The Fussy Librarian features A Memory of Grief today-- only $1.99 on all ebook platforms.
And-- we've just picked up a terrific narrator for the audio version of A Memory of Grief-- soon to be out on audio on Audible.com!
This is the first of the Zack Taylor mystery series, and it's going to be BIG!
To commemmorate this auspicious day, we're giving away a free version of the audiobook when it's released (likely a $25 value).
Send me an email (daletphillips@comcast.net) with the phrase "I bought it," (ebook or print, doesn't matter) and we'll enter you into a drawing for the free audiobook version.
Thursday, September 25, 2014
Sunday, September 21, 2014
Connie Johnson Hambley at NEMBF
Met some fellow writers at the booksigning by Connie Johnson Hambley at the New England Mobile Bookfair last Saturday.
(To find out more on Connie, read her interview here.)
(To find out more on Connie, read her interview here.)
Connie is touring to publicize her debut novel, The Charity.
And there were buyers! Nice to find new fans.
Posing below is Connie's husband (her Support Crew), along with fellow author Ursula Wong, who also has her debut novel out, Purple Trees.
And here's writer Vlad V, who's got a trio of works out, coming to buy her book and support a fellow author.
So they asked me to join in the posing fun, since we were all color-coordinated.
Friday, September 19, 2014
Appearance by Hank Phillippi Ryan
At the Groton Library, we had a lovely night hearing our special guest star, ace investigative reporter and mystery author Hank Phillippi Ryan. She graciously took time from her busy schedule to come chat with us and tell us great stories about her life and work.
Our Mystery Book Club had been interested in getting her to visit and tell us about The Wrong Girl and other books of hers. She regaled us with anecdotes and insider information, then answered a number of good questions about the work she does and the characters and stories within her books.
I've heard her speak on several occasions, and she's always professional, prepared, engaging, entertaining, and charming. Perhaps it has something to do with her many years of top-quality television reporting. As she says, it's a job where you have to be right all the time, and perfect whenever you appear. Talk about pressure!
She thanked us all for being readers, and for attending a writer event, and people got to get their books signed and chat with her a bit more.
When I mentioned a fellow mystery author, Daniel Friedman (Don't Ever Get Old), she had nothing but praise for him and his book.
So if you want to see her somewhere besides a television screen, check out her appearance schedule and drop into one.
Our Mystery Book Club had been interested in getting her to visit and tell us about The Wrong Girl and other books of hers. She regaled us with anecdotes and insider information, then answered a number of good questions about the work she does and the characters and stories within her books.
When I mentioned a fellow mystery author, Daniel Friedman (Don't Ever Get Old), she had nothing but praise for him and his book.
So if you want to see her somewhere besides a television screen, check out her appearance schedule and drop into one.
Our thanks to the library, the staff, and mystery lovers for arranging this.
My Second Trip to Granite State ComiCon- With Pictures
I took another trip to an alternate universe last weekend, where I sold and signed books at the Books and Boos table and walked around in wonder.
Wrote about in in an article at Jason Harris Promotions, and its got a ton of pics.
Here are a few others:
Wrote about in in an article at Jason Harris Promotions, and its got a ton of pics.
Here are a few others:
Don't let the Dalek into the Tardis!
At the Decimated Designs area, with their cohorts, Zombie Leader
Robbie the Robot at the Thrifty booth
This purple giant is over 8 feet tall.
Scott Goudsward, of the NEHW, enjoying his cupcake.
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
Sisters in Crime Blog Hop
The Sisters in Crime have deemed the month of September as SinC-Up for bloggers.
They asked us to answer the following questions and blog about it-- and mention some other blog that you might like.
Which authors have inspired you?
They really do number in the hundreds. I've been a voracious reader for 50 years, and been inspired by so many good books and writers.
Mystery-wise, the line of writers from Dashiel Hammett, Raymond Chandler, Jim Thompson, Patricia Highsmith, John D. MacDonald, George V. Higgins, and Ellis Peters, through to the modern day, with Walter Mosely, Robert B. Parker, James Lee Burke.
Other writers: Mark Twain, Victor Hugo, Edna Ferber, Dorothy Parker, Ray Bradbury, Robert Heinlein, Shirley Jackson, Cordwainer Smith, Harper Lee, Kurt Vonnegut, Margaret Atwood, and two of my favorites, Stephen King and Harlan Ellison.
Which male authors write great women characters? Which female authors write great male characters?
Male authors- Have to give a nod to Stephen King. In the movie versions of two of his books, Kathy Bates played both Dolores Claiborne and Annie Wilkes (from Misery) and you won't forget either of those characters!
Female authors- Of course Harper Lee, who gave us Atticus Finch. The Ideal Man- as noble as Lincoln. Lesser known is Edna Ferber- the range of her characters was incredible, and both genders rang true, with all the strengths and weaknesses.
If someone said "Nothing against women writers, but all of my favorite crime fiction authors happen to be men," how would you respond?
Give them a copy of Jo Bannister's Deadly Virtues and a couple of other good examples.
What's the best part of the writing process for you? What's the most challenging?
When the words sing, and characters come alive. The most challenging thing is making that happen, day after day, story after story. Anyone can type, but it's an enormous task to put words on a page that matter.
Do you listen to music while writing? What's on your playlist?
Classical only, no words, softly in the background.
What books are on your nightstand right now?
We're having Hank Phillippi Ryan come to our Mystery Book Club night in Groton, so I'm in the middle of The Wrong Girl.
If you were to mentor a new writer, what would you tell her about the writing business?
It's a business, so you have to understand that side, while trying to create art. It's tough, extremely difficult, you'll likely be underpaid and underappreciated, and you'll get a ton of criticism, no matter how good you get.
If that doesn't scare you off, you have a chance to create real art and make your life matter. It is a fine thing to give light to new stories of quality. Write something they'll read a hundred years from now, for people that haven't even been born yet.
*****
Now for the other blog mention. One is Connie Johnson Hambley, who I interviewed here.
And if you're not following the Maine Crime Writers, you're missing out. This is a collaborative site from the top names in Maine crime fiction, and is chock-full of great stuff and news from all of them.
http://mainecrimewriters.com/
They asked us to answer the following questions and blog about it-- and mention some other blog that you might like.
Which authors have inspired you?
They really do number in the hundreds. I've been a voracious reader for 50 years, and been inspired by so many good books and writers.
Mystery-wise, the line of writers from Dashiel Hammett, Raymond Chandler, Jim Thompson, Patricia Highsmith, John D. MacDonald, George V. Higgins, and Ellis Peters, through to the modern day, with Walter Mosely, Robert B. Parker, James Lee Burke.
Other writers: Mark Twain, Victor Hugo, Edna Ferber, Dorothy Parker, Ray Bradbury, Robert Heinlein, Shirley Jackson, Cordwainer Smith, Harper Lee, Kurt Vonnegut, Margaret Atwood, and two of my favorites, Stephen King and Harlan Ellison.
Which male authors write great women characters? Which female authors write great male characters?
Male authors- Have to give a nod to Stephen King. In the movie versions of two of his books, Kathy Bates played both Dolores Claiborne and Annie Wilkes (from Misery) and you won't forget either of those characters!
Female authors- Of course Harper Lee, who gave us Atticus Finch. The Ideal Man- as noble as Lincoln. Lesser known is Edna Ferber- the range of her characters was incredible, and both genders rang true, with all the strengths and weaknesses.
If someone said "Nothing against women writers, but all of my favorite crime fiction authors happen to be men," how would you respond?
Give them a copy of Jo Bannister's Deadly Virtues and a couple of other good examples.
What's the best part of the writing process for you? What's the most challenging?
When the words sing, and characters come alive. The most challenging thing is making that happen, day after day, story after story. Anyone can type, but it's an enormous task to put words on a page that matter.
Do you listen to music while writing? What's on your playlist?
Classical only, no words, softly in the background.
What books are on your nightstand right now?
We're having Hank Phillippi Ryan come to our Mystery Book Club night in Groton, so I'm in the middle of The Wrong Girl.
If you were to mentor a new writer, what would you tell her about the writing business?
It's a business, so you have to understand that side, while trying to create art. It's tough, extremely difficult, you'll likely be underpaid and underappreciated, and you'll get a ton of criticism, no matter how good you get.
If that doesn't scare you off, you have a chance to create real art and make your life matter. It is a fine thing to give light to new stories of quality. Write something they'll read a hundred years from now, for people that haven't even been born yet.
*****
Now for the other blog mention. One is Connie Johnson Hambley, who I interviewed here.
And if you're not following the Maine Crime Writers, you're missing out. This is a collaborative site from the top names in Maine crime fiction, and is chock-full of great stuff and news from all of them.
http://mainecrimewriters.com/
Sunday, September 7, 2014
Audiobook Monthly- Interview and Review- Free Audio!
I'm interviewed in the current issue of Audiobook Monthly, out today. I get to talk about writing in different genres.
And they did a review of the audiobook version of The Big Book of Genre Stories.
To celebrate, I'll be giving away several copies of the audio book, a $24.95 value.
To win, send me an email to say you'd like one, and several winners will be selected at random.
And they have an interview with Fred Wolinsky, who narrated several of my books.
And they did a review of the audiobook version of The Big Book of Genre Stories.
To celebrate, I'll be giving away several copies of the audio book, a $24.95 value.
To win, send me an email to say you'd like one, and several winners will be selected at random.
And they have an interview with Fred Wolinsky, who narrated several of my books.
Saturday, September 6, 2014
Buttonwoods Museum Mysteries Night
Last night we were in Haverhill, MA, at the Buttonwoods Museum for a Mystery Author Night.
This is part of a long lecture series arranged by Chris Obert of Pear Tree Publishing, so thanks to him, and to the event sponsors.
And thanks to Tom, working the museum as staff that night, and Jay, who worked all the cameras to film us for community television (if you request from your local community TV station, they'll contact Haverhill TV to get a copy of the show and broadcast it).
To our sweaty regret, the air conditioner had broken down in time for our extremely hot experience. We soldiered on, in sauna-like conditions. Thanks also to those who came out to see us.
First, each author got up to talk about themself and their work, and read a short novel excerpt.
Afterward, 3 of us sat for a filmed Q&A panel to talk about the process of writing.
This is part of a long lecture series arranged by Chris Obert of Pear Tree Publishing, so thanks to him, and to the event sponsors.
And thanks to Tom, working the museum as staff that night, and Jay, who worked all the cameras to film us for community television (if you request from your local community TV station, they'll contact Haverhill TV to get a copy of the show and broadcast it).
To our sweaty regret, the air conditioner had broken down in time for our extremely hot experience. We soldiered on, in sauna-like conditions. Thanks also to those who came out to see us.
First, each author got up to talk about themself and their work, and read a short novel excerpt.
Afterward, 3 of us sat for a filmed Q&A panel to talk about the process of writing.
And the gang
Dana Owen (in yellow) and B.B. Boudreau
Fellow writers Rob Smales and Scott Goudsward dropped by to see what was happening. They'll be appearing with me and a few others at the same spot on Friday, Oct. 5th, for a night of Horror Authors, in honor of Halloween month. Should be a good time, with decorations, prizes, and lots of frights.
Chris Obert, of Pear Tree Publishing, who put the series together, gives an introduction
And the lineup, with K.D. Mason on the left
