More From Oakmont's Festival Of Mystery

By Paula Matter

UPDATE: Edited to add more photos because although they didn't come out well, I didn't want to exclude the authors.

I made my annual trip to the Festival of Mystery in Oakmont, PA this past Monday, and had a wonderful time as usual. Some of my favorite writers were there, and I got to meet a few I hadn't met before. I took loads of photos, but many didn't come out very well. Turns out I should've been using the flash. I'll know better next time!

Annette (the good photographer) showed some of her photos yesterday, and I'll try not to repeat, but this one of Avery Aames is so nice. Congratulations again for winning Best First Novel at Malice!

One of my favorites, Mary Jane Maffini who won the Agatha for Best Short Story. MJ and I had a great time reminiscing about the panel we were on, ahem, a number of years ago. The book she's holding is THE BUSY WOMAN'S GUIDE TO MURDER, the latest Charlotte Adams. Can't wait to dive in!

The so very sweet Heather Webber. Always a winner as far as I'm concerned. I love her Lucy Valentine series. The book Heather's holding (stupid photographer, grrrr) is ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY  which came out in February. She's coming out with a new series about witches soon!

I'd never met Kate Carlisle, and I bought the first two books of her series. (Not something I normally do with a new-to-me author, but I had a hunch I'll like her books).

The fabulous Rosemary Harris, author of the Dirty Business mysteries. I look forward every year to buying her latest book. This year was no exception.



Of course, no mystery festival would be complete without our own wonderful Nancy Martin! After buying her new Roxy Abruzo book STICKY FINGERS, I got a huge giggle after reading the personalized inscription. . . Pictured here with Nancy is author Beth Groundwater, who I didn't get to meet, but I'm going to check out her Claire Hanover gift basket designer mystery series!

I met Lois Winston and bought her ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY GLUE GUN, the first in the Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mysteries. I'd read a blog recently about the story behind this book, and it was a hoot. With any luck I'll be able to find it and post it here in the comments later. 

Jess Lourey, who I met and learned from at last year's first MWA-University. I'm now the proud owner of MAY DAY, the first of the A Murder-By-Month Mystery. The woman in red, who I called the nun lady, is Alice Loweecey. Her first book is FORCE OF HABIT and introduces former nun Giulia Falcone. Both look like fun books!

Wendy Lyn Watson, author of SCOOP TO KILL. I would've bought this book if I hadn't won it in her agency's contest last year. Thanks, BookEnds, for the Scavenger Hunt!

This good-lucking guy is Alan Orloff, author of KILLER ROUTINE, a Last Laff Mystery. Alan's DIAMONDS FOR THE DEAD was nominated for an Agatha for Best First Novel.

I met Elizabeth Lynn Casey, author of the Southern Sewing Circle mysteries. I won one of her books (PINNED FOR MURDER) from the great scavenger hunt mentioned above. This time I bought the first in the series, SEW DEADLY.

I've read FALLEN by thriller writer Kathleen George, and this year I bought TAKEN. Aren't those great titles? I can't wait to get started!



This wonderful trio includes our fantabulous Annette Dashofy, standing between Beth and Avery. I'd bought the Kindle version of FISH TALES, but couldn't imagine not having a print copy. Y'all must go get this anthology! 



Two photos, if you can believe it, came out worse than any of the above but I do want to mention these authors. I bought the latest books in Sheila Connelly's Orchard Mystery. I'm looking forward to finding out what Meg Corey is up to in ROTTEN TO THE CORE and A KILLER CROP.

Brad Parks, author of EYES OF THE INNOCENT, was his usual funny charming self. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough while reading last year's debut FACES OF THE GONE, and I know that's going to happen again this year.

And there you have it. To everyone who commented yesterday about wanting to attend this festival, DO IT. You definitely won't be sorry.

Now, I'm gonna go curl up with a good book. What fantastic choices I have!

Oakmont's Festival of Mystery

By Annette Dashofy


Monday, the mystery world came to Oakmont, PA.

Every year, Mystery Lovers Bookshop plays host to fifty or so authors for the Festival of Mystery. I’m not sure how many of these I’ve volunteered at, but it’s been a few. The event is always a ton of fun and thoroughly exhausting for everyone involved.

My role each year is author escort. Since I live in the vicinity of the airport, I pick up anyone staying in one of the airport hotels and drive them to and from the Festival. This year, I only had one author for the inbound trip: Aileen Baron.

I loved hearing her tales of misadventures during her travels.

First stop was the Oakmont Library for the tea. It’s a chance for authors and librarians to mix and mingle and schmooze a bit. It’s also an opportunity to clown around a little.

Nancy Martin catches some antics on film. (Okay, so who uses film anymore? But it doesn’t sound the same to say “on digital.”)

Pittsburgh ladies of mystery Kathryn Miller Haines, Kathleen George, and Heather Terrell strike a pose.

And Heather chats up Richard Goldman of Mystery Lovers Bookshop.

Next, we headed a few blocks away to the Greek Orthodox Church for the Festival. While I wasn’t a “scheduled author,” I did get sign copies of Fish Tales: the Guppy Anthology along with my fellow Fish Talers Beth Groundwater…

…and Daryl Wood Gerber AKA Avery Aames, who came to the Festival with laryngitis and fresh from winning the Agatha Award for Best First Novel.

Also in attendance was another Agatha winner, the radiant Mary Jane Maffini.

And the wonderful Cara Black.

A lot of Working Stiffs and friends were in attendance. Joyce Tremel (darn it, we didn’t get a group photo AGAIN), Paula Matter, Martha Reed, Tamara Girardi, Laurie Kassim, Alan Orloff, Kathy Sweeney… I know I’m forgetting someone and should be tarred and feathered for my lousy memory. Karen Maslowski (who looks EXACTLY like her Facebook photo!) made the long trek to attend.

The Fish Tales display was set up on the bar, so I hung out there all afternoon. In other words, I was easy to find. MaryAlice Meli and Candace Banks, two of my critique buddies, showed up and asked me to sign their copies.

So did my dear friend Marianne Skiba (who has known me longer than just about anybody, knows all my dark secrets, and still likes me!).

Afterwards, we all headed back to the book store for the annual pizza party. We were looking a little frayed around the edges by then, so I have no photos.

The drive back to the airport area was “cozy.” Besides Aileen, Rosemary Harris, Vicki Doudera, and Laura DiSilverio joined me for the ride. I borrowed my mom’s car because the backseat has a smidgeon more room than my Saturn Ion’s does. But it was still tight. Good thing we all get along!

It was a wonderful day. My first author event as a semi-official author. Thanks to Mary Alice and Richard of Mystery Lovers for another Festival to remember.

And here’s a closing shot of the Fish Tale gals.

Mystery Lovers Bookshop Turns 20 on Halloween

Mystery Lovers Bookshop in Oakmont, Pennsylvania celebrates twenty years as Western Pennsylvania’s center for crime and mystery fiction on Sunday, October 31, 2010.

It was on Halloween 1990 that Mary Alice Gorman, former Executive Director of The Allegheny County Center for Victims and Richard Goldman, a Mellon Bank executive, opened the Pittsburgh area’s first mystery specialty book store.

In the intervening twenty years the store has grown to be the third largest in the country; host to the largest one-day festival of mystery in the country, now in its sixteenth year; sponsor of seven book clubs and a web destination for thousands of shoppers from Maine to California. The store also pioneered its unique Coffee & Crime author breakfasts that have brought hundreds of authors to Oakmont over the past sixteen years.

It was for the store’s continuing commitment to mystery authors through its programs and events, website and newsletter that the Mystery Writers of America recognized Mystery Lovers Bookshop with the 2010 Raven Award—the Edgar award for bookstores.

Among the best selling authors the award winning store has hosted are P.D. James, Anne Perry, Robert B. Parker, Scott Turow, Sara Paretsky, Rita Mae Brown, Colin Dexter, Ian Rankin, Jo Nesbo, and hundreds of other authors from all over the US, UK, France, Sweden, Central America, South America and Canada-----just check out the bathroom!

It is a measure of the store’s success that when it opened in 1990 there was but a single Borders in the Pittsburgh area and Amazon was still just the name of a river. Mystery Lovers Bookshop opened the first area café in a bookstore in 1992. Now, there are over twenty large chain stores, many of the independents are no longer with us and more books are sold in non-bookstore mass marketers than in bookstores.

In 2010 Mystery Lovers is the 3rd largest store in the country and one of Western PA’s real entrepreneurial success stories.

Not only will Halloween---October 31, 2010 mark the 20th Anniversary for this locally owned independent business but they will also celebrate the National recognition by the Mystery Writers of America for their outstanding achievements and leadership contributions to the mystery genre with the Raven Award—the book store Edgar. Open Halloween Sunday from noon to 6 the celebration will include Pittsburgh mystery writers, treats, 10 cent book sale and many surprises.

While hundreds of other independent bookstores have been forced to close, this locally owned business continues to attract dozens of authors and readers each year to special events and to their May Festival of Mystery, now in its 16th year. www.mysterylovers.com is a cutting edge online store that brings new customers each day from all over the US and often beyond.

Mary Alice and Richard are available for an interview and hope you will share our story with your friends and readers too. Email them via the contact form on their website.

An added note: Be sure to check their website (or visit the store if you're in the area) this Friday, the 13th!

Part II of Festival of Mystery

By Paula Matter

Everything that Annette said yesterday? Yeah. This event, sponsored by Mystery Lovers Bookshop in Oakmont, PA, is worth the four hour drive. I had a plan ahead of time, and knew exactly what books I'd buy and I'd stick to my budget.

Yeah. Right.

I was grateful for Hank Phillippi Ryan's generosity -- again -- when she gave me a gorgeous tote bag. I've no idea why, but I hadn't gotten around to reading Hank' s books. I know! Can you imagine? When I bought her first three books, she gave me the tote bag. Big enough for all of my books.

I spent more than I'd planned because I met a lot of authors. Some I'd never read before; some I buy their books as soon as they come out. Speaking of which, the hat I'm wearing is from another generous author -- Rosemary Harris. I bought her latest, Dead Head, and she sent me the hat. Cool, huh?

I bought a few books just because the authors were so sweet, nice and/or funny. Not pushy at all. (The pushy ones get glares from me, but come to think of it there weren't any pushy ones this year). So, without further ado, some of my photos from Monday's event...

Deborah Sharp and Joanna Campbell Slan

(Fellow Florida gals!)

Sandra Parshall

Alan Orloff

Sheila Connolly

Karen E. Olsen

Rosemary Harris

Mary Jane Maffini

Nancy Martin

Kevin O'Brien

Wendy Lyn Watson and Heather Webber

Jason Pinter

Wendy Lyn Watson (with her eyes open this time!)

Brad Parks

Hank Phillippi Ryan

(Glad everyone knows how beautiful she is since I took a lousy shot)

Joyce Tremel and Annette Dashofy

A good time had by all according to these photos. I'm already looking forward to next year.

Thanks so much Mary Alice and Richard!

Report on the Festival of Mystery

By Annette Dashofy


Monday was the annual Festival of Mystery in Oakmont. It was tons of fun, as always. I mean, what’s not to love. A room crowded with book groupies…MYSTERY book groupies at that! It just doesn’t get much better.

Except when my dear friend and fellow Working Stiff Paula Matter puts in a surprise appearance. She had her husband’s camera and was snapping away, so check back tomorrow for PART TWO of the report from the festival.

The Festival doors open promptly at 4PM. I happened to be hanging out with some of my Sisters in Crime way too close to the entrance and was nearly trampled. Thankfully, we were given just enough warning and managed to duck out of the way.

Here’s a shot of our own Martha Reed (she of the recently finished manuscript…GO GIRL!) chatting up Nancy Martin.

And here’s lovely new mom Kathryn Miller Haines with her beautiful boy.

Paula again, this time with fellow Stiff, Joyce Tremel.

Then Paula snapped this one of me with Alan Orloff. Seems like we’ve known each other for ages online, but this was the first time we met in person.

That’s one of the things that’s so great about the Festival.

Two other things are Richard and Mary Alice of Mystery Lovers Bookshop, which is where we all descended for the After Festival Pizza Party. Either the pizza was super yummy or I was super hungry. Or both.

Can’t wait until next year. Mystery Lovers Bookshop and the Festival of Mystery ROCK!

Festival of Mystery

by Joyce

Since we don't have a regular blog scheduled for today, I thought I'd use the space to plug the Festival of Mystery, coming up on Monday, May 3rd.

It will be the fifteenth year for the festival, sponsored and organized by Mystery Lovers Bookshop, which is owned by Raven Award winners Mary Alice Gorman and Richard Goldman. This year the festival features approximately 45 mystery, suspense and thriller authors, and hundreds of fans. The event begins at 4 p.m., but the fans begin lining up well before that. The weather was miserable one year--cold and rainy--but several diehards set up outside the doors with lawn chairs and umbrellas before noon! And they buy lots and lots of books.

So, if anyone is in the Pittsburgh area on Monday, May 3rd, don't miss this one-of-a-kind event.

Schmoozing at the Festival of Mystery

by Annette Dashofy

I love books and I love author events. The Festival of Mystery in Oakmont, PA puts over 40 authors and their books in one venue for an evening of schmoozing. It doesn’t get any better.

Someday, I hope to be sitting behind one of those tables with my novels piled in front of me. For now, I go to help out anyway I can.

And to schmooze.

Okay, so I bought some books, too. But the joy is seeing old friends from near and far.

In the “near” category is Pittsburgh’s (and Working Stiffs) own Kathryn Miller Haines looking oh so cute.

Other Pittsburgh mystery writers in attendance were Nancy Martin, Kathleen George, Lila Shaara, and Heather Terrell. Working Stiffs Joyce Tremel, Martha Reed, and Paula Matter were all spotted with armloads of books, too.

I didn’t do a very good job of getting photos during the Festival. My job this year was manning the ticket sales with Kathy Sweeney (of The Lipstick Chronicles fame). We had a blast.

Did I mention the bags of books? The first people through the doors receive a free bag of books. Folks began lining up at 1PM in a driving rain. The doors didn’t open until 4PM. It looked like the lines of fans waiting to buy tickets for Bruce Springsteen. Kathy and I agreed it gives us hope for humanity. The bags of books were gone in under nine minutes.

When the Festival finally wound down around 8PM, we adjourned to the annual pizza party back at the Mystery Lovers Bookshop. And I finally managed to snap some pictures.

Okay, rule number one: never take pictures when people are eating.


Our hosts for the event were Richard and Mary Alice, owners of Mystery Lovers. I can’t imagine the workload they deal with putting the Festival together each year.

Here I am with my dear friend John J. Lamb, author of the Teddy Bear Collectors Mystery Series. We share an agent and John was one of the first people I asked to present a workshop at the Pennwriters Conference when I accepted the coordinator job. He accepted without hesitation. So we’ll see more of him next week.

And here I am with my fellow Guppies (Great Un Published. However, it appears that I am the only one in this group without a published novel). Left to right: Sheila Connolly (who also writes as Sarah Atwell), Lorraine Bartlett (who also writes as Lorna Barrett), Meredith Cole, and yours truly.

My final task of the evening was escorting Toni Kelner to the Pittsburgh Airport Marriott (which next weekend will be home to the Pennwriters Conference). I hadn’t met Toni before the Festival, but we had a lovely conversation in the car and I think it’s fair to say I have a new friend in the writing community.

Actually, I think it’s fair to say I have SEVERAL new friends in the writing community.

Thanks, Mary Alice and Richard, for giving readers and writers a chance to mingle.

And schmooze.