The organizers of the Ashland Mystery Festival are expanding on last year’s mystery writers’ panel and book signing by adding a mystery feature film and a writers’ workshop. The Mystery Festival Weekend, focusing on the theme “New England Crime,” will be held on April 7 and 8 in the Ashland Library, 66 Front St., and is free and open to the public. Participants interested in attending the writers’ workshop on Saturday are asked to register in advance by calling the library, 508-881-0134, or emailing aplace@ashlandmass.com.
Friday, April 7:
7 pm: A full-length mystery feature film.
Saturday, April 8:
10 am to noon: Mystery Writers’ Workshop led by Leslie Wheeler, author of the Miranda Lewis ‘living history’ mysteries.
1 to 4 pm: Moderated Author Panel and Book Signing with the following authors:
Ray Daniel is an award-winning author of Boston-based crime fiction and is the author of the Tucker Mysteries. His short story “Give Me a Dollar” won a 2014 Derringer Award for short fiction and “Driving Miss Rachel” was chosen as a 2013 distinguished short story by Otto Penzler, editor of The Best American Mystery Stories 2013.
Hallie Ephron, “New York Times” bestselling author, is an Edgar Award finalist and four-time finalist for the Mary Higgins Clark Award. Ephron writes suspense novels she hopes readers can’t put down. She teaches writing at workshops and writing conferences across the country. An award-winning crime fiction book reviewer, she wrote an ON CRIME column for the “Boston Globe” for 10 years.
Leslie Wheeler is an author of books about American history and biographies. Wheeler now writes the Miranda Lewis ‘living history’ mystery series. She is a member of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime, serving as Speakers Bureau Coordinator for the New England Chapter.
The panel will be moderated by Alexis Christopher, a would-be mystery writer who said she is “always looking for potential murder sites, victims and unusual characters.” Christopher is an avid mystery reader and member of a local Mystery Circle and of Sisters in Crime.
The organizers, Arts! Ashland Alliance and the Friends of the Ashland Public Library, promise the event will appeal to anyone who likes a good story. For more information, visit http://friendsoftheapl.com/Mystery-author-2017-04-07.html or call the library, 508-881-0134.