What I've Been Working On Lately

First, I hope those of you who read Mystery Scene magazine have read my New Books article, "Fishing for a Mystery" on page 58 of the latest issue, Number 125, to promote Wicked Eddies, the second book in my RM Outdoor Adventures series. The editors and I had a lot of fun with the article, including adding a list of fly-fishing terms just before the issue went to press.

As I stated in my "Busy as a Bustling Bee" post on July 6th, I worked on two big projects in July:

1. Editing and turning in the manuscript for Basketful of Trouble, the third mystery in my Claire Hanover gift basket designer series.
2. Proofing the galley for the re-release in trade paperback and ebook of book two in the series, To Hell in A Handbasket, before it gets sent to the printer for publication in November.

I've also kept my blog going, with one mystery author guest each week and my own posts. And, I prepared the class handout for the Chaffee County Writers Exchange workshop I'm giving on Saturday, August 25th. I hope to see some Colorado writer friends there! I also hope to see some at MWA-University in Denver on Saturday, August 11th, which I'll be attending to "refill the well." To find out more, and to register, go HERE.

During August, I will be editing the manuscript for Fatal Descent, the third mystery in my RM Outdoor Adventures series starring whitewater river ranger Mandy Tanner. I've received edit requests from my editor at Midnight Ink, and I have to rename two characters. Two lucky mystery readers "won" character names in the book at this spring's Malice Domestic conference charity auction. I've already been in touch with both and know which characters will be named after them. I'm going to have fun tacking as many of their personal characteristics onto the characters as I can. And, the edit requests from my editor don't look too onerous, so I'm looking forward to the work.

And in the meantime, I'm trying to keep in shape with hiking and biking (see below).

No moss grows under my shoes!

Yet Another Great Review for Deadly Currents!

The spring issue of Mystery Scene Magazine arrived at my house today, and I was thrilled to see that it included a wonderful review of Deadly Currents! I'd been crossing my fingers that one would appear in the magazine ever since the reviewer, Leslie Doran, caught me at the Left Coast Crime conference in Santa Fe in March and introduced herself. She asked me to sign her ARC (Advance Review Copy) of Deadly Currents, told me she enjoyed reading the book and had just sent in her review, though she couldn't guarantee it would be accepted.

Thank goodness it was accepted! Leslie's review appears on page 59, right after the review of Michael Connelly's The Fifth Witness. Great placement! The last line of the review makes a beautiful pull quote:

"The amiable cast, along with Groundwater's fascinating firsthand knowledge of rafting, makes this a series worth watching."

((blush)) Thanks so much, Leslie! I hope my blog readers have a chance to get their hands on a copy of Mystery Scene and read the review for themselves. It's a great magazine for and about the mystery community, and I always look forward to reading the issues--even when there's no mention of me and my books. :)

A Flood of Positive Publicity for Deadly Currents

A veritable flood of exciting news has appeared in the press and on-line about my new mystery book release, Deadly Currents. Take a look:

One of the most exciting news tidbits for me is a wonderful complimentary review of Deadly Currents in the June, 2011 issue of Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine. Pick up a copy to read the whole review, but here's what my publicist calls a pull-line:

"Groundwater’s novel is filled with river lore, vivid descriptions, and loving depictions of the varied characters who make up the tight-knit community."

The Colorado Springs Independent printed an interview with me in their March 17th issue, titled "Full Speed Ahead."

My New Books essay, "Deadly Research," about the research I did for the book appeared in the Winter, 2011 issue of Mystery Scene. You can't read the essay on-line, but you can order the issue or subscribe at the website. Also, I'm currently attending the Left Coast Crime conference, and that issue is in everyone's book bag! A reviewer for Mystery Scene who is attending the conference asked me to sign her advanced review copy and said she just turned in her positive review of Deadly Currents to the editors. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it will make the cut and appear in the next issue!

Mega-mystery-fan Dru Ann Love gave a wonderful 5-star review to Deadly Currents on her blog and in her "Dru's Cozy Report: March Reading List" monthly post to the Cozy Chicks blog.

And here's another great review from a mystery reader at her blog ALMS and Entertainment.

Omnimystery News mentions my river ranger sleuth, Mandy Tanner, in their "Firsts on the 1st" article for March.

Lastly, Deadly Currents is available in over 135 library systems (so far!), from Alaska to Maine, as recorded in the Worldcat System. See if it's in yours!