CrimeSpace

I. J. Parker
  • Female
  • United States
Share 

I. J. Parker's Friends

 

I. J. Parker's Page

Latest Activity

I use violence sparingly, and only when it's called for. Besides, the setting of my books removes it somewhat from current events. My feeling is that crime novels must not shirk violence and the outcomes of violence when these are required by the...
5 hours ago
My taxes are considerably higher than that, since I'm self-employed. I put almost 40 % toward taxes.
yesterday
Couldn't agree more. On the other hand, the guys who have clout make their own deals, and the rest of us have competition from the thousands who'd like to be published at any cost.
yesterday
Harlequin has gone back on this. They will vanity-publish the Horizon imprint, but this will not use the Harlequin name. RWA, MWA, and the SF writers all have expressed their outrage.
yesterday
Right!
yesterday
Okay, I read this, and it's an insane way to do business. Somewhere at the tailend is a loss (a loss which, no doubt, is bigger than the original cost of the books), and that loss has to be covered by another oversale. It's time the publishers sta...
yesterday
Thanks. This is interesting. A number of observations: what plays into this depressing accounting is the fact that mmpbs make the author only an insignificant amount per book sold. Also, returns are always shockingly large numbers on royalty state...
on Friday
I just tossed a bestseller. It was a British police procedural, too, and I normally love those. In this case: the book was fat. There were large numbers of characters doing a lot of chitchat at the start, and I had no earthly idea which of them wo...
on Friday

Profile Information

About Me:
I write historical mystery novels and stories, and mainstream historical novels.
To amplify: Four novels in the Akitada mystery series and some eleven short stories on the same subject are in publication. The novels have been published by St. Martin's Press and Penguin and translated into a number of foreign languages. All the stories have appeared in AHMM.
The fifth novel in the series is due to be released September 28.
The Akitada novels take place against the background of eleventh century Japan. Their protagonist is a minor official in the imperial government who gets drawn into criminal cases either because of his official duties or because he has a personal interest in a case of injustice. One of the short stories won a Shamus award. Check out the web page for more detail.
I also recently finished a novel involving the Heike Wars and am currently working on a thriller set in eighteenth century Germany.
I Am A:
Reader, Writer
Website:
http://www.ijparker.com
Books And Authors I Like:
I like British police procedurals, as well as some of the Scandinavian ones. I also like Hillerman and some books by a number of other authors. Of the new ones, I like Olen Steinhauer and Kevin Wignall and Stuart MacBride. I'm afraid this is only a sampling.
Movies And TV Shows I Like:
Mostly I dislike them. I'm watching reruns of MASH and THE SOPRANOS at the moment.



I. J. Parker's Blog

I. J. Parker

Belatedly and pointlessly, another review:

I just found this via Google. No idea where it's been hiding. I also found out that my book was one of the 10 bestselling tradepaper mysteries at Poisoned Pen in August.

Book Review

BookList
From BookList, , 2009, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.



The sixth Sugawara Akitada novel, set in eleventh-century Japan, finds the Ministry of Justice official leaving his job to hunt down the murderer of an old friend. But his only clue is the victim's sword. Although the… Continue

Posted on November 18, 2009 at 5:58am — 6 Comments

I. J. Parker

The End

Presumably typing "The End" for a new novel spells exhilaration for authors. Frankly, it's never done this for me (just as I've never thrilled to holding one of my books). Invariably, there are so many things left to do before the book goes in the mail. In my case, there a few loose ends to check, a historical note to write, a neat quote to find, a map to draw. None of these pleases me. They are chores. So I'm depressed.
I'm even more depressed by the thought that this book may never see life. I… Continue

Posted on October 31, 2009 at 12:13am — 7 Comments

I. J. Parker

Covers




Covers are part of the publisher’s sales pitch. Authors are not generally involved in the selection process. That can be both frustrating and infuriating. I happen to be one of those people who cringe at ugliness and mistakes.

Mystery novels are rarely blessed with handsome covers. From what I’ve seen and read, the cover “artist” goes to a large universal photography file, selects a likely scene (usually dark and foggy) and co… Continue

Posted on October 11, 2009 at 2:22am — 7 Comments

I. J. Parker

I meant to post a blog but . . .

I see that most of you have no problems posting photos and book covers on your blog post. I, on the other hand, don't seem to be able to transfer a cover image from my files (jpeg) to the blog. And nowhere in "Help" is this problem addressed. Neither does the "Upload Photo" method explain why there is an "error" with my image and what to do about it.

Any suggestions?

(And sorry to blog about it, but I didn't know what other route to take)

Posted on October 8, 2009 at 4:54am — 15 Comments

I. J. Parker

Akitada Investigates a Historical Murder: "The Kamo Horse."

I get some of my plot ideas from Japanese history and literature. In this case, one of the old chronicles supplied a tale that ended up as a short story.

The TALES OF THE HEIKE is a prose epic that commemorates the bloody battles between Taira Kiyomori and Minamoto Yoritomo which ended the imperial rule and brought in feudal Japan under the rule of a shogun and warlords. The epic contains a number of memorable anecdotal stories, among them that of the murder of the beautiful Lady Kesa. How much… Continue

Posted on October 3, 2009 at 4:00am —

Comment Wall (84 comments)

You need to be a member of CrimeSpace to add comments!

Join this social network

At 9:08am on November 3, 2009, B.R.Stateham said…
Just wondering, I.J. Have you approached Bitter Limon Press? An English publishing firm that sounds to me would be a perfect fit for your Akitada series.
At 7:55am on October 4, 2009, I. J. Parker said…
Oh thanks, Donna. I had to think a moment how that started. Some reader review did object to the violence. :) But I've always liked a bit of violence in a crime novel and women can be so effective playing those parts.
At 7:37am on October 4, 2009, Donna Carrick said…
I.J.I've just read Chapter 1 of The Hell Screen-- What artistry! Fabulous opening!
At 3:11am on July 21, 2009, Toni Osborne said…
Good morning

Just dropping to let you know that I read " Black Arrow" and enjoyed it quite a lot. In August we expect "The Convict's Sword" be release here in Canada, it is definitely on my wish list. This is quite an entertaining series and I plan to add more of your novels on my bookshelf.

Thank you for this wonderful series
At 10:17am on June 30, 2009, Leighton Gage said…
Hi L. J.

See what happens when old eyes get together with quick fingers on a keyboard. Martial of course. Although in some Brazilian families...
At 11:30am on June 3, 2009, JackBludis said…
I loved that crazy Texas barbecue place. Scared ... Mmmmm, don't remember the reason for it unless it was the bus ride across the desert. You contribute nicely to the forums.
At 5:24am on June 3, 2009, JackBludis said…
I liked your comment on Writers/Readers.

It's nice to see there are pubs out there doing the job or at least trying to do it.
At 1:24am on May 17, 2009, I. J. Parker said…
Hi, Lynette. See my answer on your page.
At 7:50am on May 16, 2009, Lynette Hall Hampton said…
Hi Ingrid, haven't visited these pages for a long time. Taking the afternoon off to play on the computer. Still miss you at Mystery Writers Forum. Place is awfuly slow now, but still some old members around. Hope everything is going well with you and your writing. Best.
At 8:15am on April 10, 2009, Thomas Grant Bruso said…
Is it not possible for us to be friends?
 
 

About

Daniel Hatadi Daniel Hatadi created this social network on Ning.

Create your own social network!

 

© 2009   Created by Daniel Hatadi on Ning.   Create Your Own Social Network

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Privacy  |  Terms of Service

Sign in to chat!