Hi everyone!
Sometimes we read the books and think we know the writer, particularly in the case of a long-running series.
So it’s surprising to hear Sara Paretsky say, as she does in Cheryl Solimini’s fascinating profile, that it’s her detective, V.I. Warshawski, who prods her to stand up to the powers that be rather than the other way around. However it works, the two of them together are a force of nature!
Recently, we’ve had some arrivals, departures, and forays into new areas among the Mystery Scene writing staff.
First, a warm welcome to Lawrence Block whose new column, The Murders in Memory Lane, will share reminiscences from his 50 years in the literary world. In this issue he relates how Stanley Ellin put one over on Simon & Schuster editor Lee Wright, and then discusses Ellin’s brilliant short fiction.
Mystery Scene regular Lynne Maxwell takes over the reins of Very Original, our paperback review column, in this issue. Our thanks and best wishes to Mary Alice Gorman and Richard Goldman who are turning their full attention back to business at the Mystery Lovers Bookshop in Oakmont, Pennsylvania.
I’d also like to thank Ron Miller, whose insightful TV reviews we’ve all enjoyed over the past few years. Ron has gone on to other projects, and so we’ll now have a rotating roster of reviewers handling the column—this issue, Oline Cogdill and Wm. F. Hirschman discuss one of our favorite shows, The Mentalist.
Have you always wondered exactly what a bookseller means when he describes a book as “a presentation copy, slightly chipped dj, with sunned spine?” Nate Pedersen continues his excellent series on Building Your Book Collection with Part 3: Bookseller’s Terms. We’ve provided illustrations using items from the Mystery Scene library, but we’d love to see highlights from your collection. Do you have a rare first edition or a book inscribed by your favorite author? Send in photos and we’ll share them in a future issue.
Jon L. Breen briefs us on new legal thrillers and Tom and Enid Schantz interview Peter Lovesey, one of the stars of the extraordinarily vibrant British mystery scene.
Brian and I had a fine time at this year’s Bouchercon in Indianapolis, and we round up all the awards given there as well as the latest Daggers given out by the Crime Writers Association in the UK. Congratulations to MS consulting editor Jeffrey Marks for his Best Critical Nonfiction Anthony and to Larry Block for winning the Hammer Award from the Private Eye Writers of America for his PI Matt Scudder.
Melee Mug
And finally, Kevin Burton Smith has gathered a sleigh full of fun for our annual Holiday Gift Guide. My personal favorite is the Melee Mug, perfect for that two-fisted coffee fiend on your list.
Best wishes for a happy holiday season and a mysteriously entertaining 2010!
Kate Stine
Editor-in-chief
