CRIME ON MY MIND

Reviews, reviews, and what...paid reviews?

This seems to have caught the attention of many writers these past few days, so in case you missed it, have a read. This article appeared in the Globe & Mail earlier this week and it's about paid reviews. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books-and-media/brand-writer-is-a-brand-not-a-writer/article4508474/

Thought-provoking, isn't it?

What are your thoughts on the subject? Are paid reviews fair play? How can the reader be assured these reviews are accurate and not biased because money has changed hands? You can't. Well, then should these reviews be labeled as such? Like the "Paid Advertisement" page in a newspaper or magazine? I like this idea.

Of course, regardless of the reviews, it all comes down to the individual reader. All tastes are different and while an extremely well-written book might deserve a fabulous review, if few readers find it to their taste, does it matter?

I used to avidly read an arts reviewer in a local newspaper, knowing that if he liked a performance, I wouldn't. And visa versa. I was usually spot on with my assessment of his reviews.

What about the business of cajoling family and friends, particularly those on Facebook or Twitter, to "Like" an author page or vote for your book for some prize or other? This is happening all over the internet these days and my feeling is that readers are becoming jaded. They know that a five-star rating on Amazon could be the result of friends of authors signing in and hitting the "Like" or star icons.

So how will this all end? Will readers, knowing all these efforts in the background, start judging books on a popularity basis -- look at how many stars or likes, therefore this is a well-liked person, so I'll read his/her book? They might. But I think as in all things, if that book doesn't make it to their personal "Best Reads" list, there's little chance they'll read anything else by that author. so, merit will out in the end.

Back to the reviews...I'll be posting one for this weekend. To be up front, I don't review books I have a hard time reading or dislike for whatever reason. And, my opinion is one as a reader, not a literary critic. As such, I don't bad-mouth an author but try to give enough information about the content of the book and its strong points so that other readers can make up their own minds about whether to read it or not. And, I can categorically state...I don't get paid! Hmmmm....

Linda Wiken/Erika Chase

A KILLER READ
Berkley Prime Crime, now available
READ & BURIED, coming Dec., 2012; available for pre-order
www.erikachase.com

WICKED WEDNESDAYS

Is there a 12-step program for this?

As I push aside a stack of trade paperbacks in order to retrieve a book from the bottom shelf of one of three bookcases in my home office, I guiltily remember that I have five new titles on order.

Where am I going to put them? What was I thinking? Is there no help for my condition, commonly known as book addiction?

That's one of the perils of getting back into the book business, no matter how minutely. I now have a method of buying books at publisher's discount. Not the kind of enabling you allow an addict.

But there's no controlling this 'illness', I'm happy to admit. I'm a bookie, and not the e-book kind of reader. I need the solid cover and pages of a read in my hands. Or in a stack on the floor, as the case may be. Or it could be on my nightside table, on the coffee table in the living room, or stashed at odd angles on any one of the many, many bookcases in the house.

And last night I found myself trying to track down the three Magdalen Nabb titles I'm still missing! What next? Oh, yes...I think there's a Cara Black on that list, too. And then, think of all the new titles coming out this fall and winter -- Louise Penny, Vicki Delany, Peter Robinson, Barbara Fradkin to name a few. Bring on those cold, blustery winter days.

That's when addictions like mine really pay off!

Linda Wiken/Erika Chase

A KILLER READ
Berkley Prime Crime, now available
READ & BURIED, coming Dec., 2012 (now available for pre-order)
www.erikachase.com

MAYHEM ON MONDAYS

The idea connection!

This is what writers who are having a tad bit of difficulty coming up with a blog idea do: recommend you read a colleague's blog instead. So, here it is. http://www.openbooktoronto.com/cbforrest/blog/wtf_performance_enhancing_drugs_and_writer

C.B. Forrest, in his own inimitable way, explains the secret of being a writer. Not with the aid of performance enhancing drugs but rather, with 'drugs' that happen to wake a person up or/and keep them awake. Caffeine, of course!

Which probably explains why I've resorted to plugging Chris's blog this a.m. Not enough caffeine in my system.

So, while you click over to his blog and settle in for a thoroughly enjoyable read, I'll head downstairs to the espresso maker and try again!

I'm really hoping that with the aid of another two or three cups, I'll be able to return and actually start writing. As in, book. As in, work. Wish me luck!

Linda Wiken/Erika Chase

A KILLER READ
Berkley Prime Crime, now available
READ & BURIED, coming Dec., 2012
www.erikachase.com

MYSTERY REVIEW

THE MASTERSINGER FROM MINSK
by Morley Torgov
Dundurn Press

If you like a little history, especially of the musical variety, with your mystery, you'll enjoy The Mastersinger From Minsk, the second outing for Morley Torgov's Inspector Preiss.

The setting is Munich, 1868 and someone has threatened the eminent composer Richard Wagner with ruination at the premiere of his latest work, an opera. Fearing the worst, Inspector Preiss is called in to track down the culprit. A good thing, too because suddenly the murders start happening.

Richard Wagner, known for his short temper and arrogance, seems to have no shortage of possible enemies...from the rejected tenor to the beautiful Cornelia who claims to be pregnant by Wagner, even the mastersinger Schramm begins to look suspicious. Preiss, with his immense knowledge of the music wolrd is the ideal sleuth in this case but he's also frustrated by a jealous colleague and his visiting lady friend, herself a singer who agrees to help but may be getting a bit too involved.

Torgov is a writer who knows his musicians and he does a wonderful job of portraying Richard Wagner. The entire cast of the opera and those inhabiting the police world provide an added dimension to this delightful mystery. Murder in A-Major was the first Inspector Preiss mystery. I've heard this one may be the last. If that's true, it's too bad.

CRIME ON MY MIND

What's new?


As I mentioned before, fall is just around the corner. So, what's new with you? Soon a whole new batch of September titles will hit the market, followed by launches and signings. Will you have a new book out this fall?

Or maybe you've finally launched a website or redesigned one. Started your own blog? How about planning a book tour?

I want to know! Please send me details: who, what, where, when & even why. You know the routine. And in turn, I'll post them in upcoming events or maybe try to convince you to write a guest blog. It has been known to happen.

Start schmoozing a la Mystery Maven. And, if it's a book that's coming out, let me know who the publisher is, too. You can find me at mysterymaven@rogers.com.

Let's get the news out!

Linda Wiken/Erika Chase

A KILLER READ
Berkley Prime Crime, now available
READ & BURIED, coming Dec., 2012
www.erikachase.com

WICKED WEDNESDAYS

Where has summer gone?


I know it's still summer but don't you feel fall creeping in? After the drought of summer has finally broken, can you feel the cool breezes that start each day off, inviting a light jacket or at the very least, a long-sleeved T-shirt for those early morning walks?

As I mentioned on Monday, the plans of summer are also vanishing. The new forays into writing have not taken place -- although I do have a couple of more weeks to redeem myself. Or perhaps I should think of them now as new writing opportunities for fall.

I'll add them to my list of planned activities which include signing up for a zhumba class, volunteering at the food bank one morning a week, and preparing for Bouchercon. That's the next conference on my list, in Cleveland, Thanksgiving weekend of all times.

I also need to register for Left Coast Crime which happens in March, 2013 and the next Malice Domestic. I've already booked the hotel for both these events. And then we'll have the Arthur Ellis Awards in Toronto, the Bony Blythe afternoon, also in Toronto...and by that time, we're well into summer again. How time flies!

And I'm sure there'll be a lot going on at Britton's, too.

Surely, there'll be time to write a short story or brand new series, shimmied into the writing of the first series.

What about you and your writing? Is there ever enough time?

Linda Wiken/Erika Chase

A KILLER READ
Berkley Prime Crime, now available
READ & BURIED, coming Dec., 2012
www.erikachase.com

MAYHEM ON MONDAYS

Freshen up...

What do you do to keep a series fresh? I ask that as I'm plunging into the fourth book, realizing too that summer is almost over and I haven't done most of the things I'd planned to do.

On that list was firstly, to write a short story. I don't have a market in mind nor a deadline but I thought it would be a good way to stir up the creative juices. I'd also wanted to tackle the first manuscript in an earlier series that never went past three rejection letters. I still like the concept, even after putting it aside for several years but know it really needs a another attack. Maybe I'll change it from first to third person. Maybe it won't get done this summer after all.

An aside about that book -- since I've written it, some of the details have changed such as a location and therefore, the description of that place. So, the question is, to leave it as a book set in the late nineties or update it? Of course, electronics are greatly changed, too which could impact some parts of the story. More to consider. Will I ever get back to it?

I've also toyed with the idea of writing a Rapid Read. I'm impressed with the ease my colleagues seem to be turning out these gems. I notice however, that's still on the list. Not much has been crossed off, come to think of it.

I've always looked forward to the fall. Maybe it came from working for the school board once upon a time as a community worker. All things were possible as new programs were starting and eagerness abounded. So, maybe just maybe, I can multi-track and check something off my list, along with writing #4.

But will it give me that extra benefit of writing an Ashton Corners Book Club mystery from a place of freshness? Time will tell.

So, back to my original question...how do you keep a series fresh? Start another one, perhaps?

Linda Wiken/Erika Chase

A KILLER READ
Berkley Prime Crime, now available
READ & BURIED, coming Dec., 2012
www.erikachase.com