It's Time to Start Talking about Murder

Book Event this Sunday in MSP!

I nearly lost my mind while writing my fourth novel, Making Friends Can Be Murder, out June 10, 2025. The circumstances that led to my despair were myriad and complex: grief, constant change in my professional life, the publishing industry in general, COVID, and daily inconveniences like—whatever, a broken dishwasher and a puddle of rainwater in the basement. I don’t even remember.

I just couldn’t handle the daily grind. It was way, way too grindy.

I’m not sure how much people want to hear the gruesome truth about getting this new book finished. Let’s just say, a sun-dappled room-of-her-own with a cup of aromatic tea and a vase of fresh flowers, it was not. It was dirty sweatpants and holey socks and so many naps and pats on the backs, and I don’t even know what. Crying. Snot. That kind of thing.

The irony of Making Friends is that even though I wrote it in a VDT (very dark time), and even though it has two murders and a kidnapping, it’s the happiest thing I’ve produced. Readers won’t feel stressed at all about unlikeable female characters (they’re all likable in this one, even the killer), extramarital secrets, helicopter parents, intense youth sports, or anything else I’ve already written about.

It’s just one little pool of blood under a bridge and a troupe of intrepid amateur investigators. Everyone is charming and funny, and everything turns out okay. It’s a cozy, not a thriller. There’s a happy ending and an open door for a sequel. I love it.

I love it even though, and maybe because, its completion and publication seemed so unlikely so, so many times.

We’re entering big-time promotional season for this new book, which means a couple of things.

• First, I have swag! If you want a snazzy booklet (left in the photo above) with the first three chapters in it, let me know! I’ll send one if you preordered. I’ll just send ten or twenty to the first people who ask for them. Reply with your mailing address if you want one!

• I also have stickers! I’ll send ten or twenty of those, too. I’ll put an extra sticker in the envelope and you can share with a friend.

• I have my first event booked in this new Making Friends era. It’s this weekend, sponsored by the adorable indie shop, Cream & Amber, here in the Minneapolis area. On Sunday at the Hopkins Public Library, I’ll talk about this new book and also about the first three. I’ll answer any questions you have about writing and publishing. I’ll do my best to be charming and approachable. I usually do okay. :) Register for free at the link above, and I’ll give you both the booklet and the sticker (or five) while you’re there.

• Preordering the new book is the best way you can support me (or any author). Cream & Amber has it available to preorder here.

See you soon! And, please, let me send you some stuff. :)