Next week at Maine Crime Writers we’ll be featuring posts from Jayne Hitchcock (Monday), Gerry Boyle (Tuesday), Kaitlyn Dunnett (Wednesday), Vicki Doudera (Thursday), and Lea Wait (Friday). And Jayne says her post maybe from Phoebe, her incredible dog!!

In the news department, here’s what’s happening with some of us who blog regularly at Maine Crime Writers:

Kaitlyn Dunnett: On December 17th, I’ll have a new interview up online. Rocco, the resident cat, asks me questions at www.catsbooksmorecats.blogspot.com and will draw the winner’s name from comments posted there for an autographed copy of Vampires, Bones, and Treacle Scones.

In other news, we finally have snow here in western Maine. Here’s a peek at how one of the fields at the tree farm looked earlier this week in a quiet moment with no customers. These are balsam fir trees and most of the ones you see here are around 6′ high. The trees in the background are both taller and on a hill that rises behind the field.

John Clark here: Kate asked me to get some pictures from the Hartland Christmas program. Yesterday, i slipped in while the elves were setting up and was I impressed! They’re going to make the day better for 181 kids in Hartland, Palmyra. St. Albans, Pittsfield and Corinna.

Most of these boots are brand new.

It was -7 this morning in Hartland. Wanna bet these winter coats won’t last long?

Savilla and Shirley adding stuffed animals and dolls to two long tables. Lotta joy hiding here I think.

Someone will get an extra surprise later today, thanks to the United Bikers of Maine.

There was no way to show everything being given today, but this gives you an idea of the scope and variety. Yes, I know Barbara Day is blurred, but she’s that way in real life. You should see her amazing gardens that she creates every year with kids here in Hartland.

The ugly centerpiece is on the table, and the makings for margaritas! Let it snow.

Kate Flora: John, I wish I were doing something so charitable. I’m cooking for 50 people, who will come tonight unless the storm gets here too early. Crab cakes, Asian chicken wings, deviled eggs, a baked ham, caviar pie, the giant taco, and smoked trout mousse. Not a good night for a vegetarian at my house. The ugly centerpiece is out and dusted. I have a new tablecloth made from fabric I found in my mother’s closet when cleaning out the farmhouse in Union, and my little silver snowman is polished and ready for candles.

Lea Wait:  What a wonderful story, John! I’m hoping the foot of snow we’re scheduled to get tomorrow isn’t quite that deep, and, especially that the storm scheduled for Tuesday disappears. Because Tuesday the 17th I’ll be attending a holiday gathering at Islandport, the Maine publisher that will be bringing out UNCERTAIN GLORY next April.  They have new offices, new personnel … and I’m looking forward to meeting some of the people I’ve been working with.

Then Wednesday night, the 18th, I’ll be doing my last signing of the year, at Studio 53 in Boothbay Harbor. The Harbor is hosting “men’s night” from 4:00 until 8:00 ….and many of the stores will have special deals to help gifting-challenged men do their Christmas shopping.  (I’ll have my books.  Any wives or girl friends like mysteries? Or maybe your son or daughter reads historicals?)

An invitation to readers of this blog: Do you have news relating to Maine, Crime, or Writing? We’d love to hear from you. Just comment below to share.

And a reminder: If your library, school, or organization is looking for a speaker, we are often available to talk about the writing process, research, where we get our ideas, and other mysteries of the business.