The Unrepentant Book Tour
It's my monthly newsletter!
That probably doesn't need an exclamation mark, but I'm excited.
So here we are.
(Also, the title of this newsletter is weird. I know.)
Back from Arizona
I went to Arizona a couple of weeks ago because I wanted to go back to my high school and talk to the students there about writing. It was exhausting. I don't know how teachers do it. 60-80 students at a time, from 7 AM through 1 PM. But the students were terrific and engaged and no one gave me a wedgie or stuffed me in a locker.
Afterward, we headed up to Phoenix and I spoke with Isabella Maldonado at Changing Hands Books. I've known Isabella for a couple of years and her latest book, Death Blow, is fantastic. You should absolutely read it (and the two books that preceded it).
I'm sort of from Arizona, and going back there to do a reading was special to me. I don't think I'll have the chance to live there again, but I know I'll be back.
And, here in the D.C. area, I spoke to students at Marymount, which is where I got my Masters. Like the launch, I was joined by vocalist Ayana Reed and, again like the launch, she blew the roof off the place. The students asked great questions afterward, most of which I struggled to answer intelligently. Good times! But in all seriousness, Marymount was a wonderful place to get an education and, if you're looking for a Masters, or know someone who is, I can't recommend that school enough. Just a great program with outstanding teachers. I wish they had a PhD program so I could go back there (hint hint, I don't ask for much).
Talking to High School Students at Buena High
This was not intimidating whatsoever.
Changing Hands Bookstore
Here I am with Isabella Maldonado. She's a former police chief and absolutely bad-ass and, if you look closely, you can see the fear in my eyes. It's very much present.
Marymount University
Me and Ayana doing our thing for graduate students at Marymount University! We were standing crooked.
The Unrepentant
Oh! And this is the book I've been talking about these events. I wrote it! You should definitely check it out HERE.
For the second installment of Two Writers You Should Read, I asked my good friend Tara Laskowski to participate. She agreed, and I was really happy she chose Laura Ellen Scott. Laura's a wondrous writer who deserves a wide audience, and her New Royal Mysteries can go toe-to-toe with the best writers working today. But I'll let Tara explain why you should read her work.
I’ve never met another writer with a more distinct and original voice than Laura Ellen Scott. Her books are quirky, dark, complex, and full of insanity. I’m always excited to get a peek into her creative brain when I read something by her. As editor of SmokeLong, I had the pleasure of publishing her flash fiction story, “Last Seen Leaving,” which still remains one of my favorite pieces.
And click on the images above to learn more about Tara, Laura, and their most recent books.
This Thursday I'll be reading at the Virginia Center of Literary Arts with my old pal Kim Venetz (otherwise known as DJ Alkimist). I'll be doing a reading and she's going to accompany me on viola. And I'll be there with my new pal Angie Kim, who will be giving a reading from her debut novel, Miracle Creek, which is the buzz of the freaking country! Should be a good time so, if you're near Winchester, come see us!
I'm hosting D.C.'s 9th Noir at the Bar this weekend at Wonderland Ballroom! Come Saturday at 6 PM and see some fantastic local writers, and celebrate the debut of Matthew Roberts' novel! I've heard there will be cake. And swearing. What more could you want?
And I'll be at the Hammett Society in Maryland - run by a great chronicler of and friend to crime fiction, Anjili Babbar - later this month with Nik Korpon and Angie Kim. And, yes, that's two events with Angie Kim and, for those that know our contentious sibling-esque relationship, one of us will murder the other. Crime fiction!
Some other stuff...for The Thrill Begins, I took part in our spring/summer series, "The Advocates," and wrote about how important the Gaithersburg Book Festival is to the DC/MD/VA area, and to crime fiction. And I asked a bunch of other writers to tell why GBF matters to them. I'll be at that festival in May and, truly, it's special to me. I just love it, and encourage all of you to check it out. Particularly this year, since this is GBF's 10th anniversary!
And, hey, last but not least, I didn't forget CONTEST TIME! This month's winner of a $25 Amazon gift card and a copy of The Unrepentant is...
k*k**mom7@hotmail.com
Congrats! Check your inbox for your gift card soon and spend it all in one place!
Thank you so much for reading. See you next month!
EA