Next week is Library Week at Maine Crime Writers. Look for posts by guest librarians on Monday (Marie Stickney from the Camden Public Library), Wednesday, and Thursday, together with our regular monthly post from Jayne Hitchcock on Tuesday and a library story from Barbara Ross on Friday.  

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

Next Saturday, April 19, is the Maine Crime Wave in Portland. It’s not too late to register and there is a great line-up of crime-writing talent: Gerry Boyle, Paul Doiron, Kaitlyn Dunnett/Kathy Lynn Emerson, Kate Flora, Tess Gerritsen, Chris Holm, and Julia Spencer-Fleming. There is a session on the business of publishing with industry professionals, and if you want to be sure you get investigative details right, another set of panelists will tell you, from firsthand experience, how the Portland Police Department and Maine’s Game Wardens solve crimes. For more information, click here:

http://mainewriters.org/2014-maine-crime-wave/

On Thursday, April 17 at 7:00 pm, Barbara Ross and Vicki Doudera to discuss “Using What You Know (Or What You’d Like to Know) to Write a Mystery” at the Carver Memorial Library,12 Union Street, Searsport, ME 04974. Love to see you there!

We’re trying something experimental for Simply the Best, the Malice Domestic panel for the Agatha Best Contemporary nominees. (Friday at 3:00 in Waterford/Lalique. Mark your calendars, if you’re attending.) We’re crowd-sourcing the questions!

So, is there anything you’ve always wanted to ask G. M. Malliet (Pagan Spring), Hank Phillippi Ryan (The Wrong Girl). Julia Spencer-Fleming (Through the Evil Days) or moi (Clammed Up)? Louise Penny (How the Light Gets In) is sadly unable to attend this year–but maybe we can catch her in writing somewhere. Shawn Reillly Simmons is moderating, so you know she’ll be able to handle your toughest questions.

Let a comment here, or send us a tweet #GoAskMalice.

For those who remember the post on Maine firemen at that huge fire just over the border in Canada, here’s a link to a follow-up story:

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. Contact Kate Flora: kateflora@gmail.com