JanDunlap.com » Murder on Warbler Weekend

Nomination for 2nd Birder Murder

admin — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 13:20:05 +0000

I just received confirmation that my second Bob White Birder Murder, “Murder on Warbler Weekend,” has been nominated for the 2009 Minnesota Book Award. That makes it two for two, since the first book in the series “The Boreal Owl Murder” received a nomination last year. Finalists will be announced in February.

This coming March is shaping up to be an interesting marketing month for me. The first weekend of the month I’ll be at the International Owl Festival in Houston, MN. Last year’s event was delightful, so I’m looking forward to meeting birders and signing books there again. For the last weekend in the month, I’ve been invited to come speak and sign books at the National Eagle Center in Wabasha, MN. I haven’t visited the new center there yet, and I’m really excited about seeing it and watching those gorgeous Bald Eagles from the center’s perfect vantage point. Check my events calendar for times and dates!

Finally Fall!

admin — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 13:30:21 +0000

Last month was a great kickoff for the release of my second Birder Murder, titled “Murder on Warbler Weekend.” The Launch party at Once Upon a Crime was a blast, and the next day I was at the reception for the Hawk Ridge celebration in Duluth, MN, where I met birders from across the upper Midwest. I spent the following morning at Hawk Ridge, watching migrants and people! When one of the naturalists walked by me with a bird tail sticking out of the bottom of an orange juice can, I had to stop him and ask about it. Guess what was in the can? A merlin! The naturalists catch birds for banding at the Ridge, and to keep the birds calm, they slide them into empty cans, which not only hoods the bird so it can’t see and panic, but effectively sheathes its wings to keep it calmer. Very cool! Shortly after that, the naturalist took the bird out of the can, displayed the bird to the folks at the Ridge, gave a very informative talk about the bird and then passed the bird along to be released back into the wild by one of the birders. I know I’ll never look at an orange juice can in the same old way again!

Other great news – some bird stores are now carrying my books, along with local bookstores. And reviews of “Murder on Warbler Weekend” should be out soon. Happy Fall!

What a difference a year makes…

admin — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 12:10:58 +0000

Great news! The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum is going to be carrying my Birder Murders! I’ve been trying to place “The Boreal Owl Murder” in the gift shop there for the last year, and now it’s a done deal, complete with some book signings for both “Boreal Owl” and my newest, “Murder on Warbler Weekend,” scheduled for the busy holiday shopping season. The Arb has visitors from all over the country (not to mention the world), so I thought it would be a great spot for some high visibility, not to mention all the birdwatchers that frequent the extensive grounds there. Another new spot I’ve landed is on the internet – my books are currently featured on a new website called Reading Minnesota that celebrates Minnesota books. Check it out at http://readingminnesota.blogspot.com.