Michael Z. Lewin

"Wanted for Murder" was in Indianapolis on in 2003, presented by the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library in association with the Butler University Visiting Writers series.

Then we went in Edmond, Oklahoma - in the Oklahoma City area - at Edmond Library.

Finally we hit Las Vegas where we did the show as part of the 2003 Bouchercon mystery convention.

After which my colleagues returned to damp and gloom in England while I stayed in the US for another week so I could attend Muncie's Magna cum Murder mystery conference.

In 2005 I did a bit of a tour with my shows "Murder You Write" and "What Happens Next?"

Most of these programs were in the Midwest but I started off in Wallingford, Connecticut, where the audience divided into detective agencies to write endings to a story called "The Truth." As so often happens, they came up with things I'd never have thought of for myself. Writing stories is so much a matter of picking what interests whoever's writing, and each person is interested in different things.

Then I was off to the Indiana where I did "What Happens Next?" in archtecturally unique Columbus. So few cities or towns in the whole country have paid special attention to how their centers look that Columbus, with buildings from a dazzling array of internationally known architects must be unique. I was treated very well and I hope the folks in the audience in the lovely red room had a good time too. I'm hoping to post a picture of Columbus's jail once I get home (I'm writing now from my sister's in Connecticut.)

Then I went to Missouri to visit the impressive Central Methodist University in Fayette. A substantial and diverse audience got its mental teeth into "Cigarettes" and a few had the opportunity for extra credit for writing reviews of the program. I may post exerpts from them. On the other hand, I may not...

After an interlude at the Magna cum Murder mystery conference in Muncie - friendly and efficiently run as ever - I headed for a Halloween lunchtime program in Terre Haute, Indiana, and a lovely, sociable dinner the evening before.

The program on November 1st was in Evansville's fabulous new library - which includes a cafe called "Cup and Chaucer" and books for sale on the honor system. After lunch on the 1st I followed the advice of my hosts and walked through the old town to the Ohio River. The weather was sunny and warm (as it always is in Indiana in November, right?) and read my way through the historical plaques at the end of Main Street. Another generous crowd made the evening a very warm one.

And finally I launched myself in Anderson, Indiana, on November 2nd, where again there's been recent development of the central library. The whole ethos of getting people into the library almost for any reason is one that's only coming slowly to Britain. the product is a series of wonderful places for people to read, learn and compute. The program again threw up a variety of suggestions for the development of "Cigarettes" that I'd never considered before. Do yo think that Prince Charles might use the word "grub" for food? It was mooted.

Thank you everyone for making this tour such a friendly and memorable one.

Autumn 2008 will see me venturing to Indiana once again. I'll be at Magna cum Murder October 24-26.

At 3pm the afternoon of October 26th I'll be at the Kennedy Library in Muncie. I'll be talking for a bit about mystery writing and my career, and I'll be answering questions. There will be some books for sale, including some currenty out of print.

Then in the early evening of October 27th I'll be at Zionsville Public Library. There I'll be doing a version of my program, Murder You Write. People in the audience will be divided into detective agencies and I will present them a case - using one my short stories. We'll talk about it as I read it, and then the agencies will come up with their solutions. Prizes will be given...

Earlier in the week I'll be at The Murder Company, the wonderful mystery bookstore in Carmel. That will be at 7.30 on October 21st.