Nancy Bourgeoios, author of one murder mystery with another on the way, Liah Penn, author of two mystery/fantasies, and Colleen Mooney, author of a series of cozy mysteries, will discuss and sign copies of their books at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 22, at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon, Metairie.

This event is free of charge and is open to the public. There is no registration.

Liah Penn, Pure Death and Pure Justice

Penn’s first book, Pure Death, begins with a murdered society debutante, her body sprinkled with 89 Costa Rican butterflies. The case is anything but straightforward, and in an uncertain future, where resources are limited and the genetically defective are banished to a ghetto territory for Impures, Chief Detective Ina Stone and her partner, rookie detective Sam Fujimoto, must cross into Pure Territory to find a killer. An Impure herself, Ina must overcome her defect. And when her life is threatened, she must learn to rely on Sam, whose interest in her seems more than just professional.

Liah Penn is an award winning author of two romantic suspense novels in the Ina Stone and Sam Fujimoto mystery series. She is a 2015 recipient of the prestigious Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense for her debut novel Pure Death published by Etopia Press, as well as a first and second place winner in the romantic suspense categories for her manuscripts Bare Bones and The Sweet Death in the Dixie Kane Memorial Contest. She is a member of Romance Writers of America and recently penned an article for RT Digital about her journey to publication. Her legal career is as varied as her personal interests: she has worked as a prosecutor on an Indian reservation, on the Mexican border and in a major metropolis, and her sometimes gritty imagery is based on her personal experience on the streets and morgues of Arizona. Apart from writing, she is also a visual artist and enjoys painting and pottery. She resides outside of New Orleans with her husband and two sons, both of whom show great promise as a writer and an artist.

Colleen Murphy, Rescued by a Kiss, Dead and Breakfast, and Drive Thru Murder

Murphy’s second book, Dead and Breakfast, features Brandy Alexander, a true and trusted friend – not to mention something of a detective. When Brandy’s best friend Julia, the ex-stripper-turned hotelier, finds her first guest covered in blood, lying half on and half off a broken bed, she gets Brandy on the horn. Brandy does the only sensible thing—first makes coffee, then calls the police.

Colleen Murphy is retired after 20 years of service with AT&T. She has worked and lived in New York, New Jersey, Atlanta and Birmingham but returned home every year for Mardi Gras. She rebuilt her house at the same address after Katrina flooded her home. She is an avid sailor and scuba diver for many years, and made lasting friendships from sailing and dive trips. She has owned and ridden motorcycles. Murphy is an ardent animal lover and heads Schnauzer Rescue of Louisiana.

Nancy Bourgeois, Murder Behind the Mask

The pageantry and excitement of Carnival is the backdrop for this tale of murder and intrigue. Liz Gerami, new reporter for the Times struggles between embracing her assignment for the Society Page and her strong desire to be the one to provide the answers to the “Mardi Gras murders” as they are now being called. Detective Mike O’Reilly is resolved to keep her out of his way but her strong will and determination may lead her directly into the path of a crazed killer.

Nancy Bourgeois grew up in New Orleans and spent more than 30 years as a health care administrator before becoming a full-time author-entrepreneur. She has always dreamed of writing her own books and spent many years writing and revising her first book before she actually took the plunge. She founded the Ponchatoula-based “Creative Minds Writers Group” to network with other aspiring writers as well as successful published authors from Louisiana.

For more information regarding this presentation, contact Chris Smith, Manager of Adult Programming for the library, at 504-889-8143 or wcsmith@jefferson.lib.la.us.