Granite Noir Crime Writing Festival
                                       Aberdeen Scotland

I had an amazing time in Aberdeen at the Second Annual Crime Writing Festival. As one of the few Americans in attendance, I had the opportunity to gain perspective on writing from authors and mystery fans from "across the pond."

Among the highlights were interviews with one of the UK's most popular actor/authors, Hugh Fraser. If you are a fan of PBS's Mystery series, you will undoubtedly recognize Hugh Fraser as Captain Hastings, Hercule Poirot's straight laced sidekick. 
In his first novel, Harm, Fraser's protagonist, lesbian contract killer Rina Walker, is about as far from Captain Hasting as one could imagine. He told an amusing story...

Fraser was at a book fair mingling with fans when he was approached by an elderly lady who was quite thrilled by her opportunity to meet the charming and reserved Captain Hastings.


                                                                  
She purchased copy of Harm, and began reading it as she waited at the bus stop. Fraser and another lady attending the book fair watched the elderly woman through a window. She got to about page three and promptly threw the book into a nearby trash can. The woman watching with Fraser was astonished! Why would she do that? Fraser surmised that the lady reached page three where he used the "C" word. His companion considered. "Well, in that case can I buy two copies?" 😏 I guess there are those 50 Shade types, and the non-50 Shades types!

Another highlight, for me, was the Poison High Tea held at His Majesty's Theater. Here, Dr. Kathryn Harkup, chemist and author of  A is for Arsenic, treated us to plates of warm scones, pastries and dainty sandwiches. Everything on the menu contained ingredients that could...and did... become lethal in the hands of literary Grand Dame Agatha Christie. Dr. Harkup talked about Christie's favorite poisons, describing how she deployed them, and where she found her inspiration.

                                                             
Very helpful to me as I pen my next novel in the Ivy Snow Mystery Series "Peril in Paradise!"

ArtWalk Book Signing Dovecote Ligonier

Booksigning in Ligonier!

Saturday November 12th

10am.- 4pm

Please join me for a signing of my new Ivy Snow Mystery "Death at Heart's Desire."
Plus...
Hostess, Beth Whitlock, will be showcasing her fabulous Holiday/Early Spring Estate Jewelry Collection.
Artistically intriguing all around! 
Hope to see you there!

Dovecote Ligonier
136 Main St, Ligonier

Girls Night Out!

           Girl's Night Out
    The Fairmont Pittsburgh was the scene where local celebrities gathered to celebrate the distinguished "Best Office Pet" award presented by Pittsburgh Magazine as part of their "Best of the Burg" issue. Graciously accepting the award was Edie of the Fairmont, who serves as a tour guide of the Golden Triangle on behalf of the hotel.
   Mystery author, Janet Winters, was on-hand to congratulate & celebrate Edie's success. "She's the perfect pooch" quipped Winters. "She's an ambassadress with style and grace. I taught her everything she knows." Edie said "Woof."                                        
                                                                       

Death At Heart's Desire

                          Death At Heart's Desire

                            New Ivy Snow Mystery now available at Amazon.com 

Ivy Snow’s days are numbered. That is if Bart Skeleton has his way. He’s been humiliated and incarcerated thanks to his ex-wife, and now he’s hell bent on revenge.

In Death at Heart’s Desire, former Olympic equestrian and magazine publisher, Ivy Snow, strives to fashion a new life for herself and her teenage twins, while bigamous ex-husband, Skeleton, serves hard time.  Former Olympic equestrian and amateur sleuth, Ivy Snow returns after a triumphant success in the thrilling mystery, Murder at Morgan House.

Her peaceful existence is short lived.

  After a daring prison escape that leaves a river of death in it’s wake, Skeleton hatches a diabolical plan to put Ivy in her rightful place...the graveyard. With the help of her psychic young daughter, Jaycee, and dashing paramour, Detective John Garrett, Ivy tries desperately to untangle Bart’s web of destruction before it’s too late.

Baptism day for my beautiful new grandson, Neil Curtis Winters. It was a wonderful day for my son Brian, his wife Jackie, brothers Max and Nash, and godparents Allison Stouffer and Ben Tosh. Our families joined together to celebrate Neil's debut into the Christian community. I just had to brag....

Murder At Morgan House BookTrailer

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January 2015

Literary Magazine Release Party

January 23 @ 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Latrobe Art Center

Meet Westmoreland County’s newest authors as Write Local celebrates the release of its literary magazine, Voices. Enjoy readings by new authors. Enjoy a panel discussion/Q&A with experienced authors including Dominick Domasky, Janet Winters, Joe Walko, and Amy Yanity. Purchase your copy of Write local’s literary magazine. Collect young authors’ signatures. Browse speakers’ books to purchase. Enjoy food available to purchase. For more information, contact Krista Sarraf, event organizer, at writelocal@gmail.com or 724.691.4864. RSVP is not required but encouraged. This event is free…

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Strolling Through The Garden of Good and Evil

Greetings all! Yes, I know it's been awhile since I've posted on "Get a Clue", but I've been crazy-busy! As a matter of fact, I've asked Ivy Snow to fill you all in on our trip to Savannah Georgia "The Hostess City of the South." Our visit was inspired by a favorite book (and movie) Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.

If you're not familiar, it's the story of Jim Williams, an international antiques dealer who lived at Mercer  House, a neo-classic mansion that is the setting for a brutal murder that rocked the genteel citizens of Savannah.

 So, without further ado...take it away Ivy....

"Hi everyone. It's nice to be back. Hopefully we've already met in Murder at Morgan House, but if not, I invite you to read the book. We really should get to know each other better. 

As for visiting Savannah, we packed an incredible amount of adventure into one whirlwind of a day! As Janet mentioned, the trip was inspired by the happenings at Mercer House as related in the novel, so let's begin there! 

We drove into Bull Street early Sunday afternoon, and fed a parking meter that was free on Sundays (typical.) We were immediately waylaid by an adorable Springer Spaniel named Belle, and her charming  as we strolled across Monterey Square on our way to tour Mercer House.

Coffee & Crime at Mystery Lovers Bookshop

                              Coffee & Crime at Mystery Lovers Bookshop was a Blast!


I had a wonderful experience last Saturday morning February 8th as guest author at Coffee & Crime!  I met so many enthusiastic mystery readers and had fun chatting with them about Murder at Morgan House; the thrilling (and sometimes crazy) antics of Ivy Snow and her daughter Jaycee.

If you haven't been to Mystery Lovers Bookshop in the Oakmont section of Pittsburgh yet, I highly suggest a visit. Laurie and her staff are knowledgeable and helpful! Tell them Ivy sent you!



                                Signing the bathroom wall. It's an honor afforded all visiting authors at                                                         Mystery Lovers Bookshop!

Ligonier author releases first novel, a murder-mystery

Ligonier author releases first novel, a murder-mystery

Coffee & Crime Event

I'm excited about the Coffee & Crime event at Mystery Lovers Bookshop in Oakmont on February 8th at 10:00 am.

Store owner Laurie Stevens asked me to do a brief reading. I'm trying to select passages that I think the audience will like best. Any suggestions?

Coffee & Crime

Janet Winters
Saturday, February 8, 2014

Coffee & Crime Author Breakfast, starting at 10 am

When Ivy Snow, former Olympic Eventing hopeful moved to the charming town of Wellington to publish Equestrian Style magazine she never dreamed that her family's idyllic lives would be threatened by a prolific arsonist and a long festering plot for revenge. Janet Winters based her debut novel, Murder at Morgan House , on a true story that happened in Ligonier, join us in welcoming her to MLB! 

This event is free, but please let us know you are coming by calling us at 412-828-4877or using our contact form on the website. If you can't make the event, but would like a signed copy of Murder at Morgan House, order now and we'll see that you get one!

Murder at Morgan House Giant Eagle Book Signing

Greetings! I hope you're getting into the Holiday Spirit! I am happy to announce that Murder at Morgan House is now available at the Giant Eagle in Ligonier. Owner Jim Faccenda has been very gracious about adding the book to the store's offerings, and is also hosting a for a book signing for me on Saturday December 21st and Sunday December 22nd from noon till 2pm. Hope to see you all there!

Janet

Fort Ligonier Days

Hi all! I would like to thank everyone who came by Equine Chic on Fort Ligonier Days for my book signing.  Jason Will continue to carry "Murder at Morgan House", so if you missed the opportunity to scoop it up on Fort Days, it's not too late!

Book Signing!

Book Signing at Equine Chic!

Greetings bibliophiles! A new and exciting feature has just been added to Fort Ligonier Days! I'll be doing my first ever book signing for Murder at Morgan House at Equine Chic on the Diamond in Ligonier. 

Saturday October 12th from 2pm till 4pm, and Sunday October 13th from 2pm till 4pm.

Hope to see you there! 

Janet

"Murder at Morgan House" Now available in print!

 "Murder at Morgan House" now available in print at amazon.com!

   Getting into publishing at this stage of the game has been very interesting. When I began writing the novel two years ago, I did so with some preconceived notions about what was involved with getting a book into print. My notions were not unfounded, as they were based on traditional publishing avenues; write the book, find an agent to sell the book to a publishing house, (or in rare and extremely lucky circumstances sell directly to the publisher) and then work with their editors, graphic designers and marketing department to get the book on the shelves of booksellers, both chain and independent. 

   Fast forward one year later, and a new reality was poised to set in. The publishing world changed at the speed of light. When I attended my first Writers Workshop in New York in the spring of 2012, there was scant mention of independent publishing, relegating  it to the scoffed upon "vanity publishing." It was what one did when no publishing house would accept the manuscript. 

   That was then, and this is now. Several major factors have contributed to the changes. First, the growth in popularity of e-books. With Kindles, Nooks, and i-pads flooding the marketplace people found that they could enjoy their favorite reads on demand , and for a fraction of the cost of a book in print. This of course affected retail sales and resulted in the demise of Borders, and the re-dedication of space in Barns and Noble expanding the gift departments, and of course Starbucks. Many independent bookstores bit the dust, but fortunately for us browsers, not all.  In addition, publishing houses themselves went through mass mergers and consolidations. Actually, there are very few large publishing entities left, they just have numerous imprints under their banners that only look like separate entities. E-book divisions at traditional publishing houses are cropping up daily.

   After much research, I concluded that time, money and aggravation would be saved by going the independent publishing route. Considering the fact that in publishing today, authors all are expected to create their own "platform", including websites, blogs, social media etc. Whether independent or traditionally published, writers must spearhead the marketing of their own books.  At the end of the day, I decided to offer my books in print as well as e-versions for those who prefer to touch actual pages. So, please read my blog, visit my website, and like me on Facebook. I hope you will enjoy "Murder at Morgan House."

I Thought a "Platform" Had Something to Do With Shoes!"

Janet & Ivy Take a Road Trip!

We're heading to Middleburg VA for the Hunt Country Writer's Retreat! It may be an unusual way to spend a holiday weekend, but I'm excited to be attending a writer's retreat sponsored by Jan Neuharth, author of three great novels..."The Hunt", "The Chase" and "The Kill". As you can probably surmise, these mysteries involve the foxhunting, mayhem and murder set in the bucolic Virginia countryside. Participants will have the opportunity to learn from industry specialists and network (or commiserate) about the ups and downs of the writing life. If you've never been to Middleburg, it's definitely worth the trip. It's a lovely little town surrounded by beautiful farms and estates populated by commuters and weekenders from the D.C. area... not to mention the friendly locals who exemplify southern hospitality. If you'd like to know more, I can suggest three books by Vicki Moon: "The Middleburg Mystique", "Equestrian Style", and for Jackie O fans "The Private Passion of Jackie Kennedy Onassis...Portrait of a Rider."
As for my own riding adventures, my Gypsy Vanner, Pirate (the Pirate King) and I have had a most interesting week with the Rolling Rock Horse Masters. Pirate had his first group lesson ever and I couldn't be more pleased. Under the tutelage of the fabulous Patrick King (PK Horsemanship) Pirate trotted around the ring like he's done it a hundred times, and he took the jump every time (although it was only a few inches high.) Good Boy! What made it even more impressive is that he did it in a deluge. That was pretty impressive for me too as the rain drops dripped off the beak of my cap.
So as not to spoil the pattern, it's raining again today. My hope is that rain won't spoil the holiday celebrations and that it's not raining in Middleburg Virginia!
Happy 4th
God Bless America!