Category Archives: Christine Carbo

Any Writer Can Thrive Here

Posted on by under Ann Minnett, Burden of Breath, Christine Carbo, Domestic Suspense, Fiction Writing, Serita's Shelf Life, Uncategorized

Ann Minnett MWW photo Ann Minnett

The community of writers comes through again!

Christine Carbo, local author of the Glacier Mystery Series, is a busy woman. Her third book in the series, The Weight of Night, comes out this June, and she is set to write at least two more. She also owns a Pilates studio and has a family.

Montana Women Writers invited Christine to speak in December about her publishing experiences and how to capture an agent’s interest. Despite her busy schedule, she offered to help me with a (dreaded) query letter to agents. I took her up on the offer. I sent her drafts of my letter and synopsis for Don’t Tell Zane, and we met last week to discuss.

Her willingness to help another writer embodies the generosity among authors in the Flathead. Any writer can thrive in the environment of trust and support we enjoy here. We aren’t in competition. If I ever achieve a ‘place of prominence’ as a writer, I hope to share my knowledge just as generously.

Les DiaboliquesLes DiaboliquesLes Diaboliques

By the way, Christine’s the one who suggested my novels fit into the Domestic Suspense genre. I’ve read and enjoyed suspense novels for years, not knowing some were Domestic Suspense. My research proved her to be spot on, and I intend to market Don’t Tell Zane and my current WIP to those readers.

Thanks, Christine, and thank you to this amazing community of writers.

Ann

Burden of Breath Cover - Minnett            FINAL TURQUOISE FONT COVER

February Book News

Posted on by under Authors of the Flathead, Betty Kuffel, Christine Carbo, Leslie Budewitz, Susan Purvis

If that groundhog lived in a Montana valley, there’s not much chance he’d see the sun tomorrow — unless he took a ride up a ski lift where the vistas above the clouds are bright and sunny! We hope the weather is bright and fine in your neck of the woods!

Our mystery writer members, Leslie Budewitz and Christine Carbo, will be headed to a warmer clime late this month, for Left Coast Crime 2016, the Great Cactus Caper, in Phoenix. Three days of fun in the sun—and books, books, books! Mystery readers and writers gather regularly to hear panel discussions, interviews, and talks on crime fiction, visit with old friends and make new ones, and stock up on books! Leslie will participate in a panel discussing food in mystery–always a tasty topic–and moderating a panel on small town crime. Christine will participate in a panel discussing setting as character, a topic well-suited for her, since her books are set in the crown of the continent – Glacier National Park.

 

Author Leslie Budewitz

 

Author Susan Purvis  

Sue's Cover image.edA Whitefish Review Event at Crush Lounge (www.crushwhitefish.com)
On Thursday February 11th WHITEFISH REVIEW presents local author SUSAN PURVIS and Fernie, BC author ANGIE ABDOU.
Times: DOORS OPEN @ 6:30PM, READING @ 7:30PM
Susan will read from Hang Fire: Memoir of an Avalanche Dog Handler, her recently completed memoir about training and deploying avalanche dog, Tasha. Susan exchanges her geology rock hammer for a pair of skis, gives up a lucrative salary with maids and expense accounts in the Dominican Republic for a part-time, minimum-wage job as a ski patroller at one of the most avalanche-prone ski resorts in America. She learns about avalanches in and around her new ski resort community that bury and kill people without warning. When patrol admits their trained dog failed to find a toddler buried in a deadly avalanche, she challenges herself, “What if I could teach a dog to save lives?” This quest propels Susan to train the best possible search dog, vowing never to leave anyone behind.www.cboutdoors.com

Author Betty Kuffel
Betty Kuffel and Author Playwright Lavonne Mueller will be appearing on the radio show, Birds on a Wire, from Montana Coffee Traders on Whitefish Community Radio in February. This is a documentary series about life in a coffee shop…who, why and006 (2) other. Lavonne, Betty, Tom Kuffel, Sue Purvis, Constance and Brian See, along with Robert FitzGerald, meet as friends and writers most Monday and Thursday mornings at 0830. We discuss writerly things and identify solutions to world problems while eating pastries and drinking great coffee. Join us sometime.

December Book News

Posted on by under Book News, Christine Carbo, Leslie Budewitz, Uncategorized

How did it get to be December? You don’t know, either? Why is it that the older we get, the faster time seems to go? 

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Out December 1 from Berkley Prime Crime

Here in Northwest Montana, we’ve been busy–which may be one reason why the year is suddenly rushing to a close! Today is release day for GUILTY AS CINNAMON, the second Seattle Spice Shop Mystery by Leslie Budewitz.

From the cover: 
Pepper Reece knows that fiery flavors are the spice of life. But when a customer dies of a chili overdose, she finds herself in hot pursuit of a murderer…

Murder heats up Seattle’s Pike Place Market in the next Spice Shop mystery from the national bestselling author of Assault and Pepper.

Springtime in Seattle’s Pike Place Market means tasty foods and wide-eyed tourists, and Pepper’s Seattle Spice Shop is ready for the crowds. With flavorful combinations and a fresh approach, she’s sure to win over the public. Even better, she’s working with several local restaurants as their chief herb and spice supplier. Business is cooking, until one of Pepper’s potential clients, a young chef named Tamara Langston, is found dead, her life extinguished by the dangerously hot ghost chili—a spice Pepper carries in her shop.

Now stuck in the middle of a heated police investigation, Pepper must use all her senses to find out who wanted to keep Tamara’s new café from opening—before someone else gets burned…

Find the book at all the usual online and independent sources--links and retail outlets in western Montana here. 

Leslie-WEB-Color

Leslie will be signing books at Think Local during the Kalispell Art Walk, Friday, December 4, from 5-8 p.m. And she and Christine Carbo will sign books at Fact and Fiction in Missoula on Saturday, December 5, from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm, as part of the authors’ parade!

 

And of course, signed books — and e-book downloads — make great gifts!

MaternalHarbor2

Marie F Martin  just checked her  Amazon dashboard in Canada and the following was posted.  Maternal Harbor has held the #30 spot in the Top 100 Paid in the Kindle store for two days.  She reports this is very exciting and humbling at the same time.  Thank you, Canadian Readers.

Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #30 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

October Book News

Posted on by under Book News, Christine Carbo, Leslie Budewitz

 

Ah, fall. The light is changing. The trees are changing colors, and the leaves are beginning to carpet the woods and paths. It’s a good time to dive deeply into our projects, a contemplative time. But there’s plenty of action going on, too!

Last weekend was the 25th annual Flathead River Writers Conference, sponsored by the Authors of the Flathead, where many of us met. Betty Kuffel again co-chaired the event. Watch for details of the 26th conference soon!

Our mystery writer members, Leslie Budewitz and Christine Carbo, will be attending Bouchercon, the annual international mystery convention, in Raleigh, North Carolina, Oct 8-11. It’s a gathering of 1500 readers, writers, and folks involved in the bookselling and publishing businesses, and a lot of fun! Leslie will be on a panel discussing ways to nurture talent, in ourselves and others. Christine will appear with other writers discussing the importance of location.

On Wednesday, Oct 7, before the convention gets rolling, Leslie will be part of a mystery and thriller conversation at the North Raleigh Library, and on Friday, she’ll become the new president of Sisters in Crime!

And on Oct 23, Leslie will be the guest speaker at the Glacier County Library in Cut Bank, as part of the library’s cookbook sale and celebration!

Wherever we go, we hope to see you — and we hope you have a good book to read on the journey!

Marie F Martin was in Battle Ground, WA last week signing books for friends, fans and family.  Marie says she received such encouragement from their kind words.  Fans are such special people.  She is also closing in on the first draft of her next novel, 101 Harbor Place.  It’s a mystery of sorts.

Becky has a book

Becky has a book

September Book News

Posted on by under Authors of the Flathead, Christine Carbo, Leslie Budewitz

DSCF8003Okay, we’re a little late this month. We’ve been busy — writing, reading, and working hard at squeezing in a relaxing moment or two. If you’re not in NW Montana and you’ve been wondering how the wild fires are affecting us, we can assure you that we are all safe and well, though we have had our worried moments — our corner of the state has been hard hit by fires and smoke. But after several days of rain, we are all breathing more easily, and we’re grateful for your concern and good wishes.

The Montana Book Festival takes place this week, Sept 10-12, in Missoula, and both Christine Carbo and Leslie Budewitz will be part of the fun. They join Indiana novelist Sarah Layden Friday, Sept 11, at 3:30, for a panel discussion and reading called The Writer, The Mirror, and the Map: Mystery Novelists Reflect on Identity, Murder, and Place. 

The Wild Inside

Both Christine (THE WILD INSIDE) and Leslie (BUTTER OFF DEAD) made the Seattle Mystery Bookshop’s August bestseller list — as each of them has every month since their books’ release. Congratulations!

Butter Off Dead (final)All of us are getting ready for the annual Flathead River Writers’ Conference Sat-Sun, Sept 26-27th, at Flathead Valley Community College in Kalispell. Hope to see the writers among you for a terrific weekend!