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Lots of happenings this month and next.

I'll be on a Sisters in Crime Mystery Making panel at the Brockton Public Library on Monday night, April 22, at 7. With fellow mystery authors Nicole Asselin, Liz Mugavero, and Joanna Schauffhausen.

I'll be selling and signing books at the Townsend Earth Day event on Saturday, April 20th, from 10-3.

My guest for the Tewksbury Writer's Night Out will be author Kurt Springs, on Tuesday, April 30th.

 

Local Murders Solved

We had our monthly meeting of the Mystery Writers of America, and our special guest was journalist/author Susan Clare Zalkind. 

She is shown here second from left in the front. 

Next on her left is Mo Walsh, with Dave Zeltserman on the end. Back row L to R is Tom Lyons, JM Taylor, and Lorenzo Petruzziello, who has a new book out and is touring to promote it. 

Susan's book, The Waltham Murders, is her years-long journey to solve a brutal triple murder that also had dark connections to the Boston Marathon bombing. It is a chilling account of events of the murder and the fact that law enforcement did little to solve the crimes. Using her investigative journalistic background, she was able to piece facts together to uncover the murderers. 

Sometimes learning more about real-life crime can be unsettling, but she was determined to get at the truth. She also created, wrote and produced the three-part docu-series The Murders Before The Marathon. The series was inspired by her book proposal, began streaming in the US on Hulu in September 2022, and is available on streaming platforms around the world. 

Two Big Events

Well, it was a busy weekend, with two good writing events.

First was the author brunch as part of the Exeter, NH Literary Festival.

We met at the Sea Dog Brewery in Exter and had a fun time with a huge crowd.

Some nice author friends:
L to R- Zakariah Johnson, Bonnar Spring, Matt Cost, Avram Lavinsky, Kate Flora

 

Each author had to go to the mic and tell two truths and one lie, while the audience competed to tell which was which. 

Here's Kate, who, as it turns out, has never yet researched being locked in the trunk of a car. 

So while the folks figured things out, we chatted about our work.

Avram with Toby Ball

And then the winning team was announced, with prizes being a slew of books from the authors.

Lara Bricker, center, was organizer of the event- big thanks! 

No time to rest- next day was the Sisters in Crime Mystery panel at the Chelmsford Library. Attendees got to suggest character names, murder motives, occupations, murder weapons, and setting, which the panel then put together to plot a mystery novel on the spot.

Great way to show some of our process in how we write.

Panel (L to R):

Sharon Daynard, Kim Herdman Shapiro (standing), J.A. (Judith) McIntosh, and Kate Flora again (yes, she is everywhere!)

The attendees got into it, and one woman said how she never got how we can put all that together! 

Sometimes it's fun to watch the sausage being made...

And here are the authors with books.

Thanks to the library for arranging this fun event.

Stories out and latest news

 Hello all- Spring is here, and lots of news.

I've got two stories currently out.

Dead Man's Hand is out in Dark Horses magazine. I even get cover credit!

My story Strange Hops is in the current issue of Fungi

Thurs night March 24, I'll be chatting with author Tim Gager for the Tewksbury Library Writer's Night Out. For the recording, contact Robert Hayes of the Tewksbury Library.

I'll be selling books as part of the Exeter LitFest Author's Brunch.

Sea Dog Restaurant and Brewery, Exeter, NH, Saturday, April 6- 10 to 11:30 a.m.

I'm on a Sisters in Crime Mystery Making program, along with Nicole Asselin, Joanna Schauffhausen, and Liz Mugavero.

Brockton Public Library, 304 Main Street, Brockton- Monday, April 22, 7 - 8:30 PM.

I'll be selling and signing books at the Townsend Earth Day -

Sat. April 20, 10-3pm. North Middlesex HS, Rt. 119 19 Main St. Townsend, MA

Mystery Making in Dedham

We had a great time at the Mystery Making panel at the Dedham Library last night. The library worked with Sisters in Crime to bring us there to make a mystery on the spot from audience suggestions. 

Thanks to Ari and the library staff for making it happen. 

A full house for the event! Always nice.

Our erstwhile panelists 

Here's the lineup: Lorraine Sharma Nelson, me, Nicole Asselin, Julie Hennrikus

And the fans joined the fun: thanks to Michelle Younis for this picture

Happy New Year- Big News

Happy New Year Everyone! 

Yeah, we're in the second week of the New Year, so I'm tardy.
Ah well. 

Adjusting to a new life schedule, so much to deal with.

Have some great news of upcoming events.

I'm doing a Barnes and Noble signing! 

Along with pro mystery authors Joanna Schaffhausen and Leigh Perry, I'll be at the Leominster B&N from 12-4 on Saturday, January 27th!

Store event here

I'll also be interviewing CNN Journalist Tom Foreman for the Tewksbury Library Writer's Night Out on Tuesday night, the 30th, at 7.

We'll be discussing his book "My Year of Running Dangerously".

Free webinar- Register here

Holiday Newsletter

Happy Holidays! Hope yours are safe and happy.

The year ends with a broken tooth, nagging pain that won't go away, my job (and healthcare) stolen by the Grinch, and my newly-married daughter absent for our Christmas. 😢

But aside from that, Mrs. Lincoln...

Been a busy year for the writing. Lots of appearances, signings, and talks. 

To detail it all, my newsletter is up on my website.

Stay safe and continue to wish for peace and justice.