“Criminy,” as my Erin Murphy would say. “Holy marjaroly,” Pepper Reece would add.

Can you believe it’s already December?

Me, neither.  If you’re in the Mission Valley or the Flathead, I hope you’ll take a break this Wednesday and join me for a book talk and reading at 4 p.m. at the North Lake County Library in Polson. Quiz me about the writing life, ask about my characters, or pump me for mystery reading suggestions. I’ve also got a few books to give away, treasures scored at Bouchercon, the giant, amazing, awesome mystery fan convention I attended a month ago in Long Beach. (Remember that week it was 4 below in western Montana? Yep, that week!) Afterwards, I’ll be signing books. (They’re serving snacks, and while I don’t know what’s on the menu, I can tell you that at every book event I’ve gone to since DEATH AL DENTE was published in August 2013, there have been tasty treats from the recipe sections in the back of the books. Every. Single. Time.)

Also thrilled to share the cover of BUTTER OFF DEAD (July 2015), the third book in the Food Lovers’ Village Mysteries. It’s winter in the village and Erin and her friends are cooking up plans for a food lovers’ film festival. But their plans are sent reeling when a dangerous killer dims the lights on a local mover and shaker. Both BUTTER and ASSAULT AND PEPPER, first in my Seattle Spice Shop Mysteries (March 3, 2015) are available for pre-order now — and pre-orders make a huge difference to writers, especially as I wait for my publisher to decide whether to extend my contract for the Food Lovers’ Village Mysteries to books Four and Five.

I don’t talk much about my fiction here, except during a book launch, but if you’d like to hear more, please join my electronic mailing list for seasonal updates and word on new releases. Sign up on my website.

And I hope to see you soon—in person, on line, or on the page!