On December 2, eighteen mystery writers presented their latest works at the Chesapeake Chapter of Sisters in Crime’s Mystery Author Extravaganza. The event was hosted by the Reston Library and independent bookstore Mystery Loves Company. This annual event is always a good time and a great way to kick off the holiday month. Cheers!

Verena Rose, Laura Ellen Scott, KM Rockwood, Alan Orloff, and I signing books

Talking about my Mae West story “He Done Her Wrong”
Just in time for the holidays! The Sisters in Crime Chesapeake Chapter will host two Mystery Author Extravaganza events on November 4 and December 2. Both events begin at 1:00 pm. The November event will be held at Maryland’s Howard County Library Miller Branch and the December at Virginia’s Reston Regional Library. Over a dozen mystery authors from the SinC Chessie chapter will discuss and sign their new books and stories and Mystery Loves Company bookstore will be on site to sell books. Signed books make great gifts for the holidays so don’t miss out on this free, fun event. We hope to see you there!

I’m thrilled to have my first short story, “He Done Her Wrong,” published in the anthology Charlaine Harris Presents Malice Domestic 12: Mystery Most Historical (Wildside Press, Inc.). The story is set during the Golden Age of Hollywood and features stage and screen icon Mae West (1893-1980) who turns from siren to sleuth to catch a jewel thief. Special thanks to Verena Rose, Rita Owen, and Shawn Reilly Simmons for being great editors!
Once again, I had an incredible time at the Malice Domestic conference seeing reader and writer friends and meeting new people. This year I was excited to be on the “Small Stories in a Big World” panel with moderator Kaye George and authors Debra H. Goldstein, Eleanor Cawood Jones, Liz Milliron, and Keenan Powell. My first time on a short story panel!

“Small Stories in a Big World” panel

Signing books with new friend and author Peggy O’Neal Peden

Celebrating author Barb Goffman’s Agatha nomination
On March 6, I was delighted to speak and dine with members of The University Club of Washington, DC as part of their conversations with authors series. A special thanks to the lovely O’Day’s for the invitation and the fabulous arrangements. Paul and I had a wonderful time and the food was delicious!

Reading from “He Done Her Wrong”
On Saturday, January 21, fellow mystery writers Maya Corrigan and Sherry Harris and I will be at the Potomac Community Library discussing the inspiration for our mystery series, our experiences working with large publishers, trends in mystery publishing and more! We will also answer questions and sign books so we hope you come out of the cold and join us for some “demystifying” fun. For more information, check out my Events page.
Thanks to Nightstand Book Reviews for including Neighing with Fire on your “Authors of the Carolinas” list! Check out all the books on the list here.
Thanks to OuterBanksThisWeek.com for including Foal Play, Murder on the Hoof and Neighing with Fire on your summer reading list! Read all of the recommendations here.
Despite the unusually chilly weather (yes, there were flurries!), I had a wonderful time April 9 at the 4th Annual College Park Community Library Book Festival seeing readers, fellow writers like Penny Clover Petersen, and Bella, the library dog! Jackie, Elaine and the entire staff did an amazing job organizing this fun, family friendly event.

With Harriet & Bella, the library dog, at the College Park Library Book Festival
NEXT UP… Looking forward to more springtime fun! At the end of April, I’ll be at Malice Domestic meeting up with readers and writers and speaking on a panel about murder at the beach. On May 6, I’ll be participating in The Theatre Lab’s annual Dramathon at Theatre J with my play “Baby Blue” to help raise money to send kids to theatre camp. Finally, on May 19, I’ll be at Turn the Page Bookstore with Nora Roberts and other authors for Girls Night Out!
Congratulations to Kathleen Costa and Dianne Mossor for winning complete sets of the Colleen McCabe series by visiting Toni and Rocco’s blog Cats, Books and More Cats! where Toni and Rocco interview me about the series and have a fun set of quick questions at the end. Read the interview here! Thanks, Toni and Rocco, for inviting me to chat!