Wow - some updates

Yikes - it's been awhile. 

In my last entry I thanked those who came out to the Chapters outlet in Coquitlam but more has happened since then.

I spoke at the downtown branch of the Vancouver Public Library back on March 8th to a small house (it was a dark and stormy night and the Canucks were playing so I couldn't expect too much).  Only one of the twenty or so  people there was someone I knew (thank you to fellow writer Louise Moon for your support) which I like to think means I drew at least a little crowd, including a group of creative writing students and their teacher from King George Secondary in Va

ncouver (a number of whom bought the book at the end of the talk, thank you!). 

The following week I shot an interview for a documentary TV series on Global called "True Pulp Murder."  Each episode will feature a true crime reenactment, with interviews with the original investigating detectives and - here's where I come in - a mystery writer whose stories and/or insights may have some parallels to the crime.  It looks like an interesting series.  On the downside, it's not scheduled to air until the fall so its publicity benefits may not be seen for awhile.

Found a couple of more reviews online - both positive (see the Deadly Lessons page on my website for links).  Admittedly, one is by someone I know - he worked on my old talk show several years ago but hey - it's not like we're still seeing each other every day!  He's got some objectivity going there, especially since he works for a rival publisher!  The other I found just this evening while vainly 'googling' myself: it comes from the Midwest Book Review and used terms like "fresh and engaging", "intricate and fascinating", "a psychological layer that encompasses all the characters".  Kind of a nice way to end the weekend!

Oh, and I made it to the next round of  CKNW's Talk Show Idol contest.  Not that I think I'm really going to win and be offered a talk show or anything but damned if I'm not having a whole lot of fun.   

Arthur Ellis crime writing awards shortlist should come out sometime this week.  I'm not expecting to make it but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't at least a little bit on pins and needles.  I'll be sure to update here.

One down, one to go...this week

Thanks to those who attended the Chapters Coquitlam event yesterday. 

It wasn't quite what I was expecting. My original understanding was that there would be a reading, followed by signing opportunity. When I arrived the store personnel had pretty much just put a table at the front of the store where I could meet and greet and sign copies - no reading to be had.  

Alas, though, look for the silver lining: the store brought in 15 copies of the book for the event - along with 3 for the shelves since they had previously sold out. We sold all 18 copies within an hour of the two-hour event.  Sure, most of them went to friends and students but a couple had gone before I even arrived.  I took that as a good sign.

 The manager seemed pleased and apologetic that only 15 copies had been available. Of course it's hard to gauge what sales will be like but on the plus side, she did invite me to do another event at which they would order more books.  Look for that probably some time in April or May.

 Later this week - Thursday the 8th at 7:30 - I'll be doing a reading (for sure!) at the Vancouver Public Library downtown (350 West Georgia) and selling books directly.  If you can make it - or know someone who might like to - please come by and spread the word.

Oh yeah - I almost forgot.  My little appearance on CKNW's 'Talk Show Idol' evidently went well: keeping in my mind my intent was pretty much to get in a shameless plug for my book I somehow made it to the 'quarter finals'.  I bantered with John McComb on 'The World Today' Friday afternoon for a few minutes and my next appearance will be I think some time in April. Stay tuned!

Events are approaching quickly

If you saw the front page of the website, you'll have seen the two promotional events for Deadly Lessons, one on March 3rd at Chapters in Coquitlam, the other on Thursday night, March 8th, at the downtown branch of the Vancouver Public Library.

At the latter, in addition to doing a reading I'll be preparing a little talk about the use of the high school as the setting for a crime novel (or, dare I say, a crime series). I'm hoping to focus on the controversial issues that arise in a high school setting, particularly in light of the Tom Ellison conviction and sentencing in January and two recent cases in my own school district of teachers having inappropriate relationships with students. I'll talk about the kinds of things that are taboo in terms of mining them for fiction and even just expressing divergent opinions on.  I'm hoping it will be an interesting conversation.  I'm also hoping people will show up!

The following week I'm being interviewed by the producers of a new documentary series on Global Television called "True Pulp Murder." It's a 13 episode show that each week will focus on a homicide investigation, with re-enactments and interviews with detectives who investigated the cases.  Then they'll interview a crime novelist each week who will give his or her thoughts about the investigation, parallels to stories he or she has written and/or published, what kinds of true life themes are evident in the case that often appear in fiction, etc.  It should be an interesting series.  And, of course, I get to plug the book.

And, of course, I'll be on CKNW this coming Sunday afternoon, trying to become their next Talk Show Idol.  Actually, I really don't care if I win: I'm kind of doing it for a lark because I love having anything to do with radio and if I get to hold court on the Top Dog for a half hour, even once, that'll be fun. 

That certainly doesn't preclude anyone from going to cknw.com and voting for me, of course.

Upcoming Deadly Lessons Events
Haven't been keeping up with the blog too much. I guess I find myself wondering if anyone would even be reading it - other than me, of course.

News from the Deadly Lessons launch party

It's been awhile.

 

I thought it was worth describing somewhat the formal launch of Deadly Lessons, held November 30 at the library of Dr. Charles Best Secondary in Coquitlam, and hosted by Judith Comfort.

 

The event was very well attended, despite the colossal amount of snow (colossal being a relative term given how poorly we in the Lower Mainland generally can handle the white stuff) under which the city lay.  Friends, family, and colleagues alike were exceedingly generous; I sold more books than I would have thought probable or even possible.  I am truly blessed with wonderful support.  Even former students (hello to Karen, Chloe, Darren, Hayley, Luke et al) came by, many by surprise after reading of the event the previous day in the Tri-City News. 

 

Special thanks to Chuck Baker, friend and colleague and gifted (and much more published!) writer who showed tremendous generosity not only to me but to his Writing 12 students, all of whom themselves wrote 50,000-word novels during the month of November.  An amazing feat, for which he awarded each one of them a copy of, you guessed it, Deadly Lessons he purchased with his own money.  They're lucky to have him as a teacher and I'm grateful for his support.

 

I'm up for signings now!  Anyone with connections to local bookstores who might be willing to host an author reading or signing, drop me a line.  Drop by often and I'll keep you up to date with any upcoming events.

The time it is a nearin'

Lest you be following along and keeping track, the release of Deadly Lessons is imminent.  The publisher tells me it has gone to the printer following one last look at the proofs and, depending on how busy the printer is, ought to be ready for distribution in short order.

Speaking of order, feel free to order in advance.  Different ordering options are available on my main website.  Also, check out the e-card, a digital movie-trailer like release that includes press releases, story information and interviews with me (yay!) and Alistair Thompson (the editor).  See it here:

www.transmedia95.com/ecardDL/ecardlaunch.html

Coming down to the wire....I think
What I believe were likely the final edits were down to the book in the past couple of weeks. At this point, the publisher will send me one more pdf file to check out but it seems the brunt of the work is done. I know it's scheduled to go to print pretty quickly but I still don't have a formal release date yet.

No word, then, on any kind of release party. I have no idea what that should entail - if anyone has any ideas, feel free to hit with an email and let me know. I'm open to any and all suggestions.

Then comes the marketing - trying to get into bookstores for readings, etc. Not much idea about that one either. If anyone has good friends who manage or own bookstores, I'd love to hear from you.

Of course a positive review wouldn't hurt either. With any luck once I get something to look at I can get one of the dailies to review it.

As always, stay tuned.

A Deadly Lessons Update

First let's begin with the notion of blogging, particularly through the Lycos people with whom my website is hosted.  It's complicated and not very pleasant to use (terribly clunky really) and it barely supports in any meaningful way my Macintosh OS 9.2 operating system (haven't really tried it over on OSX yet but I'm inclined to think it's yet another anti-Mac thing!).

So, latest update is that I will have the publishers' final edits around about the third week of September for my approval/input.  From there it pretty much goes to press and we should see the finished product on store shelves shortly thereafter.  I am definitely planning a book release party of some kind, though I have yet to determine when, where or in what format but I'll be sure to keep information updates here.