July 2009 Blog Posts (185)

Israelis riot, thanks be to God

Orthodox Jews face off against secularists in the Holy Land — a sign that all is well. By Matt Beynon Rees - GlobalPost

JERUSALEM — Ultra-orthodox Jews have been rioting the last few weeks against a parking lot the municipality wants to leave open during the Jewish Sabbath, leading to dozens of arrests and quite a few moderate to… Continue

Added by Matt Rees on July 4, 2009 at 5:27pm — No Comments

I.J.'s Sugawara Akitada rocks!

Speaking of historical detectives--you should read I.J. Parker's 'Island of Exiles.' I've just written a review for it on Amazon and, really, it's a damn good book. If you're a history buff you have to love feudal Japan in the Tenth or Eleventh Century!

Haven't read your newest yet, I.J. But I will . . . .

Added by B.R.Stateham on July 4, 2009 at 1:34pm — 2 Comments

WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM VENTRILOQUISTS?

The one I'm watching right now has a dummy with movable eyes and eyebrows. His lower jaw also moves, of course, but that's to show speech. The eyes move from side to side, and although they don't change in size, they look bigger when the eyebrows are moved upward. The eyebrows can go up to show surprise or can go down to form a V on the dummy's forehead for a frown. The head may also be moved in a bobbing movement just a little and often from side to side.

Look at how the… Continue

Added by Jan Christensen on July 4, 2009 at 1:00pm — No Comments

Lindsey Davis' newest Marcus Didius Falco novel

Don't know if anyone reads the historical-detective novels of Lindsey Davis. But her newest Marcus Didius Falco outing, called 'Alexandria' is a pretty good tour through the famous library of Alexandria. And the mystery isn't too bad, either.

Falco is an interesting character. He would have fit in well in Chandler's Los Angeles.

Added by B.R.Stateham on July 4, 2009 at 7:58am — 2 Comments

MATING SEASON gets a five-star review on Amazon!

Thanks, B.R.

Added by Jon Loomis on July 4, 2009 at 7:07am — 3 Comments

Happy Fourth of July Weekend, Crime Authors

To me, the Fourth is about individuals coming together to assert their rights against a tyrannical government. At least, that's what is was like in the 18th century. Whether that tradition continues today is debatable. It seems lost in the smell of char-grilled meat, bastardizations of Frisbee golf and cheesy, uber-patriotic radio tunes.

But I don't think it's lost… Continue

Added by Benjamin Sobieck on July 4, 2009 at 6:00am — 2 Comments

Publication and reviews

My latest crime novel Dead Man’s Wharf was published in America on 1 July 2009 in hardcover. I'm delighted that it has immediately received an excellent review from Kirkus Book Reviews.

Kirkus Reviews is published 24 times annually, with nearly 5,000 book reviews each year. It is one of the most prestigious names in the publishing industry and is read by publishers,… Continue

Added by Pauline Rowson on July 4, 2009 at 2:24am — 4 Comments

The French are also in Recession

My French publisher has been more supportive than any of my other publishers. Not only did they bring out the series in tpb, but they followed up with mmpb, and had one Book Club edition. Just now, I received news that they want CONVICT'S SWORD, but the advance is more modest than in the past. Explanation: recession.

I'm just grateful that they still have confidence in the books even in a lousy market. And perhaps we should all remember that times are hard and it's just more… Continue

Added by I. J. Parker on July 4, 2009 at 12:49am — No Comments

My Fourth of July

You gotta love the Fourth of July (at least if you're a USAer). My day begins early as I bake pies (two pumpkin, two peanut butter) for the church social. I deliver them around 10:00 and then my husband and I do the once-a-year walk. Our little town is only about six blocks long, and on the Fourth the main street is closed to cars and the sidewalks become jam-packed with people, many of them old friends who've returned for the festivities. We walk all the way down one side of the street and… Continue

Added by Peg Herring on July 3, 2009 at 10:50pm — No Comments

A Sense of Mounting Excitement

The prospect of the paperback release of 'Legacy of the Ripper', the sequel to 'A Study in Red' came a step closer yesterday, when my publisher contacted me to inform me that the files had been sent to the printers, and that all we have to do now is wait, and keep an eye on Amazon on a daily basis as the book will appear as soon as the printers can get it out and on to the Amazon database. I just love the cover that Deron Douglas at Double Dragon Publishing has produced for the book and can't… Continue

Added by Brian L Porter on July 3, 2009 at 8:57pm — 2 Comments

Holiday Signings

This morning I'll sign my novels at Borders in Baltimore Washington International Airport between 8 am and noon.

Tomorrow I'll greet Independence Day shoppers at Borders Express in Wheaton Mall. The mall is at 11160 Viers Mill Road, Wheaton, MD and I'll be signing books there from 11 am to 3 pm.

Added by Austin S. Camacho on July 3, 2009 at 8:55pm — No Comments

Photos of the Jerusalem you don't read about in the newspaper

My friend Ilan Mizrahi has published a wonderful book of his photos about Jerusalem -- not the conventional Jerusalem of suicide bombs and the Dome of the Rock and praying Hassids (though he covers that, too). Ilan, who was born just down the road from where I now live and is as "Jerusalem" as they come, aims to capture a side of the city populated by the poor, the drug abusers, the beggars: the scavengers who make it a real place, one that's more interesting than anything you'd ever imagine… Continue

Added by Matt Rees on July 3, 2009 at 5:28pm — No Comments

Sophie's back!

Another action-packed week. First off, Fan Mail is now available in the US and Canada! Find out more here:

www.pdmartin.com.au/menu.aspx?mID=3&nID=22

This week I also sent the first three chapters (and the only chapters in existence) of a new book to my agent. It’s not crime fiction, and if she likes it she’ll try to find a publisher for it. Fingers crossed!

This week Sophie… Continue

Added by Phillipa Martin (PD Martin) on July 3, 2009 at 3:44pm — No Comments

My favorite McGuffin

I believe it was Hitchcock who coined the term, "McGuffin," which is an item in a thriller or crime that doesn't matter but helps move the story along. My favorite McGuffin was the briefcase in Pulp Fiction. There's been a thousand theories on what was in the case. I always thought it was a 1/2 dozen Royale With Cheese burgers. Anyhow, what is your favorite McGuffin?

Added by Dennis Webster on July 3, 2009 at 10:48am — 2 Comments

Large Print Editions out now!

Large print editions of all my novels are out now, through Brodart's McNaughton press. Season of the Witch, Magician, Dead Birmingham, Medusa and Lady Midnight are available on Amazon, as are the other, standard print versions, (trade paperback) Brodart will be featuring the series in the mystery section of their catalog, from which basically every library in the English-speaking world buys their large print collection. Words quail.

Meanwhile, I slave away on Roland… Continue

Added by Timothy C. Phillips on July 3, 2009 at 9:51am — 5 Comments

Building Trust in the Reader (And How Not To Do It)

(Also posted on One Bite at a Time.)

I’m not a nit-picker when I read. I don’t care if there’s not really a door that opens directly onto Penn Avenue from Heinz Hall. Minor mistakes or changes can be lived with, so long as they don’t mess with historical facts (Germany can’t win the war, unless that’s the premise of the book), the author doesn’t get too specific (if you need a gun to have a safety, don’t specify it’s a… Continue

Added by Dana King on July 3, 2009 at 5:12am — 5 Comments

The Range of Writing

I'm a member of many writer-oriented groups, among them the Guppies, which is Sisters in Crime's subgroup for un-published writers. Quite a few of us stay on after we're published, and it's interesting to be reminded of what that pre-publication angst was comprised of. Of course, mid-list writers have to make sure the next book is good enough to get attention, because that section of writers has no guarantee of continued publication. And I read today that Anne Perry's editor is quite critical… Continue

Added by Peg Herring on July 2, 2009 at 10:29pm — 2 Comments

High Flying Book Signing

Readers who are traveling for the holiday should find the perfect flight read in the airport. Friday morning I’ll be signing my novels at Borders in Baltimore Washington International Airport. If you’re there between 8 am and noon I can sign a book or two for you.

Added by Austin S. Camacho on July 2, 2009 at 9:06pm — No Comments

Gun on the nightstand

When you're writing and you describe a gun sitting on the nightstand. . . does that mean it has to be used? Can we be unpredictable or do readers get upset at this? I do like skirting around the established "rules." After all, how are we to become unique literary creatures if we pale to copy? Then again, I read Naked Lunch I said to myself, "What the F- - - was that?"

Added by Dennis Webster on July 2, 2009 at 5:24am — 7 Comments

The Emperor of Ocean Park by Stephen L. Carter

The Emperor of Ocean Park, by Stephen L. Carter, (2002) is the story of Talcott (Misha) Garland, an African American law professor at an Ivy League college, who is left a cryptic note from his father, Oliver Garland, upon his death, which just might have been a murder. The family has never quite recovered from the scandal that destroyed Judge Garland’s nomination to the…