MatchMaker Mysteries: A Fatal Romance

Romance.

Thanks, fellas.

Oh, and um, remember what I said.

Three keys to a great first date.

Pick a restaurant with amazing desserts,

leave your phone on silent, and most importantly,

just be yourself.

Thank you so much for coming.

Oolong, two tea bags.

Honey?

Oh, I'm sorry.

Um, I will go get some.

Don't bother, I'll do it myself.

Oh, uh, sorry everyone,

Miss Penn's autograph session has ended.

No, but she is one of the featured guests

in the Romance Writer's Roundtable in Hall H

so we hope to see you there.

We'll see you there.

Yeah.

Ok.

Bring this, will you?

Oh, yeah.

So sorry.

I know.

Thanks, guys!

Miss Dove.

Welcome to our little convention.

I can't thank you enough for agreeing to participate.

We're all such big fans of the Matchmaker here

at Written in the Stars.

I am flattered you thought of me.

Well, who better to moderate a romance writer's panel

than Philadelphia's foremost authority on love?

Beatrice.

I'd like you to meet-

Angie Dove.

Oh, you watch my show?

I recognized you from the standee.

-Ah. -This is my assistant, Margaret.

I read your blog post last month about finding love

in the digital age.

It was wonderful.

Margaret's a bit of a hopeless romantic.

Well, hopeful.

Uh, do I have time to freshen up a bit before the panel starts?

30 minutes?

Great.

And can you please have someone bring those gifts up to my room?

721.

Of course.

That's quite a haul.

Well, Bea has a very passionate fan base.

That's certainly one way to describe them.

My mother happens to be among your most devoted.

She is first in line the day your books come out.

If it's not too much trouble I would love to get an autograph.

It's her birthday next week.

Of course.

First edition.

Was that hard to find?

Oh, um, funny story, actually.

I tried a few bookstores, a few dealers,

a yard sale I tried on a hunch.

No book, of course.

But I did get a set of vintage candlesticks

for a very reasonable price.

But finally I-

Well, I admire your persistence.

Oh.

Oh.

I'm sorry, I have to take this.

Hello?

I'll make sure that she signs it for you.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Bye.

Don't come and see me.

Stop calling.

I have nothing more to say to you.

You're gonna wear a hole in that carpet.

Ethan?

It's been a long time, Ange.

You look good.

You too.

Nervous?

Oh, uh... I- I just wasn't uh...

I wasn't expecting so many people.

Well, your show does reach over a million viewers a week.

Yes, but I can't see any of them.

Ah.

So you're here with Evergreen?

You're looking at the new editor and CEO.

What?

You never expressed any interest in publishing.

In fact, last I checked

you were off working at a consulting firm in Seattle.

Not that I was checking up on you,

it was just, you know, run of the mill grapevine.

It was important to my mother that it stay in the family.

She uh, passed recently.

I'm so sorry.

Right.

The transition's been a little bumpy.

Most of the authors have been supportive.

Others... less so.

How could you blindside me like this?

What good are you if you can't get me out of these commitments?

Did you even try?

Wow.

My mother did say Beatrice Penn had a way with words.

It's just too bad she couldn't repeat any of them

in polite company.

Would you like to have dinner sometime this week?

I don't know if that's such a good idea.

Just two old friends catching up.

You know what?

Just think about it.

I know that look.

I've written four novels on that look.

Ex-husband?

Boyfriend.

Ah.

So all you got out of the split was heartbreak?

Helen Travers.

Angie Dove.

I know.

You've seen the standee.

No.

-I watch your show. -Oh.

Showtime, ladies!

Here are some prepared trivia questions

should you run into any lulls, alright?

I know you're gonna be great.

I thought we were waiting for one more author?

Sylvia Donner?

Our third author is a no-show.

And there's another panel right after this so we can't stall.

We're just gonna have to make do.

Ok.

What an unpleasant surprise seeing your name on the poster.

I thought it was time to bury the hatchet.

And just where were you planning on burying it?

Hello, Philadelphia, and welcome to

the Written in the Stars Romance Writer's Panel.

Thank you so much for coming out.

Before we get to your burning questions in the Q & A segment,

our writers will share selected readings from their work.

First up, it is my honour to introduce

two-time award-winning author, Beatrice Penn.

Thank you.

I'd like to begin by uh, reading a passage from "Hearts on Fire",

the first of my Gilded Hearts Trilogy.

I know many of you here might be anticipating

an announcement today regarding the final book in the series,

but I'm afraid there- there are no updates on that front.

While you're waiting you can pick up "Autumn of Lonely Hearts",

available now wherever books are sold.

I do appreciate the enthusiasm around the book.

You've all been very loyal and for that I am so truly grateful.

That's a lie.

I'm sorry?

You claim to care about your fans

but the truth is you don't care about us at all.

That's not true.

You'll happily take our money and our time

but you will never return it.

Security!

Why don't you answer my letters?

You're nothing but a fraud.

Karma's coming for you!

Uh...

Uh, I see here that we are supposed to do

a round of romance trivia next.

That sounds fun.

We don't have to wait, we can do that now.

No, it's quite alright.

I can continue.

Ok.

"Thomas knew from the moment he saw her,

"Dominique was the woman of his dreams.

"Her chestnut hair, swept into a delicate braid that seemed to-"

Excuse me.

Here, take her this.

Please.

-Thank you. -You're welcome.

Ah, there we go.

Let's try this again, shall we?

"Her appearance had awoken something in his heart."