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Learning From the Best

by Toni L.P. Kelner

Like Femme Mary, I've recently done some traveling. Not only did I join her during the trip to Clarksdale, MS for the debut of Delta Blues, but earlier in March, I attended Left Coast Crime in Los Angeles. I don't think it's possible to find two locations less alike than Clarksdale and Los Angeles, but they had two things in common.

One, Morgan Freeman goes to both. I saw his footprints in front of Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles, and the man himself in Clarksdale.

Two, I was tremendously impressed by the writers I ran into in both places.

My first day in Los Angeles was spent on drive-by signings with media escort Diana Faust, hoping to improve my visibility in that part of the country. Twice we ran into writers Erica Spindler and J.T. Ellison doing the same thing with another media escort. Visiting with J.T. is always a pleasure, but I was happy to meet Erica, too. Now both authors are best sellers author, and yet still spent the time to drive by bookstores to meet the booksellers and sign a few books. Even the big names realize the importance of self-promotion in this business.

When Left Coast got started, and I had a chance to visit with both Kat Richardson and Kelli Stanley. Kat is interested in an anthology project, and since I've co-edited some with Femme Charlaine, asked me some questions about how it all worked. This reminded me that smart writers aren't afraid to ask about other aspects of the business. And since the writing business is constantly changing and has many corners, there's always going to be a something new for me to learn.

As for Kelli, she is amazingly friendly and seemed to know everybody. And not just a "Hey, how are you?" kind of thing. She remembers names, and is genuinely welcoming and interested, and just a social butterfly. I doubt I'll ever be as good at social interaction as Kelli is, but it's great to have her as a model.

One of the events at Left Coast was a wine and cheese social at nearby Metropolis Books, and the lovely people in the LA chapter of Sisters in Crime asked me, Parnell Hall, Don Bruns, and Jacqueline Winspear to be their guests there. Lee Child, one of the two Left Coast guest of honor, was on hand to introduce us. Now I'd provided a brief bio, as requested, and expected Lee to pull out a note or two to refer to and then pretty reel it off as given. But Lee is far too classy for that. He used the information I'd provided, but enhanced it and made it very personal and welcoming. He was just as gracious in introducing the other writers. (And of course, anything sounds better with that accent of his.)

Lee and Michael Connolly were both amazing generous at Left Coast. First Michael and his publisher Hachette sponsored a lunch for the entire conference. And what a lunch! There was a jazz trio and Michael wrangled it so that the Angels Flight funicular, due to open the next week, was opened just for us to have a ride. 

Then, at the convention's awards banquet and charity auction, Lee paid hefty prices for books just for the money to go to the Library Foundation of Lost Angeles. It was also announced that he'd refused to take travel expenses from the convention, saying he'd rather the money went to charity. So two prime examples of how generous writers can be financially.

Of course, there are other kinds of generosity. Denise Dietz was nominated for a Lefty Award, but didn't win. Later on, LInda Richards won the Panik award for Death Was In the Picture, but unfortunately Linda wasn't at Left Coast. Denise cheerfully volunteered to accept and deliver it, just as happy as if she'd won herself.

A few weeks later after Left Coast, I packed up my suitcase again to go to Clarksdale. It was such an amazing weekend that it's hard to imagine that it all came about because of Carolyn Haines' idea to put together a blues band to introduce Delta Blues, an anthology she edited. Carolyn's enthusiasm got Ben LeRoy of Tyrus Books excited, and they pulled in the Rock River Foundation and the Delta Writers Association and I don't know who all. Before it was all said and done, there was a reception at the Cutrer Mansion--complete with ghost tour; a writing contest for high school students in Mississippi; and the grand finale, a performance of Blue Muse and the Boomettes at Ground Zero Blues Club. (I'm a Boomette.)

One of the other Boomettes was Femme Charlaine, who is impressive in many ways, but I was gobsmacked by how gracious she was to the fans who came to the Clarksdale events. The incident that stands out most in my mind was during our Blue Muse set. For most of the songs, the whole band was on stage, but for the next to the last piece, most of us left the stage for an acoustic number. So we were standing next to the stage, hot and tired and knowing we'd have to get our mojo moving for the last number. And a woman picked that moment to ask Charlaine for an autograph. Did Charlaine ask her to wait, or blow her off? Nope. She smiled as if she'd been waiting all day for that woman to show up, and signed the book and chatted with her, timing it perfectly so she could go back on stage for our last number.

Writers can be a pretty darned impressive group, and I don't think I'll ever cease to be amazed by their persistence, intelligence, charm, generosity, enthusiasm, and class. 

Change of Scene

by Mary Saums.

It's easy to get in a rut.

Funny, but ruts like the ones above helped get me out of my same-old routine, same-old mindset when I drove down through Mississippi last week. The flat land, empty fields and glorious big sky were just what I needed. Sometimes I need a kick in the head to remember basic stuff, know what I mean? That special delta landscape did the trick. Basic thing to remember #1: The beauty of creation is all around, all the time.

The trip came about because of the anthology DELTA BLUES, a collection of crime stories with blues themes. Editor Carolyn Haines teamed up with the anthology's publisher Tyrus Books, and the two created an unforgettable book launch party at the ultimate blues location - Clarksdale, Mississippi, home of the crossroads. 

  

This was not your ordinary book signing. First, the cool people at Tyrus Books decided that a percentage of sales would be donated to the Rock River literacy program, founded by Clarksdale resident actor Morgan Freeman. Then they co-sponsored a writing contest for students in the delta. A reception was held for the winners, all fine young honor students, during the weekend.

 

Basic thing to remember #2: The world is full of smart, beautiful, good young people who bring joy to all around them.

Authors who contributed stories to DELTA BLUES had the opportunity to be in a blues band and perform at one of the most famous music venues anywhere, Ground Zero Blues Club. First, we had to rehearse a little bit. We needed space, equipment, and lots of help in general. No matter what we needed or what problems we had, the Clarksdale community was there for us and always gracious.

Basic #3: Kind people are everywhere.

Here's a special friend we met at the rehearsal studio.

 

I've never met such a shameless love baby. She rolled and rolled on her back, over and over, so happy for people to snuggle up to.

Basic thing to remember #4: Not all pit bulls are mean and insane.  

And then there was Red's.

 

Basic thing to remember #5: Things aren't always what they seem.

Inside that door, after about 11pm, is the best, most hoppingest, fun place on earth. Red's is a juke joint where the band is hot, the beer is cold and the dancing is wall-to-wall standing-room only.   

 

So, if you ever feel like you're in a rut, whether in your writing, your reading, or just in your everyday routine, try stepping out to the side a little bit.

Go on a road trip. Meet people you would never meet otherwise. Step on the accelerator and blow the soot out of your engine every now and then. Your writing, and your outlook, may change for the better.
 

The perils of time travel

by Dana

Years ago, a friend was struggling with a novel she was working on.  None of us could figure out exactly why it wasn't working, but it wasn't.   Finally, someone asked:  “Why is it set in the past?”

That was the key:  that historical setting didn't do anything to enhance the story or the character.  After that, we were able to find a way to fix the story, and setting it in the past wasn't part of the solution.

The other day, someone asked me why I write historical stories, and I realized it's not just because I've spent a lot of time studying other eras.  I thought I'd share what I think are good reasons to set a story in the past (or future).

1.  Set a story in another time because it probably wouldn't have happened in the present.  That sounds obvious, but it's a little subtle.  It's not enough to use a past setting just because it would be fun, there has to be some constraint that shapes the action.   In “The Lords of Misrule,” I wanted a story about a woman falling in love with a man she admires, but she won't let herself marry him unless he can treat her as an equal.  By setting it in a time when society didn't value women as much as men, I was able to throw all kinds of obstacles—and bodies—in their path.  Using historical figures would also fall under this category.

2.  You have to walk a fine line between rigid accuracy and readability.  My agent and I have had lively conversations about using historically-accurate language and readability.  “But it's the perfect word,” I'd say.  “It's exactly the word they would have used back then.”  Actually, come to think of it, I've had this discussion many times over the years, and it's taken me a while to learn:  if it's confusing, if it's sending the reader scurrying for reference material instead of diving farther into the story, it's not the perfect word.  The language has to serve the story, first and foremost.  That doesn't mean you don't need to do the research—I think most readers would agree that inaccuracies can be really distracting.  It just means you have to be willing to find another word that would be accurate and accessible. 

3.  You're revisiting an earlier period in your character's life.  This is fun, but also tricky; you need to think about how old your character is now, and what he is all about.  Then you need to immerse yourself in the culture of how-ever-many-years-ago, and figure out a.) what would he be doing then and b.) how did it shape his future. 

4.  Setting the story in another time will underscore a point.  In “Swing Shift,” which will appear in Crimes by Moonlight (edited by Femme Charlaine and including stories by her and Femmes Elaine and Toni), I wanted to see what characters from my Fangborn world would do during the early 1940s.  What would you do, if you were asked by someone to investigate a spy ring?  And what if you had secrets—however innocent or patriotic—you didn't want the government knowing?  What if you had a German last name and you were hiding your superhero powers?  Is it okay to keep that secret, when revealing it might help your country win a war?

5.  You should set a story in the past or future because by doing so, you can add a twist to it.  I decided to set “Femme Sole” in the past  because I'd never written noir before and, in incorporating some of the elements, I didn't want to mimic other writers.  By situating it in Boston of 1745, I felt I could use some of the traditional components (a bar setting, a beautiful blonde in trouble, the criminal element on the waterfront, shady deals) and keep my own voice.

Do you have a favorite reason for visiting another time, either as a writer or a reader?  

The chainsaw guys just showed up at my door

Don't worry--this is a good thing.  I live in a world closer to Meg Langslow's than that of Tobe Hooper's Texas Chainsaw Massacre.  My neighborhood is relatively wooded, and relatively affluent, so we have a steady stream of guys in trucks with chainsaws in the back, looking for yard work. Many of us eventually come to rely on one or two particular crews that we've found reliable and reasonable.  Today's visitors were my regular chainsaw guys.(Above left: crocuses bloom in spite of having a ton of tree go horizontal on top of them.)

I was glad to see them.  Last month's record snows were hard on the trees.  I have a record number of horizontal trees needing to be cut up and either chipped, hauled away, or stacked as firewood.  It's going to be an expensive spring, but at least someone benefits from all the snow.  A lot of rural families will be breathing easier and eating better thanks to our suburban trees.

And all this winter cleanup is happening at a time when spring is shoving its hurried way into the neighborhood, trying hard to make up for lost time.  Normally I'd have seen the first daffodils in February--maybe even late January.  But it has been so cold and snowy for so long that I'd stopped wondering when the first daffodils would bloom.  Getting the trees cleaned up before the daffodils came out to be trampled seemed like a no brainer.  Until I looked around my yard today and there they were--along with the hellebores, puschkinias, snowdrops, and crocuses, poking their heads up in the spaces between the fallen trees.  I have the uneasy feeling that I'll still be working on my winter cleanup when it's time to plant my summer garden. After seven years in my house, I have a pretty good idea what I need to get done in each season--it's finding the time to do it that's the problem.(At right: daffodils among the horizontal trees.)

I'm having the same kind of overlap in my writing life.  When I do panels or signings, I talk mostly about Swan for the Money, the most recent book out, with occasional mentions of Stork Raving Mad, due out in July.  An envelope arrived yesterday with a couple of advanced readers copies of Storks, and my editor's assistant just gently reminded me that I need to give her comments on the jacket copy.  I'm working on promotion plans for this summer.  But at the same time, I'm planning the book after Storks--working title, The Real Macaw.  I know how it opens, and I know who gets done in, but I'm a long way from finding out who done it, and why, which means I have a lot of brainwork to finish before I sit down in a few weeks to begin my draft. (At left: okay, maybe the snow isn't the only reason this tree went horizontal.)

And just to make things even more interesting, I have a short story out in the newly released Chesapeake Crimes: They Had It Comin', the fourth and latest volume of our locals Sisters in Crime chapter's anthology series.  (At right: The anthology cover.  I took the original photo--sans gun moll--and Stacey Logan, our ace graphic designer, did the rest.)

My story, "The Plan," begins:

    As soon as Darius Wentworth heard that the Chesapeake Chapter of Sisters in Crime was accepting submissions for the fourth volume of its popular anthology series, he took a sheet of paper and began drawing up his action plan.

    Darius was a firm believer in action plans. As he was fond of saying during chapter lunches, the moment he completed a well-crafted action plan, he felt as if his project was off to a successful start—indeed, more than halfway done.

    Unfortunately, among his few failed projects were his efforts to place stories in the previous three volumes of Chesapeake Crimes.

Yes, it's a story in the anthology about someone who wants to get a story in the anthology.  Wants it just a wee bit too much.  (Haven't we all felt that way a time or two?)

Chesapeake Crimes: They Had It Comin' is now available from Wildside Press, and involves the usual publication rituals. Signings.  Bookmarks.  Promotion. Luckily, my fellow authors, particularly co-editor Barb Goffman and C. Ellett Logan, our local chapter president, are doing most of the organizing, because if it were all up to me . . .  eek!  (Thanks to their efforts and those of chapter members Joanna Slan, Robin Templeton, and Kathie Felix, we're having a book launch in Reston on April 10.  If you're in the area, you're welcome to join us--details here.  And if you're not, Kathy Harig of Mystery Loves Company would be happy to save you a copy.)(At left: Puschkinias among the inevitable horizontal trees.)

There's a popular notion that writing and gardening are peaceful, solitary occupations, requiring mainly patience and perseverance to succeed.  That's not been my experience.  In my gardening and writing life, seasons and deadlines barrel down on me with alarming speed. (To say nothing of the trees, which have been pelting down like confetti this year.) Patience and perseverance are needed, of course, but so are flexibility and juggling skill.  And most importantly, the ability to prioritize and then adhere rigorously, ruthlessly, to your priorities . . . until you suddenly realize that everything has changed and you need to prioritize all over again.

So while I know if I kept my original resolution to work at it slowly and steadily, I could eventually clear up most or all of the winter debris myself, it would take forever and I wouldn't get anything else done in the garden this spring.  Maybe this year.  Instead I'm going to let the chainsaw guys do it.  And yes, I could happily spend a few weeks pursuing several interesting research rabbit trails, but maybe I should finish that outline first, to see if those fascinating research subjects have any place in the book. Wish I had some literary chainsaw guys to sic on some of the knotty tasks in the writing arena, but there I have to be my own enforcer. (At right: a hellebore that didn't actually get smashed by the horizontal trees. But will probably get stepped on during the cleanup.  Sigh.)

And at least today's visit from the chainsaw guys reminded me that if I wanted a record of how bad the damage was, I'd better take some photos now.

When is a house not just a house?

by Kris

When is a house not just a house? When the house becomes a character, of course. That's what happens in my new Tracy Eaton mystery, Revenge for Old Times' Sake.

The nutty old house built by Tracy’s daffy movie star mother, Martha Collins, which reflects more architectural styles than a first-year architecture textbook, put in an appearance at the end of the second adventure in my madcap series, Dem Bones' Revenge. Though it's instrumental in the wrapping up of that mystery, it's only in my latest title in this series, Revenge for Old Times' Sake, that the house truly blossoms into a full-blown character.

First we meet the “angels” room, which is decorated in a fairly conventional manner — if you can overlook the small angels painted across its walls. Only with closer scrutiny does it become apparent they all resemble Martha’s film contemporaries, the people who actually occupied that room when they visited. Even knowing they were real people, Tracy notes that she might have found the sight of those angels peaceful — if one celestial spirit, who looked suspiciously like a leading man with whom her mother reportedly carried on a torrid dalliance, hadn’t been flashing her.

And then there’s the “chalkboard” room, with its blackboard walls. Martha always gave that guestroom to artists and provided them with pastel chalk, encouraging them to create their own surroundings. Now, Tracy uses it to house her fastidious mother-in-law, Charlotte, knowing that with her penchant for neatness, Charlotte can’t tolerate anything as dusty as chalk. While Tracy savors the sight of Charlotte anxiously rubbing at invisible spots, she amuses herself with the fantasy that her prissy mother-in-law has the D.T.’s.

But the book’s action centers around the home’s gaudy Art Deco pool, where only hours after Tracy’s sweetie, Drew, bops his boorish boss, Ian Dragger, in the nose — Ian is found floating face down in the Eaton’s pool, deader than disco. And when the bodies in the pool start stacking up like logs in a lumber camp, it’s only because of the unusual resources in that crazy house, they’re able to hide one of the murders until Tracy can do a little of her unconventional sleuthing.

While writing Revenge for Old Times’ Sake, that house became so real to me, it was almost as if I could hear my own footsteps tapping against its Spanish tile floors, as if I could sit at the dining table built to resemble Stonehenge, as if I could actually work the trick carpet staircase runner that, when flicked just right, hurls someone down the steps. No real designer would think to offer a feature like that, but the runner comes in handy in Revenge for Old Times’ Sake.

I always knew where I wanted to place the house. Rimming the northwest corner of the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles is a picturesque sandstone mountain range called the Simi Hills. Today that rocky area is mostly filled with suburban homes. But back in what would have been Martha's heyday, it was all vast vistas, orange groves and horse ranches, as well as a popular location setting for Western movies. Some of the Hollywood crowd even built country homes there. I felt sure that Martha would have built a doozy of a house in that locale.

I must confess that one of my secret fantasies has always been to inherit an old wreck of a house stuffed to the rafters with what others might describe as junk, but which I’d consider treasures. Not for the financial gain, but the fun of exploring the old mausoleum. Since nobody in my family ever owned such a place, the odds of one falling into my hands seem slim.

But like all writers, I can live out my fantasies through my characters. I think it's even better that way. Let's be honest — what are the odds that I could actually find a house that crazy in real life?

Pirates, Superheroes & Time Travelers Save Civilization

Everybody loves superheroes. It's not just because they possess super powers, like the ability to fly or to swing between skyscrapers by means of super-tensile spider webs, though those are pretty impressive, I must say. The world loves them because they fight evil and win. 

I've recently discovered a new superhero. He's a regular human, but his desire to help kids do better in school grew from a local project to one worldwide. Dave Eggers, writer extraordinaire, co-founded the 826 Valencia project to give local kids one-on-one tutoring help after school each day. While remodeling a building for this purpose, a chance remark about the interior looking like the hull of a pirate ship, set the volunteers on a path that would change the lives of young students around the world.

   

Since the building was in an area zoned for business, they were told they had to sell something. Leaving most of the space for tables where students and tutors could work, Mr. Eggers & company decided to sell pirate supplies up front, stuff like this -

 

for pirates with wooden legs, and these -

 

that can be worn with or without eyepatches (which they also sell in a choice of attractive colors.)

The plan was for the tutoring center to be staffed by volunteers and expenses covered by donations. Much to their surprise, the pirate store began to make money and pay for the building and other expenses itself.

This success spawned branches in other cities, each one with its own creative twist. In the New York area, volunteers decided a more Gotham-esque approach suited them and founded the Brooklyn Superhero Supply Store.

 

Here you can buy things like capes, secret identities and other practical tools for fighting crime.

 

These deflector bracelets are my favorite. Useful for foiling bullets or arrows and a nice fashion statement.

After school, kids go through a secret door here and into the tutoring area to work. 

The Los Angeles group of volunteers came up with another fun and kid-friendly idea, the Time Travel Mart, made to look like a 7-11 store for time travellers. I love their logo statement, shown here in a t-shirt design:

 

and also their version of a slushie machine with an interesting out-of-order sign:

 

Greenwood, Michigan's center is fronted by a space travel supply store.

 
 

Among their offerings is a cool smoke-ring blowing gun:

 

All these things help create a fun atmosphere where the kids want to come after school to get the help they need. I believe in all these, they finish their homework first, and then they write stories. What a great way to encourage reading and writing.

I hope you'll check out the links below for more about this fantastic work. Purchases through the 826 National stores help fund these centers. Just the place to find a gift for the man/woman/child who has everything.

I urge you to watch Dave Eggers' awesome inspirational talk and slideshow on TED.com here. You won't regret it.

Superman and his ilk have nothing on the real heroes, the everyday folks who give their time to help these children learn and grow in confidence, or on Mr. Eggers, one regular guy who made a difference.

826 National website with links to stores

Once Upon A Wish  

Award season (and Agatha Best Short Story nominees!)

by Dana

Okay, hands up:  who watches the award shows in late winter?  How about the Olympics, a special addition this year?  They saturate the media on every level, from advertising to the pre-shows to the events themselves to analysis.  Everyone is suddenly a specialist on making odds for who will win (Avatar or Hurt Locker for Best Picture?  Gold medals vs. total medals?) and everyone has a response to the participants.  With all the emotions involved, national and personal, when you add on comments on the commentary, the spectacle and the debate can get a little intense.

I admit, I have my favorites.  I'll always watch the pre-show for the Oscars, because I love seeing the gowns on the red carpet (anyone give me a “Project Runway”/ “America's Next Top Model” amen?).  But unless I have an absolute favorite in the running (like Shakespeare in Love), I'll tape the rest.  I like rooting for movies (and even more for writers or actors) but hate the dance numbers and...I go to bed pretty early.  Yeah, I know— boo, hiss!—I'm the only one who doesn't like the dancing and musical tributes.  But with DVR, I can also skip the commercials.  Very efficient.

With the Emmys, I'll stick around for the red carpet, but unless something I adore is on (hello, “True Blood!”), I won't bother.  The Grammys I don't watch, generally, but very occasionally the MTV awards, if I'm having a juvenile moment or I like the host.  It's just me:  YMMV.

The winter Olympic-watching experience is interesting:  I have acquaintances who have participated or attended the Olympics, and it's always fun to get the inside scoop from someone who knows.  I don't have a favorite sport (me on skis or a board?—nein, danke), but I'll watch.  Skating is fun (again, costumes and deportment), but I don't get excited if I miss some.  I'll even watch curling, if I haven't seen the last episode of “Top Gear” 37 times already.

The one thing I absolutely cannot get enough of is the podium moments.  I may not know the sports, I may not have a clue who the favorite “Supporting Actor” was, but for a few moments, I love watching someone stand up and realize they've had a dream come true, that they've done something they've always wanted, by dint of their own efforts and through cooperation (compare this, say, with “Survivor”).  Scientists who analyze human facial expressions say these are cross-cultural evocations of emotions.  You don't need to speak the language to get it.  A pure injection of happiness:  Take that, February and March.

The drama and the human interest stories are fine, but call me a romantic.  I just dig that happy ending.  Tell me your favorite—or least favorite—part of the award shows.  Do you have Oscar parties?  Do you wear “TEAM USA” gear for two weeks and eschew Canadian beer?

Speaking of happiness, the nominations for the 2009 Agatha Awards were recently announced.  The winners will be announced at Malice Domestic on May 1.  Congratulations to everyone, and special hugs for Fellow Femmes Donna Andrews (nominated for Best Novel for Swan for the Money) and Hank Phillipi Ryan, who was nominated for Best Novel (for Air Time) AND for Best Short Story ("On the House")!

As a bonus, here are the nominees for the Agatha Award for Best Short Story; you can read their stories or excerpts by clicking on the titles.  Congratulations to everyone on the slate!

Dana Cameron, “Femme Sole” in Boston Noir (Akashic Books)

Kaye George, “Handbaskets, Drawers and A Killer Cold” (Crooked, a crime fiction e-zine)

Barb Goffman, “The Worst Noel” in The Gift of Murder (Wolfmont Press)

Hank Phillippi Ryan, “On the House” in Quarry (Level Best Books)

Elizabeth Zelvin, “Death Will Trim Your Tree” in The Gift of Murder (Wolfmont Press)