A Fun and Successful Book Launch Party

Many thanks to all my local friends who came to support me during my book launch party yesterday afternoon at the Barnes & Noble bookstore across from Chapel Hills Mall. I had a steady stream of customers, but I was able to chat for awhile with each one, which is just about perfect. Now, I hope you're all enjoying reading about Claire's wild ride in To Hell in a Handbasket!

From the attached photos, you'll see I had a blue theme to match the book cover, with blue paper goods, blue frosted cookies, and white & blue balloons for the kids. I even displayed Margaret Grace's miniature scene that she made for me and received a lot of compliments on it. The "nest" of books around me was considerable whittled down by the end of the event. I had hoped for a sell-out and didn't quite make it, but I came close!

For those of you who didn't have a chance to come and would like to get a book before my June 27th signing at Black Cat Books, I left some autographed copies at the Barnes & Noble store, so you can pick one up at your convenience. Thanks again, everyone, and I hope the books you bought provide you with hours of reading pleasure.

Discussing Daughters and a Book Launch Party

Today and tomorrow, I am discussing "Mothers and the Daughters Who Leave Them" at Poe's Deadly Daughters. Please stop by and comment to enter a contest for autographed copies of A Real Basket Case and To Hell in a Handbasket.

I'm also signing copies of both books at my book launch party for To Hell in a Handbasket at the Barnes & Noble Bookstore across from Chapel Hills Mall at 1565 Briargate Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO today from 2-4 pm. Balloons and cookies! If you live nearby, please come and say hi. Otherwise, wish me luck!

Friday stop(s) on the To Hell in a Handbasket Tour

Tomorrow (Friday) morning at 10 am EST, 7 am PST, I will be interviewed by Fran Stewart on her "Mystery Matters" Internet radio show at VoiceAmerica. You can either listen to it live or tune in later by selecting the show from the May 2009 archives.

I had prepared a Mystery Lovers Gift Basket recipe article to be posted at the Gift Basket Business Blog today, but it didn't happen and the hostess didn't respond to e-mails. Hopefully if she's ill, she'll be recovered enough to post it tomorrow, and I'll be able to respond to comments after my session with Fran.

Fifteenth Stop on To Hell in a Handbasket Blog Book Tour

Today, reporter Ina Bigjam from the Summit Daily News interviews Judy Hanover at Lesa's Book Critiques. Judy is the daughter of gift basket designer Claire Hanover and was the first on the scene of Stephanie's on-the-ski-slope accident in To Hell in a Handbasket. Both Judy and I will be available to answer questions at the blog, so join in the fun!

Today's Stop on the To Hell in a Handbasket Tour

I'm having a fun time answering questions from the members of the Barnes & Noble Mystery Book Club today. I hope you'll join in the discussion. Remember that a comment enters you into a contest for an autographed set of Claire Hanover gift basket designer mystery books!

Mayhem in the Midlands Part Two

Here are some more photos from the Mayhem in the Midlands conference. The first four are from the Sisters in Crime light supper on Friday evening. The first shows Peggy Baker next to Julie Kramer, the second shows Jan Burke and her husband, the third shows Dana Stabenow and Kate Flora, and the fourth shows Zoe Sharp, Donna Andrews, and Doris Ann Norris, among others.

The fifth photo shows the short story panel hamming it up while showing off my book, and the last two are from the mystery dinner play at the library. The sixth photo is of Jennifer Blake playing her part, and the seventh shows Peter Lorre aka David Housewright, Veronica Lake aka Kate Flora, and Boris Karloff aka Michael Black.

Mayhem in the Midlands

I've posted a full report on the Mayhem in the Midlands conference held in Omaha, Nebraska this past weekend to The BookBitch Blog, so I'll just post photos to accompany that article here.

The first photo is of the conference registration desk, the second is of Tom & Enid Schantz, and the third is of Kathy Magruder. The fourth photo is of fellow Five Star author Michael Mallory and me, and the fifth is of me with two fellow Sisters in Crime Guppies chapter members, Jackie McElroy-Edward and Kaye George.

The sixth photo is of me with Margaret Grace and the mininature scene she made for me in exchange for two signed copies of my Claire Hanover gift basket designer mystery books. The last photo is of Carl Brookins taking my photo while I took one of him, Kent Kruger, Ann Parker and Margaret Grace.

Twelfth Stop on To Hell in a Handbasket Blog Book Tour

Today, the amateur sleuth in my gift basket designer mystery series, Claire Hanover, is visiting the Killer Hobbies blog to talk about Tips for Making Effective Gift Baskets. I hope you'll stop by for a chat with her!

Tomorrow at the same blog, Camille Minichino, who writes a miniature mystery series under the name of Margaret Grace, will talk about the miniature scene that I commissioned from her. She'll present it to me at the Mayhem in the Midlands conference this coming weekend, and I can barely wait!

After that, I'll take a break from my blog tour to prepare for and attend the conference. I'll be back on Sunday/Monday at the BookBitchBlog with a report from the conference.

Tenth Stop on To Hell in a Handbasket Blog Book Tour

Today I am discussing book covers in my article "You Can't Judge a Book by its Cover" at the Murder By 4 blog. Read about the one that almost made me cry!

Sunday at 4 pm EST you can chat with me live at Kim Smith's blogtalkradio show, Introducing WRITERS.

I hope you'll join me in the fun! Today is the official release date for To Hell in a Handbasket. Whoo hoo!

Ninth Stop on To Hell in a Handbasket Blog Book Tour

Today and tomorrow, I am visiting the Mysterious People blog. Today Jean Henry Mead, the blog host, has posted an interview with me. Tomorrow she will post an article titled "Interviewing Characters to Get to Know Them" that will talk about how writers interview their characters to make them come alive.

Remember, every time you comment on one of my guest blog posts, or comment on my blog during the tour, you will be entered into a drawing for an autographed set of both books in the Claire Hanover gift basket designer mystery series: A Real Basket Case and To Hell in a Handbasket!

A Wonderful Review for To Hell in a Handbasket

I'm absolutely thrilled with a review of To Hell in a Handbasket that Kevin Tipple recently posted at his Kevin's Corner blog and other locations, such as the Blogger News Network, Epinions, and Shelfari. To read the whole review, go to Kevin's Corner. Please peruse his blog for other reviews, too. His reviews are always well-written and thorough, not just summarizing the plot.

I loved the last line:
"This cozy mystery packs quite a punch and proves that good story telling is good story telling no matter what the label of the sub genre."

Eighth Stop on the To Hell in a Handbasket Blog Book Tour

Today & tomorrow, I am discussing researching Colorado sheriff's offices at The Little Blog of Murder. Please stop by to read what I learned in the El Paso County Sheriff's Citizen Academy and ask me questions about researching local sheriff’s offices. And if you've had any interesting experiences with your local county sheriff’s office or police department, would you like to share?

Seventh Stop on the To Hell in a Handbasket Blog Book Tour

Just a quick note to let you know that today I am visiting Jen's Book Thoughts , a lovely book review and author interview site. Along with asking me some probing questions for her interview, Jen wheedled some ski-action photos out of me. Check out the one at the end of interview of me with my husband and kids at the top of the highest high-speed quad ski lift in North America!

I got a late start today because I was called into the city court as a potential juror, but after a couple of hours of waiting around, they let me go. I was kind of disappointed because I was looking forward to observing a one or two day trial for research. Please stop by Jen's Blog and comment, so you'll be entered into the blog tour contest for an autographed set of Claire Hanover books. I'll be checking Jen's blog tomorrow, too, because I don't have another stop until Monday.

Sixth Stop on the To Hell in a Handbasket Blog Book Tour

Today I am discussing Stretching the Boundaries of a Cozy Mystery at First Offenders.

The topic has already generated some controversy in the comments, so join in the scuffle!

Fifth Stop on the To Hell in a Handbasket Blog Book Tour

Today I am answering questions from readers at Meritorious Mysteries, Molly Weston's blog for mystery news and reviews. Please join me and ask whatever is on your mind. I guarantee to give you some kind of answer!

Fourth Stop on the To Hell in a Handbasket Blog Book Tour

Please stop by and comment on the fourth blog stop of my May virtual book tour:

Cozy Chicks

I'm discussing internal and external conflict in books. Do you have any favorite examples of external or internal conflicts in books you’ve read?

Remember, every time you comment on one of my guest blog posts, or comment on my blog during the tour, you will be entered into a drawing for an autographed set of both books in the Claire Hanover gift basket designer mystery series: A Real Basket Case and To Hell in a Handbasket!

Third Stop on the To Hell in a Handbasket Tour

Today my amateur sleuth character, Claire Hanover, is interviewed at The Lady Killers blog. Here's your opportunity to talk directly to Claire and ask her a question! I hope you'll stop by.

A Lovely Review in Gumshoe Review!

I am absolutely thrilled with the review that Gumshoe Review gave to my second Claire Hanover gift basket designer mystery, To Hell in a Handbasket! To read the full text, go to Gumshoe Review. Here's the last paragraph:

"How it all plays out makes for an engrossing and entertaining mystery that keeps you reading until the final page. Tightly plotted and very current, the story manages to keep you on the edge of your seat. Even though the physical violence is off screen, the tension comes from the potential danger to the characters you've met and come to be concerned about."

Second Stop on the To Hell in a Handbasket Blog Book Tour

Please stop by and comment on the second blog stop of my May virtual book tour:

Author Visits to Book Clubs

I'm discussing how you can find and invite authors to speak to your book club and how you can make them feel welcome. If you could invite any author to your book club, who would you have?

Remember, every time you comment on one of my guest blog posts, or comment on my blog during the tour, you will be entered into a drawing for an autographed set of both books in the Claire Hanover gift basket designer mystery series: A Real Basket Case and To Hell in a Handbasket!

First Stop on the To Hell in a Handbasket Blog Book Tour

Please stop by and comment on the first blog stop of my May virtual book tour:

Planning a Book Tour on the Cheap

I'm discussing Planning a Book Tour on the Cheap, and I'd love to see if anyone else has more ideas--especially since I'm planning my own cheap book tour in June! The ideas could also apply to traveling cheap in general during these tough economic time.

Remember, every time you comment on one of my guest blog posts, or comment on my blog during the tour, you will be entered into a drawing for an autographed set of both books in the Claire Hanover gift basket designer mystery series: A Real Basket Case and To Hell in a Handbasket!