An author chat, another publication, and news!

Well, it's certainly been a busy time.

First up is our author chat from Killer Nashville, hosted by Nola Nash and Laura Kemp of the show BYOB at Authors on the Air. I was on with Kiersten Modglin and Avram Lavinsky.

(Killer Nashville writeup here)

Another article in Janet Rudolph's Mystery Reader's International- my third. 

This one is about art in my mystery writing. 

And an upcoming booksigning! I'll be at the Auburn, NH Day and Duck Race event-
Saturday, Sept 10, 2022, 10am - 3pm

Later this month, Monday the 19th,
the Tyngsboro Writer's Night Out will be having a chat with mystery writer Janet Raye Stevens

More info here

Killer Nashville Strikes Again!

Hello all- here's a writeup of my recent visit to Killer Nashville, an excellent conference for mystery writers down in Tennessee. 

This was my second time down there, the first being 4 years ago. 

Writeup of that magical one here.

Well, this was yet another magical event, full of great people, great writers, and loads of information for those working in the writing field. Run by Clay Stafford, who had to scramble extra hard this year when he lost most of his support crew. Still pulled it off in spectacular fashion! 

So many attendees from my groups Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime. 

Two of my books were even up as Finalists for different awards! 

One, Locust Time was up for a Silver Falchion Award (graphic by Gabriel Valjan)

and the unpublished Desert Heat was up for a Claymore Award. Neither won it all, but it was great to get the Finalist nod for both.

I was on two panels, one on Most Common Questions about Self-publishing (I wrote a book to address those many questions, How to be a Successful Indie Writer) 

L to R: Jacob Moon, Sonja Dewing, Kate Anslinger, Jane B. Lee, Kiersten Modglin

And another on producing ebooks and audio books for Independent writers. 

L to R: Kiersten Modglin, Kate Gable, Lee Clark, Cathy Tully, Terry Shepherd (standing, our terrific moderator!)

Our panel attendees had many questions!

Along with Kiersten Modglin and Avram Lavinsky, we were guests on an on-site podcast:  Authors on the Air, with our hosts Nola Nash and Laura Kemp.

L to R: Nola, Avram, Kiersten, Laura

The conference Guest of Honor was none other than our own Hank Phillippi Ryan, who shone, as always. 

Not hard for her to stand out, even when surrounded by other superstars

L to R: James Etoile, Hank, Rich Zahradnik, Bruce Coffin, Baron Birtcher

To see an interview with Bruce Coffin, click here.

Sandy Manning, a thriller writer and recovering attorney, took a turn as a stand-up comic, and did a good 20 minutes on stage. Brave lady, especially since I was heckling...

Jaden (Beth) Terrell worked all weekend to support us all and make sure things ran smoothly.

Had a few friends there from my last Killer Nashville visit. 

Here's Guy Cote, a fellow Mainer, who has a couple of books out now.

And Mike Faricy, who has 80 books out now. Slacker...

And Carmen Amato, author of quite a few.

To see an interview with Carmen, click here.

We were able to sell books in the bookstore room. Thing is, with all those authors present, no one could buy and real them all, or carry them home. 

But if you'd like to check out some of these great books, head to the website links by the images of authors. Support writers, and if you like the books, please leave a good review.

Here's my corner.

And all the rest of the huge room

Met a few folks while selling. 

Here's Carol Orange

And Kaira Rouda

Luis Rosas and Lori Roberts

Here's a team of writers who retired as policemen. Boy, do they have some stories to tell! 

Chris Berg and Paul James Smith

So many other nice people who understood and loved the business of writing books.

Here's Diane Sismour

And Baron, getting all the love

Brent Spencer, who does a lot of audio work

The Embassy Hotel was grand, and very wide open.

Thanks to all who worked to make this valuable for everyone attending.

We bid the conference goodbye for another year, while we work on all the things we learned, which were many. 

For anybody in the mystery field, this, along with our own New England Crime Bake, are the best conferences to attend.

Award Finalist! And Upcoming Show!

Well, my novel Locust Time (available now for a crazy low price on one of those Amazon sales) has been selected as an Attendee Finalist for a Silver Falchion Award- these are given at Killer Nashville, which I'll be attending this year, along with a few friends from up this way, some from Encircle Publications, and they were also nominated for awards in other categories.

This cool graphic was made by writer friend Gabriel Valjan, someone who supports and promotes so many other writers, don't know when he has time for his own work! 

(Check out his books- they're terrific!)

And a month from now, I'll be signing books at Turtle Swamp Brewing in Jamaica Plain, along with J.M. Taylor, who made this image.

And he's having a story published in Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, a big score! 

Check out his Facebook page for his Night of the Furies novel, mixing Greek tragedy with noir, for a delicious combo.

Contest for free ebook

 Hello-- and welcome to the second half of 2022. Wow, half a year gone already.

I did a TV shoot recently, and served as an extra for a day. Lots of fun, and nice people.

But I can't post any pics, or tell about the show. Sworn to silence. 

It may come out around December, so will post at that time. 

I've also been traveling. In honor of the holiday weekend, we're having a contest. 

First person to correctly identify these two locations gets a free ebook of their choice from any one of my 25 titles. 

First pic- where is it?

Second pic- where is this one?

Send your guesses in, and score a free read for Summer! 

Latest Book Out!

 Well, here's the last book in the Fables and Fantasies franchise. They get darker with each collection.

5 tales for the price of a coffee! 

Great Beach Reads Day in Natick

We had our first live book-selling/signing event in a long time, out at the Natick Farmer's Market.

Lots of fellow authors from the New England chapter of the Mystery Writers of America. 

Perfect weather, lots of friendly people, and interested book-buyers! Great Day

Here's Tilia Klebenov-Jacobs giving her pitch to some customers.

Tilia set up this shindig, so we thank her for all the work!

Her booth from the front, shared with BJ Magnani

JM Taylor, with fellow author Janet Raye Stevens

Nicole Asselin, who has her second novel just out!

Sarah Smith and Leslie Wheeler

Judy and Hans Copek

Sharon Healy-Yang and Janet again

William Martin with his latest novel

Kari Lemor

Glenn Ickler

Here's the promo poster for the event

Public Sale and Signing- Saturday!

Hello again- great news- we've got out first public sale and book signing in some time. 

The last one here was in 2019! 

All outdoors- at the Natick Farmer's Market- Saturday, June 11th, 9-1. 

I'll be there selling copies of my books with a lot of fellow mystery writers. Come check us out and pick up some great reads for Summer!

For a writeup of the last one, click here. 

In other news, I gave a workshop on Indie Publishing: How to Survive and Thrive for the NH Writer's Project 603 Conference. Lots of good information and help for writers. If you missed it this year, make sure to have it on your calendar for the next one.