Part 1 of my new essay series—based on my James River Writers talk, Inside the Character—is out now! It explores fiction’s superpower: interiority. In other news, I’ll be wrapping the Crime Ink: Iconic tour on Thurs, Nov 13, 7 PM at Shelf Life Books w/ Cheryl Head. open.substack.com/pub/johncope...

Hey, Richmond friends! 🌈 The final stop of the Crime Ink: Iconic tour lands at Shelf Life Books on Nov. 13, 7PM! I’ll be in conversation with Cheryl Head—plus themed mocktails, Jeff’s sweet treat, & good company. 🎟️ Ticketed event: shelflifebooksrva.com/event/2025-1...

What a fantastic review for Crime Ink: Iconic in Women Using Words! Wow! womenusingwords.wordpress.com/2025/10/29/c...

Boston friends—Kelly J. Ford and Stephanie Gayle will be at @purplecouch.bsky.social discussing Crime Ink: Iconic, the queer crime anthology I co-edited. Free event, plus a ticket option with 15% off the book. Come support and keep queer stories visible. ➡️ www.eventbrite.com/e/crime-ink-...

Love its checkered past AND its checkered floor!

Can't wait to see everyone tonight! If you're having trouble with Eventbrite, please ignore and come anyway. (Eventbrite is having tech issues today.)

It’s shaping up to be a lively couple of weeks—events in DC, Palm Springs, LA, and San Diego! Every reading, signing, and book bought keeps our community of writers, readers, and booksellers thriving. Full details in my latest Substack post 👇 johncopenhaver.substack.com/p/this-week-...

DC! This Mon, Oct 20 at 7 PM, join me at Jackie Lee’s (116 Kennedy St NW) to celebrate Crime Ink: Iconic! Hannah Grieco will interview me, Cheryl Head & Diana DiGiangi. Plus, top DC writers share queer authors who’ve inspired their work. 🍸 Get tix now! loyaltybookstores.com/noirbar1

Headed to San Diego with an amazing crew—Christina Baker Kline, Elise Hart Kipness, and Jon Bassoff—for a Mystery Author Panel presented by Adventures by the Book & the Carlsbad City Library. Get your tix now! adventuresbythebook.com/calendar-eve...

🔍 I’m delighted to join Adventures By the Book and the Friends of the Corona Public Library for their Annual Mystery Author Luncheon: Christina Baker Kline, Elise Hart Kipness, Jon Bassoff, and me—all in conversation with debut author Anne Burt. adventuresbythebook.com/calendar-eve...

✨ Book Deal Alert! ✨ GODDESS OF LOVE, the third and final novel in my Nightingale Trilogy, arrives in 2027 from @bywaterbooks.bsky.social! A new case—and the long-awaited reckoning for Judy and Philippa. I can’t wait to share the ending I’ve been building toward since THE SAVAGE KIND.

Save the Date! 🗓️ Join me at Jackie Lee’s on Mon, Oct 20 at 7 PM for a Crime Ink: Iconic celebration—readings with Hannah Grieco, Cheryl Head, Diana DiGiangi, and me, plus tributes from K.T. Nguyen, Alex Finlay, Aggie Blum Thompson, Sarah Pekkanen, and E.A. Aymar. 🍸 loyaltybookstores.com/noirbar1

Thrilled to chat about Crime Ink: Iconic with House of Mystery Radio Show on NBC with fabulous contributors Greg Herren, Robyn Gigl, and Marco Carocari ... During these insane times, it's been wonderful to find solace in discussing these wonderful stories. shows.acast.com/houseofmyste...

See you at 1:00 PM today, Richmond friends!

♥️♥️♥️

Hi, friends in Columbus, OH! Swing by Bibliophile Candle Co. at 6:30 PM TODAY!!! (Oct 2nd) to hear fabulous contributors, Kristen Lepionka, Jeff Marks, and Meredith Doench chat about their stories, Crime Ink: Iconic, and the broader creative endeavor of the anthology!

👻📚 VA thriller fans! Sat Oct 4, 1–3:30 PM @bookpeoplerva: Thrillers with Teeth w/ KT Nguyen, Christopher Chambers, LynDee Walker & I.S. Berry. Sorry Katharine Schellman can’t join, but thrilled to have Chris! #crimefiction #mysterywriters #rvaarts #bookevent

Columbus friends! Join us at Bibliophile Candle Co. next Thu, Oct 2, 6:30 PM, for a Crime Ink: Iconic chat with contributors Kristen Lepionka, Jeff Marks, and @meredithdoench.bsky.social Doench—on their stories, the anthology, and the creative spark behind it. www.facebook.com/events/70759...

New York friends, see you tomorrow night at the Bureau of General Services-Queer Division and celebrate the launch of Crime Ink: Iconic! @bgsqd.bsky.social @bywaterbooks.bsky.social @robyngigl.bsky.social #queercrimefiction #thrillerbooks #lgbtqreads🌈

DC friends—TOMORROW (9/23)! 7–8 pm @onemorepagebooks.bsky.social Join me, Cheryl A. Head, & Diana Digangi to celebrate CRIME INK: ICONIC, a queer crime fiction anthology I co-edited. 20+ stories inspired by icons like Baldwin, Wilde & Dolly. Talk + signing—come celebrate queer voices!

Review & giveaway of "Crime Ink: Iconic" an Anthology of #CrimeFiction Inspired by #Queer Icons kingsriverlife.com/09/20/crime-... #mystery #LGBTQIA @queercrimefic.bsky.social @johncopenhaver.bsky.social @robyngigl.bsky.social @cheaddc.bsky.social @jeffreymarks.bsky.social @kmlwrites.bsky.social 💙📚

DC friends! Tuesday, Sept 23, 2025 · 7–8pm Join us for an evening celebrating CRIME INK: ICONIC at @onemorepagebooks.bsky.social, the groundbreaking queer crime fiction anthology! www.onemorepagebooks.com/event/celebr...

So pleased to see this wonderful review by Autumn Trapani of Crime Ink: Iconic in Kings River Life Magazine! ❤️ Enter to win a free print copy by Sept. 27th!!! kingsriverlife.com/09/20/crime-...

New York friends, mark your calendars and drop by the Bureau of General Services-Queer Division and celebrate the launch of Crime Ink: Iconic with us! @bgsqd.bsky.social @bywaterbooks.bsky.social #queercrimefiction #thrillerbooks #lgbtqreads🌈

Mark your calendars! Crime Ink: Iconic is hitting the road in Sept: Harvard Book Store (9/17, 7 PM), MWA Midwest Virtual (9/18, 8 PM), One More Page (9/23, 7 PM), & BGSQD NYC (9/24, 7 PM). Come celebrate queer voices in crime fiction! #CrimeInkIconic #QueerCrimeFiction

We will have one of the editors, @johncopenhaver.bsky.social with us as well as contributing authors @cheaddc.bsky.socialand Diana Digangi. Don't miss what is sure to be an incredible evening! RSVP here:

This was a such a meaningful discussion … Give it listen!

RVA thriller fans! Sat, Oct 4 (1–3:30 PM) at Book People RVA, I’ll be moderating Thrillers with Teeth with KT Nguyen, Katharine Schellman, LynDee Walker & I.S. Berry. We’ll dig into how modern mysteries challenge conventions & power. Info 👉 bookpeoplerichmond.com

Hey, Boston friends—Harvard Book Store is hosting Kelly J. Ford, Margot Douaihy & Stephanie Gayle on Sept 17 at 7 pm for a discussion of CRIME INK: ICONIC, the queer crime anthology I co-edited. Crime, community & queer icons all in one night—don’t miss it! www.harvard.com/event/crime-...

I’m teaching a craft class at the James River Writers Conference: Inside the Character: Writing Thought & Emotion in Fiction. We’ll explore techniques for bringing inner life to the page with depth and clarity. Sign up 👉 jamesriverwriters.org/conference20...

Mark your calendars! Crime Ink: Iconic is hitting the road in Sept: Harvard Book Store (9/17, 7 PM), MWA Midwest Virtual (9/18, 8 PM), One More Page (9/23, 7 PM), & BGSQD NYC (9/24, 7 PM). Come celebrate queer voices in crime fiction! #CrimeInkIconic #QueerCrimeFiction

Virtual Crime Ink: Iconic event! Sponsored by MWA Midwest—join JM Redmann, Robyn Gigl, Anne Laughlin, Kristen Lepionka, Meredith Doench, Salem West & me, moderated by Joshua Moehling. 20+ queer crime stories inspired by icons. Sept 18, 8pm ET | Zoom. us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

Hey, Boston friends—Harvard Book Store is hosting Kelly J. Ford, Margot Douaihy & Stephanie Gayle on Sept 17 at 7 pm for a discussion of CRIME INK: ICONIC, the queer crime anthology I co-edited. Crime, community & queer icons all in one night—don’t miss it! www.harvard.com/event/crime-...

DC friends! Tuesday, Sept 23, 2025 · 7–8pm Join us for an evening celebrating CRIME INK: ICONIC at @onemorepagebooks.bsky.social, the groundbreaking queer crime fiction anthology! www.onemorepagebooks.com/event/celebr...

New York friends, mark your calendars and drop by the Bureau of General Services-Queer Division and celebrate the launch of Crime Ink: Iconic with us! @bgsqd.bsky.social @bywaterbooks.bsky.social #queercrimefiction #thrillerbooks #lgbtqreads🌈

Hey, Chicago, don't miss this—tomorrow night (9/11) ... Hear from these fabulous contributors to Crime Ink: Iconic. Register below! www.eventbrite.com/e/crime-ink-...

Mark your calendars! Crime Ink: Iconic is kicking off September with a series of exciting events and signings. Come celebrate with us—grab a book, meet some of the authors, or just stop by to say hello! Here's all that's happening this month:

The Queers have landed! Thank you @bestbookstore.bsky.social Crime Ink: Iconic is officially available at your favorite Palm Springs Bookstore! Run and secure your copy now @bywaterbooks.bsky.social @salemwest.bsky.social @johncopenhaver.bsky.social #crimefiction #newbooks #QueerLit #bookstagram

Friday night, 9:30 PM, join us in the Bissonett Ballroom (3rd floor) and get ready to party: 📚 Free books 🍰 Free desserts 🍸 Cash bar 🎟️ Author Bingo 🤝 Meet your favorite mystery writer—AND discover your NEXT favorite writer!

✨ Peek behind the curtain of Crime Ink: Iconic! ✨ Check out this @crimereads.bsky.social roundtable with Ann Aptaker, Diana DiGangi, Margot Douaihy, Renee James, Ann McMan & Jeffrey Round on the project, the process & finding inspiration in icons. 📖 Link in bio 🔗 bit.ly/4p7Tkj9

Excited and grateful to be featured in this wonderful anthology. Happy pub day, everyone, and thank you to @bywaterbooks.bsky.social @salemwest.bsky.social and @johncopenhaver.bsky.social #QueerLit #newbooks #crimefiction

🚨 It’s here—Crime Ink: Iconic! 🚨 20+ queer crime stories inspired by legends—Baldwin, Wilde, Rapinoe, Cox & more. From cozy to noir, every tale centers queer lives. A landmark anthology with foreword by Ellen Hart & afterword by Katherine V. Forrest. 🌈🔍 johncopenhaver.com/order-crime-...

So jazzed that my copy of CRIME INC: ICONIC arrived today (I'd forgotten I pre-ordered it! 😄 ) #Booksky @queercrimefic.bsky.social @johncopenhaver.bsky.social @salemwest.bsky.social

Part III is live! After Jane & Nella, it’s Ernie’s turn—his MFA days, small journal lifelines, the leap to Bread Loaf, & the quiet triumph of Devil’s Elbow. But publishing isn’t a fairy tale. The reunion reminds us why we write & how to keep going. 👉 johncopenhaver.substack.com/p/on-taking-...

✨ Bouchercon Bound? Mark your dance cards! ✨ Friday night, 9:30 PM, join us in the Bissonett Ballroom (3rd floor) for an unforgettable party: 🍰 Free desserts 🍸 Cash bar 🎟️ Author Bingo 🤝 Meet your favorite authors—or discover your NEXT favorite

Crime Ink: Iconic was mentioned in Kings River Life Magazine as part of “Queer Mystery Coming Attractions: September 2025.” Review to follow later this month! ❤️❤️❤️ kingsriverlife.com/08/30/queer-...

Summer’s not over yet—and @crimereads.bsky.social has a list of LGBTQIA+ crime novels to keep you turning pages: ghost stories, historical whodunits, revenge tales, and more. Queer voices, compelling mysteries, perfect summer reads. crimereads.com/lgbtqia-crim...

Part II of On Taking Different Paths to Publishing is here! 📚 Jane lands a Big Five deal—then faces the fallout. Nella self-publishes a queer vampire-nun saga and builds power on their own terms. Two roads, two truths. Read now 👉 open.substack.com/pub/johncope...

Such a pleasure for Anne Laughlin and me to chat with John Parker on The Gaily Show about Crime Ink: Iconic. Catch it on YouTube or at @am950radio.bsky.social or wherever you listen! www.youtube.com/live/cfgRHLL...

Such a truly lovely review from Leah Block at Foreword Reviews: "Displaying dual genre mastery, these stories are gripping from beginning to end." Full review ... www.forewordreviews.com/reviews/crim...