by Lance Zarimba

The days are getting shorter, and the kids on their way back to school. Christmas shopping has begun (two gifts bought) and books are being sorted and readied for Bouchercon in Madison, Wisconsin at the end of September. The conference is sold out and the time is quickly approaching. The big event starts Thursday, September 28 and ends on Sunday, October 1.

The American Guest of Honor is Nevada Barr, and the British Guest of Honor is M.C. Beaton. Fan Guest of Honor is Jim Huang, Toastmaster is William Kent Krueger, and the Lifetime Achievement will be going to Robert B. Parker.

Speaking of William Kent Krueger, he is currently on tour for his new book Copper River . After the cliffhanger ending of Mercy Falls . Kent moves Cork O'Connor to the Upper Pennisula of Michigan for his latest novel. This area of the country is well known by those who read Kathleen Hills and Steve Hamilton, who have their series set in the cold UP (Upper Pennisula).

This time a girl's body is floating in Copper River, a place in the UP, where Cork is hiding from unknown contact killers. His leg is immoblized following a gunshot wound. But his widowed cousin is trying to help him out, until Jewell's son and his best friend are placed in jeopardy. Now a severly limited Cork is back in action in the great white north.

Sujata Massey's new book, Girl in a Box is out, and Sujata is touring and can also be seen at Bouchercon. Japanese-American sleuth, Rei Shimura, is back and introuble again. This time she's going undercover as a clerk in a big Tokyo department store. Rei is freelancing with a government agency with CIA ties and is at risk of maxing out her credit card with the latest fashions and an in store discount. But after overhearing a conversation that she wasn't meant to, Rei's cover is blown and she is racing to unmask a killer before he finds her.

P.J. Tracy's Monkeewrench crew is back in Snow Blind . Winter in Minnesota, who knew? After the holidays are over, what are you to do with all that snow? Have a snowman contest. A local Minneapolis park is soon filled with snowmen, but the fun and games soon end when two policemen are found inside two ofd the snowmen. The next day, another body is found and true to Minnesota winters, a blizzard is coming. Racing against time before the clues are lost under inches of snow or driven away with the gale force winds, can the Minneapolis police and Monkeewrench crew find a killer before more bodies are found in the spring thaw?

Look for Lori Armstrong's new book Hallowed Ground coming out this fall. Her first book, Blood Ties , is up for the coveted Shamus Award for best novel. My fingers are crossed for this beautiful and talented writer from South Dakota! (Not that I'm prejudiced living in South Dakota or anything.) But if you haven't read Blood Ties , pick it up at Bouchercon or your local book store. Lori is going to be a hot new author coming up in the ranks quickly.

Laurell Hamilton's Danse Macabre takes Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, in to her most darkest and dangerous place yet, Motherhood? Her relationship with Jean-Claude, Master Vampire of the City St. Louis, and her werewolf boyfriend, Richard may soon be hearing the patter of little feet, vampire? werewolf? Vampire hunter? Human? The ardeur is a sexual force that seems to be seeking out new men for Anita and seems to acting on it's own. Will Anita have time to change diapers while raising the dead or slaying vampires? Read her new book and find out.

If you're looking for a hot, new publisher, check out Busted Flush Press , and their new anthology: Damn Near Dead: An Anthology of Geezer Noir . 27 authors such as Laura Lippman, Victor Gischler, Sean Doolittle, Jason Starr, Zoe Sharp, Jeff Abbott, Mark Billingham, Ken Bruen, and Bill Crider to name a few have written stories with noir seniors. The cover says Bold, Out, and Uncontroled, all new stories by a great collection of authors. David Thompson, manager at Murder by the Book in Houston, Texas, should be very proud of this book.

Also check out Echo Park by Michael Connelly, All Mortal Flesh by Julia Spencer-Fleming, Fear by Jeff Abbott, and Messenger of Truth by Jacqueline Winspear.

The summer movies are almost over and hopefully the fall and winter wave will bring some Oscar winning movies and performances. Don't miss, Little Miss Sunshine to see what family support is all about. And just be careful flying, there may be snakes on a plane…..