Last night’s Noir at the Bar in Harrisburg was great!
The second floor at Sturges Speakeasy was packed, and the 12 authors who read their work did an outstanding job.
Front row, left to right: John L. Micek, Beth Fantaskey, Maria V. Snyder, Catherine Jordan, and Missye K. Clarke. Back row, left to right: Robb Cadigan, Heather Heyford, Nik Korpon, Eryk Pruitt, Don Helin, and Erik Arneson. (Missing because she had to leave a bit early: Merry Jones.)
Here’s the lineup of authors who read:
Robb Cadigan
A former advertising copywriter and television executive, Robb Cadigan lives with his family in Chester County. His debut novel, PHOENIXVILLE RISING, was welcomed with strong reviews, devoted readers, and a five-page article in Poets & Writers magazine. Robb’s next novel, also set in Pennsylvania, will be finished as soon as his dog approves the revisions.
Missye K. Clarke
Originally from New York City, an avid fan of fitness, negative ions, a science and excellent customer
service geek, lover of raw milk, deep REM sleep, and writing since her teens, Missye K. Clarke (@MKClarkeWrites) has accrued bylines in several writing sectors during her career. A member of Sisters in Crime, SinC Guppies, and Mystery Writers of America, she, her husband and son reside in central Pennsylvania with a rambunctious cattle dog, a stoic female cat, and a male cat unfazed by fireworks, gunshots, big rigs, deep snow or thunderstorms. JERSEY DOGS and KINGZ of CASPIAN COUNTY, Clarke’s first two books of the McGuinness/Pedregon Casebook suspense mysteries, will drop with the BookBaby stork by early 2017.
Beth Fantaskey
Beth Fantaskey lives in Lewisburg with her husband, three daughters, and a menagerie that includes a dog, cat, hermit crab, immortal goldfish, and semi-tame cardinal named Robert. She is the author of the recently released middle-grade mystery ISABEL FEENEY, STAR REPORTER; YA mysteries BUZZ KILL and JEKEL LOVES HYDE; and several paranormal YA romances, all published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Writing as Bethany Blake, she has also written two upcoming mysteries for adults – DEATH BY CHOCOLATE LAB and DIAL MEOW FOR MURDER – to be published by Kensington in 2017.
Don Helin
Don Helin published his first thriller, THY KINGDOM COME, in 2009, and his second, DEVIL’S DEN, in 2012. SECRET ASSAULT won best thriller at the 2015 Indie Book awards. He writes articles for The Burg, a community newspaper in Harrisburg, and recently released his latest novel, ANGEL’S REVENGE. Visit him at www.donhelin.com.
Heather Heyford
Heather Heyford writes romance novels set in the wine country. Her first series, THE NAPA WINE HEIRESSES, is available from Kensingtonbooks.com in print and digital. THE CRUSH, Book 1 of AN OREGON WINE COUNTRY ROMANCE series, launches in October 2016. For latest news: tinyletter.com/HeatherHeyford. Visit Heather on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram.
Merry Jones
About twenty-five years ago, Merry Jones chucked her day job and began writing books. After several of her non-fiction and humor books were published, Merry got up the nerve to try writing her true passion, dark suspense. So far, she’s published a few anthology pieces and a dozen mysteries and thrillers, including the Elle Harrison, Harper Jennings and Zoe Hayes novels. Tonight she’ll read from her newest book, CHILD’S PLAY, coming out in January 2017.
Catherine Jordan
Catherine Jordan is the author of the horror novels SEEKING SAMIEL and THE BOOKSELLER’S SECRET. She edits and writes in different genres and is a contributor to The Burg Magazine, a variety of anthologies, and online publications. Catherine has been a judge for the Bram Stoker Award and the ITW Young Adult Award. She also facilitates writing courses and critique groups. Catherine lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and five children. Her books are available at www.sunburypress.com, www.amazon.com and www.barnesandnoble.com and through her website www.catherinejordan.com. Like Catherine on facebook.com/CatherineJordanBooks and follow on Twitter @CatherineBooks.
Nik Korpon
Nik Korpon is the author of THE SOUL STANDARD, THE REBELLION’S LAST TRAITOR, and BAR SCARS: STORIES, among others. He lives in Baltimore.
John L. Micek
John L. Micek is the Opinion Editor for PennLive/The Patriot-News of Harrisburg, Pa. Micek first discovered hardboiled detective fiction through Robert B. Parker’s “Spenser” novels and hasn’t looked back since. When he’s not trying his best to be Raymond Chandler, Micek can be found playing guitar and singing lead vocals in the power-pop band Milkshake Jones (www.reverbnation.com/milkshakejones) and handling bass duties for the Harrisburg-based ska band Fink’s Constant (www.finksconstant.com). He’s the author of two unpublished detective fiction novels and his work has appeared in Shotgun Honey and Powder Burn Flash. Tonight’s Noir at the Bar selection, “The Last Word,” is one of a series of short stories featuring McCormick and Thompson – the world’s most ethical assassins.
Eryk Pruitt
Eryk Pruitt is a screenwriter, author, and filmmaker living in Durham, NC, with his wife Lana and his cat Busey. His films have won awards at film festivals across the country, and his fiction has been published in Thuglit, Pulp Modern, Zymbol and The Avalon Literary Review to name a few. His novels DIRTBAGS and HASHTAG regularly top Best Of lists in the genre and are available both in print and e-formats. He’s been a finalist for a Derringer and is the host of the monthly radio show and podcast The Crime Scene with Eryk Pruitt. He drinks bourbon, if you’re curious.
Maria V. Snyder
Meteorologist turned novelist, Maria’s been writing fantasy and science fiction since she was bored at work and needed something creative to do. Fourteen novels and over a dozen short stories later, Maria’s been on The New York Times bestseller list, won a half-dozen awards, and has earned her Master’s degree in Writing from Seton Hill University where she’s now part of the MFA faculty because she loves to help other writers.
I also read a story, an excerpt from “Death Train to Hell.” If you’d like to listen to the entire story, it’s available here: “Death Train to Hell” audio story.
Erik Arneson 