Barrett/Bartlett
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I'm listed as:
Lorna Barrett & Lorraine Bartlett
Contact me:
Lorna@LornaBarrett.com
Hi, all, and welcome to those new to this newsletter.
For the last couple of years, Plow Man (the guy who keeps our driveway clear during the winter) has ruined my daffodils. Just as they come up, he rakes over them with the blade on his truck. Oh, they grow--but no flowers. This year, we didn't have a lot of snow in March, and I have a host of golden daffodils! I admit it, I should have moved them long before this--but I forget to dig them up when I can still see the stalks and then they're gone...and, well, you know how it goes. I should've moved them last summer, but I was busy working on the THIRD Booktown mystery, BOOKPLATE SPECIAL, which will be released on November 3rd. (Oh dear--by then, we'll again be on the verge of winter.)
Lorna Hits The Big Time!
Despite the frigid temps, the snow, and all the gloom, the winter wasn't all 
bad. Bookmarked for Death, second in the Booktown Mystery Series, was on the New York Times bestsellers list for three weeks! (That sure perked me up.)
I've got several signings scheduled in May. Perhaps you can make it to one of them:
Monday, May 4, Festival Of Mystery, Oakmont, PA, 4-7 p.m.
Thursday, May 7th, Penfield Wegmans, Penfield, NY, 6-8 p.m.
For more detailed information, check out the Events Page on my Web site.
Additionally, later this year, BOOKMARKED FOR DEATH will be available in a large-print edition.
Meanwhile, I'm hard at work on the fourth Booktown Mystery (so-far untitled). I'm not certain when it will be released, but when I find out, I'll let you know.
Lorna has been getting all the attention of late, but soon she'll have to share the spotlight! I'm very pleased to announce that Berkley Prime Crime has bought the Victoria Square Mystery Series, which will be written under the name Lorraine Bartlett. The first book, (tentatively titled) A MATTER OF MURDER, will be published in either late 2010 or early 2011. Here's a teaser:
Young widow Katie Bonner discovers the body of Ezra Hilton, who ran the local artisan cooperative like his own fiefdom. Katie has little reason to mourn Ezra, who convinced her late husband to invest in the Artisans’ Alley before he was killed. Ezra's will makes Katie the controlling partner in the enterprise--much to the chagrin of his nephew, who comes to town hell-bent on collecting money as quickly as possible...and barely arrives before one of the vendors also ends up dead. The entire co-op is in an uproar, and it seems like the detective in charge of the investigation does everything except investigate the murder. Everyone from the village’s lawyer to the quilt shop owner had motive to want Ezra dead, and it’s up to Katie to find out who before more of her vendors die.
Lorraine is working on the revamp of her web site. I'll announce when the new and improved version is launched. In the meantime, check out the old version.
Where's your favorite independent bookstore?
I love bookstores--both chain and independents. My local Barnes & Noble has been terrific hosting signings for me and hand-selling my books. (Hi, Rebecca and Mike!) But I also owe a great deal to the thousands of independent bookstores that stock my books and handsell them, too. (You can find links to a few of them on the left-hand column.)
I'm always looking for bookstores to send bookmarks to. I can't possibly know where all of them are -- but maybe you could help me find them. I'd like to accumulate a list of independent bookstores in time for the debut of Bookplate Special. Tell me YOUR favorite independent bookstore and you could win a copy of the next Booktown Mystery. Just e-mail your vote (include the store's name, address, and if you can a contact person) to me, and I'll draw three names for free books. (You can send your note to Lorna@LornaBarrett.com) Deadline: September 15th.
Thank you!
I love hearing from my readers. Thank you so much for your letters. Your support and encouragement means so much to me.
