Mystery authors visit Charles City

By Travis Fischer, tkfischer@charlescitypress.com

It wasn’t a dark and stormy night, but mystery novel fans enjoyed it all the same as four authors stopped by Prologue Books and Wine for an evening discussion about writing and publishing.

Midwest authors Tony Wirt, Lori Rader-Day, Erica Ruth Neubauer and Jess Lourey are in the midst of a joint promotional tour and, through mutual friend Mindy Carlson, added a visit to Charles City to their schedule. Stopping in town for some shopping at Rustic Corner and dinner at Pub on the Cedar, the authors got to appreciate what Charles City has to offer.

“I was really excited to be here,” said Wirt, who grew up in Lake Mills and used to regularly drive through Charles City during his college years. “It was really fun to be able to do something here.”

“It reminded me of my hometown,” said Rader-Day. “The people here are very lucky.”

With wine flowing and every chair in the store occupied, local readers came out to listen to the panel of authors talk about everything from the behind-the-scenes business of the publishing industry to the inordinate amount of time they find themselves thinking about how to hide a dead body.

“I thought it was a great turnout,” said Prologue owner Darci Tracey. “I’m very happy.”

After the panel discussion, the authors stuck around for book signings and one-on-one chats with the visiting readers.

“It’s probably one of the best crowds on our tour,” said Ruth Neubauer.

“Maybe the wine helped,” said Lourey.