By the time this appears, the word will be out, so I think it’s safe to write about in advance. Anne and I have sold our house in Cape Elizabeth and are moving on to the next (smaller) residence of our lives. We will miss our grand backyard and the sun porch, which has been the scene of many great get-together.

One of the great memories of this house that we will take with us is the more-or-less semi-annual crime writer potlucks it’s hosted. Can’t remember when we started doing them but they’ve always been a terrific way to get all our semi-introverted writer friends all in one place and celebrate, talk about the work, complain about publishers and editors, etc., etc.

The Crime Writer potluck rules are simple: bring enough of your dish for everyone and only bring something  you like. That lack of guidance has not made for any memorable lacuna in the ultimate meal. At worst, we’ve wound up with too much dessert. Too much dessert. Boo hoo.

We held the last potluck in this house a week ago Saturday night. I hope you can see from some of the pictures below what it looks like when people who kill people for fun and profit party. Kate Flora often says one of the reason crime writers are so nice is that we work out all our aggressions on the page. Poets, on the other hand. Whooo, can they be nasty.

Wide shot of the crew

Looks as if Gabi’s husband James is telling me something frightening

The irrepressible Julia Spencer-Fleming starts the party

Diane and Barbara and half of Brenda

Bill and all of Brenda taking a breather

Gayle and John (slyly smiling)

Chris and Katrina contemplating the universe

Gayle, Julia, and the fabulous Jule Selbo sharing secrets

Bill’s antique store find and our new mascot

Also in attendance but seen only in the group photos, Jule Selbo’s  podcast-slinging spouse, Mark Winkworth and the extremely talented Gabriela Stiteler.

I would be remiss not to mention the fact that Sept 1 at 6 PM, I will be launching the second Ardmore Theberge novel, Hard as a Headstone, and the reissue (also by Islandport Press) of the revised version of The Last Altruist. Would be delighted to see you there. Gabi Stiteler will be holding my conversational feet to the fire and there will be cake. I’m also launching a series of library and bookstore events through the fall. It’s gonna be a hella busy Fall.