Happy October, everyone! 

Do you like spooky season? Do you celebrate Halloween? Do the leaves turn where you are? I love October and agree with Anne Shirley, who says, "I am so glad to live in a world where there are Octobers." 

I'm on the road again, and on Zoom--hope to see you soon!

Southport Literary Fair

Southwest Library, 7979 38th Avenue, Kenosha,

October 5th, 11 AM--5 PM 

Free and open to the public

Panel, "Words that Haunt," 1 PM

Sadie Hartmann, aka Mother Horror, in conversation with 

Clay McLeod Chapman, Kelly Dwyer, and Richard Thomas

Live discussion over Zoom

Monday, October 7th, 

5 PM Pacific, 7 PM Central, 8 PM Eastern time

Free! Just join the Zoom link! 

Zoom link for event

October in-person book events in 

Southern California 

"Prepping for Publication" live event

Register here

My book events in September--live and on Zoom--have been so fun! 

I hope you can join me in October!

Let me know how you're doing, what you're reading, and how you're celebrating fall! 

The first live Zoom event is Thursday, September 12th, 7 PM Central, when I will be in conversation with Amy Margolis, the Director of the University of Iowa's Iowa Summer Writing Festival. If you know Amy, then you know that she is brilliant and funny, so this is sure to be a good time!

The 45-minutes to 1-hour event will include a discussion with Amy about my new novel GHOST MOTHER published by Union Square & Co., a short reading, and a question-and-answer session with all of you!

There is no need to register for this event. Simply Join the Zoom discussion with Amy and Kelly here on Thursday, September 12th, at 7 PM Central.

One of the great joys of teaching at  The Iowa Summer Writing Festival   is that I get to meet and become friends with the most incredible people! One such person is Jessica Kusisto, a book influencer with an impressive YouTube channel and a super cute Etsy Page.

Jessica will be hosting my presentation on "Prepping for Publication." Our one-hour discussion is a truncated version of the "Prepping for Publication" day-long and weekend-long workshops I teach through the Iowa Summer Writing Festival, and will include the following topics:

• Traditional publishing vs. self-publishing and what's right for you
• How to find an agent
• How to write a query letter (including hooks)
• Feedback on your own query letter hooks! (The one-sentence description of your book that gets readers excited to read on.) If you'd like feedback, please come prepared to share your hook with the group.
• Note that one person who attends will receive a free copy of GHOST MOTHER. (U.S. residents only--sorry.) 

Please register for the FREE event, "Prepping for Publication," with Jessica and Kelly here.

Amy and Jessica and I hope to see you at these upcoming live Zoom events! 

Thank you for your support, all, and let me know how your readings and writings are going!

GHOST MOTHER was published by Union Square & Co. on August 6, and I've loved hearing from readers ever since. If you've had the chance to read the novel, please let me know what you think! And please let others know by posting on goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and social media, if you're so inclined. I try to read every review and I appreciate every one. (Well, not every one, ha!)

I've participated in two in-person events, and both have exceeded my expectations. Dr. Marc Seals and I discussed unreliable narrators, gothic literature, and the meaning(s) of the title. At my Chicago event, I talked about the inspiration for the novel and gave a short reading. And at both events, we had a lively question-and-answer session, in which people asked thoughtful and interesting questions, and I attempted to give thoughtful and interesting answers. 

Also we had Ghost Mother cake! (see above and below)

Thank you for your support! 

I hope to see you soon!