MALICE DOMESTIC & FESTIVAL OF MYSTERY

Author Lois Winston, who writes about my life in the Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mysteries, recently attended the Malice Domestic mystery convention in Bethesda, MD and the Festival of Mystery in Oakmont, PA where she met many of my fans. (I suppose some of them are her fans, too.) So today Lois and I decided we’d muscle aside the usual Thursday line-up and present some of the photos Lois took at these events.

Author Lois Winston and Midnight Ink Acquisitions Editor Terri Bischoff

Not only did Lois meet many wonderful mystery fans during both events, she also got to meet our Midnight Ink editor, Terri Bischoff, and many of her fellow Midnight Ink (M’Inkers) authors.

Malice Panel Members: Cathy Pickens, Lois Winston, Judi McCoy, Jess Lourey and Donna Andrews

Lois took part in a panel, Funny Gals, Dark Books: An Intellectual Look at Humor in Mysteries. The panel was moderated by Cathy Pickens and besides Lois, included authors Judi McCoy, fellow M’Inker Jess Lourey, and Donna Andrews.

author Lois Winston answering host Cindy Silverblatt's questions at New Authors Breakfast

At Malice Domestic Lois also took part in a New (to Malice) Authors Breakfast where fans ate while the authors talked about their books. Of course, Lois told everyone about me.

author Lois Winston signing a book for fan Jaime at Malice Domestic

M'Inkers at Malice Banquet: Vicki Doudera, Lois Winston, Terri Bischoff, Deborah Sharp, Jessie Chandler, Kathleen Ernst, Alice Loweecey, Alan Orloff, Beth Groundwater and Jess Lourey

Saturday evening the M’Inkers took over two tables at the annual Agatha Awards Banquet where M’Inker Alan Orloff was up for an Agatha for Best First Novel. Sadly, Alan didn’t win, but as he said, it was an honor just to be nominated.

author Lois Winston at Festival of Mystery

Sunday morning many of us drove to Oakmont, PA where the Mystery Lovers Bookshop hosts their annual Festival of Mystery. The festival attracts over 350 readers and librarians each year, is co-sponsored by NPR affiliate WDUQ-FM, and benefits the Carnegie Library Bookmobile. Over 50 authors attended the event this year. Richard Goldman and Mary Alice Gorman, along with many volunteers, put on this fabulous event where people line up for hours ahead of time to be the first ones in the door. 

Festival of Mystery in Oakmont, PA

M'Inker suite-mates at Festival of Mystery: Vicki Doudera, Jess Lourey, Alice Loweecey, Lois Winston

Mystery Lovers Bookshop apres Festival of Mystery pizza party

After the festival, Richard and Mary Alice hosted a pizza party for all the authors back at the store. The Mystery Lovers Bookshop is just outside Pittsburgh. If you’re ever in the area, it’s a great place to visit, have a cup of coffee, and buy mysteries.

M'Inkers at Mystery Lovers Bookshop: Beth Groundwater, Jess Lourey, Alice Loweecey, Alan Orloff, Lois Winston and Vicki Doudera

 Lois arrived back home late yesterday and is already back working on chronicling the third book in the series all about me.
Anastasia Pollack

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! -- NATIONAL DAY OF LISTENING

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! Unless you’re not American, and in that case, Happy Thursday! Normally, we’d feature a fashion, beauty, or travel article today, but because it’s Thanksgiving here in the states, the rest of the editors have the day off. Me? I wish! I haven’t had a day off since the not-so-dearly departed hubster cashed in his chips -- permanently -- at a Roulette wheel in Las Vegas. FYI, he was supposed to be at a sales meeting in Harrisburg, Pa. If you want to learn more about that, you’ll have to order a copy of ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY GLUE GUN by Lois Winston (the chronicler of my story) and wait until it’s release Jan. 1^st. Click on the book cover on the sidebar to take advantage of a 32% pre-release discount.

OK, end of sales pitch. What I really want to talk to you about today is tomorrow. Most people know of the day after Thanksgiving as Black Friday. That’s the start of the big Christmas shopping season and was so named because traditionally it’s the day that retailers get out of the red and begin to show a profit for the year. Holiday sales can make or break a business.

However, tomorrow is also National Day of Listening. This event was started by National Public Radio’s StoryCorps. It’s meant to encourage people to listen to one another. StoryCorps founder, Dave Isay, calls it, “the least expensive and most meaningful gift we can give.”

How many times have you wished you knew more about an elderly relative who is no longer around? Thanksgiving is a time when families get together. Take the opportunity to sit down with your relatives, young and old, to record interviews or stories they might like to share. You’ll be glad you did.

To learn more go to http://www.nationaldayoflistening.org/ where you’ll find a do-it-yourself guide. You’ll also be able to listen to interviews from the StoryCorps collection and share your own on the Wall of Listening.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! Don’t stuff yourself too much. Leave some leftovers for tomorrow. Turkey always tastes better the day after. And don’t forget to post a comment today to be entered in tomorrow’s drawing for a book from our Book Club Friday guest author. -- AP