Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Paul Anik

I'm heartbroken to report that Paul Anik, book collector and mystery lover who was organizing Left Coast Crime 2010 in Los Angeles, died suddenly of a heart attack.

I have seldom known anyone who was so enthusiastic about life and the books he loved. He will be missed.

Jan

Monday, January 26, 2009

Invading other blogs

I'm back home now, and have a few minutes to come up for air and thank all of you who showed up at events where I was signing. That's the part of touring that I love most -- meeting readers! If you missed seeing me at the stores listed in recent posts, many will still have signed books available. And if you don't live near those stores, all of the ones listed on the sidebar to the right will ship signed books while supplies last. Also, I do have other events on my schedule, and you can click here for more information about them.

I've been traveling a bit on the Internet, too -- a couple of friends invited me to guest blog.

Recently, Elaine Viets allowed me to vent about devising the pitch for a new book on The Lipstick Chronicles.

Rhys Bowen interviewed me on Jungle Red Writers.


They're both fun blogs, so take a look around while you're there!

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Signing Schedule - Week of January 18

Tuesday, January 20, 6:30 PM
Murder by the Book
2342 Bissonnet Street
Houston, TX 77005
713-524-8597
Toll free: 888-4-AGATHA (888-424-2842)
Click here for a map
or go to http://tinyurl.com/mbtbhtx

Wednesday, January 21, 7:00 PM
Borders - Lee's Summit
1664 Northwest Chipman Road
Lee's Summit, MO 64081
816-347-0044
Click here for a map
or go to http://tinyurl.com/bblsmo

Thursday, January 22, 7:00 PM
Left Bank Books (Central West End)
399 North Euclid Ave
St Louis, MO 63108
314-367-6731
Click here for a map
or go to http://tinyurl.com/lbstmo

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Ohio and Kentucky

I'm leaving for Ohio in the morning, getting ready for some signings and other events there and in Kentucky.

I was interviewed by Mark Perzel on Cincinnati's NPR station, WVXU, For the "Cincinnati Edition" show. You can listen to the interview online by clicking here for the complete show for January 10 -- you can find the interview at about the halfway point. If you buy the book through the station's Web site, a portion of the sale benefits WVXU.

A review of The Messenger and my interview with Vick Mickunas appears in today's Dayton Daily News. You can read that article by clicking here.

Here are a few of the interviews scheduled (more about others soon):

On Tuesday morning, January 13th, I'll be on TKR-Cable TV's Northern Kentucky Magazine show at about 10:30 AM.

On Wednesday, January 14th, I'll be on WDTN-TV's 2 News at Noon.

On Thursday, January 15th, I'll be on WKYT-TV's 27 Noon News.

The bookstores where I'll be this week are listed on my schedule page and this post below:
Is this thing on?: Schedule for The Messenger Tour - Week of January 11

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Gaza Protests in Westwood Result in Cancellation of Today's Mystery Bookstore Signing

Sometimes the best laid plans must be laid aside --

Today I had two signings planned for The Messenger. I had just left Mysteries to Die For after a great signing there in Thousand Oaks and started down the 101 freeway, when I got a call from Bobby, the manager of the Mystery Bookstore in Westwood. Because of a large number of protesters at the nearby Federal Building and on some of the streets of Westwood, law enforcement had blocked freeway exits to the area and all of the surface streets leading into Westwood Village, so he asked to cancel the signing. Another author had been unable to reach the store, and Bobby felt sure I wouldn't be able to get to the store from outside Westwood.

Bobby later kindly brought preordered books to my house, and I signed them for any of you who had requested them. I also signed some stock for those who order books or come by the store after today.

I hope none of you were caught in the heavy traffic or frustrated in trying to get to the store, and also apologize to the two fans in Westwood who apparently managed to get the store. I hope I'll see you at another local event.

Schedule for The Messenger Tour - Week of January 11

I'll be on several television and radio programs this week in Ohio and Kentucky -- I'll post more about that soon.

Tuesday, January 13 at 7:00 PM
Joseph-Beth Booksellers
Rookwood Commons
2692 Madison Road
Cincinnati, OH 45208
513-396-8960
Click here for a map
or go to http://tinyurl.com/jbcinoh

Wednesday, January 14, at 7:00 PM
Books & Co.
Greene Shopping Center
4453 Walnut Street
Beavercreek, OH 45440
937-429-2169
Click here for a map
or go to http://tinyurl.com/bcbcoh

Thursday, January 15 at 7:00 PM
Joseph-Beth Booksellers
161 Lexington Green Circle
Lexington, KY 40503
859-273-2911
Click here for a map
or go to http://tinyurl.com/jblfky

Saturday, January 17th at 1:00 PM
Book Carnival
348 Tustin Avenue
Orange, CA 92866
714-538-3210
Click here for a map
or go to http://tinyurl.com/bkctca

I have more signings coming up and I hope you'll be able to stop by and say hello. Here are some stores where I've already signed books, and while supplies last, these stores will happily ship autographed books to you if you order by calling the store or visiting its Website:

Mysterious Galaxy
858-268-4747

Poisoned Pen
480-947-2974
Toll free: 888-560-9919

M is for Mystery
650-401-8077
Toll free outside the San Francisco Bay Area: 888-405-8077

Book Passage
415-927-0960
Toll free: 800-999-7909

Books Inc. in the Marina
415-931-3633

Mysteries to Die For
805-374-0084

Mystery Bookstore
310-209-0415
Toll free: 800-821-9017

Friday, January 02, 2009

Signing Schedule - Week of January 4


The Messenger is now in stores! Here's where I'll be the week of January 4th -- please stop by and say hello!

Monday, January 5, at 7:00 PM
Barnes & Noble Huntington Beach
7881 Edinger Avenue
Huntington Beach, CA 92647
714-897-8781
This store is in the Bella Terra Mall, near the Cheesecake Factory.
Click here for a map
or go to http://tinyurl.com/bnhbca

Tuesday, January 6, at 7:00 PM
Mysterious Galaxy
7051 Clairemont Mesa Boulevard, Suite 302
San Diego, CA 92111
858-268-4747
Click here for a map
or go to http://tinyurl.com/mgsdca

Wednesday, January 7, at 7:00 PM
Poisoned Pen
4014 North Goldwater, Suite 101
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
480-947-2974
Toll free: 888-560-9919
Click here for a map
or go to http://tinyurl.com/ppbsaz

Thursday, January 8, at 1:00 PM
Book Passage
51 Tamal Vista
Corte Madera, CA 94925
415-927-0960
Toll free: 800-999-7909
Click here for a map
or go to
http://tinyurl.com/bpcmca

Thursday, January 8, at 7:30 PM
Books Inc. in the Marina
2251 Chestnut Street
San Francisco, CA 94123
415-931-3633
Click here for a map
or go to http://tinyurl.com/bimsfca

Saturday, January 10, at 1:00 PM
Mysteries to Die For
2940 Thousand Oaks Blvd.
Thousand Oaks, CA 91362
805-374-0084
Click here for a map
or go to http://tinyurl.com/mtdftoca

Saturday, January 10, at 4:00 PM
Mystery Bookstore
1036 Broxton Avenue, Suite C
Los Angeles, CA 90024
310-209-0415
Toll free: 800-821-9017
Click here for a map
or go to http://tinyurl.com/mblaca