Sara J. Henry
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Publishing Is Not a Teeter-Totter: On Writing Novels and Not Writing Novels - and Asking Bestselling Authors to  Stop Writing Because They've 'Had Their Turn'

2/25/2014

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There's a long and thoughtful article over at Medium.com by Emily Gould, worth the read if you've had a book deal or hope for a book deal or wonder about book deals or publishing or writers. But here's the big takeaway:

"It was miraculous, I wanted to shout into the wind, how much space opened up in your brain when you stopped filling it with a steady stream of other people’s thoughts!" - Emily Gould, "How Much My Novel Cost Me."

(Never mind the irony that I'm posting this somewhere that ends up on a Twitter stream and a Facebook account - I heartily recommend sectioning off your online life and occasionally turning it off entirely.)

And over on Huffington Post is a post that basically, well, tells a very successful female author to stop writing books. The writer, an author herself, writes, "You've had your turn. Enjoy your vast fortune ... But it's time to give other writers, and other writing, room to breathe."

Okay, we know this writer cannot expect that the VSF author being addressed will read the piece and say, Gosh, you have a point, I'll just go retire happily and steer all my erstwhile readers to you instead. Some folks like to rabble rouse; others speak/write before they think. Or want publicity, never mind at whose expense. (There's a reason I'm not linking to the post, although by just mentioning it I'm part of the problem.)

But I prefer to think (and I'm aware this is likely wistful thinking) that this is satire, that this author will soon stand up and say, Couldn't you all see I was joking!?! Hey, I said I never even read her books!

And very tired and jaundiced part of me wonders if this author would have aimed the same sort of diatribe at a male author. Neil Gaiman also stepped into the world of writing adult novels - part of this writer's point seems to be that, having 'conquered' one genre, authors should be polite enough not to step over to another genre.

But I'm still waiting for the Gotcha! response from the writer.



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Two extraordinary books - at an extraordinary price: MY SECOND DEATH and UNTOUCHABLE

2/24/2014

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If you like intense, quirky, different, brilliant crime novels -  Tyrus Books has two that I particularly recommend. They're still on sale - just not the ridiculously low-priced sale of the last few weeks.

MY SECOND DEATH by Lydia Cooper - now $8.48 in trade paperback.
UNTOUCHABLE by Scott O'Connor - now $7.98 in trade paper

There are a bunch of other really good titles here: GETTING LUCKY, CHUM, and more. Buy one more book to total at least $25 and you get free shipping. Kind of can't beat that deal.

Yep, I know the publisher, Ben LeRoy, who's a really good guy, but he has no idea I'm touting his books here. These are astoundingly good books. (Mind you, if you like your crime novels cut-and-dried and with a straightforward and somewhat predictable plot, well, no, these aren't for you. But others on the list may appeal .)
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Heading for Left Coast Crime in Monterey for March 20-23

2/22/2014

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Recently got my panel assignments for the Left Coast Crime conference in Monterey, and they're humdingers.

10:15-11:00 am, Friday, March 21:
When Setting Matters: Not Just a Pretty Backdrop for Murder
Caroline (Charles) Todd (M) - Timothy Hallinan, Sara J. Henry, Craig Johnson, William Kent Krueger

11:30 am- 12:15 pm, Saturday, March 22:
X-Factor: Responsibilities & Issues for Women Writing Women
Kelli Stanley (M) - Lisa Brackmann, Robin Burcell, Marcia Clark, Sara J. Henry

I know most of these folks and their books and in particular am friends with Marcia - these will be great panels. Here's the full lineup for the conference - you still have time to register.

And on Saturday night I'll be co-hosting a table at the banquet with my friend Chris F. Holm (love his books) and his charming wife Katrina Niidas Holm (who reviews books). Also looking forward to seeing my friends Jenn and Don Longmuir, who run part of the book room, and Catriona McPherson, who's up for two (two!) awards in different categories, and many more.

Yes, it's sort of like summer camp - except for grownups. In March. Hope to see some of you there.
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    Author

    Sara J. Henry is the author of LEARNING TO SWIM and A COLD AND LONELY PLACE, and used to write health books and articles. She lives in Vermont on a dirt road with at least one too many dogs.

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