The Laura Riding Jackson Foundation is opening its Adult Writing Series in killer fashion Nov. 12 with a Florida-based mystery writer and Agatha Award winner, Elaine Viets. Viets, who lives in Fort Lauderdale, has been a draw at Vero Beach Book Center for years, often appearing with a fellow author, the late Barbara Parker. In 2007, Viets suffered a stroke but took it as just another challenge, working hard to beat its effects.
Viets isn’t aiming to be another Tom Clancy or James Patterson. Her humorous mysteries are more on the cozy side, but that doesn’t mean she skimps on her research. For her Dead-End Job and Mystery Shopper series, Viets got jobs wherever the plot took her mystery-solving heroines. A bakery, funeral home, high-end shoe store, pet-grooming salon — whatever it took.
If I had to pick 10 books to take to a tropical island, two-thirds would be mysteries, but no matter how many I read, I have no idea how to write one. In the workshop, “Writing a Killer Mystery: The Basics,” Viets will introduce writers to mystery-writing structure, pacing, plotting, character development and outlining.
Early registration is recommended for the 10 to 1 p.m. workshop at the Indian River Shores Community Center, 6001 S.R. A1A. Space will be limited. To sign up, call 772-569-6718 or go to www.LauraRidingJackson.com.
Viets will be at the Vero Beach Book Center at 3 p.m. that afternoon, signing her latest, “Brain Storm,” a mystery with a tone of darkness, she said.(www.elaineviets.com)
Topics for the rest of the season’s workshops include writing science fiction and fantasy, memoirs and poetry, ending with the annual Poetry and Southern BBQ April 2.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Vero Beach Museum of Art and Ballet Vero Beach will begin a new season of collaboration Nov. 9, transforming pieces from the current museum exhibitions into dance movements that tell their stories. Principal dancer Matthew Carter, ballet master Camilo A. Rodriguez and artistic director Adam Schnell will be joined by dancers Kogan Murphy and Whitney Walsh in this evening of interpretive dance. The performance begins at 7 p.m. at the museum and will be followed by a reception with the dancers. (www.verobeachmuseum.org)
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
If you’d like a history lesson with theater insight, ask Mark Wygonik about Evita and why her story become a smash hit. He’s directing the Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice show that runs Nov. 10-27 at the Vero Beach Theatre Guild. (verobeachtheatreguild.com)
The Treasure Coast Youth Symphony plays the works of Bach, Beethoven, Brahms and Berlioz 7 p.m. Nov. 7 at St. Edward’s Waxlax Center. (treasurecoastyouthsymphony.org)
The Vero Beach Choral Society goes for Baroque at Community Church 4 p.m. Nov. 13. (www.VeroBeachChoralSociety.org)
The Treasure Coast Chorale believes “We Need a Little Christmas” at 7 p.m. Nov. 13 at First Baptist Church of Vero Beach. (www.treasurecoastchorale.org)
Willi Miller writes about Indian River County. Contact her at caribsea@bellsouth.net.
