I’m so thrilled that Christa Faust's superb story, "Hollywood Prometheus," has been nominated for a Derringer Award. Congratulations, Christa! And congrats to all the other nominees!

Hey, hey—it looks like I’m a Distinguished Adjunct now. 😊 Truly, I’m thrilled to receive this honor from VCU CHS for teaching fiction writing, Queer Literature, and Intro to Crime Fiction at VCU.

Salem and I are over the moon that Crime Ink: Iconic is a finalist for the Joseph Hansen Award for LGBTQ+ Crime Writing. This honor belongs to the brilliant writers in the anthology. Congratulations to our fellow finalists—truly wonderful company. 🖤 @bywaterbooks.bsky.social

Richmond friends—I’ll be at Gayton Branch Library on Thurs., March 19 (6–7 PM) for Crime Fiction as Social Commentary, part of All Henrico Reads with Walter Mosley. We’ll explore how crime stories challenge our ideas about justice and society. Free and open to all—hope to see you there.

Crime Ink: Iconic made the Foreword INDIES shortlist for LGBTQ+ Adult Fiction. Over the moon! I’m so proud of this anthology and the talented writers who make it what it is. Also, a shout-out to the publisher, Bywater, which had four novels shortlisted. www.forewordreviews.com/awards/final...

It’s Anthony Award nomination season! 🏆 If Crime Ink: Iconic thrilled you, moved you, or kept you up past your bedtime, please consider nominating it for an Anthony. We’d be honored to have your support! 🔥📚

Once again, a stylish Queer Crime Writers gathering at Left Coast Crime in San Francisco! 😊 This time: Top of the Mark. What views! Thanks to everyone who came out! ❤️ Also, thanks to Marco Carocari for the photos and the collage.

Such a pleasure to read at the superb The Best Bookstore on Union Square's fog-inspired evening of flash crime short stories with so many remarkable (wow!) writers. What a blast ... and we actually summoned the fog! Thanks to Rob Osler for organizing.

Queer Crime Writer Sightings at @LeftCoastCrime2026 THANK YOU @johncopenhaver.bsky.social @thejennhooker @roboslerwriter.bsky.social for the get-together @ Top of the MarkSF And to Alexa Wejko and Nick Whitney from @sohopress.bsky.social for hanging with the cool kids @bywaterbooks.bsky.social

TONIGHT! Hosted by @elsatouche.bsky.social @johncopenhaver.bsky.social @jamesdfhannah.bsky.social @audreyleeauthor.bsky.social @karenodden.bsky.social @gigipandian.bsky.social @saraparetsky.bsky.social @garyphillips59.bsky.social @fayesnowden.bsky.social At @bestbookstore.bsky.social Union Sq

NEW THIS SUMMER from RHP Press: WAVES OF BURDEN. The new novel from Anthony Award-winning author @curtisippolito.bsky.social. You don't want to miss this one.

Scenes fall apart when they’re all dialogue, all description, or all navel-gazing. In Inside Character, Part III, I break down how to weave action, setting, and interiority into something embodied and alive. The final installment of the series—check it out! ➡️ open.substack.com/pub/johncope...

Scenes fall apart when they’re all dialogue, all description, or all navel-gazing. In Inside Character, Part III, I break down how to weave action, setting, and interiority into something embodied and alive. The final installment of the series—check it out! ➡️ open.substack.com/pub/johncope...

The latest Queer Crime Writers newsletter shares our recent anthology representation report, a thoughtful conversation with Robyn Gigl, and a celebration of Fall 2025 LGBTQIA+ crime fiction. 💜 It’s public—subscribe, read, and share to lift queer crime voices: queercrimewriters.substack.com

New on my Substack: “Inside the Character, Part II.” A practical look at how fiction gets inside a mind—first-person, third-person limited, and how interiority works in fiction. If this kind of craft talk helps you, give it a read (and maybe subscribe). ➡️ johncopenhaver.substack.com/p/inside-the...

RVA friends and readers, I’m chatting with Con Lehane about his fantastic new historical crime novel, The Red Scare Murders at Fountain Bookstore, Inc. this Wednesday, 1/14 at 6:00 PM. Don’t miss it! Free registration below withfriends.co/event/269842...

In case you missed the virtual event with @johncopenhaver.bsky.social, Mysti Berry, and myself, here it is on YouTube. Check it out and let us know what you think.

I’m so excited to be in conversation with Anthony Award–winning author Olivia Blacke about her new mystery, Death at the Door—we’ll be talking all things mystery, hauntings, and ghostly crime solvers. 👻📚 RVA friends, swing by!

Thrilled to see Crime Ink: Iconic on the Los Angeles Blade’s list of Best Books to Give This Holiday Season. This anthology is close to my heart, and I’m grateful for these incredible contributors and their stellar work. 🎄❤️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈

Richmond, swing by tonight for a drink and X-mas shopping! Books make great gifts!

This winter round-up from @queercrimefic.bsky.social on @crimereads.bsky.social shows how boldly queer crime writers address issues from anti-LGBTQ+ legislation to the machinery of power. Check them out! crimereads.com/queer-crime-...

This Saturday, 7–9 PM: BrewHoHo at Afterglow Coffee Cooperative! Come grab a drink, browse books, and meet 16 of RVA’s best authors—including me.😉 @shelflifebooksrva.bsky.social will have books for sale, and we’ll be signing. Get a jump on holiday shopping and have some fun. 🎄📚☕️

Next week, join Curtis Ippolito, Mysti Berry, and me for a conversation about editing anthologies that go beyond theme—they’re built to push for change. The event is free and hosted by the MWA NorCal Chapter, but you’ll need to register. See you there! ➡️ bit.ly/3XzdSoa

Thrilled to see Crime Ink: Iconic—the anthology I edited with Salem West—and Every Say a Little Death, edited by Josh Pachter, both featured in Oline Cogdill’s Sun Sentinel best-of column. Grateful to Oline for championing crime fiction, especially short fiction!

I loved talking with @rachelhowzell.bsky.social, @almakatsu.bsky.social, and @alexsegura.bsky.social about what happens when writers jump genres. The risks, the surprises, the freedom. If you’re interested in how reinvention fuels craft, check out the article: www.thebigthrill.org/2025/11/cros...

Honored to be part of this great profile on multi-genre authors, including pals @rachelhowzell.bsky.social and @almakatsu.bsky.social, by the talented @johncopenhaver.bsky.social at ITW's The Big Thrill! www.thebigthrill.org/2025/11/cros...

toying with the idea of writing in more than one genre? read this by @johncopenhaver.bsky.social feat @rachelhowzell.bsky.social @alexsegura.bsky.social & me www.thebigthrill.org/2025/11/cros...

Excited to announce this free, virtual event. Hosted by MWA NorCal, Mysti Berry, @johncopenhaver.bsky.social, and I will have a conversation about crime fiction that matters and what our role as writers and editors is to meet the moment. More info and free registration in the comments. Join us!!

Thank you to everyone who came out to Shelf Life Books to celebrate the touring wrap-up for Crime Ink: Iconic! 🎉 Such a great crowd and such a supportive community. Especially thanks to my fab co-presenter Cheryl Head for coming down from DC.

Hey, Richmond! 🌈 This Thurs, Nov 13, 7 PM—join me & @cheaddc.bsky.social at Shelf Life Books for the final stop of the Crime Ink: Iconic tour! Free event celebrating queer crime fiction I co-edited w/ Salem West. Come for the convo, stay for the community. shelflifebooksrva.com/event/2025-1...

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!