Cheryl A. Head's Blog, page 3

A Few Snaps from Bouchercon

A whole bunch of crime-fiction fans gathered at the Marriott Marquis in San Diego to celebrate all things Mystery books. Panels, author speed-dating, Guest-of-Honor interviews, charity auctions, book selling and the free book bazaar, the Anthony Awards, meets-and-greets, were on the schedule. Bouchercon is the largest fan convention for the mystery genre in the world. To name drop: David Baldacci, Anne Cleeves, S. A. Cosby, and Jacqueline Winspear were there. I'm on the national board, so I didn't have a lot of free time, but I got a few photos of vistas, views, and vittles. Ha! Next year some of us will gather again at Bouchercon 2024 in Nashville!

Photo 1 the beautiful view of the Marina and harbor; Photo 2 My books in the Warwick's bookstore at the Con; Photo 3 Bouchercon Chair, Rae James, Author and Sisters in Crime Board member, Delia Pitts (also on the B'Con Advisory Board), and me; Photo 4 Members of the Queer Crime Writers Group: Greg Herren, Marco Carocari, me, Robyn Gigl, John Copenhaver; and Photo 5. The fabulous breakfast from Richard Walker's Pancakes!

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Bouchercon 2023-California Dreamin'

Along with 1,700 other registrants, I'm headed to the world's largest gathering of mystery and crime fiction fans and writers in San Diego. The conference is called Bouchercon (named after Anthony Boucher an iconic writer and crime-fiction reviewer). I'm on the Bouchercon national board, so I'll be doing some work--a lot really--but I'm also looking forward to the fun I'll have meeting old friends, and meeting new folks, sharing meals and drinks and conversations. Hearing how other authors do their work, and sitting in on a couple of fun evening events, the Underrepresented Author Reception hosted by the Crime Writers of Color. I'm a member. And also hearing the juicy and dark readings of some of my fav authors at Noir at the Bar on Saturday night. The graphic shows where else I'll be to talk about Time's Undoing. Full report when I'm back at my desk. Thanks to K.T. Nguyen for the graphic.

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Southern Tour Pt.2-Mississippi

Even103-degree temperatures didn't stop more than 6,000 ardent book lovers from descending on the Mississippi Book Festival in Jackson. I had a wonderful time there. Met some amazing writers, and readers, sat in on a couple of panels, participated in a panel on Historical Fiction to talk about Time's Undoing, signed books, and had breakfast and dinner at a couple of wonderful restaurants. This festival is well worth attending. It's well organized, curated, and they treat their authors (and visitors) with great southern hospitality.

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Southern Tour Pt. 1-Alabama

I headed to Birmingham, Alabama (the primary location of Time's Undoing) in early August to do an event at the Central Public Library. That library is prominent in the story as protagonist, Meghan McKenzie does much of her research there, and her #1 ally, Kristen Gleason is a librarian in the city archives. It's a beautiful library, I'd visited briefly before. The evening of the event a tornado watch kept our audience numbers low, but a dozen, committed souls ventured

out to hear my presentation about Time's Undoing. Thanks to Roy Williams, Director of PR at the library for the photos. And Big Thanks to Indie bookstore, Thank You Books in Birmingham

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More Coming Events: July & August

Still traveling, and talking about Time's Undoing. I'm having a ball because I'm very proud of this novel, and there's nothing I'd rather do than chat about the themes, plot details, and the process of writing this book.

Today (7/8), I had a conversation with the host of the local Weekend Edition Saturday, Michael King, on WAMU radio, you can hear the interview, here

On 7/25 I'll join my friend and fellow author, Brenda Buchanan in Brooklin, Maine to talk about our books and writing. We'll be at the historic Friend Memorial Library from 5-6 p.m.

In August, I'm heading South. On August 3, 2023 I'll head to the Central Library in Birmingham, Alabama. They have a wonderful, and hard working staff. The head librarian is also the city archivist, and has been very helpful to me in some of my research for Time's Undoing. I'll meet with readers, read an excerpt from the novel, and sign books provided by the amazing indie bookstore Thank You Books.

Later in the month, (8/19) I'll participate in the Mississippi Book Festival in Jackson on the grounds of the State Capitol.

This prestigious event is a day-long, indoor/outdoor celebration of books. It's called a literary lawn party. It's Free, and Open to All!!

In between, I'll be a virtual panelist at the OutWrite LGBTQ Literary Festival, August 12-13. Our topic: Queer Lives in Crime Fiction: LGBTQ+ Crime Writers in Conversation. The other panelists are fabulous: John Copenhaver, Renee James, Margaret Douaihy, Kelly Ford, and Robyn Gigl.

More Events to Come in September!!

Coming Events-Cheryl A. Head

I've just returned from the Maine Crime Wave, a 2-day gathering of authors (most from the beautiful state of Maine, and nearby environs) and invited authors like me. I had a marvelous time. Met a lot of authors I've admired from afar, and authors new to me. I bought a few books, and participated in a couple of panels, and sold out all my copies of Time's Undoing. Here are a few photos.

Next weekend, it's off to St. Petersburg, FL to chat about Time's Undoing with the Florida Chapter of the Mystery Writers of America. At the end of the month, I'll participate in a Noir at the Bar at the Looking Glass lounge where the lineup includes: E. A. Aymar S. A. Cosby, Angie Kim, Eryk Pruitt, Alex Segura, and Art Taylor. Honored to be in this impressive lineup

Next month I'll visit the historic Friend Memorial Library in Brooklin, Maine for a reading on July 25, 2023 at 5 p.m.

In August, I'll start a southern tour with Time's Undoing. First in Birmingham at the Central Library, (8/3) then at the Mississippi Book Festival (8/19) and, hopefully, a stop in Atlanta. More detail to come.

More travel to promote Time's Undoing

I'll be on a panel at the Maine Crime Wave in Portland Maine to talk about: HISTORY’S ECHOES: CRIME FICTION AND NONFICTION ROOTED IN REAL LIFE

The one-day conference is sponsored by the Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance. The Conference will be held at the Portland campus of the University of Southern Maine.

The next weekend (June 17) I'll be the guest speaker at the Florida Chapter of the Mystery Writers of America. I'll be in conversation with the chapter President, author JD Allen. There will be a giveawy for three signed copies of the book.

If you're either in Portland, Maine or St. Petersburg, Florida I hope you'll check the details of each event, and if you can visit, I'll see you there.

Promoting the Book

In the publishing business a lot of emphasis is put on the book launch, the publication date when all the world can buy or access your book. If you have a break out book, it can mean days, and weeks, of buzz. Based a bit, it seems to me, on the old appointment viewing marketing model when your favorite shows or movies were available on the day they were broadcast, or released into theatres. Now that model is primarily the purview of sports events, and the occasional awards show like the Oscars, Tony's or the People's Choice Awards.

Time's Undoing has not been a breakout book, but it has received some strong, positive reaction from a handful of respected outlets: the American Library Association's BookList; Amazon Editor's Pick; NPR; The Atlantic; The Tampa Bay Times; the Sun Sentinel; the Detroit Free Press; Oprah Daily, and the amazing blurbs by a dozen authors whose own works I admire so deeply.

I'm continuting to promote the book on podcasts, in interviews, in personal appearances at conferences and book festivals. There isn't one book that everyone will like, but I know that when a reader gets hold of Time's Undoing there's a good chance they will find it a good read with a story that is relatable, and ultimately uplifting.

I do want Time's Undoing to be a bestseller, to break out of the pack of hundreds of books published every month. But, what I want even more is the opportunity to have a conversation about this books about the big themes, and the small details that shape the characters of my book, and builds a narrative of the cointinued need for social justice.

Meanwhile, I'll see some of you at upcoming personal appearances at the Maine Crime Wave in June, and the Mississippi Book Festival, and Birmingham, Alabama Central Library in August.

Good Book Publicity

Good publicity always gives a boost to sales (and the old ego) for a book, and this week has been a stellar publicity week for Time's Undoing. Reporter Julie Hinds, of the Detroit Free Press wrote an amazing (and moving) backstory on the writing of Time's Undoing. The story was posted online at the beginning of the week, and then in the Sunday print edition.

Grateful!!

Also, this week, reporter Carole V. Bell wrote a fascinating article tying seven books to the work of starting over. Time's Undoing made that list with the observation "...one of the most uplifting things you can experience through fiction is the vicarious rush of seeing justice served.”

Reviews: The Lifeblood of an Author

I almost always ask readers who say they've enjoyed my book to please leave a review at Amazon, Goodreads, and/or their favorite bookstore site (if that's available) reader reviews influence other readers, but also spark attention from booksellers and media outlets. If you've read, and enjoyed, Time's Undoing please leave a review.

This week I've had two very splendid reviews from online media outlets. One from Criminal Element an online community for fans of crime and mystery fiction. Found here.

The other from Deep South Magazine. You can find a preview, below. Thanks to both outlets, and their reviewers.