Host Robert Daniher (far left) with the cozy crew of (left to right) Mary McHugh, Carole Bugge (aka C.E. Lawrence), Susan Breen, and Peggy Ehrhart.
On Saturday, October 17, Madison Public Library and MWA-NY hosted the first-ever Bones & Scones reading event in Madison, New Jersey. A cozy mystery version of Noir at the Bar, Bones & Scones was the brainchild of MWA-NY’s Robert J. Daniher and Madison librarian Cassidy Charles (who buys all the mysteries for the library) as a way for cozy writers to connect with readers at an event similar to the popular Noir at the Bar reading series. What better location for a cozy reading event than a library with tea and scones?
The event was attended by almost 40 people who enjoyed scones and tea at the library while listening to four MWA cozy authors Peggy Ehrhart, Susan Breen, Mary McHugh, and Carole Bugge (aka C.E. Lawrence) read 8-minute excerpts from their work.
Daniher opened the event with a welcome to everyone and then introduced each of the authors. Ehrhart read from her first cozy work in progress; Breen read from her first mystery novel Maggie Dove, due out by Random House in 2016; McHugh read from her latest cozy novel Cancans, Croissants, and Caskets, out now from Kensington Press; and Bugge read from Who Killed Blanche DuBois, the first of her Claire Rawlings cozy series.
In between readings, authors were able to network with members of the local press and readers alike. The audience was responsive and the event wrapped with a brief Q&A with the MWA members. The library was so pleased with the turnout that they would like to host this twice a year. However, they may need to have more scones next time. Those flew off the table.
In addition to the MWA readers, women from a local writing group were also invited to participate and share their works in progress as part of a community outreach. One of those readers, Susan Danberry who read from her unpublished manuscript, later joined MWA after learning about the organization at the event. We welcome her.