Writers and Events

May 6, 2012 by Linda O. Johnston in category Pets, Romance & Lots of Suspense by Linda O. Johnston tagged as Beaglemania, Berkley Prime Crime, Linda O. Johnston, Pet Rescue Mysteries, Read Humane with 4 and 0

Home > Columns > Pets, Romance & Lots of Suspense by Linda O. Johnston > Writers and Events

I just returned home a couple of days ago from a trip east–to two wonderful writersâ€™ events.

One was Malice Domestic, in Bethesda, Maryland. Itâ€™s themed around traditional mysteries, and both authors and fans attend. There are dinners and panels and Agatha Awards and more! I was on a panel called Must Love Dogs–obviously featuring authors with pet mysteries. My wonderful co-panelists were Sparkle Abbey (two delightful women who write under one pseudonym that is–what else?–the names of their pets!), Esri Allbritten, and Neil S. Plakcy. It was really fun and we got to talk about not only our books but our dogs, too.

That was followed by the Festival of Mystery in Oakmont, Pennsylvania, which was presented by the Mystery Lovers Bookshop. It began with a library tea, followed by a massive book sales event where authors are introduced and lots of mysteries are sold. A highlight this year was the introduction of the storeâ€™s new owner. The current owners, a wonderful and dedicated couple, had gone public a couple of months ago about looking for a buyer. In these days when so many bookstores, both independents and major chains, are going out of business, I feared the worst–possibly the end of that store. But, no–they found a buyer who seems perfect! Sheâ€™s a former Texas librarian and bookseller with family ties to the Pittsburgh area. She was at both the tea and the Festival meeting authors and seeing how the current owners ran the event. That makes me hopeful that not only the store, but the Festival of Mystery, will continue in the future.

For the moment, I have some time to breathe–and to write–before my next major conference, the Romance Writers of America National Conference. More minor events–well, they never stop. In fact, Iâ€™m looking forward to the Pasadena LitFest next weekend. Unfortunately it conflicts with the OCC meeting. It was rescheduled after being rained out (!) in March.

Oh, and I canâ€™t resist mentioning that itâ€™s May–and Iâ€™m part of Read Humaneâ„¢ this month! A new version of my first Pet Rescue Mystery BEAGLEMANIA has recently been printed with the Read Humane seal on it. Read Humane is a special program created by Penguin Group (USA) Inc., parent of Berkley Prime Crime. Penguin has made a substantial donation to the Humane Society of The United StatesÂ® in support of its Animal Rescue Team, and is also shipping 50,000 books starring furry friends, both dogs and cats, which encourage readers to learn more and donate to the Humane Society and its Animal Rescue Team. Participating authors besides me include Rebecca M. Hale, Alison Pace, Miranda James and Sofie Kelly–and Iâ€™m especially excited to report that the Read Humane spokesperson is Nora Roberts.

How about you–any conferences or other exciting events in your recent past or future? Will you be attending RWA National?

O? —
Linda O! Johnston
LindaOJohnston.com
Killerhobbies.blogspot.com
HOUNDS ABOUND, April 2012

Berkley Prime Crime

Author Details

Linda O. Johnston

Author Details

Linda O. Johnston, a former lawyer who is now a full-time writer, has published 52 books so far, including mysteries and romantic novels. More than twenty-five of them are romances for Harlequin, including Harlequin Romantic Suspense and Harlequin Nocturne. Her latest release is Colton 911: Caught in the Crossfire, for Harlequin Romantic Suspense. She has also written several mystery series including the Barkery & Biscuits Mysteries and Superstition Mysteries for Midnight Ink, and the Kendra Ballantyne, Pet-Sitter Mysteries and Pet Rescue Mysteries for Berkley Prime Crime. Nearly all Linda’s current stories involve dogs! Linda enjoys hearing from readers.

http://www.LindaOJohnston.com

Linda O. Johnston

Linda O. Johnston Featured Author

September 21, 2023

Linda O. Johnston enjoys writing, romance, puzzles, and dogs. A former lawyer, Linda is now a full-time writer and has published 57 books—so far.
Linda O. Johnston Featured Author

September 14, 2023

Linda O. Johnston enjoys writing, romance, puzzles, and dogs. A former lawyer, Linda is now a full-time writer and has published 57 books—so far.
A Break from Writing? Not Really.

August 6, 2023

What does a writer do between drafts of a story? Well, that depends.

I finished a first draft of my upcoming fourth story in my Shelter of Secrets series for Harlequin Romantic Suspense. It still needs some work, but it’s currently in the hands of my excellent beta reader.
The Second Half of the Year Has Begun–Already!

July 6, 2023

I’ve had a fun few weeks–including my usual writing. Plus, I heard that the Dog Writers Association of America, of which I’m a member, was looking for humorous articles for their upcoming issue of RUFF DRAFTS, their publication, so I of course had to submit a short article about how my puppy keeps me from concentrating on my writing by insisting that I play fetch with her while I’m sitting at the computer. Humorous?
This Year Continues – Fun!

June 6, 2023

I recently got word that my next Alaska Untamed Mystery, CRY WOLF, number two in the series, is now scheduled for publication on November 7. I love the cover! And the series is the first in which I’ve taken a pseudonym: Lark O. Jensen.

It’s not my only remaining book this year. I was already aware that my Coltons of New York book for Harlequin Romantic Suspense is also a November release. CSI COLTON AND THE WITNESS is officially out on November 27.

UNDERCOVER COWBOY DEFENDER

SHIELDING COLTON’S WITNESS

HOUNDS ABOUND

THE MORE THE TERRIER

BEAGLEMANIA

GUARDIAN K-9 ON CALL

BEAR WITNESS

UNDERCOVERING COLTON’S FAMILY SECRETS

HER UNDERCOVER REFUGE

COLTON FIRST RESPONDER (The Coltons of Mustang Valley)

THE SOLDIER’S K-9 MISSION

COLTON 911: CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE

FOR A GOOD PAWS

VISIONARY WOLF (Alpha Force)

TRAINED TO PROTECT

PROTECTOR WOLF

BAD TO THE BONE

COVERT ALLIANCE

TO CATCH A TREAT

PICK AND CHEWS

UNLUCKY CHARMS

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Anonymous says:

May 7, 2012 at 7:41 PM

Linda, I totally ripped a page out of your blogging book and ended my blog with a question to the reader. Thanks for the inspiration. It works beautifully!

And Lyndi, I'm a fellow Pennsylvanian, from Scranton. Opposite corners of the Keystone State.

Anonymous says:

May 7, 2012 at 5:56 PM

Glad you had a good time, Linda. Pittsburgh is my home town, but I haven't been there in decades. Probably wouldn't recognize it now.

I will be at RWA this year and I'll see you on Saturday.

Anonymous says:

May 7, 2012 at 8:20 AM

Thabnks, Geralyn! Yes, I did see some of those movies and enjoyed them.

Anonymous says:

May 6, 2012 at 12:02 PM

Wow – Linda – your trips back east sound charming and right out of a Mystery Woman movie. Did you ever catch that series of cozy tv movies on the Hallmark Channel about a small bookstore owner who always had a mystery to solve? There were 11 movies in all, starring Kellie Martin.

And I LOVE that you are an active contributor to Read Humane! Everyday, you help make the world a better and safer place for animals – thanks for helping spread the love!

-Geralyn