The Readaholics and the Falcon FiascoOwner of Eventful!, Heaven, Colorado’s premier event organizing business, and Founding Member of the Readaholics book club

As an event organizer, I describe myself to prospective clients as a cross between the general contractor they’d hire to make sure their house gets built right, and a cruise director, with a touch of therapist thrown in.

Event organizing is a funny job. You’d think anyone can put a party together, and for the most part that’s true, if all you want is two-liter bottles of soda and box wine served in plastic cups, a deli tray or cake from the grocery store, and a handful of friends standing around chatting. If you’re having an event, though, a party or meeting or wedding that runs on a schedule, where the activities of a variety of professionals (caterers, bakers, rental companies, musicians, speakers, etc.) have to sync up, where there are lots of moving parts and big bucks involved, well, then, you’re smart to have an event organizer like moi.

My brother Derek was smart (not something I say often) to hire me to plan the Grand Opening of his new brew pub, Elysium Brewing. He may be a genius when it comes to mixing hops and malt to produce something alcoholic and potable, but he’s got no clue when it comes to event planning. Just looking at my to do list makes him down a yard of his famous Exorcise Your Demons IPA. Here’s a brief sample:

– Get banner made saying “Welcome to the Grand Opening of Elysium Brewing and arrange to have it hung over pub entrance
– Vet invitation list and get invitations printed and mailed
– Hire cleaning crew and order extra toilet paper, et al
– Coordinate with Heaven PD for traffic control
– Write/send ad for Heaven Herald
– Pick menu with caterer for VIP pre-event party
– Buy souvenir t-shirts with Elysium Brewing logo as giveaways

There’s more, but you get the idea. I lost Derek before we even got the wording for the banner worked out. However, I’ve got money invested in his pub, so I’m going to make sure the event is fun and memorable.

When I’m not working, I’m reading and discussing books with my book club, the Readaholics. I hope you’ll join us for our discussion of The Maltese Falcon in The Readaholics and the Falcon Fiasco (April 2015).


You can read more about Amy in The Readaholics and the Falcon Fiasco, the first book in the new “Book Club” mystery series, published by Obsidian.

GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment to let us know what book you’re reading now, and tell us about your book group by 12 a.m. eastern on April 14 for the chance to win a copy of The Readaholics and the Falcon Fiasco. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. Winner will be notified within 48 hours after giveaway closes and you will have three days to respond after being contacted or another winner will be selected. Make sure to check your SPAM folder.

About the author
Laura DiSilverio is a retired Air Force intelligence officer and author of 15 mystery and suspense novels. The Book Club Mystery, The Readaholics And The Falcon Fiasco, hits stores in April 2015. Her standalone suspense novel, The Reckoning Stones, debuts in September. A Past President of Sisters in Crime, she pens articles for Writer’s Digest, and teaches writing in various fora. She plots murders and parents teens in Colorado, trying to keep the two tasks separate. Visit Laura at her website.