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Mystery Writers Share their Expertise on Series Writing on Nov 11 with HPL

6 Nov

We can’t wait for November 11, when we have four mystery authors from the Mystery Writers of America New York Chapter scheduled along with moderator Mark McNease talking about how to start writing a series and keep it going. If you are an established author looking to learn some additional tips and tricks or if you are a new aspiring writer looking to find out where to get started, this is sure to be an enjoyable and insightful event. You can check out a variety of their works in print and as ebooks.

Annamaria Alfieri writes the Vera and Tolliver stories, which are set in British East Africa and explore the evils of colonialism. It began with Strange Gods. The Richmond Times-Dispatch praised the series as having “the flair of Isak Dinesen and Beryl Markham, the cunning of Agatha Christie and Elspeth Huxley.”

Tom Coffey signed a three-book deal with Level Best Books in 2023. Public Morals is the first novel in The Devine Trilogy, which is named after the family at its center. The series examines the arc of law enforcement in New York from the 1980s to the present. The second book, Special Victim, will be released in late November.

Peggy Ehrhart is currently writing the Knit & Nibble mysteries for Kensington Books. Her amateur sleuth, Pamela Paterson, is the founder and mainstay of the Arborville, New Jersey, knitting club, nicknamed Knit and Nibble. Knit & Nibble #10, Knitmare on Beech Street, was a December 2023 release; “Murder Most Irish” appears in Kensington’s 2024 St. Patrick’s Day novella anthology, Irish Milkshake Murder; and A Dark and Stormy Knit will appear in the fall of 2024.

Gerri Lewis is the author of the Deadly Deadlines mystery, The Last Word, about an obituary writer who solves murders in her hometown of Ridgefield, Connecticut. When she is not helping her protagonist solve mysteries, she writes magazine features and is the Public Information Officer for the Ridgefield Office of Emergency Management. 

Mark McNease is the author of the Kyle Callahan Mysteries, the Marshall James Thrillers, and the Maggie Dahl Mysteries. He has won two Emmys for Outstanding Children’s Program for Into the Outdoors, and he currently serves on the board of the Mystery Writers of America, New York Chapter.

Posted by:
Aimee Harris
Information and Digital Services Manager

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Quirky True and Fictional Crimes: The Absinthe Forger and Rockin’ Around the Chickadee

16 Oct

The Absinthe Forger: A True Story of Deception, Betrayal, and the World’s Most Dangerous Spirit
by Evan Rail
The Absinthe Forger by Evan Rail is a fun and informative read about a very quirky criminal. Based on a suggestion of a friend and fellow absinthe enthusiast, Rail explores an eccentric London grifter, Christian, who had supposedly faked and sold pre-ban absinthe to collectors which can be worth thousands of dollars. Along the way to exploring the truth Rail discusses the history of absinthe’s creation, popularity with artists like Toulouse-Lautrec and then fall from grace and banning due to the supposed dangers of wormwood before its recent resurgence in popularity and the demand for early pre-ban bottles. I was familiar with many of the current brands of absinthe that are now on the market, but I enjoyed learning about the history of absinthe and Rail’s efforts to uncover the truth behind the accusations of fraud. His travels through Europe include absinthe museums, distilleries, and visits with a variety of expert “absintheurs”. The Absinthe Forger will appeal to those with an interest in European history and true crime. I found it slightly disappointing that we never get the perspective of Christian himself, but I think understandable someone would not want to directly admit to such wrong doings and Evans attempts to engage him form amusing anecdotes for the reader. If you are intrigued by The Absinthe Forger you may also want to stream the wine related documentary Sour Grapes about the fraud committed by “wine savant” Rudy Kurniawan.

Rockin’ Around the Chickadee
by Donna Andrews
Rockin’ Around the Chickadee is Donna Andrews latest holiday mystery and her 36th in her bestselling Meg Langslow Mystery series. In this novel readers who are curious about True Crime, will find an enthrawling mystery revolving around a murder at a conference Meg’s Grandmother organized for those interested in learning more about the process to exonerate those unfairly convicted of crimes. This aspect of the story will be entertaining to those who have never read the series before. Of course there is plenty for long term readers to love including the quirky cast of characters from Meg’s family who help her in her investigation and I was most excited that this novel deals with the pregnancy of Meg’s sister-in-law who is on bed rest through the holiday season. Similar to the last few books this one takes a more social conscious view of the world than some of the earlier entries, but still retains a delightful sense of humor throughout. This would be an enjoyable read now or to be added to your list for books to be read during the holiday season. Those looking to start at the beginning will want to checkout Murder with Peacocks.

Curious about writing your own long running mystery series? Save the Date, on November 11, HPL will have four mystery authors from the Mystery Writers of America New York Chapter scheduled along with moderator Mark McNease talking about how to start writing a series and keep it going.

Written by:
Aimee Harris
Information and Digital Services Manager

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