"Murderers' Row" in EQMM!

Shortly after the publication of RED RIGHT HAND, I struggled with a wicked case of writer's block.

Doubtless some of you are of the opinion that writer's block doesn't exist. Pray you never come to learn how wrong you are.

Appropriately enough, the first thing I finished on my long road back to productivity was a metafictional short story about grappling with writer's block and my moral obligations as a crime writer. (It was inspired by a bizarre exchange I once had at Portland's fabled Great Lost Bear, and kinda sorta features Ted Bundy, so it's probably not as boring as the last sentence makes it sound.)

That story, "Murderers' Row," appears in the July/August issue of Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, which should hit shelves any day now. Look for it wherever magazines are sold.

Twelve years ago, EQMM published my very first short story. It seems fitting they'd publish my thirtieth. Hope y'all enjoy "Murderers' Row." It sure as hell didn't come easy, but I'm damn proud of how it turned out.

Appearance: Maine Crime Wave, 5/31 to 6/1

Maine Crime Wave is once more upon us!

The festivities kick off on Friday, 5/31, with a session that's free and open to the public. From 3PM to 5PM, there will be panels, including one that features yours truly. At 6PM, Tess Gerritsen will present Lisa Gardner with the 2019 CrimeMaster Award, after which Gardner will chat with the lovely and talented Katrina Niidas Holm. Swing by, grab a book, and get it signed!

Then, on Saturday, 6/1, registrants will be treated to an action-packed schedule, featuring panels and workshops led by bestselling, award-winning authors, as well as pitch sessions with top flight agents. Neil Nyren, Editor in Chief Emeritus of G.P. Putnam's Sons, will provide this year's keynote. Hope to see you there!

Insert UHF Reference Here

This time last year, I did an event at the Baxter Memorial Library in Gorham, Maine, which GoCat public access television recorded for broadcast. Recently, I stumbled across the video, so I've embedded it below in all its beardy splendor. Enjoy!

Appearance: Maine Crime Writers Staged Reading, 4/9

Hey, do you like things that are awesome? Then join me Tuesday, April 9, for Portland Stage's third annual Maine Crime Writers Staged Reading, in which their wildly talented actors will be performing work by local scribes Dick Cass, Kate Flora, Gayle Lynds, Julia Spencer-Fleming, and yours truly.

Most of the readings will be excerpted from novels. Mine's a short story in its entirety—specifically "Not Forgotten," which first appeared in the 2012 anthology SHOTGUN HONEY PRESENTS: BOTH BARRELS.

The event is pay-what-you-can, with a suggested donation of $10 in advance and $15 at the door. It kicks off with a reception at 6:30PM (which, last year, featured free wine, beer, and Flatbread pizza); performances begin at 7:00PM. There will be books for sale if you're interested, and I suspect we writers will hop onstage for a quick chat when the performances are through. Hope to see you there!

Appearance: Murder and Mayhem in Milwaukee, 11/3

Next weekend, Katrina and I are headed to the land of beer and cheese for one of our favorite events around: Murder and Mayhem in Milwaukee. Here's a taste of what we have in store:

Slow and Low (11AM) Lou Berney in conversation with Katrina Niidas Holm

Body Movin' (1PM) Matthew FitzSimmons, Andrew Gross, Libby Fischer Hellmann, Chris Holm, Nick Petrie, and Susanna Calkins (m)

You can check out the full schedule here. Honestly, you won't find another that's half as action-packed for $40, so if you're anywhere nearby, I highly recommend you register now.