In Reference to Murder

Boston's Big Thrill

If you're in the Boston area this Wednesday, join the Boston Public Library in a special fundraiser titled "The Big Thrill." Authors Lee Child, Charlaine Harris, Tess Gerritsen, Karin Slaughter and David Hosp will be on hand, and you can also enjoy drinks, hors d'oeuvres and a silent auction full of various prizes.

This is part of a Save the Libraries campaign spearheaded by Karin Slaughter, who is quite passionate about the subject, adding, "The funding of American libraries should be a matter of national security. Keeping libraries open, giving access to all children to all books is vital to our nation’s sovereignty. For nearly 85 percent of kids living in rural areas, the only place where they have access to technology or books outside the schoolroom is in a public library. For many urban kids, the only safe haven they have to study or do homework is the public library."

Tickets are still available for this event, and you can also bid on eBay for signed books and other goodies.

At the (London Book) Fair

The venerable and gigantic London Book Fair started this week, with hundreds of international vendors of all stripes from the publishing world. It's also well known for bringing together film and TV producers with over 400 literary agencies and publishers offering content with screen adaptation potential. Here are some of the highlights thus far from the blogosphere:

Ayo Onatade is blogging about the event for Shots Magazine online and has some of the book and TV deals that have already been inked (more to come!).

Barnes & Noble is recruiting publishers for new content to show up in the Nook Store in the US, including British and global authors and books.

Josh Getzler is reporting on the LBF for the blog Hey, There's a Dead Guy in the Living Room, including the fair's international flare and how the "people have been simply wonderful--smart, productive, all excited to talk books."

OverDrive reported on recent library ebook usage data, noting that during the month of March, OverDrive  recorded a total of over 12.6 million visits from 219 different countries; 86% of those visitors came from the US, with another 10% coming from Canada with UK, NZ, and Australia rounding out the top 5.

International Publishers Association also talked about digital publishing at the "Global Publishing Statistics" seminar. Digital migration has taken off in the UK and US, but not in other countries, and small and medium-sized publishers were encouraged to look to foreign markets to increase the bottom line. One possible bright note: in China, reading and writing online is an enormous industry, with very successful authors started online which have  then migrated into the printing world."

Speaking of China, the LBF opened with a protest against a special section dedicated to China, thanks to the Chinese government's censorship policies that have led to the imprisonment of authors and also the LBF's decision to invite only an officially sanctioned slate of Chinese writers.

For a listing of all the crime fiction publishers/exhibitors, check out the listing here.

National Library Week

I love libraries. Even if my mother weren't a retired librarian (and she is), I would still love strolling through the stacks, checking out the references, and now, even eBooks. If libraries mean something to you, too, join in the celebration of National Libary Week through this Saturday, April 14th. Make a trip to your local library to tell the librarians how much you appreciate them, and look for special events via the At Your Library website. Bestselling author Brad Meltzer even has a word or two of appreciation that you can listen to online. If you share your story of why you belong at your library by composing a six word story and tweeting it to #nlw6words, you may win a copy of Brad Meltzer's TV series, Decoded.

Poetry is Criminal

To celebrate National Poetry Month, Gerald So, editor of The 5-2: Crime Poetry Weekly website and The Lineup poetry chapbooks, invited me to participate in a blog tour. The challenge: to choose a favorite poem from the 5-2 website.

That proved to be a bit of a problem, because poems are like soul candy to me—jelly bellies, if you will—one day your favorite may be key lime pie and the next, sour apple or black licorice. However, I ultimately chose Jackie Sheeler's "Lt. Machine" to feature today, as it is a timely poem, tied to the still-ongoing (if sputtering) Occupy Wall Street movement.

You may recall the recent pepper-spraying incident where Police Lieutenant John Pike, dressed in riot gear, nonchalantly aimed his spray can at a group of college student protesters who were sitting down peacefully. The lieutenant and that video soon went viral and spawned a cultural phenomenom all its own, an international frenzy with dozens of websites and parodies.

What Jackie Sheeler does in her poetic take on that whole spectacle is to create a sardonic account that at the same time peers into the mind—and seeming mindlessness—of the officer's actions, "He neither smiles nor frowns / flourishes the canister / arms-length, like a cardsharp shooting his cuffs / before the deal. Winning is inevitable." And yet, there are hints of what Sheeler imagines really lies beneath the lieutenant's unprompted behavior, "If he screamed / I got your education right here you little pricks!"

I'm a sucker for "humor noir," if that can be labeled a true subgenre. In this poem, despite the underlying tinges of anger and injustice, there are also hints of humor, as in these lines, "He makes a second pass across the line / just in case. Filling in the blanks, you might say." You can argue all day about whether Lt. Pike and other police actions against the Occupy protesters are justified or not (or both, depending upon the circumstances), but I like how Sheeler's poem takes a step back, viewing this incident in words as a photographer would with a lens.

I also loved Jackie's note about the poem, "It was the memes. Yes, definitely, the memes. He pepper-sprayed the Last Supper! And the holy bush of Marilyn Monroe, her white skirt airlifted by a passing subway. Entrapment. I had no choice. Guilty as charged."

Jackie's latest collection of poems, Earthquake Came to Harlem, was a finalist for the 2011 Paterson Poetry Prize. One reviewer called it "nuanced yet aggressive, Earthquake Came to Harlem is a tour-de-force of NYC poetry." I rather like that. I think "nuanced, yet aggressive" is an apt description of "Lt. Machine."

By the way, The 5-2 is looking for more submissions to showcase each week. If you think you have a crime poem in you, you can submit up to two poems per month that are "honest, powerful reactions to what you see as crime." Any form or style is fine, and the only rule is that each poem must be 60 lines or fewer.

Here's the schedule for the rest of the 5-2 Blog Tour. But you don't have to wait — you can go and read the poems yourself, any time.

Debut Crime Fiction Competitions

There's still time to enter the Discover Mystery Contest sponsored by Poisoned Pen Press. Submit your mystery/crime manuscript of 60,000 to 90,000 words by April 30th for a chance at a publishing contract and $1,000 advance.

Killer Nashville's Claymore Award is accepting entries up to June 1st. The award is given to the author of the best beginning (first 50 pages) of an unpublished MS, and the winner could end up with a publishing contract from Five Star. Note that this contest also accepts works by previously-published authors; it's just the entry that must be unpublished.

This next one is a terrific opportunity if you live in the UK and have an unpublished crime novel with a female protagonist: Stylist magazine and publisher Faber and Faber (the company that brings you PD James) are teaming up for a crime fiction competition to be judged by the likes of bestselling author Ruth Rendell. The winner gets his/her book published and an advance of £5,000. You still a little while to polish up your entry, as the deadline is July 12.

Dark Delights at Noir Bar Night

Flying in the face of bookstore closings elsewhere and all the gloom-and-doom in the traditional publishing world, One More Page bookstore in Arlington, Virginia, just celebrated its first anniversary. One More Page had a bang-up year, hosting over 70 author signings and talks at the store. They've also sponsored special events like tastings featuring wine and gourmet chocolates, as well as Sisters in Crime meetings and five book discussion clubs including fiction and mystery/suspense.

On Wednesday, February 15, the store will host a Noir Bar Night, with a wine tasting at 6 p.m. followed by a panel discussion at 7 p.m. Author Con Lehane will moderate the panel, which includes several distinguished local noir authors:

Elizabeth Hand, whose new book, Available Dark, has just been named one of the Top 10 Mystery/Thrillers of the season by Publishers Weekly. Other books include Generation Loss and Radiant Days, scheduled for release on April 12;

James Grady, the author of Mad Dogs and Six Days of the Condor, (made into the film Three Days of the Condor starring Robert Redford). James is an American Edgar nominee, Grand Prix Du Roman Noir winner and received the Raymond Chandler award;

Nik Korpon, author of Stay God, Old Ghosts, By the Nails of the Warpriest and Baltimore Stories: Volumes One and Two. He is an editor for Dirty Noir and Rotten Leaves and reviews books for Spinetingler, NoirJournal and The Nervous Breakdown;

Sandra Ruttan, the bestselling author of Harvest of Ruins and Suspicious Circumstances. Sandra is also an editor for Spinetingler Magazine and Snubnose Press.

As a side note, in keeping with the noir theme, On Sat, Feb 11 at 3 p.m. at One More Page, retired DC police detective, David Swinson, discusses his new noir mystery, A Detailed Man. David spent the 1980s as a punk rock music promoter and film producer, booking acts like Social Distortion, John Cale, Chris Isaac and the Red Hot Chili Peppers into clubs. In 1994, Swinson returned to DC and became one of the city's most decorated detectives. In 2000 he was promoted to the Special Investigations Bureau/Major Crimes, where he was often called upon by the FBI, the Secret Service and others for assistance with sensitive cases.

Twelve Days of Bookmas: DC Brod

Illinois author Deborah Cobban "D.C." Brod has written fiction most of her life but didn't think she had a novel in her until she graduated from Nothern Illinois University with an MA in journalism. It was then that she decided if she could spend 120 pages discussing postal oppression of the radical press, she could write a novel. The result was 1989's Murder In Store, featuring private detective Quint McCauley, and four more McCauley books afterward.

D.C.'s latest focus is her "Getting Even" series, which debuted with Getting Sassy in 2010 and introduced down on her luck freelance journalist Robyn Guthrie. The second installment in this humorous series is being released this month, titled Getting Lucky, and finds Robyn back on her feet with a new assignment that leads to discoveries about toxic dumping and mob financing.

D.C.'s holiday offering for Bookmas is titled "The Art of Giving and Receiving Coal":

My brother and I have always been close, and one of the pillars of our relationship is good-natured teasing. So when I was Christmas shopping one year and came upon a piece of coal packaged in an attractive holiday box, I knew I had to get it. I wrapped it in red paper with a green ribbon and set it under the tree for him. (I did get him something else that year, although I don't remember what it was.) He opened it, we all had a good laugh, and I thought that was the end of it. Until the following year, when I opened one of those large but light-weight boxes and found, amidst wads of tissue paper, the chunk of coal. It had lost its holiday packaging, but it I recognized it.

That was 25 years ago and many things have changed. Our parents have passed away. We've both married. My brother has three kids all college-aged or beyond. But that piece of coal has been a constant — passing back and forth between us. It has been buried in a canister of loose-leaf tea, sprinkled with cocoa and disguised as a truffle, and sewn into a stuffed carrot (don't ask). Every year it becomes more of a challenge to concoct a clever delivery system. Admittedly, some are more inspired than others. But we've never missed a year.

We figure if we keep this up long enough, one of us is going to wind up with a diamond.

Favorite Charity is:  World Wildlife Fund. You can donate, adopt, or book trips through them to support saving life on earth.

 

Ten Gifts for Writers (the Regular Edition)

Last week, I wrote a blog about 10 Gifts for Writers (the Not so Serious Edition), and today I continue with gifts that aren't as quirky and may actually be helpful.

But before I do, I'd like to mention that starting on this blog December 19th and running through January 1st, I'll be featuring 12 Days (Plus Two) of Bookmas. Each day, an author will be stopping by to offer up a little holiday bon-bon, from a recipe to a personal remembrance, to a favorite story or TV show, and they'll also name their favorite charity. Authors lined up include Laurie R. King, Paul Doiron, Craig Johnson, G.M. Maillet, Martin Edwards, Jeri Westerson, Zoe Sharp, Julia Spencer-Fleming and more. So stay tuned.

Now, for the list:

A digital voice recorder. I can tell you from personal experience that working out on a treadmill or elliptical when you get a story idea and attempting to write it down is an exercise in futility (especially when you come home and can't read your scribbling). With a recorder, a writer can immediately preserve their ideas whenever and wherever they occur. These range from cellphone-sized (cheaper) to this nifty little digital recorder pen (expensive).

A lap desk. These are very handy to have for reading a printed manuscript or as a base for a tablet or laptop computer. And LapGear will make a donation for every lap desk they sell to the Kids in Need Foundation that provides gear for underprivileged students.

Novel (and story) writing software. These vary in features provided, but they start as low as free (such as yWriter) to $30 with StoryWeaver, and on up. StoryMind has a great deal right now, offering to throw in a free Writer's Survival Kit with any website purchase. The kit includes an extensive collection of writing software, classes and tools essential to every writer's craft.

Tickets to a writer's conference or retreat. This blog keeps a list of upcoming mystery conferences, but websites like Shaw Guides have databases of other events where writers can get away for awhile and take classes or just have undisturbed writing time.

A gift certificate for professional editing services. Granted, this can get a little pricey, but you can at least help defray the costs. This is particularly helpful for self-published authors and those going the small press or indie route, who will need to purchase a la carte editing. This rate chart from the Editorial Freelancers Association may be helpful.

Coffee! Many an author takes their laptop to the local coffee shop that has a spare table and plug-in to work on their manuscript away from home distractions, if not store-related ones. A gift certificate from the store will also help a writer stay caffeinated and alert through all those mind-numbing edits.

Literacy. Make a donation in the writer's name to a local or national literacy organization (the America's Literacy Directory is a good place to start). After all, writing can be cathartic and enjoyable on its own, but to be a read author, you need a steady supply of readers. The gift of literacy helps everyone.

Gloves? Yes, gloves. Typing away at the keyboard all day can leave your digits a bit frosty. Light-weight fingerless gloves to the rescue, helping to keep fingers flying fast and furious. You can opt for more conservative styles or for hard-boiled types, this might be more appropriate.

Creativity-booster. If your writer likes to listen to music for inspiration while writing, create a mixtape of their favorite tunes and burn it to a CD or DVD. Or give them a gift certificate for Spotify, and they can put together their own song list.

And, last, but certainly not least, a gift certificate to their favorite local indie bookstore is a wonderful idea.

Science is Murder

The Washington Academy of Sciences in D.C. is holding a "Science is Murder" panel on December 14th. Experts include Dr. Janet Sorrentino, lecturer and "authority on science and Harry Potter"; Sandra Parshall, author of the Rachel Goddard mysteries, including the upcoming Under the Dog Star; and Mary Ellen O'Toole, former FBI agent, expert on psychopathy and author of Dangerous Instincts: How Gut Feelings Betray Us. Kathy Harig, owner of the bookstore Mystery Loves Company in Oxford, Maryland, will serve as moderator. The event starts with a Book Look at 6:30, followed by Discussions at 7:00, and Book Signings at 8:30. There's a minimal charge, and you're advised to register in advance due to limited space.

Night and the City

The Los Angeles Poetry Festival "Night and the City" is presenting a variety of noir poetry, fiction and film events through November 13th at various venues. Tonight, it's "A Touch of Naomi," an Evening with Mystery Writer Naomi Hirahara and torchy songs and sax music by Doc & Renee at the South Pasadena Public Library Community Room.  Friday, Judith Freeman, Gary Phillips, Dick Lochte and moderator Richard Modiano take on a panel titled "Sundrenched Dark: Raymond Chandler and His Los Angeles Legacy, at the Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center at 7 p.m. Following that at 9 p.m, it's an evening of "Darkness Falls" with James Ellroy. Most of these events do charge a minimal admission, so be sure and check the schedule.

There's lots more, too, including Saturday's "Best of the Hardboiled: Selected Readings from Classic Detective and Crime Stories" by actors Dale Raoul (True Blood) and Brad Dourif (One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Deadwood), poet Laurel Ann Bogen and "surprise guests." The admission for this event at CBS Studios at 1 p.m., is free.