Time in the "Quiet Corner" of Connecticut

Last Wednesday I sold books at Willimantic Brewery in Willimantic, Connecticut. This was like coming home. I worked at Eastern Connecticut State University in the mid nineties (It’s where I met that sexy cowboy, Glenn). The last year I was in Connecticut, Willimantic Brewery bought the old Post Office in town and set up a brew pub and restaurant. They have become a recognized brewery with many awards to their credit. I was at the brewery to help raise money for the victims of the Gulf Oil disaster to which I donated part of the proceeds from my sales. They sponsored a slurp and sip special (oysters on the half shell and a sampler of their brews). Yum. Yum. Check out the great mural on the wall in the picture.




Old friends from Eastern attended, as did my adopted family, my step daughter-in-law who is studying to be a minister, her husband, and their three great kids. You can see the oldest grandson, David, in the picture with the old salt. Mom bought the book for him, and he promised to read it. Start them reading young. He’s only thirteen, but a real fan of mine.



I also met for lunch with my publisher, Judith Ivey. What a savvy publisher she is. I wish all my unpubbed friends could have someone like Judith in their corner. All-in-all a great trip. I had forgotten what the “quiet corner” of Connecticut has to offer. It was the place where Glenn and I got lost for a night in one of the state forests. But that’s another story.

Correction on Website Address for Interview on Tuesday

The correct website address for the interview with Bill Jaker on Tuesday is http://www.wskg.org/.  I hope you can join us.  He is a wonderful interviewer.  He'll make me look good!

A Busy Week Ahead-Join Me!

This week, Bill Jaker will interview me about A Deadly Draught on his radio program, OFF THE PAGE. The program will be presented live on WSKG Radio on August 17 at 1:00 PM and repeated that evening at 7:00 o’clock. The audio will be archived on their website at www.wskg.org and will be available for download as a podcast. The program will also be streamed live on the Web at ww.WSRK.org.


I will travel back to a former home in Willimantic, Connecticut on Wednesday to sign books at Willimantic Brewing Company. WilliBrew is holding an event to raise funds for the Gulf Coast oil disaster victims on Wednesday, August 18 from 5:00 until 8:00 PM. Part of the proceeds from the sale of A Deadly Draught will be donated to this worthy cause. Consider buying a good read and helping a great cause.  See you there!

Saturday in The Book Village of the Catskills

On one of the most beautiful days of August (after our ninety degree heat passed!), Glenn and I traveled to Hobart, NY. This small village at the northern edge of the Catskills is known as the Book Village of the Catskills. It boasts five independent bookshops within a two block area. Visitors come here from New York City to find books available no place else.

On Saturday, the town had its third annual private seller day where individuals who have new and used books for sale can become a book dealer for a day. I had never atteneded the event before, but now that I have my book, I decided this might be the perfect place to sell it. And it was. All the traffic past my little table (see picture above) were people who loved books. What better place for a writer to be. Not only were we surrounded by readers, but the people in town from the Rotary Club who sent around an individual to take orders for lunch and deliver the food back to the sellers to the book shop owners and book sellers were the friendliest folks. The shop owners provided us with coffee and date nut bread in the morning and wine and cheese after the event.

I met Don Dales there and, not only did he buy my book, but he's opening yet another book store in the village, a store that will stock the kind of books I love, mysteries. He's calling it Mysteries and More. The more will be coffee and perhaps even wine and beer. I can hardly wait until next spring when he's invited me to come and do a program.

I will certainly come back to the Private Seller Day next year as well as drop in to see how Don's shop is coming along and visit the other book stores in the near future. Perhaps one of these fall days we can jump in the car and drive over the mountain for a browse through the book shops there.

The village is close enough to Westchester County and New York City for a day trip. Visit their website www.hobartbookvillage.com. You can click on the logos for each of the shops to see what types of books they carry.

Now there's a weekend adventure for you: the breweries around Cooperstown, NY and the Butternut Valley near Morris, NY and the book village in Hobart. Sounds like autumn fun. And the kids will love the Baseball Hall of Fame. There's something for everyone in Upstate New York.