AN AWARD NOMINATION AND A KILLER REVIEW!

It's time to share some good news!

The anthology, CRIME HITS HOME, has been nominated for an Anthony Award! This award recognizes excellence in all things crime-writing-related. From novels to short stories, to collections like anthologies, even a nomination is something to rejoice in.

So, color me rejoicing! 

I've written about the launch and my excitement of my short story, CURRENTS, being included with crime-writing greats like Walter Mosely, Sara Paretsky, Naomi Hirahara, Gabino Iglesias, and more, but I learned something else that has me stunned.

Michael J. McCann, award-winning novelist and reviewer for the New York Journal of Books wrote a terrific review and gave me an amazing shoutout!

Check it out:

Our survey of editor Rozan’s spread wouldn’t be complete without mentioning “Currents” by Connie Johnson Hambley. The atmospheric and entertaining story of two assassins facing off against each other on a desert island in the Pacific, it’s an example of how an anthology like this one can bring our attention to an author whose fiction will bear closer examination in the future.

A columnist for Bloomberg BusinessWeek, Hambley has also independently published three thrillers in her Jessica Trilogy, including The Charity (2012), The Troubles (2015), and The Wake (2017). Her contribution to this anthology casts light on her current work, as it were, and encourages us to keep an eye out for what might be coming next.

So, Yeah! I'm kinda chuffed today! 💞💞💞💞

MYSTERY MAKING ON THE CAPE!

 

When: May 12 at 1:00

Where: Centerville Public Library, 585 Main Street, Barnstable, MA

Your ideas. Our crime.

Join four of New England's top mystery and crime writers for an afternoon of murder and mayhem. These Sisters (and Misters!) in Crime authors will create a new crime using ideas from the audience. While weaving their web of crime, the authors will pull back the curtain to explain their choices and show how a crime novel is created. Think of this as jazz improv for the homicidally inclined!

Authors:
Matt Cost
Kat Fast
Arlene Kay
Connie Johnson Hambley

AUTHOR CELEBRITY INTERVIEWS: WILLIAM MARTIN & WILLIAM LANDAY

 AUTHOR CELEBRITY INTERVIEWS: 

WILLIAM MARTIN & WILLIAM LANDAY

💕

I'm thrilled to have been asked to interview two AMAZING authors at the upcoming Newburyport Literary Festival. Known for gathering some of the best authors and newest literary voices, this lit fest has something for everyone. Set in the gorgeous seacoast town of Newburyport, this is one event you cannot miss!

I have the pleasure of knowing both of these gentlemen from many New England author events. When the organizers of the lit fest asked me to interview them, I had to confess that each has been a not-so-secret author crush of mine. 

I interviewed William Martin at the recent New England Crime Bake. His newest book, December '41, is a historical thriller in the best way. Set in the early days of World War II, Bill takes his readers on a high-stakes coast-to-coast chase to thwart a highly-trained killer from assassinating the president. Referred to as the King of the historical thriller and a master storyteller, Bill is as charming as he is talented. I promise to get him to dish on his inside secrets of writing his multiple award-winning New York Times bestselling titles and his stint as a screenwriter on movies that <ahem> didn't quite make them award-worthy

Oh, and then there's William Landay. I haven't yet had the pleasure of interviewing Bill, but we've chatted at mystery galas and library events. We've compared notes on how our legal backgrounds infuse our novels with realism and suspense. Of course, Bill's Defending Jacob sets the Gold Standard for legal thrillers and his new All That Is Mine I Carry With Me does the impossible: It matches and often exceeds the expectations set by Defending Jacob.

My job is to do my homework and create an interview that informs, entertains, and lets both of these incredible authors shine without displaying my crushes too much. I don't yet have the time or the location of our interview, so check back here or on the Newburyport Literary Festival website for updates. While you're there, check out the other amazing authors who will be participating.

The 2023 Newburyport Literary Festival will feature the following:

• Friday, April 28: An opening event at the Firehouse Center for the Arts, hosting authors Peter Orner in conversation with Andre Dubus, and a cocktail party to follow at The Grog Restaurant. (Paid event)

• Saturday, April 29: A vibrant day of in-person author readings and signings (No cost to attend) 

• Sunday, April 30, an exciting day of virtual author readings and discussions (No cost to attend)

WEBINAR: LEGAL CONSTRUCTS OF A GREAT MYSTERY

What do you need to write a great mystery? Imagination, of course, and a certain approach to logic and clues that can unravel the most vexing crimes.

Going to law school honed my skills of seeing beyond the obvious and red herrings. For me, getting a JD was my writing BootCamp, although I didn't know it at the time! I foolishly thought my conflict-hating self would just love that career. Nope. Not so much.

Instead, I learned how to parse fact from fiction and how to present a case with (hopefully) airtight logic. I learned that creating a compelling mystery is like formulating a winning strategy for a case using one carefully planted fact (a.k.a. "clue") at a time.

On Tuesday, March 7, I'll present "Legal Constructs of a Great Mystery" to Florida's Treasure Coast chapter of Sisters in Crime. This is an updated talk from the well-received keynote I gave to the League of Vermont Writers.

Pre-registration is required:

https://sistersincrime-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_5xxSVhCCRhCNT0oKCTEL0A


After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

BOOKWORM CAFE!

What could be better in life than curling up with a good book on a cold winter morning with home-baked muffins and coffee on hand? How about adding chowder, conversation, and supporting local readers and writers?

If you answered yes, then I have an event for you. The Bookworm Cafe has been a staple in our community to bring together authors and readers in a relaxed atmosphere. Authors talk about our craft to give readers a behind-the-scenes look at the writing and publishing process. I'll be giving a talk at 11:00 and sharing tips on how to get that story idea out of your head and different writer groups that can help.

There will be a little something for children, fiction and non-fiction lovers, and folks curious about memoirs!

When: Saturday, February 4, 2023

Time: 9:00 am to 2:00 pm (my talk is at 11:00)

Where: First Congregational Church, 175 Main Street, Rowley, MA

A REVIEW OF 2022 AND A 2023 WISH

I've decided that 2022 wasn't so bad after all.

Many opinions this time of year revolve around how exhausting the past year was for them. Adjusting to new normals nudged folks out of their comfort zones, or some might say cocoons. Working remotely had been pretty terrific for many of us. We didn't have to know if the pandemic was over or if we could simply exist maskless in a place of benign neglect.

I've been on the slow-to-adapt side of the New Normal Bell Curve. Yes, I'm fully vaxxed and boosted, but being a writer has its benefits, and not having to wear hard pants or heeled shoes are two of them. Zoom has been another great tool, but life is more than seeing other humans sixteen to a screen.

In April I hit two amazing goals. The best was the release of my short story, Currents, in the Mystery Writers of America's anthology, Crime Hits Home. The thrill of seeing my name alongside crime-writing greats like Walter Mosely, Sara Paretsky, Naomi Hirahara, and more as crime fiction's top authors hasn't faded. Nope. Not one bit.

The second April goal? Fitting into said hard pants for the book launch at the iconic Mysterious Bookshop. Yep. April was a banner month.

I watched my fellow writers inch back into in-person events over the summer. Masks became optional. Heartfelt hugs returned. As wonderful as these things were, I found my writer's brain had taken a vacation to points unknown. My productivity for new work tanked but I found I was able to focus on revisions of a WIP and submissions. 

The lead-up to November brought all things Crime Bake to priority status. This three-day conference for writers of crime and mystery has been an anchor of the New England writing community for over twenty years. From dreamers with an idea or unpublished manuscript to seasoned pros with dozens of titles and awards to their names, it's truly a must-go event and I'm proud of being its co-chair even if I whine a bit about the time commitment involved. (Truth be said: running a conference during that pesky COVID uncertainty is not easy.) My interview of NYT best-selling author William Martin with co-chair Paula Munier was an absolute highlight. Yes. I wore heels and lived to tell the tale.

December brought the publication of a non-fiction piece in Mystery Reader's International's Legal Mysteries compilation of essays and columns edited by Janet Rudolph. I was happy to leverage my doctorate in law, my writing chops, and my passion for giving to the larger community into this piece. 

This past year wasn't all about writing. I'm the parent of three amazing kids who have grown into adults despite my habit of referring to them as kids. Each has set their own course and I try really hard not to over-parent but to be as supportive as possible. This support has come with the following conversation:

Middle Son approached me one day last summer. "Mom, can you watch my dog when I travel?" 

"Of course!" I said with too much enthusiasm and commitment thinking this would be at most a two-week stint. "How long will you be gone?"

"About a year."

<Gulp>

It appears that two weeks was not enough time to pedal a bike from Boston to Key West to California with a planned hike on the PCT. Silly me for being so naive.

So, my husband and I are the proud keepers of a very adorable Beagle named Pop. Our two cats are not as pleased, but if 2022 taught me anything, it was to just roll with it.

This is my round-up for 2022 and I'm looking at 2023 with guarded optimism. 

I wish you and yours all the best.

CRIME HITS HOME EVENT: THE MYSTERIOUS BOOKSHOP

 

WHAT: Party

WHY: To celebrate CRIME HITS HOME

WHERE: The Mysterious Bookshop, 58 Warren Street, NYC 10007

WHEN: Wednesday, April 27, 6:00-8:00

WHO: You and your guest

The Mysterious Bookshop is proud to host a party to celebrate the publication of the 2022 Mystery Writers of America anthology. Many contributors will be on hand to sign copies. The event is free (the book is not; it is $27.99) and open to members of MWA and customers. Mark your calendar!

Edited by the amazing SJ Rozen, contributors include: Walter Mosley, Connie Johnson Hambley, Naomi Hirahara, Susan Breen, Gabino Iglesias, Stephen Liskow, Sara Paretsky, David Bart, Jonathan Stone, Bonnie Hearn Hill, Neil Plakcy, Ovidia Yu, Gary Phillips, Renee James, Alexandra Jamison, Tori Eldridge, Ellen Hart, G. Miki Hayden, and Jonathan Santlofer.

Many contributors will be on hand to sign copies.