A pleasant reporter at the paper there asked me a few questions and I answered the best I could, about DAMAGED GOODS, Jack McMorrow’s longevity (we’re both still kicking), an erroneous fact posted about me on Wikipedia. Does anybody check that stuff? Anyway, the resulting Current Publishing Q&A probably has more than you want to know. But I’ll let you be the judge of that.

If you’re in the area, stop in. The library is pretty cool, with a great history. It’s website says, “Robert McArthur (the founder),  was an Irish immigrant who had started working in a Rhode Island mill as a bobbin boy at the age of eight.”

Irish. Rhode Island. A mill town. It doesn’t get any better than that. Hope to see you there.

Thursday, March 4, 7 p.m., McArthur Public Library, Biddeford, Maine. (snow date March 18). I’ll be reading from DAMAGED GOODS, discussing the process that led to the writing of this one.

Friday, March 12, 11:45 A.M., Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library. For more information, call 633-3112 or email  barbh@bmpl.lib.me.us.

Sunday, May 2, Graves Memorial Library, Kennebunkport, Maine, 2 p.m., author series. Good programs. Past speakers have included Monica Wood, Carolyn Chute, Ann Beattie, and Lewis Robinson.

Thursday, May 20, RiverRun Bookstore, Portsmouth, N.H., 7 p.m. Signing DAMAGED GOODS. Very fine independent bookstore store in a fun city.

Thursday, June 24, Barrington Public Library, Barrington, N.H., 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, July 10, Maine Summer Book Fair, Boothbay Railway Village, 12:30-3:30 p.m., with reception to follow. A good way to spend a summer day on the Maine coast. More info to come.

Tuesday, July 13, Witherle Memorial Library, Castine, Maine., 7 p.m. Summer author series. This is a very active mid-coast Maine community with lots of mystery readers.

Much more to come. If I’m not in your area, keep checking back.

Nov. 28, 6 p.m. : Authors’ party, Books Etc., Falmouth, Maine. Agatha-award winner Katherine Hall Page thought it would be fun to get a few mystery writers together for a signing, etc. Katherine is the real deal, a very gifted writer,  so I’m glad to take part.

After a break for August and September, I’ll be back in circulation soon. Events are beginning to line up. This is what we’ve confirmed so far. Check back because there will be more for the fall:

Oct. 21, 6:30 p.m.: Lithgow Public Library, Augusta, Maine: a reading and talk. I might be trying out some of DAMAGED GOODS, McMorrow No. 9 (February 2010) Lovely library, good people, and it’s right across from the Kennebec County Courthouse, one of my haunts in my columnist days. I covered many a murder trial in that big courtroom on the second floor. Come by Augusta and I’ll tell you about it. 

Oct. 24, 2 p.m.: Death and Desserts, Camden (Maine) Public Library: I did this event last year and it was a good time. Writers reportedly on hand will include James Hayman, Dorothy Cannell, Sarah Graves, Kate Flora, and Tess Gerritsen. We chat and talk books with a room full of readers. Good slate of writers and it’s in beautiful Camden, overlooking the harbor—a bonus!

Oct. 24, Poisoned Pen Web Conference: the first virtual mystery convention. A multi-media, crime-writing extravangaza. Panels, presentations, audio, video. More details to come. Check it out!

Nov. 28, 6 p.m. : Authors’ party, Books Etc., Falmouth, Maine. Agatha-award winner Katherine Hall Page thought it would be fun to get a few mystery writers together for a signing, etc. Katherine is the real deal, a very gifted writer,  so I’m glad to take part.

Hope to see you along the way. In the meantime, I’m beginning writing PORT CITY UNDERGROUND, Brandon Blake No. 2. Very excited about it.

Gerry

The place is Harbour’s Edge, first white building on the left, across from Harbor Fish Market. If weather cooperates (stop raining for once!), we’ll be out on the deck, hanging out, having a drink. In the book, a bad guy named Kelvin gets stuck with an ice pick and pushed off this very wharf by a dangerous and seductive woman named Irina.

We’ll hope that life doesn’t imitate art. See you there.

• Saturday June 20, Mr. Paperback bookstore, Elm Plaza, Waterville, Maine. Book signing and chatting, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• BOOK LAUNCH PARTY: June 25, 6-8 p.m., Harbor’s Edge, Custom House Wharf in the Old Port, Portland, Maine.
  Hanging out where PORT CITY SHAKEDOWN takes place!
• Tuesday, July 7, Curtis Memorial Library, Brunswick, Maine, 7 p.m. A talk followed by signing.
• Thursday, July 9, Devaney, Doak and Garrett Booksellers, Farmington, Maine, 7 p.m. A talk followed by signing.
• Wednesday, July 15, Kennebooks, Kennebunk, Maine, 6 p.m. A talk and wine tasting.
• Friday, July 17, The Fertile Mind bookstore, Belfast, Maine, 6-8 p.m. Chatting and signing.
• Tuesday, July 21, South Berwick Public Library, South Berwick, Maine, 7 p.m. A talk and signing.
• Wednesday, Oct. 21, Lithgow Public Library, Augusta, Maine, 6:30 p.m. A talk and signing.

Stay tuned. You can also sign up for e-mail news of events by dropping a note to gerry@gerryboyle.com.

The event is Thursday, June 25, 6-8 p.m. at Harbour’s Edge, 6 Custom House Wharf, in Portland’s Old Port. Directions here.

This is Brandon Blake’s turf, off Commercial Street on the city’s working waterfront. So come join us on the deck (or indoors in case of rain). It’s a chance for me to meet readers, for you to see who else reads these books, and to see a place very like the spot where Kelvin got tossed into the harbor. He’ll definitely be there in spirit.

So come by and say hello. Harbour’s Edge is next to The Comedy Connection.

Hope to see you there.