in Boston.
First off was the Boston Book Festival, a lovely celebration of books, authors, and reading. I was at two different booths on Copley Square with other members of the Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime, telling people about the organizations and selling and signing our books.

Right away I saw noted Maine author Dick Cass at his publisher's booth, and stopped by to say hi.

To see an interview with Dick, click here.

I traveled with the mysterious Ursula Wong (L, in shadow), who kept my spirits up on a cold, wet, rainy day.

To see an interview with Ursula, click here. 

Here's the crew that was at the SinC booth before our turn.
L to R: Amy Ray, Leslie Wheeler, Jolene Grace
Check out the book launch for Leslie's Rattlesnake Hill.

 

The crew at the MWA booth: Connie Johnson Hambley, Judy Copek, Mo Walsh

To see an interview with Connie, click here.

Author Joanna Schaffhausen stopped by with family, including this lil doggie. Awww.

To see an interview with Joanna, click here.

Another crew of suspicious characters. Kari Lemor, Lisa Lieberman, Arlene Kay

 To see an interview with Arlene, click here.

New author Nicole Asselin, who has her debut novel coming out soon! 

Now I'm not claiming credit, but Nicole took my classes in writing mysteries and thrillers at the Cape Cod Writer's Conference last August, and is now publishing. Just sayin'... 

And one more crew: Paula Munier, C. Michele Dorsey, Anne MacDonald.

And author J.M. Taylor dropped by to give support.

Our members have been active this last year- here's a few of their new books. 

Thanks to Hans Copek for once again making these great promo posters!

 

You may notice my latest short story collection, All the Crooked Paths, is on both, since I'm a member of both orgs.

People came out to attend in inclement weather, bless them. 

It's great that Boston is such a literate city of people who love reading and books.

And then the day after, on Sunday, another great event, with much better weather. We attended the play Sherlock's Last Case at the Huntington Theater.
After the play, a few of us from the Mystery Writers of America gave a panel discussion on sleuthing and Sherlock, awarded prizes for trivia responses, and answered lots of great audience questions.

L to R: Dave Zeltserman, Elizabeth Elo, Paula Munier, moi.
To see an interview with Dave, click here.