Top Ten Rules for Networking as a Writer blog

Well, I've resisted setting up my own MySpace page so far, but I did guest blog Monday on the Murder in the Grove conference blog on MySpace. My entry was about how to network at conferences such as Murder in the Grove to get the most out of them. I hope those who check it out find it to be useful:

http://www.myspace.com/murderinthegrove

Home Alone

My husband has been helping a friend move his brand-new cruiser from the boatyard in Key West, FL to it's new home in Annapolis, MD for the past two and a half weeks. And my son left yesterday for a 3-day Future Business Leaders of America state competition. That left me and the dog home alone for 3 days. I've been using the time to catch up on a number of writing tasks, such as updating my blog with this entry, awarding a prize in my email newsletter contest, making a list of website updates for when my husband/website-guru returns, preparing for the Malice Domestic conference, and jotting thoughts about scenes in my evolving outline for my next mystery.

My dog is darn bored! She just left my writing office with a snort of disgust. I did take her out in the yard yesterday while I spread mulch and we'll go for a walk tomorrow, but I'm not very good company now--mostly sitting at the computer all day and reading Agatha Award nominee books at night. My husband gets home Wednesday evening from his travels, and I leave Thursday morning for Malice. We'll be like ships passing in the night!

Beth Groundwater made me burn my dinner

This was the subject line on a recent message to the Sisters in Crime "Guppies" email loop. The message text is below:

"If you're looking for an example of a killer opening, I thought I'd share that Beth Groundwater's first chapter made me forget that I was cooking dinner tonight. True, I almost always have a book in my hand, much to my partner's chagrin, but I don't usually forget when it's my turn to cook ;)

As I begin to query agents I'm still questioning my opening scene, and always hear the advice "start at the last possible moment where your book can possibly begin." I think Beth's opening achieves this wonderfully. I haven't gotten too far in the book yet, so you better not disappoint me, Beth! "

There's nothing an author likes hearing better than "you kept me up at night" unless it's "you made me burn my dinner"! Thanks for the praise, fellow Guppy, and I hope I can return the favor when YOUR novel is published someday soon.

Article for Authors about Speaking at Libraries

The Colorado Independent Publishers Association just published an article by me in their April, 2008 Signature newsletter about "Authors, Speak at Colorado Libraries!". For those of you who are published authors, you may find it useful reading for your own promotion efforts to libraries in your state. To read the article, go to:

http://cipabooks.com/archives/2007-2008/April%20Sign.web.pdf

Upcoming "Meet the Faces Behind the Books" Program

As promised, I said I'd post a note about the second library event that I'll be participating in this weekend. The Englewood Public Library will host its 9th Annual Author Open House on Sunday, April 13 from 1 to 3 pm. The open house, dubbed "Meet the Faces Behind the Book," will feature over 50 Colorado authors this year.

Sunday, April 13 • 1-3 pm
Englewood Public Library, 1000 Englewood Parkway, Englewood, CO

Books by the featured authors will be available for purchase at the Library during the open house. Musical entertainment will be provided by harpist Susie Spangler. The event is free and open to the public. This looks like it'll be a lot of fun!

Participating authors include:

* Dave Auburn, The Adventures of Teddy the Curious Pelican
* CJ Backus, We Just Did
* Mike Befeler, Retirement Homes Are Murder
* Linda Berry, Death and the Family Tree
* Michael Booth, Guide to Best Family Films
* Ann Brandt, A Caregiver's Story
* Carolyn Brink, Class Acts
* Judy & Randy Brown, Faces in the Rocks
* Eugene Buchanan, Brothers on the Bashkaus
* Sharon Catlett, Farmlands, Forts and Country Life
* Richard Chapman, God Bless America
* Pat Covalt, What Smart Couples Know
* Michelle Dally, A Highly Placed Source
* Donna DeNomme, Turtle Wisdom
* John Dicke, Proof Evident
* Brad Edwards, Unearthing the Battle of Milk Creek
* Debra Fine, The Fine Art of the Big Talk
* Donna Gallup, Rock of Refuge
* Robert Greer, Mongoose Deception
* Beth Groundwater, A Real Basket Case
* Warren Hammond, Kop
* Lynda Hilburn, The Vampire Shrink
* Christine Jorgensen, Calling for a Funeral
* Mary Beth Lagerborg, Dwelling: Living Fully from the Space You Call Home
* Janet Lane, Tabor's Trinket
* Sharon Mann, Mother of Exiles
* Claudia McAdam, Maria's Mysterious Mission
* Carol McIntyre, Painting My Passion
* Tamra Monahan, Colorado's Best Bed and Breakfasts
* Icats Nitram, Willow May Goes to the Midnight Carnival
* Marjorie Parker, Mama’s Little Ducking
* Bruce Paton, Adventuring with Boldness
* Julie Pech, The Chocolate Therapist
* David Perry, It Happened in Rocky Mountain National Park
* Phyllis Perry, The Secrets of the Sea Chest
* Joey Porcelli, Take 30: the First Three Decades of the Denver International Film Festival
* Laura Resau, Red Glass
* Robert Root, The Non-fictionist's Guide: On Reading and Writing Creative Non-fiction
* Rebecca Rowe, Forbidden Cargo
* Sandra Sanchez, Three Novellas
* Linda Sandoval, Names I Call My Sister
* Mary Saracino, The Singing of Swans
* Adam Schrager, The Principled Politician
* Craig Sodaro, Make It Mystery An Anthology of Short Mystery Plays
* Irv Sternberg, No Laughing Matter
* Mark Stevens, Antler Dust
* Patricia Stoltey, The Prairie Grass Murders
* Jessica Swaim, The Hound from the Pound
* Carol Tombari, Power of the People
* Guillermo (Bill) Vidal, Boxing for Cuba
* Eva Watt, Papa's Girl
* Mimi Wilson, Once-a-Month Cooking
* Elizabeth & Eric Zimmer, The Turtle and the Deep Blue Sky

Upcoming Mountain of Authors Program

I'm excited about two library programs that I will be participating in this weekend. I'll talk about the first one in this posting and the second in my next posting. On Saturday, the Pikes Peak Library District will host its 2nd annual regional authors’ event, "Mountain of Authors" to showcase authors of the Pikes Peak region, and offer presentations about writing and publishing.

The free program will be held from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Saturday, April 12 at the East Library, 5550 N. Union Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO. No registration is required. This event will inspire new and established writers, and offer book fans a chance to meet and discuss their favorite titles with local authors. Panel discussions will be offered by nonfiction, fiction, children’s and teen authors. A free lunch and booksigning will also be held at the event.

Program Schedule
10 - 11 a.m. Nonfiction Author Panel (moderated by Tim Blevins)
Beth Barrett, Marcia Ford, Karen Scalf Linamen, John Stansfield

11:15 a.m. -12:15 p.m. Fiction Author Panel (moderated by Kirk Farber)
Kevin Anderson, Kacy Barnett-Gramckow, Beth Groundwater, Rebecca Moesta, Robert Spiller

12:15 -1:30 p.m. Lunch (food will be provided)

1:30 - 2:30 p.m. Children’s/Teen Author Panel (moderated by Karin Huxman)
Mary Peace Finley, Donita Paul, Katherine Pebley O’Neal

2:30 - 3:30 p.m. Author Showcase: meet authors from the Pikes Peak region, and purchase your favorite author’s books. Showcase authors include Deb Stover and Kathy Brandt.

The Pikes Peak Poet Laureate cocktail reception will follow the program. Hey, a free day with free food and lots of authors, what could be better!

Local Newspaper Coverage, Part Two

The Colorado Springs Gazette newspaper article about me and my Agatha Award nomination appeared in their Life section today as the lead feature. Even though I'm biased, I felt the writeup was very well done. Check it out at:

http://www.gazette.com/articles/achievement_35013___article.html/mystery_.html