B.R.Stateham's Blog

Theme music for my Turner/Frank movie (someday!)

Okay . . . let's make a confession here. My two homicide detective characters, Turner Hahn and Frank Morales, ought to be in the movies. Of course I am going to say this; I created the two bastards! Why wouldn't I say it?

But what would theme music sound like? Ah . . . . that's the question. And I have the answer. There's a song out there by a group called Deep Dish called Flashdance. If you find the Haxton W***es Remix version of it, I'm here to tell you it is a kick-ass… Continue

Added by B.R.Stateham on April 20, 2009 at 4:00am — No Comments

Want to hear something funny?

Just got off Rankforest.com, a web site that tracks books using Amazon and Barnes&Noble numbers, and I had to laugh my head off. I've got two books I'm tracking, and frankly, they're not doing too well. But out of a sales rank where your book is ranked bascially from 9,999,999 down to 1, my books are at the 600,000 range. At least they have rankings.

But get this, a book with the title something like I Hope There's Beer In Heaven, is raked at 127. 127!!?… Continue

Added by B.R.Stateham on March 30, 2009 at 12:00am — 2 Comments

Barnes and Noble execs get a pay freeze. Geez! What's Next?

Publishers Markeplace, in their Automat section, has a report that B&N execs. are having their pay frozen until Jan. 2010. Ouch! That'll hurt the discritionary spending budgets. Who knows? Some of'em might have to refuse paying the dues to one of their private clubs.

And if you read the article, check out how much the Top Dog makes--and he's also allowed to make 150% over his base salary. Still.

Conversely, PM talks about how Random House and Simon&Schuster are… Continue

Added by B.R.Stateham on March 27, 2009 at 2:08am — No Comments

In the last year, the best living detective writer.

This has been hammered out in some ways, but here's the question with the twist:

In the last year, the best writer of crime fiction you've read is? What did this writer bring to the table that made him/her so good?

Rate the writer: Five stars max. Five being, "Just goddamn the greastest writer since Print was invented!"

down to one star, which is' "Throw the frick'en book in the trash bin and start a big bonfire!"

I want to increase my library. I… Continue

Added by B.R.Stateham on March 20, 2009 at 7:30am — 3 Comments

Barnes&Nobles profits tank

I saw in Publishers Marketplace a story reporting B&N suffering thru a 7% decline in 4th quarter profits. And they're expect something a little less than 7% further loss in the immediate future. Yet they are still going to open between 10 and 15 new stores.

I don't know, but it seems to me there is something bascially wrong with this business model. The only way for growth is to constantly open stores--while at the same time, closing stores. Is this the only way to make money?… Continue

Added by B.R.Stateham on March 20, 2009 at 2:32am — 2 Comments

Who did you mimic?

There are some pundits who suggest a new writer first mimics, or outright copies, the styles of their favorite authors. Okay, that sounds like a plausible explanation in how to acquire your own style. So who was your favorite authors? And how closely did you begin your writing career in copying them?

Or did you?

Added by B.R.Stateham on March 19, 2009 at 4:51am — 7 Comments

So what's the average number of books sold?

Publishers Marketplace had an interesting article about the average number of books sold by most POD publsihers like AuthorHouse or Iuniverse. The number is around 200 or less--with most of these being books bought by friends, relatives, etc. Okay. I buy that. No arguements here.

But what's the average number of books bought by readers from a standard 'traditional' publisher? I know a lot of traditional paperback houses print roughly 2000 to 2,500 for a first printing run. But do the… Continue

Added by B.R.Stateham on March 18, 2009 at 5:40am — 9 Comments

Gag me with a spoon!

I get up this morning, fix breakfast, sit down with it and open the newspaper up to read. And I immediately throw the paper away and dump the breakfast in the trash in disgust.

The first story I read is a about a college student, about to graduate as an elementary teacher, getting a publishing contract from a major publisher. Her first time trying to write something and she gets a contract!

What really pissed me off was she wasn't trying to get published! Her professor… Continue

Added by B.R.Stateham on March 7, 2009 at 8:21am — 12 Comments

The First Page Hook

We all write novels. We all want to 'hook' the reader. The question is; how soon do we hook'em? Do you go out of your way to write that first page, maybe that first paragraph, to compel the reader to dive deeper in your book? Or do you progressively open up your story and hope the reader follows along?

How important is the first page? The first chapter? And should we rely on a 'hook?'

Added by B.R.Stateham on March 5, 2009 at 1:23am — 5 Comments

How do you work a meet-the-author book-siging gig

I had a book-siging gig on Friday night at a large Barnes&Noble bookstore. Had a table right at the front door of the place, people coming and going. I literately had to rope'em with a lasso and drag them over to the table to talk to them.

Sold a few books, but not nearly the amount I wanted to. So I was wondering if anyone in here had tips on how to get the crowd to mosey over to your table and strike up a conversation.
'

Added by B.R.Stateham on March 2, 2009 at 11:17pm — 2 Comments

Why the animosity toward POD authors?

Recently I thought about sending a novel to a well-known but small publisher. But I forgot to read the entire submissions demands. Much to my surprise I was informed in no uncertain times I could not submit if I had ever been published by a POD publisher.

So the question is this: Why this vehement animosity toward POD authors?

Added by B.R.Stateham on February 27, 2009 at 3:45am — 21 Comments

Finding the numbers in book sales.

I have two books out. Out since September. So, being the typical impatient Alpha-male that I am, I want to know how well they are selling. I found two sites, TitleZ.com and Rankforest.com, which track book sales. Neither have numbers for me.

So I was wondering, anyone else know of a site that might be tracking books? A site that doesn't cost an arm and a leg to be in?

Added by B.R.Stateham on February 26, 2009 at 3:25am — 3 Comments

Lit agent, Binky Urban

If anyone reads Publishers MarketPlace, in the automat section, there is an interesting reprint of an interview with Binky Urban, a high-octane (and some say the best lit. agent out there) with ICM.

She has some interesting points to consider, like;

1. She thinks authors are going to get smaller advances for their books. Advances more closely

in line with what the books will sell.

2. She think's Amazon's undercutting of book prices, especially in the ebook… Continue

Added by B.R.Stateham on February 25, 2009 at 4:46am — 16 Comments

So how do you write?

An idea for a novel plops into your brain matter suddenly and unexpectedly. How do you begin? Is the idea a complete novel--or just an intriguing 'scene' that needs to be fleshed out? Is it an opening scene? A comment said?

So you begin writing--do you outline the entire book first? Or do you just plow into the first chapter and build from that? Do you edit each page as you finish or do you keep on writing? Someone once said Hemingway did one page a day. When someone asked him why it… Continue

Added by B.R.Stateham on February 23, 2009 at 10:59pm — 17 Comments

How major newspaper reviews help/hurt book sales

I'm reading this novel which is more spy than mystery novel--and I chose to read it because of what the back cover filled with reviews from major newspapers and mags said. The praised it to high heavens, claiming the book was every accolade one can imagine.

It sucks. Hard to read. Hard to follow--frankly you need to have PhD. in psychology trying to figure out all the illusionary traps the writer is filling the pages with. But this was supposed to be a Great Book! A Modern Day Kafka!… Continue

Added by B.R.Stateham on February 22, 2009 at 11:41am — 12 Comments

Let's make a few assumptions...and guess the rest.

Let's make a few assumptions:

1. The publishing industry is radically shedding old habits and structuring itself in a different

set of new clothes.

2. Fiction as we know it, will not be produced by big-name publishing houses. Smaller 'specialty'

publishers are going to pick up the pieces and carry on.

3. Ebooks and other electronic media is going to eventually become equal to, or superior than,

the current print medium in relation to making a… Continue

Added by B.R.Stateham on February 20, 2009 at 7:55am — 34 Comments

To what degree of culpability do lit agents have in today's publishing quagmire?

How much involvement do lit agents have in the publishing crisis we face today? Are there any ways to curb a agent's desire to carve out the most lucrative contract he can get for his client? Should he (or she) be limited in this hunt? Why do publishing houses acquiesce in these apparent exorbitant demands agents demand?

Comments?

Added by B.R.Stateham on February 19, 2009 at 6:30am — 2 Comments

In your opinion . . .

In your opinion, list the authors who have lifted the genre called mystery/detective up into the rarified air called 'Art.'

Most of us, I think, would put Raymond Chandler up there. But who else? And why? And while you're at it, explain why Chandler is so deified and somone like Ed McBain isn't.

Added by B.R.Stateham on February 18, 2009 at 12:53am — 20 Comments

Simple question; who was tougher?

Okay, boys and girls. Here's a simple question: Who was tougher back in the old days , Sam Spade or Phillip Marlowe?

Who's the toughest P.I. in today's genre? And would you include Mike Hammer to be in today's choices?

Inquiring minds want to know.

Added by B.R.Stateham on February 16, 2009 at 12:00pm — 7 Comments

Terrible tv theme music

Remember the theme music (for all of you old enough to remember the series ) of Peter Gunn? How about Magnum, P.I.? Anyone remember T.H.E. Cat series?

Now take the theme song for the current NCIS series. Without a doubt the worst theme music ever! If the idea that the theme music help's make a series a success. . . then you have to say NCIS is an outstanding success to overcome the theme music it claims as its own!

But what to replace it with? Any suggestions? (Remember,… Continue

Added by B.R.Stateham on February 14, 2009 at 1:36pm — 2 Comments

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