A Wicked Welcome to Delia Pitts! **giveaway**

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by Julie, relieved there wasn’t too much snow in Somerville

I am delighted to welcome Delia Pitts back to the blog today! She’s got a new book coming out in July, and since this month is about looking forward I asked her to stop by and say hello. She’s also offering one commenter an ARC of the new book!

Lists for the Year Ahead

End of year lists blossom in December. When the days dwindle down to a precious few, pundits churn out best-of compilations that summarize the events and achievements of the preceding months.

But this is January, a time for looking forward, in anticipation or dread, but always ahead. So, I thought it would be fun to up-end that tradition. Instead of gazing backwards, why not look toward the favorites of 2024? The best of what’s to come. So, in these briefest of January days, I’ll offer prospective lists of things I hope to see and do this coming year.

  1. Ten best walk-off wins in Major League baseball. I’m skipping over the sports extravaganzas of the Super Bowl and March Madness in hopes of speeding the arrival of spring.
  2. Ten best airings of favorite classic movies. I’ll break this down as follows: four Casablancas; four Maltese Falcons, and two Wizards of Oz.
  3. Ten best new mysteries. Any genre, any length, any format.
  4. Ten best clap-backs to microaggressions. These could include a retort when the bookshop owner demonstrates her inability to tell apart three Black authors – who are standing in front of her. Or a comeback when the store clerk trails a Latino customer, offering harassment without any actual assistance. Or a rejoinder when the after-dinner speaker serves anti-queer “jokes.” Or a side-eye to yet another rendition of “I didn’t realize…I’m sorry if anyone felt hurt.” Or a riposte to puncture that sly antisemitic remark. Or a crisp get-lost to the latest mansplaining harangue. Dehumanizing acts – small and big – are not acceptable in 2024. Everyone can do better.
  5. Ten best meals out. Fancy restaurant, local diner, or dive bar, if it’s scrumptious, the feast will make my list.
  6. Ten best home-cooked meals. Who am I kidding? Any food prepared outside of a microwave qualifies.
  7. Ten best book referrals. From TikTok or Instagram or the local librarian or the indie bookseller, bring on those recommendations.
  8. Ten best online seminars, classes, or readings. Yes, Zoom still rules us all. Financial and physical accessibility is critical, so I’m on the look-out for top quality experiences of the remote kind.
  9. Ten best in-person conferences or meetings. Nothing beats the chance to lock eyes across a crowded room. And listen, learn, and enjoy together.
  10. Ten best backyard wildlife encounters. I’ve already seen deer, groundhogs, hawks, foxes, and rabbits. Not gonna count the squirrels, woodpeckers, cardinals, and jays who grace our house. I’m thinking a black bear sighting is overdue.
  11. Ten best champions of democracy. American democracy is on the line this election year. We all have a responsibility to protect it. We can do our part by voting, campaigning, contributing, and encouraging our neighbors to vote. But there will be some true heroes – election officials, journalists, poll volunteers, judges, civil servants, donors, political candidates, activist citizens – who will rise to ensure our democracy prevails. These are the people I’m adding to my list of democracy defenders. I hope there are more than ten.

What events or activities are you looking forward to as 2024 unfolds? Drop your thoughts in the comments for a chance to win a signed ARC of my newest mystery, Trouble in Queenstown. It comes out July 16 from Minotaur Books. Available now for pre-order everywhere.

About the book:

Evander “Vandy” Myrick became a cop to fulfill her father’s expectations. After her world cratered, she became a private eye to satisfy her own. Now she’s back in Queenstown, New Jersey, her childhood home, in search of solace and recovery. It’s a small community of nine thousand souls crammed into twelve square miles, fenced by cornfields, warehouses, pharma labs, and tract housing. As a Black woman, privacy is hard to come by in “Q-Town,” and worth guarding.

For Vandy, that means working plenty of divorce cases. They’re nasty, lucrative, and fun in an unwholesome way. To keep the cash flowing and expand her local contacts, Vandy agrees to take on a new client, the mayor’s nephew, Leo Hannah. Leo wants Vandy to tail his wife to uncover evidence for a divorce suit.

At first the surveillance job seems routine, but Vandy soon realizes there’s trouble beneath the bland surface of the case when a racially charged murder with connections to the Hannah family rocks Q-Town. Fingers point. Clients appear. Opposition to the inquiry hardens. And Vandy’s sight lines begin to blur as her determination to uncover the truth deepens. She’s a minor league PI with few friends and no resources. Logic pegs her chances of solving the case between slim and hell no. But logic isn’t her strong suit. Vandy won’t back off.

About the author:

Born and raised in Chicago, Delia Pitts graduated from Oberlin College with a Bachelor’s degree in history. After working as a journalist, she earned a Ph.D. in African history from the University of Chicago. She is a former U.S. diplomat and university administrator. After assignments that took her from West Africa to Mexico and from Texas to New Jersey, Delia left academia to begin writing the Ross Agency mysteries about a neighborhood detective firm in contemporary Harlem. Between writing her full-length novels, Delia has also found success with briefer crime fiction. Her short story, “The Killer,” was selected for inclusion in Best American Mystery and Suspense 2021. Another story, “Talladega 1925,” was published in The Chicago Quarterly Review’s Anthology of Black American Literature.

In 2022, Delia signed a book deal with St. Martin’s Minotaur Books to write her new Queenstown mystery series featuring Black private investigator Vandy Myrick. The first book, Trouble in Queenstown, will be published by Minotaur in summer 2024. Delia is an active member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and Crime Writers of Color. She also serves on the advisory committee for Bouchercon, the mystery and crime fiction community convention.

Delia and her husband live in central New Jersey and have twin sons living in Texas. To learn more about Delia and her books visit her website, deliapitts.com.

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Published by J.A. Hennrikus

One woman, three names, many books. As Julia Henry I wrote the Garden Squad series for Kensington. As J.A. Hennrikus I wrote the Theater Cop series, and as Julianne Holmes I wrote the Clock Shop series. I've been an arts administrator for my entire career, mostly in the performing arts. Currently I'm the ED of Sisters in Crime, a wonderful organization that promotes and supports crime writers. www.sistersincrime.org Connect with me on Facebook and Instagram! @JHAuthors

47 Thoughts

  1. Your new book is one thing I’m looking forward to this year! Welcome back to the blog, Delia.

    I echo you on the champions of democracy – so needed and appreciated – and all your other categories except maybe wildlife. I could do with fewer woodchucks and bunnies in my veggie garden. The first category? Well, as a person living with a Red Sox fan, here’s to a better team in 2024. Plus lots of visits with my new grandbaby!

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  2. Not certain why my reply is not posting. At 75, I’ll be happy to make it through the year (and ecstatic if 45 is no longer in the headlines). If that is too political, tough. All 45 all the time has gone on FAR too long.

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  4. I too live in New Jersey! You are a new author to me and just added you to my list. I need to go look so I can get some new books on my bookshelf. Congrats on the new book!

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  5. Delia, congrats on the upcoming book! Reading the synopsis has me quite intrigued and I’m adding it to my list assuming I don’t win the giveaway.

    As for things I’m looking forward to this year, I’m pretty basic. I’m looking forward to books coming out, signing events, concerts I’m going to and albums that are coming out.

    Admittedly, these aren’t very high-minded idealistic type hopes/desires but I tend not to get quite so specific beyond this stuff.

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  6. I’m looking forward to more outdoor adventures, hiking, camping, lots of walks. And lots of visits with my grands!

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  7. Can’t wait for Delia’s book!!! Thanks for your top tens, Julie! I love the idea of looking forward. Anticipation is right up there with gratitude for making me feel happy. 🙂

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  8. Love you tops for 2024!

    As for my list –
    Our planned trip to Alaska has to top the list. It was almost my home state and I’ve always wanted to go there. My parents loved it while stationed there and talked about it so fondly. I might add to this one that we’ve had black bear in our yard. I’m anxious to see grizzly bears in their natural environment.

    Taking photos of critters in the outdoors they live in – whether that’s locally or searched out on some other state. We never leave home without our cameras. There’s talk on the news of cougar being seen in our state. Catching it with my camera would be a great highlight of the year.

    Experiment with new recipes recommended to me. I’ve become leery of trying those in magazines or seen on line because of printing errors. Still looking for that absolutely perfect biscuit recipe.

    Traveling to new Amish communities we’ve not been to. Every time we visit one the peace that wraps us is better than a week at a spa (never had that but imagining it as so).

    Find new to me authors and fall in love with their books. Also to read this year’s books from known authors that I’m so excited about coming out this year. Well, let’s face it and sum it up into one word – BOOKS!

    Spend quality time with hubby. Folks think because you are retired and being around one another all the time that would be a given. However, getting older and slowing down means taking longer to get the have to get done things done and less time for the fun stuff. This year I want to “make” more time for the fun times. If it means packing up and going somewhere to do that, so be it. Love this man with all my heart and I can’t think of anything more I’d love to do than have fun with him and spend quality time with – even after 40+ years.

    I’m sure I’ll think of a lot more after I send this, but best leave some space for everyone else.

    Thank you for the fabulous chance to win an ARC of “Trouble in Queenstown”. Can’t wait for the opportunity to read and review it.
    2clowns at arkansas dot net

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  9. The book sounds great, Delia! What am I looking forward to? A year not crammed with medical emergencies, two new books in my existing series, and the start of a new series.

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    1. Thank you for your warm support! A big no to health emergencies and yes, please to your book releases and new writing projects!

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  10. no exciting plans for the year ahead – i just simply want to survive each day with a bit of grace and foster a sense of gratitude in that.
    fruitcrmble AT comcast DOT net

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    1. How important to raise grace and gratitude to the top of our 2024 lists. Thank you for the reminder!

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  11. Welcome to the Wickeds, Delia!. I am looking forward to things that are changing and things that are staying the same. Though since the pandemic, I never count on things staying the same.

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    1. Barbara, thank you for the warm welcome! Change and stability, two sides of the same coin? Hmmm…

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    1. Anne, here’s hoping all your wishes for a life full of travel and good health in 2024 come true!

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  15. Julie and all the Wickeds, thank you so much for inviting me back to the blog! Your welcome is warm, as always and I enjoyed the chance to think about some of the important things on the horizon for 2024.

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  16. How delightful to meet you, Delia! I am copying and rinting your list of “ten best”, and will read it often as a positive affirmation. I am moved by all that you included. I have to confess that I have not read any of your books, but now I am inspired to “investigate”, and start reading Trouble in Queenstown, which sounds fascinating! I am looking forward to celebrrating my 55th. wedding anniversary with my sweetheart and our family on March 02. We also have a granddaughter starting college in Valencia, Spain in the Fall, so we will go spend some time with her and travel to some areas of the country we have not yet been to. Other than that, I leave the planning to God, who provides no end to joy, fun and celebtations all around. I wish you a Joyful and healthy 2024 and beyond! Luis at ole dot travel

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    1. How good to meet you too! Congratulations on the big wedding anniversary coming up and all the travel ahead! Thank you for taking a look at my book!

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  18. I am looking forward to opening day for the 2024 baseball season! Even before that, I look forward to the Boston Red Sox beginning their spring training on February 24!

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  19. Some Highlights for the New Year My Granddaughter is having a baby in April or May, I will be traveling to Arizona to visit my Daughter and see my new Great Grand son or daughter. So excitement is in the air. Probably continue to down size and recycle and thoughts on what to grow in my garden this year. Have a great Year. deborahortega229@yahoo.com

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  20. A couple of upcoming things I am looking forward to is attending the sci-fi and anime convention with my family in February and in May my daughter will be graduating from high school.

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  21. Hi Delia, you have a very ambitious and interesting list. I’m looking forward to reading more this year and I’m adding your book to my TBR list. You are a new author to me and I’m looking forward to reading your book.

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  22. I can’t wait to read Trouble in Queenstown. I love your list but number 1 is over my head. I know nothing about sports. LOL. And number 11, absolutely! This will be the most important election in our history. Democracy vs Autocracy.

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  23. I am looking forward to all the new wonderful books that are going to become available this year. Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you.

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  24. Hi Delia,
    I am looking forward to your new book, I will add it to my “to read” list on goodreads.
    I don’t make plans for the new year, the last few years were too unpredictable.
    Good luck to you! Health and hugs
    Maggie

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