WHO IS THAT MYSTERIOUS FIGURE IN THE BACKGROUND?

No, John Floyd did not win the Edgar for Best Short Story at last month's Mystery Writers of America awards ceremony in New York City -- that honor went to author Gillian Flynn. But John, who was nominated for his story, "200 Feet," which ran in The Strand Magazine in 2014, said he had a fantastic time visiting with fellow Edgar nominees, editors of publications like The Strand and Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, and luminaries such as Otto Penzler. Mr. Penzler has edited The Best American Mystery Stories for years, and the 2015 edition (out in October) will include John's story, "Molly's Plan," which also ran in The Strand in 2014.

Take a good look at the man in the background of the picture below. John and fellow author Doug Allyn, who was written for Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine for years (and won the Edgar, Derringer, Macavity, and the Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine Reader's Choice awards) were having a nice visit while the legend who won the Edgar for Best Novel was but a few feet away. (John had a nice chat with him, too.)

Yep, that's Stephen King back there. Probably trying to figure out the best way to approach Mr. Floyd for his autograph!

John and his wife, Carolyn. She's just as nice as he is.

Valerie Winn has a signing tomorrow (Thursday) at 6 p.m. at the Greenhouse on Porter, a truly unique venue in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, along our beautiful Gulf Coast. Describing the GHOP as a coffee house doesn't begin to do it justice ... there are yummy scratch-made biscuits, great coffee, craft beer, live music, art displays, and much more. Valerie will sign copies of Forsaking Mimosa and read from the book, and she'll be glad to update you on the progress of her next novel, which is on track to be released in 2016!

My friend Neil White, the author and publisher from Oxford, invited Valerie to be part of a panel at a workshop that he is putting in this spring and summer in different parts of the state; Valerie joined him in Ocean Springs last month, and I'll have the honor of participating at the event in Canton, Mississippi, in June. Based on the reaction from Valerie and the other two panelists pictured here, it looks like Neil was in rare form.  

I just flew in from Pittsburgh, and boy, my arms are tired!

We're not too far away from launching the new Randy Pierce novel, The Peter Bay. This is good stuff. If you enjoyed Randy's first book, Pain Unforgiven, you'll be delighted to know that The Peter Bay is the sequel. And because Pain Unforgiven is currently out of print, we'll debut a paperback version of that book at the time we roll out The Peter Bay!

That's Randy signing a copy of Magnolia Mud for a nice lady at the Pontotoc County Library.

Me and Jo Shumake, the president of the Friends of the Columbus Public Library and a very nice lady.

 

Upcoming book events: In addition to Valerie tomorrow night at Greenhouse on Porter in Ocean Springs, John will sign Fifty Mysteries at Books A Million of Hattiesburg on Saturday, May 16. I will sign books at Cajun Fest, the annual fundraiser at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Madison on Sunday, May 17, and I'll also visit BAM in Hattiesburg on Saturday, May 23.

Note: My novel, Director's Cut, has just been added to Good Reads. Nearly all of the Dogwood Press titles are on Good Reads, so let your friends know!

And if you're a Kindle lover and looking for a good read to download, here's what's available from the Dogwood Press catalog:

JOHN FLOYD - Fifty Mysteries

JOHN FLOYD - Deception

JOHN FLOYD - Clockwork

RANDY PIERCE - Magnolia Mud

VALERIE WINN - Forsaking Mimosa

JOE LEE - Director's Cut

JOE LEE - Last Chance Texaco

JOE LEE - The Long Road Home

JOE LEE - The Magnolia Triangle

JOHN LEE - The Legend of Roger (highly recommended for your middle school-age student!)

For a complete schedule of all Dogwood Press author appearances, please visit www.dogwoodpress.com, and come by and say hello at an author event. Thanks for your time!