WICKED WEDNESDAY

I was reading the Maven's blog about ebooks, and thought I would share something with all of you.

On our recent cruise to Asia, we attended the daily enrichment lectures in the big theatre. Because there were 2,500 people on the cruise, and only 1,000 seats in the theatre, everybody showed up early to get a seat. What to do with that dead half hour? Read. What to read?

80% of the passengers were carrying electronic reading devices. Here is a photo of the row I was in. 13 seats. I was taking the photo. Everyone else was reading. Two were reading novels. Ten were reading from hand held devices.

Notice the demographic. Mostly retired folk. People our age, who are not as adept with technology as the next two generations are, have adopted this new medium with vigor. Electronic books are indispensible on cruise ships, because of all the free time available, and the restrictions in luggage space. The ship's library did a roaring trade in fiction and non-fiction, but it was a small library, so the selection was somewhat limited.

Most people on the cruise were veteran cruisers who knew how things work and what to expect. They were prepared.

With ebook readers.

TUESDAY BRINGS TROUBLE

Writing to be read!

Here’s a thought…in today’s busy world, in order to capture the reader’s attention you need to persuade the reader to spend his or her time with you. I’m reducing Andrew Coyne’s column in today’s Ottawa Citizen to a one-liner when in fact, he goes on for many print inches about this topic. He was talking about journalists and how, when there are so many other distractions out there (and even within the newspaper), each writer needs to do something, write something, in some manner that will be an attention-grabber and keep that reader hooked to the end.

Now, blogs are similar to columns. So I read this with great interest. Besides, I like his writing style. Two points in favour of my reading the column. But more to the point, I was hoping to gain some useful tips.

Another thing he points out is that in order to persuade the reader to spend time with the writer, the least said writer can do is “make himself agreeable company. People choose a writer, that is, rather in the same way they choose a friend.” Hmmm. So, treat them with respect, don’t shout at them, and give them something, “a paradox, a laugh, a fact they didn’t know.” Okay, I get it. What’s good for a column is good for a blog.

But let’s take it a step further. What’s good for a column and a blog is good for a short story and a novel.

We’re all in the same business here. We’re competing for those precious few minutes, hopefully hours, that the reader is able to allocate to reading…the column, the blog, the book. We compete with the myriad of electronics, the crunch of real life, and the crush of time. So it makes sense we give the reader something of value in exchange for that time.

We spend all those hours, days, weeks, months and years creating all those mystery and crime novels that will be read in a mere matter of hours, days and weeks perhaps. But if we do our job well enough, that reader will be back for more. Because we’re now friends and you want to spend time with a friend, and hear/read his or her story. And that writer wants to hear from the reader and hopefully, keep writing the kind of books that will make this a long-time relationship.

Sure, writers write what they want or need to say. But writers also write to be read. Did this blog persuade you? To read Coyne's column go to:
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/could+have+moment+your+time+please/5937762/story.html

Linda Wiken/Erika Chase
A Killer Read coming April, 2012
from Berkley Prime Crime
www.erikachase.com

TUESDAY BRINGS TROUBLE

The not-so-lonely life of a writer...

It's often said that writing is a solitary task and that at a certain point, every writer needs to get out and enjoy a social life. I've just passed another milestone in my writing career...and can attest to the fact that the solitary phase does pass.

To re-iterate, the first book in the Ashton Corners Book Club mysteries was due on the editor's computer last Dec. lst. Check. Did that. Then, book #2 was due on Sept. 1st. Also check. It went in.

A couple of months ago the cover process started for book #1. My input was sought, the cover blurb was written & revised, a bio was sent. Then last weekend, book #1 appeared back in my inbox, complete with comments for revision. Did that, sent it back yesterday.

Throughout this journey, I've had some amazing input to help me along the way. First from my great friend who hooked me up with her agent, then from my agent with the first three chapters, then the Berkley editor for the same three chapters. After I'd written a second draft of the novel, it went out to readers. More input came in, which assisted with the next draft. Several research questions answered by people in the know. More massaging (of both the book & my sore back) and then, the completed manuscript was sent in. Time for a glass of wine!

My point is that sure, there were solitary chunks of writing time in the nine month process. But it took teamwork to get to the publishing stage. Colleagues, friends, agent, editor, family, too! And also, people I know from other interests in my life asking how the book was coming along and saying they couldn't wait to read it. Sweet words to an author.

So, thanks to my entire team for all your support. This social stage will be short-lived though. Book #3 is due in 9 months. See you at the other end!

Who have been the supports in your writing life?


Linda Wiken/Erika Chase
A Killer Read coming April, 2012
from Berkley Prime Crime

LADIES' KILLING THURSDAYS

Bumps on the e-book road

We've just encountered our first hiccup in the Little Treasures e-publishing experience. If you follow this blog you'll know that we, The Ladies' Killing Circle, published our first e-book in July. Little Treasures is a collection of seven stories from our first mystery anthology.

Up to now the e-publishing process has been a dream - seamless and much more fun than any of us expected. We had the extreme good fortune to have Donna Carrick, of Carrick Publishing handle the hard bits. She knows all there is to know about getting books onto Kindle and other e-books, such as Kobo, Sony and Nook.

Donna is speedy but meticulous and insisted that we be as well. Each of us went through the entire text with a fine-tooth comb, reading each story again and again. The final publication reflects this attention to detail. I've read several other books on my Kindle that could have benefitted from Donna's ministrations.

So where's the hiccup? Our very first Kindle review was published yesterday by a woman from New Jersey. The book was unreadable, she said, words were jumbled up, parts of sentences missing. The text was white print on a black background. Well, no wonder she had trouble reading it! This was clearly a transmission problem or at least a problem with her Kindle. It would be nonsense to think that Amazon would publish a document in white text on black background. Their stock in trade is that all their books look exactly alike and they all look as much like paper books as possible.

The problem is that a single bad review sits on the Kindle site like an anvil. It drags all other reviews down with it and scotches any hopes we might have had for a consistent five-star rating. This reviewer admits that she didn't read any of the stories (as they were understandably unreadable in their pixilated form) but choosing to give the book a bad review because of a transmission problem, gives us a problem and more importantly it gives our excellent publisher a problem. This kind of review makes all of us look bad.

As long as there have been books and literary critics, authors have griped about bad reviews. But at least, in the pre-ebook days there were editors to ensure that what was being reviewed was the writing and not just a poor print run. Today, with peer reviews, we don't have that safeguard. Anything goes.



Sue Pike has published a couple of dozen stories and won several awards including an Arthur Ellis Award for Best Short Crime Story. Her latest, Where the Snow Lay Dinted appeared in the January issue of Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine.

Sue and her husband and an opinionated Australian Shepherd named Cooper spend the winter months in Ottawa and the rest of the time at a mysterious cottage on the Rideau Lakes.

CRIME ON MY MIND

With a Little Help from my Friends!

Does that tune run through your mind when you read the words? It should be the theme song of every writer.

I'll get by with a little....
I'll overcome my writer's block with a little ....
My rants and fears will be eased with a little....
My sales will skyrocket with a little help from my friends!

The crime writing community of friends is a very congenial one. No backstabbing allowed here! Well-established writers are more than happy to share the wisdom gained over years of publishing. Crime writers revel in each others' success from that first published novel to yet another award. And authors are more than happy to give a nod to, a mention on Facebook, a cover blurb, and tell all their friends about a fellow writer's new book. I wonder if the world of mainstream writing functions the same?

Because as we all know, it's word of mouth that really counts these days. We're very fortunate in Canada to have some terrific reviewers who will take the time to review new authors -- Margaret Canon, Don Graves and Jim Napier come to mind. And there are certainly others.

But it's the Facebook mention between friends that explodes into the universe as it's 'shared'. It's the Twitter mentions that provide the same outreach. It's the book club reading list. And the personal recommendations of friend to friend, reader to reader that make the real difference in whether a book, a series, an author's career will survive.

The crime writing and reading community is terrific. So proud to be a part of it. We all should be proud.

So, what book will you recommend today?

Linda Wiken/Erika Chase
A Killer Read coming in April, 2012
from Berkley Prime Crime

MAYHEM ON MONDAYS

Ah the August holiday. Canadians seem unclear on exactly what we are celebrating on the first Monday of the month. Well, I know what I’m celebrating: the joy of reading. Of course, we can read all year long and there’s something wonderful about reading inside on a snowy day, or in front of a roaring fire. But nothing beats reading on the deck or on the dock or just by an open window with summer breezes floating by. I’ll even confess to enjoying reading with the hum of the air
conditioner in the background. As they say, it’s all good.

Maybe it’s the sense of freedom that summer brings, although with our ever more connected world while we have more ability to get things done, we’re rarely free of messages or what I sometimes think of as online tyranny. But never mind that, we can still read. I have been choosing to read print, but will soon go over to ‘the other side’ and buy an e-reader. I am very excited as The Ladies Killing Circle has

just issued it’s first e-collection: Little Treasures. We’re proud of our seven stories and think that the format will introduce our work to new readers near and far to our Canadian voices. In the moment of celebration, I think I’ll wait to worry about my potential purchase: say, the first time my e-reader falls in the tub as so many of my paperbacks have. Or tumbles from my hands as I fall asleep and lands on the floor with a …

Well, back to the here and now. I am reading print books at the cottage. Last weekend I read A Brush with Death, by Elizabeth Duncan, a delicious cozy set in Wales. In five minutes I’m going to be curling up with The Witch of Babylon, by D.J. McIntosh. I have been savoring this antiquities mystery, which so far has moved from looting in Iraq to dark doings in New York. Better yet, both the authors are Canadian, although their settings are elsewhere.

I like to have different books for different settings and, even at the cottage, usually have one going on the sofa, by the bed, on the deck and in my suitcase. This may be getting easier with the e-reader. Time will tell. The main thing is the content, I have always loved and will continue to love the work of my Canadian colleagues. I enjoy reading them on a little patch of the great Canadian outdoors. Now if that’s not worth having a holiday for, I don’t know what is! Fireworks anyone?


Mary Jane Maffini rides herd on three (soon to be three and a half) mystery series and a couple of dozen short stories. Her thirteenth mystery novel, The Busy Woman’s Guide to Murder, which hit the bookshelves this spring, is brimming with names, no two the same.

CRIME ON MY MIND

E-readers....again!

I keep coming back to this topic, mostly because there's a part of me that's nagging away, saying it's time to buy one.

I did order a Kobo Touch but re-packaged it the next day, ready to return. I didn't enjoy reading a book on it -- although I have to admit, I didn't give it a very good try-out, mainly because the 'Touch' part was driving me nuts. It was soooo slow to respond and I'm an impatient person. Until their technology is improved, I'm not a good candidate for it. But really -- reading such a small portion on a small screen just wasn't my thing. I don't even like to read books or stories on my much larger computer screen. That should have been a clue.

Then there's the tactile experience thing!

Back to Kobo. I also had one of the worst customer service experiences of all time. It took them over 2 weeks to respond to my question about how to return it. I finally gave up and did what I should have the next day -- took it to my nearby Chapters for a refund. But on the website it does say to contact Kobo directly for instructions. That works...if you get a reply. I do not appreciate being stuck in a que in order to get a message that tells me I'm stuck in a que.

So, I looked on-line at the Kindle. Amazon.com has it priced at $139.00 (special price for the regular $189.00) but, oops, they won't ship to a Canadian address. Amazon.ca has the same Kindle priced at $299.99. Does this make sense? Especially with these exchange rates? I can understand the book industry lagging behind in adjusting prices...but come on now, this is an electronic device & others do it all the time!

So...I've laid the whole idea to rest. I love my paperbacks, my trade paperbacks, and my hardbacks. They look great, they're an enjoying reading experience, and even though bulky when traveling...worth it, to me.

I guess like our choices in books...we're each entitled to our own choice of reading experiences. Just as long as we're buying books and reading!



Linda Wiken/Erika Chase
A Killer Read coming in April, 2012
from Berkley Prime Crime

CRIME ON MY MIND

To e-read or not to e-read...that is the question!

I never thought I'd be saying these words: I'm seriously thinking of buying an e-reader. I hasten to add, this doesn't mean I've given up on paper books which are still my preferred method of reading. It's just that a number of things have converged and this may be the time for me to dive in.

Firstly, looking ahead to my upcoming overseas trip with my choir, I realize the value of travelling with an e-reader rather than packing an unknown number of paper books -- will it be enough or too many? -- in my luggage. Secondly, I've been inundated with ads about the new Kobo Touch. So, what's a gal to do but take the plunge.

My friend who works at Chapters/Indigo assures me the Kobo has access to a wider selection of books than its main competitor, Kindle. Funny, I had heard the reverse. Not that I'd ever doubt her word but she is an excellent employee! Those are the two brands I'm zeroing in on. The IPad has great reviews but it does more than I want and is out of my price range, so no more thoughts there. Same goes for the Sony Reader.

Here's where my research has taken me so far. The Ottawa Public Library website has a very helpful section on choosing an e-reader. I've made note of the products used by my writing friends. And, I have read various blogs on the topic, although I admit, I wasn't paying close attention because at the time, I was so certain I would never buy an e-reader. Sigh.

Never say never!

So, before my final decision is made, I'm appealing to you, as a blog reader with unquestionably excellent taste in matters related to reading...which e-reader gets your vote? The Kobo or the Kindle? And why?

Please keep in mind my aging eyesight and my love of Canadian mysteries when making recommendations.

May you have a happy reading weekend, whatever type of book you're reading!


Linda Wiken/Erika Chase
A Killer Read coming April, 2012
from Berkley Prime Crime

CRIME ON MY MIND

The neverending e-book story...

Speaking, or rather blogging as someone who has gone on record, many times, stating I'll never become an e-reader user, it's funny how I often return to this topic. Not that I'm planning to buy one...yet.

But as a writer, e-books are not to be ignored. Every day there's an announcement on Facebook or on a blog or digest from authors publishing an e-book. Many are new writers, what we would have called self-published at one point but I understand the term might better be Indie-published. Others are established authors who have dug back into their desk drawers for previously un-published stories or they have chosen to give new life to a book that's gone out-of-print. Vicki Delany springs to mind in this last category.

But the way is being led by American writers. For instance, well-known thriller writer Barry Eisler has had much press recently about his unprecedented refusal of a $500,000 contract with Random House (count the zeroes!!) and opted to publish his latest output as an e-book. Wow...gutsy or what! He's even cut loose from his agent.

I read a conversation between him and another US thriller writer with a long publishing record, Joe Konrath, who has been doing this for years now and wouldn't go back to traditional, or legacy publishing is the term they use.

These guys are making a good living from this. Their royalty percentage is much higher, which is a good start, although there is still a lot of work to be done in the percentages columns, according to them. The Lost Coast, a short story that Eisler recently published as an e-book, has brought him $1000 within a few weeks, that's after an initial outlay of $600 for design, cover, etc. And sales will continue growing.

What does this mean? To writers, it's all good news although I like the Delany approach. After finally finding an agent and publisher, I'm not about to ditch them. But then again, no one has offered me a $500,000 contract. In my dreams!

The traditional or legacy publishing market has gotten increasingly tougher to break into over the years but now it's a whole new playing field with a new rule book, too.

I'm still not going to run out and buy an e-reader. By the way, the March issue of Real Simple has a helpful column on e-reader eyestrain.

What about you -- is publishing an e-book in your future?


Linda Wiken/Erika Chase
Book Club Mysteries coming April 2012 from Berkley Prime Crime
Murder by the Book