You Name the Prize!

I think I have an idea for a contest. But first:

Yesterday was another appearance day for me, this time in Winona, at a charity affair, raising money for a hospital. There were three authors present. Two of us write mystery fiction, the third writes true crime books. Well . . . book. He’s only got one at present, about the Congdon murders, a very big deal in Minnesota. Over lunch – a slice of baked chicken over an Asian salad, carrot cake for dessert – each of us got to make a fifteen-minute presentation about our writing. The audience was appreciative to all of us, but I think I got off the best line: “As Fred Allen once said, ‘I don’t know why anyone would write a book when for a few dollars he could buy one.’” After lunch, the three of us moved to a long table and sold/signed our books. My hat got quite a few compliments.

There was a big crowd present, over a hundred. And while we didn’t sell a hundred books, we sold quite a few. So despite the long drive – about three hours each way for me – it was a worthwhile journey. I think we each made a few new fans.

Today I am off to buy some purple flowers and take them to the Science Museum of Minnesota where they will be turned into dye. I will use the experience in the book I am writing called, curiously enough, And Then You Dye. I understand the color of the plant material doesn’t always forecast the color of the dye, so this should be interesting. I’ll let you know next week.

I want to offer a contest next week. Win a free book. But which book? How about I leave it up to you? Let me know if you would prefer a copy of the first book in the Betsy Devonshire series, Crewel World, or a copy of the newest one, Buttons and Bones. Or would you like a copy of my first published novel, Murder at the War? Or a copy of the first in my Dame Frevisse mystery series, The Novice’s Tale? Or some other book? Let me know. Whichever gets the most votes is the one I’ll offer next week.