Appearances :: News
APPEARANCES:
Where I’ll be: I am always delighted to talk mystery in person or in online events with book clubs, bookstores, libraries, and community groups. If you’d like to schedule an event or a visit, drop me a line. And subscribe to my newsletter for monthly updates on my schedule.
Murder and Mayhem
May 30, on line (free — registration required) — times vary
Join me and 30+ mystery authors for an online meet-and-greet. “Laughter, banter, questions and answers, games and prizes, and more.” Readers choose which authors to visit with, through the magic of Zoom.
Bigfork Art & Cultural Center
Sun, July 23, 2-4
Join me in celebrating the launch of Between a Wok and a Dead Place! I’ll be talking about using history in a contemporary novel. There will be fortune cookies!
Bigfork Art & Cultural Center
Fri, Aug 4, 5-8
First Friday in the Village! I’ll be celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Food Lovers’ Village mysteries, aka the Bigfork series!
Bigfork Festival of the Arts
Sat-Sun, Aug 5-6, from 9-4:30
The streets are alive with art, music, food – and books! Look for me on the east side of Electric Avenue!
During the summer, I’ll also be on several book podcasts and participating in Facebook events with other authors. Join me on Facebook for more details.
It’s such a treat to visit libraries, booksellers, and book clubs across the Treasure State. No town is too small—I learned quickly when my first mystery came out that the smaller the town, the bigger the welcome. And boy, can you people cook! From Whitefish to Superior, to Dillon and Billings—so much fun.
I HEART book clubs! Let’s Zoom! Or visit via FaceTime! If you’d like me to visit your library or book club, or speak to your writers’ group or service club, drop me a line. The only drawback to online book club meetings? You have to bring your own snacks!
Remember you can find me sharing recipes and talking food on Mystery Lovers’ Kitchen on the 1st, 3d, and 5th Tuesdays. Visit my blog for insights about the writing process, weekly quotes for writers and other creative folks, and tidbits about my books and other bookish stuff. And if you’re on Facebook, join me on my Author page for book talk, giveaways, recommendations, and more. I’m new to Instagram, and happy to see you there.
I hope to catch up with you somewhere soon!
Where I’ve been:
Pikes Peak Writers Conference
April 28-30
Colorado Springs, CO
Presenting workshops on character, setting, and using the law in your fiction!
Left Coast Crime, Tucson
March 17-19, 2023
A fabulous fan convention connecting authors and readers!
Murderous March — Mavens of Mayhem, the Sisters in Crime Upper Hudson chapter
Fri-Sat, March 10-11
A panel conversation: Cozy Up with Comfort Food: Cozy Mysteries that Feed Your Imagination
The Bookshelf – Downtown Kalispell Art Walk
Fri, Dec 2 – 5:30 to 8:00
Chatting and signing books in the spirit of the season!
Northwest Montana History Museum (formerly the Museum at Central School)
5:00 – 7:30, Thurs, Dec 1
Talking about using history in my mysteries during the Holiday Open House!
Mineral County Library, Superior, MT
12:00, Sat, Nov 19
Chatting mystery with my pals Gwen Florio and Christine Carbo — and remember, books make great holiday gifts!
Billings Public Library
Sat, Nov 5 — 2:00 pm
Talking books in my hometown!
Third Place Books, Seattle
Tues, Oct 25 — 7:00 pm, Lake Forest Park location
Back on the road meeting readers!
NEWS, PODCASTS, AND VIDEOS:
2022: March: My short story, “Coming Clean: A Stagecoach Mary Fields Story” (Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, Jan-Feb 2021), has been named a finalist in Best Short Fiction for the Spur Awards, given by the Western Writers of America! Here’s the full list of finalists and winners.
January: I’m serving my last year as a board member at large of Mystery Writers of America. It’s a terrific organization. For two years, I chaired the Diversity & Education Committee and continue to serve on it, as well as in other capacities.
Catch me on the Sisters in Crime podcast, available free to members and nonmembers, a conversation with SInC Executive Director Julie Hennrikus about the writing journey, lessons learned, publishing journeys, and the importance of community.
Writers, watch my 2 minute video on the Sisters in Crime YouTube channel, sharing a SINC-UP writing tip. SinC members can watch my archived webinar on Common Mistakes Writers Make About the Law, on the members-only section of the SinC website.
2021: Delighted to be part of this Bigfork Eagle photo essay illustrating the annual Bigfork Festival of the Arts the first weekend in August — and so glad the photographer came on Saturday, since Sunday was rained out!
2020: What a lovely way to end a difficult year, seeing The Solace of Bay Leaves on librarian, reviewer, and book goddess Lesa Holstine’s list of her Favorite Books of 2020. And what amazing company!
Whatever else we can say about 2020, it was a good year for reading. The Solace of Bay Leaves also made Kings River Life’s list of Favorite Books of 2020.
Mystery Writers of America is the country’s oldest organization devoted to serving mystery and crime writers, both fiction and nonfiction. I’m pleased to have been elected to a second two-year term, for 2021-22. I chair the Diversity & Inclusion Committee, whose purpose is to guide MWA’s efforts to seek and welcome writers from marginalized and under-represented communities into the organization, to advocate for equity and inclusion within the industry, and to support our members when related issues arise.
You love short stories, right? Watch for the Jan-Feb issue of Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine and my short story, “Coming Clean,” the third “Stagecoach Mary” Fields story, a followup to last year’s Derringer-nominated “Miss Starr’s Good-bye” and “All God’s Sparrows,” the winner of the 2018 Agatha Award for Best Short Story.
And in September, Library Journal gave The Solace of Bay Leaves a starred review, calling it “a complex, well-developed mystery,” and saying “Readers attracted to unusual settings and mature, introspective amateur sleuths will appreciate this intricately plotted story depicting the impact of murder on the family and community.”