Seven days in the book world with Melodie Johnson Howe

Melodie, who was discovered by Hollywood at twenty one and acted alongside Clint Eastwood, Alan Alda and James Caan to name but a few always dreamed of being a writer. Just married and raising a young family she studied creative writing alongside acting. In 1980 she wrote her first play The Lady of the House. She quit acting when it ceased to fulfill her creative side and turned to writing. Her first two novels were The Mother Shadow (nominated for both an Agatha and an Edgar award) and Beauty Dies. Then came the Diana Poole series, starting with City of Mirrors.
Melodie is still married to Bones, they have three grown up children.

Here is Melodie's week in her own words.

This has been a busy week for me, but I always manage to get my reading in at night, in bed.  I don’t judge a book by its cover but by its weight. So if I fall asleep while reading I won't jerk awake with a broken nose.

I have just finished reading Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty. I admire her deft wit, and how she delves into the jumbled morality that most families live with.

Now I am back in Three Pines with Armand Gamache. I love Louise Penny’s series. In A Great Reckoning, I can taste and smell the food that Gabri and Olivier serve in their bistro.  I’m planning to go to Three Pines one Christmas. If I can find it on the map.

I’ve also been reading Elizabeth Gilbert’s, Big Magic. In all honesty I wouldn't read this book if I were not going to be on a panel about it. I tend to shy away from tomes on creativeness. But she delivers a down home view on creativity that touched me. Whether you’re knitting a sweater, writing a memoir, throwing pots, designing a garden or painting you probably have doubts about you own drive and imagination (who doesn’t?). This is the perfect read for you.

Melodie's week in a nutshell

Truly Madly Guilty (2016)
A Great Reckoning (2016)
Big Magic (2015)

Hold A Scorpion (#2 in the Diana Poole series)
will be out in hardcover October 2016 9781605989679

Here is a sneak peak at the cover art

More at http://www.melodiejohnsonhowe.com/index.html