Archive for the ‘Elaine Viets’ Category

All the nice people will be at Sleuthfest

Wednesday, February 10th, 2010

It never ceases to amaze me that so many mystery authors seem to be on a level playing field.  

Stephen J. Cannell

Stephen J. Cannell

 By that I mean that no matter their level of success, most authors are approachable both to fans, other writers and, yes, even a few critics. Meet one author and he or she is sure to introduce you to another, whose books you’ll also enjoy.

   Regardless of whether an author’s novels are always on the best-sellers lists or the writer is just starting out; the mystery genre seems to have some of the nicest people. Oh, sure, there are a few, rare exceptions. (And we all know who they are!)

   Of course, I don’t know what the authors say behind our backs, but their attitude usually seems genuine.

   It was brought home to me again during a recent interview with producer, screenwriter and author Stephen J. Cannell.

   Cannell has been responsible for many of TV’s most iconic series, including The Rockford Files, The A-Team, Baretta, The Commish, 21 Jump Street and Adam-12. His latest novel is The Pallbearers.

  I was only supposed to have a half-hour telephone interview with Cannell, due to his busy schedule. We ended up talking for nearly an hour and never once did I get a hint that he needed to go or was tired of the questions.

He was a pleasure to talk with and a fountain of information.

   I am sure that Cannell will bring the same nice-guy attitude when he is one of the guests of honors during this year’s Sleuthfest, the annual writers’ conference sponsored by the Florida chapter of the Mystery Writers of America. The fun and games begin Feb. 26-28 at the Deerfield Beach Hilton in Deerfield Beach, Florida. That’s a suburb of Fort Lauderdale, for those of you unfamiliar with South Florida.

   As in the past couple of years, Sleuthfest will feature two guests of honor: David Morrell on Friday and Stephen J. Cannell on Saturday. Morrell has written more than 25 thrillers and numerous nonfiction books, starting with his 1972 novel First Blood. Many know the film version – a little flick called Rambo with Sylvester Stallone.

   Sleuthfest is one of the best conferences and one of the few devoted to writers instead of fans. If you’re interested in writing, this is the conference to attend.

   In addition to Morrell and Cannell, Sleuthfest also brings in many published authors from across the country to discuss writing techniques and agents and editors to discuss publishing.

   Mystery authors scheduled to be at Sleuthfest include James W. Hall, Charles Todd, Peter Robinson, Paul Levine, William Dietrich, James Grippando, P.J. Parrish, Barry Eisler, Lisa Black, Elaine Viets, James O. Born, Neil Plakcy, Les Standiford, Christine Kling, Jonothon King, Jeremiah Healy. Samdra Balzo and Joanna Campbell.

And, yes, there are more but I just ran out of space!

  Sleuthfest registration, which includes some meals, is $235 for members; $255 for nonmembers. There are still openings, so come on down.

As an incentive, the weather is darned nice!

Contact Linda Hengerer at SleuthFestLinda@gmail.com or verowriter@gmail.com. The Web site is www.sleuthfest.com.

Posted in Charles Todd, David Morrell, Elaine Viets, James O. Born, Paul Levine, Peter Robinson, Sleuthfest | 7 Comments »

Thankful for authors who give

Wednesday, November 25th, 2009

By Oline H. Cogdill

As we enter the holiday season – starting with Thanksgiving – we also enter a time when non-profit organizations need our help more than ever.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the mystery community does its part whenever it can. At every Bouchercon, there is an auction for which many authors donate books, character names and more with the proceeds going to a local literacy group.

The trick for many in the mystery community is to find unusual ways to help non-profit groups.  A couple of years ago, Mystery Scene donated $5 to the New Orleans Library Fund for every back issue sold.

Chris Grabenstein and Fred

Chris Grabenstein and Fred

Here’s what two authors are doing. We’d love to hear more stories from authors.

Chris Grabenstein, author of the Ceepak novels, says he tries to come up with ways to donate books and character names that will help raise money for charity.

  For example,  when his fourth Ceepak novel Hell Hole came out, Grabenstein “bought a bunch of books at my author discount, St. Martin’s donated a box and we auctioned off a couple of character names and raised $5,000 for the FDNY Burn Unit – since the book was dedicated to Engine 23.”

 The author also held the novel’s launch party at the firehouse.

“Recently, we raised $2,000 for a tutoring program I volunteer at by donating several cases of books, throwing a party with a magician for kids in the tutoring program, and auctioning off a name in next year’s YA book.” Grabenstein added.

“And, for my sixth Ceepak novel, I needed a dog and cat so we ran an Internet contest to raise money for an animal rescue group.  We raised $1,000!”

Elaine Viets during signing for Humane Society of Missouri

Elaine Viets during signing for Humane Society of Missouri

Two of Elaine Viets’ novels have revolved around pets so it was a natural fit for her to donate money to animal causes. For her 2006 novel Murder Unleashed: A Dead-End Job Mystery, Viets personally donated $1 to Pets Are Worth Saving (PAWS) for every copy of the novel sold during its debut month. For her latest novel The Fashion Hound Murders: Josie Marcus, Mystery Shopper about puppy mills, Viets had a signing at the Humane Society of Missouri. A portion of her sales went to that group. 

 But like Grabenstein, Viets has supported other causes. For Fashion Hound, Viets recently was one of the main speakers during a book fair for St. Vincent Home in St. Louis.

Viets also will do this again. Well Read, a Fort Lauderdale bookstore, will donate $1 from each sale of The Fashion Hound Murders to Grateful Paws Dog and Cat Rescue. Grateful Paws, a no-kill all volunteer shelter in Fort Lauderdale.

Viets will match every dollar Well-Read raises. 

 Viets also has helped raise money for the Ryan Hummert Memorial to honor a young firefighter killed in Maplewood, Mo., where her Josie Marcus books are set.

I know that there are many other authors who also donate to the non-profit of their choice. Tell us what you do?

Posted in Chris Grabenstein, Elaine Viets, Uncategorized | 6 Comments »

Authors who blog together, Part I

Monday, June 8th, 2009

gagnon.jpgridley.jpgcornelia_press1.jpgpaullevine1_creditalanweissman.jpgThere is power in a group. At least writing power.Authors who blog together not only seem to attract fans together but it means less work for each of those authors.After all, I would rather an author be working on a novel than spending time writing a blog. As one who writes two blogs, this one for Mystery Scene, and also Off the Page for the Sun Sentinel in Fort Lauderdale, I know how much time these can take.Blogs are also a great procrastinator….which is pretty much a hobby for every writer I know.While I am not convinced that authors who blog by themselves really draw in the fans, I think that those who do it as a group do.No, this is not based on any scientific research, or even any feeble research, or any research at all.Instead it is just a gut feeling that comes from attending myriad mystery writers conferences since 1995. I’ve seen first-hand the community of mystery writers; how when a fan approaches one that writer will beam and express their thanks but also point out a fellow writer or two that the fan may also like.That always seemed to me to be a win win situation – by the time the fan had read the other authors the first author’s new book would be out.Another appeal of group blogs is that these are not just discussions of writing. Sometimes the posts are about dive bars, or reality shows or Susan Boyle or traveling. Just about all of them also feature guest blogs.Here’s some group blogs that I regularly check out.Once I started writing this blog, it seemed better to break into parts.The second part will be up on Thursday.No, it is not a list of all the group blogs. I don’t mean to leave anyone out.So feel free to add your own blog to the comments section, or tell me what you think of these group blogs.Naked Authors: Ridley Pearson, Jacqueline Winspear, Paul Levine, James O. Born, Patricia Smiley, Cornelia Reed. So much to like here. Among the blogs, check out the one that James O. Born wrote about Susan Boyle, when she was first on Britain’s Got Talent. You just don’t expect this tough Florida Department of Law Enforcement agent to be so taken with Boyle’s singing.The Kill Zone: Michelle Gagnon, Joe Moore, John Gilstrap, John Ramsey Miller, Kathryn Lilley, Clare Langley-Hawthorne. OK, I admit, I have a self-serving interest in this blog. I was a guest blogger a few weeks ago, as a question and answer session. Here’s that link. The site often has guest bloggers, most of them authors.harley209.jpgThe Lipstick Chronicles: Nancy Martin, Sarah Strohmeyer, Elaine Viets, Michele Martinez, Harley Jane Kozak, left. This site never fails to make me smile – how could it not when it’s billed as “Where the Book Tarts talk love, laughter, laundry and the mysteries of life.” But there are some serious subjects thoughtfully tackled.PHOTOS: Michelle Gagnon, Ridley Pearson, Cornelia Reed, Paul Levine,

Posted in Charlaine Harris, Clare Langley-Hawthorne, Cornelia Read, Cornelia Reed, Donna Andrews, Elaine Viets, Harley Jane Kozak, Jacqeline Winspear, James O. Born, Joe Moore, John Gilstrap, John Ramsey Miller, Kathryn Lilley, Mary Sams, Michele Martinez, Michelle Gagnon, Nancy Martin, Patricia Smiley, Paul Levine, Ridley Pearson, Sarah Strohmeyer | 10 Comments »

A cookbook for mystery authors

Sunday, May 31st, 2009

Hey, we all have to eat, right?

And mystery readers – and authors – are just as good cooks as anyone.

That’s why I was happy to hear about the Literary Feast: the Famous Authors Cookbook, published by the King County Library System in Issaquah, Washington.cookbook.jpg

Like all libraries and their fund-raising arms, the King County Library System Foundation is always looking for new ways to raise money that will continue to bring literacy to its community.

Giving a child or an adult the incentive to read and use the library profits us all.

And mystery writers know that libraries buy books, lots of books, and have readers, lots of readers.

The Literary Feast: the Famous Authors Cookbook features many mystery writers, both hard-boiled and cozy, as well as others.

Alexander McCall Smith, dressed in a kilt!, contributes Mma. Potokwani’s Fruit Cake recipe. 

J.A. Jance lends her Sugarloaf Café’s Sweet Rolls. Jance’s next book, Fire and Ice, comes out in July and feature both J.P. Beaumont and Joanna Brady.

Elaine Viets offers a fruit smoothie “mainly because I can’t cook,” she added.

Katherine Neville has Alexandra Solarin’s Boeuf  Bourguignon.

Faye Kellerman offers Moon Music Ribs while Jonathan Kellerman gives a potent Midtown Manhattan. 

Several years ago, I remember another cookbook that featured many mystery authors. I had a copy, used it for years and then lent it to someone and have never seen it since.

I won’t make the same mistake with this book. 

Literary Feast: the Famous Authors Cookbook book is $22.95 and proceeds go to the library’s literacy and reading programs.

More information is at thriftbooks.com.

Posted in Alexander McCall Smith, Elaine Viets, Faye Kellerman, J.A. Jance, Jonathan Kellerman, Katherine Neville | No Comments »