Reds in the News

LUCY BURDETTE: wow, it seems like there's been so much action in the Jungle Red Writers universe that it's hard to keep up! So today we're doing a news round-up--you may have seen some of this, but it never hurts to hear it again and celebrate! And then we'd love to hear about your projects, too...

January was a whirlwind for me with the launch of AN APPETITE FOR MURDER. This first book in the Key West food critic mystery series shot off to a strong start and has already gone back for a second printing. Meanwhile, I'm working on the proposal for book 3 and waiting for edits (any day now!) on DEATH IN FOUR COURSES (September, 2012.)

In other news, my story "The Itinerary" (written as Roberta Isleib) was nominated for an Agatha award for best short story. The awards are given out at the Malice Domestic convention in April. And you can read the story here.

And finally, in teaching news, registration is open for SEASCAPE: ESCAPE TO WRITE, a weekend writing workshop in Chester, CT, September 14 to 16. Hallie Ephron is the co-leader and we'll have our own Hank as a guest presenter on Saturday. Get all the details here.

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: YAY! Lucy! ANd I know there's lots more wonderful news in the works for the Reds. As for me, THE OTHER WOMAN is up on amazon for pre-sale! I am overjoyed and thrilled.

In other news, I am off to Sleuthfest this weekend, teaching a class and moderating three panels...then to The Public Librarians Association meeting in Philadelphia moderating a panel with Nancy Pearl (whoa). Then moderating the Best First panel at the Edgars Symposium, then interviewing Toastmaster Dana Cameron at Malice, then in May, I'm the Keynote speaker at the Pennwriters Convention!

But dearest to my heart, did I mention THE OTHER WOMAN is now available for pre-order?

LUCY BURDETTE: Well yes, Hank, you did mention that:). And we're so excited, we've all gone off to order...but meanwhile, would you mind taking a copy of AN APPETITE FOR MURDER to Nancy Pearl? wow!

HALLIE EPHRON: Wow, Hank. Yay, Lucy!! As for me, I'm chained to the desk...

In the good news department, did I mention that "Come and Find Me" was nominated for the Mary Higgins Clark Award. I know, I did. And the paperback is just out.

I hope to see lots of Jungle Red Readers at Malice and at the Festival of Mystery in Oakmont right after! And just a quick plug for a writing class I'll be teaching April 14 for Sisters in Crime/NY chapter, and a second fist pump for Seascape Retreat to Write. Having Hank onboard is very exciting, and there are still some openings.

RHYS BOWEN: I have lots of good news to share. It's been a great year so far. Naughty in Nice is nominated for the Bruce Alexander award for best historical mystery at Left Coast Crime, where I'll be interviewing guest of honor, and my good friend, Jacqueline Winspear. Naughty in Nice is also nominated for an Agatha for best historical mystery and I'll be interviewing one of the guests of honor at Malice Domestic--Lee Child, the Poirot award recipient.

I'm also up for a couple of awards at RT convention: Naughty in Nice for best cozy mystery and also Career Achievement Award (but I'm up against Sue Grafton and Lee Child, so I'm not holding my breath)
I can take no credit but Naughty in Nice is up for an Audie award for best audio book. Brilliant reader Katy Kehlgren gets full credit for this one.

And lastly Hush Now, Don't You Cry, the latest Molly book reached #2 on the paid Kindle list for historical mystery, two weeks before its publication date.

ROSEMARY HARRIS: My good news is that I returned from central Tanzania without getting malaria! Seriously, I spent much of February planning the visit to the library in Tanzania that my husband and I started.
The trip went very well. We brought a lot of books and school supplies from the US and were able to buy books in Dar es Salaam which we took on the bus with us to mvumi Village. Have I mentioned that a mere $82 pays the salaries for a part-time librarian and a library custodian for an entire MONTH? What is that..one Dunkin' Donuts coffee a day? If you're interested in donating or seeing pix of the library and the now 1200 students it serves, please check out http://rosemaryharris.com/clp.html

LUCY BURDETTE: RO, we're very proud of you!

DEBORAH CROMBIE: This has certainly been a milestone month for me! NO MARK UPON HER, the 14th Duncan Kincaid/Gemma James novel, debuted at #12 on the New York Times Hardcover Fiction Bestseller List!!! Then #10 on The Washington Post Bestseller List! I'm still a bit gobsmacked by the whole thing, and more thrilled than I can say by all the good buzz and press the book has received. (Hank, Nancy Pearl just tweeted "British police procedurals w/Gemma James & Duncan Kincaid get better & better.")

And I am overjoyed by all the good news from my fellow REDS! We are really and truly REDS on a roll! Although I wish Hank could bottle her secret formula for doing everything that she does....

JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: I feel like a real slacker next to you ladies. My big news is that the ebooks of In the Bleak Midwinter, A Fountain Filled With Blood, and the 2005 Edgar-nominated Out of the Deep I Cry are all on sale for $2.99, wherever fine digital books are sold (you can click through to all sorts of vendors from my website.) The special is running through the end of March, and it's to get readers all excited about the trade paperback release of One Was A Soldier in April.

Oh, and I'm finally getting to do some traveling - today through Tuesday, I'm in Ft. Lauderdale at the Broward County Literary Fest! The timing couldn't be better to escape from Maine: a week ago it was sunny and 50 degrees, but now there's a foot of snow on the ground and the temperature is slated to fall into the single digits. Score!

LUCY: Phew! who says nothing happens in the winter?? But speaking of winners, we have lots this week: Virginia wins a copy of AN APPETITE FOR MURDER for her spaghetti in the German chocolate cake story. And Jon wins a copy of CLAWBACK and Avi Love wins a copy of DEATH DROPS. (Send an email to raisleib at gmail.com so we can work out the details.) And Theresa of California, you won the DVD last Sunday. Make sure you all get in touch so we can give this loot away! And for all of you, tell us your news...