Cynthia Blair (Cynthia Baxter): The second book in her Lickety Splits Ice Cream Shoppe Mystery series, HOT FUDGE MURDER, was released by Kensington in paperback on Nov 26th. The third book in the series, LAST LICKS, will come out in hardcover on Dec 31st.
Alice K. Boatwright published an article about Miss Marple and Miss Silver – the “other” Golden Age knitting sleuth – in the UK Crime Readers Association newsletter. You can read it online at
Jeffrey D. Briggs was a guest at a meeting of WERDS – the Women Eating Reading Drinking Society – as they discussed his book, OUT OF THE COLD DARK SEA, on Nov 22.
Curt Colbert was invited by Literary Ashland to discuss his book, ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER, this month. He launched the book, published by Epicenter Press, at Third Place Books/LFP on Nov 10th, and it was featured in Adam Woog’s Seattle Times books column on Nov 26th.
Waverly Fitzgerald has released her first Rachel Stern mystery, HARD RAIN. This PI novel set in 1999 in Seattle is a “parallel” novel to Curt’s. Both books stand alone, but Rachel’s mentor is Curt’s PI Matt Rossiter, and the cases they are working on bring them together. The two books have common scenes told from the perspectives of each PI. Another fascinating collaboration from these two long-time friends. HARD RAIN is currently available as an ebook; paperback edition to come from Epicenter Press.
Robert Herold’s first book, THE EIDOLA PROJECT, was released by Wild Rose Press on Nov 18th. He also published an article, “Still Howling at the Moon,” about becoming a writer as an older person on TVWriter.com.
Jeanne Matthews has written two blogs about Lawrence Block’s course, The Pleasure of Crime Fiction, which he offers at Newberry College in South Carolina. Both are available on the site, Buried Under Books. You can read Part 1 here, and find Part 2 here.
Susan McCormick held a successful launch for her first book, THE FOG LADIES, at Third Place Books/Seward Park on Nov 10th.
Charlotte Stuart gave a presentation at Third Place Books/LFP on Nov 16th on the matrix she has developed to describe the different types of humorous mysteries. This shows a broad spectrum from “kooky” to “dark” and makes it clear that what one reader laughs at does not amuse another at all. She also gave a reading from her first Discount Detective mystery, SURVIVAL CAN BE DEADLY.
Elena Hartwell Taylor will teach a workshop, “Writing Is Re-Writing,” on Sat, Jan 18, 9:30 am–1:30 pm at the Frances Anderson Center in Edmonds, WA. The workshop is sponsored by the EPIC Group Writers. Register here.
Sandra Terhune-Bickler and her husband Steve will teach the course “Partners in Crime: Police Culture, Characters, and Anecdotes” at The Barn Writers’ Studio on Bainbridge Island on Sat, Mar 28, 1–5 pm. Sandy and Steve are retired from the Santa Monica Police Department after a combined 51 years of experience.
Marty Wingate has published CHRISTMAS AT GREENOAK, A POTTING SHED SHORT STORY, which brings back Pru and Christopher from her Potting Shed mysteries. While in Ohio for Thanksgiving, Marty spoke to the Gramercy Book Club and read at the Woodbourne Library from BODIES IN THE LIBRARY.