Next week at Maine Crime Writers there will be posts by Dorothy Cannell (Monday), Vicki Doudera (Tuesday), Lea Wait (Wednesday), Barb Ross (Thursday), and Kate Flora (Friday). And next weekend (May 2 and 3) many of us will be at Malice Domestic in Bethesda, Maryland. We hope to be able to post news and updates from there.

WINNERS! WE HAVE  WINNERS!

The ever-clever Kate Flora actually acquired three pairs of library socks. We tossed the names of everyone who posted a comment during library week into a hat and randomly selected three to receive this unique prize. Congratulations to Bonnie Finn, Heather Greene, and Anne Mosey.

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

Lea Wait: This weekend I’m in Springfield, Massachusetts, for the New England Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators conference. For anyone attending, I’ll be at a mentor table Friday afternoon from 4 until 4:30, signing books Saturday, and running two workshops Sunday: one on incorporating real people into historical fiction, and one on editing. Hope to see some friends there!

The next Tuesday, April 28, I’ll be speaking at the Camden-Rockport Elementary School about my Seaward Born, and then running two writing workshops for fourth graders there. And – as pointed out above – Thursday I’ll be heading to Bethesda, Maryland, for Malice Domestic. Excited that three Maine Crime Writers are Agatha nominees this year — Kate Flora, Kathy Lynn Emerson, and me! No matter who wins .. that guarantees a great weekend.

Skidompha Public Library with Dorothy Cannell, Kate Flora, and Barb Ross: If you missed being there in person back on March 26th, never fear, you can hear three talented mystery writers talk about their craft by clicking on the link below.

https://youtu.be/w9ThyamyWXU

Enjoy!

Only a few more days until Brenda Buchanan’s book debut:

Brenda Buchanan’s debut mystery, Quick Pivot, launches on Monday, April 27!  Moving back and forth between 1968 and the present day, Quick Pivot features a contemporary Maine newspaper reporter who draws on his late mentor’s lessons to solve a 1968 murder, and becomes a target himself when his investigation threatens to expose long-held secrets. It’s the first in a series about Joe Gale, a contemporary reporter with old-school style who covers the Maine crime beat.  Quick Pivot is available in digital format wherever ebooks are sold.

On the Falmouth (Mass) Public Library blog this week, it’s shelf talk with Kate Flora. Childhood favorites, author influences, what I’m reading: http://www.falmouthpubliclibrary.org/?/blog/entries/shelf-talk-with-kate-flora/

On another note, since we are about “All things Maine” and in case you’ve missed it, the Bangor Daily News’s Seth Koenig now does a great daily update called Greater Portland Lunch Break with food, events, and news. A perfect bite-sized bit of information. You can subscribe here: http://www.tinyletter.com/GreaterPortlandLunchRush 

Want us to give away more of those socks? Maybe a Liberty Graphics tee shirt? Do you like give-aways? Because we do, so read our weekend updates and see what you might win.

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 books and sometimes 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