Writers Unplugged

Anastasia Hastings is the pen name of Connie Laux, who writes across several genres but is most comfortable with mystery.  Inspired by the Victorian Era, Sherlock Holmes, and stories from her father who was a Cleveland Police Officer, Anastasia’s novels are a treat to read. 

Anastasia will be discussing her most recent book, Of Manners and Murder, the first in the Dear Miss Hermione Mystery series. 

Liv Constantine is the pen name of sisters Lynne Constantine and Valerie Constantine. Together, they are the bestselling author of the Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick The Last Mrs. Parrish, The Last Time I Saw You, The Wife Stalker, and The Stranger in the Mirror. Their books have been praised by USA Today, The Sunday Times, People Magazine, and Good Morning America, among many others and are in development for television and film.

Lynne and Valerie will discuss their latest book, The Senator’s Wife, filled with secrets and twists, it promises to be another book you won’t be able to put down. 

Hannah Mary McKinnon left a career in the business world to turn to her first love of writing and as she says, “..never wants to look back.”  Her first book was a romantic comedy but then she quickly switched to suspense.  With every novel since, Hannah has you continuing to turn the pages late into the night and always with an ending you won’t see coming.  

Hannah Mary McKinnon is the internationally bestselling author of suspense novels and will be discussing her latest book, The Revenge List.

USA Today and internationally bestselling author, Kimberly Belle will discuss her latest book, The Personal Assistant.  Kimberly has written nine novels including The Marriage Lie, a Goodreads Choice Awards semifinalist for Best Mystery & Thriller, and the co-authored #1 Audible Original, Young Rich Widows. Her books have sold over a million copies worldwide and have been optioned for film and television.

Mary Kubica discusses her latest book, Just the Nicest Couple. Mary is a New York Times and USA Today best-selling writer of several suspense novels.  Her books have been translated into over 30 languages and sold over two million and is deservedly referred to by Kirkus Reviews as a “helluva storyteller.”

Just the Nicest Couple is described as an “edge-of-your-seat thriller filled with delicious lies and shocking betrayals and shows how even the deepest secrets will always find a way to the surface.”

Recorded LIVE, join award-winning authors Lori Rader-Day and Ann Cleeves in conversation as they discuss their journeys of writing and their latest books.

Death at Greenway by Lori Rader-Day is a mystery set during World War II amid the evacuations of millions of children from the Blitz with ten of them relocated to Agatha Christie’s house in Greenway. Her previous five novels have been described as “dark stories-with heart.”

Ann Cleeves’ latest series introduces readers to Detective Matthew Venn, who is both complex and relatable. She has written a number of series and recently added a new mystery to Vera Stanhope’s caseload with The Rising Tide. Ms. Cleeves’ books have been produced for PBS television with the beloved Vera and Shetland series.

Nancy Pearl is an American librarian, best-selling author, literary critic, and the former Executive Director of the Washington Center for the Book at Seattle Public Library.

Nancy has been awarded Library Journal’s Librarian of the Year, and has received the National Book Award Literarian Award for Outstanding Service to the American Literary Community.  She also has her own action figure.  Nancy Pearl discusses her career as a writer, her advice for finding just the right book to read, and the importance of reading.

Alka Joshi discusses the last book in her trilogy, The Perfumist of Paris.  The first in the series, The Henna Artist was selected for Reese Witherspoon’s Book Club and not only became a New York Times bestseller but is also in development at Netflix.

From Jaipur to Paris, this sweeping series has compelling characters and such a wonderful sense of place, you will feel like you are traveling across the world without leaving your chair.

Amy Impellizzeri is described as a reformed Corporate Litigator turned award-winning writer. After thirteen years working in New York City, Ms. Impellizzeri left to write and advocate for working women and women entrepreneurs. Combining her work experience and writing talent she launched the legal drama Riversedge Law Club Series. Amy will be discussing Barr None, the second of this riveting series. Amy is a member of Tall Poppy Writers, Past President of the Women’s Fiction Writers Association, and is on faculty at Drexel University’s MFA Creative Writing program.

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Host, Jen Jumba, librarian at Cleveland Public Library, is joined in conversation with award-winning, Helaine Mario. You all are in for a treat to learn more about her main character, Maggie O’Shea’s journey, which is infused with classical music, art, and mystery.

Helaine Mario was born and raised in New York City. She studied at Boston University where she met her husband and raised two children and as she says, many cats! Her family has grown as she has 5 grandchildren, who she absolutely adores. They moved to Washington DC where she worked in the White House for President Clinton.