MAYHEM ON MONDAYS

Lessons from a pioneer

Back in 1919 a young woman who received a number of gruff rejections for her first novel accepted a contract at last for the book. It was a contract that favoured the publisher and in fact meant that the author would not receive a penny for years for this book. Of course she was thrilled to see her first work published but that didn’t turn into cash in a hurry. Not only was she bound by harsh terms, but she was obligated to give this publisher her next four books! The book: The Mysterious Affair at Styles. The author? Agatha Christie. Christie went on to become what is generally believed to be the best-selling author of all time. The lesson: authors shouldn’t sell ourselves short. We may not follow that same meteoric path but we all need to be respected and treated fairly.

Do not be too anxious to give away your rights in order to be published. We should be thinking about this as the name of the game changes with e-books. What is fair and reasonable? That is the question.

Agatha Christie was horrified to learn that a Hollywood studio had actually bought the rights to her characters and could make whatever movies they wanted with them no matter how much she protested. A contract’s a contract. She hadn’t paid that much attention to the fine print. Everyone needs to pay attention to the business and read those contracts.

Authors reading this should take comfort in knowing that she frequently was most upset about her covers.

She was very prolific, turning out plays, short stories, romances, and 80 detective novels, and continuing to turn out “a Christie for Christmas” long after she felt like doing it. Agatha loved to travel, to decorate houses (and buy and sell them) as well as to cook, play with her dogs, enjoy her grandson’s company and stroll on her property. These seem like excellent pursuits to me. Sometimes she just had to force herself to sit down and write. Fine. I’ll get back to work.

In 2005, John Curran became acquainted with a Christie treasure trove when her family gave him access to her collected notebooks, still in Greenway. In Agatha Christie’s Secret Notebooks he shares what he found: the notebooks are full of illustrations, cross-outs, arrows, retries, plot versions, and great big X’s. Stories were worked, reworked, changed and changed again. Sometimes the story seemed to be turned upside down. If the parts of the novel weren’t working out to Christie’s satisfaction, she just kept at it, most likely surprising herself from time to time. Note to self: don’t give up if it doesn’t come together right the first time.

Christie drew on her experiences growing up in large well-appointed English houses, even though she was well-off rather than very wealthy in her early childhood. She used the rituals of entertaining and village life to create settings that captivated the world. When times were tough (down to one maid, nanny and cook), the family rented out their home and escaped to France where they could live well for much less. Agatha only noticed the adventure. She spent a lot of time in her imaginary world, peopled with characters that seemed real to her. We can all mine our life experience to enrich our stories, even if we didn’t have the nanny, the maid and the cook. Most of us had the dog.

She used her love of archaeological digs and travel in the Middle East (particularly pre-World War II Iraq) to create engaging and exotic tales that captured the setting and the lure of the digs. She wrote what she loved even though, it seems, she may not have always loved what she wrote.

These are just a few samples of what I’m learning from the seemingly immortal Dame Agatha in her own autobiography, as well as the surprisingly entertaining Duchess of Death: the Unauthorized Biography of Agatha Christie by Richard Hack and the fascinating Secret Notebooks. Christie is really a gift that keeps on giving, not just at Christmas.

It’s all helping me. So what lessons have you learned from classic crime writers?



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.

MYSTERY REVIEW

RELUCTANT DEAD
by John Moss
Dundurn Press

John Moss is quite the storyteller. He seamlessly blends historical details, descriptions of locations, and spy-tingling adventure into a page-turning novel. It's called Reluctant Dead. And although it starts with a murder or is it a suicide, in Toronto, that somehow gets lost in the convergence of lost treasure, spy antics, political factions, romantic notions and exotic locations. And yet, it doesn't get lost. It's still there, under the surface and weaves its way through it all.

In this, the third outing for Toronto police detectives Miranda Quinn and David Morgan, the partners take different paths. Quinn is on a three month sabbatical to Easter Island, in order to write a mystery novel. Morgan is handed the investigation of the death of Maria D'Arcy, wife of well-known lawyer, on a yacht moored at Toronto Island. Or is it truly a suicide, as he's led to believe?

Quinn's idyllic retreat turns into a hazardous setting, where she's drawn into a maze of deadly dealings having to do with a lost culture and political aspirations. While Morgan finds himself in the Arctic, trying to survive a rescue mission gone bad. Their stories converge back in Toronto and play out as both try to unravel the clues in this deadly game. The body count is high and the stakes are even higher. Plus, there are some unusual methods of murder!

There are a lot of layers to this novel, so be sure to pay close attention when reading. Part of the pleasure lies in the wonderful use of words that Moss chooses. And that's part of the annoyance, because you want to linger on the sentences. But you also feel the urgency to get on with the story and read to the conclusion. For instance, "Rove paused to let his emotions catch up to the narrative." ; and, "Miranda spun the notion around in her mind, looking for traction."

Reluctant Dead is also an homage to the settings -- Toronto, Easter Island and the Arctic. Do not expect a typical police procedural. But do expect to be entertained.

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

LADIES' KILLING THURSDAYS

Balance

Responding to Mary Jane’s Monday blog in which she described a panel she’d moderated at Bloody Words and the tips she’d picked up listening to the panelists I thought about the various panels I’ve attended over the years.

Some, such as the one where a retired woman police officer spoke of her trials and challenges as one of the first women on the force, amused while providing useful information. Others I remember not for their humour but solely for the information. I think particularly about one where an RCMP officer analyzed skid marks and what they told the police and another by a forensic dentist.

In the future I’d like to sit in on a panel that discusses balance. Not the challenge of standing on one foot while staring at a spot on the wall but balance in writing. Should a book be mainly about the characters with a mystery thrown in to focus their attention and give the author reasons to see how the characters will react in a crisis? Or are the characters secondary to the mystery and the progress of the plot? It seems to me that for most good writers the characters are of paramount importance. If this is so how do you find the balance between plot and character development?

An indication of how successful the author has been is the reader’s involvement with the characters. As an example, I want Mary Jane Maffini to keep us up-to-date as Sweet Marie and Truffles take and pass their tests, to let us know if Jack and Charlotte become an item. I love the characters and admire the author’s ability to deal with social issues like bullying without preaching.

Vicki Delaney also provides the reader with engaging characters. I’m waiting for the next book to see if Constable Molly Smith’s mother, Lucky, gets back together with the police chief. Her description of how Lucky felt when her husband died was heart rending and so right.

Two more examples would be Gail Bowen and the family that has grown and developed book by book until they seem like people we actually know and Barbara Fradkin and Inspector Green’s family as well as the staff at the station.

Not to say that the people in the books are perfect. Their flaws make them endearing and remind us of our selves, of our problems and failings. However we do like the principle characters. If I’m reading a book where I don’t relate or really despise the protagonists I don’t finish the book.

Like Mary Jane each of the authors mentioned above deals not only with murder but also with relevant social issues and they do so with balance. Here again, if I didn’t care about the characters I wouldn’t care about the problems they face.

If anyone out there is looking for a panel topic at one of the cons we love to attend how about putting ‘balance’ on the agenda?



Joan Boswell is a member of the Ladies Killing Circle and co-edited four of their short story anthologies: Fit toDie, Bone Dance, Boomers Go Bad and Going Out With a Bang. Her three mysteries, Cut Off His Tale, Cut to the Quick and Cut and Run were published in 2005, 2007 and 2007. In 2000 she won the $10,000 Toronto Star’s short story contest. Joan lives in Toronto with three flat-coated retrievers.

WICKED WEDNESDAYS

Writing what you know.

The sage advice to all new writers is, write what you know. Everyone's heard that one. So the writer goes about researching a topic, if it's an unknown. And usually says that the book is not based on any particular person, especially not him or herself.

On Monday night I had the privilege of attending a dinner, part of the Ottawa Regional Booksellers Association spring book fair. I used to go to them on a regular basis when I owned Prime Crime. Now, I'm invited as a Bookseller Emeritus. I like to think it's not because of my age. It's fun to schmooze again with former colleagues -- booksellers and sales reps from around the region. And, equally enjoyable are the authors who are invited to speak about their new books that appear on the upcoming season's list.

What a stellar group of authors on Monday! Only one was a mystery writer, Tom Henighan, author of Nightshade. With this new book he's gone back to his roots -- both as a young adult writer and personally. The Boy From Left Field has a mystery to it, but is mainly about baseball, a sport he's passionate about.

He was followed by well-known CTV political reporter Craig Oliver, whose autobiography, Oliver's Twist is also on the fall list. He delighted us with stories from his many years on the Hill, a taste of what we'll find between these covers.

Alan Cumyn, an award-winning author of many books for children and adults, spoke about his newest, Tilt, the story of a 16-year-old boy, basketball, and a girl. Here again, a sport of his teen years.

The final author was also an award winner and a member of the Order of Canada, Frances Itani. Her new novel, Requiem, deals with the Japanese internment camps of World War II in B.C. There is a personal connection for Itani and to hear her talk about the research involved brought another dimension to this novel which will be published in Sept. 2011.

All four authors were writing about what they knew. They had actually experienced or had a connection to their stories. After hearing them speak and knowing about these connections, it will be very interesting reading their books when they are released.

Which also gives a plug to author readings. They can add so much to the reader's enjoyment of a book. There's no mystery about that!


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

TUESDAY BRINGS TROUBLE

Remembering...

Sunday night was Tony Awards night on TV! I love the Tonys just as I love watching old black & white Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers movies. I re-watch my DVDs of Rent, West Side Story, My Fair Lady, South Pacific and many more. And while the Tonys honour much more than musicals, that's what's captured my attention.

The Tonys remind me of the real live movie star I met when I was a young girl, on a visit to my aunt's house in Port Angeles, Wash. Renting out her basement apartment for a short while was Marjie Millar. If you were an avid watcher of anything that had dancing and singing in it, you might have seen Marjie. She appeared in the mid-50's as Ray Bolger's love interest on his weekly TV show, as well as in numerous movies and TV series. She was a tall, gorgeous, blonde. Like I said, a movie star. However, she'd been in a horrid car accident and she'd had to give up dancing. I lapped up the stories she told and photograph albums I was allowed to pour through. I romanticized at the time that she was retreating from the world. Sadly, she died a few years later. But I never forgot her.

So when the point came during the Tonys, where those involved in the industry who died in the past year are remembered, I thought of Marjie again. (I know, she wasn't on Broadway but she was bigger than life to me). The Academy Awards do it, too.

And, Crime Writers of Canada does something similar on its website with the In Memoriam. This past year, the Canadian crime writing world lost Michael Van Rooy, author of A Criminal to Remember, which was up for a Best Crime Novel award. He died early this year while on tour in Montreal.

In 2010, John Ballem from Calgary was remembered for his 14 novels. The previous year, Lyn Hamilton, a double Arthur Ellis nominee, left her readers with 11 books in the wonderful Lara McClintoch mysteries. And in 2008, Dennis Richard Murphy, an Arthur Ellis winner for Best Short Story, died just after finishing his first novel, Darkness at the Stroke of Noon, which went on to be short-listed for Best First.

These, and there may be other mystery authors in various stages of their careers who I haven't listed, are remembered and missed. The crime and mystery genre is richer because of their contributions. And we are grateful.


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

MAYHEM ON MONDAYS

Picking up the pace

I have come to realize that no matter how long I keep writing there’s always something new to learn about technique and the art and construction of compelling fiction. And that’s not to mention how much I have managed to forget and need to be reminded of. So on a panel at the very excellent Bloody Words conference in beautiful Victoria, BC, three excellent crime writers gave me and the rest of the audience plenty to think about. Although I was moderating, their comments were so worthwhile that I wanted to take notes. So if I ever find out who stole my pen, they are toast!

The authors (in alphabetical order) are the very funny and stylish Anthony Bidulka, creator of the acclaimed Russell Quant series, Donald Hauka (who writes the engaging Mr. Jinnah mysteries and has a killer wit) and the very entertaining Phyllis Smallman (creator of the excellent Sherri Travis books). They generously shared tips on how they balance humour and tension in the crafting of their books.

I’ll pass on a few of their tips to you, paraphrasing as I go (remember that missing pen!)

Sherri Travis is a funny, wise-cracking bartender whose life is never lacking in heart-stopping drama. When asked how she makes sure that the humour doesn’t overcome the serious plot elements, Phyllis said that she restricts where Sherri can be funny and smart-mouthy to The Sunset, the bar where she (Sherri, not Phyllis) works and kibitzes with her customers. That way the jokes and humour never need slow down an action scene. Something to remember for me, as I once had a growling stomach give away the protagonist’s location to the villain. Back to square one,

Don Hauka who has exquisite comic instincts, said that timing is the trick. You have to make sure that the joke or witticism doesn’t deflate the scene. I’d like to know how to do this better, but I am beginning to think you have to be born with that talent. Mr. Jinnah is hilarious and always optimistic and opportunistic. Some combo. His voice can’t be ‘turned off’. So during an autopsy of a young man (which was dramatic and sad), Mr. Jinnah does manage to keep his cool, but loses his lunch. My favourite line was the point where he asked himself ‘when was he going to remember to take a tranquillizer before these things’.

Tony Bidulka reminded us that we should manage the grief. Our characters are always losing someone - people die in mysteries after all. But a character who is not grieving over the loss of someone close will seen cold and wooden, hardly the kind of person you could root for. On the other hand, if the protagonist is sunk into grief through most of a book, that will really drag down the story. When Anthony had a serious character die, he did it between books. Good thinking.

Three panelists. Three sets of tips. There was much much more but you will remember the sad case of the pilfered pen. So if you want to see how they really pull it together, read their books and watch the pros (and the prose) at work. And make sure you’re at the next Bloody Words conference where the panels and panelist really deliver the goods.


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.