We'll arrange a gathering. All of us enjoyed your last visit so much. I wish you were coming in August; you could come to our conference!

Hi, Tim. I hope you'll have time for a chat and maybe a bite to eat (or at least a cup of coffee) while you're in Nashville.

I can't wait for the next Poke Rafferty novel.

Yes, that could draw an interesting crowd. But a big crowd, with money to spend.

Congratulations on your two great reviews! I hope you sell a zillion copies.

Thanks for your supportive comment on Fresh Fiction. And congratulations on your book deals. Maybe this will be my year.

The Sex Club title has been fun, but many traditional mystery readers are not so thrilled. But they won't forget me.

Hi Tim
I've seen your posts on DL and thought I'd introduce myself. It's nice to put a face with your name.

Thanks for accepting the invite. I look forward to discussing Bangkok and crime fiction!

I'll look forward to your book. I've been reading a bit of crime fiction set in Asia. Thanks for connecting!

I'm with ya Tim, I'm with ya. I just do not know that I personally LIKE that many songs, but I bet if I really tried I could find at least 2000. :) Still... You are the man.

An IPOD with 5000 songs?? I think I would be in heaven!

Oh, how I wish! We are in the process designing something to build that will eventually cover three walls (similar to the pic...i think...) But, it will be quite a while before it becomes reality! :)

Might not have to disagree too much about Thomas Harris as his last two novels were stinkers. Mankell's Kurt Wallender novels are excellent. Very atmospheric.

Thank you, Tim, I appreciate your sympathy. You already seem like a friend after reading your comments on writing. I look forward to your follow up, and would appreciate any suggestions. I have had what has seemed like an appointment with writing all of my life. And I have always supposed every writer drives toward the meaning of existence, regardless of their approach and style, tragedy, comedy, interior decorating tips, whatever. But I never quite glimpsed the core of reality (and I say glimpsed, who knows or has the hubris to ever think they have penetrated it?) until now. I got your meaning about finishing and that is what I want to accomplish in the time I have before me, several times, in fact. I am walking more clearly defined, though far meaner, streets now than before. Actually, I now know they were always what they were. I just didn't want to see the signs. Sorry for the Chandler theft, but Scorsese did it, too, though far better than I. Again, thank you, friend.

Sure, there are easier writers to translate than Willeford. That's the one I worry most about, these days. (There will soon come another worry.) But it's one of the great crime books that haven't been translated into norwegian yet, so we wanted to do it. I'll admit it's a bit of an experiment, but I think we can pull through. The original will always be better, but still...
Got interested in "A nail through the heart." An interesting setting. I've been to Thailand only once, and for only ten days. Went to Bangkok and to Chiang Mai. Liked it a lot, but I'm not surprised when you say that the people and their culture probably keeps holding something back from you, even after decades of living in Asia.
- "A Nail through the heart" is on my list. I'll pick it up!

Hello again, and thanks for the tip!
The good translators are hard to come by, that's for sure. It's not the english that's lacking for the most part. you can always look up words and discuss meaning in a text. But the norwegian is harder. I'm a writer myself and that helps me a lot when I fill out, or go outside the literate translation. but most of the translators are not writers, they have studied the language, or lived in england or the states. We have to be on the lookout for new ones all the time. - It's always sad when a good book gets flat, and it happens all the time. right now I have a guy translating "miami blues" by willeford, amazingly for the first time into norwegian. I really hope that works out.

your work is, of course, and no doubt about it, even more fascinating. This summer we published John Burdetts bangkok 8. - Your books, are they treating Bangkok and the art of sleuthing in a similar vein?

I'll certainly do so, brudda. And keep on thuggin'.

Thanks for accepting,
Of course, it was the Kem Nunn mention that made me land at your door. Very good man, or writer at least. Just bought the rights for Tapping the Source for the norwegian market. It was published here in the 80's by a very small publisher. But I really wanted to give the book another round. Pocketbook only, but I like the second life the pockets can give to great things. If it works well, we'll start translating more Nunn, but we are realistic. - I'm looking for new angles all the time, and if you have ideas about great, but overlooked crime or thriller novels, I would be very glad to hear from you. - By the way. Good luck with your own good writing!

Welcome aboard and greetings from Southern California