With a fresh blanket of snow on the ground, it doesn't look much like springtime in the Twin Cities.

Nevertheless, spring is officially here, and Once Upon a Crime's ninth annual Write of Spring gathering is just a week away.

On Saturday, April 2, the independent mystery bookstore in Uptown Minneapolis will host four dozen local crime fiction authors for an afternoon of murder, mystery, mayhem and...mingling. 

Packed wall to wall with authors and fans, the event gives readers a chance to chat with local authors, purchase the latest crime fiction, have books signed and meet special guests Jon and Ruth Jordan, publishers of CrimeSpree Magazine.

The event will also celebrate Once Upon a Crime's 2011 Raven Award, presented by the Mystery Writers of America for outstanding achievement in the mystery field outside the realm of creative writing.

This year's killer lineup (excuse the pun) includes MinnPost journalists Julie Kramer and Judith Yates Borger, along with recent Book Club Blast keynote speaker David Housewright.

A full list of participating authors can be found in the appearance schedule below:

12 p.m.
Gary Bush, Laura Childs, Mary Monica Ferris, Maureen Fischer, Victoria Houston. Mary Logue, Jess Lourey, Virginia Lowell, Scott Pearson, Peter Rennebohm, Christopher Valen, Deborah Woodworth

1 p.m.
Jan Dunlap, William Fietzer, Barbara Fister, Margaret Frazer, Ron Handberg, Keith Hollihan, Camille Hyytinen, Julie Kramer, Susan Runholt, Rick Shefchik, Michael Stanley, Richard Thompson

2 p.m.
Gerald Anderson, Judith Yates Borger, Matt Burgess, Jessie Chandler, Anne Frasier, Lois Greiman, Robert Gust, Judith Koll Healey, Steve Horwitz, Larry Millett, Julie Schaper, William Swanson

3 p.m.
Barbara DaCosta, Pat Dennis, David Housewright, Kathryn Strand Koutsky, Linda Koutsky, Jenifer LeClair, Michael Allan Mallory, Bruce Rubenstein, Beth Solheim, Steve Thayer, Marilyn Victor, Lance Zarimba

Celebrate spring -- or the lack thereof -- by joining the whole gang next Saturday. Get caught up in crime!

Event: Write of Spring No. 9 
Time: 12-4 p.m.
Date: Saturday, Apr. 2, 2011
Place: Once Upon a Crime, 604 W. 26th St., Minneapolis MN 55405