Happy Holiday Weekend

Greetings- haven't posted a lot lately, as have been busy with mostly mundane matters of little interest to anyone else. Here are a few items I can report.

The audio for my latest book, More Fables and Fantasies is now out, narrated by the talented Julie Hinton. It's great, and at a bargain price!

Got a story acceptance from a great magazine- more details later, when I get an OK.

Working on another story for the NEHW anthology of Wicked Witches.

And of course, still working on the latest Zack Taylor novel (#5), A Sharp Medicine. 

And a few other projects of non-fiction ...

Can't wait to become an overnight sensation!

Another Portland Tour- Letterpress Books

Went back up to Portland to dine on Pat's Pizza, visit more bookstores, and get copies on their shelves.

And had a pleasant surprise to find an old friend as one of the team of owners of Letterpress Books.

 

Funny, because I'd donated to their IndieGogo campaign some time back to get startup costs for the store, but missed the names involved. And this was my first visit since they opened.

Great little store, with a nice selection of books, and a healthy inclusion of Maine authors.

They were nice enough to accept books of mine on consignment. Here's Kath stocking Zack Taylor mysteries.

And here they are, eagerly awaiting readers. Not far from Maine writer Chris Holm's The Killing Kind, the novel that is tearing up the book world with awards and honors and rave reviews.

Hope they catch the eye of shoppers

But that's not all- the store also now carries Halls of Horror, the book of short stories I dedicated to Stephen King (who was my writing instructor in college!). So guess where it ended up? Right next to King's books on the shelf. Appropriate, because my cover is a direct hommage to the master.

 

 

And the store is doing great, already winning awards, as you can see. 

So when you go up Portland way, stop in and browse for a great read. I plan to go up and sign books some Saturday afternoon this Summer.

Hank Phillippi Ryan and Hallie Ephron at the Chelmsford Library

The Chelmsford Library held an event featuring two superstars of the mystery writing world, Hank Phillippi Ryan and Hallie Ephron.

Becky Herrmann, from the library staff, was there to make sure that things ran smoothly

 

 

A huge crowd turned out for the show, to hear the talk on where these top writers get their ideas.

They were spellbinding, as usual, giving the audience a glimpse into the process that goes into making a good mystery novel.

Both authors are member of the Sisters in Crime (I'm a member as well), a group that helps promote women mystery writers.

After the talk, people came to get copies of their books...

And get them signed. Here's Dina getting an autographed copy.

 

 

And one from Hallie

Photo op with the ever-gracious Hank

Portland Book Tour

Last week I went up to Portland, Maine, one of my favorite places, and my old stomping grounds, for a tour of different book places.

Sherman's, the big bookstore chain in Maine (that stays mainly on the plain), has a store in Portland, and agreed to take my Zack Taylor mystery series for sale at several locations around the state.

Here's what they've got for a start- seven copies each of the first four Zack Taylor novels, all freshly signed and set for Summer bookbuyers! Since it has a Portland setting, it's a natural.

 

These folks must have heard my books were now in!

 

  

When you're up that way, stop in, buy some books, and say hi to Josh, who was very helpful. 

 

If it's used books you want, stop in to The Green Hand, a lovely used bookstore on Congress Street.  Had a nice chat with the owner Michelle there, and browsed among the thousands of treasures.

And it's right around the corner from the International Cryptozoology Museum, the world's most fascinating collection of weird creature artifacts (even better than Ripley's!)

Loren Coleman runs the Museum, and was kind enough to read my book Shadow of the Wendigo, and say nice things about it, since it deals with a subject near and dear to his heart (no, not cannibalism!)

Now the museum stocks copies of the book, so you can have it signed by me and by Loren!

 And of course had to stop in to Portland's jewel, the public library, to discuss getting my books into their collection. After all, I'm listed in the Maine State library system as a Maine writer.

And of course had to stop and get my Pat's Pizza, still the best evah! Been eating it for 40 years, and it's still great!

It's always good to go back up. Even got to visit with some old friends and enjoy the day.

Mystery at the Bakery

Had a fun morning today- got up early to take part in a public reading of Murder by the Minute at Benson's Bakery & Cafe in Hudson, NH. It's a lovely little place, with tasty treats and drinks.

 We were a few hardy mystery authors from Sisters in Crime to read from our works in progress.

Sharon Daynard (left) put this together for our location- there were others around New England this weekend. Lisa Haselton (right) came for support.

Our enthusiastic audience and support crew seemed happy to munch and sip and listen. 

Reading from their work were Anne Macdonald (left) and Ruth McCarty (center). 

Dan (front) is author support crew.

It was a nice gathering and conversation after the works were read.  

Thanks to all those who took part- this is one of the fun parts of being an author.

Latest News and Event This Sunday

It's been a while since my last post- well, things have been busy.

Been writing up a storm- in a little than two weeks, sent out four pieces for submission.
Three of these were brand-new stories, including my two efforts for this year's anthology for Level Best Books (I've had stories in the last two), and double-subbed for the Al Blanchard Award, given out at Crime Bake. We'll see if they like either of them.

Have also been editing a really good book by another writer. That should be out this Summer.

This Sunday, I'll be part of a Sisters in Crime public reading from mystery authors:

MURDER BY THE MINUTE event at Benson's Bakery & Cafe in Hudson, NH
this Sunday April 17th, at 9:00 am-10:30 am.
http://www.bensonsbakeryandcafe.com

Come on down and hear some works in progress. I'll be doing a piece from the fifth Zack Taylor novel I'm working on, A Sharp Medicine. Look for that one later this year.

We Rock the Fox

We had a great “Death in Shorts” mystery short story panel at the Fox Library in Arlington, MA, for Level Best Books.
We were representing the latest anthology Best New England Crime Stories 2016: Red Dawn.

With me were Mark Ammons (moderator and co-editor at Level Best Books), Christine Eskilson, Rae Padilla Francoeur, Cheryl Marceau, and Gary Braver. Standing is Leslie Wheeler, another co-editor, and who helped put this together.

 

Even had snacks available

 

The crowd got into the discussions, and had some great questions for us.

 Mark gets down to business

Scott from the library (on right) helped get this all set up. Thanks to him and the library staff for making the night possible!