Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Murder in the Magic City and Murder on the Menu

It's been a fabulous weekend.

I was invited by the delightful Margaret Fenton to participate in her "Murder in the Magic City" annual event in Birmingham and it could not have been any nicer!

On the way to Birmingham, we drove over Rich Mountain and had to stop and take a few pictures of the hoar frost.  It felt like we were driving through a snow globe.  Gorgeous!







The event started with a reception at the hotel.

Me and Margaret Fenton

Mike Orenduff, Flo Fitzpatrick and Lynda Fenton

Karen Cunningham, Margaret Fenton and Sheila Lawrence

Denise Swanson, Jennifer Brooks and Jennifer's sweet dad

Toni Kelner/Leigh Perry, James M. Jackson and Brenda Witchger/Brynn Bonner

Robert Dugoni, Paula Benson, Bert Goolsby


Linda McCracken, Jane Tesh, Dee Phelps

Dee Phelps, Mike Orenduff, Lai Orenduff, me


Kaye Barley, Dee Phelps, Toni Kelner




Dee Phelps
Big Day for Dee - it was pub day for her "The Disappointment Room"

me and Dee

Dee Phelps, Denise Swanson, Toni Kelner

And, of course, Harley was there too!

The next day was
"Murder in the Magic City"
in the
Homewood Library


It was a terrific event and a good time was had by all


Mike Orenduff, Don Bruns, me and Kathleen Delaney
I was moderating the panel "Murder: In Four Courses with Cocktails


Jennifer Brooks and Flo Fitzpatrick

Jaden Terrell and Ellis Vidler

Polly Iyer, Linda Lovely, Neil Plakcy, Mike Orenduff

me, Jennifer Brooks, Don Bruns, Kathleen Delaney

Kaye George and Toni Kelner

Denis Swanson

James J. Jackson and Toni Kelner

Toni Kelner, me, and Julia Spencer-Fleming



me and Brynn Bonner

Dee Phelps, Jaden Terrell, Stacy Allen, me and Jennifer Brooks

Robert Dugoni

me and Mike Orenduff

Jane Tesh, Brynn Bonner, Flo Fitzpatrick, Dee Phelps and Karen Cunningham
Murder: In Time Panel

Neil Plakcy and Polly Iyer

Dee Phelps and Brynn Bonner

me, Jennifer, Don and Kathleen



Now this was fun!
This is Susan.
Susan and friends drive to this event from Atlanta every year.
And, she recognized my name from DorothyL and wanted to say "Hey!"

This is Lynda Fenton
Lynda was responsible for putting together the gift baskets for auction and
they were incredible!




Dee and Me


The Whole Group

Steve Herring our Delightful Official Photographer

Brynn Bonner/Brenda Witchger and her husband Bob (Delightful Unofficial Photographer)


And then - - - 

Dinner!

Polly Iyer, Linda Lovely and Kathleen Delaney

Stacy Allen and husband


Kaye George and husband George

And the next day -
Murder on the Menu
in
Wetumpka, AL



Tammy and Margaret


me, Linda Lovely, Neil Plakcy, Denise Swanson and Don Bruns
"I Don't Know These People! Building Great Characters from Scratch . . .  Or Not" Panel



Jaden and Dee

Jane


Don

Dee and Bert Goolsby

me and Ellis

Jaden, Toni and Polly

me and Dee


And the final highlight of a perfect weekend

Donald's parents threw Donald and his brother Steve a family birthday dinner

and I thank Linda McCracken, Toni Kelner and Kaye George for getting me there!


My thanks to Steve Herring and to Bob Witchger for allowing me to use some of their photos.
Thanks, guys!!!!!

Now you can listen to Whimsey !


The audible audio edition of Whimsey: A Novel is now available through amazon.com. 

You can listen to a sample of it right here - 
http://tinyurl.com/klqrfp6

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Whimsey now available through Audible.com






squeee!
Whimsey: A Novel is now on sale at audible.com. And will be available on iTunes and Amazon.com within the next few days.


Whimsey was narrated by Susanna Burney, who has the following books to her credit:

Fiction: THE GIRL WITH NO SHADOW, by Joanne Harris; THE MEMORY OF WATER, by Karen White

Historic Fiction: ABUNDANCE: a novel of Marie Antoinette, by Sena Jeter Naslund; FOR THE LOVE OF IRELAND, by Judy Leslie

Romance: BORN TO BE WILD, by Catherine Coulter; THE MOON LOOKED DOWN, by Dorothy Garlock

Suspense: THE EDGE OF EVIL, by J.A. Jance; THE NIGHT VILLA, by Carol Goodman; THE STEPMOTHER, by Diana Diamond

Erotica: SLAVE, TRUTH, and NEED, by Sherri Hayes

Memoir: THE RECEPTIONIST, by Janet Groth; HORSES NEVER LIE ABOUT LOVE, by Jana Harris


Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Murder in the Magic City - this weekend

The panels for this weekend's Murder in the Magic City have been set, and here they are:


Schedule for Murder In The Magic City


Saturday - - - 9:00 Registration opens

9:40 -10:25 Murder:  The Long and Short of it
Paula Benson (M)
Kaye George
Toni L.P. Kelner
Denise Swanson
Bert Goolsby
James M. Jackson

10:30-11:00 GOH Julia Spencer-Fleming

11:00 Break/Signing:  Session one and Julia Spencer-Fleming

11:30 Lunch is served

12:00-12:30 GOH Robert Dugoni

12:30-1:15  Murder:  In Time
Jane Tesh
Brynn Bonner
Dee Phelps
Karen Cunningham
Flo Fitzpatrick (M)

1:15-1:45  Break/Signing: Session two and Robert Dugoni

2:00-2:45  Murder:  In Space
Jennifer Brooks
Polly Iyer
Linda Lovely
Neil Plakcy
Jaden Terrell (M)
Ellis Vidler

3:00 BASKET AUCTION ENDS

3:00-3:45  Murder:  In Four Courses, with Cocktails
Kaye Wilkinson Barley (M)
Mike Orenduff
Don Bruns
Kathleen Delaney


3:45  Announcement of Basket Auction Winners

4:00-4:30  Signing Sessions Three and Four

4:30  AUTHORS MEET ON THE STAGE FOR PHOTOS

6:30  MEET IN MEETING ROOM AT THE HOTEL FOR DRINKS AND DINNER

For more info, go here - - - http://www.murderinthemagiccity2014.com


Sunday, we'll be in Wetumpka for  Murder on the Menu, and here's the schedule for it:



Panel 1      12:40-1:10
Panel 2       1:25-1:55
Panel 3      2:25 – 2:55
Panel 4      3:10 – 3:40
I don't know these people!  Building great characters from scratch…or not.
Location, Location, Location - How settings enhance the story.
Which came first, the body or the killer?  Building a mystery
How'd I get here?  The long and winding road to publication.
Neil Plakcy
Mike Orenduff
James M. Jackson
Toni L. P. Kelner/Leigh Perry
Don Bruns
Robert Dugoni
Julia Spencer-Fleming
Karen Cunningham
Denise Swanson
Brenda Witchger/Brynn Bonner
Dee Phelps
Bert Goolsby (no FB)
Kaye Wilkinson Barley
Jaden Terrell
Jane Tesh
Ellis Vidler
Linda Lovely
Paula Benson
Jennifer Brooks
Kathleen Delaney

Kaye George

Polly Iyer



For more info on the Wetumpka event, go here:   http://www.wetumpkalibrary.com/Default.asp?ID=648&pg=Murder+on+the+Menu+2014

If you're in the Birmingham, AL area, I hope you'll join us!

Sunday, February 2, 2014

Today I'm with The Reds



Today's my day to play "Oh, Kaye!" at Jungle Red Writers. I hope you'll drop by for a visit. I'm talking about cooking, baking (a little football), and all that jazz.

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Agatha Nominees Announced



Best Historical Novel

Heirs and Graces by Rhys Bowen (Berkley)
Death in the Time of Ice by Kaye George (Untreed Reads Publishing)
A Friendly Game of Murder by JJ Murphy (Signet)
Murder in Chelsea by Victoria Thompson (Berkley Prime Crime)
A Question of Honor by Charles Todd (William Morrow)


Best Children's/YA Nominations

The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau (HMH Books for Young Readers)
Traitor in the Shipyard: A Caroline Mystery by Kathleen Ernst (American Girl Mysteries)
Andi Unexpected by Amanda Flower (Zonderkidz)
Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein (Random House Books)
Code Busters Club: Mystery of the Pirate's Treasure by Penny Warner (Edgmont USA)



Best Contemporary Novel

Through the Evil Days by Julia Spencer-Fleming (Minotaur Books)
Pagan Spring by G.M. Malliet (Minotaur Books)
How the Light Gets In by Louise Penny (Minotaur Books)
Clammed Up by Barbara Ross (Kensington Books)
The Wrong Girl by Hank Phillippi Ryan (Forge Books)



Best Nonfiction

Georgette Heyer by Jennifer Kloester (Source Books Inc.)
Mastermind: How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes by Maria Konnikova (Viking Penguin)
Not Everyone's Cup of Tea: An Interesting & Entertaining History of Malice Domestic's First 25 Years by Verena Rose and Rita Owen (editors) (Wildside Press)
The Hour of Peril: The Secret Plot to Murder Lincoln Before the Civil War by Daniel Stashower (Minotaur Books)



Best First Novel

Death Al Dente by Leslie Budewitz (Berkley Prime Crime)
You Cannoli Die Once by Shelley Costa (Pocket Books)
Board Stiff by Kendel Lynn (Henery Press)
Kneading to Die by Liz Mugavero (Kensington)
Front Page Fatality by LynDee Walker (Henery Press)



Best Short Story

"Evil Little Girl" in Don't Get Mad, Get Even by Barb Goffman (Wildside Press)
"Nightmare" in Don't Get Mad, Get Even by Barb Goffman (Wildside Press)
"The Hindi Houdini" in Fish Nets by Gigi Pandian (Wildside Press)
"Bread Baby" in Best new England Crime Stories 2014: Stone Cold by Barbara Ross (Level Best Books)
"The Care and Feeding of House Plants" by Art Taylor (Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine)



My congratulations to all the nominees - See you at Malice!

Monday, January 27, 2014

Left Coast Crime Award Nominations Announced

2014 Left Coast Crime Award Nominations Announced
January 27, 2014 — Monterey, CA — Left Coast Crime 2014, “Calamari Crime,” will be giving four awards at the 24th annual LCC convention, to be held in Monterey. The awards will be voted on at the convention and presented at a banquet on Saturday, March 22, at the Portola Hotel & Spa. The award nominees have been selected by convention registrants. The nomination period has just concluded, and LCC is delighted to announce the nominees for books published in 2013:

The Lefty: Best humorous mystery novel
  • Donna Andrews, The Hen of the Baskervilles (Minotaur Books)
  • Timothy Hallinan, The Fame Thief (Soho Crime)
  • Lisa Lutz, The Last Word (Simon & Schuster)
  • Brad Parks, The Good Cop (Minotaur Books)
  • Cindy Sample, Dying for a Daiquiri (Cindy Sample Books)

The Bruce Alexander Memorial Historical Mystery Award: Best historical mystery novel covering events before 1960
  • Rhys Bowen, Heirs and Graces (Berkley Prime Crime)
  • Susan Elia MacNeal, His Majesty’s Hope (Bantam)
  • Catriona McPherson, Dandy Gilver and a Bothersome Number of Corpses (Minotaur Books)
  • David Morrell, Murder as a Fine Art (Mulholland Books)
  • Priscilla Royal, Covenant with Hell (Poisoned Pen Press)
  • Jacqueline Winspear, Leaving Everything Most Loved (HarperCollins)

The Squid: Best mystery set within the United States
  • Sue Grafton, W Is for Wasted (Putnam, Marian Wood Books)
  • Darrell James, Purgatory Key (Midnight Ink)
  • William Kent Krueger, Ordinary Grace (Atria Books)
  • Hank Phillippi Ryan, The Wrong Girl (Forge)
  • Terry Shames, A Killing at Cotton Hill (Seventh Street Books)

The Calamari: Best mystery set anywhere else in the world
  • Cara Black, Murder Below Montparnasse (Soho Crime)
  • Lisa Brackmann, Hour of the Rat (Soho Crime)
  • Catriona McPherson, As She Left It (Midnight Ink)
  • Louise Penny, How the Light Gets In (Minotaur Books)
  • Jeffrey Siger, Mykonos After Midnight (Poisoned Pen Press)

The Left Coast Crime Convention is an annual event sponsored by fans of mystery literature for fans of mystery literature, including both readers and authors. Usually held in the western half of North America, LCC’s intent is to provide an event where mystery fans can gather in convivial surroundings to pursue their mutual interests.

The 24th annual Left Coast Crime Convention will take place in Monterey, CA, March 20–23, 2014. This year’s Guests of Honor are authors Cara Black and Louise Penny. Sue Grafton is a Special Guest. Sue Trowbridge is the Fan Guests of Honor. Author Brad Parks will serve as Toastmaster. Marcia Muller and Bill Pronzini will receive Left Coast Crime Lifetime Achievement Awards.

For more information on Left Coast Crime 2014, please visit www.leftcoastcrime.org/2014/

My congratulations to all the nominees!

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

High Country Festival of the Book February Event

Race to Civility: Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act

Author Presentation, Lunch and Panel Discussion
Featuring Authors Deborah Johnson and Ed Williams 

Moderated by Dr. Michael G. Wade, ASU

Saturday, February 8th, 10:00AM – 3:00PM
Room 421, Belk Library, ASU Campus (free garage parking)

Ticket Price $10, advance purchase only, includes lunch

Purchase tickets at Watauga County Public Library

Lunch catered by F.A.R.M. Café

Call 828-264-8784 for Information.

10:00 AM—Noon Author presentations
Noon – 1:30 PM Lunch
1:30 PM – 3:00 PM Panel Discussion

*Books will be available for purchase and signing*

Sponsored by Friends of the Watauga Public Library, Junaluska Heritage Association, and Richard T. Barker Friends of the
University Library.

Writer Deborah Johnson currently lives is Columbus, Mississippi. Her new book, The Secret of Magic is a multilayered novel about race relations and justice in post-WWII Mississippi. She is the re-cipient of the Mississippi Library Association Award for Fiction for her book The Air Between Us.

Ed Williams is a retired Charlotte, NC journalist and Mississippi native. His columns and editorials were part of the Charlotte Observer projects that won the Pulitzer Prize for Public Services in 1981 and 1988. His book, Liberating Dixie: An Editor’s Life from Ole Miss to Obama will be released in March

www.highcountryfestivalofthebook.com