January 2025 will see the publication of The Killing Room, a short story she had envisioned as a contribution to an anthology published by At Bay Press as a stand-alone book.
This is a somewhat autobiographical story based on the time her family got behind her father's dream of cashing in on the fried-chicken craze with a poultry operation on their farm north of Baltimore. From the ages of 11 to 13, it fell to her to be the chief chicken killer in this operation. She never dared tell a soul about this, except for her very closest friend.
Hutsell-Manning submitted this manuscript during the COVID pandemic, which just goes to show how much waiting goes into a literary career. The story sat with At Bay Press, where she submitted it for their From The Heart series, for a couple of years before they got back to her.
At an age where so many writers have just stopped writing, Hutsell-Manning says, “I will not quit.”
She resumed readings this fall, with her daughter Laura along for support.
Finding Moufette (from Pandamonium Publishers) continues to sell, she added, and readings are scheduled locally in December.
Dec. 5 – 10:30 a.m, - Brighton Public Library (35 Alice St.)
Dec. 7 – 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. - Spirit of the Hills Writers Christmas Book Sale at the Cobourg Public Library (200 Ontario St.)
Dec, 13 – 7 p.m. - Warkworth Christmas Fair makers Market at Warkworth Town Hall (40 Main St.)
Dec. 14 – 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Christmas Market at the Cobourg Public Library
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f you'd like to include Finding Moufette on your Christmas shopping list, check out Lighthouse Book in Brighton, Furby House Books in Port Hope and The Reader's Nook (formerly Let's Talk Books) in Cobourg.
And to keep up with the latest from this remarkable author, check out www.lindahutsellmanning.ca