I remember calling up an author to set her up for a signing. Nothing unusual about that. However, the signing was in relationship to her having been nominated for an Edgar–the prestigious award given to outstanding crime fiction each year by the Mystery Writers of America. When she answered, I congratulated her, and she was … Read more
Publisher’s Weekly covered the announcement by Barnes and Noble, that they will not carry anything published by Amazon in their brick and mortar stores. The fact that I am championing B&N is not lost on me. Me, who ten years ago likened B&N to the ‘Evil Empire’, like the Soviet Union. But now, just like … Read more
I was off looking for a different article, when my path crossed this rather nice upbeat article on the state of indies. Take a gander and hopefully it will give you a spring in your step as you enter your shops. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-petrocelli/a-band-of-determined-ecce_b_1242177.html?ref=books
2012 Left Coast Crime, a convention for fans and writers of crime fiction will meet March 29–April 1st in Sacramento, CA for Mining For Murder. As I mentioned in my post about the Lefty Award, which is bestowed during the convention, there are a couple other awards besides the Lefty that are also given out. … Read more
Left Coast Crime is an annual mystery convention sponsored by mystery fans, for mystery fans. It is held during the first quarter of the calendar year in Western North America, as defined by the Mountain Time Zone and all time zones westward to Hawaii. This is a fan convention that I have never attended, unfortunately. … Read more
Recently, the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association voted on which books they most enjoyed selling. This award, among other mystery writers awards, truly reflects what most bookmen and probably customers find appealing, not necessarily the best written titles–although usually, the two are one. Mystery bookstore workers are passionate about their opinions, and strive to find the … Read more
My dad loved model railroading. The HO models–not the big antique things that are so valuable today, such as Lionel etc. He built his own layout in the basement, designed a coal chute, and a bridge that crossed the bottom of the stairs that could be raised for people to enter and leave. He belonged … Read more
Sometimes the urge comes on me, and I desperately need to be among old volumes. The scent of fine aged paper, unopened boxes of new acquisitions, rows of superior bindings and dust jackets, ordinary reading copies that will be passed along to some other biblio, is essential to my mental health. The spot I rush … Read more
