Mark Stevens's Blog – July 2007 Archive (7)

Another Five-Star Review Out of Nowhere

I am beginning to realize that your book has a life of its own.

You never know where it will wind up or who will be reading it -- or

exactly what prompted them to read it. I had never heard of

armchairinterviews.com but of course, now I love the site. This review

was posted on Amazon this week (below). In a word, thanks!









What a WOW of a first novel!, July…
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Added by Mark Stevens on July 26, 2007 at 10:50pm — No Comments

Harry Potter & The Busy Hollows of Sales

Some

people said it would be a mistake to schedule a book signing on

Saturday, July 21 in the wake of an aircraft carrier known as "Harry

Potter." I was in

Macdonald Book Shop in Estes Park, Colorado. This bookstore is

79-years-old. It's tidy, cozy and very well kept. The books

shine.

Just walking in makes you want to read. The staff could not have been

more friendly. Conservatively, I would say 50 percent of the customers

asked if there were any… Continue

Added by Mark Stevens on July 23, 2007 at 10:35am — No Comments

Series-ous Issue

I just finished reading a best-seller that has received terrific

reviews all over the place, "Stalin's Ghost" by Martin Cruz Smith. The

writing is dry, taut and the plot is fairly compelling. I didn't

absolutely love it but I must say there are some passages of dialogue

that are achingly good, especially between Renko and his girlfriend. I

haven't read every Renko book but one of my big problems was not being

able to "catch up" with Renko's world. Smith, I would… Continue

Added by Mark Stevens on July 16, 2007 at 12:37am — 1 Comment

Bad Words

On Sunday last week I sold 20 books during two hours at a Barnes

& Noble. Well, actually, I sold 17 and the store had me sign

the remaining 3. One of the 17 buyers e-mailed me yesterday,

wanting to return the book because of all the f*cks and sh&ts and

even the "Good Christs." Of course, she repeated all those words

in her e-mail several times. She wanted my home address so she could

ship it back. Of course, I thought, a murder mystery set amid

hunters… Continue

Added by Mark Stevens on July 11, 2007 at 11:25am — 3 Comments

Awesome Review

Wow. Yesterday while I was on a hike in the mountains, the

following review was posted on the Amazon page for "Antler Dust."





Here it is:



Economy of language, July 1, 2007




By…
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Added by Mark Stevens on July 3, 2007 at 2:22am — No Comments

John Dunning - Funniest Dark Scene Ever

I'm listening to John Dunning's "The Bookwoman's Last Fling" on CD.

Amazing narrator, great story...and main character, Cliff Janeway.

There's a scene in this book that I would like to nominate as one of

the darkest and funniest and most real scenes I've ever "read."

It's the scene when Cliff is stuffed in a car trunk. I know,

somewhat routine idea but the execution here is over the top, the way

he wakes up and starts to try to put the pieces together of where he… Continue

Added by Mark Stevens on July 1, 2007 at 5:59am — No Comments

Darkness - Patricia Highsmith

I'm in the middle of a wonderful biography of Patricia Highsmith,

"Beautiful Shadow" by Andrew Wilson. I have always liked the darkness

in Highsmith's writings. My favorite titles are "The Story Teller,"

"This Sweet Sickness," the Ripley books, and "Strangers on a

Train." There are many more interesting novels in her collection,

too. What really strikes me about her writing is how much of it is

based on a very dark interior life. Anybody who reads it will… Continue

Added by Mark Stevens on July 1, 2007 at 1:01am — 4 Comments

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