So many books are published these days that it's easy for a new work to get lost in the crowd.
Laura Langlie, the agent for Fort Mill mystery writer Mignon Ballard, didn't want that to happen with Ballard's new book, “Hark! The Herald Angel Screamed” ($24.95, St. Martin's Minotaur). But instead of publicizing the book with a book tour or YouTube video, she hatched a more original idea: a contest.
“Hark!” is the seventh in Ballard's Augusta Goodnight Mystery series, featuring Augusta as a guardian angel who helps solve murders in the town of Stone's Throw, S.C.
Loyal readers know that Augusta wears a beautiful, multicolored necklace that changes colors depending on her mood or situation.
How fun, Langlie thought, to give away that necklace.
She hired a jeweler to create the necklace and a lawyer to navigate sweepstakes rules. Through Dec. 1, anyone can go to Ballard's Web site (www.mignonballard.com) and register to win the piece, valued at $1,000. No purchase is required. The winner will be notified Dec. 3.
Ballard's mysteries fall into a subgenre known as cozies, which have murders but not violence and profanity. Her series featuring Augusta has been consistently well-received. “Augusta as always makes a delightful earthbound angel in a Southern cozy fragrant with holiday spices,” Publishers Weekly says about the newest book.
But Langlie wanted to attract new readers. “And I love jewelry,” she says.
Ballard's pleased with her newest effort, set during the Christmas holidays. “It's just such fun to be in Stone's Throw at Christmas, even though there is evil lurking.”
And she's thrilled with the necklace. No, it doesn't change colors, but it's more than 60 inches long and studded with semiprecious stones, including amethyst, garnet, aquamarine, jade and black pearl, all linked with silver wire.
“I wish I could enter,” she says.
She'll sign books 10 a.m.-noon Saturday at Crossings on Main, 102 Academy St. in Fort Mill, and 2-4 p.m. Saturday at Charlotte's Park Road Books, 4139 Park Road.
Art and science to meet
About 200 academics from more than a dozen countries will be in Charlotte this week for the annual meeting of the Society for Literature, Science, and the Arts. It's Thursday through Sunday at the Omni Charlotte hotel but isn't open to the public.
Participants examine how science and technology affect society and how our culture influences the questions that scientists pursue.
UNC Charlotte's Alan Rauch, director of graduate liberal studies, is the society's incoming president and conference organizer.
Pam Kelley: 704-358-5271; pkelley@charlotteobserver.com
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