MurderShop

On Occult Crime, College Campuses, and Why I Wrote THE UNIVERSITY

2010-08-05T10:17:00.000-07:00

“On some campuses, the paperback Satanic Bible by Church of Satan Founder Anton La Vey is outselling The Holy Bible.”

The above quote is from Time magazine in their March 13, 1972 issue. That year also happened to be the year when I was born in Lincoln, Nebraska. In the eighteen years that passed between 1972 and the year I went to college, 1990, The Satanic Bible enjoyed a sales explosion on college campuses — assuming media references are to be believed. By August 1, 1990, The Daytona Beach News-Journal was reporting this statistic:

“‘The Satanic Bible’ outsells the Bible 6-to-1 at college campus bookstores."

If true, this would be a pretty impressive run — to go from outselling the traditional Bible “on some campuses” in the early 1970s to a dominant 6-to-1 sales ratio less than two decades later. When you consider that The Holy Bible is generally regarded to be the best-selling book of all-time, La Vey’s book (circa 1990) seemingly would’ve had to have been selling at Twilight-like levels on college campuses. Twilight-like sales…on steroids.

Publisher Avon Books should've been rolling in cash.

Cults and Secret Things

As a college student in Nebraska in the early 90s, I remember hearing the 6-to-1 statistic mentioned and talked about in hush-hush tones. So I checked at both of the bookstores that served my campus to see what all the uproar was about. I found no Bibles on any of the shelves — either God’s version or Satan’s. Just oversized, overpriced textbooks mostly written and approved by committees. Either something was off with the ever-growing stat, or the “Satan is destroying God in sales” trend had yet to reach the Midwest.

Looking back, I have no doubt that American college students tend to read about “other belief systems” more than a large percentage of the general public. Many people make key decisions about their beliefs, and the kind of lives they want to lead, in the late teens or early twenties. (Now whether or not we stick to those beliefs, that’s another matter.) It’s probably also natural for young people to have interest or curiosity in something that seems taboo. Fortunately, most college students don’t seem to end up as lifelong Satanists.

Ah, but the dabblings along the way can be dangerous. And sometimes the details about the dabblings can make or break a person’s life. And the devil is in the…well, you know where.

The word occult comes from the Latin word occultus, meaning hidden or secret things. As a fiction writer, particularly one in the Mystery genre, “secret things” are always good to include in a story. With my most-recent novel, The University, I decided to explore how occult elements and dabblings might affect the lives of characters in a college campus setting. The idea seemed to lend itself to a lot of inherent suspense.

Worlds of Their Own

Universities can be pretty interesting places, I think, especially when viewed through the lens of potential mystery and intrigue. You have young people who are already adults in many ways, yet not quite ready to handle certain things. Many are away from home, isolated, and vulnerable. College campuses can almost become worlds or cultures of their own.

At some institutions of higher learning, you also have questions about who is responsible for safety between local law enforcement, campus security (if there is any), and university officials. Things can get interesting when you don’t have agreement between parties or a commitment to the truth, wherever it may lead. Then there is the question about the level of power some faculty members hold. It all adds up to an interesting — and potentially disturbing — mix.

The plot of The University deals with a college student who is trying to figure out why his best friend disappeared and really not liking where the answer leads him: right into the hands of a cult group operating on his campus. Meanwhile, an investigative journalist is looking into an unsolved murder case that could be related to some of the strange activities at this seemingly normal Midwestern university.

One thing I enjoy about this particular book is how many people have their own story for me about the college they attended. There is often some old building they were afraid of, a professor they weren’t quite sure about, or some experience while they were there that was unsettling.

Like any novel, there is a whole lot of autobiographical truth mixed with a whole lot of “complete fiction” that went into The University. I might not have come across a copy of The Satanic Bible or any actual hard-core occultists (that I know of, at least) during my university days, but a seed of intrigue was definitely planted back then. Exploring some of the “What Ifs” fifteen years after the fact has been a worthwhile journey, and one that I’ve enjoyed seeing how people respond to.

More about the book: 1, 2, 3

Read an excerpt.

The University page at Amazon.

Blogs about my previous novel, Dark Friday: 1, 2

Site: www.jeffreyleever.com

Shot to Death - guest author Stephen D. Rogers

2010-03-14T22:24:00.000-07:00

Stephen D. Rogers is the author of SHOT TO DEATH (ISBN 978-0982589908) and more than six hundred stories and poems. He's the head writer at Crime Scene (where viewers solve interactive mysteries) and a popular writing instructor. For more information, you can visit his website, www.stephendrogers.com, where he tries to pull it all together.

SHOT TO DEATH contains thirty-one stories of murder and mayhem.

"Terse tales of cops and robbers, private eyes and bad guys, with an authentic New England setting."
- Linda Barnes, Anthony Award winner and author of the Carlotta Carlyle series

"Put yourself in the hands of a master as you travel this world of the dishonest, dysfunctional, and disappeared.
Rogers is the real deal--real writer, real story teller, real tour guide to the dark side."
- Kate Flora, author of the Edgar-nominated FINDING AMY and the Thea Kozak mysteries

"SHOT TO DEATH provides a riveting reminder that the short story form is the foundation of the mystery/thriller genre.
There's something in this assemblage of New England noir to suit every aficionado. Highly recommended!"
- Richard Helms, editor and publisher, The Back Alley Webzine

How long would it have taken me to hammer in that nail?
- RAISING THE BAR

So begins one of the 31 stories contained in SHOT TO DEATH (ISBN 978-0982589908). Within that beginning lurks the ending to the story and everything that happens between the beginning and the end. Or at least it seems that way to me.

"How long would it have taken me to hammer in that nail?" This is a story that is going to be saturated with regret.

Perhaps when the nail slipped from the wall, a really good picture hit the floor. I don't think so. :) Regret. Could anything cause more regret than a child running into that jutting nail and being scarred on the face?

"How long would it have taken...?" An event in the past that refuses to stay there. After all, how could she ever hope to forget what happened when the scar is so visible?

while the child is physically scarred, he was quick to recover from horror of the event and now, perhaps, does not even particularly remember that day. His mother, on the other hand, has no physical scar to represent how her chronic remembering sears.

No one seeing her could guess what she went through and continues to go through. She feels a disconnect. At some level, she wants to assume that scar, to free her son from its ugliness and to brand herself for what she has done.

What she didn't do.

It's one thing to regret what we've done. We made a decision to do something and with hindsight wish we'd done something else. But with what we didn't do, what do we regret, what we did instead?

That nail might have jutted from the wall for weeks. Every second of every day that she didn't hammer it in she made a decision to do something else instead. How can she possibly regret each of those separate actions? The only thing left to regret is herself.

This woman does not simply have nothing to lose. She has an overriding reason to hurt herself, as if that physical manifestation could lessen her pain. Sadness drenched with sorrow.

All that remains is the writing.

For a chance to win a signed copy of SHOT TO DEATH, click on over to http://www.stephendrogers.com/Win.htm and submit your completed entry.

Then visit the schedule at http://www.stephendrogers.com/Howto.htm
to see how you can march along.

And then come back here to post your comments. Phew.

Novels and the Ghosts of Movies Past - Bruce Cook/Brant Randall

2010-01-06T21:51:00.000-08:00

Novels and the Ghosts of Movies Past
by Bruce Cook/Brant Randall, author of Tommy Gun Tango

Most authors dream of their book being adapted into a screenplay. They want the paycheck (of course) but they also hope their story will reach a much wider audience, the potential millions that may attend the theater or see a movie later on TV.

However, these same authors are often disappointed in the way the script for the movie differs from the novel. What happened to their beautiful prose? Where did that intriguing secondary character disappear to? How did that that sub-plot get deleted?

Books run from 250 to 500 pages. A script is only 120. So the screenwriter who adapts the novel into a script must ask himself “Which 120 to 3809 pages shall I cut?”

The producer asks himself “How many actors do I really want to pay?” and encourages the screenwriter to cut or combine characters. And on second thought the producer wonders how many locations are really required to tell that story anyway—and asks the screenwriter to combine or eliminate settings.

Recently Richard Price had this to say in the NY Times:

"Writing a screenplay is a job. It's not like writing a novel where allegedly you're not writing to please anybody. The whole point of writing a screenplay is to please people. It's all about making people feel jazzed enough to write the big check to make the movie, getting actors psyched enough to overcome their anxiety about looking like fools, getting the director to feel it's a compelling enough story to give up two years of their life. So that's why everyone says they love everything and then they ask you to change everything.”

Wonderful means change it. Fantastic means change it. Terrific means change it. Thank you means you're fired.”

See how it goes?

2009 -- it was a year

2010-01-01T01:09:00.000-08:00

Don't know about you, I'm happy to leave 2009 behind and get a fresh start. It was a busy year for sure. Trips to several conventions, a new book released, a fantastic book launch party and lots of signings. The end of the year finds me looking for more effective (read that: less expensive) ways to get the word out about my forensic handwriting mystery series. The two phrases I keep hearing from successful authors are "blogging" and "social networking." So, I've been typing my little fingers to the bone, guest blogging wherever anyone is interested in handwriting analysis or mystery topics, and I finally started Tweeting, too.

As 2010 begins I'm thinking about what comes next--a non-fiction book about relationships: what motivates people to keep involving themselves in the same painful situations over and over again (and some ideas about how to choose healthier relationships). I'm also thinking about my next mystery, which involves two themes that have always fascinated me. Oh, I'm not going to tell you what they are--that's part of the mystery!

May every good thing find you in the new year. And remember--buy books!

Sheila

David Cook and Jeffrey Leever: The Unofficial Comparison

2008-07-28T19:30:00.000-07:00

After hearing the comment "Hey, you look like David Cook" from people at book signings multiple times over the past few months, I decided to explore if there was any substance behind the statement. What follows is a compilation of some key similarities, differences, and other miscellaneous tidbits.

Claim(s) to Fame

David: Won Season 7 of American Idol by 12 million votes over nearest competitor; had eleven songs debut on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Jeffrey: Novel, Dark Friday, cracked Amazon.com’s Top 100 bestsellers in the mystery/hardboiled category (in Sept., Oct., and Dec., ’07).

Latest Tour

David: Appeared on the highest-rated program on all of television; currently performing with fellow Top 10 show contestants to large/sold out crowds on the "American Idols LIVE!" tour across the United States.
Jeffrey: Sold out book signings across the Midwest and Rocky Mountain regions at retailers including Borders (six times) Barnes & Noble (twice), Books-A-Million (twice), Hastings Entertainment, and Waldenbooks.

Teen Appeal

David: Considered cool by Jeffrey Leever’s daughter.
Jeffrey: Considered a dork by Jeffrey Leever’s daughter.*
* Although considered cool by Jeffrey Leever’s daughter’s friends.

Other Appeal

David: Considered hot by Jeffrey Leever’s wife.
Jeffrey: Formerly considered hot by Jeffrey Leever’s wife.

Family

David: Is the middle child of three brothers.
Jeffrey: Is the middle child of three brothers.

The Brethren: Matt, Chad, and Jeff.
(You can't tell here, but I'm actually the tallest.)

Age/Relative Youth

David: Born in 1982.
Jeffrey: Born in 1972.

Ties to Blue Springs, Missouri

David: Grew up in Blue Springs; now travels around country.
Jeffrey: Grew up in Nebraska; now lives in Blue Springs.

Hair

David: Has sported “emo hair” in the past few months.

Nice maroon tie, Mr. Rock Star dude.

Jeffrey: Has also sported “emo hair” in the past few months.*
* Per goading from daughter.

Clearly an emo imposter.

Instrumental Expertise

David: Plays the guitar.
Jeffrey: Plays the drums.

All in the name of exercise and good cardio-vascular health.

Alleged Resemblance

Jeffrey: Has been told at book signings “You look like David Cook.”
David: Has likely never been told “You look like Jeffrey Leever.”

Nebraska Ties

David: Auditioned in Omaha, Nebraska.
Jeffrey: Born in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Blue Springs South Ties

David: Attended Blue Springs South High School.
Jeffrey: Attended Blue Springs South High School…to watch daughter perform as a cellist at a JR/SR-high orchestra concert.

Hometown Legend

David: Easily the most famous person from Blue Springs; has been the subject of dozens (if not hundreds) of articles from his hometown newspaper.
Jeffrey: The subject of one newspaper article from hometown paper; able to travel anonymously around town due to tricks known only to mystery novelists.

Writings

David: A self-professed "word nerd." Writes songs.
Jeffrey: Makes a living with words. Writes mystery novels.

Prior Creative Work

David: Released an independent CD, though apparently never signed a recording contract.
Jeffrey: Once had a signed book contract with a publisher called David Cook Publishing.

Community Recognition

I guess it's okay if you wave at my daughter, Mr. Cook.

David: Rode in a slow-moving parade down Adams Dairy Pkwy in Blue Springs, MO.
Jeffrey: Pulled over for speeding on Adams Dairy Pkwy in Blue Springs, MO.

Romantic Ties

David: Dates fellow American Idol contestant and actress Kimberly Caldwell.
Jeffrey: Hasn’t dated since the early 1990s. In fact...can't get a date.

The lesson? It doesn't take much to be "mistaken" for someone who resembles David Cook. All it seems to require is to be from Blue Springs, MO, be relatively young (at least in appearance), have messy hair and/or facial hair, and be involved in the entertainment field in some way.

Kudos to David for all his well-earned success. His website: http://www.david-cook.org/

- Jeffrey (e-mail me)

http://www.jeffreyleever.com/
Sample a chapter...or two:
www.jeffreyleever.com/excerpts

Book Signings & Internal Monologue

2008-03-29T22:20:00.000-07:00

As an author who typically writes from a third-person, limited omniscient perspective, one of the challenges I have is to give each character an agenda that’s expressed in both dialog and internal monologue. Sometimes the lines my characters speak don’t tell the whole story. Sometimes the story being told has very little to do with the literal words being said.

In real life, it both amuses and unnerves me to see this principle play out. Of course, we are not privy to the internal monologue of others in everyday encounters. So we’re left to speculate. (Actually, well, that’s probably for the best.)

Over the past two months, I’ve had quite a few book signings for my new suspense novel Dark Friday. I thought I would share some of the most common lines I hear at these signings, just for fun and education’s sake. And—imagining each person as a character in one of my stories—I’ll also translate the spoken words into internal monologue.

Question:
What’s your book about?

Translation:
I’m not really listening, just probing for key words. The shorter and friendlier you keep your answer, the more interested I will be.

Question:
Where are you from?

Translation:
I expect you to say the name of the city, area, or state where you are currently signing. I will act somewhat disappointed if you do not.

Question:
Are you related to Jeffery Deaver? (usually followed by chuckles)

Translation:
Your name sounds familiar, and I want you to notice how clever I am.

Question:
Who’s your publisher?
or
Have you ever collaborated on a book project?

Translation:
I am not buying your book, but would like information about how I can publish one of my own.

Question:
Is this your first?

Translation:
Why haven’t I heard of you? Here you are, sitting in this bookstore with a table, a banner with your name on it and a stack of books…what gives? You look like you’re 22.

(For the record, I‘m 35. I seem to get the age question a lot, though.)

Question:
Where are you staying tonight?

Translation:
?

I’m still trying to figure this last one out…asked of me by a guy in Omaha who, if memory serves, bought several horror DVDs rather than my book. Feel free to provide your own interpretation...

- Jeff
www.jeffreyleever.com

Under the Microscope

2007-12-17T22:36:00.000-08:00

Does your handwriting really tell on you? Ask my forensic handwriting expert protag Claudia Rose, and she'll tell you that your handwriting is a true mirror of your inner self. Remember Oscar Wilde's Picture of Dorian Grey? Even while Grey remained young and beautiful on the outside, the painting changed and told the hideous truth about what was going on inside him. Handwriting is like that painting--it reveals the good, the bad, and yes, the ugly, too.

Thousands of elements make up a handwriting sample, so it does little good to wonder what it means that you cross your t this way, or dot your i that way. And Claudia gets really ticked when someone sticks their signature under her nose and says, "What can you tell me?" (A signature by itself is like the cover on a book--it only shows what the writer wants you to see.)

A professional handwriting analyst looks at the way the handwriting is arranged on the paper, the overall style of writing, and the way it all "moves" together before reaching any conclusions about the writer. That means time, measurements, and a good knowledge of psychology to put it all into a meangingful framework. To get the real skinny requires a sample of at least a few paragraphs, and preferably a whole page or more.

So, we get a good sample of writing and a signature, too. What's it say??? It reveals how you feel about yourself, your social style, thinking style; how well you organize your life and time. And it shows where your fears and defenses come from (we've all got 'em). Oh, and of course, there are those "biological urges"--the need for food, sex, money, physical comforts. And that's just scratching the surface.

No wonder some police departments, private investigators, and the CIA use the services of forensic handwriting experts--under the microscope, your handwriting spills the beans.
Learn more about handwriting analysis at www.sheilalowe.com
Read a sample chapter of Claudia Rose's first mystery, Poison Pen at www.claudiaroseseries.com

Top 10 Reasons to Buy a Book

2007-08-15T07:24:00.000-07:00

(Like mine, for instance)

by Jeffrey Leever, author of Dark Friday

1. Understand that there are two kinds of fiction: literary and commercial. Literary fiction is what English teachers make people read in school, and the kind of books Oprah likes. Commercial fiction is what people read for pleasure. I write commercial fiction.

2. The chance to free your imagination. For once, don’t let some Hollywood marketing pinhead decide for you whether your entertainment will be PG-13 or R. (Why should he decide?) Let your mind fill in the blanks, picture the characters, the scenery. It’s worth it.

3. Time: I can almost guarantee it will take less time to read and get through my book than it takes to sit through a lot of movies that get released these days. I believe in fast-moving, heart-pumping, easy-to-get- through stories. Less than 300 pages; ideal for the on-the-go person.

4. The cover looks intriguing on any coffee table. Friends and visitors will notice. And if you need to shelve the book somewhere spine out, it still has this lovely red splat on it that’s eye-catching. (Is it paint? Is it blood? Even the author’s not quite sure…)

5. If you made it through school, you’ve had all kinds of mind-numbingly boring books you were forced to read. Now’s your chance to take a stand for justice and read something entertaining. I’m here for you.

6. Books have many bonus perks. For instance, you can’t hit a rogue spider running across your couch with a movie ticket. Weigh it.

7. Sure you could spend your money on a new DVD, or a blu-ray disc, or an HD-DVD…who can explain the difference? On the other hand, books — the printed word as a format — consistently non-confusing.

8. The majority of people have never finished a book since high school. You don’t have to be in that percentage of people. Why be a conformist?

9. Next time you see some good-looking person at a party, you’ll be able to say “Hey, I was reading this book…” and have it actually be the truth. Think about it: The truth on your side, giving you a leg up in the conversation. We can all use a leg up.

10. That’s “10” as in 10 bucks and a few cents. That was the price of Dark Friday at Amazon.com and Booksamillion.com at the time this list was written. In any case, my book will only set you back $10 to $15 — when and wherever you buy it. Order a copy online, bundle it with a CD (or another book, or whatever) and get free shipping. Or ask for it at a bookstore, and maybe grab a latte. You’ll be set.

Thanks for reading and tell your friends. I’m here for them, too. – JL

Feel free to investigate my credentials or check out a sample chapter:
www.jeffreyleever.com
www.jeffreyleever.com/excerpts

What Would Fifi Say?

2007-05-28T11:18:00.000-07:00

Fifi Cutter is a biracial 20 something, living in LA. Her adventures are chronicled by Gwen Freeman, in the "Fifi Cutter Mysteries." Rejected as not black enough by her father's family and not white enough by her mother's, Fifi is prematurely bitter and consequently spends a lot of time on her computer, trying to make virtual friends. This is her blog.

Most dudes and fluffs my age don't read murder mysteries, you know? But I do. Even the cozies with cats and quilts set in quaint little towns in places so different from LA, it's like reading science fiction. Well, I like science fiction, too. I'm just hooked on comfort-lit. If I don't get my fix, I'm all shaky and irritable. More irritable than usual, I mean. What is it? The sense of order restored, I guess. The controlled terror. Like being on a roller coaster. You can scream all you want but you know you're going to end up safely coasting in, and you'll be let off right where you got on, the same snaggle- toothed, greasy haired, tatted up roadie copping a feel as he helps you out of the car. Ahh, what I wouldn't give for Windex blue cotten candy right now.

Between The Lines

2007-05-09T09:47:00.001-07:00

Notes From The Road - Sheila Lowe

March 10 – The Mystery Bookstore, Westwood, CA
My first book signing for my new mystery novel, Poison Pen, took place at the Mystery Bookstore, near UCLA, with an audience of maybe a dozen. I was joined by fellow Capital Crime Press author and friend, Gwen Freeman, and we took turns telling our life stories and making each other look good. Several of my colleagues from the handwriting analysis world showed up, so I got an ego boost from that quarter, too. After we signed stock, store owner Bobby McCue invited us to add our entries to his oldtime Jail Register, which was daunting once we’d checked out a few of the famous names that preceded us. My creativity instantly dried up and I know I wrote something completely inane.

March 27 – Book Launch Party, Ventura, CA
So, I’d finally got my first mystery published and this was my official Launch. What could be a bigger high? It was a dazzling evening at the perfect venue–a courtyard café in a haunted inn, a block from the ocean. All those Chamber of Commerce meetings paid off handsomely in friends bringing friends to have books signed and celebrate with me over some extremely yummy cookies. Even Ventura Mayor Carl Morehouse (a Kris Kristofferson lookalike) and his wife came. Best of all, my two sons, Erik and Ben, and some other So Cal Capital Crime authors were there to share the magic with me. It made the seven years of slogging away toward publication worth it!

April 14 – Mysteries to Die For, Thousand Oaks, CA
Another signing with Gwen Freeman at the best known indy mystery store in Ventura County. We followed the big footsteps of some of my personal favorites: Michael Connelly, Tess Gerritsen, John Sandford, and many others. I think Heidi & Co. at MTDF were pleasantly surprised that we managed to pack the house–SRO...could it have been the cookies we brought?

April 7 – Barnes & Noble, Valencia, CA
No less than four Capital Crime authors shared a table for this event. Bruce Cook, Robert Fate, Gwen Freeman, and I spent a couple of hours chatting with passers-by. Since there was no signage to speak of and our table was stuck in the back of the store next to the café, the guys decided to get out and recruit customers to come and talk to us. I envy their guts–they really know how to sell books. Maybe they’ll blog some of their secrets here.

April 21 – Mysterious Galaxy, San Diego, CA
Whaddya know–the one day of the year it rains in California I get to witness a little unwelcome drama to enliven the trip. Driving south on the I-15, I'd burned up about half of the 150 miles to San Diego, when suddenly an eighteen-wheeler about fifty feet ahead reared up like a startled horse and drove right up the concrete barrier separating the freeway lanes. Mercifully, the truck’s cab jackknifed and came to a halt before it could plow into the oncoming traffic. No injuries, except maybe to the driver’s pride, but it sure made my heart beat faster. In San Diego, I met the charming Linda at MG, and got to chat with her before speaking to a small but enthusiastic audience. Jennifer Colt, who wrote a "funny vampire mystery" signed, too. She brought wine and cheese. And hand puppets. I brought pens (poison pens, of course) and more cookies.

April 28 – LA Times Festival of Books
How exciting, to sign at LATFOB at the Book ‘Em booth next to Hailey Lind, and at The Mystery Bookstore booth, where James Ellroy was signing and Joseph Wambaugh dropped in. I even met The Fonz. Okay, I admit it, Henry Winkler wasn’t in my (sadly short) line, he was waiting for Craig Johnson who sold an incredible number of books while I watched in amazement at the enthusiasm his readers showed. Note to self: check out his books.

After the Festival that night, Bill (my dearly beloved) and I had dinner at Claudia Rose’s favorite restaurant, Shanghai Red’s in Marina del Rey, then on to LAX to catch the red eye to the east coast. Don’t you just love the new flight regs? Not! We changed planes in Chicago, where I discovered we weren’t seated together and asked if that could be fixed. Sure, no problem, they said. Ahh, but there was a problem when we tried to return home. Somehow, changing seats got our return flights kicked out of the system and when we tried to check in, were accused (yes, that’s the word) of not having taken the rest of our flight from Chicago to Providence. I showed great restraint in getting this sorted. The threat of arrest if I expressed myself more frankly kept my mouth shut. I’m sure Claudia would have been braver.

April 29 – Borders, Crystal Mall, CT
Can you sleep on a plane? I can’t. Ever. We arrived in Providence at 11:00 a.m. Bill’s brother and his wife picked us up and drove us to the Borders bookstore at the Crystal Mall in Waterford, Connecticut. I marched up to Jason, the young man in charge, and said, "I’m here for my book signing." When I got that deer in the headlights look, I realized something was wrong. He knew nothing about my event, and the person who had arranged the signing had been out for a week. After a hurried search, he found my books and set up a table at the front door of the mall. It’s a good thing my sister-in-law, Judy, was there to keep me company, as the only book I sold was to a little boy Jason had sent over. I thought the kinky sex references might be a little over his head, but it turned out he wanted to give the book to his mom for Mother’s Day. Whew! Jason felt badly that there had been no advertising and the mall was pretty dead, so promised to put my books on a Staff Picks table and promote them, which made the afternoon worthwhile.

April 30 – Barnes & Noble, Smithfield, RI
The next day, Judy drove me sixty miles to this scheduled drop-in signing at B&N, where the CRM informed me, "We don’t have any of your books. I do remember someone calling me about a month ago, but we don’t have them." I asked (very nicely, of course) if maybe she could order some, reminding myself that this is not an uncommon experience, according to many other new authors. I bet it doesn’t happen to Michael Connelly or Sue Grafton. But it probably did, early-on. Right?

May 1 – New York, NY
Tuesday, we took the train from Providence to New York. I have a strong dislike for flying (that’s putting it mildly), so taking the Acela Express train was fun. As we walked out of Penn Station, a young man came running up, frantically flapping his hands. "Where can I find the police? Quick! I need to find the police!" Welcome to New York. Although Bill grew up in Brooklyn and knows the City well, even he was unable to meet the challenge of getting a cab to stop for us, so--thank whoever invented wheeled travel bags--we walked the fifteen blocks to our hotel. Luckily the weather was perfect and we didn’t have to step in too many weird-looking puddles. The two bookstores I’d hoped to visit didn’t have copies my book (the first printing had sold out), so we had lunch with friends. Bill had picked up a head cold on the flight in, and we decided to abandon plans to see a Broadway show, watching House instead in the teeny-tiny, insanely expensive hotel room.

May 2 – Philadelphia, PA
Wednesday morning, Bill flew home and I dragged my bags back to Penn Station, marveling at the number of people crammed onto the streets of Manhattan. On the train to Philadelphia I discovered was in "the Quiet Car." There's a "no cell phones or loud talking" rule, and when someone’s cell phone rang and its owner began to engage in an animated conversation, she was soon reminded of the rule by the guy seated behind her.

My first visit to Philadelphia. Phil Pearlman, a good friend from the local handwriting analysis group, drove me all over the city and took me to a neat little hole-in-the-wall café that served the absolutely best roast beef sandwiches (and I’m not a big fan of meat). When we got to the Borders where I had a drop-in signing scheduled, guess what happened...You got it–"Didn’t your publicist tell you, we’re sold out of both of your books and haven’t had time to order more." Luckily, Phil knew of some other bookstores in the area, so I introduced myself there and they promised to order my books.

That same night, I had a signing at the Bryn Mawr Barnes and Noble, which went as planned–by now, this came as a pleasant surprise. Kathy Siciliano, the CRM there, was fantastic–and all the other CRMs in the area said so, too. Between us, we got several articles in the Philly papers and I had an audience to speak to about forensic handwriting analysis.

May 4-6 – Arlington, VA
Thursday. Another train, another city. Another kind friend picking me up and squiring me around, suitcase and laptop in tow. Jim works in DC and showed me some of the sights, which included some truly stunning foliage. I even got a photo of me in front of the White House. Maybe I should have been holding a protest sign to add a little color.

I was in Arlington to attend my very first Malice Domestic and meet with my new Penguin/NAL editor, Kristen Weber. How exciting is that?! My Malice experiences would take a whole blog in themselves. The first event I attended was Malice Go-Round, the mystery author’s version of speed dating. Twenty tables of readers, two authors at each table, had 90 seconds each in which to pitch their books. When the moderator called Time, the authors moved to the next table to do it all over again. After the first fifteen or so times, I began to wonder whether my voice would hold out, but it did, and Poison Pen was well received. Next came the New Authors Breakfast, where each new author hosted a table and the MC came around for a brief interview.

I had been listed as a Guest Expert, scheduled for a presentation on Sunday at noon. I thought most people would be gone by then. But this was my first Malice, and I hadn’t counted on those wonderful diehard mystery lovers. It was astonishing and honestly humbling to find myself speaking to a room filled with people interested in learning a little about handwriting analysis--a great conclusion to my week on the east coast.

May 18-20 – Tucson, AZ
After one week back home it was time to pack again, and head for the Southwest. Fritz, my nearly-seventeen-year-old cat, was not best pleased, but I promised that his wrangler, Maggie (she doesn’t want to be called "catsitter"), would bring him special hors d’ oevres in bed. Seriously.

First, Tucson, to attend a conference of the National Association of Document Examiners. The minute I left the airport to pick up my rental car (which shall heretofore be referred to as the Big Boat--or alternatively, the Old Lady Car--as that's how the Dodge Charger felt), the skies opened and a violent thunderstorm commenced. I was so grateful that it happened after I landed that getting soaked was no biggie. The conference was in a gorgeous resort in the desert. Lots of old friends in that group, and some new ones. Tricia Clapp, who owns Mostly Books (a great indy store if you’re in Tucson), is herself a handwriting analyst, and was the bookseller at the conference. She sold out of Poison Pen, and The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Handwriting Analysis. I love Trish.

The first night, three other women and I went to dinner in the Big Boat and I got us all lost in the dark desert on the way back. Even worse, by the time we made it to the hotel, I’d missed most of the oh-so-important season ending of Grey’s Anatomy. All I know is, Burke walked out on the wedding and Meredith’s half-sister is a new intern. And what’s up with George failing his test?

Next came my Saturday afternoon signing at Borders, where there was a mix up about the date. They hurriedly put me at a table by the front door, along with a display of my books, and I asked them to set up some chairs so shoppers would know there was going to be a discussion. I was delighted when a woman named Mary showed up and brought her friend. I’d met Mary on the flight in and we immediately became friends. She's a prison psychologist and does she have stories to tell! Mary said that wherever she goes, her energy draws other people, and it was true, we collected a small group together for my talk. Afterward, the manager said she was surprised at how good my sales were, as an author is lucky to have three people come to their table. Truth was, I took a leaf from Bruce and Bob’s book (see above) and cornered people as they walked in the store: "Do you read mysteries? New book–Poison Pen–I’m the author." Sometimes, it worked.

I was scheduled for a signing at Clues Unlimited in Tucson, but on calling the store to check in, a recording said they’d had a death in the family and they were closed for a couple of days. I showed up at the appointed time, and met Christine, who introduced me to her two handsome greyhounds. She explained they'd lost Sophie, the pot-bellied pig they’d rescued two years earlier, after a sudden illness. Having had that awful experience a couple of years ago with a well-loved cat, I empathized with her distress.

May 21 – Phoenix, AZ
On Sunday, after the NADE conference ended, I drove 120 miles to Phoenix and stayed with a friend in Fountain Hills. With a TV show and signing scheduled in Scottsdale for the next day, I realized I’d be driving the thirty-five miles back to her house on a windy road in the desert at night by myself. Since I'd already gotten lost in the desert at night with company, I wasn't anxious to repeat the experience on my own (any spirit of adventure I have belongs to Claudia), so I got a hotel near the Borders where I would be signing. Who knew an Embassy Suites in Phoenix would be as expensive as New York? I discovered when I awoke that the hotel was undergoing renovations. Have you ever tried to be creative with a monster jackhammer tearing up sidewalk outside your window?

Arriving for my appearance on Good Day Arizona, I was placed in an armchair on the set. Like Claudia, I don’t do quickies, so I’d done my best to make sure they didn’t drop last minute handwriting samples on me. You can guess what’s coming next, right? One minute before my segment, the host sat down beside me and said, "I’ve written a couple of paragraphs, can you tell me all about myself?" My instant, "No!" probably sounded a little ungracious, so I offered to take his handwriting with me and send back a few comments. My next gaffe happened on-camera. Flipping through my Idiot’s Guide to Handwriting Analysis, the host stopped at a sample of Elvis’ handwriting and asked what it showed about the King. I was horrified to hear myself blurt, "It’s pretty whacked." Real professional, Lowe. Good work. The rest of the segment went okay–how badly can you mess up in three minutes? That afternoon, when I checked into my hotel, the shuttle driver, who looked like Santa, said, "Was that you I saw on TV this morning?" and the manager who checked me in exclaimed, "I was just reading about Poison Pen!" I guess media works. Sometimes.

Phoenix friend and fellow author Judy Starbuck was kind enough to take me to the Poisoned Pen bookstore, certainly a well-known name in this industry, and introduce me to John and Leslie (Barbara Peters was visiting Europe). While it hadn't been possible to schedule a signing there on this trip, I was invited to set one up next time I was in the Southwest.

My Phoenix stay ended with a signing at yet another Borders, where again, there was no signage and I was stuck upstairs in the back of the store, next to the Children’s section. Happily, they put out chairs for my three friends, two daughters of my sister-in-law and family, and one customer who joined us. We all had a good time, everyone bought books for me to sign, and I was ready to move on to the last stop in my Southwest travels–Sedona.

May 22 – Sedona, AZ
What an amazing place, Sedona. I wasn’t there long enough to see much up-close, but the red rock vistas in the distance make it as magical as everything I’ve heard. At The Well Red Coyote bookstore it was a great pleasure to see Kris and Joe Neri. About eight years ago, when I first started writing Poison Pen, I took a mystery writing course from Kris through the Learning Annex, which, for a totally green fiction writer, was a great help. It was so much fun to come full circle and bring the published book to her bookstore.

So, finally, back to Phoenix, drop off the Big Boat aka Old Lady Car at the airport, and white-knuckle it through the 75-minute flight to Burbank. Poor old Fritz looked as if he’d despaired of me ever coming home, but after meowing loudly at me for a few minutes, he seemed to decide that it would take less exertion to purr than to yowl, and we’re now back on good terms. I wonder if I’ll ever be able catch up on everything that got neglected while I was away before it's time to leave again. The Book Passage conference is coming up next month and I’m on a panel...stay tuned.

Sheila Lowe

The Game is Afoot

2007-05-09T08:05:00.000-07:00

The purpose of this blog is to give an e-voice to the authors of published mystery novels. Specifically, those eager to help new writers ply their trade.

I'll begin by naming the culprits:

Troy Cook
Robert Fate
Bruce Cook
Lori Lacefield
Gwen Freeman
Sheila Lowe
Jeff Leever

Periodically, you'll hear from each of these writers. What they'll say is anyone's guess, but just like their fiction, the words will be cleverly arranged to capture our interest, and keep us coming back for more.

Me, I'm just here to referee.

Rick Taylor
Blogmaster