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Sandy Mitchell's BlogPosted by Sandy Mitchell Among them are: Bram Stoker - November 8 - The Irish-born author of arguably the most famous horror novel ever -- Dracula. Stoker had never been outside of the British Isles when he wrote his famous novel, but his vision of the Romanian countryside has disturbed generations of mystery lovers. Charlotte MacLeod - November 12 - The author of over 30 mystery novels, the most popular of which featured Beacon Hill residents, Sarah Kelling and Max Bittersohn. She also penned a biography of fellow mystery novelist Mary Roberts Rinehart. Born in Canada, MacLeod emmigrated to the US as a child in 1923. Her works have sold over 1 million copies. Ms. MacLeod died in 2005. Don Delillo - November 20 - A post-modern New York City novelist, his books often deal with organized crime. Delillo's 1997 novel Underworld was the runner-up on the New York Times list of best novels in the last 25 years. Elizabeth George - November 21 - An American mystery author who writes British murder mysteries. Her latest novel, What Came Before he Shot Her, was released in 2007. Rita Mae Brown - November 28 - One of my favorite mystery authors, she is best known for her mystery series featuring Mary Minor Hairsteen "Harry" and her tiger cat, Mrs Murphy. Rita Mae Brown is also an emmy-nominated screenwriter, poet, accomplished horsewoman, and political activist. She lives in Virginia with her horses, cats, and other stray creatures. Posted by Sandy Mitchell Did you know...
Posted by Sandy Mitchell The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, published in 1926, catapulted Agatha Christie to international recognition as a mystery writer. The novel, which is as enjoyable today as when it was written, is #12 on the Mystery Guild of America's list of Best Mystery Novels of All Time". The story is narrated by Dr. Sheppard, who is called to attend the death of Mrs. Ferris, a wealthy small town widow. The doctor is also called in to certify the death of Roger Ackroyd, a local widower, a day later. As the doctor relates the events, many plot twists ensue, including a jaw-dropping surprise at the end. Dame Agatha, in her autobiography, claimed that writing about Mrs. Ferris led to her creation of the Miss Marple character who appears in 11 Christie mystery books. If you haven't read The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, or haven't read it lately, I heartily recommend it. I've read it three times and enjoyed it every time. For discussion questions about this book and other Christie mysteries, click here. Posted by Sandy Mitchell Read some of her thoughts on the writing process as well as getting older, war, and life in general (she enjoyed it) in this list of notable quotations from Agatha Christie. British writer, Agatha Christie, born in 1890, was the author of 80 mystery novels as well as numerous plays and short stories. The week surrounding her birthday, September 15, is celebrated as "Agatha Christie Week" in Britain and abroad. Posted by Sandy Mitchell Among the others are:
Posted by Sandy Mitchell Read more about literacy programs near you and how you can volunteer for or start a literacy program from the NCFL website. The National Institute for Literacy also has interesting facts and resources about literacy. For information on doing your part to fight illiteracy, click here. No one should be denied the gift of reading. Posted by Sandy Mitchell Among the mystery authors born in August are:
Posted by Sandy Mitchell The top 10 list is:
It strikes me that this is a very esoteric list, comprised of reader's books rather than (necessarily) bestsellers. Is there a book you think ought to be included? Posted by Sandy Mitchell The Anthonys will be awarded at the annual Bouchercon World Mystery Convention, held this year in Anchorage Alaska September 27 - 30. The awards recognize excellence in the categories of Best Novel, Best First Novel, and Best Paperback Original. The 2007 nominees are: Best Novel:
Best First Novel:
Congratulations to all of the nominees! Posted by Sandy Mitchell Book Mooch is a book-sharing Web site, where members list books they wish to get rid of. It's free to register and no money changes hands; you only pay postage. In exchange, you receive points that you can use to order books from other "moochers." Not a bad deal. I registered and started "mooching" last week and I've been pleased so far. There are thousands of mystery books listed (although generally not the latest releases). For your part, US book rate postage for most books are under $2 and you have the knowledge that your old books are going to "good homes," instead of the trash. (Somehow, I always consider throwing away a book akin to book burning.) To start "mooching," visit www.bookmooch.com. Posted by Sandy Mitchell The answers are no and yes, in that order. Sherlock Holmes Drug Use Sherlock Holmes is depicted in the Arthur Conan Doyle series of novels and short stories as an occasional user of cocaine and morphine, both derivatives of opium. Drug use was largely unregulated in the 19th century. The recreational use of these substances was not addressed until the (non-binding) International Opium Committee, which convened in Shanghai in 1909. The later International Opium Convention, held in The Hague in 1912, set down guidelines for controlling the traffic of opium and opium derivatives, but was not made into law until it was included into the Treaty of Versailles, signed in 1919 by the UK, France, the United States, Italy, and others. The Sherlock Holmes stories all take place between 1878 and 1903, thus Mr. Holmes drug use was legal. Sherlock Holmes and Bending the Law The Sherlock Holmes stories are a project of the Victorian Age, where a gentleman felt obligated to do whatever necessary to help a woman in distress or to aid a good cause. That Holmes-esque tenent is still prevalent in modern day detective fiction. Holmes never committed a major crime in solving his cases, but there are numerous instances of breaking and entering, burglery, and concealing evidence. A few examples are:
Posted by Sandy Mitchell Among the mystery authors born during July are: Mildred Wirt Benson (Carolyn Keene) -- July 10 -- The original ghostwriter for the Nancy Drew mystery series, Mildred Benson wrote 25 of the first 29 books in this series, from 1929 to 1947. She died in 2002 and was awarded an Edgar posthumously. Erle Stanley Gardner -- July 17 -- Mr. Gardner was a mid-20th century author who wrote dozens of mostly pulp detective stories under a variety of names. He is best known, however, for his Perry Mason series. Erle Stanley Gardner died in 1970. Michael Connelly -- July 21 -- This contemporary American writer has penned 18 novels as well as several collections of short stories, screenplays, and non fiction works. He is best known for his "Harry" Bosch series, the most recent of which were Echo Park (2006) and Overlook (2007). He lives in Florida with his family. Raymond Chandler -- July 23 -- Raymond Chandler wrote just seven novels, all between 1939 and 1959, but they are some of the best of the mystery genre. His works all feature L.A. private detective, Philip Marlowe and include Farewell My Lovely, the Big Sleep, and the Long Goodbye, for which he won an Edgar Award. Faye Kellerman -- July 31 -- The female member of the profilic Kellerman writing clan, Faye Kellerman is the author of 19 mystery novels, 16 of which feature L.A. police detective Peter Decker. J.K. Rowling -- July 31 -- Joanne "Jo" Rowling is the author of the immensely popular Harry Potter series, the seventh (and final) novel of which was released last summer. Her novels have sold over 325 million copies, making her one of the most popular (and most wealthy) authors of all time. She divides her time between London and Scotland. Happy Birthday to All! Posted by Sandy Mitchell Amazon.com announced last week that they have reduced Kindle's price to $359--down from $399. In addition, they've added new books and periodicals and now feature more than 130,000 items. The best news is that Kindle is now readily available--no more back orders. If you're like me and have been watching this device coveteously, the price reduction just might be the incentive you need. Kindle is available exclusively from Amazon.com. Posted by Sandy Mitchell Among those participating are Dr. Kathy Reichs, Eric Van Lustbader, Lee Child, Maxine Paetro, Heather Graham, and David Morrell. Events include author signings, a complete on-premise bookstore, a readers' reception and cocktail party, and giveaways of advance copies of up-coming thrillers. One of the highlights of the four-day event is the presentation of the ThrillerMaster Award, whose past receipients include Clive Cussler and James Patterson. This year's honor goes to Sandra Brown , whose latest novel, "Smoke Screen" is coming out in August. Nominees for the Thriller Award for Best Novel include "No Time for Goodbye" by Linwood Barclay, "The Watchman" by Robert Crais, "The Ghost" by Robert Harris, "The Crime Writer" by Gregg Hurwitz, and "Trouble" by Jesse Kellerman. Nominated for the Best First Novel are "Interred with their Bones" by Jennifer Lee Carrell, "Big City, Bad Blood" by Sean Chercover, "From the Depths" by Gerry Doyle, "Volk's Game" by Brent Ghelfi, and "Heart-Shaped Box" by Joe Hill. ThrillerFest is being held in and around the Grand Hyatt near the city's Grand Central Station. Day passes and four-day passes are both available. For more information on registration, visit the ThrillerFest Web site. Posted by Sandy Mitchell Among the writers born in June are: Sara Paretsky - June 8 - This contemporary author is best known for her crime series, featuring V.I. Warshawski, one of the first independent female private dectectives. Her lastest novel, "Bleeding Kansas," was published in early 2008. Paretsky grew up in Kansas and now lives in Chicago. Patricia Cornwell - June 9 - The creator of the forensic crime genre, her Kay Scarpetta series was the precursor to the CSI television shows and the "Bones" novels and series. She has penned more than 20 novels and three non-fiction works. Her latest novel, "The Front," was just released at the end of May. Tess Gerrittsen - June 12 - A retired medical doctor, Gerritsen is the author of a dozen mystery novels, including the recent "Mephisto Club" and "The Bone Garden." Gerritsen lives in Maine. Dan Brown - June 22 - The author of the bestselling "The DaVinci Code" and interesting "Angels and Demons," is at work on a new novel to be released in 2009. Josephine Tey - June 25 - This is the pseudonym that Scottish author, Elizabeth MacIntosh used to pen five mid-20th century mystery novels, featuring Inspector Alan Grant. Among these is "The Daughter of Time." Tey died in 1952. Happy Birthday to All! Posted by Sandy Mitchell Among the new mystery novels coming in June are: Nothing to Lose by Lee Child Resolution by Robert Parker Sail by James Patterson Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich Tailspin by Catherine Coulter Happy Reading! Posted by Sandy Mitchell Rowling announced that while there will be no new mass-market Harry Potter novel, she is donating a 800-word, hand-written essay about Harry Potter's origins to be included in a collection of similar essays that will be auctioned off to benefit Dyslexia Action and English PEN, a writers' association. It's not likely that we mortals will be able to afford the collection. A similar 93-word story-card sold in 2002 for $53,000. To read more about the auction, read this CNN story. Posted by Sandy Mitchell "1001 Books you Must Read Before you Die," was just released in the United States. This 900+ tome starts in the 16th century and continues up to 2005, with the bulk of the books from the 19th and 20th centuries. Boxall enlisted the aid of more than 100 international book critics to choose the titles and the result is an eclectic collection of books. Each entry is accompanied by a brief summary and review and the book is illustrated with marvelous photographs of original book covers, authors portraits and even photos of original, annotated manuscripts. Mysteries are not extremely well-represented and the book favors British authors. Still some of my favorities, such as Daphne DuMaurier's "Rebecca," LeCarre's "Spy who Came in from the Cold" and "Smiley's People," and Agatha Christie's "Murder of Roger Ackroyd" (the only novel of hers listed), are included. I expected this book to be a stuffy, academic excercise in literary one-upmanship ("I've read more novels than you have"), but was pleasantly surprised to find it a celebration of fiction throughout the centuries. This book would make a great gift for any book lover (of any fiction genre). ...by the way, my number was 294; what's yours? Posted by Sandy Mitchell Among those mystery writers born in May are: Jeffrey Deaver - May 6 - This journalist, turned lawyer, turned writer has penned more than 20 mystery novels, including "The Bone Collector," which was made into a film. His next novel, "The Broken Window," is due to be released in June. Daphne DuMaurier - May 13 - The mid-20th century mystery writer is the queen of Gothic mysteries, many of which are set in her native Cornwell. She is most famous for writing "Rebecca" and "The Birds," both of which were made into Alfred Hitchcock movies. DuMaurier died in 1989. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - May 22 - The creator of Sherlock Holmes was a proflic writer and something of a Renaissance man, dabbling in medicine, politics, and the occult. Doyle died in 1930. Robert Ludlum - May 25 - Ludlum penned 21 thrillers and is best known for his Bourne series, several of which have been made into movies, starring Matt Damon. Ludlum died in 2001. Dashiell Hammett - May 27 - Called the "Dean of the Hard-Boiled Detective Novel" by the "New York Times," Hammett created some of the mystery genre's most notable characters, including Sam Spade and Nick and Nora Charles. He is best known for penning "The Maltese Falcon." Hammett died in 1961. Posted by Sandy Mitchell Buzz Girl - Not limited to mystery fiction, but interesting nonetheless. This blog is updated frequently and is written by a publisher "insider." Grumpy Old Bookman - Mostly about crime fiction, written by a British book lover. The Elegant Variation - Named one of the best blogs -- on any topic -- by several publications, including Forbes Magazine, this well-written blog talks about all things bookish. A Little Blog of Murder - A fun blog about mysteries and crime fiction, written by five Ohio mystery authors, including Don of the Dead author, Casey Daniels. Crime Fiction Blog - Keep up to date on the new releases and happenings in the world of crime fiction. Posted by Sandy Mitchell Released in mid-November, the device is about the size of a paperback novel. Kindle retails for $399 and holds up to 200 titles, right at your fingertips. It's easy-to-read screen adapts to inside or outside light and you can read for days before having to recharge the battery. My feelings are mixed about the Kindle. There's just something soothing about holding a novel in your hands, rather than a plastic device. However, Kindle does have advantages. And good news: after months of back orders, Amazon now has Kindle's in stock. Here are my thoughts on the pros and cons: Advantages:
Disadvantages:
Is this the future of reading? I doubt it, but Kindle is an interesting addition to the publishing world. Posted by Sandy Mitchell To win the book, just leave a comment in the discussion section, sharing what your favorite book of 2008 (so far) has been. I'll draw at random from those that leave a comment. The deadline is 11:59pm EDT on April 26. The winner must be a United States or Canadian resident (the postage is just too high otherwise). Only one entry per person, please. "A Prisioner of Birth" tells the story of Danny Cartwright, a young man in London who has just proposed to his pregnant girlfriend, Beth. Beth's brother is killed while the group is celebrating the engagement and Danny is sentenced to 22 years for a crime he didn't commit. Good Luck to all! Posted by Sandy Mitchell Among the many writers born in April are: Tom Clancy -- April 12 -- Clancy is the author of over three dozen novels, mostly Cold War thrillers, among the best known of which are Patriot Games and The Hunt for Red October. He is married to fellow writer, Alexandra Marie Llewellyn. Scott Turow -- April 12 -- Best known for his 1985 novel Presumed Innocent, ranked one of the best mystery novels of all time by the Mystery Guild of America, Turow is the author of eight novels and two non-fiction works and has sold over 25 million works. His most recent work is the 2006 courtroom drama, Limitations. In addition to writing, Turow is a practicing lawyer. He lives outside of Chicago. Janet Evanovich -- April 22 -- Bestselling mystery writer, Janet Evanovich is the author of 15 mystery novels, featuring private detective Stepanie Plum, as well as two NASCAR mysteries, featuring Alexandra Barnaby. She divides her time between New Hampshire and Florida. Her latest novel, Plum Lucky, was published in January of 2008. Dame Edith Ngaio Marsh -- April 23 -- One of the great classic 20th century British mystery writers, Ngaio Marsh penned 32 mystery novels, all featuring detective Roderick Alleyn. Born and educated in New Zealand, Dame Marsh divided her time between her native country and England. She died in 1982. Sue Grafton -- April 24 -- Grafton is the contemporary American author of 19 mystery novels, featuring private detective Kinsey Milhone. She is married with grown children and many grandchildren (including one named Kinsey). She and her husband divide their time between Santa Barbara and Louisville. Her latest novel in the series, T is for Trespass, was released in December of 2007. Happy Birthday to all! Posted by Sandy Mitchell The Agathas, named for the genre's best-selling author Agatha Christie, are awarded to the best first novel, best novel, best non-fiction work, and best young adult novel in the mystery genre. The awards will be presented at the Malice Domestic XX Convention's banquet in May of 2008 in Arlington, Virginia. The nominees for Best Novel are:
The nominees for Best First Novel are:
For a complete list of the nominees and for more information on the Agatha Awards, see the Malice Domestic Web site. Good Luck to all of the writers. Posted by Sandy Mitchell The people over at the Curious Expeditions, a travel blog, have compiled a list (complete with photos) of 30+ of the world's most beautiful libraries, including those in Prague, Paris, Boston, Oxford, and Vienna. If you are a booklover, I challenge you not to drool. Posted by Sandy Mitchell For St. Patrick's Day, consider these Irish mystery novels: Christine Falls -- The first mystery novel by Booker-Prize winner, John Banville (The Sea) writing as Benjamin Black. This well-written 2007 novel is set in 1950s Dublin and traces the tragic death of Christine Falls and the circumstances surrounding it. Irish Linen -- Another offering from profilic priest/author Andrew Greeley, this 2007 novel features Irish-American sleuth and songstress Nuala McGrail and her family. The action is split between a 1940s WWII mystery and a present missing person case. The St. Patrick's Day Murder -- This fourth in the Christine Bennett series by Lee Harris focuses on the murder of a friend and New York police officer on the night of St. Patrick's Day. As Christine investigates, small inconsistencies become important and her faith in the NYPD system is rocked to the core. St. Patrick's Day Murder -- Another cozy mystery named after St. Patrick's Day, this 14th installment in Leslie Meier's Lucy Stone series finds the usually quiet Maine town of Tinker's Cove involved in a brutal and baffling murder. Posted by Sandy Mitchell Among the mystery writers with March birthdays are: James Ellroy - March 4 -- This contemporary mystery writer is the author of 12 novels plus an autobiography and several collections of short stories. He is best known for his novels that were made into movies: LA Confidential and the Black Dahlia. Mickey Spillane - March 9 -- This popular pulp mystery writer, who died in 2006, was best known for his Mike Hammer detective series. Spillane's books were the subject of the television series, Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer and several of his books were made into movies, most notably, Kiss Me Deadly. Carl Hiaasen - March 12 -- Carl Hiaasen is a native Floridian and the author of eleven novels, including Striptease (the basis for the 1996 Demi Moore movie) and his most recent Nature Girl, as well as two children's books. He also writes a weekly column for the Miami Herald. Lawrence Sanders - March 15 -- This 20th century American mystery writer penned over 40 novels, including The Anderson Tapes and The First Deadly Sin, which were both made into movies. He received the Edgar Award for best first novel in 1971. James Patterson - March 22 - This prolific -- and popular -- author has penned (or co-penned) 42 novels to date. He is best known for his Alex Cross series and his Women's Murder Club Series. He has also recently branched out into young adult fiction with Maximum Ride, published in 2006. His most recent work is 7th Heaven, published in February. Dana Stabenow - March 27 -- This contemporary novelist has written over 20 mystery novels, most of which are set in her native Alaska. She won an Edgar for A Cold Day for Murder. Her most recent work is Prepared for Rage. Happy Birthday to all! Posted by Sandy Mitchell The concoction uses vodka, oranges (blood oranges, of course), orange juice, and bitters. For the complete recipe, visit James Patterson's Web site. The latest book in the series, "7th Heaven," was released this month. Look for a review of it soon on Mystery and Crime Fiction at Suite 101. Posted by Sandy Mitchell Among the talented mystery writers born during February are: Father Andrew Greeley -- February 5 -- Father Greeley, a Chicago-based Irish-American Roman Catholic priest, is the author of 50 novels and over 100 non-fiction works. His mysteries combine likeable characters, such as Father "Blackie" Ryan and Nuala Anne McGrail, with a subtle, hopeful message. His latest, Irish Linen, was released in 2007. John Grisham -- February 8 -- The recognized master of the courtroom drama, Mississippi-born John Grisham is a former lawyer and the author of seventeen novels and one non-fiction work, his 2006 release, The Innocent Man. He tried his hand at general fiction, with his 2007 Playing for Pizza, but will return to the courtroom in 2008 with The Appeal. Georges Simenon -- February 13 -- This prolific 20th-century Belgian author penned over 450 novels and volumes of short stories. His work has been translated into 55 languages and sold in 44 countries. He is best known for his 103 novels and short stories, featuring Parisian Inspector Maigret. Ruth Rendell -- February 17 -- This contemporary British author is a master of the psychological crime genre. Among her many awards are three Edgars. Her dozens of novels include the popular Inspector Wexford series. Richard North Patterson -- February 22 -- This San Francisco-based former lawyer writes edgy, well-researched crime fiction. His latest, The Race, was realeased in October of 2007. Edward Gorey -- February 22 --This 20th century American writer penned other 100 mystery novels, but his is best known for his fanciful, macabre illustrations, featured on PBS's Mystery. Elizabeth George -- February 26 -- This American-born author is best known for her British-based crime thriller, featuring Inspector Lynley. Her latest is What Came Before He Shot Her, released in late 2006. Happy Birthday to All! Posted by Sandy Mitchell Truman was the author of 23 mystery novels, most of which were set in Washington DC, as well as several biographies and non-fiction works about her life in the White House. Her latest novel, "Murder on K Street" was released in late 2007. Margaret Truman came to national attention in her sophomore year in college when her father ascended to the presidency after the death of Franklin Roosevelt in 1945. She had several careers, including singing and co-hosting a early television talk show in New York (with Mike Wallace). It was her writing, however, that would endure. Truman married Clifton Daniel (who would go on to become the managing editor of the "New York Times") in 1956. The couple had four sons, three of whom survive her. Margaret Truman died of respiratory failure in Chicago after a brief illness. Posted by Sandy Mitchell I started keeping a reading journal several years ago after reading about a local high school challenge for the students to read at least 100 books a year. I read a lot and I was curious to see just how many books I read in a year. (Believe me, 100 books is a challenge; only one year in five have I reached that number.) What is a Reading Journal? A reading journal can be as simple as a list of books you've read or a detailed personal analysis of what you liked (and didn't like about the book). Blank journal books are easy to find at bookstores of online retailers. They also frequently find their way to the remainder tables at major book retailers, such as Barnes and Noble. Why a Reading Journal? Keeping a Reading Journal has several advantages
Related Links: Posted by Sandy Mitchell The nominees for Best Novel are:
Other award categories include Best First Novel by an American Author, Best Paperback Original, Best Fact Crime, Best Critical/Biographical, Best Short Story, Best Juvenile, Best Young Adult, Best Play, Best Television Feature/Mini-Series Teleplay, and Best Motion Picture Screenplay. For the entire list of nominees, click here. The awards will be presented at the Mystery Guild's annual gala banquet on May 1, 2008 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York City. Posted by Sandy Mitchell Among the varied group that cites Poe as a primary influence are Jules Verne, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Oscar Wilde, the Russian writer Dostoyevsky, and Jorge Luis Borges. Filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock was a fan and Poe's style can be scene in the thrillmaster's movies. So important is his contribution that the Mystery Writers of America named their achievement award "The Edgar." Most of Poe's works are free from copyright restrictions and may be read online for free. In the spirit of the Poe's birthday, read -- or re-read -- these Poe classics:
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