Murder in the Stacks 

A Mystery Writing Event Celebrating the Minding Place Symposium

Do you like to write? Do you like mysteries? Would you like to write the first chapter of a mystery? The staff of Ramaker Library invites you to submit the first chapter of a mystery that is set in a library—the library in your hometown, the library of your alma mater, the library of your imagination, or even Ramaker. The title for this event comes from the 1934 book, Murder in the Stacks by Marion Boyd Havinghurst.  Havinghurst wrote most of her mystery in the library at Miami University (Oxford, OH), and she sets the murder in a library similar to one at Miami University.   Havinghurst opens her work by writing, “In a particularly charming spot in one of our maligned middle western states…”   

Sound familiar?  With the time, place and characters set out before you, she concludes the first chapter with the discovery of a body in the stacks and leaves you wanting to read on.   You, too, can write the first chapter of a mystery.  All students, staff, and faculty are invited to submit a first chapter.  A panel of library staff and others from across campus will select three pieces to be dramatically read on the Day of Learning in Community.  On the afternoon of April 9, during the workshop sessions, three of the submissions will be read to an audience in the library.      

Please submit your chapter as a Microsoft Word document to Dan Daily ddaily@nwciowa.edu by April 1.  When submitting…  

·        Include your name and e-mail address 

·        Limit your piece to 1,000 words ·        Indicate if are willing to have your chapter read at the Day of Learning in Community (April 9).   

·        Indicate if you are willing to have your chapter included in a collection of submissions that will be kept in the library and available for others to read. 

Murder in the Stacks by Marion Boyd Havinghurst is on reserve in Ramaker Library.