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!

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!

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.

A Little Quiz About Books

by Joyce

Since news of the publishing world, not the mention the rest of the economy, is so dismal these days, many people are opting to buy books for Christmas this year. (I think people should do that every year.) If you're going this route, don't buy your books from a chain. Be sure to support your favorite independent bookseller, or buy them from our favorite, Mystery Lovers Bookshop.

I came up with a little quiz to help you with your book selection. The quiz is for fun only, so don't expect any prizes. Besides, I included links to make it way too easy for you! It's like an open book test. Feel free to add your own questions in your comments.

1. What author writes the popular Sookie Stackhouse mysteries? What is the name of the TV show based on these books?
2. Nancy Martin wrote what popular series? Can you name them all in order?
3. What is the name of the book released last year featuring Pittsburgh cop Colleen Greer? What is the name of this author?
   
4. What Pittsburgh author writes about actress Rosie Winter? Where does Rosie live and what is her occupation? Bonus: What does this author's dog like to eat?
5. Which popular author was 104 years old when she passed away this year?
6. Who wrote the book Police Procedure & Investigation: A Guide for Writers?
7. Name the two newest Working Stiffs (both, coincidentally, had debut novels this year). No hints on this one!
8. Another author who passed away this year was Tony Hillerman. Where are his books set?
9. Who wrote The Murders In the Rue Morgue?
10. Name your favorite book, movie, or play with a Christmas theme.

Well, that's it kids. Have fun!

IT'S THAT TIME AGAIN

by Gina Sestak

Now that the Earth has traveled once more to the warm side of the Sun (hush, I know that stuff about the hemispheres and axis tilt -- I'm just trying to be poetic) and tiny plants have pushed their soft green heads out of the ground, it's time to -- READ. What? Not garden? Not stroll through blossom-scented meadows seeking newly returned birds? NO. That's not what we here at the stiffs are all about.

Today marks the 13th Annual Festival of Mystery.

That's right. In a Greek Orthodox Church hall in beautiful Oakmont, Pennsylvania, the Mystery Lovers Bookshop will present more than four dozen of our favorite authors, live and in person, signing (and selling) their books. [You understand now why this is a time to read, I trust?] A complete list of authors can be found at the Festival website. Suffice it to say that some of our own local favorites (and working stiffs bloggers) will be among them, as well as writers from all over the country and beyond.

For anyone who hasn't attended the Festival before, getting there is easy. Just follow the Allegheny River away from Downtown Pittsburgh until you get to Oakmont. You'll know you've arrived when you see oak leaves on the street signs. More reliable driving directions can be obtained through mapquest or yahoo: the Church Hall address is 12 Washington Avenue, Oakmont, PA.

The atmosphere is relaxed. Authors sit behind stacks of their work, signing books and chatting with passing fans. It's a chance to see what these folks look like in the flesh, not just in that studio portrait on the book jacket. There is also a program in which the authors get to speak briefly from a stage. The hard part is not buying every book from everyone, although I'm sure Mystery Lovers wouldn't mind at all if you did.

So pick yourselves up, gather up plenty of cash and charge cards, and, if you don't already own one, borrow a vehicle sturdy enough to carry a humungous load of books. I hope to see each and every one of you at the Festival.