Rlbaldwin's Blog

A New Year – and Exciting News!!!

rlbaldwin — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 21:42:20 +0000

A very Happy New Year to all of you!!!!

Lots of wonderful things are happening at Buttonwood Press for 2012, and I wanted to share some of that with you:

First of all, we have a new author, Hannah Hoffmeister, the thirteen year-old author of the new Dream Ring Series, whose first book, “Ava: Book One in the Dream Ring Series“, was just released by Buttonwood Press in November of 2011. It’s available for purchase in our Bookstore.

This is the first book of a planned five-book series that follows tween-witch Ava and her adventures at the Dream Ring school and we are VERY excited and pleased to have Hannah join our group of very talented authors (yours truly included, of course!).

News about my own work:

You can look for my new Lou Searing novel, “Murder at the Cherry Festival: It’s the Pits” due out in late spring of 2012.

And keep on the lookout for a brand-new detective series featuring detective Isabelle (Belle) Franklin; the organist and choir director at Living Waters Church in Chelsea, Michigan; “Death in the Choir Loft” will be her debut outing and you surely don’t want to miss it!!!

STAY TUNED for further news and announcements of upcoming appearances, events, etc.

Hope your 2012 is a vibrant and wonderful one!

All my best,

Rich

Holiday Changes and Announcements Coming!!!

rlbaldwin — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 21:56:33 +0000

Hello everyone!

Just a quick note to let you all know that there are some exciting new changes coming to both the website and to Buttonwood Press!!! New authors, new titles,and so much more!!

Also wanted to let you know that you can come to see me, in person, at the following places and dates:

Nov. 26-27, Chesaning, Michigan Craft Show
Dec. 3-4, MSU Craft Show

If you haven’t purchased Assassination at High Speed, be sure to place your order at the online bookstore. This is my 12th Lou Searing mystery and you are sure to enjoy this one! As always, I look forward to seeing you and talking with you at my appearances!

Until next time, I wish a very Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

Rich

From Rich…

rlbaldwin — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 23:12:50 +0000

Hello. Welcome to my blog – odd name for a source of information, but… The new book (Assassination at High Speed) is out, sales are great, and feedback has been positive. Thanks to Heidi, the web site has been revamped and is current with information, photos, and ordering information.
Soon (my favorite relevant term) my last two books will be available to my Nook and Kindle fans. This is taking longer than I had hoped, but that is the way it is. Lou is not much of a techie!!
I have been working on the next book which is tentatively titled, Murder at the Cherry Festival: It’s the Pits. The words are flowing into the computer which means it could be out as a draft before Labor Day.
Enjoy your day knowing I am thankful for your interest in Buttonwood Press.

Rich

New Novel Released!!

rlbaldwin — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 02:20:45 +0000

“Assassination At High Speed” is now available!!!

As promised, this 12th Detective Lou Searing mystery novel brims with suspense and intrigue – all in the course of a single day!

Set against the backdrop of The State of Michigan celebrating it’s high-speed rail contract with dignitaries by riding on the Blue Water Limited from Port Huron to New Buffalo; Lou uses his deductive skills to solve the mystery in between the two cities!!!

Certain to be a favorite of Lou Searing fans everywhere – don’t miss it!

Now available from the Buttonwood Press Bookstore

Spring News!!

rlbaldwin — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 18:56:21 +0000

Hello Everyone!!

Book #12 is Progressing!

“Assassination at High Speed” will be out this June. The new book provides plenty of action and suspense over the course of a day. The State of Michigan is celebrating a high-speed rail contract with dignitaries riding on the Blue Water Limited from Port Huron to New Buffalo. In between the two cities can be found intrigue leading to Lou solving his 12th mystery.

Upcoming Appearances:

May begins a long series of craft shows and festivals. Here are some of the early ones:

May 7: Mason, MI – Spring Fling

May 14: Turkeyville, MI – Spring Craft Show

May 21-22: MSU Spring Craft Show

May 28-29: Alma Scot Festival

June 4-5: Owosso, MI - Curwood Festival

June 11-12: Bay City, MI YWCA ‘Art by the River’

June 25: Kalamazoo, MI – Art Show in Milham Park

Note: Please check this website before hoping to see me. I have not yet registered for all of the above and may not be allowed in.

Women’s Expos: We sold a lot of books at Women’s Expos in 2011!! These were in Lansing, Grand Rapids, and Midland. I am hoping to do Saginaw and Flint later this summer or early fall. Hope to see you there!

As always, I eagerly look forward to seeing you at shows, fairs and festivals. Anticipation for the new book is high and I am eager to share it and to have the opportunity to meet with all of you.

Take care!

Rich

Lansing, MI April 11, 2011

Latest News…

rlbaldwin — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 22:25:46 +0000

The month of January was devoted to the Tip-Up-Town Festival (http://houghtonlakechamber.net/TipUpTownUSA.aspx) in Houghton Lake, Michigan. My latest book, “Murder in Tip-Up-Town: A Cold Case” takes place at this unique and famous Michigan winter festival.

I was present for the crowning of the 2011 Festival queen on Saturday, January 8th. On the 22nd I was the Grand Marshall of the Tip-Up-Town parade and afterwards sold books in the Family Fun Tent. Last weekend was the final trip to Houghton Lake so as to sell more books and to wish people well as they jumped into the ice cold lake during the Polar Bear Dip. No, I didn’t splash, I watched!!! All in all, the visits to Houghton Lake were fun, exciting, and needless to say, different. I met a lot of wonderful people and may have added a few more fans to the ever growing number of people who like Lou’s adventures.

What’s Next?

This weekend, February 4-6 – I will be manning my booth at the Mid-Michigan Women’s Expo in Lansing, MI. The last two years have been great re: selling and meeting fascinating people. We’ll see what this weekend brings. If you are in the Lansing area, please stop in and say hello!

Mystery #12. Editor Anne Ordiway has in hand the first draft of the next mystery. I do not have a title for it yet, but it is a train mystery. The drama takes place on the Blue Water Limited, an Amtrak route from Port Huron to New Buffalo. I’m a bit behind schedule, but am hoping to catch up for my annual June release date.

Stay tuned for more updates.!!

Buttonwood Press News:

Buttonwood Press is going to publish a series of children’s mysteries. The books will be for children aged 8-9 and are written by Mary Morgan of Lansing, MI. Dawn Baumer, award winning illustrator will provide the art work for the series. I am of the belief that a talented writer and a talented illustrator should yield some good books for children. The stories take place in our National Parks. The first book is set at the Pictured Rocks National Park in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The second will be at Mount Rushmore. More on this adventure later…

The year 2010 could be most historic in the annals of Buttonwood Press. Business Manager, Kay Bryan is hoping to tell me soon that the company finished the year in the black – maybe by only a few dollars, but for the first time since the company was formed in 1998 that more money came in than went out. The company is not about money, but as a sidelight, it is nice to finish a year on the plus side for once.

So, that is the plan for 2011: The company, by Christmas, should have a 12th mystery and a children’s mystery. I may have just walked from the black side of the ledger to the red side, but nothing ventured, nothing gained. We’ll see.

All my best,

Rich

New Brochure on the Way

rlbaldwin — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 13:50:47 +0000

I am pleased to inform you that a new Buttonwood Press brochure is close to becoming a reality. The brochure lists all of my mysteries and provides information about ordering. I think you’ll like it. Let me know if you would like a copy.

DeWitt Craft Show

rlbaldwin — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 13:45:57 +0000

This Saturday (Nov.13) I will be at the DeWitt, MI craft show. If you are in the area please stop in and say hello. It is at the DeWitt junior high school.

News – News- News

rlbaldwin — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 21:29:00 +0000

Hello Everyone!!!

The outdoor craft show and festivals season is now over and what a great year it has been!! We sold hundreds and hundreds of books, meeting dozens and dozens of fans and new readers. So, in spite of a lot of miles, canopy set-ups, the lugging boxes of books here and there, it was a great season!!

Now that the canopy has been put away for the season, it is time to focus on indoor shows for the fall and holiday season. I look forward to seeing many of you at one or more upcoming shows.

Shows this fall:

October 16 - Haslett Craft Show, Haslett, Michigan
November 4-5 – St. Mary K. of C. Craft Show – Williamston, Michigan
November 20 – St. Martha Church Holiday Heaven, Okemos, Michigan
December 4-5 – MSU Holiday Craft Show – East Lansing, Michigan
December 11 – The Grande-dale Shoppe – Dimondale, Michigan

Am I working on the next book? For sure!!! It will be “Murder at the Cherry Festival” (unless the Cherry Festival people object): It’s the Pits. The plot is unfolding nicely and I hope you will like the story. It will be out late next spring or in early June of 2011.

~Rich

Welcome to my blog!

rlbaldwin — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 00:18:48 +0000

Hello!

A new website, a new book – exciting things always happening around here at Buttonwood Press!! Let’s dig right in!

New Book!!!

The big news, of course, is that my new book, “Murder in Tip-Up-Town: A Cold Case” is now available for sale through my NEW website. This is my 11th mystery outing and it takes you to the outdoorsmen’s paradise of Houghton Lake, Michigan and its famous annual ice-fishing celebration: the “Tip-Up Town Festival”. Detective Lou Searing and his assistant, Jack Kelly, are asked to investigate a true “cold case” -Harry Moody’s mysterious 1985 disappearance during the Festival. Intrigue, interesting characters, and Michigan settings within a profanity free tale – all what you’ve come to expect from me!!

(If you would like to add this book to your collection or maybe begin your collection, please go to the website order page .)

Two New Staff at Buttonwood Press:

Please join me in welcoming two great people to the Buttonwood Press team. Heidi Roberts is our new web master. You will enjoy her creativity as well as her giving you an up to date site to enjoy. Kay Bryan is our new Office Manager. Kay will handle data, expenses, and keep the money and books flowing out of and into Buttonwood Press. We are blessed with these two fantastic people in the company.

Speaking of new people, I guess I have not formally introduced you to our Marketing Director. She is Martha Rooker. Martha is responsible for getting the word out about our books, arranging for speaking engagements, book signings, and finding new retailers. Like Heidi and Kay, Martha is a most welcome addition to the team. She gets the credit for many new accounts in the Houghton Lake area as sales have been booming.

NEWS! NEWS! NEWS!

An honor of gigantic proportions has been bestowed upon me. I’ve been chosen to be the GRAND MARSHALL of the 2011 Tip-Up-Town Festival parade! I’ll be taking every opportunity to study the Queens (Royalty, Homecoming, and Festival) so as to get the WAVE down. More details later. Right now my head is too big to size the tiara. (Oh, right, the grand marshall doesn’t wear a tiara. :>)

UPCOMING EVENTS:

I’ll have a booth at three up and coming festivals here in Michigan.

The Fremont Baby Food (Gerber) Festival the weekend of July 17-18;

A Saugatuck Festival the weekend of July 31-August 1;

The Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival the weekend of August 7-8.

These events are now over but they were memorable! On June 17, I had a signing at the Grand-dale Shoppe in Dimondale, Michigan. Many locals came out to visit with me and get the latest or in some cases, other novels. Dawn and Jim operate a very unique shoppe. Please drop in and visit if you are ever in the greater Lansing Area. We had a fantastic turnout at the YWCA Art Festival in Bay City on June 13-14. Good weather and Lou Searing fans made the two day event most memorable!!!