New Englanders read crime stories in Exeter

One reason crime stories are often written in New England, according to publisher Kate Flora, is that people here get trapped together in close quarters during long winters. That can lead to dark, mischievous thoughts.
Exeter’s Water Street Bookstore is hosting a reading by writers of “Deadfall: Crime Stories by New England Writers,” on Saturday, May 9 at 6 p.m.

The writers include Flora, Norma Burrows, J.E. Seymour, Vaughn C. Hardacker and Pat Remick. This is the sixth annual crime anthology published by Level Best.

These short stories all deal with crime, Flora said, whether there’s a scam, caper, robbery or murder. “All the things that people get up to,” she said. At the center of each plot is a mystery or a puzzle to be solved.

Because the anthology is by New England writers, Flora said similar themes arise. But she said there are differences within the region, too, like the gothic tradition of Salem, Mass., versus old-fashioned fishing towns like Gloucester, Mass., or the back roads of Maine as compared to the suburbs of Connecticut.

Even the editors contributed a story in the anthologies. Flora’s story is “Flowers for Amelia,” which she said is about friendship, poison and dying.

This is the second anthology that has included Burrows’ work. She was inspired to submit a story after attending a reading at Water Street Bookstore, according to Flora. The publisher encourages aspiring writers to attend the upcoming to hear about the process.

Seymour is from New Hampshire and has published stories in numerous magazines and anthologies. Hardacker has completed five novels and numerous short stories. He is a member of the New England Chapter of the Mystery Writers of America. Remick won the 2007 Al Blanchard Crime Fiction award. Flora is a former attorney and the author of 11 books. She is a partner in Level Best Books.

This event is free and open to the public. Water Street Bookstore is at 125 Water St., Exeter, 603-778-9731.

poetry & performance in Kittery

The Kittery Art Association Music Series presents Store of Wishbones, a “poetry theater” performance of original poems, on Friday, May 8 at 7:30 p.m.

Directed by Kimberly Green, this staged event is a departure from the usual poetry reading in which a poet reads at a podium from pages of written work. “My aim is to create a more dramatic experience of poems—spoken directly to the audience in a spirit of shared intimacy,” said Green in a press release. The writers will perform poems as short dramatic monologues, and the collection of poems will be presented as a whole.

The work will be performed by poets and actors Gerry Duffy, Shelley Girdner, Sarah Lewis and Tony Lee. A musical score performed by Agnes Charlesworth on piano and Cynthia Chatis on flute will be interwoven throughout the poems.

“If poem-making is a form of devotion—and I believe it is that,” said Green, “then the poems and music give expression to what we hold most dear.” The performance is intended to create a more direct means of expression.

Doors open at 7 p.m. for mingling and refreshments. There is an $8 suggested donation at the door, and seating is limited. The event is located at 8 Coleman Ave., Kittery Point, Maine. For more information, call 207-439-5401.

author hosts book group in Portsmouth

Kamila Shamsie, a Pakistani novelist who now lives in London, will be at RiverRun Bookstore in Portsmouth to discuss her novel, “Burnt Shadows,” on Friday, May 8.

The discussion begins in book group format at 6 p.m., and the author will give a reading at 7 p.m. The event is free and open to the public, but reservations for the book group should be made to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

The story begins on August 9, 1945, in Nagasaki, and ends in 2002 in the United States, as a man in a prison cell is waiting to be sent to Guantanamo Bay. It is an epic narrative of love and betrayal. Shamsie has just been short-listed for the prestigious Orange Prize for fiction.

RiverRun Bookstore is located at 20 Congress St., Portsmouth, 603-431-2100.