Next week at Maine Crime Writers there will be posts by Kate Flora (Monday), Lea Wait (Tuesday), Barb Ross (Wednesday), Kate Flora (Thursday), and Vaughn Hardacker (Friday). Please note that next weekend most of us will be at Maine Crime Wave. We hope to post from there during the weekend and will definitely have a Crime Wave wrap-up on Monday, April 13.

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

from Kaitlyn Dunnett: If you read my last post, Talking Heads, you know that I came in waaaay short of my goal of 75,000+ words on the first draft of the tenth Liss MacCrimmon mystery, Kilt at the Highland Games. As in only 50,829 words. Good news. I’ve just finished the second draft (but by no means the last one) and the word count now stands at a healthy 76,035. Whew! Lots of tweaking left to do, and probably some cutting. Most likely I’ll discover a continuity problem or two. I’ll definitely have to do a search for words I’ve overused. But this was the big hurdle. From here on in, I don’t have to put so much pressure on myself because I know I’ve already met the basic requirements set forth in my contract. I know. I know. It’s all mind games. But I still feel as if a tremendous burden has just been lifted.

From Barb Ross: On Thursday, April 9 from 10:00 am to noon,  Dorothy Cannell, Kate Flora and I will be at the Skimdompha Library, “Chats with Champions” speaking on the panel “Three Maine Mystery Writers Share Secrets.” Would love to see you there! 184 Main St. Damariscotta, Maine.

On Saturday, April 11, many of the Maine Crime Writers along with many other great Maine mystery authors will be at the Maine Crime Wave at the Glickman Library at the University of Southern Maine in Portland. You can register up through Tuesday, here. There are also readings and dinners on Friday night.

From Lea Wait: I’m thrilled that my Uncertain Glory has been chosen a “town read” in several towns in Maine …. as part of their celebrations, I’ll be speaking about that book at the Rumford Library at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, April 14.

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. Don’t forget that comments are entered for a chance to win our wonderful basket of books and the very special moose and lobster cookie cutters.

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: mailto: kateflora@gmail.com