Libraries are our friends

So many books, so little time, as the saying goes. That hit home especially this weekend as I worked at the local Friends of the Alamosa Public Library facility sorting and culling donated books for the sale shed. Our few volunteers have been able to donate more than $20K to the library in the last 3 years and supply groups from the detention center to a preschool reading program with perfectly readable volumes. I really have to watch myself, or I would have stacks of books in every corner of the house! Unfortunately, due to lack of space and the interests of our customers, the Friends must recycle or dispose of too many books and materials, from recipe pamphlets and textbooks to the rare but not valuable publication lovingly save by someone from the early 1900s. I give a great shout out to Salai Taylor and all the other librarians who work so hard for readers and writers. She sponsored a great local authors' forum last fall and we hope to repeat it. We have given copies of our books to various libraries and they always are warmly received--even checked out! Support your local library and they will support you!

Pictures from Stella's - good people, good food, great time!

Taos is known for a lot of things, but check out our picture below which shows part of the Taos Mystery Book Club and yours truly authors having a good time at the lunch meeting of mystery lovers at Stella's. 

Any other pictures out there of book clubs and their authors?  Let's see them!!!

Easter Monday - Anniversary of the Sicilian Vespers!

I know all of you out there know that the Easter Monday, 1282, is the anniversary of the Sicilian Vespers when the Sicilians, with the help of the Aragonese, threw off the yoke of their Angevin oppressors. Let's all celebrate!!!! Easter Monday is a Sicilian tradition wherein the Sicilians gathered at the church of Santo Spirito, which in the Middle Ages used to be outside the walls of the capital city of Palermo. The Sicilians would gather in the piazza in front of the church at Vespers time to finish their celebration of Easter.

Mille grazie to Jan from San Acacio and Carolyn from Questa - the Regno Series

I want to thank both of you for your great comments on Murder at the Leopard and Malice Stalks the Leopard. Jan, our ETA for the third book is this October but don't hold me to that! I'll be happy to keep you posted. If either of you have the time or inclination, a review of our books would be most appreciated on Amazon. I'm thrilled that you love our books and you'll be glad to know that when the Vespers Trilogy is completed, a new generation will be showcased and that trilogy will be called The Regno Trilogy, the Regno being the Kingdom of Sicily. Stay tuned! Any and all comments and critiques are totally welcome. Also your favorite mystery authors, favorite mystery books and favorite historical novels.

Wine anyone - how about Sicilian wine???

Now I know there aren't a lot of wine drinkers out there (lol) but if you like wine, European travel, traveling around Sicily and Italy and might want to try out local wines, check out this article from the travel magazine called Afar - http://www.afar.com/magazine/into-the-vines-the-wines-and-winemakers-of-sicily?&utm_source=newsletter041914&utm_medium=email&utm_content=logo&utm_campaign=weekly_wander

Bryony - Mandrake

In Malice Stalks the Leopard, Ysabella pulls mandrake from her apron pocket to escape her lecherous captor. Also called bryony, mandrake is related to deadly nightshade, henbane and belladonna. It is common in southern Italy and Sicily. It has long been used in magic, wicca, and ritual due to its hallucinogenic properties and its ability to induce sleep. It is said to increase physical passion when mixed with red wine, but emotional love when mixed with white wine. The mandrake plant is said to scream when it is pulled, and for the safety of the harvester, s/he should dig around the plant and then let a dog tied to it by rope actually pull it. Mandrake causes vomiting, diarrhea, and with enough, asphyxiation. A dose carefully calculated could be used as a narcotic for surgery, but watch out for its power to cause insanity!

Mystery Book Club - Stella's in Taos - great fun!!

So this last Wednesday we met for great Italian food at Stella's in Taos with the Taos Mystery Book Club.  What terrific readers and people!  Good questions, perceptive observations.  I hope to see them again soon.  Then off to Moby Dickens - one of the great area independent book stores.  If you haven't been there - on Bent Street in Taos, I advise you to visit.  It's wonderful.  Say hi to Betty when you browse around.

Learning poker

Okay, this afternoon I did something NOT medieval - I learned how to play poker.  So every Friday afternoon, I'm on it!  Love cards and card playing.  what kind of cards did they play in the Middle Ages???

Mystery Book Club in Taos - at Stella's Italian restaurant

OK mystery fans, on to Stella's Italian Restaurant in Taos tomorrow to talk about Murder at the Leopard.  Will they serve arancini?  Remains to be seen but we will certainly ask the best Italian restaurant in Taos if they have a recipe for it!  Otherwise, you'll be stuck with mine - historical mysteries and recipes.  I'm bringing my ginger almond biscotti - yummers.  See you there!

Malice Stalks the Leopard

And of course, the Vespers Trilogy continues in Book #2 - Malice Stalks the Leopard, when our tavern owners again become embroiled in a political secret affecting Palermo, Sicily, and a Mediterranean dynasty. 

Flyer for Taos Book Signing

Check out the flyer for our book signing in Taos on Wednesday, April 16 at 12 noon. If Stella lets me, I'll even bring some biscotti for everyone to nibble on with their espresso!

Book Signing in Taos!!!

For lovers of murder mysteries and historical novels - Murder at the Leopard is the featured book for The Mystery Club of Taos! Come join us at 12 noon at Stella's (fabulous Italian food) on April 16 for Q & A and a good time in general!