Silver Rush mystery series is Leadville's "One Book, One Community" pick

Leadville, Colorado, has announced that their "One Book, One Community" program this summer will feature the Silver Rush historical mystery series. (Not one book, not two, but all three.)

In Lake County Public Library's press release, Head Librarian Nancy McCain says: "We picked the Silver Rush mystery series because we know everyone who reads Leaden Skies will want to read all the Inez Stannert books. Our history is part of the magic of this place and we can really sense these stories because we live here. Ann Parker blends impeccable research with imagination and rich detail that’s close to home. So let’s read for the fun of it!”

The program runs from July 5 through August 15.

More details will be forthcoming... stay tuned...

Mayhem in the Midlands, this week!

I'm very much looking forward to Mayhem in the Midlands, later this week. It has to be one of the friendliest small conferences I've ever attended, and I'm excited to be going back!

I'll be on three panels on Friday—

• Time in a Novel: Historical Mysteries (9 a.m.) with Suzanne Arruda, Sharan Newman, and Sally Fellows (moderator).
• Putting the Ms. in Mysteries: Tough Female Protagonists (10:30 a.m.) with Kate Flora, Dana Stabenow, and Evelyn Whitehill (moderator).
• Location! Location! Location!: Creating Believable Fictional Settings (3 p.m.) with Carl Brookins, William Kent Krueger, and Clare Langley-Hawthorne (moderator).

Besides all that, I'll be wandering around, chocolate and new bookmarks in hand!

Castro Valley Library on Tuesday, May 12, 7:30 p.m.

If you are in the East Bay and close to Castro Valley, come on around for the Mystery Authors Night hosted by Friends of the Castro Valley Public Library. I will be part of the panel appearing with

• Margaret Grace (aka Camille Minichino)
• Dana Fredsti
• Mark Coggins

Hope to see you there!

Appearing in Pleasanton on April 4

... If you happen to be in Pleasanton for the Pleasanton Poetry, Prose & Arts Festival this weekend (April 4 - 5), drop on by Literary Row on Saturday, April 4, 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. I'll have chocolate, bookmarks, and magnets to hand out and copies of Silver Lies and Iron Ties for sale. (Leaden Skies isn't available until July ... )

2009 is the year for Leaden Skies

Just a little bit of good news to share before it's no longer news. . .

The next in my Silver Rush series, Leaden Skies, will be out July 2009 from Poisoned Pen Press. Hurray! (she says as she collapses in relief. . .)

For more on the title and "why Leaden Skies," see my blog entry "What's in a name?" on the Silver Rush Mysteries blog site.

Good News (Kindle)/Bad News (LCC)

Well, this is a double-barreled news post with a good news/bad news format.

First, the good news:
Starting March 5, Poisoned Pen Press is releasing a number of older titles on the Kindle, amongst them...
Silver Lies!
Of course, Silver Lies will also continue to be available in trade paperback.

Now, the bad news:
Due to several family emergencies (yes, that's plural... when it rains, oh boy, it pours ...), I've had to cancel my attendance at Left Coast Crime. Which is in Denver. I haven't missed an LCC in years, and yes, the irony has not escaped me.
Wishing all who attend a great conference and please give the Rockies (the mountains, that is) a wave for me.

Iron Ties in February's Roundup Magazine

The Roundup Magazine is published by the Western Writers of America, and I'm honored that they gave Iron Ties a "thumbs up," as follows:

"... Based on two actual historical events, Ann Parker has woven a delightful tale of murder, mayhem, and survival all tied up with a ribbon of romance."

Now that's a hand I'm willing to play! Thank you, WWA!