An excerpt from my short story “Adjusting the Ashes” appears in this week’s Calgary Through the Eyes of Writers. “Adjusting the Ashes” won the 20o3 Alberta Views Short Story Contest and you can read the full story in the Alberta Views archives. Of all my short stories, this one most inspired my mystery novel sleuth Paula Savard.

I updated “Adjusting the Ashes” in response to a call for submission for a Writing Menopause anthology edited by  Jane Cawthorne and E.D. Morin and was thrilled when they accepted it.

This month Inanna Publications released Writing Menopause: An Anthology of Fiction, Poetry and Creative Non-Fiction. The Calgary Book Launch takes place on May 25th. Unfortunately, I’ll have to miss it, but I cheer on my fellow contributors, who will be reading that night: Rea Tarvydas, Lori D. Roadhouse, Roberta Rees, Steve Passey, JoAnn McCaig, Shaun Hunter, Rona Altrows, Jane Cawthorne & E.D. Morin.

Here are the launch details:

DATE & TIME: Thursday, May 25, 2017 from 7:00 to 9:00 pm

VENUE: Shelf Life Books, 1302 – 4 Street S.W.

For more information and to read excerpts of the book, take a tour at Writing Menopause Facebook page.

Tuesday night was my first taste of Calgary’s A Taste of Local Authors reading series, organized three times a year by author and When Words Collide organizer Randy McCharles. My publisher Jude Pittman attended and took these pictures of me reading from the Stampede parade scene in my novel Ten Days in Summer.  The audience chimed in on cue with Yahoo’s and Yeehaw’s.

The next Taste of Local Authors will take place at Owl’s Nest Bookstore in December.  

Tomorrow, May 16, I’ll be reading with 8 other writers with new books at  A Taste of Local Authors. In addition to the readings, there will music, food, drink and mingling. Everyone is welcome at this free event.

Tuesday, May 16 at 7 PM – 9 PM, Owl’s Nest Bookstore, 815-49 Ave SW, Calgary

Since Stampede is less than two months away, I think it’s time to read from my Stampede parade scene.

Today – the 12th of the month – is my day to post on the Books We Love Insider Blog. Read about ‘How Hoarding Inspired My Murder Mystery Novel.’

A friend doing research in the downtown Calgary Public Library Local History Room spotted Ten Days in Summer on the New Books shelf. Cool.

I hope everyone had a lovely Easter weekend. I got the exciting news that my short story, Zona Romantica, was selected for the  Bouchercon 2017 anthology, Passport to Murder.

The anthology will be published in October, and will be available for pre-order this summer.

As Calgary returns to winter weather, my monthly blog post on my publisher’s website is about my process of starting to write Winter: book three of the Paula Savard mystery series.

Yesterday’s published interview on You Read it Here First prompted me to google philosopher, mathematician, author, Nobel Laureate Bertrand Russell. Here are a few quotes from his abundant writings, which influenced me as a teenager. 

When author Christina Hamlett offered me an interview on her blog, You Read it Here First, I leaped at the chance. The interview turned out to be more involved than I expected. It took me a fair bit of time to craft these answers. I hope you enjoy them.

Ten days in Summer is number one on today’s Calgary Herald Bestsellers List – Fiction.  Thanks, Owl’s Nest Bookstore, for once again hosting a terrific book launch.