Next Meeting: Thursday, 30 September, at 6:30 p.m.
at Panera Bread, 13205 Jamboree Rd., Tustin
Engaño, Lance Charnes, action/adventure
Gun oil and sunscreen don’t mix.
Disgraced ex-cop Carson is working off the huge loans her father failed to pay back to a Russian mafiya godfather. So when the mobster asks her to round up Viktoriya Baranova, the wayward daughter of a Russian cabinet minister, Carson doesn’t get to say “no.”
It should be easy. Viktoriya’s splashed all over Instagram as she parties along Spain’s Mediterranean coast. Find her, toss her on an airplane, and send her home to Daddy: no problem, and a chunk of Carson’s debt disappears.
As Carson plunges into the lifestyles of the rich and idle, the world starts going to hell around her. She’s tailed by gangsters. Drug dealers start dying around Viktoriya and her friends. When a hit team tries to kill them all, Carson realizes Viktoriya’s posse is up to way more than scoring likes on social media.
From the megaclubs of Ibiza to the vineyards of Barcelona, Carson’s dancing a fine line between killer raves and raving killers…and the music’s about to stop. Carson has to discover whether anything about Viktoriya is true, or if it’s all a deception – what the locals call engaño.
Available for Kindle on Amazon
Available in ePub on Kobo | Apple Books
Trade paperback available at Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indiebound
Lance Charnes has been an Air Force intelligence officer, information technology manager, computer-game artist, set designer, and Jeopardy! contestant, and is now an emergency management specialist. He’s had training in architectural rendering, terrorist incident response, and maritime archaeology, but not all at the same time. His Facebook author page features spies, archaeology, and art crime.
Engaño is the second book in the DeWitt Agency Adventures series.
23 Sep meeting notes; 30 Sep reading list
23 SEPTEMBER MEETING NOTES
Five people attended: Burt (Act II, Scene 2 of When the Shvitz Hits the Fan), Donna R., Glenda, Joanne, and Lance (a chapter from the still-untitled historical adventure).
NEWS & NOTES
The next PFL meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, 30 September at Panera Bread, 13205 Jamboree Rd., Tustin (at Irvine Blvd. on the west side of Jamboree).
Lance’s latest novel, Engaño, the second entry in the DeWitt Agency Adventures series, releases on 30 September.
30 SEPTEMBER READING LIST
Glenda (9/23)
Rosie (9/16)
Donna R. (9/23)
Ken S. (8/26)
Dan O. (8/26)
Leighanne (9/16)
Joanne (9/23)
Lance (9/23)
Burt (9/23)
16 Sep meeting notes; 23 Sep reading list
16 SEPTEMBER MEETING NOTES
Seven people attended our largest meeting since 23 July 2020: Burt (Act II, Scene 1 of When the Shvitz Hits the Fan), Donna R., Glenda, Joanne (a very short story, “Tidbits from an Occasional Believer”), Lance (a chapter from the still-untitled historical adventure), Leighanne, and Rosie.
NEWS & NOTES
The next PFL meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, 23 September at Panera Bread, 13205 Jamboree Rd., Tustin (at Irvine Blvd. on the west side of Jamboree).
Don’t forget the monthly author events post two slots below this.
23 SEPTEMBER READING LIST
Glenda (9/16)
Rosie (9/16)
Donna R. (9/16)
Ken S. (8/26)
Dan O. (8/26)
Leighanne (9/16)
Lance (9/16)
Burt (9/16)
Joanne (9/16)
9 Sep meeting notes; 16 Sep reading list
9 SEPTEMBER MEETING NOTES
Five people attended an abbreviated meeting: Burt (Act II, Scene 1 of When the Shvitz Hits the Fan), Glenda, Lance, Leighanne, and Rosie.
NEWS & NOTES
The next PFL meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, 16 September at Panera Bread, 13205 Jamboree Rd., Tustin (at Irvine Blvd. on the west side of Jamboree).
16 SEPTEMBER READING LIST
Glenda (9/9)
Rosie (9/9)
Donna R. (9/2)
Ken S. (8/26)
Dan O. (8/26)
Lance (9/9)
Leighanne (9/9)
Burt (9/9)
Joanne (7/22)
Upcoming author events, September 2021
The following author events will take place online in August. Click on the venue links for more information and for registration or access codes. Events pop up unpredictably, so return to your favorite venues during the month to see if anything new has surfaced.
- Wednesday, Sep 8, 7 p.m.: Gaby Allan, Much Ado About Nauticaling; Carol J. Perry, Be My Ghost (virtual)
- Sunday, Sep 12, 4 p.m.: Margaret Mizushima, Striking Range; Scott Graham, Canyonlands Carnage (virtual)
- Saturday, Sep 18, 4 p.m.: Matt Witten, The Necklace (virtual)
- Saturday, Sep 18, 7 p.m.: Alyssa Maxwell, Murder at Wakehurst; Dianne Freeman, A Fiance’s Guide to First Wives and Murder (virtual)
- Sunday, Sep 19, 2 p.m.: Warren Easley, No Witness (virtual)
- Tuesday, Sep 21, 6 p.m.: Craig Johnson, Daughter of the Morning Star (live, ticketed event at the Frida Cinema, Santa Ana)
- Saturday, Sep 25, 2 p.m.: Ellen Byron, Cajun Kiss of Death; Dennis Palumbo, Panic Attack; Tori Eldridge, The Ninja Betrayed; Margot Kinberg, A Matter of Motive (virtual)
- Sunday, Sep 26, 12 p.m.: Stuart Neville, The House of Ashes
HUNTINGTON BEACH FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY
- Thursday, Sep 9, 4 p.m.: Robert Fegers, Grant Justice
- Saturday, Sep 18: Matt Witten, The Necklace (launch party)
- Saturday, Sep 11, 10 a.m.: Celeste Barclay, “Wordsmithing Your Work-in-Progress: An Interactive Workshop”
SISTERS-IN-CRIME ORANGE COUNTY
- Sunday, Sep 26, 3 p.m.: a conversation with literary agents Vicky Bijur and Elizabeth Kracht
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WRITERS ASSOCIATION
- Saturday, Sep 18, 10 a.m.: David Corbett, “Compelling, Emotional Character Motivation: Defining It. Believing It. Writing It!”
2 Sep meeting notes; 9 Sep reading list
2 SEPTEMBER MEETING NOTES
Five people attended: Burt (the revised final scene of Act I of When the Shvitz Hits the Fan), Donna R., Glenda, Lance (the first chapter of an untitled historical adventure), and Rosie.
NEWS & NOTES
The next PFL meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, 9 September at Panera Bread, 13205 Jamboree Rd., Tustin (at Irvine Blvd. on the west side of Jamboree).
9 SEPTEMBER READING LIST
Glenda (9/2)
Rosie (9/2)
Donna R. (9/2)
Ken S. (8/26)
Dan O. (8/26)
Burt (9/2)
Lance (9/2)
Leighanne (7/29)
Joanne (7/22)
26 Aug meeting notes; 2 Sep reading list
26 AUGUST MEETING NOTES
Five people attended: Dan O. (the first third of a short story, “The Earth and Sky”), Donna, Glenda, Ken S., and Lance (two chapters from Engaño).
NEWS & NOTES
The next PFL meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, 2 September at Panera Bread, 13205 Jamboree Rd., Tustin (at Irvine Blvd. on the west side of Jamboree).
The chapters from Engaño that Lance read at this meeting will be the last he brings to PFL. He has to prepare the novel for its release on 30 Sep.
The Southern California Writers’ Conference will take place 17-19 September at the Sonesta Irvine Hotel in, natch, Irvine. Registration is $325 for Saturday and Sunday only, or $425 for the full conference. Check the event website for more information, a schedule, and registration links.
2 SEPTEMBER READING LIST
Glenda (8/26)
Leighanne (7/29)
Joanne (7/22)
Rosie (8/19)
Burt (8/5)
Donna (8/26)
Ken S. (8/26)
Dan O. (8/26)
Lance (8/26)
Casey (6/10)
19 Aug meeting notes; 26 Aug reading list
19 AUGUST MEETING NOTES
Five people attended: Dan O., Glenda, Ken S., Lance (two chapters from Engaño), and Rosie.
NEWS & NOTES
The next PFL meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, 26 August at Panera Bread, 13205 Jamboree Rd., Tustin (at Irvine Blvd. on the west side of Jamboree).
The Southern California Writers’ Conference will take place 17-19 September at the Sonesta Irvine Hotel in, natch, Irvine. Registration is $325 for Saturday and Sunday only, or $425 for the full conference. Check the event website for more information, a schedule, and registration links.
26 AUGUST READING LIST
Glenda (8/19)
Leighanne (7/29)
Joanne (7/22)
Rosie (8/19)
Burt (8/5)
Donna (8/12)
Ken S. (8/19)
Lance (8/19)
Dan O. (8/19)
Casey (6/10)
12 Aug meeting notes; 19 Aug reading list
12 AUGUST MEETING NOTES
Six people attended: Donna R. (a revised query letter for Running with Hounds…and an English Degree), Glenda, Ken S., Lance (a chapter from Engaño), Rosie, and potential new member Dan O. (welcome!).
NEWS & NOTES
The next PFL meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, 19 August at Panera Bread, 13205 Jamboree Rd., Tustin (at Irvine Blvd. on the west side of Jamboree).
19 AUGUST READING LIST
Glenda (8/12)
Leighanne (7/29)
Joanne (7/22)
Rosie (8/12)
Burt (8/5)
Donna (8/12)
Lance (8/12)
Ken S. (8/12)
Casey (6/10)
5 Aug meeting notes; 12 Aug reading list
5 AUGUST MEETING NOTES
Five people attended: Burt (the first chapter of The Spirit of 1942), Donna R., Lance (a chapter from Engaño), Rosie, and potential new member Ken S. (welcome!).
NEWS & NOTES
The next PFL meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, 12 August at Panera Bread, 13205 Jamboree Rd., Tustin (at Irvine Blvd. on the west side of Jamboree).
Season 2 of Casey and Marianna’s podcast Deep State Dossier has begun to drop on Radio Juice Media, Apple Podcasts, Audible, and a bunch of other places. Check it out on the podcast’s Facebook page.
12 AUGUST READING LIST
Glenda (7/29)
Donna R. (8/5)
Leighanne (7/29)
Joanne (7/22)
Rosie (8/5)
Burt (8/5)
Lance (8/5)
Casey (6/10)
29 July meeting notes; 5 Aug reading list
29 JULY MEETING NOTES
Four people attended: Glenda, Lance (two chapters from Engaño), Leighanne, and Rosie (three revised chapters from an untitled adult fantasy).
NEWS & NOTES
The next PFL meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, 5 August at Panera Bread, 13205 Jamboree Rd., Tustin (at Irvine Blvd. on the west side of Jamboree).
5 AUGUST READING LIST
Glenda (7/29)
Donna R. (7/15)
Leighanne (7/29)
Joanne (7/22)
Burt (7/22)
Rosie (7/29)
Lance (7/29)
Casey (6/10)
22 July meeting notes; 29 July reading list
22 JULY MEETING NOTES
Five people attended: Burt (the end of A1S3 and start of A2S1 of When the Shvitz Hits the Fan), Glenda, Joanne (a short story, “Cat Napping”), Lance (three chapters from Engaño), and Rosie.
NEWS & NOTES
The next PFL meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, 29 July at Panera Bread, 13205 Jamboree Rd., Tustin (at Irvine Blvd. on the west side of Jamboree).
The 20 July virtual edition of LIT UP! was a success, with Maddie grilling authors Anne Moose and Brian Fitzpatrick on their work. The recording is now available on the LIT UP Facebook page.
29 JULY READING LIST
Glenda (7/22)
Donna R. (7/15)
Rosie (7/22)
Leighanne (7/8)
Joanne (7/22)
Burt (7/22)
Lance (7/22)
Casey (6/10)
The next virtual installment of LIT UP! A Conversation with Orange County Writers and Readers happens at 6:30 p.m. on 20 July, on Facebook Live.
Two featured authors will read from their works and discuss them with Maddie. The lineup:
- Anne Moose (contemporary women’s fiction).
- Brian Fitzpatrick (science fiction).
15 July meeting notes; 22 July reading list
15 JULY MEETING NOTES
Six people attended: Burt (the start of A1S3 of When the Shvitz Hits the Fan), Donna R., Glenda, Joanne (a short story, “Quarantine Crackup”), Lance (a chapter from Engaño), and Rosie.
NEWS & NOTES
The next PFL meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, 22 July at Panera Bread, 13205 Jamboree Rd., Tustin (at Irvine Blvd. on the west side of Jamboree).
22 JULY READING LIST
Glenda (7/15)
Casey (6/10)
Donna R. (7/15)
Rosie (7/15)
Leighanne (7/8)
Joanne (7/15)
Burt (7/15)
Lance (7/15)
8 July meeting notes; 15 July reading list
8 JULY MEETING NOTES
Six people attended: Burt (the rest of A1S1 of When the Shvitz Hits the Fan), Glenda, Joanne, Lance (2 chapters from Engaño), Leighanne, and Rosie.
NEWS & NOTES
The next PFL meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, 15 July at Panera Bread, 13205 Jamboree Rd., Tustin (at Irvine Blvd. on the west side of Jamboree).
The next Muzeo Open Book Series hosted by LIT UP! will take place on Sunday, 11 July, at 1-2 p.m. Nancy Klann will be the guest moderator. Two featured authors will discuss their works with the audience. The lineup:
- Tami Shaikh (self-help/contemporary fiction)
- Dr. Mary Hill-Wagner (memoir)
The Muzeo Museum and Cultural Center sponsors the Open Book series. This event will take place on Zoom and requires pre-registration. The program runs 1-2 p.m.
15 JULY READING LIST
Glenda (7/8)
Casey (6/10)
Donna R. (7/1)
Rosie (7/8)
Leighanne (7/8)
Joanne (7/8)
Burt (7/8)
Lance (7/8)
PJ (3/11)
