A Novel Idea (A Village Library Mystery, #8)

A Novel Idea A Village Library Mystery, Volume 8 Elizabeth Craig Published by Elizabeth Spann Craig, 2023. This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental. A NOVEL IDEA First edition. January 31, 2023. Copyright © 2023 Elizabeth Craig. ISBN: 978-1955395175 Written by Elizabeth Craig. 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Table of Contents Title Page Copyright Page Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Chapter Twelve Chapter Thirteen Chapter Fourteen Chapter Fifteen Chapter Sixteen Chapter Seventeen Chapter Eighteen Chapter Nineteen Chapter Twenty Chapter Twenty-One About the Author This and That Other Works by Elizabeth Chapter One It was the kind of day I liked best in the library. The building was full of students working on group projects, readers hanging out in the armchairs by the fireplace, and lots of little kids with their parents looking at picture books. Fitz, our library cat, was curled peacefully on the desk near me and glancing around the library with the same look of satisfaction that I’m sure I sported on my own face. What was more, the equipment was all working smoothly. The computers throughout the building were running without a hitch, and even our finicky copier machine was on its best behavior. It was ordinarily the kind of copier that had multiple shenanigans a day (sometimes because of clueless patrons, but sometimes because the machine simply felt mischievous). We were also well-staffed, so I wasn’t having to work the circulation desk and check out patrons’ books, but instead could be stationed at the reference desk. I decided to spend my time unpacking the shipment of new books that had come in that morning. Seeing the new materials always made me smile, and it also gave me ideas for my own reading list. Processing the new books meant separating them into piles—some of the new titles needed to go to borrowers who had already requested the book. I was unpacking new books for our fiction collection and one of them made me pause. I looked at the name on the cover and then flipped over to the back of the book. “Something wrong with the shipment?” I looked up to see my director, Wilson, standing there. I must have seemed confused because Wilson explained, “You were frowning.” “Oh, it’s this book.” I handed it over to Wilson, who studied it carefully through his rimless glasses. “It’s on the bestseller list, I know,” he said slowly. “I’ve heard about it.” He flipped the novel over to the back. “The author looks familiar. Have we had her in here to speak?” I said, “She’s actually one of our regular patrons.” Wilson took a closer look and slowly nodded. “Right. So her name is Sally Simmons. Sits over there, doesn’t she?” He waved vaguely toward the quiet study area in the far corner. He frowned, trying to remember more. “Wears a scarf, doesn’t she? I kept wondering if the air in the library was too chilly.” I nodded. “She does wear a scarf—it looks homemade. I thought she was a grad student, or someone studying for a professional certification of some sort. She comes in with her laptop and is over there for hours in the quiet area.” “Have you spoken much with her?” “No, she keeps to herself. She always seems like she has a lot to do. She rarely stops by the desk. But I’ve seen her in here for months,” I said. I thought some more. “Actually, it could have been more than a year.” Wilson handed the book back to me. “The novel is extremely well-reviewed. Let’s have her in here for an author event. She can speak, then we can have an audience Q&A.” “And a signing?” “I suppose so,” said Wilson. He was less fond of signings. “Should we have refreshments? I think the budget will allow for them.” Wilson was often rather tight with his budget but seemed to be picturing a large event this time. “Definitely. But let’s do it on the economical end. A fruit tray, pastries, coffee, that type of thing. Light snacks.” “Got it. I’ll try to find contact information for Sally online.” Wilson glanced over at the door. “Or just wait for her to come in.” Sure enough, Sally was slipping through the door now. It was a testament to how frequently she was here that Wilson and I remembered her because she was a very inconspicuous person. She had dull sandy-blonde hair that she kept in a long, loose braid. And she was again wearing that homemade scarf. Perhaps she was very cold-natured. I was about to move to the other side of the reference desk to catch up with her, but Wilson was a few steps ahead of me. He called out, “Ms. Simmons.” Sally stopped and turned, looking a bit combative for some reason as I joined Wilson. Wilson continued, “We’ve just gotten a shipment of new books, and yours is one of them. We’re thrilled to have a bestselling author in our library.” Sally relaxed a little, although she still looked wary. “Thanks.” A thin hand worried at the fringe on her scarf. Wilson looked expectant, as if thinking she might continue, but apparently Sally wasn’t much in the mood to talk. He blinked and pushed his glasses farther up his nose. “Did you work on the book here in the library?” Sally nodded. “That’s right.” Wilson glanced at me. Since I’ve worked with him for years, I could tell what he was thinking. Would Sally be this taciturn during a library event? It boded ill for a talk if that were the case. I cleared my throat. “I’m Ann and this is Wilson, my library director. We were wondering if you might be interested in us hosting an author event here at the library.” Considering how short she’d been with her