Michael Lawrence: the Season of Darkness will be showing in Exeter NH on September 22nd: stayed tuned for more details. I am so, so proud of this particular movie - the cast, crew, and energy are just so spot on. Be sure to check it out and check out the book page on this site and on IMDb while you're at it!

I've always been a bit of a DYI person. Not that I'm the type that makes my own cheese (though it's on my to-do list) or swaps out transmissions or anything intense like that. But when it comes to publishing and writing, I generally find myself trying to do everything. Sometimes I have great results. Sometimes it's more of a 'Lesson Learned' thing.

​Making my own cover for Michael Lawrence: the Season of Darkness was one of the latter. Don't get me wrong - I love this cover (the colors! the rose! the intrigue! Isn't it pretty?)! But over the course of the months, going to different live events, I got some feedback that made me realize that I have many things to learn about graphic design. Here are a few, which I now gladly share with you!

1: SIZING THE TYPE
Intention: The Season of Darkness is intended as the start of a small series, so I made the main character's name big, as it's the title of the series. 
Result: Almost everyone has assumed that Michael Lawrence is the author. It's only when they squint that they see my name. Unlike Laura Holt's attempt to drum up business, putting a man's name on my book hasn't helped sales, alas!
Conclusion: Make sure the author's name is large enough to see to deflect confusion. Also, when I re-do this cover, I'll probably be listing it as 'The Season of Darkness: a Michael Lawrence mystery'.

3: THE TAG-LINE
Intention: "Murder Will Out' is an idiom meaning 'murder cannot remain undetected'. I'd heard this phrase used over and over again in the mysteries I read and watched and it's the perfect tag for this particular case for reasons that I can't get into without spoilers. Plus, I knew it was English, which, as I was going for the feel of a British murder mystery, only added to its appeal.
Result: Turns out, whatever books or movies I was enjoying aren't commonly known. This phrase, which is of unknown origin but sometimes attributed to Chaucer, made more people question me than the numbers 1 and 2 combined. No one knew what it meant. As a result, no one was intrigued by it.
Conclusion: Run your tag line by a few people before you commit to them. It'll save you a lot of explanations in the long run.

In Summary, creating your own cover is a ton of fun and well-worth the time and effort. But do yourself a favor: show it to a few of your friends, neighbors, co-workers, or innocent passersby before you commit. You may be saving yourself a lot of explanations in the future!

​Name: Dr. Klugman
Position: Coroner
Category: Investigator
Played By: Robb Buckland

​(Excerpt from the book)
​​
The coroner was sitting on one of the five chairs that lined the wall, a clipboard in hand.
“Lawrence!” he called, when Lawrence lifted his head from his examination. “You look like something the cat dragged in.”
Dr. Klugman had worked in the state coroner’s office almost as long as Lawrence had been a cop and his signature caustic wit was legendary among his peers. He was a big man, with a shelf full of awards achieved through various martial arts competitions. He was thorough, competent, and unflappable, though his humor was not always in the best of taste. Lawrence often thought that his tactless front was Klugman’s way of keeping sane in what had to be an emotionally trying job.
Lawrence nodded wearily and rose to his feet. “I feel like it, too.” He gestured. “What have we got?”
“A dead woman.”
“I can see that.”
Klugman grinned, then turned to the victim, placing his hands on his widespread knees. “It’s impossible to determine what she died of here, but whatever it was, it wasn’t a pleasant way to go. You can see here, where her back is arched and the distension of the jaw line. Horrendous agony.” He grinned when Lawrence shuddered. “We are feeling skittish today..”
​

Robb Buckland is an actor, stuntman, martial artist, and Army Veteran. He's a veteran of over 40 years in martial arts, holds master level in multiple styles, has been awarded the title Kyoshi (teacher of teachers), and his expertise has lead to numerous film, TV, and magazine appearances. He founded Fearless Family Martial Arts and directs a stunt team for area film makers. He has also appeared in Narrow Street Films' Not That Guy and The Man Who Wasn't Tex Magru.

​

Name: Bridget Madden
Position: Student at Noble College, aspiring singer, Emma Gagon's ward
Category: Suspect
Played By: Calico Traynor

(Excerpt from the book:)
Calm, calm, Bridget. Calm.
She yanked out her phone, pulling up Colin’s number as she swore under her breath.
Men! They never get back to you, even when it’s important.
She sent him a quick, stinging reminder, and slapped the phone impatiently onto the counter. Closing her eyes, she took several deep breaths, then opened them and looked into the mirror. Large, dark eyes stared back at her from beneath long lashes. Her hair, black and glossy, was pulled up in a messy bun. She had dressed with more than her usual care this morning, selecting a salmon colored blouse to highlight her olive skin and high-heeled boots to disguise her short stature. She was slim and delicately featured, with an active mind and a temperament that reminded those who had known him of her father, a man Bridget had never met.
She stared at her reflection and the thought flashed through her mind before she could stop it: Is this really the face of a star?
The thought snapped her out of her reverie and she shook herself, thinking fiercely, You can’t afford that kind of thinking, Bridget, not today of all days.
She had to go out and rehearse and she knew that the act of singing would be soothing. Still she lingered in the bathroom, touching up her lipstick, checking her phone. Emma would be coming by the rehearsal today, bringing some woman with her. They’d want to talk and Bridget could not afford that. She had been carefully avoiding Emma for the past few days. All she needed was a few more hours to do what she knew had to be done.
You can’t interfere now, Emma. I can’t let you.
A string of piano chords rang merrily throughout the hall. Arlene was growing impatient.
Bridget took one last look at herself in the mirror and thought, This is the face of a woman who knows what she is doing. And no one, especially not Emma, is going to stop me...

Calico Traynor is an actress, history buff, and office manager who has worked on and off with Narrow Street Films since she was five years old. She's also worked on her own film projects, including a homage to the classic TV show Perry Mason. She now works at Narrow Street Films full time as an office manager, social media guru, and all-around wrangler.

Name: Emma Gagnon
Position: Professor at Noble College
Category: Victim
Played By: Susan Sanders

(Excerpt from book)
Then Harry gestured to the phone in her hand. “You’re a popular woman tonight.”
Her stomach clenched and suddenly Emma became alert. She swiped to open the phone, praying that her features were schooled enough so that Harry could not see the fear.
He can’t know. He’d never understand and he wouldn’t stand for it.
But it had to be done. Of that, Emma was sure.
It was as she had suspected; eight calls and a barrage of text messages, each one more insistent and panicky. They were all from the same person, all starting from early this evening, all doubtless about the same subject.
So, Emma thought. She got my message. Maybe this will work out after all.
She looked at her watch. It was too late for conversations tonight, even if she could manage it without catching Harry’s attention. Tomorrow would be soon enough.
She started typing, We’ll discuss it when I see you tomorrow…
She willed herself to be calm and reasonable in her response but she could not shake the feeling that she was getting in way over her head.

Way back in early days of 2016, Jon Davis sent me and my brother this theme, saying, "I think this might work for your mystery movie."
It was love at first listen for me - actually, I listened to the file so often while filming Michael Lawrence that I would wake up in the middle of the night with this theme running through my brain. And I still love it.
Have a listen and leave a comment with some love for the talented Jon Davis!

Name: Samantha Harris (Pen name SJ Harris)
​Position: Best selling author of thriller novels, guest lecturer at Noble College
Category: Suspect
Played by: Christie Devine

Samantha Harris is a successful, attractive, and accomplished 42-year-old mystery author who obtains her inspiration for writing from her past experiences and traumas. Traveling from her home state of California to be a guest lecturer at Noble College, she thought it would be nice to visit her alma mater... until the ghosts of her past return in full force.

Married to her second husband, who seldom plays a significant role of support, the light of Samantha's life is her 15 year old son, Matthew. As the situation grows dark and the body count rises, it will take everything Samantha has to protect him from the knowledge which could surface during their visit to New Hampshire.
​
All Samantha is now and was then have clashed... And when circumstance meet opportunity, the events of the past, for better or for worse, will be unveiled.

About Christie Devine: Christie is a New England based actor from Boston who accidentally discovered her love for acting in 2013. Since then, she has expanded her knowledge of acting, developed her respect for the craft, taken many informative classes and workshops and gratefully put a large number of miles on her car. Nothing makes Christie happier than being on set and having a group of amazing and professional people collaborate for a common love. She has been cast in a number of feature films, short films, web series and commercials... All of which have led her to an experience she needed to have or someone she needed to meet. Christie enjoyed the experience of playing author, S.J. Harris in "Michael Lawrence" and she looks forward to the bright future opportunities that await her in acting career.

Name: Thomas Atkinson
Position: Bookstore owner and alumnus of Noble College
Category: Suspect
Played by: Chris Dubey

Thomas Atkinson could have been anything he wanted. Why he chose to end up a semi-reclusive owner of a bookstore in the middle of Portsmouth is anyone's guess. But while Thomas might seem inconsequential, he's connected to all the major players in the case: he was Emma Gagnon's friend, Sarah Hopper's employer, Prof. Stewart's former student, he helped produce Bridget Madden's concert, and his relationship with Samantha Harris might best be described as intense. Thomas Atkinson may not seem like a big player on the world's stage, but in this case he has made himself a person of interest.

In the days leading up to the release of the new Narrow Street Films movie, Michael Lawrence: the Season of Darkness, we'll be showcasing one new character every two weeks. Get to know the cast and try to guess whodunnit!

Name: Michael Lawrence
​Position: Homicide Detective
Played by: Dan Dovidio

​Detective Michael Lawrence is a career policeman with a stellar reputation, a loving family, and a good future ahead of him - that is, until his life is upended by an accident that left his daughter in a coma and his wife in a state of grieving. Now, months into his ordeal, he's called upon to solve the murder of beloved Emma Gagnon, a woman who harmed none and loved all. Michael is drawn deeper and deeper into the case and finds himself sympathizing with Emma's bereft husband, Harry Gagnon. As the body count rises and the case takes on new and disturbing twists, everyone including Michael is beginning to wonder: has the consummate professional finally lost perspective?


Dan Dovidio is a martial artist, actor, musician, stunt worker, and fight coordinator. Trained in Boston, MA, Dan has appeared in theater productions like Murder in Hell's Kitchen and Guys and Dolls, and has appeared in many film and TV productions. He runs his own martial arts studio and appears frequently in Narrow Street Films productions.

Happy 2017, everyone!

I'm afraid I've been incognito these past few weeks, recovering from both the holidays and a few weeks of varying illnesses (yay for winter-bound ailments!). But I'm back and raring to go. 2017 is already promising to out-do it's predessors in fun and frolics. What's coming down the line, you ask? Good question! Here's a list!

- Tale Half Told will be launching later this year, marking my first writing collaboration with my much-put-upon and very talented sister, Margaret. We'll be posting a sneak-peek soon!

- Also launching later this year is Michael Lawrence: the Season of Darkness novel - a dark, twisty little book about murder, music, and mayhem set in the gorgeous city of Portsmouth, NH. And speaking of Michael Lawrence...

- Michael Lawrence: The Season of Darkness movie will have it's premiere at the first ever at the Anti-Film Festival in June. Want to go? Check out Narrow Street Films for more details.

- Coming up more quickly, Exeter, NH is sponsoring a showing of the Narrow Street Films The Man Who Wasn't Tex Magru, a fun old-fashioned comedy on February 11th. (Bonus: I sing in it! Blink and you'll miss me, but still...) Tickets are still available (shameless plug), so check it out!

Also of note, ever since watching Rogue One: a Star Wars story, I've had a hankering for stories set long ago, in a galaxy far, far away, so watch out for more reviews for Star Wars, Star Trek, cool new indie novels, and John Wayne movies, as well as contests, giveaways, sales, interviews with interesting people, and more fun.

​Welcome, 2017: we know you're going to love it here!

So, I know content on this blog has been a little sparse this past summer. But I do have a very good excuse: movie making!

Michael Lawrence: The Season of Darkness has been a blast to work on and now I'm proud to announce that the first trailer has been released! Watch it here - and be sure to leave a comment below!