Patry Francis' debut book The Liar's Diary comes out in paperback today. Due to serious illness, Patry can't be out there doing promotional work, so the mystery community is doing it for her. I don't know Patry, but I do know some of the folks she's worked with in the Killer Year group. So I wanted to do my small part in helping out. You can learn more about Patry's experiences at her site and from her blog

On Saturday, December 8, 2007, African Voices and Frederick Douglass Creative Arts Center will host "The Art of Mystery," a forum exploring the secrets of writing great mystery stories. The Circle will offer information on craft and outlets for writers wishing to get their work published in magazines, books and online publications. A special mystery writing workshop will be hosted by award-winning writer Grace Edwards, the author of Do or Die, the fourth novel in the Harlem-based popular mystery series featuring former cop Mali Anderson. Check out the African Voices website for more information.

The Chopin Manuscript is the project that I mentioned in my last post. It's now available for pre-order from Audible. Alfred Molina is the narrator. The authors are Jeffrey Deaver, Lisa Scottoline, Lee Child, Joseph Finder, David Hewson, Peter Spiegelman, SJ Rozan, Erica Spindler, John Ramsey Miller, James Grady, PJ Parish, Jim Fusilli (also served as project editor), David Corbett, John Gilstrap, and Ralph Pezzullo. Here's what Audible has as it's description:

Former war crimes investigator Harold Middleton possesses a previously unknown score by Frederic Chopin. But he is unaware that, locked within its handwritten notes, lies a secret that now threatens the lives of thousands of Americans. As he races from Poland to America to uncover the mystery of the manuscript, Middleton will be accused of murder, pursued by federal agents, and targeted by assassins. But the greatest threat will come from a shadowy figure out of his past: the man known only as Faust. A dream team of top-selling authors comes together for the first time to craft the ultimate international thriller - delivered to you in exciting serial fashion, with weekly cliff-hanger installments beginning September 25.