Back Row (Left to Right): Christin Brecher, Wendy Neugent, Darlene Dziomba, Misty Simon, Caryl Janis, Kathleen Bailey, Alex Erickson, ACF Bookens, Heather Weidner, Bill Peschel
Front Row (Left to Right): Susan Kimmel Wright, Libby Klein, Cathy Wiley, Sarah Ickes
The day was such a great experience getting to meet all the wonderful readers and fellow authors at Mechanicsburg Mystery Bookshop's Cozy Mystery Fete 2024. There were fifteen of us authors there in total, with all different takes on the sub-genre of cozy mysteries, AND nearly 100 titles to pick from in their mobile bookshop!
This year's theme was the perfect fit for an event occurring in the spooky month of October; Halloween. Between table decor bringing a flourish to the snack table, to the well decorated tables for the readers to enjoy, and even to the "Screaming Good Gifts" that all attendees received, it was unmistakably orange and black all the way. If you don't believe me, in the thoroughly cute designs that were spread all over the large gathering room, just take a look at the snapshots I took:
(Top Image is of the Food Table and the Bottom Image is of the "Screaming Good Gifts.")
As the day was scheduled out, it moved along quite nicely and gave us authors the chance to meet/chat with the readers in a more personal fashion. Instead of having a panel seated behind a table on a stage in a classroom setup, the shop had us participate in Author-Roundabout (essentially Author Speed-Dating). The readers were the ones who stayed put as the authors moved swiftly from table to table whenever the buzzer rang out. Halfway through the room, a break allowed for readers to head on over to the bookshop while we rested our voices for a spell.
During the time for bathroom breaks, snack grabbing, and book buying, a short game of trivia was played for fun. Readers shouted out answers to fill-in-the-blank questions that incorporated each of us authors. Once it was over, we were back in the rounds again and having interesting chats with the attendees.
(Top Image is with Libby Klein; Bottom Left is with Cathy Wiley, Bottom Right is with Susan Kimmel Wright.)
As I previously stated, the day was a blast filled with discussing books and learning new things from talking to the readers. This was my debut event for the first in my Cybil Lawson cozy mystery series, and while my shipment was unfortunately too late to be for sale in the shop, I had some pre-orders to fulfill from the event. I was delightfully surprised to find that so many people were interested in hearing about my historical fiction series, and sold some of those as well!
Out of full disclosure, I have been to this event before as a volunteer staff member, and pulled double-duty this year. If that sounds pretty hectic to you, that's because it is! But I don't mind it when you have you such a good group of volunteers and readers to work with.
This was my last event of the year, and I'll be looking forward to seeing everyone come 2025!
(Top Image is a shot of the mobile bookshop area, Bottom Left is of my books, and Bottom Right is of myself and one of my books.)
Interested in attending any of Mechancisburg Mystery Bookshop's future events? Just click here to be taken to their website.
And if you would like to know more about my fellow authors who attended this past week, click on their names listed below to be taken to their respective sites.
Bill Peschel (Master of Ceremonies) - part of Peschel Press, author and podcast host
Christin Brecher - mysteries about a candle-making shop, photographer in New York
Wendy Neugent - mysteries that take place on a cruise ship
Darlene Dziomba - animal rescue mysteries
Misty Simon - series on a cleaner, one in a diner, another off the coast of California, etc.
Caryl Janis - two stand alone mysteries that take place in New York
Kathleen Bailey - series following an advice columnist
Alex Erickson - mysteries in a cat bookstore cafe and one in a a cat yoga studio
ACF Bookens - series on an antiquarian book dealer, salvage expert/historian, and etc.
Heather Weidner - mysteries by the shore, camping, and a new one in 2025
Susan Kimmel Wright - mysteries of a budding author
Libby Klein - mysteries with a B&B in New Jersey, and a new one in 2025
Cathy Wiley - mysteries of a food critic
Thanks for reading and I'll see you in the new year! #books #mysteries #cozymysteries
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