Ripley Hayes

Nov 2023 11

Queer Mystery Coming Attractions: December 2023

2023 Articles, Coming Attractions!, Mysteryrat's Maze

by Matt Lubbers-Moore

It is the holiday season and time to stock up on books and chocolate for the Icelandic tradition of Jolabokaflod, or Christmas Book Flood! Of course, there are dozens of holidays in December, and I think buying books for any gift-giving is wonderful. Still, I strongly discourage my own family from buying me books, since they would have no idea what I own or what I would want. A gift card to my favorite local bookshop is just fine.

Jun 2023 17

Queer Mystery Coming Attractions: July 2023

2023 Articles, Coming Attractions!, Mysteryrat's Maze

by Matt Lubbers-Moore

Although Pride Month is almost over and everyone who participated in lots of little ways by either running a booth, marching in a parade, attending multiple city Prides, or protesting, is likely to be exhausted. But we can’t stop fighting for our rights. We can’t stop demanding corporations continue to stand up for all LGBTQ+ peoples, for politicians who marched in the parades, and got their pictures taken at Drag Shows to be held accountable for the promises they made, and family members to constantly be reminded which pronouns to use no matter how uncomfortable it is.

Aug 2022 20

Queer Mystery Coming Attractions: September 2022

2022 Articles, Mysteryrat's Maze

by Matt Lubbers-Moore

This is a call to action! Libraries and books by LGBTQ+ authors are under attack. In North Carolina during Pride month, one library was under assault by the racist, homophobic, xenophobic, and transphobic Proud Boys during their Drag StoryTime event. Parents had to escort their children out a backdoor so that they would not be inundated with hateful speech. Thank goodness for the librarians who stood in front of the programming doors so that the Proud Boys, escorted by police, could not gain entry.

Mar 2022 30

Writing Crime Novels Set in Wales

2022 Articles, Mysteryrat's Maze

by Ripley Hayes

It’s just over a year since I wrote to Kings River Life about my foray into writing murder mysteries set in a small town in Wales. When I wrote last, I was about to publish the second in my series of books about DI Daniel Owen. Book six in the series will be released on 31 March. It’s called An Allotment of Time, and it tells the story of how Daniel deals with leaving the police, and forges a new identity for himself. Of course, it’s a murder mystery as well because what’s the point of a book without a body or two scattered around the small north Wales town of Melin Tywyll?

Jun 2021 19

Queer Mystery Coming Attractions: July 2021

2021 Articles, Coming Attractions!, Mysteryrat's Maze

by Matt Lubbers-Moore

This Pride season has been very quiet as most cities and towns near me in West Michigan were done virtually or postponed to the fall. However, I did manage to set up a booth at the Lowell Pride. Lowell Pride was the first time Lowell had attempted to put on a pride event in this small conservative town, and despite the three protestors, the event was a huge success. It had estimated 300-500 people would come and were surprised when over 2,000 people came. It was wonderful to see all of the youth, the couples, the seniors, and all of the colors of the rainbow flag!! I must admit that my husband and I had a chart of all the different flags so that we could keep track of them all. It was beautiful, and it made me happy to be out and among my “family!”

Jan 2021 20

Wales, Woods, and Murder

2021 Articles, Mysteryrat's Maze

by Ripley Hayes

In 2016 my employer made me an offer I couldn’t refuse - a large sum of money to quit my job. My partner and I thought about it for maybe as long as thirty seconds before I signed the paperwork.