I already gushed about this in my last post, but I wanted to give Around Ambler its own proper spotlight, because a feature like this doesn’t come along every day ๐
If you missed it: Around Ambler, my local news site covering Ambler, Blue Bell, Fort Washington, Maple Glen, and Lower Gwynedd, ran a feature on THE JACKLIGHTER and the 50-year true crime cold case. It’s still making the rounds in their digital edition, and I find it a little surreal to open my inbox and see my book and me listed among the top local stories ๐ If you haven’t read it yet, you can find reporter Suzanne McNaughton’s piece here: Ambler author releasing true crime novel 50 years after infamous murder.
There’s something particularly meaningful about having my own hometown outlet cover a story I’ve been carrying around for 30 years. Local news doesn’t get enough credit for the work it does keeping small communities connected, and I’m grateful they decided this story, and this author, was worth the space.
The article does not mention my just-announced release date of October 27, 2026. I have five book-launch events on the calendar, so if you’re local to me in Montgomery or Bucks County, PA, or Philadelphia, I’d love to see you at one of them. I’m also hoping folks in NEPA (Northeast PA) will come and find me at the Barnes & Noble in Vestal, NY on Halloween … this is the closest big bookstore to Montrose, PA, where The Jacklighter takes place. Here is my line-up so far:
-
- Thursday, October 29th, 7 PM โ The Bookshop on Main, 5 N. Main Street, Ambler, PA
- Saturday, October 31st, 12 PM โ Barnes & Noble, 2443 Vestal Parkway E, Vestal, NY
- Sunday, November 1st, 5 PM โ Thrillerdelphia, 4203 Main Street, Philadelphia (Manayunk), PA
- Wednesday, November 4th, 6:30 PM โ Ambler Library, 209 Race Street, Ambler, PA
- Saturday, November 28th, 1 PM โ Doylestown Bookshop, 16 S. Main Street, Doylestown, PA
An extra bonus: theย Around Ambler piece was responsible for addingย my Ambler Library event. ๐ Library Branch Manager Anne Hall saw the article and reached out, and that is now on the calendar for Wednesday, Nov. 4th at 6:30 PM. Ann will host the event, which will include my talk on The Jacklighter, the case behind it, and true crime writing. Ann will also ask me questions about the book, and a Q-A will open up to the audience. We will then have books available for purchase and a book signing. I can’t wait to see my friends and neighbors there and make some new local connections too ๐
All in all, a pretty good week for a story that’s been thirty years in the making ๐ โจ
By the way, for all you eBook fans who like a deal: The eBook is on pre-order sale at $5.99 on my Crimemoir Store. That price is good up until publication day, when the eBook goes to $9.99 everywhere.
Carla Conti is a journalist and the award-winning author of Chained Birds: A Crimemoir. Her next true crime book, The Jacklighter, is set for release in 2026. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, who supports her true crime habit.
