Some Discussion on Social Media

For my job that pays the bills - and buys my books - I've been building an online course about using social media in a marketing plan. And as I was researching and working on the course, I couldn't help but think how all of this information really applies to anyone using social media. And since blogging IS social media, and social media has also become a big part of the book and publishing world, I thought it might be a fun post to talk about effective uses of social media. I hope you'll chime in and share your thoughts in the comments as well.

One of the resources that I consulted was a book called SIX PIXELS OF SEPARATION. It's a fascinating book if you're ever in the need of such a resource. The author, Mitch Joel, talks about three elements necessary to build a 3D Personal Brand:

• Give Abundantly
• Help Others
• Build Relationships

The first two essentially deal with this idea: "stop worrying about what others can do for you and think about what you can do for others." Excellent piece of advice. As a regular user of social media I can immediately tell those people who are more concerned about what I can do for them than vice versa. Don't get me wrong, I love to help people, but when you feel like they EXPECT you to help them and that's all they're interested in, the desire to help just kind of fizzles away.

But the last point is the one I'd like to talk about in this post. BUILD RELATIONSHIPS. Joel also clarifies this even further and says "build REAL relationships." So, what's essential in building a REAL relationship? For me "trust" comes into play, and that is a word that pops up repeatedly where ever you look for information on effective social media plans. What are ways that people have built trust with you in social media? For me there's a consistency factor. While I don't expect everyone to be on Twitter or Facebook or where ever every hour of every day, I also don't want to only see them when they want something from me: buy my book, vote for me, watch my show, read my rave review, etc. If you want to use social media, build in a regular time in your schedule to use it, to connect with people and have fun. If you make your social media all about business, people are going to start ignoring you, hiding you, unfollowing, etc.

Be authentic. If you don't like people then social media is probably not what you should focus on. Otherwise, be yourself. Let others get to know you; that's why they're there. It's interesting to know that one person is a new father, one's a new pet owner, one's a huge college sports fan, you get the idea. Isn't that what you do with your friends in person? And if it isn't YOU on the other end of your social media account, don't try to pass it off like it is. Because it won't take long for people to figure out it isn't and then you've just destroyed that trust factor. If your followers/friends were interested in knowing your assistant/PR rep/spouse/whoever, they would follow that person and not you. If the account says something like "John Doe's Books" or "John Doe's Fan Club" or something like that then users aren't expecting that to actually be John Doe. But if your account says "John Doe" and it's actually "Joe Schmo" posting to it, that's deceptive.

Reciprocate! I hear this comment probably more than any other: "I tried to engage [insert name here] in a conversation, but they wouldn't reply to me." If someone is directing a question to you in person and you don't respond, what kind of reaction do you get? That's essentially the reaction you're going to get on social media, too. It comes across as an elitist attitude. "I'm too important to respond to you." And it ties back into the first two points that Joel made, you come across as being concerned about what others can do for you more than what you can do for them. If you're not willing to interact, then social media may hurt you more than help you. People notice that. If they asked a question, they did so for a reason. Don't make the mistake of thinking it isn't important to them.

I thoroughly enjoy social media; it has enabled me to get to know a wide array of people: authors, musicians, bloggers, crime fiction fans, publishers, etc. I can talk to family and friends. And I've made many new friends through social media. I've discovered people I want to support through social media and I've discovered people I will never support again through social media. Whenever someone asks me about social media, my standard advice is "be yourself and have fun." If you take it too seriously, it's a chore and it shows.

O.k., so that's my two cents about social media. Now your turn. What irritates you and makes you want to unfollow/unfriend someone? Who do you know that does an outstanding job on social media and why? What's your advice to people using it? Time to sound off!

ASHES TO WATER - Irene Ziegler

FIRST LINE: "Damp and heavy-limbed, nine-year-old Annie Bartlett jerked awake beneath her father's chin."

Annie Bartlett is estranged from her father when she receives the call telling her he has been murdered by his girlfriend. So Annie and her drug-addict sister, Leigh, return to their hometown to take care of their father's final arrangements. Annie only plans to be gone a few days, but when she arrives in DeLeon, Florida, Annie finds a web of secrets and lies that snare her and force her to confront both her past and the present.

ASHES TO WATER is a dark look at the tragic effects of secrets. When you discover those you trust most have used you through lies and deception. And those lies have altered your own perception of reality, the discovery is earth-shattering. Annie Bartlett experiences such a life-changing discovery and Ziegler does an excellent job of illustrating her devastation, loss and identity struggle.

Another strength of ASHES TO WATER is Ziegler's depiction of the small town: its array of colorful characters, the relationships between factions as well as individuals, and the effects of secrets - or lack thereof - in a small town. This complexity spills over in the plot as events mesh and intertwine. As the plot unfolds a whole new picture of the small town emerges. Perception and reality can often be vastly different pictures. When Annie learns her perceptions don't match reality, she questions exactly who she is because she's defined herself by those distorted perceptions.

While the focus of the novel is Annie, the strength of the supporting characters play a large role in the richness of the novel as well. Leigh, Annie's older sister, is caught in a web of her own. She's running from her violent and abusive drug supplier because she stole money from him. Leigh had approached her father before his death about helping her into a drug rehab program. She wants to clean herself up but still employs the deceptive, manipulative behaviors of a drug addict. Camp is Annie's fiance. He's in a constant struggle between his feelings for Annie and his devotion to his young daughter, who is manipulated by her mother, Camp's ex-wife. There is a strong irony here as we slowly learn about Annie's manipulation from her own mother. The interplay between all the characters is complex and intricately woven. 

There was one event toward the end of the novel that I thought would be highly unlikely to happen. I can't say that it would be impossible, but it was definitely unusual. The event was necessary for the final outcome of the book, so that may sit a little uneasy with some readers. Overall, however, this is a thought-provoking novel inhabited by dynamic characters in a well-developed setting.

My post is a part of Irene Ziegler's blog tour with TLC Book Tours. You can find additional reviews of ASHES TO WATER here. ASHES TO WATER is available from Five Star Publishing in hardcover (ISBN: 978-1-59414-860-6).

Technorati Tags: Irene Ziegler, book review, book tour, crime fiction

Up Close and Personal with Joe Wallace

A short while back I reviewed a book that I mentioned wasn't marketed as a crime novel but crime played a very central role to the novel. That would be DIAMOND RUBY. And it just so happens that DIAMOND RUBY's author, Joe Wallace, took some time out to chat with me and I'm very excited to get to share that interview with you today.

A native of New York, Joe Wallace has been making a career of writing for awhile now, but DIAMOND RUBY is his first novel. Joe is definitely not new to the crime fiction genre as he's been writing short stories for various anthologies and magazines, including the upcoming 2010 BEST AMERICAN MYSTERY STORIES. He's also written non-fiction and children's books. Joe is a super individual, a talented writer, and one of my Twitter pals. I had a lot of fun with this interview; I hope you enjoy it.

Q. Joe, you received an electric typewriter as a gift when you were thirteen. Was that something you had asked for? Were you planning to write and that was the catalyst for the gift or did the gift encourage you to write?

Joe: I think I must be hardwired to tell stories, because I’ve always wanted to write. (I was submitting stories to magazines when I was ten, which must have made the editors shake their heads!) That Olympia electric typewriter was something my parents knew I wanted as a gift…I can still remember the sound of its keys hammering against the roller, the smell of carbon paper, and how excited I was when I got to the end of the story.

Q. And when you were young, you were trying to write a science fiction novel. First, what led you from sci-fi to children’s books? And then what took you to crime fiction short stories?

Joe: I’ve always preferred reading mystery stories. As a child, I read a ton of science fiction—as almost everyone I knew did back in the 1970s—but I was always most taken by mysteries, by the realistic human element and the puzzle. I read everything, from Dorothy L. Sayers and Agatha Christie to Chandler and Hammett. Most of the stories I wrote as a teenager were thrillers as well—the sf novel I tried was an exception.

My published children’s book (Big and Noisy Simon) came about entirely because I was reading armloads of picture books to my young children. I thought, “Hey, I can do that!” and then, amazingly, I did. I loved the process, seeing an illustrator take my words and put them to his imagination, but I always knew it was a one-off.

When I finally broke into publishing fiction for adults, it was natural that I’d try mysteries and thrillers. In writing, that’s where I was most comfortable.

Q. How do you feel about writing short stories versus the full-length novel? What are the pros and cons to each?

Joe: I adore writing short stories, especially noir. I think it’s the closest I’ll ever come to knowing what it feels like to compose a piece of music or make a sculpture. Every word does count, and you can get close to your own idea of perfection in a story. A couple of my published pieces depend on twists, on sleight of hand, and this is much more possible in a short piece than in a novel.

On the other hand, I loved writing Diamond Ruby because I became totally immersed in the 1920s New York world where the story takes place. Ruby and the other characters felt real to me, truly three-dimensional, in a way that doesn’t happen in a shorter piece. Still, in a novel, you can always see places where you wish you’d do something differently—novels, by being bigger, are inherently works in progress even when you’re done and they’re published.

Q. Then add children’s books into that. How does your thinking and processing have to differ from short stories and novels, plus themes aimed at an adult audience versus themes aimed at children?

Joe: I’m currently working on a side project in Ruby’s world: A story aimed at middle-grade readers (ages 8 to 12) written from Ruby’s niece Amanda’s point of view. I think young readers can understand and handle more than many writers give them credit for, and I love their enthusiasm and open-mindedness. That being said, it’s important to make the narrator’s voice sound convincing, and far too easy to make your characters too grown-up. Amanda is extremely grown-up for her age—she’s ten when the book takes place, and has been through terrible hardships—but she is still a child, and I can’t forget that in writing from her perspective.

You're absolutely right. I had a couple of young guest reviewers this summer; I was totally astonished at their grasp of the stories and what they got out of them.

Q. You run storytelling and creative-writing workshops for school-aged students, and you’ve said that you share “bizarre and funny” stories from your own life with them. What is one of the stories you most like to share?

Joe: My storytelling/creative-writing classroom visits (most to the fourth grade) are highlights of my year. The students are wonderful and bursting with their own stories to tell. They love my story about a trip to Africa I took when I was fifteen, when I was almost being trampled by….well, you’ll have to hear the story. Their favorite, though, concerns the time I was locked in a bathroom (a door with no lock on it!) and missed the chance to say goodbye forever to the girl of my dreams. Since every ten-year-old has been stuck somewhere, or left behind, and understands that feeling of helplessness, this story strikes a real chord with them.

Fun stuff. Fourth grade is a great age, too.

Q. So, you wrote this pretty fabulous book and it was published this year. You achieved your life-long goal! How does that feel?

Joe: Thank you! I feel wonderful—and exhausted! Even after more than a dozen nonfiction books, I never understood how…exposed and vulnerable…I’d feel when I had a novel on the bookshelves. It really does feel like there’s part of me out there. I’m thrilled, of course, by how enthusiastic so many readers have been. Ruby as a character is very precious to me: Tough, uncompromised, not necessarily the smartest person in the room but someone who will never stop working to protect the people she loves. I hoped so deeply that people would care about her as I do—and they seem to.

Q. And you decided to write about Ruby, this young girl who has a special baseball talent. And we know that Ruby is based on an actual woman by the name of Jackie Mitchell. How did you come to know about Jackie Mitchell and why did you decide you wanted to create a character based on her story?

Joe: I found a photo while researching a nonfiction book at the Baseball Hall of Fame. It showed this slightly built teenage girl in a baseball uniform, shaking hands with Babe Ruth while Lou Gehrig looked on. This was my introduction to Jackie Mitchell, the girl who struck out Ruth and Gehrig and was then banned from professional baseball, along with all women. I think I knew right away that a character based on Jackie—but one given the chance to fight back against those who would stop her—was one I wanted to write about.

Q. It’s very interesting to me that you chose to take on a theme dealing with essentially gender prejudice. And you obviously have quite a passion about that theme. Why do you think that is?

Joe: Jackie’s story infuriated me. I want to know what would have happened if she’d been allowed to keep pitching! This kind of gender prejudice is something I’ve always been aware of: My mother, born in 1927, was a physician, a very rare thing in those years. She fought her way through prejudice to become a leading physician and educator, including being the first-ever female chief of medicine at a Veterans Administration Hospital.

I also have a teenage daughter and niece and have worked as a writing mentor to many teenage girls as well. They all deserve to aim as high as they want without being stopped because they’re women. Jackie Mitchell deserved the same thing.

Q. After finishing DIAMOND RUBY I felt that sense of place was powerfully strong in the novel. You were born and raised in Brooklyn, you live in New York City now so you have the benefit of knowing the current New York City, but what kinds of things allowed you to bring 1920s New York City to life in your book?

Joe: I think that the sights, smells, and color of light in the Brooklyn I grew up in during the 1960s wasn’t that different than Ruby’s Brooklyn. To really bring the time to life for me, though, I read day by day through about half a dozen New York City newspapers from 1923, when most of the book takes place. By learning about the big issues of the day and also the small concerns, I felt like I was entering that world, writing about it from the inside. Sometimes it was hard to return to the real world!

Q. I think it’s kind of ironic that as a child you wanted to visit the “far corners of the world” and capture them in your writing. You have done that in some of your other writing, but why choose to return home for your novel?

Joe: Great question, and I don’t know! Perhaps it was partly the comfort level of writing about a place I knew…but mostly I think it was because NYC in the 1920s was an amazing, vibrant, terrifying, violent place to live. In other words, a perfect place to put my 18-year-old main character and see what happened next.

Q. I’m guessing that your travels have affected your writing in more ways than just being able to describe the “far corners of the world.” How would you say that they’ve influenced your writing – or am I totally off base?

Joe: No, I think you’re right. I feel like I’ve gained a perspective on the world—and on my hometown—that I’d never have gotten if I hadn’t been lucky enough to travel across the U.S. and to Africa, South America, and elsewhere. I feel like I’ve learned to walk more slowly, to really look around, to understand, in a way that I never could when I was growing up. I’ve been very fortunate!

Q. I’m always fascinated with historical fiction. How do you decide what to stay true to and what to fictionalize?

Joe: I wanted everything in Ruby’s world to be real, an actual world spinning around her and her family. The Roaring Twenties made that easy—between the parties and dance marathons and rum-runners and gangsters and the KKK and other vivid people and events, I barely had to make up a thing. For me, at least, that’s the key to historical fiction: Create vivid central characters and a compelling plot, but make sure the real world you choose can support it, bolster it, add its own tension to the story.

Q. You’ve also written non-fiction, how does that compare to this novel? Are the research tactics similar? Do you have difficulty at all veering away from fact and allowing yourself to write fiction?

Joe: In nonfiction (I’ve written often about baseball history and natural history) I try to find the most vivid, unusual stories and tell them in a fresh, compelling manner to a new audience. In that way, my research for nonfiction and novel are similar: I try to keep my eyes open for unexpected details, revealing moments. I have to say, though, that I loved getting to take off from the real story in writing Diamond Ruby, to make things happen the way they should have, not the way they did!

Q. DIAMOND RUBY was not marketed as a crime novel, yet crime is essential to the plot of the novel. Were you writing this book with the intention that it would be a crime novel or what exactly moved it out of that realm for marketing? How is that decision made?

Joe: In fact, Diamond Ruby first saw life as a short story in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine—so crime is definitely essential to it. Still, I wasn’t thinking genre when I was writing it, and wasn’t surprised when it was bought as “mainstream” fiction. But I think what my experiences show is how silly those genre boundaries are. Some of the greatest novels I’ve read in recent years (by authors as diverse as Lawrence Block, Don Winslow, and Kate Atkinson) have been considered “crime novels,” but to me a great book is a great book. However, I would hate if people stayed away from Diamond Ruby because they thought it was “just” a historical.

Q. We met awhile before DIAMOND RUBY hit the bookstores, and we met via Twitter. You make use of the social networks quite a bit, but there are others on the flip side that complain about it or say they don’t understand it. What brought you to Twitter – social networking in general – and can you talk a little about your experiences with it?

Joe: I guess I was intrigued by Twitter from the start, so I joined the conversation about a year before Ruby came out. Yet I never knew how extraordinary it would be, to meet readers and bloggers and reviewers and other writers there! The level of support and enthusiasm has been astounding to me—and I’ve been thrilled to offer it to writers publishing their own books and bloggers whose writing is equally important and valuable in the world today.

Yes, social media can be time-consuming, but whatever success Diamond Ruby has had owes an enormous debt to social media.

Q. Now you’re still going strong with RUBY, but looking into the future, what’s next for Joe Wallace and Ruby Thomas?

Joe: I mentioned the middle-grade book I’m working on above. I’m also midway through the first draft of a direct follow-up to Diamond Ruby, set about three years after the first one ends and in Southern California, not Brooklyn! From the start, I imagined three books about Ruby, the first with her as a teenager during the Roaring Twenties and the last with her approaching thirty during the Great Depression. I hope I get the chance to write them.

Well, I for one will definitely be waiting on those! Thanks so much for taking time out to talk with me, Joe. Best of luck with your next books. If you have questions for Joe, I'm sure he'll be by, so feel free to leave them in the comments. As always, thanks for hangin' out with us today! Happy Reading.

Technorati Tags: Joe Wallace, Author Interview

Audiobook Thursday - BOULEVARD

FIRST LINE: "Detective Hayden Glass of the Los Angeles Police Department's Robbery-Homicide Division drove his old Hollywood beat, crossing Fairfax, heading east on Sunset Boulevard."

Hayden Glass is a police detective and a sex addict. Glass hides his addiction from his colleagues; the only problem is he has to patrol the streets most detrimental to his sobriety. Hayden attends SAA meetings, but when he is asked to find a new meeting because the members are not comfortable with his occupation, he sinks back into his destructive behaviors. Meanwhile, Hayden is in the midst of several murder investigations when he realizes a connection between the investigations, a connection no one would know but him because HE and his sex addition are the connection. Should he admit his sex addiction and possibly save further victims but destroy his career, or should he stay quiet and hunt the killer who is taunting him?

You can read BOULEVARD in bright daylight with all the lights in your house on and still feel enveloped by the darkness of this novel. In his debut, Stephen Jay Schwartz sets the scene as dark, gritty and haunting. He exposes his protagonist, leaving him naked to the scrutiny of the reader. Hayden is far from a hero and his personal struggles are so articulately detailed that as the reader it's difficult not to own them, not to experience his conflict.

The plot of BOULEVARD is a ride befitting the haunting setting. It's a blind-folded ride through the streets of Los Angeles in a car with no breaks. You can't see what's coming at you but you experience the rush of the ride as it's happening.

Schwartz does an outstanding job of developing place and plot. His characters are dimensional and human. If there was any element that would have improved this debut, it may have been eliminating a couple of characters who play less significant roles. I think that could have tightened up the plot a bit, but it's far from significant and didn't take away from the enjoyment of the novel.

I listened to BOULEVARD on audio from Blackstone Audio narrated by Ray Porter. The combination of book and narrator was exceptional. One of Porter's strengths is taking on the role he is reading, chameleon-like. While I've enjoyed him reading other crime novels, they don't impede my ability to envision him as Hayden Glass. He exuded Hayden's anger and frustration. I think Porter also accentuated the darkness of the novel's tone. Schwartz and Porter brought Hayden Glass and his Los Angeles to life.

BOULEVARD is available in hardcover (ISBN: 978-0-7653-2294-4) and trade paper (ISBN: 978-0-7653-2661-4) from Forge Books and on audio from Blackstone Audio (ISBN: 978-1-4332-6272-2).

Technorati Tags: Audiobook Thursday, Stephen Jay Schwartz, crime friction, review

You've the Right to Six Words - the Penultimate Week

Sorry for my short hiatus. Trying to get back on track here and get caught up with some reviews and research and other fun stuff. Bouchercon is right around the corner and then Muskego, so there is much to do, much to do. Let's start with the next to the last week of our six-word memoirs.

Our first author this week has a rather unique background. Graham Brown earned his degree in Aeronautical Science then he attended law school. He's been a pilot, a lawyer and part of a start up health care firm. And when he grew up, he became a writer! Graham has spent time all over the country. As a child, he moved around with his family, living in Illinois, Connecticut and Pennsylvania. He attended college in Arizona, spent some time in California and these days calls Arizona home once again.

Last year marked Graham's debut release with BLACK RAIN and the sequel BLACK SUN will be out on Tuesday. You can also find Graham blogging at the 7 Criminal Minds blog every other Wednesday. How did Graham boil down this eclectic resume?

Living a delusion, do not wake.

I think it may be a little more than a delusion, but however he's accomplishing his success, it's not broken, so no fixing necessary.

Next up is an author who has published novels, poetry and short stories; won the Bram Stoker and International Thriller Writers Awards; and has been nominated for the Edgar, World Fantasy Award and Le Grand Prix de L'Imaginaire. Tom Piccirilli has written both in the horror genre and the crime genre. Tom says his greatest pleasure in writing is "the satisfaction of having created something that is wholly my own and yet somehow manages to be a part of the overwhelming grandness of literature."

This past December, Tom released his most recent crime novel SHADOW SEASON about an ex-cop turned teacher at a girls' school. Due out next year is THE LAST KIND WORDS. You can also find Tom blogging regularly at The Cold Spot. Tom's hard at work in Colorado but took some time out to craft his memoir:

My noir heart beats in darkness.

Wow! Pretty powerful memoir.

Next we have a 2010 debut author who is making quite a stir with her New York Times bestselling novel, STILL MISSING about an abducted woman trying to piece her life back together. STILL MISSING was highlighted this past summer in both PEOPLE Magazine and Oprah's O Magazine. A native of Vancouver Island, Chevy Stevens spent most of her adult life working in sales. As a Realtor, Chevy would have down time between viewers at open houses and she would imagine terrifying scenarios of what could happen while she was there alone in the homes. One of these scenarios became the basis for STILL MISSING. Chevy has since left the reality business and is working on her second novel, NEVER KNOWING. When she isn't occupied with that daunting task (imagine following up such a success), she enjoys hiking with her husband and her dog. I have no doubt that a long career awaits Chevy, but at this point she's summing up life with:

They never could keep me quiet.

Chevy, make all the noise you want. Your fans are waiting and listening!

And anchoring this week's post is another woman who's graced the New York Times Bestseller List. Lisa Gardner is the author of 25 novels. Being an avid reader her entire life, she began her writing career in college when her first novel, a romance she worked on for three years, was published under the pen name Alicia Scott. Following publication, Lisa continued writing but also worked as a management consultant. Her disdain for her her consultant's job motivated her to continue writing, and she published a total of thirteen romance novels. It was after the thirteenth novel that Lisa felt a change was in order, so she tried her hand at suspense. The end result was THE PERFECT HUSBAND. THE PERFECT HUSBAND not only gave her the chance to kill off characters bearing the names of her slave-driving bosses, but it enabled her to give up the consultant's job and write full time. This summer Lisa published her twenty-fifth novel, LIVE TO TELL, the fourth book in her Detective D.D. Warren series.

These days Lisa can be found working in her New Hampshire loft office with a cat warming her lap and shelties protecting her feet. Her novels are often inspired by true crime, including school shootings in the U.S. and Ted Bundy. She researches her novels through interviews with professionals in law enforcement and regularly receives "assistance" from her daughter, Grace.

And to think, this career all started while Lisa was a waitress setting her hair on fair with a flaming appetizer. Hoping to save her hair she:

Read, Wrote. Murder and mayhem ensued.

We're all thankful that Lisa still has her hair and that murder and mayhem ensued. We have all benefited. My sincerest thanks to all of our memoirists this week. Four fantastic memoirs from four outstanding crime fiction writers. We'll have to work very hard next week to make a spectacle after this week's amazing contributions. Let's see what we can do. See you back here next week for the final installment of You've the Right to Six Words!

Happy Reading!


Technorati Tags: You've the Right to Six Words, Graham Brown, Tom Piccirilli, Chevy Stevens, Lisa Gardner

The Return of My Life In Book Titles

It was about this time last year when I found out about this fun meme through Michael at Lazy Thoughts from a Boomer who had found it at Pop Culture Nerd's blog. This meme is how I ended up getting to know Pop Culture Nerd, so not only is it fun, but it's near and dear to me. I will definitely have to make it an annual event - and she has to keep making up the prompts!

Reminiscing aside I have to complete each prompt with a title from a book I've read this year, so here we go:

1. In high school I was: ONCE A SPY (Keith Thomson)


2. People might be surprised I'm: OUR LADY OF IMMACULATE DECEPTION (Nancy Martin)
   


3. I will never be: PRETTY IN INK (Karen Olson)


4. My fantasy job is: AN ORDINARY DECENT CRIMINAL (Michael Van Rooy)


5. At the end of a long day I need: JUST ANOTHER DAY IN PARADISE (A.E. Maxwell)


6. I hate it when: BAD THINGS HAPPEN (Harry Dolan)


7. Wish I had: THE BLADE ITSELF (Marcus Sakey)


8. My family reunions are: HELL FOR THE HOLIDAYS (Chris Grabenstein)


9. At a party you'd find me with: JUNKYARD DOGS (Craig Johnson)


10. I've never been to: REDEMPTION STREET (Reed Farrel Coleman)


11. A happy day includes: A BOLT FROM THE BLUE (Diane Stuckart)


12. Motto I live by: THE DAMAGE DONE (Hilary Davidson)


13. On my bucket list: THE KILLING OF THE TINKERS (Ken Bruen) [not really]


14. In my next life, I want to be THE QUEEN OF PATPONG (Timothy Hallinan)

Isn't this fun? Feel free to make your own responses in the comments or on your own blog. Let us know where they are if you post them on your own blog so we can all come and see them!

Happy Reading!

You've the Right to Six Words - Week 14

After this week, we'll have two more weeks of memoirs for this season. Since this will probably be the end, at least for awhile, I thought we should blow it out in style. Sound good? I hope so because I've stacked the next three weeks with fabulous crime fiction writers.

Debut author, Carla Buckley was born in Washington DC but her childhood was spent in Nigeria and Thailand. She and her family returned to DC when she was 10 and for college, Carla made her way up to my neck of the woods; she attended Oberlin College, where incidentally, her daughter will be starting school very shortly.  Since Carla and her family are more in the central part of Ohio these days, it may make micro-managing her daughter's life a tad bit difficult.

Carla finished college and tried her hand at graphic arts, technical writing and marketing before staying home to raise her family, and start her writing career. In February of this year, Carla saw the fruits of all her labors in writers' groups and conferences and long hours of practice pay off. THE THINGS THAT KEEP US HERE was published by Delacorte Press. THE THINGS THAT KEEP US HERE had some roots in her family's decision to pick up and move to Columbus, Ohio, leaving friends, family and everything familiar behind. Carla's follow-up to THE THINGS THAT KEEP US HERE is due out in 2011 and is tentatively titled INVISIBLE. I'm fascinated by the fact that Carla tried writing many different kinds of books for years and when a dream - or rather a nightmare - about a pandemic left her shaken, she knew she wanted to write THAT book, it was something she truly felt passionate about. She

Kept trying keys until one fit.

And we can all be thankful for her determination to keep trying.

Kevin Guilfoile has spent time all over the Northeast corner of the U.S. He was born in New Jersey, raised in New York, attended college in Indiana, and worked for the Houston Astros all before helping to create the Coudal Partners design firm in Chicago. These days, however, Kevin is making his name as a writer. He's contributed to The Morning News, McSweeney's Quarterly Concer, McSweeney's Internet Tendency, The New York Times Magazine, The New Republic and Salon.com. He's also a contributing blogger at The Outfit. In 2005 Kevin published his first novel, CAST OF SHADOWS, and he is preparing to release his sophomore novel, which Stephen White calls "part thought-provoking mystery, part flat-out thriller." Guilfoile fans have waited and on Tuesday, Kevin delivers THE THOUSAND. I also happen to know that Kevin is very serious about the pens he uses to sign his books. So if you meet Kevin at a signing, be sure to compliment him on his pen, which continues to write because

Every story has beginning, middle
and

:-)

Our next memoirist has no regrets. Together he and his wife raised four children; he enjoys playing tennis and wishes he was musical. When Peter Abrahams decided he would write a book about a detective and his dog, he knew the book would be in first person as told by the dog. But the dog couldn't be talking. He believes "anything that thinks and has memory must have a narrative going on inside." Thus DOG ON IT and the pen name Spencer Quinn were born. As Peter Abrahams, he published eighteen novels, earning a Best Novel Edgar nomination for his novel LIGHTS OUT, wrote the Echo Falls Mysteries series for young readers, and was referred to as "my favorite American suspense novelist" by Stephen King. Now as Spencer Quinn, living in Cape Cod with his family (which includes his dog Audrey), he's preparing to release the third Chet and Bernie novel, TO FETCH A THIEF. Working in his office located over the garage, Spencer brings to life the wonderful tales of Chet and his human partner Bernie. And as he heads off to his fifteen feet commute he says,

Into the dark with no regrets.

And rounding out this incredible week we have a woman who also won accolades from Stephen King who said, "her five novels are, simply put, the finest crime-suspense series I've come across in the last twenty years."

Meg Gardiner was born and raised in the United States. While in high school in California she was a mime, and while studying law at Stanford she competed in cross-country and track. Having grown up the daughter of an English professor, books and writing were a major part of Meg's life; she always wanted to write a novel, but she found her way there via law school, a legal career and a stint teaching law writing at the University of California. When she decided she didn't want to "argue for a living," she traded her arguing for lying. Meg writes a blog titled, "Lying for a Living."

Meg moved to the UK with her husband and children in the early 1990s and this was when she began writing. CHINA LAKE was her first published novel, finding bookstores in the UK in 2002. When it made its way to the US in 2008, Meg was rewarded with the 2009 Best Paperback Original Edgar win. Meg continued with Evan Delaney, her CHINA LAKE protagonist for another four books and in 2008 she published her first novel featuring forensic psychiatrist Jo Beckett,  THE DIRTY SECRETS CLUB. This summer the third book in the Jo Beckett series, THE LIAR'S LULLABY was published.

So what does the three-time Jeopardy champ, escaped attorney, mother and author have to say about this array of accomplishments?

Love, kids, writing:
went for it.

And we are the great benefactors of her leap of faith. Many, many thanks once again to our wonderful authors for their time and enthusiasm. What absolute fun! I hope you all enjoyed this week's roundup. Man, is there ever a slew of great book titles in this post. Let us know which you've enjoyed or which you're going to check out now. And we'll see you back here next week for our penultimate week of memoirs.

Happy Reading!

Technorati Tags: You've the Right to Six Words, Carla Buckley, Kevin Guilfoile, Spencer Quinn, Meg Gardiner

AN ORDINARY DECENT CRIMINAL - Michael Van Rooy

FIRST LINE: "I had a gun I didn't want to use."

Montgomery Haaviko, a.k.a. Sam Parker, is a recovering drug addict and a former thief. He has moved into a home in Winnipeg with his wife, his infant son, their dog and their mouse. Monty/Sam has vowed to his wife that he will lead a straight life, get a regular job, settle down. However, when Monty catches a band of thieves in the act of robbing his home and the confrontation ends with Monty killing them, he finds this vow a little harder to keep than he thought. The thieves are connected to a small time crime boss and the man who arrests Monty is a dirty cop.  Both want to either kill Monty or run him out of town. But Monty is determined to stay in Winnipeg and live the life he planned. Now he just has to figure out how he's going to manage it.

AN ORDINARY DECENT CRIMINAL had an interesting effect on me. When I first started it, I wasn't so sure this was going to be for me. By page ten I was hooked for the long haul. I wanted to know exactly where Michael Van Rooy was going with this plot. And by the middle of the book I realized I was thinking about it when I wasn't reading and anxiously waiting to get back to it. As I turned the last page I was devastated. I did not want the end to come and found myself hoping there would be more Monty Haaviko from Van Rooy in the future. I can officially be counted in the Monty Haaviko cheering section now.

AN ORDINARY DECENT CRIMINAL is fresh and different. Monty is a fascinating character and his wife, Claire, compliments him perfectly. Their relationship enhances the plot and provides humor. I think there was a great deal of humor that ended up lost on me, but Van Rooy still had plenty up his sleeve for me to appreciate.

I attribute a lot of the "interesting effect" this book had on me to the details. They may seem insignificant, but added up, they play a great role in this caper: observations of his son Fred; actions of his dog Renfield; references to crime movies, books and writers; and interaction with his friend Frank. I learned a lot about thieving, booby traps, and weapons.

AN ORDINARY DECENT CRIMINAL is simply a fun read. I look forward to more from Michael Van Rooy. As a side note in a little research I did, Michael Van Rooy actually has three books in this series and fourth due in 2012. AN ORDINARY DECENT CRIMINAL is the first in the series, just published in the U.S. this year but originally published in 2005. Very happy to hear there will be more Monty!

AN ORDINARY DECENT CRIMINAL is available now in hardcover (ISBN: 978-0-312-60628-2) from St. Martin's Minotaur.

Technorati Tags: Michael Van Rooy, crime fiction, book review

This and That

I wanted to let you all know that things will probably be a little thin around here this week. I'm a bit overwhelmed and won't have as much time as usual to devote to posts. But here are a few things from around the Web that I wanted to share with you.

First, if you're still sitting on the fence about whether to attend Bouchercon 2010, just take a look at this line-up of attendees. Pretty darned amazing.

Can't do Bouchercon this year? Well, next year it's in St. Louis, a little more central, little less expensive, and if you register before November 1st, it's still only $150. It will go up to $175 after that. And of course I've been giddy about this one for some time because Robert Crais will be one of the guests of honor. And some of my favorite people are organizing it, so I'm pretty confident it's going to be amazing. If you've never experienced Bouchercon before, here's a great opportunity!

Another fun event to consider is Murder & Mayhem in Muskego. I'm sure you remember me raving about this last year. It's a great event, and the line-up this year is stunning. Registration is open for that. An affordable, crime (fiction)-filled weekend.

Here's a fun interview to check out. Steve Hamilton interviewing Michael Koryta.

Speaking of Michael Koryta, we have to send out congrats to both he and Brad Parks for their Shamus nominations. Janet Rudolph has the entire list of nominees here, if you haven't seen them already.

If you're short on time-wasting activities, there are games at this site related to books and literature. This specific one is about characters. See if you can identify where they come from. There's another on book covers. Test your knowledge! If you're really motivated, you can create your own game there.

I was over the moon thrilled to find out that Hilary Davidson will be at Mystery Lovers Bookshop on October 2nd. They don't have her event listed yet, but it'll be a Coffee and Crime event, so 10:00a.m. on the 2nd. Here's a link to all of their author events. I can't recommend MLB events highly enough, but this is your chance to get in on the ground floor with Hilary! This event will be for her debut novel, THE DAMAGE DONE. She's going to be huge; I feel it in my bones. So, get you to the Mystery Lovers Bookshop on October 2nd!

I'm aiming to win this myself, but if you'd like to get in on the fun, Laura Lippman is holding a contest where you can win a visit from her for your library. Check that out here.

That's all the time I have for today. Gotta get out to the grocery store before it gets ridiculously busy. Happy Sunday! Happy Reading! Ta-Ta!

THE QUEEN OF PATPONG - Timothy Hallinan

FIRST LINE: "Old cigarette smoke, cheap perfume, sweat."

THE QUEEN OF PATPONG is the fourth book in the Poke Rafferty thriller series, but this is really Rose's story. Rose is Poke's Thai wife and a former prostitute. When a man from Rose's past returns to frighten Rose like nothing has before, she reveals her life story to her family. The revelation convinces Poke that Rose's stranger is back for blood and Poke has to figure out how to defeat him before he destroys Poke's entire family, his entire world.

THE QUEEN OF PATPONG is undoubtedly Hallinan's most amazing effort yet. Rooted in the story of a true Thai child, Rose's story is heart-wrenchingly detailed while Hallinan emphasizes the human element of Bangkok's female prostitutes. Much like the earrings Nana bestows on the young Kwan, to the unknowing, the life can appear rich and glamorous but in reality it slowly and unknowingly harmfully alters those that possess it.

Hallinan's rich metaphors dig deep in THE QUEEN OF PATPONG. He parallels the Raffertys' ordeal with Shakespeare's The Tempest, for which Miaow is preparing to play the role of Ariel in her school play. As is often the case in a Poke Rafferty novel, Miaow enlightens her adoptive parents - and readers - with the insights of the unadulterated views of youth. Her spunk and growing pains offer the novel humor and warmth. And her relationships with her parents develop an overall richness to the entire series. Readers can't help but love this feisty little girl.

Once again the sights, sounds, even the smells of Bangkok come alive through Hallinan's words. Dialogue is impeccable. Characters are compelling. And the action is non-stop. Hallinan is a word engineer of the highest degree. He knows the exact combinations and relationships to construct the strongest, the most effective, the most stunning stories. Never experiencing his work is akin to never knowing the great works of nature - the Grand Canyon - or the amazing works of man - the Sistine Chapel. Sure you can live a life without experiencing them, but you're all the richer for it when you do.

I've been singing the praises of this series for years now. But never have I felt as passionate as I do with THE QUEEN OF PATPONG. The world needs to know Timothy Hallinan and the Poke Rafferty series. It should NOT be going unrecognized any longer.

THE QUEEN OF PATPONG is available in hardcover from William Morrow on August 17, 2010 (ISBN: 978-0-06-167226-2).

Audiobook Thursday - SOLOMON VS LORD

FIRST LINE: "The man in the holding cell loosened his tie, tossed his rumpled suit coat into a corner, and stretched out on the hard plastic bench.

SOLOMON VS LORD starts out with Steve Solomon and Victoria Lord on opposing sides of the courtroom. Solomon is a seasoned defense attorney whose clients tend to be those who pay in trade as opposed to cash. Solomon knows all the rules and exactly how to manipulate  Victoria Lord is a young, idealistic prosecutor who plays by the rules, does everything by the book. However, circumstances find Lord dismissed from the prosecutor's office just after her friend Katrina Barksdale is accused of murdering her wealthy husband...during sex. Against her will, Lord teams up with Solomon to defend Barksdale and all hell breaks loose in the Florida legal system.

Sound like you've heard this plot before? I guarantee that if you haven't read this book you haven't experienced this plot before. Seems like about every third book I've read this year, I've said, "where have I been?" Good thing I'm due to say it again because Paul Levine's SOLOMON VS LORD is fantastic! I can't believe it took me this long to discover it, but I'm glad that I now have the good fortune to look forward to the rest of this series.

Back to the plot! What may seem like a familiar skeleton is augmented with sharp wit, complex characters, pitch-perfect dialogue and sheer fun. Solomon is raising his nephew Bobby who happens to be borderline autistic. Solomon rescued Bobby from his mother, Solomon's sister; while he may not have the most conventional child-rearing skills, Solomon deeply loves his nephew and is fighting the child welfare system to be able to maintain custody. Victoria, not Vicky, is engaged to a wealthy avocado farmer and real estate developer. The relationships between these four, as well as the colorful supporting cast make for subplots that compliment the main plot and enrich the overall novel. Levine expertly blends the serious with the humorous so that the book is never absurdly humorous or depressingly serious. And who can resist chapter titles like "Hoochie-Coochie Man"?

I listened to SOLOMON VS LORD on audiobook from Blackstone Audio narrated by Christopher Lane. It's hard for me to come up with much besides he did a magnificent job. There were times I thought I'd have to pull over to the side of the road while driving because Levine's humor combined with Lane's delivery of it was rip-roaring funny. And there were other times when I felt a literal pull in my chest from the emotional reaction to the scene. And my exercise sessions always ended up being 10-15 minutes longer than planned because I just needed to listen a leeettle bit longer. He was able to give unique life to every character from Solomon and Lord to Bobby to Solomon's parolee-assistant CeCe to Cadillac Johnson, Solomon's elderly black friend. No character, especially female characters, had an annoyingly awkward sound and there was never any over-dramatization. Lane is a great narrator and I think he was an excellent match for this novel.

Now, I'm looking forward to THE DEEP BLUE ALIBI, the second book in this wonderfully entertaining legal series. SOLOMON VS LORD is available in mass market paperback from Bantam (ISBN: 978-0-44-024-2734); it is available from Audible for audio download and is available from Blackstone Audio on CD or MP3. 

Technorati Tags: Paul Levine, Audiobook Review

THE REMBRANDT AFFAIR - Daniel Silva

I am quite excited to have participated in the TLC book tour for Daniel Silva's THE REMBRANDT AFFAIR. This was my first experience reading Daniel Silva's work and I probably would not have done so if it had not been for this tour. And if I had not, I would have continued in my ignorance of this riveting series. This particular tour asked each of the participants to respond to specific questions as opposed to reviewing the novel traditionally. You can click here to see the list of tour hosts if you'd like to visit them and see what their responses to the questions were as well as mine. So, let's get started!

If you were to write a blurb in fewer than three sentences for THE REMBRANDT AFFAIR, what would it be?

An artistic masterpiece of passion, character and action spanning time and geography. An espionage thriller that sets the bar for all others.

Gabriel Allon is a talented spy and assassin, but also a master art restorer. If you could have two careers that seem to be complete opposites, what would they be?

Well, since I graduated with a degree in English and Sports Medicine, I actually already did that. However, these days I'm only kind of using one of those degrees, so if I had the chance today to experience two completely different careers they might be owner of an animal sanctuary and a movie editor. Either that or I'd like to develop curriculum for a subject I was interested in. I don't like the administration of the curriculum as much as I do the development of it, so just leave me to work in my own little world and I'll be good!

What three words would you use to describe the character of Gabriel Allon?

Master espionage artist.

O.k., that's probably not what they meant with this question - I'm just trying to be artistic ;-) Gabriel is passionate, intelligent, and skilled.

THE REMBRANDT AFFAIR takes the reader all over the world. Of all the locations mentioned, which would be your ideal vacation spot?

Since I’ve traveled so little to date, most any of the locations would be welcome vacation destinations for me, but I have to say that Paris and Jerusalem would be high on my list of choices.

Art theft plays a major role in the novel. If no crime were involved, what piece of art would you like to have in your home?

Oh, many artists have amazed me. I’m fascinated by Pollock, Escher, Jasper Johns and Picasso. And of course Michelangelo, di Vinci and Raphael. The French Impressionists are probably my favorite group of artists. While Andy Warhol, Salvador Dali and Hieronymus Bosch interest me, I’d probably not want their work in my home. So, given a choice I’d probably pick either one of Renoir’s dancing couples or Monet’s water lilies. Or maybe I’d get Renoir’s painting of Monet and then I could have both!

Zoe Reed is a powerful female character in the novel. Tell us about an influential woman in your life.

When I first read this question about 10 people popped to mind immediately. I think we're very lucky to live in a time when we can identify women who justifiably earn the role of hero. That being said, I decided to mention my younger sister here. She's influential in my life in many ways. My sister is extremely intelligent and knowledgeable. She isn't afraid to try things or venture to places unknown. She's funny and compassionate and talented. I doubt there will ever be a time when she says, "I wish I would have..." simply because if she wants to do something, she figures out a way to make it happen. Probably more than anyone else she has challenged me to venture out of my safety zone. And in the end, there will be a lot that I will have done because either she gave me the nudge I needed to do it or I heard her voice in my head when trying to make my decisions.

Who was your favorite “good guy” in THE REMBRANDT AFFAIR and why?

Well, Gabriel Allon would definitely be my first choice. I don't tend to connect easily with spy heroes, but I found an immediate connection with Gabriel. I think the fact that he isn't a loner is a big factor. He has his wife and we're constantly introduced to people he's worked with throughout his career. He has a strong bond with Ari Shamron that is symbolic of a father-son bond. And also his connection with Timothy Peel. Gabriel Allon is passionate about his mission. He isn't involved because it's an assignment but rather it's a calling; he's involved because he believes it's the right thing to do. And he's selfless. One of the most moving scenes of the book for me was when he was thinking that he didn't want to listen in on Zoe and Martin; he was so conscientious of the invasion to her and would have rather done anything else but followed through for HER safety. To me that really defined a lot of his character.

However, if this question was meant more to mean, who was your favorite "good guy" other than Gabriel Allon, my response would probably be Ari Shamron, but there are so many rich 'good guy' characters in this novel (both guys and gals) - which is part of why I like Gabriel so much. But I admire Shamron's gumption and his strength and especially his intelligence. Likewise, I especially admired Lena for her will to survive despite the guilt she lived with her entire life.

All of the technology discussed in the novel is real. Does any of it surprise you?

I’m fascinated with all things technology-related. And I remember hearing Kathy Reichs speak once where she said, “are all the things you see on ‘Bones’ possible? Yes. Is the expense of them realistic for a government agency? No.” So I guess technology-wise, little surprises me. Walt Disney said, “If you can dream it, you can do it.” I don’t think that’s anywhere more true than with technology. I will, however, wrinkle my nose in doubt, if I think it’s not likely for a group or individual to have realistic access to the technology.

What celebrity would play Gabriel Allon if THE REMBRANDT AFFAIR were on the big screen?

This question has given me the most fits of the entire questionnaire. The first reason being I imagined someone while reading who doesn't really match up with anyone I can identify from Hollywood. Secondly, when I would picture physical traits that might be similar for Gabriel I couldn't really conceive of the actor fulfilling the personality traits.

The actor would definitely need to be older, couldn't be one of these young whipper-snappers that's considered a teen idol right now. Gabriel isn't supposed to be real tall. I think Mark Harmon and Ed Harris would be my top choices for the personality traits. I think either one could pull off Gabriel's persona and would be appropriate age-wise. Harmon might be closer to physical traits than Harris would be, but I really don't think either one is what I imagined physically. Ed Harris does have captivating eyes, though. And while Gabriel's are green and Harris' are blue, there is that distinction of the physical trait being noticeable.   Dustin Hoffman was another actor that came to mind for me, but I wonder if maybe he's too old for the role? Again, not sure. And my final thought was John Cusack. I think that his talent would enable him to pull of Gabriel; it would be a different role for him, but he's got the acting chops.

Which fellow book-loving, blogging friend do you think would enjoy THE REMBRANDT AFFAIR? Tag them here and we will mail a finished copy of the novel!

I'm going to tag Naomi over at The Drowning Machine. I know her TBR pile mirrors mine, but I'm that confident in this novel. It'll definitely be good use of her reading time.

Technorati Tags: Daniel Silva, TLC Book Tours

You've the Right to Six Words - Lucky Number 13

A little off our regular schedule but still a fun group of authors to share with you this week. Since it's Week 13 and there are superstitions associated with 13, I couldn't help but notice commonalities that seem to run among our crime writers.

Take for instance our first memoirist this week. Vicki Delany is from Canada but she spent eleven years in South Africa. She was able to retire early from her job as a systems analyst and these days she writes whenever she wants to. I envy the fact that she doesn't need to wear a watch. But before she retired, she was raising three children while working full-time, so her writing was restricted primarily to Sunday afternoons. Bruce Springsteen kept her company as she wrote.

Whether writing on Sunday afternoons or whenever she so chooses, Vicki claims a police procedural series, the Smith & Winters series, as well as the Klondike series which takes place in the Yukon during the Gold Rush of 1898. In November of 2009 the third book in the Smith & Winters series, WINTER OF SECRETS, made its way to bookstores, and in March of this year, the second book from the Klondike series, GOLD FEVER, saw print. As if those aren't enough to keep her busy, Vicki also has three stand alone novels, the first of which, WHITEOUT, earned her an Eppie Award.

Despite a lot of hard work and determination that definitely went into Vicki's accomplishments, she says,

I know how lucky I am.

And we know how lucky we all are who also get to reap the rewards or her labors.

Next up is an author who was born in California but spent most of his youth growing up in Hawaii. Robert Gregory Browne has been a musician, a screenwriter and a novelist, as well as a janitor, a flower delivery boy, a Hollywood messenger, hotel room maid, criminal intake processor, legal secretary, magazine columnist, AND a video editor. I'd say he has a wealth of experiences to draw from in his writing!

Rob ultimately made his way back to California with his wife, whom he met in high school. Working his way into his screenwriting gig, Rob developed screenplays for Showtime, Viacom and Marvel, among others. He even racked up an AMPAS Nicholl Award. But all of that didn't keep him from jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire of novel writing.

Rob's first novel KISS HER GOODBYE is in production as a pilot for CBS Television. Fitting since Rob first envisioned the concept as a screenplay. The pilot is called ATF and will star Dylan Walsh, Michael Rapaport, Terry Kinney and Sandrine Holt. Rob's most recent release was DOWN AMONG THE DEAD MEN which came out this past May. He's now hard at work on a supernatural thriller, PARADISE CITY. When he isn't busy with all of his novel writing or his wife, two grown children, two cats and two dogs, you can find him blogging at Murderati or his own writer's advice blog Casting the Bones.

With all of this action to juggle, it's a no wonder that Rob tells me he's chronically sleep-deprived, which in turn explains his memoir:

I'd rather be home sleeping.

And wrapping up our memoirists this week we have a woman who works full time as a paralegal in Los Angeles. When Sue Ann Jaffarian comes home from the day job she goes back to work, this time writing. She has five books in her Odelia Grey mystery series about a paralegal - hey! The most recent book in the Odelia Grey series came out in February and it's titled CORPSE ON THE COB. The first book in the series, TOO BIG TO MISS, has been optioned for film. She also has GHOST A LA MODE which is the beginning of her Ghost of Granny Apples mystery series, and next month she's going to unveil MURDER IN VEIN, the first book of her Fang-In-Cheek mystery series.

Don't think these are Sue Ann's only accomplishments. Oh no! My hat goes off to this woman who last summer completed...not just participated but completed the Camp Pendleton Mud Run. Those are some serious runners out there folks and she completed the event. Not bad for a woman working full time as a paralegal! Somehow, though, she still finds time to blog at Babble 'N Blog, present as a motivational speaker, socialize on Twitter and Facebook, and fight the good fight against all that cat hair. I don't know about you all, but I'm pretty darned impressed. What does Sue Ann think about it all?

The fat little engine who did.

She sure did! And I love it.

So many thanks to all of our authors contributing today. If you haven't experienced any of these authors, I encourage you to check them out. Visit your library or you can use the links I've supplied to find their books at super wonderful indie mystery bookstores. I just love these little glances into the lives of the creative, talented folks who entertain us with their gifts. I appreciate their time and I appreciate all of you stopping by to share the fun with me.

Next week we'll be back to our regular post on Wednesday as the countdown to the end of Season 2 continues. Happy Reading!

Technorati Tags: Sue Ann Jaffarian, Robert Gregory Browne, Vicki Delany, You've the Right to Six Words

And Now, The Rest of the Story

Yesterday we started delving into the secrets behind Marcus Sakey and his thriller novels and short stories. We learned a little about his life before writing, some of the prevalent themes in his books, his point of view choices and more. Since I got so carried away talking to him - hey, cut me a little slack, he's a fascinating character - I split the interview in two. Today we have the "rest of the story." So, without further ado, let's return to Marcus:

Q. You blogged once about gender politics and the fact that men and woman are not the same. How does that come in to play for you when you’re writing male and female points of view? Or even dialogue? How do you have to, if at all, adjust your mindset to navigate back and forth between them?

Marcus: And vive la difference! I love that we’re not the same.

I do, however, believe we are equal in ability and brains and rights. And for me, it’s critical to write strong, capable, realistic female characters. I get so annoyed by a lot of the useless caricatures of women in books. I don’t know women like that, and I don’t believe the authors do either, and I wonder why their mothers and wives and sisters don’t slap them silly.

I don’t really have any exercises I do as I switch back and forth, but I do always try and imagine the women I know saying the things I’m writing. Same with the men, actually. If I don’t believe it, that’s usually because it’s crap.

Q. Yeah, I've read a few of those books, too. Let's switch gears a bit and talk about your settings. Up to this point, your books have been set in Chicago, but I know as a reader, I often lose track of that fact, not because you neglect setting but more because I feel like the stories could take place in most any urban city. Is that purposely done, paralleling the “everyman,” thus “any city”? Or am I just a lousy reader?

Marcus: I don’t think anyone can call you a lousy reader. You’re pretty much the reader we’re all hoping for.

To be honest, it depends on the book. The first two were more rooted in Chicago than the last couple, and that was intentional. As you point out, the last two novels were more “everyman”-oriented, so I toned down the specifics.

I also didn’t need them as much. In THE BLADE ITSELF, the neighborhood where my main characters grew up really shaped them, and so the city was far more a character. But in THE AMATEURS, part of the point is that the four of them are, like so many real people, somewhat disconnected from their roots.

Q. O.k., research. Research is always a topic that fascinates me. You always hear people talking about "writing what you know." But in reality, not many people at all experience the kinds of things that happen in crime novels. So, there's really a lot of research that has to go into an authentic crime novel and you’ve done some pretty exciting things in the name of research for your books. To date, what would you say has been the most interesting experience or maybe the one that surprised you the most – wasn’t at all what you expected it would be?

Marcus: I love the research. It’s not sitting around in libraries, it’s putting on a bulletproof vest and riding with homicide detectives. One recent adventure that was just ridiculously fun was visiting a training facility for the LAPD. I spent the whole day saying, “Hell yes!”

“Do you want to fire a Bennelli automatic tactical shotgun?”
“Hell yes!”

“Do you want to take a spin around the slick course and throw a car into a 720?”
“Hell yes!”

“Do you want to learn how to use your car to spin out another in a high-speed chase?”
“Oh, hell yes.”

Q. Did you ever swap Sprite for the holy water at church?

Marcus: I’ve gotten in my fair share of trouble. If there’s a big red button with a warning symbol on it, I really, really want to push it.

Q. Has there ever been something that interested you and you wanted to research it, so you decided to build a story around it? Or is it always a case of the story idea comes first and then the research opportunities evolve from the story idea?

Marcus: The two evolve around one another. I had a concept for my novel AT THE CITY’S EDGE which prompted me to spend some time shadowing the Chicago Police Gang Intelligence Unit, which in turn informed the idea, which led to research on soldiers returning from Iraq. And so forth.

Q. Speaking of AT THE CITY'S EDGE, your short story "The Desert Here and the Desert Far Away" actually came about because of the research you'd done for that novel. Ever have any thoughts about working the other way? Taking a character from one of the shorts and building a novel with him/her?

Marcus: I have thought about it. Haven’t done it yet. But there’s something to Sammy and Dex, the killers from “As Breathing,” that I think could be a lot of fun. On one of the back burners of my brain, I’ve been toying with the idea of turning them into a screenplay.

Q. Screenplays roles right into my next question then. Three of your books have been optioned for film. That, of course, is very exciting. And we all know that once the money changes hands, the author essentially has no more say. But if you could have ONE say in each movie, whether it be something in the story that absolutely can’t be changed, a mandatory filming location, a casting call, what one thing would you want to ensure for each film?

Marcus: Wow, cool question. Hmm.

For THE BLADE ITSELF, there are so many things that I think have a built-in protection—Danny and Evan really have to be from a blue-collar neighborhood, etc.—that I’ll use my wish to protect the ladies. I hope that the women remain strong, capable characters. The nature of film means that you have to trim subplots and combine characters and such, and that’s fine, but I hope that doesn’t result in the women being cliché weaklings.

Jason Palmer, the hero of AT THE CITY’S EDGE, is recently discharged from the Army. He’s not a Rambo-esque figure or a Marine sniper; he was an infantryman, the heroic backbone of the US Army. It’s really important to me that he not be turned into some sort of killing machine.

GOOD PEOPLE is about two people who actually are good people but have been losing track of one another. I hope that in a final film, we’ll see that through all the machinations and betrayals and pain, they really do love each other.

However, I’ve read scripts for both THE BLADE ITSELF and GOOD PEOPLE, and they’re terrific. So I’m really not worried.

Q. We've only touched slightly on your short stories up to this point, so let's focus on them a little more now. You’ve commented that writing the short stories are tough for you. How so? And what motivates you to write a short story?

Marcus: Short stories are writing as a watchmaker’s art. They require tremendous precision and a clear vision of what you’re trying to do. No successful watchmaker ever threw in an extra gear because he liked the look of it. While in a novel ideas can evolve in the writing, in a short story, every line, every word, has to propel your concept.

I’ve gotten better at them, but I still find them tricky. I don’t really write them unless someone has asked me to, usually for anthologies.

Q. As I read these stories, I definitely recognized your style, and yet each story is uniquely its own piece, each character an independent soul. At the end of each story, I felt as though I had to catch my breath. I was literally saying "Wow!" every time I finished one. Even when I was laughing at monkeys. It was almost like the power that you infuse into your 300 page books was there in each story to the same degree and it had to be compacted into a smaller space. There was no time to process and deal with the events until the end. - O.k., do I sound like a complete lunatic? The question is when you're writing these short works, do you ever feel that overwhelming power...or force...or whatever we want to term it because you're working with all of these emotions and themes and complex characters and ethical situations in such a small space? Do you ever finish one and just think, "damn, this completely drained me"?

Marcus: Well first, thanks.

I don’t really feel that while I’m writing them. But when I come back to them, the ones I like, I really enjoy reading them. More than I enjoy reading my novels, actually. It has something to do with the freshness of the worlds, and the fact that I’ll spend a year on a novel, whereas a story might take a week or two.

Q. Any other requests for short stories in the works? Projects on the burner? Would you want to edit an anthology yourself? And if so, what would be your dream theme or what would the focus of the anthology be?

Marcus: A couple of requests, nothing I’ve committed to just yet. I recently finished my fifth novel, and right now, my focus needs to be on figuring out the sixth.

I’m really excited to be releasing my short stories as e-books. The thing with short story anthologies is that they tend to come out, make a splash or not, and then vanish, taking your story with them. Of the dozens of short stories I’ve written, there’s a handful that I really like, and I’m thrilled they’ll get more life.

They’re priced cheap--$0.99 per story, the lowest Amazon will allow—because this really isn’t about making money for me. I just like these stories, and I think others will too, and I want them out there. Plus, for people who haven’t read me but are thinking about it, it’s a good way to try my stuff, see if it’s for you.

I’d love to edit the right anthology. But it would need to be something I was really excited about, which has more to do with the people involved than the theme. The dream would be to do one to raise money for a cause, and to get some real stars in there, the writers I deeply admire. In which case I wouldn’t be so much editing as being the first to read it.

Q. You’ve had opportunities to do a fair about of traveling to promote your books: different bookstore events and conventions and whatnot. What’s been a most memorable moment? And what’s been a most terrifying moment?

Marcus: I was invited to a film noir festival in Italy, all-expenses paid for both my wife and I. That was pretty spectacular. We just watched movies and ate and drank wine and watched more movies. Plus I got to meet Richard Price.

On the flip side, it’s not exactly terror, but there’s a lot of agonizing around the release of a book—will the reviewers like it, will it sell, will the store I drove fifty miles to have copies, will people eviscerate it on Amazon. All of which really comes down to, will I get to do this again? Because I really want to.

Q. You mentioned your agent sending your manuscript to "auction." I've heard this term used before. Can you explain what that means?

Marcus: That’s a very happy day.

What it means is that more than one editor wanted my novel. This is a happy situation, and one it takes some skill to create; my agent made sure to send it to a large list of editors whose taste he knew, and when we got the first bite, he went back and worked them against each other. The result was that several of them were bidding in competition, which drives the price up.

It also drives you to pacing for hours and hours.

Q. I’ve often heard authors talk about music having an influence on the books they write. Would you say music influences you at all? Or if not, is there something else that maybe influences you the way music influences other writers?

Marcus: I frequently write to music. It can’t have lyrics though, or else it has to be something I know so well I don’t even hear the words anymore. Lately I’ve been writing to soundtracks quite a lot. There are two composers, Cliff Martinez and Clint Mansell, whose work blows me away. I must have listened to the soundtrack to The Fountain two hundred times while writing my last novel. Two hundred easy. Same with Solaris.

Q. All right. I'm getting close to the end now, so I guess we should ask what's next for Marcus Sakey?

Marcus: I recently finished my fifth novel, which I’m really excited about. It’s a little different than anything I’ve done before, and definitely my most ambitious novel to date. We’re still settling on titles and such, but it should be out next June.

**a little update, in the interim between our conversation and posting it, Marcus reported that the "title blues" are now over. No report on what exactly the title is, but that wrinkle has now been ironed out. At least as of right now. Next June is still a ways away and there's no telling what could happen before then.

Q. And finally (as Marcus exhales a sigh of relief) Brian Lindenmuth threw out a question on Twitter recently that I’ve been mulling over for several days now, so I’ll throw it to you. He asked, “if you could give someone 5 books that you feel exemplify everything that is great about crime fiction, what would they be?”

Marcus: Oh, that’s easy:

1. THE BLADE ITSELF, by Marcus Sakey
2. AT THE CTY’S EDGE, by Marcus Sakey
3. GOOD PEOPLE, by Marcus Sakey
4. THE AMATEURS, by Marcus Sakey
5. SCAR TISSUE: SEVEN STORIES OF LOVE AND WOUNDS, by Marcus Sakey

I’m kidding. Really. Stop flaming me.

My actual list would change day-to-day. It’s tough to pick five to represent a genre as varied and complicated as ours. For now:

1. CLOCKERS, by Richard Price
2. NIGHT DOGS, by Kent Anderson
3. A DRINK BEFORE THE WAR, by Dennis Lehane
4. FIRST BLOOD, by David Morrell
5. GLITZ, by Elmore Leonard

Damn, I’ve been staring at that list for ten minutes, and I keep wanting to cram more in. MANHATTAN NOCTURNE, by Colin Harrison. WHAT THE DEAD KNOW, by Laura Lippman. PERSUADER, by Lee Child. STONE CITY, by Mitchell Smith. THE POWER OF THE DOG, by Don Winslow. THE BLACK DAHLIA, by James Ellroy…

I completely understand. I had the same problem myself.

O.k., I promised presents for all the party-goers this weekend, and I shall now deliver. Marcus was kind enough to offer all of my readers 50% off the price of the SCAR TISSUE: SEVEN STORIES OF LOVE AND WOUNDS anthology. So, that will mean you can purchase it for the discounted price of $1.50. Yes! Seven outstanding short stories for $1.50. Just follow this link, and use the code GP55Q. They have every possible e-book format and a PDF, so if you don't have a reader you can read it on your computer or print it out and read it on paper. If you missed my review of the anthology on Thursday and aren't sure why you HAVE to have this collection, you can catch it here. As Marcus mentioned in the interview, if you haven't read his work before, this is a GREAT way to get an introduction.

You already know that I can't say enough about his work. Marcus is one of my most recommended authors. I never hesitate to say, "you need to read Marcus Sakey." So, having the chance to do this interview with him has been fun and exciting for me. I know that I smiled through it the first time and as I recounted it here for you all, I smiled all over again. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.

And so many thanks to Marcus for all the time he contributed and for tolerating me! He's guaranteed his special place in Heaven! Now go get your SCAR TISSUE and very happy reading!

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