Spotlight on PA: 1st in series highlighting chapter regions

Join us on Nov. 11 for the first in a series of Zoom chapter meetings that shine a spotlight on members that, because of geographic location, find it difficult to attend meetings in New York. The November meeting features three notable authors from the states of Pennsylvania. And, we do mean states. John Vercher won accolades for his first novel set in Pittsburgh. USA Today and Wall Street Journal best-selling author Lisa Regan writes a series set in the center of the state. Multiple award-winning author Merry Jones lives in Philadelphia and has written over twenty books: thrillers, non-fiction and humor. The panel members who write about Pennsylvania and in Pennsylvania will discuss the challenges shared by authors writing about less-familiar locales as they relate to all aspects of their writing. The conversation will also address building writing communities outside of publishing centers like New York.

The event will be streaming live on our Facebook page.

Please click here to let us know if you’ll be coming.

Merry Jones

Merry Jones is the multiple award-winning author of over twenty books—thrillers, non-fiction and humor. Her latest, THE WOMAN IN THE CUPBOARD, came out in late September. Jones is a member of Mystery Writers of America, The Authors Guild, International Thriller Writers and The Liars Club, with whom she co-hosts a weekly podcast (The Oddcast) and a monthly writers coffeehouse. An avid rower, she lives with her husband in Philadelphia.

Lisa Regan

Lisa Regan is the USA Today & Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Detective Josie Quinn series, as well as several other crime fiction titles. Her novels have been translated into several other languages. She has a bachelor’s degree in English and Master of Education Degree from Bloomsburg University. She lives just outside of Philadelphia with her husband, daughter and her Boston Terrier named Mr. Phillip. She is a member of International Thriller Writers, Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime and Crime Writers Association. She is currently under contract to write a total of twenty Detective Josie Quinn novels. Book number ten in the series, BREATHE YOUR LAST, releases on Dec. 9.

John Vercher

John Vercher is a writer currently living in the Philadelphia area with his wife and two sons. He has a Bachelor’s in English from the University of Pittsburgh and an MFA in Creative Writing from the Mountainview Master of Fine Arts program and served as an adjunct faculty member at Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia. John’s debut novel, THREE-FIFTHS, launched Sept. 10, 2019, from Agora, the diversity-focused imprint of Polis Books. THREE-FIFTHS was chosen as the launch title for the imprint and has received strong praise from Kirkus and starred reviews from the Library Journal and Booklist.

THREE-FIFTHS was named one of the best books of 2019 by the Chicago Tribune, a 2019 Best Debut Novel by CrimeReads and a 2019 Top 10 Crime Fiction Debut by Booklist.

In addition, THREE-FIFTHS has been nominated for:

• Left Coast Crime’s “Lefty” Award for Best Debut Novel
• The Anthony Award for Best First Novel
• Best Debut Novel (2019) for The Strand Magazine’s Critics’ Awards
• The Mystery Writers of America’s Edgar Award for Best First Novel.

You can find him on Twitter @jverch75, on Instagram atjohnvercher75, and on Facebook at John Vercher—Author.

Please make sure you follow the MWA-NY webpage so the livestream will be easily available.

And please remember to support our indie bookstores as well as our authors by buying any books that interest you at one of the following links or at your local indie bookstore:

• Hockessin Bookshelf
• Kew and Willow Books
• KGB Event The Cloak and Dagger