EVENTS FOR FALL 2026

I realize I've missed posting about some of my events earlier this year, but here are a few places you can find me this fall.

Desert Sleuths has a virtual conference and I'm moderating a panel on Sept. 19 on Criminology and writing. 

 

I'm In Conversation with Peter Swanson at the Ipswich Country Club on October 8. It's open to the public and registration is encouraged.

 

Crime Bake is November 6-9. Three days of craft. I'm not sure where else you could go to a conference and get three days of panels plus hotel for less than 1K. Sarah! Hubby and Son can prowl Boston while you sharpen your prose. You don't have to be writing crime to get a lot out of this. And Beth? It's in your backyard!

 

Then, on November 14, I'm in Rye with Edith Maxwell for a fundraiser. P.E.O. (Philanthropic Educational Organization) Chapter R-NH is part of a larger not for profit international organization providing scholarships, loans, and grants to women’s education. Info on the organization is here: peointernational.org 
It will be held at the Rye Congregational Church, Rye, NH.  From 11:00 to 1:30.

 

Oh, and October has me at Bouchercon in Calgary (panels and launch) then Banff then Lake Louise then....Well, you get the idea.

 

REDISCOVERING TERRIFIC REVIEWS

I'm luxuriating in a benefit small, independent publishers can offer: I'm updating the content and covers of my trilogy.

When I talk with friends who have had the privilege of being published by a large press, they are certainly thrilled at their success, but cringe at what's Out There in their name. One remarked that they felt like they were reading a first draft. Their writing chops had strengthened over the years, and although they still love their story and characters, they would love to revisit their writing and update how they unfolded their tale.

I really dug into my books, and a few surprises awaited me!

The Charity was my first endeavor in writing fiction and the first of The Jessica Trilogy. I had written pieces for Bloomberg BusinessWeek, Nature, and other outlets, and knew how to weave a narrative. But revisiting Charity, I realized how much I had grown as a writer. I have a lot more confidence in my abilities and in my readers. I was able to condense passages and add brush strokes of detail that made my story shine. Today's readers want their story to come at them at a faster clip, and I was happy to oblige them.

Readers of my first book asked me what happened to the characters. I had the answers, and their questions drove me to write The Troubles. 

I realized (huffs nails) that I had a pretty darn good story on my hands.

Even as I was renewing my writing, I noticed more five-star ratings on Goodreads. I guess that what irked me as an author didn't bother my readers at all!

I rediscovered reviews, too. One review in Horse Nation really took me by surprise as I'm not sure I ever saw it. It was published the same day my father died, so I forgive myself for not bird-dogging the blogs and reviews. It was for The Wake, the final installment of the trilogy. How could I not have remembered a review with the headline "A Thrilling Adventure, A Literary Bombshell."

I mean, COME ON!!

So, yeah. I'm super thrilled with this refreshed trilogy.

I think you will be, too.

The Author Ladder: Triumphs, Rejections, and the Real Climb to Publication

On my journey up the Author Ladder, I'm often asked about triumphs and mistakes, swings and misses.

The Author Ladder? 

Image by Pheladii of Pixabay

Yup. From the idea that pushes against the sides of your skull until you finally let it escape to the page, to the lofty heights of best-seller lists and movie deals, every accomplishment, no matter how small, is another rung upward. 

The trouble with that ladder is the very top can feel impossibly far away, shrouded in mist. Sometimes the rungs are so close together you hardly feel your progress. Other times the upward stretch feels too far, too hard to reach.

And then there are those slippery rungs that crash you back to earth.

So, when I'm asked about triumphs, I hesitate. Inside, I feel like I'm on a kitchen step stool and having a hard time managing even that. 

Then I take stock of my journey. I realize I am farther along than I thought and having a lot of fun along the way. I feel the progress in the questions people ask me, the outreach I get, the way others see what I sometimes can't see in myself.

I've been the invited moderator of literary festivals and conferences. I've interviewed NYT best-selling authors for fundraisers and major events. My books have received glowing reviews--maybe not from People Magazine or Publishers Weekly, but from respected publications that target a large segment of my readers. My stories appear in Anthony Award-winning anthologies, and my novels have won industry respect.

A recent guest appearance on a popular author blog has been getting a lot of attention, too. And I'm always thrilled when an emerging writer, someone with an idea buzzing in their head, asks me to take a look at their first chapters. 

I have a new novel on submission with publishers now. The rejections make gripping those rungs just a little harder, but they also let me know I'm on the right track. 

SERIOUSLY? LONG TIME, NO SEE

I was kinda shocked to see I haven't posted in over a year. 

Hiking in NH with a buddy

What's wrong with me? Am I okay? What's taken me so long?

Yes, I'm okay, and I'm just a human. And as far as what's taken me away from blogging?

I have no single answer for that.

I've not marked the moments of my Writing Life more frequently because, well, Life Life was a bit much at times.

To summarize in no particular order since my last post:

WRITING LIFE:

• I moderated two crime and mystery panels at the Newburyport Literary Festival,
• Two short stories were published,
• I have a novel on submissions with my agent,
• I interviewed a famous author for a fundraising event,
• I continue to be on the New England Crime Bake conference committee,
• I enjoyed getting tipsy with my writer peeps at said conference,
• Oh, and moderated a panel at the same,
• I have a major case of agent angst,
• I interviewed a lovely cozy author for her umpteenth book launch,
• I enjoyed participating in various author/book events,
• I've received many wonderful, detailed, heartfelt rejections from very big publishers,
• I contributed to a play about caregivers,
• Oh, and my author Facebook page mysteriously and completely disappeared,
• And I have no idea how or why I pissed off Zuckerberg,

LIFE LIFE:

• My mom passed away,
• My oldest son moved to Brazil,
• Said son married a lovely woman
• I realized learning Portuguese may be in my future,
• Daughter got engaged to a man we adore,
• When middle son says, "You won't have to care for the cat. It belongs to all the roommates," he doesn't mean it,
• I love hiking in VT and NH mountains and the seashores in MA,
• My garage is way, way too full of stuff I can't politely name,
• My husband grew to really love that ornery cat,
• I learned estate battles are ugly and have weirdly unhealthy histories,
• I have incredibly wonderful friends,
• And an amazing husband,
• I am slowly rekindling my socials. 

I may add or delete some posts, but it's just life in all of its glory. 

Overall, I'm good.

And I hope you are, too.

WHEN A LITTLE MEANS A LOT

 

It has been a while since I indulged in some arts and crafts but I finally found a worthy project*. Judging by the signs I've been seeing at recent marches and rallies, I'm not alone. Parents across the country are raiding their kids' construction paper and markers. Crayons too.

And many are putting those Amazon boxes to good use, too.

As a writer, I'm fortunate to have my time be my own, yet I want to make my limited time count. But I'm just one person---a speck in a very large world. In today's cyclone of news, how can I make a difference? How can I make my voice heard?

Is being a drop in the bucket a bad thing?

An Aesop Fable tells of a thirsty crow who dropped pebbles into a bucket to raise the level of the water. The twist here is that this is rooted in fact. Take a look at this video of a crow doing just that.

I get emotional at the marches and rallies I've gone to as each has evidenced an All Hands on Deck urgency. Save Our Medicare signs were carried by folks with gray hair. Ukranian flags were waved by young and old next to the Stars and Stripes. I've seen mothers bring their young children. A baby in a stroller held a sign that read, "Nine Months Old and Already Sick of this Shit." A boy in a Harry Potter scarf declared himself "Part of Dumbledor's Army Against Trump." 

Each person was a drop in the bucket. Each raised the level of awareness and each strengthened a building wall of resistance. The signs spanned a spectrum of issues. USAID. Veterans. Education.

It's a bit ironic that one truth out of all of this is that the man in office is turning into the "Unifier in Chief" as he once declared himself. I doubt he envisioned just how he's bringing people together.

I get emotional at these rallies because there is so much at stake. Hundreds of people attended a town hall for our US representative and hundreds more were turned away as the auditorium had reached capacity and overflowed.

And that's the thing about drops in the bucket. 

*Oh, and it's a writer's thing to know that punctuation matters. It's amazing the meanings a tiny apostrophe can give.

YOU ARE NOT ALONE

YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

I’m not a big joiner. If I see a crowd of people heading in one direction, my inclination is to head in the other. On social media, I’m more of a lurker. If I do post, I lean toward the positive and humorous. Supporting my author friends is important to me, too. The last thing I ever want to do is to add to the noise or the fear-mongering. We get enough of that without my two cents.

This past week something changed. I recall a line in the movie, NETWORK. You know the one. “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take this anymore.” Yeah. I felt kinda like that.

I needed to *do* something. For me, screaming into the void hardly helps for longer than it takes the post to load and that’s not very long.

So, I did a couple of things. The first was to find an easy way to call my representatives. Hunting around for phone numbers or trying to craft a succinct statement or voicemail was going to take more time than I had. Plus, what is one measly phone call going to do?

I found a website and app called 5calls.org. It does the work for you by summarizing the issues, providing talking points, and listing your reps and phone numbers by zip code. Don’t see your pet issue? It’s still helpful to find your reps.

It takes a little over five minutes to make my three calls to my two senators and one rep. I’ve mostly left voicemails but spoke to staffers a few of times too. Shy? Call after-hours to ensure you’ll get into voicemail. Your call still counts!

I still needed to do more than phone calls. I live close to my state’s capital and saw a nationwide call to march to your statehouse. I had gone to a handful marches in the past and wanted to be a part of whatever else was happening. The marches were to bring attention to the opposition to Project 2025. When? On 2/5/25 of course!

The first thing I noticed was that information was fragmented. There was no clear direction of who was organizing or where and when to meet. Many posts talked about “false flag” or other misinformation to discourage going. There are people smarter than I am about these things, so I won’t comment, but the logic was off. It felt like an organization that didn’t want a large showing of support was posting for a march that wasn’t going to happen? Several friends urged me to be careful, but I went anyway.

And I’m glad I did.

First and foremost, democracy is about the support of the people. (I know, DUH!) And this means visible and quantifiable support. Maya Miller of the New York Times reported today that the congressional phone system has been jammed with tens of millions of calls from outraged constituents contacting their representatives. Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowsky said the number of calls received by the senate jumped from 40 to over 1600 per minute! And showing up at your reps office counts, too, as well as marches at your statehouse. Even holding a sign on your town common can make support visible.

 

And when support is visible, it’s harder for politicians to hide when they try to push through unpopular actions.

Yes, Wednesday’s marches were disorganized. In large part I believe this was because of the short notice from idea to delivery, but the two groups – one through 50501 and the other through Indivisible.org – found each other and the crowd grew to thousands. The mood of the crowd was decidedly “game on.” It felt to me that the people there were committed to being heard and knowing that the march was likely to be the first of many.

It was emotional. Some people covered their faces completely. Perhaps they did so from the cold, but perhaps they did so out of concern for future reprisals. Expressions of fear and determination creased the faces of the people I could see. The signs ranged from the typical pithy and funny to heartbreaking. By far, most were homemade with whatever tape, cardboard, glue, markers, and whatever else folks could find in the back of their closets or pilfered from their kids.

I poked my head up from my lurking and posted, emailed, and chatted about suggested actions. One author said, “We are the drops in the bucket. That usually implies an action is insignificant, but here each drop helps fill the void.”

Find what works for you and do it.

Your voice matters.

Smiles Don't Fade.

Years slip away fast, but the smiles don't fade. My <cough cough> reunion at Vermont Law and Graduate School was wonderful.

 

OUTING THE FOG

 Sometimes you just need a little boost to get a clear signal.

My brain has been a lot like this picture; an antenna, encrusted in signal-blurring ice, frozen by elements beyond my control, engulfed in mists that shape-shift familiar landmarks into hunched and hidden versions of themselves. 

The don't-get-up-from-that-chair-until-you-hit-one-thousand-words goal doesn't apply. I'm still writing like a fiend but with real-life stuff. It's my fiction writing that's taking the hit. The problem is that I really want to be making stuff up and writing it down. I don't want to be consumed with the issues numbing me. But life can get complicated. It's an iceberg/Titanic kind of thing. My writing life was sailing along until crunch! Creativity sank but life's damned iceberg continued on its merry way.

That iceberg took a long time to form. Family dynamics chilled relationships well beyond cold shoulders and icy stares. The deceptive slick of lies like black ice made normal conversations almost deadly. 

You may think you've never heard writer's block described like this before. My writing isn't blocked as much as it has taken on a different shape like the trees in the picture. I want to make up characters and create the bad things that happen to them. Crystallized in that block of ice are good people frozen in fear because of the wrong turns made when familiar landmarks gave way to the weight of the cold.

So, I'm journaling and writing down events and thoughts because I know I'm at a point of transition. I'm at a point where the mist is lifting, more with the promise of sunlight than a break in the clouds.

The signal is getting stronger as the air warms. I'm no longer frozen into inaction. I've enjoyed the stillness of my artic world, but life didn't flourish.

[BTW: That picture? I took it with my cell phone at the summit of Mount Sunapee. It's full color, no filters, and I related to it way too much.]

EVEN MY KIDS LEARNED SOMETHING

Interviews and podcasts are part of the deal in being a writer. We often say we write for ourselves but it sure is nice to get our words out into the world, and being an invited guest on a blog, CCTV, or podcast is always an honor and a great way to expand our reach into new audiences. 

Each host has a theme or a vibe they adhere to. I've done interviews that focus on my experience as an equestrian, fiction author, journalist, or social connector. I enjoy learning what the host found interesting in my background for their readers/viewers/listeners. As fun as these interviews are, I always feel they are incomplete, there was more to my story. I wondered if anyone could get a complete picture of me as a person and as a writer.

Enter Candy O'Terry's podcast, "The Story Behind Her Success." Candy is a Boston radio icon and has interviewed over 1000 women including Mariah Carey, Crystal Gayle, Erin Brockovich, Valerie Harper, and so many more incredible, amazing, fantastic women. Candy does what so many interviewers don't; she delves into the alchemy of nature and nurture that made these women who they are.

I confess, I never thought of myself as a "renaissance woman." 

On a car trip with my son over the holidays, we listened to this interview together. Candy asked me about growing up on a dairy farm, law school, my career in banking, writing for BusinessWeek, and so much more. Afterwards, he looked at me with pride. "I never knew all that about you." 

I had to wonder how that could be so. I've never exactly kept my life a secret from my family!

Anyway, take a listen to my conversation with Candy here.

IT NEVER GETS OLD

It never gets old to see my name under the "Best New England Crime Stories" banner. This year, my short story "Wooden Spirits" appears beside other award-winning authors.

Wolfsbane: Best New England Crime Stories 2023 once again brings together many of the best writers in the genre in our region. These 21 stories cover the full range of crime fiction, from the traditional amateur sleuth to the cop in the world of self-driving cars and AI bots running your home. The award-winning authors take us to the streets of Boston where drug dealers congregate and yet show us the true character of some of those on the mean streets. A decent man goes undercover and learns a few lessons the hard way, and a lawyer faces his own hard reality. Every story brings new insight and fresh perspective to the world of crime, the criminals, and the victims caught among them.

Read the work of these award-winning writers: Jason Allison, Christine Bagley, Brenda Buchanan, Christine H. Chen, Bruce Robert Coffin, Michael Ditchfield, Judith Green, Connie Johnson Hambley, Sean Harding, Eleanor Ingbretson, Zakariah Johnson, Paula Messina, Susan Oleksiw, Robin Hazard Ray, Ray Salemi, Lauren Sheridan, Bonnie Spring, Gabriela Stiteler, Frances Stratford, Leslie Wheeler, Carolyn Marie Wilkins

AND THE WINNER IS...CRIME HITS HOME!

I am absolutely rejoicing! 

I've written about the launch of this anthology and of my excitement that my short story, CURRENTS, is included beside crime-writing greats like Walter Mosely, Sara Paretsky, Naomi Hirahara, Gabino Iglesias, and more. There is even more terrific news that I need to share with you!

CRIME HITS HOME has won the coveted Anthony Award for Best Anthology!

My grandfather once said, "Show me your friends and I'll tell you who you are." If that saying holds true, then the great company I'm in means I write darned good stories.

CURRENTS unfolds what happens when two assassins are stranded on a deserted island. I mean, what could possibly go wrong?

In fact, Michael J. McCann, award-winning novelist and reviewer for the New York Journal of Books wrote a terrific review of the whole anthology 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! 💞💞💞💞

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)

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.

Vermont Law School Alumni Book Club.

 

As an alumna of Vermont Law School, I'm looking forward to speaking with "Swans" about my book, "The Troubles," and answering the inevitable questions of what life is like outside the confines of a career in law! Details on how to get a link to the event can be found here:

https://connect.vermontlaw.edu/events-calendar?cid=2&ceid=1064&cerid=0&cdt=9%2f30%2f2021

This event is open to Vermont Law School alumni and guests.

Date: Thursday, September 30, 2021

Time: 7:30 pm ET

SHOOTING WITH THE BIG GUNS

Oh, yeah! I'm beyond thrilled that my short story will appear alongside great crime authors. Below is a repost of the announcement by Mystery Writers of America (with permission).

~~~

The Publications Committee of Mystery Writers of America is thrilled to announce the full list of contributors for the next MWA anthology, CRIME HITS HOME, edited by S.J. Rozan and forthcoming from HarperCollins in 2022. Ten MWA members earned a spot in the collection through an anonymous submission process, joining stories by 10 authors originally invited to contribute to the collection.

Congratulations to David Bart, Susan Breen, Tori Eldridge, Connie Johnson Hambley, G. Miki Hayden, Bonnie Hearn Hill, Alexandra Jamison, Steve Liskow, Neil Plakcy, and Jonathan Stone, whose stories will appear alongside those by Rozan and writers she personally chose to participate: Carolyn Hart, Naomi Hirahara, Gabino Iglesias, Renee James, Walter Mosley, Sara Paretsky, Gary Phillips, Jonathan Santlofer, and Ovidia Yu. 

“What was most exciting about the stories we received for the contest — and what made it so difficult for me and the judges to choose — was the variety of different ways the writers interpreted home,” said Rozan. “For some it was a physical place, for others a community, a family... Home is what you make of it, and these writers made wonderful work.” 

Judging for the anthology was done by a distinguished panel of these writers’ peers. Alex Segura of the MWA Publications Committee worked with judges Jonathan Brown, Brendan Dubois, Cheryl Head, Michael Nava, and Laura Joh Rowland, who read and selected stories from the anonymous submissions — difficult decisions given the quality of the writing submitted by so many other MWA members.

MWA adult anthologies are published each spring with a new guest editor. Rozan, Segura, and Laurie R. King, chair of the Publications Committee, are grateful to everyone who submitted a story this year and to everyone who has helped bring the project so far — and excited to present this book to mystery fans next spring! 

From the original call for submissions: “Safe at home — that feeling when you’re in your living room, your team’s stadium, your family’s Sunday dinner. But even here, in this safest of places, sometimes CRIME HITS HOME. What happens then?” 

"What was most exciting about the stories we received for the contest ... was the variety of different ways the writers interpreted home.” -SJ Rozan 

CRIME HITS HOME STORIES:

Naomi Hirahara, “Grand Garden” 

* David Bart, “The World’s Oldest Living Detective” 

Sara Paretsky, “Little House in the Big Woods” 

* Susan Breen, “Banana Island” 

Gary Phillips, “Flip-top” 

* Neil Plakcy, “Oyster Creek” 

Renee James, “Stalking Adolf” 

* Connie Johnson Hambley, “Currents” 

Gabino Iglesias, “What They Knew” 

* Alexandra Jamison, “Haunted Home on the Range” 

Walter Mosley, “Not Exit” 

* Tori Eldridge, “Missing on Kaua’i” 

Carolyn Hart, “Calling Mr. Smith” 

* G. Miki Hayden, “Forever Unconquered” 

Jonathan Santlofer, “Private Dancer” 

* Jonathan Stone, “The Relentless Flow of the Amazon” 

Ovidia Yu, “Live Pawns” 

* Bonnie Hearn Hill, “The Happy Birthday Song” 

* Steve Liskow, “Jack in the Box” 

SJ Rozan, “Playing for Keeps” 

* indicates stories chosen from anonymous submissions

Getting Attention: Financial Advisor Magazine

We've heard the saying, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step."

A writer would say, "An epic tome of love and betrayal begins with one story."

But we all know such a story has tentacles that reach well beyond the words on the page.

When the subject is elder financial exploitation, the impact is felt beyond victim and culprit. Families crumble. Relationships fray. Hearts break.

But every bit of awareness builds hope that one family's heartache will lead to another family's triumph.

I'm gratified that sharing one tiny corner of my story was important enough to be published in Financial Advisor Magazine.

I've heard from many people since this article was published. Some praised the clear-headed approach of what can be done within stringent legal guidelines. Others confided that their experience was worsened by inept, and sometimes corrupt, advisors. In all instances, it's clear that so much more must be done to combat the insidious crime of elder financial exploitation.

5. Fear, Shame, and Love: The Hidden Epidemic of Elder Financial Exploitation Part Five: Resources

[This is the final of a series of articles leading up to World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, June 15, 2021] 

Part Five: Resources

Today, June 15, marks World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Started in conjunction with the United Nations and the World Health Organization, WEAAD seeks to increase understanding and awareness of the “cultural, social, economic, and demographic processes affecting elder abuse and neglect. . . [while] acknowledging the significance of elder abuse as a public health and human rights issue. WEAAD serves as a call-to-action for individuals, organizations, and communities to raise awareness about elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation.”

Abuse can be physical, emotional, sexual, or financial. Neglect and abandonment are also recognized forms of abuse. State and federal laws seek to protect elders and vulnerable adults by codifying criminality and identifying illegal acts. This series of articles has focused on the insidious and vastly underreported crime of financial exploitation and abuse against elders. The crime is equally as damaging as other abuses. Most victims are unaware that they have legal protections due to their medical vulnerabilities or simply age. Many states define “elder” as anyone over 60.

Unlike other abuses that may have visible signs of harm like bruises or poor hygiene, financial abuse has few outward signs. The predator may physically or emotionally isolate the elder from supportive friends or family, so clues may go unnoticed. Friends may be reluctant to question changes to wills or financial documents fearing overstepping into private matters. Behavior changes like anxiety, depression, and evasiveness may not trigger an inquiry into the root cause.

Contrary to popular assumptions, financial exploitation is not a problem only of the wealthy. Elders may receive Social Security benefits or enjoy savings or a pension plan that other family members do not have. Because elders may be the only family members with a steady stream of income, experts fear a hidden epidemic of financial abuse as the impact of COVID is fully realized. Victimization occurs through unpaid loans, theft, coerced or fraudulently signed documents like home deeds, wills, or Powers of Attorney. Family dynamics and embarrassment add to the reluctance of an elder to report a crime. Saving face and not wanting “to get anyone in trouble” contribute to financial exploitation is a hidden epidemic. With Baby Boomers reaching retirement age at the rate of over 10,000 per day, the impacted class of potential victims is burgeoning and becoming what experts in the field refer to as an “incoming tsunami of disaster.”

Most predators don’t see themselves or have others see them, as evil people. They are the sons, spouses, daughters, grandchild, close neighbor, landlord, or trusted professional. Bad actors come in all shapes and sizes. They feel entitled to overrule the elder’s wishes for inheritance or money flow for a variety of reasons. Many do not see replacing the elder’s decisions with their own as criminal. The elder’s wealth is “owed” to them because of perceived past sleights or current needs. Predators discount the elder’s wishes to treat siblings equally. Estate and financial plans and the powers that they provide are prime targets for abusive acts.

The most common profile of a predator is a family member in distress. They may have substance abuse issues, but most likely have financial stresses. They may view themselves as being entitled to the assets of the elders by either birthright or proximity; they are the person “on deck” handling the elder’s day-to-day needs while remaining oblivious that their actions may have directly contributed to that elder’s isolation from outside supports.

The elders themselves become the perfect victims. A parent may hide the crime out of a need to protect their child from legal consequences, or a tenant may not complain in fear of eviction from a landlord. The victim feels shame that they “allowed” a family member or close friend to take advantage of them. They don’t want anyone to get into trouble. They just want the actions to stop. The elder victim will often blur the truth to investigators–the very people who are trying to help stop the financial drain. A toxic mix of co-dependency with the abuser and embarrassment contribute to the invisibility of the crime.

How can you protect yourself or another from harm? Good estate and financial planning are essential as well as communicating your wishes to others who do not have a financial or emotional stake in the outcome. Changes to estate documents are a common ploy to alter an inheritance plan. Having a will, trust documents, healthcare proxy, living will, Powers of Attorney are your first line of defense. Sticking to the plan and withstanding pressure to change documents is the second. For many, this is easier said than done.

If you know of a vulnerable adult or someone over 60 years of age whom you suspect to be a victim of financial exploitation, there are resources to help you understand the crime as well as to help the person. Search “(State’s Name) Elder Abuse” to further the process of understanding how you can help. Many states have adult protective services agencies that will listen to your concerns on a confidential basis and conduct an investigation if warranted. Your state attorney general’s office will have a group dedicated to all forms of elder abuse.

National organizations often have referral links to your state’s agencies.

 

National Center of Elder Abuse

https://ncea.acl.gov/WEAAD.aspx

 

American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) Information on Fraud Types and Prevention

https://www.aarp.org/aarp-foundation/our-work/income/info-2015/fraud-prevention.html

 

National Institute of Health/National Institute on Aging

https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/elder-abuse

 

National Guardianship Association

https://www.guardianship.org/

 

National Institute of Justice

https://nij.ojp.gov/topics/articles/financial-exploitation-elderly

 

National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys

https://www.naela.org.

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 Part One: The Crime 

Part Two: Predators

Part Three: The Perfect Victims

Part Four: Bad Actors

Part Five: Resources

 

Elder abuse is a crime that can be physical, medical, financial, or emotional/behavioral in nature. Neglect and abandonment of an elder can be crimes as well. If you or a loved one is the subject of suspected abuse, call your local adult protective services to speak confidentially with a knowledgeable expert.

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