One of the things I’ve been up to:

From the Page to the Stage! (Save the date, November 17, 2026, 7:30 pm)

Join us for another popular night of Books Brought to Life! Portland actors come together to bring the page to the stage and give us a three-dimensional celebration of the voices of Maine authors. Each story is filled with intrigue, mystery, crime and laughs—and yes, it’s an amazing story-time for adults. There’ll be scenes from the novels of C.W. Wells (Lobster Trap), Debra Spark (Discipline), Jen Blood (Sins of the Father), and Lewis Robinson (The Islanders). The night is curated by Portland author Jule Selbo (The Dee Rommel Mysteries). Readings are followed by a short talk-back with Jule and the authors and the opportunity to gather in the lobby to grab a signed copy of their books provided by Kelly Books. Doors at 7pm. Readings start at 7:30pm.

This is really fun because I got to find/read and ‘adapt’  these wonderful books. I find a scene or scenes that will make up a 10 minute teaser for the book/characters/mystery. I put it into playscript form and Portland Stage brings in actors and a director –  it is like STORY-TIME for adults…

Books I’ve been reading and thoroughly enjoying:  WICKED FUN by Dave Pasquantonio – a Massachusetts author I met through Crime Bake. (I laughed out loud so many times.) Also the mystery/thrillers by Joseph Finder, Wayne Beach and Tracy Sierra because I am moderating a novel-to-screen panel with them at Crime Bake about the differences of writing for novels and film/tv.  (I also had the pleasure of re-viewing Joseph’s and Wayne’s feature films – and  renewed an appreciation in one of Wayne’s movies for Wesley Snipes’ acting chops).  I have started Anne Cleeves new book, as always, it’s a joy to read. My writing group’s work is really cooking –  kudos to Joe Souza and Tim Queeney.  During my personal bout with this winter cold going on, I binged on 6 seasons of MAJOR CRIMES (2012-2018 seasons).  Fun to watch because the lead of the show, Captain Raydor (Mary McDonnell) is the amazing actress and her character is a by-the-rules police captain.  Love seeing how she and her team deal with the RULES of police procedure and how, at times,  they get around them.

If you are aching to go to LIVE THEATER, the production at Mad Horse in South Portland  EUREKA – is really a fun few hours. Has a lot to say,  lots of laughs. A comment on who “we” are today.

Last night I went to Patrick DeWitt’s reading from his latest book – it was a Bowdoin College and the book is terrific. He took his time, read for 45 minutes!  You could’ve heard a pin drop. After the reading he talked about his process, what happens when he knows he’s veered off from what his goal is – and how he backtracks to get back into the groove. He’s not in the mystery/crime genre,  more in the illumination of character genre – and the specifcs were sooooo great – and succinct.

Last thing: Just got an email that 6 DAYS, A DEE ROMMEL MYSTERY has been shortlisted for the CLUE AWARD.  That’s great –  sends me right back to the computer.

I added some horror to this Dee Rommel book (6 DAYS) and it was so much fun.

As Matt Cost says “Write On!”