What I Love About Crimespace

[Peg Herring]

I would admit that it's not helping me sell books. I admit that I spend more time than I should posting 5 days/week and responding to others. And I'll admit that we hammer at the same old questions over and over: Should I...? Can I...? Why do they...? And so on.

What I love about it is the half-ghoulish, half-frantic picking of each other's brains, trying to find out if we're normal writers, whatever that may be. Here we compare experiences, observe and comment on the oddities of the business, and celebrate with each other when good things happen.

I'm on several other sites: chat groups like DorothyL, publicity ops like Author Central, but Crimespace is where the mystery writers are, where we bemoan and dissect, satirize and vaunt. (How are those for author words?) It's almost like going to a mystery writers' convention, only I can stay in my robe and slippers. People here really understand the angst and effort it takes to create a story a person can be proud to publish, whether the literary giants recognize mystery as an art or not.

So thanks, Daniel, for creating the spot where I start my day. And thanks to those who open their minds and let the rest of us pick at them. I love it...and where else would I have learned about the new conservative-friendly Bible? I really need to get that on my Christmas list before the Fox News people get them all.

[Dana King]

"It's almost like going to a mystery writers' convention, only I can stay in my robe and slippers."

I just got back from Bouchercon. Robe and slippers would have been fine.

I second (third? Fourth?) the above opinions. Thank you, Daniel. This site has been a pleasure and invaluable service to me.

[I. J. Parker]

The language of love? You mean that's how they communicate with each other on romance sites? And apparently that verges on the pornographic? Well, erotic (a cop-out). I bet they get lots of traffic but it must be pretty wearing on the posters.
Come to think of it, this is a really bizarre concept: a communal electronic love-in.

[Donna Carrick]

I can't add anything. You all know my opinion -- Daniel was just brilliant when he came up with this site, and I'm truly grateful. Met so many talented and spirited writers of the genre here -- sounds strange, but I always feel at home here.

you hit it on the head, Peg.

[Jon Loomis]

The language of love, IJ. Sheesh.

[Pepper Smith]

It's all about sex. Even when it's not. And especially when half of them write erotica.

[I. J. Parker]

What language do romance writers speak?

[B.R.Stateham]

Pepper--I agree. It's a good place to have a conversation with someone you know has been down--or is going down--that same literary road you are.

[Peg Herring]

I believe I know EXACTLY what you mean, Pepper!

[Pepper Smith]

My first couple of years online were spent with the other authors of my first publisher, who were primarily romance writers. You can't believe the difference it made to find a place like this, where people spoke a language I actually understood.

[I. J. Parker]

Who says that, Jon?

I quite agree about the site, though. And it is, in a way, like Bouchercon when you let yourself enjoy it for the people you meet.