Not much going on so far in 2021 (personally, that is). Feels like the Dog Days of Winter, sort of like the Dog Days of Summer, except really cold. Finally broke through that two-weekPolar Vortex and returned to normal temperatures–25 to 30 here in MN. But activity brews on the horizon, including my first big event in 2021.

DEEP VALLEY BOOK FESTIVAL CABIN FEVER VIRTUAL EDITION

March 6-7, FROM 9 AM -6 PM both days. Dozens of MN authors will participate. Workshops for readers and writers, prizes, giveaways, keynote speaker Margi Preus. All virtual, online, from the comfort of your own home. Wear your jammies or sweats all day.

I’ll be presenting a workshop titled “The Ins and Outs of Mystery Writing” on Saturday, March 6, at 2:30 pm. Register, then find out more about writing in this popular genre than you might want to know. 😉 Seriously, I’ll discuss the components of a mystery story that differentiate it from other genres, the structure of a good mystery, characters, settings, styles, research, and much more. I’ll use my mystery-thriller, Straight River, to illustrate some of my discussion points. But I’ll also reference many of the most famous mystery writers and their bestselling novels. Come and join the conversation. The more, the merrier.

Click on the link for more information and to register. It’s all free! DVBF Cabin Fever Virtual Edition.

It’s a great way to beat your own Dog Days of Winter, stimulate your mind, and maybe discover some new authors and books

FIVE YEARS IN A ROW

Proud to have been able to make a donation based on my book sales to my favorite charity, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern MN. The check wasn’t nearly as big as last year’s (thanks to the pandemic shutting down live events). Then again, I never imagined I’d last five years as an author! 

Here’s the link to the newspaper article: BBBS annual donation.

BBBS is always looking for Big Brothers and Big Sisters. For more information about becoming a Big, click HERE.

The time commitment is only a few hours per month, but those hours can make a BIG difference in the life of a child.