Weekend Update: October 22-23, 2022

Next week at Maine Crime Writers there will be posts by Kate Flora (Monday), Dick Cass (Tuesday), Matt Cost (Thursday), and Charlene D’Avanzo (Friday).

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

Maine Crime Writers John Clark, Brenda Buchanan, Vaughn Hardacker, and Kate Flora, along with alum Bruce Coffin, have stories in the new collection from Crime Spell Books.

Results of drawing for giveaway:
The winner of a print copy of guest Sanford Emerson’s Well, Hell is Kait Carson. Congrats and thanks to all who left comments.

John Clark has a ghost story in the latest issue of King’s River Life. https://kingsriverlife.com/10/22/halloween-short-story-when-a-prank-goes-bad/

Death Sends a Message (the Thea Kozak Mystery Series, Book 11)

NEW RELEASE

PUBLISHER DESCRIPTION

A Newborn, a Baby Carriage, and an Ice Cream Cone Leads to a Lingering Mystery in DEATH SENDS A MESSAGE by Kate Flora

–Freeport, Maine, Present Day–

Independent school consultant Thea Kozak is adjusting to motherhood and enjoying maternity leave, having just purchased a hat for her newborn son, when a hysterical woman gains her attention. The woman, also a new mother, claims her baby has just been kidnapped. Determined not to get involved, Thea flags down a police officer and hands off the problem. She returns home to her husband Andre, intending to enjoy their precious weeks of parental leave.

But Thea’s kindness soon brings trouble to her doorstep when a police officer asks questions about her relationship with Addison Shirley, the mother of the kidnapped child, who claimed Thea was a friend before she disappeared.

The couple’s hopes for a peaceful respite are quickly replaced with a break-in, a stalker, and a private school crisis involving star athletes and sexual assault that only Thea can handle. Thea and Andre wrestle with the lingering mystery and competing priorities while reexamining their future…if they live to face it.

Publisher’s Note: Kate Flora is known for taking readers on a near breathless experience with a surprise at every turn. Fans of Sara Paretsky, Laura Lippman, Sue Grafton, and Julia Spencer-Fleming will not want to miss this series.

“If you like your heroines smart, brave, tough, and exuberantly aware of the possibilities of the human heart, look no further than Thea Kozak.” ~S.J. Rozan

”…a terrific, in-your-face, stand-up gal…Stephanie Plum and Thea Kozak have a lot to say to each other.” ~Janet Evanovich

“Kate Flora does what all the great writers do: she takes you inside unfamiliar territory and makes you feel right at home; you climb in and are along for the whole ride.” ~Michael Connelly

“I’ll follow Thea Kozak anywhere. She is simply one of the most refreshing and original heroines in mystery fiction today. And Kate Flora is the rare, graceful writer who pays close attention to how long it takes the body and the heart to heal.” ~Laura Lippman

Coming January 25, 2023

Encircle Publications to release Vaughn C. Hardacker’s seventh thriller.

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, along with the very popular “Making a Mystery” with audience participation, and “Casting Call: How We Staff Our Mysteries.” We also do programs on Zoom. Contact Kate Flora