Mystery Making Panels!

This Summer, I'll be taking part in two Mystery Making online panels.

These fun events are hosted by the Sisters in Crime, and we have a panel of authors taking suggestions from the audience to build a mystery on the spot! Improv time!

Held via Zoom, the audience logs in and contributes as we cobble together character names, plots, ideas, and scenarios for a group effort on a new mystery. Listeners get to see how different concepts shape the mystery type and tone, and how one idea can spark a whole new direction.

We usually come up with some good stuff- I wrote a killer story based on a character name from one of these, and usually get ideas for a few more things.

We used to do these in person, but now it's more convenient for folks to log on and take part, even from far away. So come join the fun!


Saturday, July 25, 2020, 2:00 PM until 4:00 PM
Zoom event given by A Freethinker's Corner
652 Central Ave, ste. 1 Dover, NH  03820

In this fun, fast-paced improv game, a virtual event on Zoom, authors Coralie Jensen, Linda Shenton Matchett, Maureen Milliken, and Dale T. Phillips, will brainstorm to construct a brand new mystery using suggestions from the audience.
Link



Thursday, August 20, 2020, 7:00 PM until 8:30 PM
Wilmington Memorial Library (virtual event, link given upon request to lesliewheeler@comcast.net)
175 Middlesex Ave. Wilmington, MA  01887

In the fun, fast-paced improv virtual event, authors, Connie Hambley, Edith Maxwell, Dale T. Phillips, and Lorraine Sharma Nelson, will brainstorm to create a brand new mystery, using suggestions from the audience.
Link

Noir at the Bar 2020

Years ago, a few of us area mystery writers had fun reading our work at a Noir at the Bar, our local contribution to a nationwide series of short public readings at popular watering holes in local taverns. Later, I attended another one up in Maine, also a good time.

In this time of Plague, it's now a virtual event. You log on to see authors read their works remotely, with your own choice of beverage. Everyone stays safe, but we get a good night of excellent reads by top authors.

So our recent one was outstanding, hosted by authors Edwin Hill and Daniel Ford.
with readings from authors such as: Edith Maxwell, Paula Munier, Dale T. Phillips, Barbara Ross, Bonnar Spring, Phil Temples, and John Vercher.

If you missed it, you can still give a listen on the excellent writer site Writer's Bone:
http://www.writersbone.com/boston-noir-at-the-bar 


There will be others upcoming!

Writers at Moxie Festival 2019

We had a terrific day at the annual Moxie Festival, held in Lisbon, Maine.
(To see a report of last year's festival, click here.)

Selling books there was a contingent of the New England Horror Writers, where I was joined by Peter Dudar (our gracious host), Tom and Sheila Deady, Scott Goudsward, April Hawks, and Sylvia Morgan.

To see an interview with Peter, click here

 L to R below: Peter, Sheila, Tom, Scott

The fun thing about this event is that apart from meeting new fans and selling books, we also have a ringside seat for the big parade, a real slice of Americana, of small-town pride and life. It's a blast, and worth getting up there to participate in all things Moxie. Here's a sample of the floats and sights.

Okay, nothing says Maine like a giant L.L. Bean boot!

Along with the Moxiemobile

And it wouldn't be Maine without a moose!

The obligatory fife and drum band

 

And the other kind

There was art as well

Lots of tiny vehicles- having them in the parade is a fundraising thing. Always wondered.

Self-powered vehicles

And clowns! Gotta have clowns.

Betcha don't see an orange Darth Vader most places... 

It was so hot, even the horses were tired...

Geckos, Tigers, and whatever...

 

 And trucks!

While selling books there, we get to meet all new people. Here's the self-proclaimed Bug Girl, interested in the bug horror anthology, which Scott presents. April on R.

Here's Scott with his own books

So much to do in Maine. The state is getting some great new fun places, like the Side by Each Brewery, in the same building as Pinky D's, the home of great poutine (which we discovered at the Moxie Fest)

Reading and Signing at Dracut Arts

Hello again. It's been a busy time. Last week was the Moxie Festival up in Maine, and tomorrow I'm doing a reading and book signing at Dracut Arts!

Now we know it's gonna be HOT weather- but we will have lovely air conditioning- so come and enjoy!

Come for an author reading and meet & greet:
Saturday, July 20, 2019 at 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Dracut Arts, Christ Church United, 10 Arlington St., Dracut, MA

Facebook event 

To see my interview on Dracut TV, click here



And tonight, catch the Art Show Open, with Chelmsford Visual Artist Donna Berger
July 19 @ 4:00 pm - 9:00 pm 

I'm on TV. And Moxie!

Here's a great interview I did with Diane and Tom McGary, for Dracut TV. I talk about the importance of writing and the arts, some favorite authors, and a few other things.


It's a prep for my appearance/reading at Dracut Arts on Saturday, July 20, 2019 at 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Dracut Arts, Christ Church United, 10 Arlington St., Dracut, MA
More info here


And before that, I'll be signing books at the Moxie Festival in Lisbon, ME on Saturday July 13th.
Come on down and try some Moxie!
Here's the writeup from the event last year.

Making a Mystery in Somerville

A few authors and an interested and interactive crowd came together to make a mystery. This was hosted in a joint effort by the Somerville Library and the folks of the Somerville Media Center, in the Assembly Square area. It's a cool space for many community events.

We had a panel of Sisters in Crime mystery authors who took suggestions from the audience as to locale, characters, motives, and weapons, and we started putting together a mystery incorporating those elements.

L to R: Marita (from the library, who coordinated the event), Clea Simon at the flip chart, Elizabeth Elo, and Frances McNamara.

Thanks to all who came out in the misty night to hear us talk about the process of writing a good mystery. Lots of fun showing the process and explaining how we make decisions.

And they really got into the spirit, contributing some interesting characters, locales, and situations.
One of the character names put forth is one I'm stealing for a story! 

Gotta say, with the pros on the panel, we created a rather good mystery outline.

And of course they were promoting our books. (Nice lineup on top!)

Thanks to all for a fun night! Video link soon! 

Mystery Author Kate Flora at Groton Library

Our Groton Mystery Book Club invited long-time, award-winning, superstar mystery author (and fellow Sister in Crime) Kate Flora to come and have a chat with some ardent fans.
Many thanks to the library staff and all those who made this event happen!

For an interview with Kate, click here. 

It was a lovely time, as Kate told us stories of her True Crime book, Finding Amy, about a real-life murder case up in Portland, Maine.

People really enjoyed hearing Kate tell about her experiences working with the police up in Maine.

She kept us entertained with anecdotes about her life and work.

It's always great when a well-known, popular author takes time to come and speak with fans like this, especially with clubs so particularly devoted to the mystery genre.

Author Signing With Whiskey!

Hello All- Saturday, March 16th, from 2-4, come celebrate St. Patrick's Day early- with a whiskey tasting and an author signing. That's not where you sign the author, it's where the author signs books he wrote. That's me.

The New England Mobile Book Fair is a great bookstore, with so many titles of books you'd love. Come support a local business, sample some water of life, if that's to your taste, and buy a book or two- they make great gifts!

Busy Week of Appearances

Whew! Had four writing appearances in one week, plus a meeting of a Mystery Book Group.
Add that to the day job and I have a tough time answering when people ask "when do you find time to write?"

Last week was the Boston Book Festival, followed by speaking on a panel at the Huntington Theater.
You can read about those here.

This week I gave a talk on mystery writing, "It's a Mystery to me" at the library in Pelham, NH, to a small but enthusiastic crowd, who are now new fans of the Zack Taylor series.

Had a sign out front

One woman said she'd read a great paragraph out to her husband, who then read the book in one sitting! They were quite happy to discover there were more in the series.
Thanks to Rita and the library for hosting this event.

And this Saturday, gave a workshop on The Business of Writing at the Thayer Memorial Library in Lancaster, MA, hosted by the Seven Bridge Writing Collaborative.
Thanks to Hollis and the library for hosting this one.

Introduced by author Ursula Wong

To see an interview with Ursula, click here.

A larger crowd than my previous engagement.

And here I am

With books for sale

A week from Saturday, have another busy weekend. Saturday will be the Holiday Author's Market  at the Chelmsford Library from 1-3, and Sunday, I'll be at The Silver Unicorn bookshop, signing books with Ursula Wong.

Authors and Politicians Appear at Chelmsford Farmer's Market

Throughout the Summer, the Chelmsford Common hosts a Saturday Farmers' Market from 10-2.

One of our local writing groups, the Society of Independent Publishers and Authors (SIPA) has decided to join the fun and set up a table on some Saturdays for authors to sell books. Yesterday was our first time, on an absolutely perfect day weatherwise.

L to R:  Bruce Fottler, Stephen O'Connor, me, Sara Marks

I had my books set up in the racks, but the wind came and blew the books out of them. So had to have a flat display from then on. No worries.

We even had politicians, like Dan Koh, who's running for Congress for the first time, Richard Howe, who's running for Register of Deeds (and is also an author), and Boston Mayor Marty Walsh!

One woman there is putting together an event to address a tragedy. Check out Live for Liv on Facebook for the upcoming Run and Ride.


So a great day meeting new fans and enjoying the much cooler weather. Come on down and check out the Saturday happenings.

Derry Author Fest

We had a huge crowd at the Derry Author Fest yesterday at the Derry Public Library. People stayed all day to hear speakers on writing and publishing topics, chat with the writers, and buy books.
They did a lot of advance promotion (check out the video), which made for the size of the crowd.

Thanks to Erin Robinson and the library staff for making a great day.
And we even got a mention in the local paper!

I was there along with Ursula Wong to give a presentation on Publishing Options: Choosing Your Path. We were the last show of the day, and the audience was attentive and asked great questions.
Plus, we got to sell our books in between sessions. Here's Ursula with her books:

And there were other great writers, like Dan Szczesny

Dan was on a panel talking about Marketing, 

with (L to R) Erin Moulton, Paul Durham, Erin Bowman

There was a table to hand out info for the New Hampshire Writer's Project, a group I work with.

And the bookseller there was Water Street Books, of Exeter, NH.

Business was brisk, as people bought copies to get signed.

The authors were able to answer questions and chat with those attending.

Here's Dan with a fan

The event was free, and people seemed to enjoy it, even as they learned a lot about the publishing process. 

Can't wait for next year!