Tales from THE BOARD book tour
new reviews, videos, and the physical perils of book events..
What a whirlwind fall!
After a lovely first launch week, I headed to my beloved Bear Pond Books on a stormy night in Montpelier, Vermont with two incredible authors: Sarah Stromeyer and Sarah Stewart Taylor for a lively discussion about plotting thrillers, emotive settings, researching for books, villains, and our favorite thriller writers. It was a blast and I felt lucky to be in their company. Also! I had friends travel (on a school night!) to be there which felt very special. Thanks to all who came out, and to Orca Media for filming the event.
Next, I drove down the spine of the Green Mountains to southern Vermont to Manchester to visit the GNAT -TV studios to film a segment on their So VT Book Talk show. What fun to get to talk with guest host and writer Amber Roberts, and librarian Paige Vignola of Manchester Community Library. It was a great conversation about how to pace a thriller, New England settings (beef between Vermont and New Hampshire?), found families and multi-generational female stories. Also, I highly recommend the bagels at The Works in Manchester!
Next up was a Women in Mystery panel at the new event space at the Phoenix Bookstore in Burlington, Vermont. After a super busy day at my day job, I rushed to meet the fabulous authors Trish Edsen and Kara Lacey for a quick bite before our panel. Once at the bookstore, we realized we needed to generate the questions for the panel, which we did, and got the show rolling. I was asking (and answering) the questions, and about to start the Q and A section. I stepped off the stage to hand an audience member the mic, but my foot had fallen completely asleep. In my high heeled purple boots (which are in detention!!), I stepped down, and tried to walk to hand off the mic, but my ankle was numb, and turned. Crunch! Then, because I didn’t feel anything right away, I did it again. Ouch! Thankfully, someone put a chair behind me, and I sat down and with a wave of hot pain. We finished the Q and A (and I think I answered with perhaps NO FILTER because I was in pain, especially about politics and writing). I was helped by many kind folks at the Phoenix and friends and family who came. Not quite the ending I had hoped for, but a great event nonetheless. And the ankle is still a bit purple but healing up well. Writing is dangerous.
I also had the chance to visit not one but TWO book clubs in Vermont who read THE BOARD! It was fun to sit down in this smaller setting, eat delicious food, and get into the details about the book. Thanks for the invite!
Next up is Norwich Bookstore on Nov. 11th! Hope to see you there.
Lastly, please take a look at this review that came in from Criminal Element:
“This mystery thriller is the perfect wish fulfillment for anyone who’s ever been frustrated by petty bureaucracy drunk on their own power.
I’m always here for a book that encourages women to stand up for themselves and for other women. We’re all flawed people and, like Liv, don’t always make the best choices, for whatever reason. But if even Liv can find community in the process of doing what’s right, then so can anyone else. It’s important that concerned, responsible citizens take the time to engage with civic structures and communities in order to do what’s right for all, not just for the privileged, selfish and short-sighted. Making the world a better place for everyone takes work, and while we likely (and thankfully) won’t have to go to the lengths that Liv does in this novel, it’s a very worthwhile effort.”
A worthwhile effort, indeed. Thanks for reading!