The Accidental Art Thief By Joan Schweighardt

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Feb. 9, 2015 - PRLog -- Twilight Times Books, one of Predators & Editors top 20 small publisher picks, has announced the May 15, 2015 launch of The Accidental Art Thief (ISBN: 978-1-60619-070-8, 978-1-60619-069-2) a fifth novel by industry insider Joan Schweighardt.

The Accidental Art Thief introduces Zinc, a 45-year-old woman who has worked for a quarter of a century as a caretaker for a wealthy old man, living in a small casita on his ranch in New Mexico. She doesn't make much money, but she has the old man, her dogs, and gorgeous views of the mountains. She is basically a very content recluse who doesn't invest much time thinking about what she might do if her circumstances change. So when the old man dies suddenly, and his daughter all but throws her off the property, Zinc is forced to reinvent herself—and quickly. Offbeat characters, a touch of magical realism and a stole painting combine to drive the plot in The Accidental Art Thief to an unexpected but satisfying ending.

Says Schweighardt about her latest novel, “The last novel I wrote was a historical novel, which meant that in writing it I had to abide by certain rules. I also write for a living, working for both private and corporate clients, which means more rules. The Accidental Art Thief was my opportunity to cut loose a little. While it deals with some serious subjects— greed, loyalty, homelessness, the possibility of forgiveness, etc.—it does so rather gleefully. It’s a bit zany compared to other things I’ve written. I hope readers will enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.”

Schweighardt’s previous work includes three novels published with The Permanent Press and a historical novel published with Beagle Bay Books. The historical, called Gudrun’s Tapestry, won Foreword and IPPY awards and was translated into Italian and Russian.

From 1999 to 2005 Schweighardt had her own indie publishing company, called GreyCore Press. Her successes as a small publisher included a Barnes and Noble “Discover Great New Writers” title (A Month of Sundays, by Julie Mars), a Foreword Book of the Year title (The Basket Maker by Kate Niles), a Borders “top ten read-to-me” title (When I Wished I Was Alone, by Dave Cutler), to name a few.

To learn more about titles by Joan Schweighardt, visit www.joanschweighardt.com. Contact Schweighardt at joanschweighardt@mac.com, or the publisher at www.twilighttimesbooks.com, to request a review galleys or set up interviews.