Linda Fairstein - Crime Readers Caught Reading Crime...

...in an indie bookstore.

I hope everyone had a great holiday weekend. I have a lot to share from my week at BEA and I'm organizing that all up for you, but first I have a few crime readers left to share with you. And while we're going to run into June, I think these are readers well worth sharing. So let's not waste any time.

Many of you who read here often know that I credit Linda Fairstein as one of the authors who hooked me on crime fiction. I thought of Linda regularly as I walked through New York City last week. Her books just bring the city alive for those of us who don't live there. Her most recent novel is SILENT MERCY.  This year I was finally able to meet her in person, and I know that Hilary Davidson is an author Linda is highly recommending to everyone, so I find it especially fitting that she is caught reading Hilary's debut, THE DAMAGE DONE at BookHampton.

Linda and Hilary are truly two of the most charming women I know. I'm very pleased to have them be a part of this feature. What have YOU been caught reading lately?

Alan Orloff - Crime Readers Caught Reading Crime...

...in an indie bookstore.

Today's crime reader/writer is also a regular reader here at the blog. I'm always so flattered to hear that. Alan Orloff made quite a splash last year with his debut novel, DIAMONDS FOR THE DEAD, which was nominated for an Agatha Award.  This year he's kicked off a new series with his book KILLER ROUTINE.

But today Alan's kicking back at a new bookstore with an old friend.

There’s a new indie bookstore in North Arlington, VA, called One More Page Books, and it’s a welcome newcomer to the scene. Led by owner Eileen McGervey, the entire staff is friendly and fun-loving, and ready to recommend a great book. And what goes well with books? Wine and chocolate, of course, both carried by the store (yes, they stock bacon chocolate!). They’ve been very supportive to the local mystery community and really know how to sponsor a great author event. I had a tough choice to make, but I finally settled on Edge by master storyteller Jeffery Deaver. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a book to read…

Shhhh, Alan's reading! So now would be a good time for you to read as well! Many thanks to Alan for participating with us this month and sharing a great bookstore as well as a great author.

Hope everyone's having a great reading week. Happy Reading.

Molly Weston - Crime Readers Caught Reading Crime...

...in an indie bookstore.

Today I welcome a mystery reader who is an invaluable part of the community...she's a media escort. In other words, she makes sure our authors get to their appearances. She's often setting up those appearances, too. Molly Weston is the blogger at Meritorious Mysteries and she reads in the area of 200 mysteries a year. - I'm so jealous!

I'm tickled pink to have Molly join in the indie bookstore love today:

Quail Ridge Books and Music has been in Raleigh for more than 20 years. I've had a close relationship with the owner, Nancy Olson, for many of those years and have enjoyed traveling to mystery conferences with her. The store is large, the staff is friendly and knowledgeable, and the chairs comfy.

I was lucky to get an early copy of Sarah Shaber's Louise's War just out from Severn House. This World War II mystery features young widow Louise Pearlie, just arrived in Washington and working as a clerk for the OSS. When she recognizes the name of a college friend while filing documents, Louise is drawn into a deadly situation.

Sarah is an incredible writer and I hope this will be the first of many in this World War II series. I know she's already hard at work on the next. Why can't our favorite authors write as fast as we can read?

That's a great question! However, I do need the time to read everything that comes out, so...

Thank you Molly, for taking time to show some love to Quail Ridge Books and Music as well as Sarah Shaber. So thrilled to have you join in the fun.

Happy Reading everyone!

Bill Cameron - Crime Readers Caught Reading Crime...

...in an indie bookstore.

Today we have another crime writing Bill. This one is on the opposite side of the country from Bill Loehfelm. Bill Cameron, author of the Skin Kadash series, has a new book coming out soon. How does he have time to be reading in an indie store? Shouldn't he be out promoting or something? Just kidding. But not about the new book. Bill's next installment in the Skin Kadash series is COUNTY LINE and is out next month.

In the meantime we have this OUTSTANDING picture of him from Murder by the Book in Portland, Oregon.

Here I am at Murder by the Book, Portland, Oregon, reading One Was A Soldier by Julia Spencer-Fleming. Julia's work is always wonderful, but she's really outdone herself with this one. I was chatting with Jean, one of the owners of Murder by the Book, and we agreed One Was A Soldier is one of Julia's best. Thoughtful, engrossing from the first page, with layers upon layers of intrigue and humanity. I love it!

Murder by the Book is one of my all-time favorite bookstores. In the mystery community, we have been blessed with some truly amazing shops (including other great "Murder by the Books" in other cities). Portland's MBTB is run by some of the smartest, most fun, and funny women in the bookselling biz. They've taken great care of me during my still young career, and every other writer I know who's visited feels the same way. When you come to Portland, you have to include Murder by the Book in your itinerary.

I was just commenting the other day how much I've enjoyed this series because I've been able to discover so many new indie bookstores. The love everyone has shown them has been inspiring. Thanks so much to Bill for giving us a glimpse of Murder by the Book, Portland.

I think it's a great time to show your indie store how much you appreciate them. Go forth and find a new book, then Happy Reading!

Bill Loehfelm - Crime Readers Caught Reading Crime...

...in an indie bookstore.

I get to welcome a new face to Jen's Book Thoughts with today's crime reader/writer. Bill Loehfelm, author of THE DEVIL SHE KNOWS, was caught hanging out at the Garden District Book Shop in New Orleans. When we cornered Bill, this is what he had to say for himself:

Jason Goodwin's Inspector Yashim series, set in Ottoman era Istanbul, is a favorite of my wife and I. We're excited about the recently released, AN EVIL EYE, the fourth in the series. We love Goodwin's work for its portrait of the inelegant, mystical, and sensual Turkish city as much as for Yashim's adventures. We buy Jason's books, and all the rest of our books, at the Garden District Book Shop, only a short walk from our home in the neighborhood. Britton, Ted, Amy, and the crew couldn't be more knowledgeable and are extremely supportive of local writers, large or small. 

My many thanks to Bill for being a great sport and hanging out with us. He's introduced me to a book, an author and a bookstore I was unaware of. I think he should come around more often! I don't know if you can see Bill's shirt very well in this picture here, but it's fantastic. It's the bookstore's shirt, with signatures all over it and the tag line to the store is "New Orleans Signature Bookstore." I totally want one!

I'm in NYC this week for BEA, so feel free to talk amongst yourselves. I'll be tweeting when I can and I plan to bring back a lot of fun pictures and stories. Happy Reading!

HELL IS EMPTY - Craig Johnson

First line: "'Didn't your mother ever tell you not to talk with your mouth full?'"

In the seventh installment of Craig Johnson's Walt Longmire series, Walt finds himself tracking an escaped convict through the snow covered Bighorn Mountains.

Walt is back and he's managing to position himself in dangers way yet again. This time around Johnson's put a literary twist in the mix. HELL IS EMPTY intertwines itself with Dante's INFERNO. Readers need not worry if they haven't read INFERNO, the plot is still an exciting labyrinth of events. Those who have read INFERNO will appreciate the allusions and parallels to Dante's work.

Johnson is truly one of the masters writing in this genre today. He would be a master writing in any genre. His strengths as a writer are many, his weaknesses few - if any. The characters he sculpts are genuine people, folks you feel you could meet in your own neighborhood. The antagonists are as authentic as the protagonists. Sometimes they reflect our own worst traits and other times they reflect our own worst nightmares. In HELL IS EMPTY, they run the gamut:

"'It doesn't mean shit that you've stopped us; he's not like us. I mean, we're the kinds of guys that give people nightmares.' He shifted his weight and leaned back against the bulkhead with one shoulder. 'He's the kind of guy that gives us nightmares.'"

Johnson's setting is as active a character as any human in the stories. The scenes are so alive that the reader will shiver with cold or swelter from heat, hear natures sounds and smell the aromas. HELL IS EMPTY is especially charged with the powers of nature, as Walt battles it as much as he battles the fugitive.

"The black fog had changed direction, pulling the oxygen from the arching wind that continued to blast its way down the valley, the fire using the ridge as a jumping-off point, not even backing up for a run at it. Lodgepole pines were exploding with the heat, and a crisscross of timber fell down the incline. The darkness lifted long enough to reveal massive logs exploding as the resin inside them reached boiling levels, branches, pine cones and needles swirling in armies of winged fire devils."

I'm not a big paranormal reader; I'm too much of a cynic. But the mystical elements of the Walt Longmire series are among my favorites. Johnson's approach to them is respectful of the cultures from which they exist and it's beautiful amidst a plot of death and destruction. It helps that Walt is as much a cynic as I am, so the presence of the phenomena challenges Walt with the unexplainable.

Dialogue in this series is natural and smooth. Johnson makes use of dialect and colloquialisms to accentuate character. And of course, his humor is simply unparalleled.

"'I'm not kidding. These two Indians were just here, and they're looking for you.'

'I know. They're on our...they're on my side.'

'Well, I just thought that with you bein' a cowboy and all I better call you up and let you know. These were some really tough-looking dudes. The one guy, the really big one? I mean, they had guns all over 'em, but the one guy, the big one? He had this axe thing between his shoulders.' There was a pause. 'He took the gun away from me. I told him it wasn't loaded, but he took it anyway.'

'It's okay. He's a friend of mine.'

'I'm jus' sayin'.' There was some noise in the background, and I could hear someone else talking. 'I'm tellin' him about the Indians.'"

Johnson takes all of these elements and blends them meticulously to create an amazing story. To put the icing on the cake, his mastery of language comes through in commanding imagery. In HELL IS EMPTY you will laugh, cry, gasp, and maybe even shudder. The power of words is never more evident than in a work from Craig Johnson. HELL IS EMPTY is his strongest evidence of that to date.

This is a series that I enjoy reading over. There is so much to discover with each reading and the stories never grow old. I'll wait patiently now for the audio version, and experience all the wonderfulness of HELL IS EMPTY over again. In the meantime, I'm suddenly having an urge to go back and reread INFERNO.

I had professed since book 3 that KINDNESS GOES UNPUNISHED was my favorite in the series. HELL IS EMPTY has just dethroned my favorite. I recommend this series to almost every reader I come in contact with. If you haven't experienced it yet, go directly to your bookstore and pick up a Walt Longmire now. If you have read his work, you know what I'm talking about and you're in for a great treat with HELL IS EMPTY.

HELL IS EMPTY from Viking will hit bookstores June 2, 2011, in hardcover (ISBN: 978-0-670-02277-9).

Kay Stewart - Crime Readers Caught Reading Crime...

...at an indie bookstore.

Today we conclude our Poisoned Pen love fest with a devotedly regular reader here at Jen's Book Thoughts. Kay Stewart, blogger at My Random Acts of Reading, not only visits regularly, she also stops to chat regularly. So, I am over the moon that Cathy Cole from Kittling Books caught Kay reading for this project! Here's what Kay had to say about Poisoned Pen and her choice of books:

I'm sitting in one of my favorite places in the world - The Poisoned Pen Bookstore in Scottsdale, AZ. Unfortunately, the only time I can have this pleasure is when my husband and I are on vacation, as we live in Austin, TX. Is it crazy to say that I plan some of my vacations around author events and mystery shopping? On this visit, I'm dipping into Donis Casey's latest Alafair Tucker book, Crying Blood. If you haven't read this historical mystery series, set in early 20th century Oklahoma, pick up the first one soon. It has a great title, The Old Buzzard Had It Coming. Crying Blood is very special because we get to know more about Alafair's husband, Shaw Tucker, and his background including an unsolved mystery. And, if you haven't visited the Poisoned Pen Bookstore, get thee to AZ quickly and see what you've been missing. Barbara Peters and her staff have a wonderful setting in which to display the vast amount of mysteries they carry. Specializing in great author events, hard to find British mysteries, and signed first editions, a person could spend hours just scanning the shelves for treasures. Another treat on this trip, meeting and visiting with Cathy from Kittling: Books. Cathy graciously took my picture and I thank her for that. We both had a successful treasure hunt in the Poisoned Pen and we had the bulging book bags to prove it!

Well Kay, when I went to New York City last month, we visited three different bookstores and when I was in Houston in February I finally got to visit Murder by the Book, so I wouldn't say you're crazy to plan your vacations that way.  I'm hoping that one day soon I'll be in Arizona visiting Lesa Holstine and we can visit Poisoned Pen together. Very glad you got to experience this bookstore trip with Cathy. Thanks for sharing the fun!

Next week I'll be in New York for BEA. I plan to still have readers caught reading while I'm out of town, so be sure to check back!

Happy Reading!

Patrick Millikin - Crime Readers Caught Reading Crime...

...at an indie bookstore.

Patrick Millikin is not only a crime reader, he is also a crime seller! Even though he's supposed to be managing The Poisoned Pen, he seems to have found some time to sneak away and work on Craig McDonald's latest in the Hector Lassiter series, ONE TRUE SENTENCE.

The Poisoned Pen is pretty important to Patrick. According to his staff profile he was a "literary snob" before his position at this renowned indie introduced him to crime fiction. He says, "I devoured these books...like the flea that found its dog, and I've never looked back since." See the difference an indie bookstore can make?

Check in tomorrow for our final fan of The Poisoned Pen Bookstore!

A Lesson in Murder from M.L. Malcolm

 M.L. Malcolm has worn many hats, both literally and figuratively, throughout her life. She's a graduate of Harvard Law School and was a practicing attorney; she owned and operated a travel agency; and of course, she's the author of the historical mystery novels, HEART OF DECEPTION and  most recently, HEART OF LIES. Please help me welcome her as my guest blogger today.

Learning how to kill

By M.L. Malcolm

Violence bothers me. A lot. I’m probably the only person alive who thinks that the popularity of the “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” series is a terrifying sign of the moral deterioration of civilization. Maybe even the Apocalypse. Not that the book wasn’t good—I  did make it to the end of the first one, although I did it by skipping long sections of gore—it’s just that confronted with violence like that I shut down like a clam.  I can’t handle it, and I don’t think it’s good that most people can.

I’ve only had to incorporate one actual death scene in each of my novels.  Before writing such a scene, I always ask myself the three important questions relayed to me by a wonderful judge, my mentor back in the days before I found the light and started down the road toward becoming a Recovering Attorney.  I can still hear his deep, sonorous southern voice in my head, asking, “Did someone in fact, kill him?  Did he deserve killing?  And, did the right person do the killing?” (If all of these questions were answered by a “yes” at the end of a murder trial in the Deep South as little as forty years ago, the result would be a verdict of “not  guilty.” But I digress.)

I am very comfortable writing love scenes.  I am very uncomfortable writing about violence. So, before I could finish my first novel, I had to learn how to kill.

Nowadays my daughter, a CSI devotee and soon-to-be college freshman, could probably describe in disturbingly correct anatomical detail a dozen different ways to off someone and what the precise results of the chosen method of execution would look like; but she was young when I started this process, and not as well versed in the arts and science of murder. Before I could kill someone, I had to educate myself.

Leo Hoffman, one of the main characters in both my novels, is a veteran of World War I.


Heart of Lies,Leo avenges the death of his foster mother by killing her murderer when he is attacked by the same man. Leo is unarmed when this occurs, so I needed to figure out how to kill someone by hand. During my research I came across one of the most appropriate books ever written on the subject: Get Tough: How to Win in Hand-to-Hand Fighting, as Taught to the British and U.S. Armed Forces, by Major W. E. Fairbairn.

      

Originally published in 1943, the book gives detailed instructions on such handy subjects as how to kill someone using a book of matches, numerous approaches to disabling and maiming an opponent, and other techniques necessary to successful “gutter fighting.” 

      

The author had a fascinating personal history. Fairbairn joined the British Royal Marines when he was just a teenager. After serving in exotic places such as Korea and developing new, award-winning ways to prevail in hand-to-hand combat involving bayonets, he left the military, and, in 1907, joined the municipal police force in Shanghai. As one of the only places in the world anyone could enter without a passport or a visa, Shanghai was also one of the most violent and dangerous. It also happened to be the setting for a large portion of Heart of Lies.

Legend has it that early in his career as a policeman Fairbairn was beaten close to death by members of one of the Chinese Tongs, and subsequently took up Jujutsu to decrease the chances that this would happen again. Thus began his life-long fascination with no-holds-barred means of hand-to-hand assault and defense. He established the first SWAT style police unit, and along with Anthony Sykes developed what would become the most famous combat knife of World War II, the Fairbairn-Sykes fighting knife. When Churchill founded the Special Operations Executive to send covert operatives into Europe, Fairbairn was hired to train Churchill’s spies in everything from self-defense to stealth assassination, a.k.a. “silent killing.” 

In brief, he knew how to take someone out.  

      

So applying Fairbairn’s teachings, my character first crushes the larynx of his nemesis by…wait.  I don’t want to give away all the good parts.

But I highly recommend Fairbairn’s seminal works to anyone—make that any author—looking for novel ways to maim and kill.

Keith Rawson - Crime Readers Caught Reading Crime...

...at an indie bookstore.

Today we continue the indie love for The Poisoned Pen Bookstore in Scottsdale Arizona. Keith Rawson, writer/editor/publisher/social media guru, takes some time out from his many different responsibilities to indulge in Don Winslow's SATORI, a prequel to Trevanian's SHIBUMI. I know I, for one, have been singing the praises of this book all year. I'm not surprised Keith is enjoying it as well.

Stop back tomorrow and see who else found a corner of The Poisoned Pen to read in.

A short time ago, Kaye Barley, crime fiction fan and blogger at Meanderings and Muses, invited Lesa Holstine, from Lesa's Book Critiques, and I to chat with her about reading and our love of mystery. So from practically coast to coast, Kaye, Lesa and I did just that. We've decided to share our chat with everyone and divided it up. The discussion starts at Meanderings and Muses, moves to Lesa's Book Critiques and I have the finale. I hope you enjoy our chat and feel free to leave your own responses to our questions in the comments area.

JEN: Kaye, I meant to mention that Robert Crais and Linda Fairstein actually hooked me on crime fiction. I had read some John Grisham and James Patterson, but it didn't motivate me to find anything else. For Robert Crais, I got a Borders email telling me about one of his books and it sounded like something interesting. Then I discovered it was a series, so I started at the beginning and never looked back. Linda Fairstein's ENTOMBED was on display at Sam's Club and I read the book jacket. The tie in to Poe intrigued me and again I learned that it was part of a series. I started FINAL JEOPARDY and have been a fan ever since.

I think most of the classics really have crime fiction at the heart of them.

GATSBY is most definitely a crime fiction novel. And I adore GATSBY, by the way.

My favorite book of all time TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD is a crime novel. It's really a close relationship between the two, so the transition was actually quite easy!

Kaye, over to you...

KAYE: Lesa, speaking of Ellery Adams' Books by the Bay series - that's a series I'm enjoying quite a lot also. Another of her books that I really like is one she wrote under the name J.B.Stanley, and is called A KILLER COLLECTION. Speaking of books by the bay - Have either of you read Kathryn Wall's series featuring Bay Tanner? They take place in Hilton Head and are, I think, quite good. She's one of those writers who I think might be among the vastly under-appreciated.

She, Sharon Wildwind and Vicki Lane are three writers I'd like to see get a bit more exposure. Vicki is getting there, I think. She was a recent Anthony nominee. I wouldn't call any of them cozies, nor do they fall into hard-boiled territory. Perfectly rendered traditionals, I'd say.

Jen, you couldn't have picked better authors for your introduction into crime fiction, I don't think. I'm a huge Linda Fairstein fan, and I'd have to say I think her writing is getting stronger with each book. She's also awakened a strong interest in me for learning more about the wonderfully rich historical architecture of New York City. I had always thought of NYC as a "new" city, but not so. I had never heard of Roosevelt Island, didn't know Harlem was once a Jewish neighborhood. I learn fascinating things from her books.

LESA: I actually think Kaye just missed her turn to ask a question, so she'll have to take it the next time around. This is the perfect place for me to ask mine since we've been talking about authors we read. Author Gar Anthony Haywood asked a question on the ListServ DorothyL one day, and as far as I know, I was the only one who answere him. He and I even discussed it when we met at Left Coast Crime.

I loved the question! Who have you always meant to read, and haven't read yet?

I did answer him. I had never read Ed McBain's 87th Precinct books. I read some of his books written as Matthew Hope, but I was intimidated by the size of the 87th Precinct book series. I always thought I'd save them for retirement and start from the beginning! But, Gar and a couple other authors wrote and said, you like police procedurals. You have to read him now. I've read the first two, have the third at home, and they're right. I really like these books, and I'll read the rest. It will take me some time, but I'll get there.

So, that's my question for you. Who have you always meant to read, and haven't yet? Why not?

JEN: Wow! Since I've only really been reading crime fiction about 5 years now, this list is quite long for me. But each year I do read some of those "always meant to read" authors. Like Lesa, I have Ed McBain on my shelf waiting. One of the things that often happens with me is when I buy a book myself, it ends up at the bottom of the priority list because I didn't commit to reading it for a review and I don't have to return it to the library. That's basically the reason I haven't read Ed McBain yet.

I also would like to read John Connolly's Charlie Parker books. I've read THE BOOK OF LOST THINGS, but not the Parker novels. Declan Hughes is another. I've wanted to read his because I've heard wonderful things, and I actually requested audiobooks from the library. I'm just waiting for them to come in now.

How about you, Kaye?

KAYE: Great question!

I'm afraid the list of names of authors I should have read by now, and have
meant to, might be long and embarrassing. I remember when, not too long ago, I discovered Ed Gorman's work I was SO excited. I also had no idea that he was as well-known as he is and I was probably the last person on God's green earth to have heard of him. Shameful. Since then I've "discovered" several additional well-known (except to me, apparently) crime fiction authors. I'm betting there are still many more to follow.

Now how unbelievable is this - I've not read anything by Ed McBain either. As it happens, I have several of his 87th Precinct novels that were given to me by a friend. I better get busy with these, huh? I had no idea there were so many!

The other person I've always meant to read but haven't, is Dick Francis.

Back to you, Lesa!

LESA: Well, here's a question we haven't discussed. I know the books now that you want to read. This question might not even pertain to you, Jen, since you said you've only been reading mysteries for five years.

I guess it can pertain to you, though. You can answer it with the books you
started with then. I'm going way back in time. What were the first mysteries you read?

Before I even read Nancy Drew (and I was a fan!) I read Jerry West's Happy
Hollister series. When we went on a month long trip across country, my sister and I were each allowed to take 15 books. So, we took most of this series, 15 books each, but ones that the other person would want to read, too. I also read mysteries by an author who wrote in the 1940s, Helen Fuller Orton. She wrote books for kids such as Mystery of the Hidden Book and Mystery of the Secret Drawer. Naturally, I found those books at the library. So, I had a very early taste for mystery.

Jen and Kaye, if you want to answer that, and Jen can ALMOST wrap us up. We
still need to let everyone know what's going on in Jen's life that's mystery related.

Actually, I CAN answer this question. The first mystery I vividly remember
reading - and that I still recommend to this day - is THE WESTING GAME by Ellen Raskin. I also loved the original Boxcar Children series.

KAYE: Some of the oddest coincidences keep popping up in this conversation!
Jen, I had never heard of THE WESTING GAME or Ellen Raskin until just this past week or so. And it came up at DorothyL (my Number One spot for hearing about new books and writers), so I've it added to my on-going list of books to check out.

Lesa, isn't it funny how some things just never change? I loved this remembrance of yours about taking all those books on vacation. This year
instead of packing up a lot of books to take, I'm loading several onto my iPad.

But I'm still going to have to pack at least one or two "real" books - it just won't seem like vacation without 'em.

The first mysteries I read were Nancy Drew. I remember discovering them at the library and being so excited, but then I also remember discovering them at McCrory's on Main Street in Cambridge where I grew up. I think that's when I started collecting books; the Nancy Drews that my parents didn't buy me, my Aunt Belle did. Aunt Belle was my reading addict partner right up until she died this past November. I never went home to Cambridge without a bag full of books for her. I still have some of my old Nancy Drew books, and some of the Dana Sisters. From the girl detectives and the Hardy Boys I remember moving on to Erle Stanley Gardner's Perry Mason novels. Pretty typical, I think.

Lesa, back to you. I think you have an announcement you'd like to make??

Any more questions either of you want to toss out?

LESA: Oh, I get to make the announcement? Then, I want to congratulate Jen on her Anthony Nomination for Best Website/Blog. It's quite an honor. The winners will be announced at Bouchercon in St. Louis. I got to announce it, and congratulate her, but, in her wrap-up, I'll let her tell about Bouchercon, and what else she's doing now. She has some other exciting mystery news.

And, in my wrap-up, I'll say I'm off to New York City this week. I'm going to be on a panel for librarians at Book Expo America, the annual publishing trade show. The panel is called The Great Readalike: If You Like That - You'll Love This!

A friend and I are flying in five days early. We're staying in the Theater District, and have tickets to three Broadway shows. We're having lunch one day with Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman's editor. And, a true librarian geeky thing - on Saturday or Sunday we're going to the New York Public Library. That weekend only, they're giving tours of the closed stacks at the Stephan A. Schwarzman Building, the one everyone thinks of as the NYPL. And, there will be 5 foot Lego sculptures of the lions! I know. Shows I'm a true librarian, doesn't it?

So, unless Jen or Kaye have more questions, that's my wrap-up for Three Bookish Women. I'll let them wrap-up, too.

Congratulations, Jen! Well-deserved. You work really hard to have an original blog that celebrates mysteries. And, Kaye? Congratulations on your retirement that gives you more time to enjoy mysteries. Thanks for this great idea!

JEN: Thanks so much Lesa. I feel like a giddy school girl over this nomination. I'm trying to act all casual and mature, but really I jump up down and laugh at least a couple times a day still.

Lesa, you have a grand time hanging out in New York. And you might think it's a "librarian geeky thing" but I'm jealous of that tour you get to take. I, too, will be headed to BEA, but she and I will be kinda of crossing paths. Lesa will be there early and I'll be there later, as I've been invited to join a panel at the Book Bloggers Conference on the Friday after BEA. I'm looking forward to that as well as Printer's Row in Chicago the following weekend. Then I'm going to be in need of a hiatus. I think I've traveled more the first half of this year than in the last six years combined.

Bouchercon will be in September this year and will be held in St. Louis. I hope if folks are able to make it they'll do so. It's going to be an incredible celebration of mystery readers, writers, publishers, etc. Plus, I'll be interviewing Val McDermid, so come be my moral support as I interview a woman I greatly admire.

O.k., Kaye, I'll toss it back to you! This has been a real treat. Thanks for the super idea.

KAYE: Jen - HUGE Congratulations, Sweetie, on your Anthony nomination. It is well deserved and I am proud of you beyond words. Enjoy every second of all this - you earned the right to jump up and down and laugh. And if you didn't do that I'd have to give you a shake!

You guys have fun in New York and all your other travels.

I'm going to be missing all the mystery cons this year and using all our pennies for a very special vacation with Donald to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. But - I hope to be back on the trail next year and seeing both of you - Good Lord willing and the creek don't rise, as we say here in the south.

This has been a bunch of fun - thanks, gals, for taking time out of your busy schedules to have a little chat.

Hugs!

Kaye, Lesa and I hope you enjoyed our chat as much as we enjoyed chatting. Remember, feel free to add your own responses to the comments. We'd love for you all to join in as well.

Happy Reading!

Joe Lansdale - Crime Readers Caught Reading Crime...

...at an indie bookstore.

I received quite a bit of indie love for The Poisoned Pen in Scottsdale, Arizona, so this week will be a bit of a hat tip to them. It's also a great example of the array of book lovers who show up in the store.

Our first reader caught at The Poisoned Pen this week is the multi-talented, multi-award-winning author Joe R. Lansdale who Keith Rawson caught reading CRIMES IN SOUTHERN INDIANA by Frank Bill.

Check out who else we find visiting The Poisoned Pen tomorrow...
 

Crime Readers Caught Reading Crime...

...at an indie bookstore.

Jennifer Lawrence is a fellow blogger at Jenn's Bookshelves and a fellow crime fiction fan. So I am thrilled to have caught her reading crime at her favorite indie bookstore, One More Page Books, in Arlington Virginia.

Jenn has been "caught reading" A Drop of the Hard Stuff by Lawrence Block in One More Page Books and More in Arlington, VA.  One More Page is Jenn's second home, just opened after the beginning of the year.  In addition to books, the store sells wine, chocolate & coffee, a combination impossible to pass up! Probably not the best location for Scuder who is attempting to achieve the twelve steps toward sobriety! We'll pull him away from the wine & serve him a nice strong cup of Fair Trade coffee instead!

O.k., I'm putting this store on my list to visit! Thanks to Jenn for participating and celebrating crime fiction and indie bookstores with us this month.

Check back and see who we catch next. You never know who might show up here...

Happy Reading!

Catching Up and Around the Web

Well between me doing a ridiculously unusual amount of traveling, and Blogger being sick last week, things got a little off course.

I apologize if you've contact me recently and I haven't returned your email or message. I'm still catching up. Hope to get there soon!

I have been starting some crime fiction-related groups over at Copia to have a nice place to post questions and discussion topics. My plan next month is to start a book discussion on THE TWO DEATHS OF DANIEL HAYES. If you read my review, you know I just felt like I wanted to talk to people about the book. And I still do. But I don't want to give spoilers or wreck twists for anyone who hasn't read it. So, I thought I'd use the forum at Copia to create a place where we could chat about the book. I'll put up some questions, thoughts, etc., and you can comment in those areas or add your own questions and thoughts. If it works out, maybe I'll try it the following month with YOU'RE NEXT. I'm reading that right now and just having an amazing reading experience. What are you thoughts? Anyone interested in participating with me?

I'm actually still figuring out all the ins and outs of Copia; I hope you'll come log in and find me: Mysterious_Dame. I think it'll be fun to share a book club of sorts across the miles.

In other news, I've shared with you that I'm working with Maddee James of xuni.com. Absolutely loving that. The dangerous part, though, has been finding even more authors I want to check out and read. If you're on Facebook, come like the xuni.com page and I'll corrupt YOU with new authors, too. And if you read YA at all, or have some YAs in your house, xuni is a great place to find books and authors!

And speaking of Facebook, I received an email from someone trying to find me on Facebook. I don't have a link for that up here, do I? Shame on me. I think I usually manage to mangle Facebook links, but let me see if I can get my own right here. Try this.

Next week I'm headed to BEA and will be on a panel at the Book Bloggers Convention right after BEA. Looking forward to that. Definitely say hi if you see me. I'll likely be the person looking completely overwhelmed and lost!

And now for a few fun tidbits to share. In addition to my traveling, I've had the opportunity to see a slew of great author people lately. At the very beginning of May, Brian Freeman was here in the Cleveland area. It was a lot of fun to meet he and his wife. They both have a great sense of humor and it was fascinating to learn about his road to writing crime fiction.

Last Monday and Tuesday, Chris Grabenstein came to Lorain County for the annual Young Author's Conference and he was a huge hit with all the county's aspiring young writers. I had the honor of being his chauffeur for those days. Here are some fun pictures of Chris:

And finally yesterday I went to the Marion Public Library to see Craig McDonald. There was just a small group of us there, but the discussion was fun, I was able to see his wife Debbie again, and this time I also had the chance to meet Craig's daughters.

Just a reminder about Bouchercon. If you are planning to attend but haven't registered yet, you'll want to make sure you do so soon. The host hotel is already booked for the convention-rate rooms, but there are plenty of surrounding hotels in close proximity.

I don't think I had a chance to mention here that my friend and fellow blogger Pop Culture Nerd is hosting the first Stalker Awards. Be sure you stop over there and nominate your favorites for those awards. They're great categories!

Just today Naomi from The Drowning Machine announced the ten qualifiers for the Watery Grave Invitational Short Story Contest. I can't believe it's that time again already. Check out The Drowning Machine for all the fun on that contest.

I'll wrap up today's post with a video from Joseph Finder about being "buried alive." Have a great week and happy reading!

Sara J. Henry - Crime Readers Caught Reading Crime...

...at an indie bookstore.

Ah ha! Today we've caught Sara J. Henry deep in a book at her indie bookstore of choice, Mysteries & More in Nashville, Tennessee. Sara's debut novel, LEARNING TO SWIM, came out earlier this year. In her shady spot at Mysteries & More, Sara's enjoying HAILEY'S WAR by Jodi Compton. This is what Sara has to say about book and bookstore:

I love this book partly for the crisp, seamless writing and partly for the kick-ass heroine with a deep internal struggle who also happens to ride a bicycle, and am greatly looking forward to the sequel, Thieves Get Rich, Saints Get Shot, coming out in July. And I love Mysteries & More because I adore the owners, Greg and Mary Bruss, who always have time to chat and have tea or coffee, and their delightful, comfortable, cozy bookstore.

Many thanks to Sara and her photographer, Christine McCann. This beautiful sunny day setting is making me very envious. I'm ready to be reading out on MY porch!

Check back for more in the Crime Readers Caught Reading Crime at an indie bookstore series. And as always...happy reading!

Kathy Roberts - Crime Readers Caught Reading Crime...

...at an indie bookstore.

Kathy Roberts is the wonderful book blogger at BermudaOnion's Weblog. On Twitter you can find her as bermudaonion. Today, however, we find her at the Fiction Addiction indie bookstore in Greenville, South Carolina, and she's reading the debut novel from Marcia Clark, GUILT BY ASSOCIATION.

Here's what she has to say about both bookstore and book:

My favorite bookstore is Fiction Addiction in Greenville, SC.  The store may be small in size, but the staff is friendly and knowledgeable, so it's a great place to visit and talk books.  They host awesome author events so they're attracting more and more well known authors.  They'll order any book I need and ship books as well.  I was excited to see that Guilt by Association by Marcia Clark is one of their staff picks.  I loved the book because of the great mystery and the fabulous characters.  Rachel Knight, the main character, is tenacious and just a little bit snarky, and I can't wait to read more about her.  If you like legal thrillers, Guilt by Association is a must read!

Let's hear it for another outstanding indie bookstore! Can you see that selection of books there behind Kathy? Looks to me like a fantastic bookstore. Thanks for introducing us to Fiction Addiction, Kathy. And I'm with you 100% on Marcia's book.

More book and bookstore recommendations are coming your way, so be sure to check back tomorrow! Happy reading.

Craig McDonlad - Crime Reader Caught Reading Crime...

...at an indie bookstore.

Last week we caught Brian Freeman reading Craig McDonald's HEAD GAMES, and this week we've caught Craig McDonald reading - wait! I see a stack of his ONE TRUE SENTENCE books; is he supposed to be doing a signing? Is he slacking on the job? Well, if he is, he's at least chosen a great book for slacking. Craig's dipped into a classic, James Crumley's THE WRONG CASE. And Craig's indie store of choice happens to be Foul Play Books located right here in the Buckeye State! Westerville, Ohio, to be precise. I've been fortunate enough to visit Foul Play myself several times. They are a renovated Victorian home and it's a very fun store.

Many thanks to Craig, as well as to this photo's photographer, Leslie Miller. And we'll be back tomorrow to catch another crime reader. See you then! Happy Reading!

**please note: you can order online from Foul Play Books, but for whatever reason, when I added the direct links, they didn't work properly, so I included book links to Mystery Lovers Bookshop. But Foul Play does have online search and order. PLUS, you receive free shipping with any order over $50.

The Anthony Award Nominees

Today the 2011 Anthony Award Nominees were officially released, and they are:

Best Novel

Bury Your Dead - Louise Penny - Minotaur Books

I'd Know You Anywhere - Laura Lippman - William Morrow

Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter - Tom Franklin – William Morrow

The Lock Artist - Steve Hamilton - Minotaur

Faithful Place - Tana French - Viking

Best First Novel

Rogue Island- Bruce DeSilva - Forge Books

The Poacher's Son - Paul Doiron - Minotaur Books

Snow Angels - James Thompson - Putnam

Damage Done - Hilary Davidson - Forge Books

The Sherlockian - Graham Moore - Twelve

Best Paperback Original

The Hanging Tree - Brian Gruley – Touchstone (Simon and Schuster)

Expiration Date - Duane Swierczynski - Minotaur Books

Drive Time - Hank Phillipi Ryan - Mira

Long Time Coming - Robert Goddard - Bantam

Vienna Secrets - Frank Tallis - Random House

Best Short Story

"The Frame Maker" - Simon Wood - The Back Alley

"Homeless" - Pat Morin - Mystery Montage

"Scent of Lilacs" - Doug Allyn – Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine  Sept/Oct 2010

"Swing Shift" - Dana Cameron - Crimes By Moonlight

"The Hitter" - Chris Holm – Needle

"So Much in Common" - Mary Jane Maffini - EQMM Sept/Oct. 2010

Best Graphic Novel

Sickness in the Family - Denise Mina – Vertigo Crime

Beasts of Burden – Jill Thompson/Evan Dorkin – Dark Horse

Richard Stark's Parker, Vol. 2: The Outfit –Darwyn Cooke  - IDW Press

The Chill - Jason Starr – Vertigo Crime

Scalped Vol 6 - The Gnawing - Jason Aaron – Vertigo

Tumor -  Joshua Hale Fialkov/ Noel Tuazon - ARCHAIA STUDIOS PRESS

Best Critical /Non-Fiction (tie for 5th)

Agatha Christie's Secret Notebooks - John Curran – Harper Collins

Thrillers: 100 Must Reads - David Morrell - Oceanview

Sherlock Holmes for Dummies - Steve Doyle - For Dummies

The Wire: Truth Be Told - Rafael Alvarez - Grove Press

Charlie Chan: The Untold Story of the Honorable Detective and His Rendezvous with American History - Yunte Huang - W. W. Norton & Company

Best Website/Blog

Jen's Book Thoughts - Jen Forbus

Stop. You're Killing Me - Surber/Ulrich

Rap Sheet, The - J. Kingston Pierce

Sirens of Suspense - Chantelle Aimée Osman

Spinetingler - Sandra Ruttan

 

For those of you who might have heard that bone-chilling scream earlier today. Yes, that would have been me. Thank you so much to everyone who included the blog on their nomination form. You have truly touched my heart...and put one huge, goofy smile on my face. Thank you all! Thank you for coming and indulging my obsession with crime fiction. Thank you for being my friends. I am honored!

O.k., I'll stop gushing. Anyone who attends Bouchercon in St. Louis this September will be eligible to vote on the Anthony Awards. Of course that's far from the only reason to attend. It's going to be a blow-out bash. So, if you haven't already registered, do that soon. Just jump in and make the commitment. You won't regret it! 

And I'll get back to the Crime Readers Caught Reading Crime...at an Indie Bookstore tomorrow. Check back! Happy Reading.

Social Media - What's It Good For?

Recently I got into a little snit regarding social media. I really enjoy social media. I enjoy the connections it allows me to make with people all over the world who share common interests. I've made some incredible friends through social media. I've had great opportunities arise for me through social media. I do not like, however, when people use social media for the wrong reasons. For the most part, I just unfollow, block, ignore those people who do so. But recently there have been some authors misusing social media and they are people I know personally and like. While some should know better than to behave the way they do, I realize that not everyone knows better.

So, this all led me to ask people to chime in on their feelings about social media. I teach a beginning social media class in my regular daytime job. So, I'll share some items with you that I teach our retailers and I'll share what others had to say about social media from their perspectives.

If this post helps one person to understand social media a little better then it will be worth it.

The most important thing to know about social media is that it is about BEING SOCIAL. It's about having conversations and exchanges. It is not a big billboard. The number one pet peeve of almost EVERY person who responded: excessive blatant self-promotion.

M.J. Rose wrote a nice post about authors using social media the other day that I felt was well done, but she compared social media to walking around in front of a bookstore with a sandwich board on. If that's the way you treat social media, don't waste your time. That's not the way social media should be viewed.

Whether you think you're doing social media right or not, I want EVERYONE to look at the last 20 posts they made to Twitter or Facebook or whatever forum you're using (FB fan pages withstanding). How many were about you - your book? your business? whatever. More than 2? Then you've posted too many about yourself. It doesn't matter if your book just came out, you're having a big sale, whatever. You've posted too many.

If you're using Twitter, how many tweets are a response to someone else? A retweet of something that did not promote you? If you aren't seeing many of those, you should be.

On Facebook, how many posts from your friends have you commented on or liked? How many have you shared? This goes for fan pages, too. If someone posts to your fan page wall, are you responding to them?

That's where the exchange takes place in social media. If you go to the bar at Bouchercon and someone starts talking to you non-stop about their book...they don't let you say a thing or if they do, they ignore you and keep talking as though you are not even there...how long do you hang out with that person? Social media is no different.

And automatically sending a person a direct message with a link to your book or webpage or blog or whatever you're selling immediately after friending or following or liking the person? Second biggest no-no from responders. "Hi, I don't know you but please buy my (fill in the blank)."

When I asked what people felt others should definitely do either on Facebook or Twitter, the answers were the same - ENGAGE, INTERACT, RESPOND. And by the way, you can't do that with automated posts!

Another question that arises at this point is "what about Twitter accounts and fan pages that are managed by someone other than the person whose name is on the account?" Overwhelmingly, people want to know that it isn't the person him/herself. People feel betrayed if they learn they haven't been interacting with the person they thought they were interacting with.

Then I asked, how are people using Facebook and Twitter well? Social media users like picture sharing. They like being asked their opinions and for input. They enjoy short Q&As, videos or hashtag discussions. People like giveaways in moderation. But again, the most common response was, "I like when people interact." A few authors have collected questions via social media and made videos where they answered the questions. This is a great use of social media!

Social media can be an effective marketing tool if it's used the right way. It's not the marketing tool of yesteryear. It isn't a billboard or a magazine ad or a commercial. The objective of social media is to build the relationships, to develop trust. When someone is invested in you through a relationship they want to see you do well.

I saw an author comment the other day on her Twitter feed about her "No Soliciting" sign on her front door. Just pretend every person on Facebook and Twitter has a "No Soliciting" sign. If you're their friend, they'll let you in their house. They're likely to buy girl scout cookies from your daughter or raffle tickets for your child's sporting team because it's a rare occasion-type thing and they want to support you; they may even sell to others for you. But if you are only coming to their door to sell to them, they'll either not answer the door or quickly kick you out.

When I asked if people had ever picked up a book because they learned about an author through a social media network almost all of the 40+ respondents said yes. Only about half said they bought a book because of hearing about it through a social network. But, if you're at least getting followers to try out your book by borrowing it from a friend or checking it out of the library, you have a good chance of gaining a fan.

Almost every one of the 40+ respondents also said they opted NOT to buy a book because of an author's presence on Facebook or Twitter. Simply being present isn't beneficial. You need to be present for the right reasons and you need to interact.

Think about it. What's the number one way people find out about new books? They hear about them from someone they trust - not from the solicitor at their front door, the telemarketer on their phone or the used car salesman...someone they trust.

Social media is not for everyone. And that's fine. No one should be there only because they "have to be there." No one wants those people around and it isn't helping them.

A vast majority of people who use social media, don't like all forms of social media. Some like Twitter and find Facebook useless. Others like Facebook and find Twitter useless. That's okay! Participate with what you enjoy. If you don't like what you're doing on social media, it shows; it really does.

This is my one caveat to the statement social media is not for everyone: actually give it a genuine try before you decide that. I'm a social klutz. I'm an introvert and I'm shy, but I enjoy social media. I also had to learn it.

This is a ridiculously long post, so I'll wrap up with some folks that the respondents feel do social media well. I can't list everyone, so I'm listing those people who showed up multiple times (I'm not familiar with all, but many):

• Alafair Burke
• Andy Gross
• Bill Cameron
• Jeff Abbott
• Beth Hoffman
• Tawna Fenske
• Joe Finder
• Harlan Coben
• Hilary Davidson
• Brad Parks
• Steve Mosby
• Duane Swierczynski
• Sophie Littlefield
• Laura Lippman
• Christa Faust
• Ian Rankin
• Gregg Hurwitz

And I'll chime in and add Jonathan Hayes to the mix. When I asked for non-author people using social media well, I got such a slew of various responses. So, my suggestion, if you want some people to watch for ideas, ask someone you know and trust who uses social media. I'm sure they'll offer you up quite a nice selection.


One final item before I call it quits on this post. This is for anyone using social media. Follow people because you're interested in what they have to share; because you're interested in them. With Twitter, don't expect them to automatically follow you back and DON'T unfollow and refollow to try to get their attention. You'll get the opposite reaction. Your best plan of attack - INTERACT!!

On that same note, don't pass along information with the belief that anyone has to "return the favor." Pass along information because you think it's worthy to be passed along and you want other people to know about it. Be authentic, interact and have fun.

I know this is a long post. And if you stuck with me, many, many thanks. I also know there are other related questions and topics that can be addressed. I'd be happy to discuss them in the comments if anyone wants to share. As always, I just ask that you be respectful of each other when commenting.

Thanks to everyone who shared their thoughts and opinions! Happy Reading.

Lutz & Hayward - Crime Readers Caught Reading Crime...

...at an indie bookstore.

Today's readers caught in the act are Lisa Lutz and David Hayward. I met Lisa last year, but had the chance to meet David in February. They are both incredibly fun, extremely witty, and very talented. Together they managed to write HEADS YOU LOSE.

Here we caught them at Uncle Edgars Bookstore in Minneapolis getting frisky with Sophie Kelly's newest, CURIOSITY THRILLED THE CAT.

Hopefully Uncle Edgars survived the duo's visit. Many thanks to Lisa and David. I'm looking forward to seeing them both again at Bouchercon.

Happy Reading!

FALL FROM GRACE - Wayne Arthurson

First line: "'Do you want to see the body?'"

Leo Desroches is a gambling addict. He's lost his family, jobs, his home. With the help of a friend Leo gave his start to in the newspaper business, Leo gets a second change. Now he's working at an Edmonton newspaper and he catches a lucky break. A police detective gives Leo an inside scoop on a murder investigation because he happened to be the first on the scene. His lucky break turns into a huge opportunity for him, as well as a challenge he never saw coming.

FALL FROM GRACE is quite different from any investigative journalist mystery I've read before. The book has a very dark, somber tone, which is not unusual, but the protagonist is flawed in ways that may not be redeemable. There are several loose ends that Arthurson is obviously going to pick up in subsequent books in the series, so I'm very curious to see where he takes Desroches.

One of the most fascinating themes of the novel revolves around the idea of identity. Desroches is the son of a Cree mother and French-Canadian father. His physical appearance hides his native ancestry, and Desroches has made no effort to expose it. When he's chosen to be a liaison between the newspaper and the native council, he has to face this identity.

His heritage is not the only element of his identity Desroches denies. He's a gambling addict and while he hasn't set foot in a casino, he also hasn't dealt with the addiction. He's robbing banks to get his fix instead. You just have to chuckle at a character who says, "I robbed my first bank by mistake."

The plot of FALL FROM GRACE is well constructed, with strong twists that keep the reader on his/her toes. The social issues that help compose the plot are substantive and intriguing, especially for a non-Canadian. Arthurson could have scaled back the use of industry jargon, as he then seemed to be explaining a lot that muddied up the flow of the narrative.

FALL FROM GRACE is an intriguing debut. I'll be watching for the return of Leo Desroches to see just where Arthurson takes him next.

FALL FROM GRACE is available in hardcover from Forge Books (ISBN: 978-0-7653-2417-7).

Michael Wiley - Crime Readers Caught Reading Crime...

...in an indie bookstore. We're off to a great start with this feature and today Michael Wiley, author of the Joe Kozmarski series, helps us keep the book love going. This time at Chamblin Bookmine. I love the name of this store! If you ever wonder why I completely adore Michael Wiley, you pretty much just have to read what he says about his book choice and store choice:

"I’m re-reading Keith Thomson’s Once a Spy at Chamblin Bookmine, Uptown, in Jacksonville, Florida. Why am I not reading Thomson’s new book, Twice a Spy? Because the moment I bought it, my wife disappeared with it and I haven’t seen it since. So, until she forks over Twice a Spy, I’m making do with the thrilling ride of the first book, which, I’ve been promised, becomes only more thrilling in the second. And why Chamblin Bookmine? Because it’s one of the best independent bookstores I’ve visited. Ever. They carry mostly used books – displaying over 55,000 square feet of them and warehousing about an equal number. In all, they have more than 2,000,000 books. Ron Chamblin and his staff seem to know the titles of most them, and they’re friendly and generous with their time and knowledge. Besides, Chamblin is a good place to hide since my wife keeps disappearing with my own books."

And while Michael fights his wife for TWICE A SPY, I'm patiently waiting for Michael's third Joe Kozmarski novel, A BAD NIGHT'S SLEEP, which will be out next month!