Saturday, February 23, 2013

A Houston Hodgepodge and a Cry for Help


A murder of crows.  I’d forgotten about that classification for a group of crows until standing under a tree in the Houston Zoo with my grandson, waiting for a Texas-size rain eruption (big, but fast) to conclude.  The sign across from us said “murder” and naturally caught my eye.  I’m sure there were signs elsewhere saying “peace,” “harmony,” and “love” but in my state (of mind, not Texas) all I saw was—here it comes—murder is everywhere.

I’d picked up a horrendous head cold from my grandchildren for which I don’t blame them a bit.  Despite clear and present runny-noses-warnings I couldn’t help but hug, squeeze, and smooch them.  I challenge any papou to resist a three- and five-year old tag team of les adorables grandchildren (a bit of Greek and French in keeping with the international nature of MIE).

Now, I sit at George Bush Intercontinental Airport  (named after the father, not the son) waiting to test the efficacy of all the decongestants I’m on, my mind in a total haze.  If I were in Colorado the locals might think I was high (taking advantage of its recent legalization of marijuana).  Here, they just think I’m a Democrat.

I should show them my ticket.  It has me flying to Salt Lake City.  Romneyland.  But only to change planes, then it’s off to spread cold germs to my brother and his family in Palm Springs. 

This is my last swing west before heading back to Mykonos at the end of April after my daughter adds another grandchild to the mix.  YAY.  Buy Kleenex stock.

Usually I’m on book tour at this time of year, but as my last book came out in June (Target: Tinos) and the new one won’t be out until September (Mykonos After Midnight), I’m just wandering aimlessly around the country bothering family along the way.

Next year will be different.  I have a teaching gig in January.  As I wrote about in detail earlier this week on the blogsite of my publisher, Poisoned Pen Press, I accepted an invitation from the President of my alma mater to teach a full credit course on any writing subject of my choice.

Washington & Jefferson College
My goal is to explore the Four Stages in the development of a mystery novelist: Wanting, Struggling, Attaining, and Enduring, in the hope of helping at least a few published, non-published, and aspiring writers reach their own conclusions on how best to shape their writing lives.  It’s about what to expect and where to find your highs among all the lows along the way to attaining the measure of success you’ve set for yourself.

I’m still working on the course outline, and though it won’t be a purely creative writing or survey course—too many good ones already out there—it’s still important to present an overview of the history of our genre, and in that regard I need your help.

What I’m looking for is a book that addresses the defining mysteries, ones students should at least be aware of in advance of the course.  I know that Declan Burke and John Connolly have a new book out there (Edgar nominated, Books To Die For) but aside from their effort, do any others come to mind?

It’s now time to board the plane and carry my haze on to the land of Cal-i-forn-i-a…where one in my state should blend right in.

Jeff—Saturday

10 comments:

  1. Jeff - Not about mysteries only, but I highly recommend The Seven Basic Plots: Why We Tell Stories by Christopher Booker. A monumental work that will get any writer thinking about how they tell stories.

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    1. Thanks, Jim, that's a wonderful suggestion--one that might actually fool some students into thinking I know what I'm talking about :)

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  2. You may wish to look at A Miscellany of Murder from The Monday Murder Club (2011).

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    1. Thanks, Liz, I can always count on you to add to my MUST read pile!

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  3. I can't tell you much about about books, other than Tim Hallinan's "Making Story." Aren't you in that? Mazel tov on your grandchildren, present and future, and I hope you feel better soon.

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    1. Thank you, Lil. And yes, I'm part of "Making Story," along with Cara, Leighton, Lisa, Yrsa, Michael and Stanley. It's sort of a family affair at Poppa Tim's house:)

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  4. Jim Huang’s Mystery Muses: 100 Classics That Inspire Today’s Mystery Writers might be worth a look.
    Liz

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    1. Thanks, Liz, for giving me a potentially additional 101 books to read:).

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  5. Jeff, I have no book title for you, but I am kvelling over your grandchildren news. They can give you a cold once in a while, but the cold goes away. The joy lasts forever.

    Do NOT go to Mykonos without kissing me good-bye.

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  6. Is that all, Annamaria? I shall leave my jealous mates (Leighton, Stan and Michael) to wonder what I precisely meant by that:)

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