Malice Domestic 38: April 25-26, 2026 — Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center, Bethesda, MD

THIS WEEK AT ELAINE’S

READERS + WRITERS: Policy expert and political operative Matthew Lavoie brings us his debut thriller novel, Main Street Fringe,” on Sept. 2, 6-9pm.

Here’s the story: After a government vendetta destroys his career, a police detective goes undercover, as himself, infiltrating a world of paranoia and radicalization — with no protection for the ones he loves most.

Sign up for your free seat here: MatthewLavoie.eventbrite.com

ESPIONAGE + POLITICS is the topic for our brunch interview on Sunday, Sept. 6: Wolf Bahren is the pen name used by the writer Kristi Bahrenburg Janzen for her fiction. The Secessionist’s Wife is her third thriller.

A lover of spy stories since childhood, she published her first novel, Agents of Suzharia, in 2016, and then Source of Deceit in 2020. She teaches in the University Writing Program at GW, and began her writing career as a financial news journalist for AP-Dow Jones in New York, Germany, and Washington, DC.

Sign up for your free seat here: KristiJanzen.eventbrite.com

ELAINE’S WELCOMES ART IN EVERY SPACE

Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins’ Project brings us this beautiful painting by artist Alfa Tate O’Neill. Read all about it!

ELAINE’S LITERARY SALON IS IN THE NEWS

This week in The Zebra: J.D. Barker Shares Writing Secrets For A Bestseller at Elaine’s Literary Salon, by reporter Lisa-Helene Lawson

Many thanks to reporter Shirley Ruhe for her insightful article about Jeff Higgins’ celebrated career that took him from awarded DEA agent to besellling thriller novelist and restauranteur. She also shined a light on InkandescentKids.com, the project to teach kids to think critically like a reporter — founded by Elaine’s PR director, Hope Katz Gibbs. Check it out in the August 5 issue of the Alexandria Gazette Packet

Check out this fabulous article by reporter Lisa-Helene Lawsonabout Elaine’s Literary Salon in The Zebra