WHAT’S NEW THIS MONTH – August 2023

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New Releases
Books Up For Awards
Author Appearances
Party Invitations
Conferences, Fairs and Festivals

New Releases

Julia Bricklin’s RED SAPPHIRE: The Woman Who Beat the Black List, tells the true story of Hannah Weinstein who, facing persecution by Senator Joe McCarthy because of her purported communist affiliations, fled to Europe in 1950 and built a successful television studio and production company using scores of blacklisted American writers. The book comes out in September from Lyon’s Press.

The next installment in Tori Eldridge‘s Lily Wong series, THE NINJA’S OATH, comes out in September from Agora Books.

International action adventure ensues when Lily Wong—a Chinese-Norwegian modern-day ninja—travels from Shanghai to Japan to help family friend and former triad enforcer, Lee Chang, locate and rescue his kidnapped twelve-year-old niece while, back home in Los Angeles, her father’s health wanes.

Several of our members have short stories in the forthcoming collection KILLIN’ TIME IN SAN DIEGO:

LH Dillman, “To Hell and Back”
Naomi Hirahara, “The Celestial”
Kim Keeline, “Business of Death”
Mary Keenan, “The Canadians”
Kathy Norris, “Wildfire”
James Thorpe, “Casualties of War”
Desiree Zamorano, “President- Elect”

Edited by Holly West, the volume is now available for pre-order, and will be sold at Bouchercon.

Michelle Rodenborn has a short story, “Bird of Prey,” in the lastest edition of the Santa Barbara Literary Journal.

Gary Phillips co-edited the anthology THE HEIST WAS JUST THE BEGINNING, which is the basis for a new miniseries coming from Disney+UK.

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL by Gay Toltl Kinman’s has just been released as an audio book with narration by Harley Jane Kozak, actress and award-winning mystery writer. The book is the second in the series featuring Jo Peters, a part-time city attorney and private investigator. For a free audio code email gaykinman@gaykinman.com

Books Up For Awards

We should know by early September whether Gary Phillips wins the Macavity Award for Best Historical Mystery (aka “Sue Feder Memorial Award for Best Historical Mystery”) for his novel, ONE-SHOT HARRY (Soho Crime 2022) Good luck, Gary.

And, as previously mentioned, several of our members’ works are finalists for 2023 Anthony Awards: James T. Bartlett – THE ALASKAN BLONDE (Best Critical / Non-Fiction), Jennifer J. Chow – DEATH BY BUBBLE TEA (Best Humorous Novel), Ellen Byron BAYOU BOOK THIEF (Best Humorous Novel), Mysti Berry, as editor – LOW DOWN DIRTY VOTE (Best Anthology). Voting occurs and winners will be announced at Bouchercon — August 29 – September 3, 2023 in San Diego.

Two members are up for awards from Killer Nashville:

Peggy Rothschild is a finalist for a Silver Falchion Award for Best Cozy for her novel, PLAYING DEAD
Lori Dillman is a finalist or a Claymore Award for Best Unpublished Mainstream / Commercial novel,
RAGGED RUN

Author Appearances

Sheila Lowe is scheduled to appear on the CW network’s Mysteries Decoded show in August, talking about handwriting analysis as applied to an historical figure.

August is a busy month for Carl Vonderau as his latest novel, SAVING MYLES, comes out August 15 from Oceanview. He’ll be at Warwicks bookstore in La Jolla on Tuesday the 15th at 7:30. Then on Sunday the 20th at 2 pm, he’ll appear at Book Carnival in Orange, where he’ll be interviewed by Matt Coyle.

On Saturday August 12 at 2 pm, Jeri Westerson will talk about “From Historical Mysteries to Modern Marketing” by invitation of the California Writers Club of Long Beach. Find them at the Los Altos United Methodist Church (Heritage Hall) 5950 E. Willow Street, Long Beach.

Sisters in Crime/Los Angeles is supplying more than its fair share of talent to Bouchercon 2023, which will be held August 30-September 3 in San Diego. The list of  panelists at who are members includes:

Lawrence Allan, Judith Ayn, James T. Bartlett, Mike Befeler, Paula Bernstein, Mysti Berry, Ellen Byron, Craig Faustus Buck, Jennifer Chow, Matt Coyle, Connie DeMarco, Tori Eldridge, Naomi Hirahara, Georgia Jeffries, Linda O. Johnson, Sybil Johnson, Kim Keeline, Gay Toltl Kinman, Leslie Klinger, Ellen Kirschman, Melinda Loomis, Peggy Rothschild, Susan Rowland, Terry Shames, Carrie Voorhis, Jeri Westerson, Iris Yamashita, and Desiree Zamorano

The full line-up of panelists and schedule of panels is here  https://bouchercon2023.com/panels/

Alison McMahan, award winning writer and screenwriter, will be teaching a free class on “What Makes a Good Scene: Twists, Misleads and Reveals” at Nova Southeastern University on Saturday August 5 at 2 pm by Zoom. Register in advance so you can watch it in real time or later:
https://nova.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIqcOygqTkjHtXDTY6fhPJAuF9yxnHkQbby#/registration

Party Invitations

Join the fun at the Launch Party and Book Signing for the anthology KILLING TIME IN SAN DIEGO at Bouchercon on Thursday the at 6 pm in the Grand Ballroom.

Ellen Byron will host a “Cozies & Cocktails” event at Bouchercon on Wednesday August 30th at 8:30 pm in the hotel Grand Ballroom featuring readings, give aways, swag and a cash bar.

Come one, come all! Partners in Crime, the San Diego chapter of Sisters in Crime, is hosting a launch party for their 2nd anthology CRIME UNDER THE SUN at Bouchercon on Thursday August 31 at 8:30 pm in Grand Ballroom 4! Come for books, luau music, and a raffle!

Conferences and Festivals

Killer Nashville August 17-20 in Franklin TN. Guests of honor include Maureen Corrigan and Cindy Dees. https://www.killernashville.com/

Bouchercon: San Diego August 30 – September 3. Our own Naomi Hirahara is a toastmaster. Fee: $ 230. https://bouchercon2023.com

Bouchercon 2024: August 28- September 1 in Nashville TN. Guests of honor include Harlan Coben, Brad Thor, Kelli Stanley, Rachel Howzell Hall, and Heather Graham. https://www.bouchercon2024.com/