Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Royal Tea Social This Saturday In Woodstock

So you weren’t invited to the Royal Wedding?  Don’t fret, luv!  You can still have a smashing time and meet some brilliant people at the “posh”est party in town!

This Saturday, April 30, AAUW’s Women of Mystery Book Club will host a “Royal-Tea Social” from 3-5 p.m. at the Tarts and Truffles tearoom, 124 Cass St. on the Woodstock Square.  Refreshments will include fine European-style pastries prepared by Woodstock chef Debra Mindham, plus a selection of gourmet teas and coffee.  The public is invited to attend; admission is $8 for AAUW members or $10 for non-members.  

Co-sponsored by the AAUW Huntley Area Branch, this “royal” event also includes a slide show of photos from Friday’s wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, and a chance to meet not just one, but two real mystery writers, live and in-person!

Special guests will be novelist Patricia Rockwell, founder and owner of Cozy Cat Press, an independent publishing house based in Aurora, IL, and one of her writers, Diane Morlan, of Sycamore, IL, whose first novel, ‘Too Dead To Dance,” debuted in May, 2010.  Both authors will be available to sign books and chat with “Royal Tea” guests.

Rockwell, author of the new “Patricia Barnes” mystery series, is a retired professor of communications who uses her background in human sound and acoustics to help create intricate mystery plots. Her first novel, "Sounds of Murder" (published in 2010) introduces amateur sleuth Pamela Barnes, a psychology professor who solves crimes using acoustic technology.  In her latest mystery, “FM for Murder” (March, 2011), Dr. Barnes applies her special skills to reveal who killed a radio deejay while he was on the air.

Diane Morlan has loved books since she was in kindergarten, and recently fulfilled her lifelong passion for creative writing.  A former psychotherapist and clinical social worker, she is now “semi-retired” and works part-time at the Kishwaukee College Library. Her first novel, “Too Dead To Dance,” features murder at small-town polka festival with lots of plot twists, quirky characters, and a crime-solving coffee vendor named Jennifer Penny.

The event also includes a short discussion of “Her Royal Spyness” by Rhys Bowen, which is this month’s Women of Mystery Book Club selection.  Membership in the book club is open to all AAUW members. 

AAUW (formerly the American Association of University Women) is a nationwide organization of college-educated women and men that works to advance equity, education, and opportunities for women and girls. Local branches meet monthly for networking, interesting programs, and community service projects.  To learn more,  visit .  For information about local branch activities, phone Diane Ayers, communications officer, at (847) 669-0848 or e-mail to: huntleyaauw@gmail.com.

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