Polson library to host three local authors

The North Lake County Public Library will host three local authors for a Mystery and Suspense Author’s Panel on Saturday, June 11 at the library in Polson.

Leslie Budewitz, Christine Carbo and Gwen Florio will be in the library sharing their knowledge, reading excerpts from their work, and signing and selling their books.

This program is free and open to the public.

Leslie Budewitz blends her passion for food, great mysteries and the Northwest in two cozy mystery series. She writes the "Spice Shop" mysteries set in Seattle’s Pike Place Market and "Food Lovers’ Village" mysteries, set in Northwest Montana. She also writes standalone suspense as Alicia Beckman.

A three-time Agatha-Award winner, a past president of Sisters in Crime, and a current board member of Mystery Writers of America, she lives in NW Montana. A practicing lawyer, she’s written a guide for writers, "Books, Crooks & Counselors: How to Write Accurately about Criminal Law and Courtroom Procedure," winner of the 2011 Agatha Award for Best Nonfiction, making her the first author to win Agatha Awards for both fiction and nonfiction.

Christine Carbo grew up in Gainesville, Florida then moved to Kalispell when she was 12. The endeavor of writing has been an amazing journey for Christine. She has come to realized that writing is even more fulfilling when she stays involved with other writers.

She is a member of; Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, Authors of the Flathead, Pacific Northwest Writers Association, International Thriller Writers, Outdoor Writers Association of America and Montana Women Writers. Christine is a recipient of the Womens’ National Book Association Pinckley Prize, the Silver Falchion Award and the High Plains Book Award.

Currently, she and her family live in Whitefish. When Christine’s not teaching pilates or writing suspense, she’s enjoying all that living in Northwest Montana has to offer.

Gwen Florio majored in English at the University of Delaware. A decades-long career followed, taking her around the United States and to more than a dozen countries, including several conflict zones. Her first novel "Montana" won the inaugural Pinckley Prize for Crime Fiction and a High Plains Book Award. The fifth in the series, "Under the Shadows" (Midnight Ink Books) was released in March 2018. Her first literary novel, "Silent Hearts" (Atria) was released in July 2018. "Best Laid Plans," the first book in a new series from Severn House, launched in December 2020.

She’s a member of International Thriller Writers, Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers and Great Old Broads for Wilderness.

For questions or more information, go to our website: northlakecountylibrary.org or call the North Lake County Public Library at 406-883-8225.