More Happenings- Books, Features, New Groups

Hello Campers! Many more writerly events happening.

With print books not being easy to sell face-to-face these days, have not needed to order many. But some bookstores, like Letterpress Books up in Portland, Maine, are selling online, and so requested some of my latest. I've been busy since the shutdown in March, publishing one novel and two story collections (while working on two other novels and a big non-fiction book)!

Recently, I got my first sellable print copies for all three of the latest in one batch!
Neptune City
Deadly Encounters
The Return of Fear

They look great! Both story collections are in audiobook production, and should be available soon.

To top off the latest highs of a great interview with Linda McHenry and a terrific review of A Sharp Medicine from Big Al's Books and Pals site, I was also featured on the blog of the New England chapter of Sisters in Crime.

More coming up- the Tewksbury Library is sponsoring a new Writer's Group, which I'll be facilitating. Our first online event is Tuesday, Sept. 15th, at 7.

Registration is required. Register by calling 978-640-4490,
emailing rhayes@tewksburypl.org or visiting the online
calendar of events at www.tewksburypl.org.

Help an Iconic Bookstore

It comes as no surprise to most that established businesses are hurting from the blow to in-store shopping. One particularly hard-hit center is the New England Mobile Book Fair, our local beloved meeting place for readers and writers. They have been great for the community, and more than generous to patrons and area writers. They've held in-store music classes, and many programs, giving artists of all stripes a venue to meet the public. They're an important piece of culture for our region.

Like many others, they've been socked from the drop in revenue. They've started a GoFundMe campaign to see if they can stay alive. If you can, please consider a donation to this worthy cause. Please help spread the word to all readers who love books and support the places to get them.

https://www.gofundme.com/ne-book-fair

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

Bruce Coffin at the NE Mobile Book Fair

Terrific Maine mystery author Bruce Robert Coffin drove down from Portland to give a talk and sign books at the NE Mobile Book Fair.

To see an interview with Bruce, click here.

Bruce with supportive spouse Karen

Great turnout, including some of his friends from the local branches of the Mystery Writers of America and the Sisters in Crime.

Owner Tom Lyons, glad to provide copies for happy book buyers. 

This is Bruce's fourth Byron book, Within Plain Sight.

Bruce always gives an engaging reading and talk

Bruce has lots of friends in the writing community. 

Here he is with superstar author Hank Phillippi Ryan

And Hank with spouse Jonathan

Thriller author Joanna Schaffhausen dropped by, with daughter Eleanor

To see an interview with Joanna, click here

More stars: Hallie Ephron and Edwin Hill

And Dandy Don Kaplan

To see an interview with Don, click here

Jay Roberts, reviewer of good books and music, also was present

Edwin and Hank

After his talk and reading, Bruce signed books for his fans before heading back to Maine.

MWA Event at NE Mobile Book Fair

For the local chapter of the Mystery Writers of America, we usually have our monthly meeting at the Brookline Library, to which the public is invited.
This one, however, was special, and so we held it at the NE Mobile Book Fair, a local bookstore that has been generous in support of local mystery writers.
It was well attended, and became a holiday party, with ample food and drink and conversation.

Chapter President Mo Walsh makes announcements and gives much thanks to store owner Tom Lyons for his continued support of our writing community.

Dave Zeltserman tells of the latest movie being made from his excellent books.

To see an interview with Dave, click here

 

 

Joanna Schaffhausen, Bruce Robert Coffin (down from Maine), and Sarah Smith.

To see an interview with Joanna, click here

To see an interview with Bruce, click here

And here's Joanna with Edwin Hill and Tilia Klebenov-Jacobs

To see an interview with Tilia, click here

Hank Phillippi Ryan with William Martin

Gary Braver with Sarah again

Lineup of ladies, including Linda Barnes and Hallie Ephron

And Stephanie MacPherson

A lovely night of good people getting together.

Thanks to everyone who made it a rousing success! 

Debut Author Nicole Asselin Book Signing at New Nashua Toadstool Bookstore

We have a new bookstore in Nashua, NH, a Toadstool Bookshop (affiliated with the other ones of that name).

They have not been open long, but are already doing signings for local authors. And they had a good one for debut author Nicole Asselin, a fellow member of Sisters in Crime.
(We'll soon have an interview with Nicole here on the blog, when she gets time from her busy appearance schedule!)

Lovely store, with a nice selection.

And a great opportunity for authors to meet new fans and sign books (in time for the holidays!)

A good crowd came out.

Let's hope Nicole gets lots of fans for her mystery Murder at First Pitch. 

And that the new bookstore is a rousing success!

Signing at Freethinker's Corner Bookstore

Had a lovely time at the Freethinker's Corner Bookstore in Dover, NH. Nice day and great chat with Chris Upton, the owner, who has some big plans. They'll be expanding the space to absorb the building next door, so they'll be hosting many local community events and artisans.

The buyers were avid book fans, and picked up enough books to make the day a success! Always great to get new fans of the Zack Taylor mystery series.

And I'll be signing at another local book store for Small Business Saturday, at the New England Mobile Book Fair.

Hot Crime Signing

We had a great day at the Hot Crimes in the Summertime big author signing at the New England Mobile Book Fair.

Despite it being a wicked hot August afternoon, we had a good crowd of book buyers! All the authors were selling. Guess everyone still needs beach reads.

Alex (from work) was one of the first ones in. But while he was buying other books, someone bought my last copy of Shadow of the Wendigo, so he has to wait for his...

Steve and Robin, power book buyers and great supporters of the bookstore!

BJ Magnani, doctor and authoress

And with her publisher, Eddie Vincent of Encircle Publications

 

Great crowd for a hot afternoon

Mo Walsh, our local chapter president of the Mystery Writers of America (our sponsors), who arranged the event for us. A big thank you from all of us!

Me getting my advance signed copy of Murder at First Pitch, Nicole Asselin's debut novel!

Two years ago, Nicole took my class (and copious notes) when I taught mystery writing at the Cape Cod Writer's Conference. Guess I imparted some kind of useful advice!

And I managed to get a shot where everyone looks stoned.

L to R: Eddie, Dave Zeltserman, Elizabeth Elo

My newest (and youngest) fan, Ori, who decided to go for the scariest story.
Photo courtesy of his dad

Now here's trouble! BJ with superstars Hank Phillippi Ryan and Linda Barnes, who came by to show their support, though they weren't signing, and Elizabeth Elo.

And yet more trouble

L to R: JM Taylor, JJ Shelley, Nicole, and Judy Copek

Susan Oleksiw

Author David Shiang, who wasn't part of the event, but who came by anyway.

More troublemakers...

Every year, Hans Copek creates posters with cover images of the recent books by local members of the Mystery Writers of America, and also does it for the local Sisters in Crime chapter.

 

 So of course we made the authors come up and point to their book, but first we had to have a group shot with Tom Lyons (center, seated), the store owner, who's a terrific supporter of our local mystery community.

And the chapter supplied refreshments, to further entice shoppers. Thanks to all for a great day!