Juggling Again–or Should I Say Still?

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Because I have a new book on the scene, the latest Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery, River Spirits, I am really juggling a lot.

One of my earlier books in the series, Bears With Us, will be offered for .99 cents on Kindle from October 13- 17, which will take a lot of promoting.

Through the month of November, I’ll be on a virtual blog tour–something I like doing but is a lot of work. I’ve already done a lot in preparation, but while it’s going on it will take a lot of time to let people know where I am visiting.

I’m also involved in several in-person events this month, on the 11th, I’ll be at The Taste of the Arts, in Visalia, CA from 10 to 4 and on October 18th from 10 to 4, the Great Valley Bookfest in Manteca, CA. and on the 25th I’m participating in a panel with the Central Coast Sisters in Crime at the Atascadero Library where we’ll be discussing the age of e-publishing.

And guess what, I’m also writing the next book in the Rocky Bluff P.D. series, which means I really do have to concentrate on it too.

I know that many of my author friends don’t have children, a few not even a husband to worry about, but I have 4 adult children, 18 grandkids, and 15 great-grands. When possible I love spending time with them. And of course, this is where the juggling comes in. My family comes first even if that means I have to get up earlier than usual or stay up later to take care of my writing commitments.

Here is the cover of River Spirits and as usual, the artist has captured the essence of the title.


Blurb: While filming a movie on the Bear Creek Indian
Reservation, the film crew trespasses on sacred ground, threats are made
against the female stars, a missing woman is found by the Hairy Man, an actor
is murdered and Deputy Tempe Crabtree has no idea who is guilty. Once again,
the elusive and legendary Hairy Man plays an important role in this newest
Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery.

Available in all formats from the publisher: http://mundania.com/ and from all the usual places.

Marilyn

Virtual friends

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Welcome to the new age….

Did you have a pen pal as a teenager? Someone you wrote long, emotion filled letters about your life, your hopes, your dreams that lived far enough away to keep your secrets?

I loved getting and sending my letters. Until real life stepped in and we lost touch.

Now, I have virtual friends. People who live across the world that I keep in touch with, hope for, dream with.  Some I’ve met, some I might never meet in person.

But whenever we do, it’s like old friend reunion time.

Like last month when I got to meet our Stiletto Gang member, Dru Ann Love.  She’s as charming and bubbly as her Facebook posts show her to be.

I’m also friends with fellow Stiletto Gang member – Laura Bradford.

I’ve met a lot of my friends on line and now, in person. I love having that feeling of meeting old friends even though we may have only met once in person.  Now that I’m starting to attend more mystery conferences, I may be running into you soon. 🙂

Tell me about your virtual friendships? Are they as good or better than old fashion pen pals?

Lynn

FYI – to (celebrate my birthday month) prepare for the release of IF THE SHOE KILLS November 10th, Kensington has put the digital version of MISSION TO MURDER on sale for #99cents all of October. Don’t miss the second book in the Tourist Trap Mysteries.

Buy at Amazon/Nook 

On Buying Books—Or Not

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by Linda Rodriguez

A reader recently wrote to me to praise my new book, Every Hidden Fear, and apologized for
having checked the book out of the library. I reassured her that there was no
need to apologize, but I know why these readers and others have felt this way.
A few authors have been very vocal on Facebook and other places about their
disgust at people using the library rather than purchasing their books. When
you add in the justifiable distress that most authors feel and express about
actual book piracy, which is usually of e-books, it might seem to readers that
there are a lot of angry authors out there. I don’t believe that’s the case, at
all.
I’m always happy to have readers check out my books from
their local libraries, and most authors I know feel the same way. I think the
authors who’ve exploded online about library copies cutting into their sales
numbers are few—and mostly new to the business. For many of us midlist authors,
library sales are quite an important part of our book-sale figures. Besides,
most of us were at one time nerdy kids who adored and made great use of their
libraries. Many of us are still big library users. Authors tend to love
libraries.

I have known experienced authors who became upset at
signings when presented with books that were purchased in used-book stores.
They usually are gracious to the reader, but complain about it to their fellow
authors later. And they have a point. The author and publisher receive nothing
from that used-book sale after the initial sale. Some readers are not aware of
this. Some are, but can’t afford to buy all of their books new, especially if
the book is only available in hardcover.
None of this behavior mentioned so far is piracy. Libraries
and used-book stores are legitimate outlets. Piracy, which usually involves
e-books, is when copies of a book are made available for free in the millions
on sites usually called torrent sites. These sites violate the copyright laws
and basically allow people to steal books. Aside from the damage this does to
publishers and authors, which can be substantial, it is fundamentally unethical
and dishonest behavior.
I don’t want my books pirated, and I don’t care how many
people tell me “all content should be free” or “it’s good exposure.” People can
die from exposure. My attitude is Don’t steal my books. But used-book
sales are not piracy. Those books were purchased once, much as library books
are, and with physical books, certainly, there’s a limit on how many times that
book can be checked out or sold before it gets ragged and must be discarded and
a new one bought. In the meanwhile, people are reading my books and enjoying
them and recommending them to friends and eventually, I hope, buying them new.
My books are only available in hardcover and e-book at the moment, and I know
the hardcover’s a big expense for students and folks on fixed incomes.
Libraries and used-book stores make it possible for them to find my books and
read them anyway.
However, I do think readers should be aware that used-book
store sales count nothing at all for the writer. Library sales do count, though
they are not figured in for the bestseller lists. And the way publishing works
right now, if a writer’s sales don’t continually climb—at a fairly steep
rate—that author will be dropped by the publisher after three to six books.
Even if all those books earned out their advances. Even if all those books had
stellar reviews and were nominated for awards. So if too many of an author’s
readers use libraries only and/or, especially, used-book stores to access their
books, that author and that series of books will disappear. The author may be able
to start a different series at a different publisher, but usually s/he will
have to take a pen name, making it difficult for fans to follow. Publishers
today seem to think every author should become a bestseller eventually—and
remember, neither library nor used-book sales count for that—and if s/he
doesn’t, the publishers lose interest in that author.
So, like the inimitable Neil Gaiman, I’ll happily sign
anything from anywhere. But I’d like readers to be aware that their choices
will affect whether or not their favorite authors are able to continue writing
their favorite books—or at all. But if, like my correspondents, you feel bad
because you simply can’t afford to buy a new book by a favorite author, don’t.
Just write a brief, thoughtful  review
and post it on Amazon or Good Reads or other reading community. That will mean
a great deal to the author and cost you nothing but a few minutes of your time.
What are your thoughts on this thorny issue?

REPLIES TO COMMENTS (because Blogger!):

Mary, most of the writers I know are happy to have fans check out their books from the library. The more our books are checked out, the more the library will buy our books, and unless you’re a Mary Higgins Clark or James Patterson, library sales are important to writers.

Michelle, I don’t think anyone should apologize for using the library. People lending books to friends is not piracy. Most authors love book collectors like you.

Marilyn, I’m with you in loving to have readers buy my books themselves, but I know a lot of folks out there are living on fixed incomes and can’t buy all the books they’d like, so the library is their and my friend–since I want them to read my books. I think the pirate sites make every writer unhappy, and readers often don’t realize they can play a large part in making a writer’s books unavailable. If everyone is pirating one author’s books, s/he will have low sales and will be dropped by the publisher. Then that writer’s books in that series–and maybe even that genre–will cease to be available each year or so for the reader’s pleasure.

SLEUTHING WITHOUT A LICENSE – Guest D.E Ireland

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SLEUTHING WITHOUT A LICENSE – Guest D.E Ireland


Mystery readers have long been aware that some of the best
literary detectives are rank amateurs. Unlike private eyes, FBI agents, and
police officers, amateur sleuths must fit in crime solving along with their day
job. These part-time detectives not only break the rules, they’re often unaware
of what the rules are. Still, this doesn’t stop them from unearthing evidence,
tracking down leads, and nabbing the killer.
Of course, they do operate with a few drawbacks. For one
thing, most do not carry weapons. An amateur sleuth also can’t obtain a search
warrant or wire tap, which may lead them to breaking and entering – a crime. One
of the biggest risks of not being a professional is the possibility of arrest,
since law enforcement views an amateur with suspicion or irritation. If an
amateur does find evidence or clues, the resources of a forensics or crime lab
are not available. This is why so many cozy mysteries feature police officers
or FBI agents as continuing characters; these characters are often a family
member or a romantic interest of the protagonist.
What an amateur sleuth relies upon are the three ‘I’s:
intelligence, ingenuity, and intuition. And a private citizen interested in
solving crimes is not without resources. Scores of databases are available
online, such as tax assessor records, genealogical history, property records,
military service, etc. And if the sleuth knows the person’s social security
number, the prefix will tell them the state where the number was issued. County
records and newspaper archives also help flatten the playing field for the
non-professional detective. But the most valuable asset for an amateur is
gossip. Most people are wary or fearful of the police. If the person asking
questions is a friend who owns the local bakery, the answers may be more
forthcoming,
Cozy mysteries are frequently set in picturesque small towns,
and the amateur sleuth is usually a long-time resident. This allows them easy
access to all the juicy family secrets, and they know where all the bodies –
literally and figuratively – are buried. Such knowledge gives them an advantage
over an outside investigator.  Detectives
in cozies often own businesses such as tea shops, B&Bs, bookstores, and
vineyards. This constant influx of customers and visitors provides an ever-changing
pool of suspects and victims. The reader is also showered with lots of
fascinating details about the protagonist’s business. 


Popular small business
cozies include Laura Child’s Tea Shop Mysteries, JoAnna Carl’s Chocoholic
mysteries, and Susan Wittig Albert’s China Bayle’s Herb Shop series.
In real life, amateurs are sometimes sought out by law
enforcement. More than one police department has called in a psychic to help
them unravel an especially difficult case. These are sleuths who possess a
unique skill set rarely found in a forensics lab or police station. Not
surprisingly, mystery series have sprung up which feature paranormal
investigators. These detectives include not only psychics, ghost hunters, and
witches, but also actual supernatural creatures such as vampires and
werewolves. Perhaps the most famous in this subgenre is Charlaine Harris’s
Sookie Stackhouse books.
Readers might guess that placing an amateur sleuth in the
past – when investigative methods were minor or nonexistent – might be easier
to write. Not so. Cozy historical authors setting their stories in London must
be aware of how British ‘Bobbies’ came into service,  and that 1749 saw the founding of the Bow
Street Runners, the city’s first professional police force. In the American
colonies, law enforcement was the prerogative of constables, government
appointed sheriffs, and voluntary citizen “watches” who patrolled the town’s
streets at night. This leaves plenty of opportunity for amateur sleuths,
especially since the country’s first 24-hour police force did not appear until
1833 in Philadelphia. Books set during the early years of law enforcement
include the Bracebridge Mystery series by Margaret Miles, Maan Meyer’s Tonneman
books, and Patricia Wynn’s Blue Satan series set in Georgian London.

While there weren’t established police forces prior to the
19th century, there were lawyers. And it’s not only John Grisham and
Scott Turow who know that attorneys have access to both information and a wide
range of criminals. The practice of law has been a legalized profession since
the time of Roman Emperor Claudius in the first century. What a perfect
occupation for an amateur sleuth, as long as he doesn’t run afoul of the
ultimate arbiter of justice: the reigning monarch. And when the sleuth is the
monarch herself, as in the Queen Elizabeth I series by Karen Harper, then you
have the most powerful detective of them all.

Amateur detectives in historical settings must deal not only
with a budding police force. Ministers and officials could make things quite
dangerous for a sleuth, especially if that sleuth is an ordinary citizen
without wealth and powerful connections to back him up. And depending on the
time period, a wrongly accused victim did not have forensic science techniques
to help exonerate him. Fingerprinting wasn’t admissible in court until after
the turn of the 20th century, along with
photographs of the crime scene and victims. In both historical and contemporary
novels, amateur detectives have a hard time convincing police officials of
their theories. Even worse, the killer invariably targets the sleuth as their
next victim in order to avoid discovery.
Amateur sleuths also need a motive to get involved in a
murder investigation or else it wouldn’t make sense, given the inherent danger.
In our own debut mystery, Eliza Doolittle must prove that Henry Higgins is innocent
of murdering his chief rival; it is her friendship and loyalty to him that
spurs Eliza on. In Cleo Coyle’s first Coffeehouse mystery, the police believe
an attack on Clare’s employee was accidental; Clare believes otherwise and adds
‘amateur sleuth’ to her resume. And in Barbara Ross’s Maine Clambake series,
amateur sleuth Julia must rescue her family business while solving a murder on
its remote island premises.
Amateur sleuths take on a load of trouble when they decide
to chase after criminals. Luckily, they seem to be quite good at it.

Leave a comment to get your name in the drawing for a hard copy of Wouldn’t It Be Deadly.


D.E. Ireland is a team of award-winning
authors, Meg Mims and Sharon Pisacreta. Long time friends, they decided to
collaborate on this unique series based on George Bernard Shaw’s wonderfully
witty play, Pygmalion, and flesh out their own
version of events post-Pygmalion.

More from BAKE, LOVE, WRITE–advice on love and writing!

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By Kay Kendall


The last time I posted here on The Stiletto Gang, I talked about the new cookbook of desserts called BAKE, LOVE, WRITE. I shared the recipe I contributed, called Aunt Martha’s Oatmeal Cake. Now I will also share my contributions for the love & writing parts! 
What’s your recipe for a lasting, loving relationship?

 Four ingredients make for a lasting,
loving relationship. The four C’s are: 
Caring           
Commitment 
Communication  
Conflict resolution.
If your relationship has those elements,
then chances are yours will go the distance. If things feel rocky, then analyze
against those four C’s. Get yourself to a trained therapist if you are having
trouble with conflict resolution, which of course rests on being able to
communicate well. 
Many couples have the first two—caring and commitment—but
founder on the next two. Luckily, with help and persistence, communication and
conflict resolution can be learned. And just because you and your partner talk
all the time does not mean that you are actually communicating. That’s a tricky one.
 What’s the best writing advice you ever received?
Be persistent and never give up. Most authors I know
make some false starts before they publish their first novels. It may take a
decade to accomplish your goal, but if you burn to write, then do keep at it.
The manuscript for my first novel I cannibalized for my second, so all that
work was not wasted. And my second manuscript became a published book last
year. One male mystery author says that writing
is like an informal game of golf—you get all the mulligans you want. While
you are practicing, take time to learn the craft. The internet provides a
wealth of information.
Take writing classes. Attend book signings. Find a
mentor. Participate in a writing group, as I have for many years, but finding
the right fit for yourself is key. Constructive criticism should be the rule,
and if the group or even one member delights in tearing people down, then run
for the hills. Writers’ psyches are fragile, and you want to be around
supportive folks. Also, attend writing conferences. You can learn from them,
but they’re also networking opportunities. All writers should
network—publishing is a relentless business.

A dessert cookbook with contributions by 105 authors…Bake, Love, Write is for sale in the major e-book formats at 99 cents and also on Amazon in paperback. 

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 Kay Kendall set her debut novel, Desolation Row—An Austin Starr Mystery, in 1968 in an anti-war group. The sequel is Rainy Day Women (summer 2015), and this time her amateur sleuth Austin Starr must convince police her best friend didn’t murder women’s liberation activists in Seattle and Vancouver. A fan of historical mysteries, Kay wants to do for the 1960s what novelist Jacqueline Winspear accomplishes for England in the perilous 1930s–write atmospheric mysteries that capture the spirit of the age. Kay is also an award-winning international public relations executive who lives in Texas with her husband, three house rabbits, and spaniel Wills. Terribly allergic to the bunnies, she loves them anyway! Her book titles show she’s a Bob Dylan buff too.  


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