WAR! WHY?

 Annamaria on Monday

As far as I can tell, World War I is incomprehensible.  Having studied it extensively, I say this is true literally as well as figuratively.  My topic today is a case in point.  The hardest thing to comprehend about WWI is why it happened in the first place. And for me "why" is the most important question.  After all, the cost of that war was astonishing:

• Military Deaths: Between 9 and 10 Million
• Civilian Deaths: Between 6 and 13 million civilians lost to tose caught in the fire and bombing or to famine, disease, or genocide
• Total Casualties: Around 40 million including wounded and missing

And yet, though you can read long treatises recounting what was going on at the time all over the planet, they never add up to actual understanding.  At least for me, though I have read many books about that war, I have never gotten to the "Oh! Now I see!" moment.

I knew that when I got to book 5 in my Africa series that I would have to present that war through the eyes of my characters.  As inexplicable as the war still is to me, it's easy to understand how my characters feel about it.

Their country has declared war against Germany.  They are involved.  They have to make decisions about what to do and what not to do, and they have to deal any lack of understanding, as all people of their time did.  If they can't understand or accept the "why," they, as individuals, have to deal with that.

My current work in progress is the fifth in my Africa series.  It's 1915.  And their location is British East Africa, which happens to be at war with German East Africa, immediately to their south.  Therefore, I have been researching what happened in that conflict for some time now.

Readers of my stories need to know what's happening in BEA.  Lots of 21st Century people are totally unaware that "The Great War For Civilization" took place in Africa, as well as in the trenches of Western Europe.  The conflicts in Europe have earned most of WWI's notoriety. Especially here in the USA, because Europe is where the Americans fought.  But The war in Africa needs explanations

The locales other than Europe--notably the MiddleEast and Africa--have mostly been written off as sideshows. But for me, understanding the war in Africa is essential if I am going to take my characters there.  Readers familiar with my series already know that Tolliver's sister Constance is now married to an Italian Admiral (no spoilers).  And Vera and Tolliver have concerned themselves with what his role in the war will be. And if they need to know that, so do I.  

Here is a simplistic summary of what I learned.  (It is all so convoluted that--as stated above about WWI in general--brief explanations (or pretty much explanations at all) are impossible.

But let me try.  Before the war, Italy had signed a defense treaty with the Central Powers--the German Empire, the Empire of Austria-Hungary.  But Italy saw the outbreak of the war as offensive, not defensive.  So they did not consider themselves as obliged to join in.  And Italy had also been playing sub-rosa games with England and France, hoping for deals that would earn them some new territory.   So they switched sides.

My characters are happy when Italy joins the Brits and the French, because their beloved Constance and Gian-Lorenzo are no longer the enemy.

What I learned about what the Italians did then boggles my mind.  The Italian Front (The Italians vs Austria-Hungary), like the Western Front was fought in trenches.   Except that the Italian trenches were on Alpine rock and glaciers, as high up as 3000 meters (9800 feet!). The Italians fought battle after battle over a place called Isonzo. Eleven bloodbaths in all.  The carnage was stupefying.

Italian price paid:

The first four battles: 60,000 dead and 150,000 wounded.

The sixth: 20,000 dead and 50,000 wounded.

The eighth and the ninth: 37,000 dead and 88,000 wounded.

They then moved their war to a new battlefield ninety-three miles away and spent another 700,000 dead, wounded, and captured Italian soldiers.

What territory, even if they won it, could possibly have been worth such a sacrifice?

Here is where I lost control of this blog post!

There are wars going on all over the world right now.  We watch them on the news each day.  We hear the death tolls.  We see the dead babies.  And the tears of the doctors, who are trying to save the lives of the mutilated.

All those lost lives.  The ones wasted in 1914-18.  More going to waste right now.  Has human kind learned nothing?  Do we still fight over pieces of ground? Is there no other way to get them back if they have been taken?

Is human carnage really the only way out?

What is war? 

Insanity

INSANITY

INSANITY

INSANITY

INSANITY

Pub Day Is Here!

Five Books Ago

Jeff––Saturday

I’m truly blessed. Not just by my wonderful family, supportive friends, and gifted editorial and publisher backup, but by our Murder is Everywhere fans who tolerate my once a year (at least, but who’s counting) blatant self-promotional efforts at selling you on acquiring my latest Chief Inspector Andreas Kaldis novel.  This year it’s novel #14, NOT DEAD YET, published by Severn House and available through your favorite independent bookseller or at any of the sites found via this link to my website.

NOT DEAD YET’s official publication date is Tuesday, April 1^st which I can assure you is not an April Fool’s prank–at least I hope it’s not because the next day (Wednesday, April 2^nd) I have a live chat and book signing at NYC’s iconic The Mysterious Bookshop.

Set largely along Greece’s southwestern Peloponnesian coastline with the Ionian Sea, the plot moves north from where Greek mythology places the entrance to Hades, to search for clues along the coastal perimeter of the historically and agriculturally rich Messinian Bay region. From there it’s on to Navarino where Greeks fought the most important sea battle of their 1821 War for Independence and today is home to Costa Navarino, one of the world’s most luxurious and celebrated golf resorts.

So far, #14 has received rave reviews, including a starred review from Booklist’s Barbara Bibel, “Buckle up for Chief Inspector Andreas Kaldis’ most complex case yet … truly ingenious. This series gets better with every book.”

And wondrous praise from Lesa Holstine of Lesa’s Book Critiques, “Not Dead Yet is my favorite of Siger’s recent books…If you’re looking for a police procedural series with solid characters, gorgeous Greek settings, and fascinating politics, you’re in luck. You have fourteen books waiting for you.”

At for a brief description of the plot line, rather than offering one created by me or my publisher, I thought it might be more interesting to offer up the key plot points as described in 5-star NetGalley review, by Reviewer Riley W:

“Wealthy Greek businessman Dimitris Onofrio is known to be corrupt to the core, but the police have never been able to make his crimes stick. Powerful, influential and extremely dangerous, Onofrio is not a man to cross, and every witness prepared to come forward against him has died before they could testify.

“So when Onofrio’s private jet crashes, seemingly with no survivors, the police breathe a sigh of relief – quickly replaced by horror when Onofrio is found alive but catatonic on a remote Ionian beach, beside the body of his beloved wife.

“Was the crash an accident . . . or sabotage? Chief Inspector Andreas Kaldis, head of Athens’ Special Crimes Unit, knows that unless he can discover the truth before Onofrio recovers, the tycoon will be out for bloody revenge on all involved. Including Kaldis’ own beloved wife, who is more mixed up in the accident than anyone would ever have suspected . . .

“With its gorgeous Greek locations, engaging characters and fast-paced plotting, this international crime series is a perfect pick for fans of Donna Leon, Louise Penny, Martin Walker and David Hewson. Loved it. Cannot wait to read more from the author.”

Other NetGalley reviewers also have heaped 5-star praise on NOT DEAD YET.  For example:

“Jeffrey Siger's ‘Not Dead Yet’ isn't just another police procedural; it's a vibrant, sun-drenched journey into the heart of Greece, where ancient myths intertwine with modern-day crimes...Siger weaves together the threads of history, mythology, and contemporary issues with a deft hand, creating a rich tapestry that immerses the reader in the vibrant, often chaotic, reality of Greek life...A must-read for anyone who enjoys intelligent thrillers with a rich cultural backdrop.” Reviewer J.K.

“I still have goosebumps from this book! I could not set it down. I had to know how it ended. I loved the plot and the characters of this book.” Reviewer Kelsey V.

“Siger's books are distinguished by the fact that the plots and characters are never repetitive nor prosaic. The people who work with Kaldis in the office are rounded, entertaining, supportive characters who add to the humor and to the abstruse searches to identify the ‘bad guys’… all of Siger's books, are something to eagerly look forward to.”  Educator Jane A.

“a fast-paced and thrilling mystery that keeps readers hooked from start to finish… Siger’s writing is sharp and engaging, with vivid descriptions that bring both the characters and the setting to life…. great choice for fans of gripping, international thrillers… an exciting and well-crafted mystery that will keep readers guessing until the very end.” Reviewer 1450463

As I said, I feel truly blessed…and even more so should I be lucky enough to run into some of you while I’m out and about on my NOT DEAD YET book tour—an admittedly bad choice of name for a tour should the principals be long-celebrated rock musicians. Thankfully, I can’t sing a note.:)

––Jeff

 

Jeff’s Events (still in formation)

2025

All Live Events

 

Wednesday, April 2, 6:00 p.m. ET
Mysterious Bookshop
Author Speaking and Signing
New York, NY

 

Sunday, April 6, 2:00 p.m. PT
Book Carnival
Author Speaking and Signing
Orange, CA

 

Sunday, April 13, 2:00 p.m. MT
The Poisoned Pen Bookstore
Author Speaking and Signing
Scottsdale, AZ

 

Friday, April 25, 7:00 p.m.
Mystery Lovers Bookshop
Author Speaking and Signing
Pittsburgh, PA

 

Sunday, May 4, 2:00 p.m. ET
Sparta Public Library
Author Speaking and Signing
Sparta, NJ

 

Thursday, May 15 – Sunday, May 18
CrimeFest
Author Panels yet to be assigned
Bristol, UK

 

Wednesday, September 3 – Sunday, September 7
Bouchercon
Author Panels yet to be assigned
New Orleans, LA

 

Cosy or not to Cozy?

Just checking to see if an AI post is allowed in MIE.  For research purposes?

I was planning to do a blog on "the cosy" but some food poisoning intervened so I asked AI to define the cosy, and it did. Interesting to note that as the UK and USA drift further apart, the Brits seem to be reclaiming their vowels in the world of publishing. So when cosy is typed, it's me. When cozy is typed is the AI person.

Here's the definition it came up with. I asked for 500 words. It repeated a lot so I've snipped it.

"A cozy mystery, often affectionately referred to as a "cozy," is a subgenre of crime fiction distinguished by its lighthearted and comforting tone, which sets it apart from the grittier, more graphic forms of mystery or thriller. These stories typically revolve around a puzzling crime, usually a murder, that occurs in a close-knit community or small-town setting. What makes cozies so appealing to readers is their mix of suspense, charm, and a wholesome atmosphere.

                                                           

The hallmark of a cozy mystery lies in its unassuming protagonist. Unlike the hardened detectives or forensic experts seen in other crime novels, the main character in a cozy is often an amateur sleuth. These protagonists can range from bakers, librarians, gardeners, or even retirees who possess an innate knack for solving mysteries despite their lack of formal training. Their relatability is key, as they navigate both the intricacies of the case and their everyday lives.

                                                           

Cozies are notable for their emphasis on the intellectual challenge of solving the puzzle, rather than dwelling on the graphic details of the crime. Violence, when it occurs, is typically "offstage" and described in a non-explicit manner. Similarly, themes of sex, profanity, and gore are toned down or entirely absent, making cozy mysteries suitable for a wide audience.

The setting is another essential element of the genre. Cozy mysteries often unfold in picturesque and idyllic locations, such as quaint villages, charming coastal towns, or cozy urban neighborhoods. These settings contribute to the warm, inviting atmosphere of the story while creating a tight circle of suspects who are all connected in some way. This allows readers to play detective alongside the protagonist, gathering clues and piecing together the mystery.

Supporting characters in cozies tend to be as much a draw as the crime-solving itself. These novels often feature a colorful cast of recurring side characters, including quirky friends, nosy neighbors, or lovable pets. Relationships and community dynamics add depth to the story and create a sense of familiarity and connection for readers, especially in cozy series where characters reappear in multiple books.

Humor also plays an integral role in cozy mysteries. The dialogue, situations, and character interactions frequently incorporate wit and charm, keeping the tone light despite the serious subject matter. This balance between suspense and humor makes cozies an uplifting reading experience.

The origins of the cozy mystery genre can be traced back to the classic works of authors such as Agatha Christie, whose novels featuring sleuths like Miss Marple exemplify many of the genre's defining traits. In contemporary literature, cozy mysteries have flourished, with countless subgenres emerging, such as culinary, pet-themed, and holiday-centric cozies."

It's me again. I thought I'd butt in here as I have never seen Agatha as cosy. Ordeal by Innocence for example is a very nasty ( ie very good!) book but is it cosy?  Murder is Easy? Or the one with the architect, the house and Gerda where the witch jumps out and frightens the horse. 

                                                                                                                     

                                                      

                                           

Next week, or the week after, I'm doing Twisted Sister Part 2. Jackie Baldwin, who lives down in the borders somewhere. Her book is listed as cosy. It's terrifying. But here's the blurb in Amazon...

Murder at Whiteadder House: An absolutely brilliant cozy mystery novel that will have you racing to the end (A Grace McKenna Mystery Book 3)

Cosy, it was not. Brilliant it was, but not cosy. Quite shocking in parts! And medically, rather frightening. I shall say no more. But let's leave it at Whiteadder House is a type of care facility.....

So why does her publisher push it as a cosy? ( It doesn't have the Richard Osman cover!!)

There's no swearing. There's no sex.  There's a helpful dog. The author calls the characters by their first names.   So far it's ticking boxes.

The subject matter is well thought through and scary. Societal issues are right at the forefront of the story - in some ways, it's more hard, gritty realism.  And the investigative team are an agency of likable, very relatable characters and there's good reasons in the plot why the police can't get involved, which  was an interesting plot device to avoid the 'all cops are daft' that some cosies adopt.

Hopefully I can terrify Jackie into blogging for us next week and I can interrogate her further.

Has anybody on here been tempted to do a cosy? I was thinking of a crime writers convention on a Scottish island, and the writers are murdered one by one. I think wine would be involved, haggis and  bad weather. Oh, actually, apart from the haggis, I think Agatha had that one covered ...

Cheers

C

 

John Le Carré 2.0?

 Michael - Alternate Thursdays

 

Smiley and the Circus are back. No, it’s not a lost manuscript discovered after David Cornwall’s death, but a completely new novel written by Cornwall’s son Nicolas, who writes under the name Nick Harkaway. 

Harkaway is no beginner. He’s written seven other successful thriller-style novels with futuristic settings. I admit that I haven’t read any of them, but they were well received and one won an award and was shortlisted for the Arthur C Clarke award for the best science fiction novel of the year published in the UK. The recently released Karla’s Choice is his first excursion into the sixties and the labyrinthine world of cold war spies that his father so convincingly created.

Well, that’s not quite true. Harkaway finished the last Le Carré book, Silverview, after his father’s death. To me that ending felt rushed and somehow unsatisfying, and I wasn’t surprised to learn that Le Carré had left it unfinished. So I picked up Karla’s Choice with mixed feelings. I wanted to go back to that world, but I wanted to go there with John Le Carré. His sardonic writing and smooth yet gripping prose led to his books being among my favorites and always mentioned when I’m asked about the writers I admire and who influenced me. Obviously, Harkaway was very close to Le Carré and no doubt knew more than the ordinary reader about the world of Smiley’s Circus, but would that be enough? Harkaway recognizes the problem. In his introduction to the book he writes:

“There will be people who love the book whatever it is, because their attachment to George Smiley and the Circus is so deep that any slight touch of his hand is enough to bring them joy. There will be others who, for the exact same reason, cannot conceive of reading it and whose hackles rise at the mention of my absurd hubris.”

Gary Oldman as George Smiley

I finished the book last night so I suppose I haven’t digested it completely yet. The plot is intriguing. Susanna, a refugee from Hungary after the Russian invasion of 1956, is the PA to a literary agent in London. One morning she arrives to discover he is not at work and shortly thereafter a man who identifies himself as a Russian assassin sent to kill her employer arrives. He has an epiphany when he sees her, believing (incorrectly) that Susanna is his daughter sent by God to make him change his ways. It seemed a rather unlikely start to a spy thriller and some of the writing seemed strained as though a different type of book was intended. But after that, either Harkaway got more into the period and his father’s style or I became more used to his different way of writing. Things seemed to flow. Control and Smiley felt right.

Naturally, the Circus is interested in the assassin. They are even more interested in the man he was sent to kill who has completely disappeared. Smiley badly wants to know why, and who the man really is. Slowly the connection with Karla, the head of the Moscow Central spy ring emerges. That eventually leads to an excellent climax in Hungary itself.

I struggled a bit with the sections concerning Smiley and his wife Ann. In the Le Carré books, this is always at arm’s length. Harkaway tries to develop the closeness between them and the distance. Somehow the former never quite convinced me. But generally the characters felt real and felt like Le Carré’s characters.

If Le Carré himself had written Karla’s Choice, I would probably be a bit disappointed. Maybe I would have given it four stars out of five. But four stars out of five is a very high rating on the Le Carré scale!

To sum up – would I recommend the book to fans of Le Carré’s Circus? Yes, I would. Would I read another Harkaway Smiley novel? Yes. It won’t be Le Carré’s writing, but Harkaway has the skill and style to pull off a posthumous Circus series if he wants to.

A Twisting Trail to Kodagu, aka Coorg

 Sujata Massey

Has a place name caught your ear and not let it go? I have always felt that way about the region in Karnataka called Coorg. The name of the hill station is so unusual. It’s mysterious, while still being easy to remember.  

This past January, I finally reached Coorg and learned that the name has roots in colonialism alone. In the 1830s, when the British deposed the local Raja, they swiftly annexed the land and renamed the place called Kodagu, which has civilization dating back to India’s Sangam period, 300 BCE. The land known as Coorg was incorporated into the new state of Karnataka in 1956. Today, Kodagu is the district’s official name, but Coorg is what lots of people still say and write. The area is known for deep green mountains, coffee plantations, and people who are incredibly warm—and physically strong. The regional identity is defined by its minority indigenous community called the Kodava, people who may have originally come as Kurdish exiles from Iraq or with the military forces of Alexander the Great. To this day, the Kodavas are admired for their skills in hunting and military service.

We came from Mysore by car for a two-day visit. The first driving hour was easy on smooth roads. The last two hours were a stomach-testing, bumpy and twisty journey into the beautiful green hills. 

When we got out of the car at the Coorg Wilderness Resort, I realized we had entered the coldest place I’d ever experienced in India, with temperatures in the fifties and sixties daytime. I wrapped up in my cashmere shawl and kept it on for the rest of the stay. 

Monkeys were everywhere! The clever girl photographed below became our frenemy.  She waited near the suite till we were gone and then jumped down from the roof to our balcony and turned the handle of the closed door to go inside. Indoors, she located a closed can of almonds with a picture of the nuts on the can. She skillfully ripped off the metal lid, devoured the almonds and scampered through the suite, enjoying herself, until she was shooed out by the arriving cleaner. Even after the crime, she lingered near our door, giving cool stares that reminded Tony and me that she had rights to the place

 

I’d seen the resort in brochures and online photographs and thought from its appearance that it was a renovated coffee plantation. My eyes had fooled me. The property was just a few years old but built in a convincingly traditional style and furnished with neo-Victorian furniture and textiles. Most rooms were a steep hill walk down from the reception building and hotels, but little electric carts whizzed about by young local drivers took care of any exhausting climbs, especially at night. The hotel buildings were painted cheerful red. Guest suites were almost all located up flights of stairs and had private balconies and terraces overlooking the rolling hills. At least part of my guess was correct: the vast lands included a small coffee plantation with beans being grown, roasted and shared with other properties in their group, the Paul John Hotels. 

 

The food was extremely tasty, with most of the fare South Indian. Large buffet meals were included in most people’s room packages, but we found the hotel’s small restaurant that specialized in Kodava dishes, very enjoyable, both for the food and the company of local people. Local mushrooms, greens, and bamboo shoots were combined in curries that made an intriguing meal that seemed to taste of the mountains. 

Hiking, swimming in a pool, visiting the hotel’s farm and learning about coffee production were all offered as activities. Most of the resorts’ clients were multigenerational Indian families. While climbing uphill on a hike to the lookout point shown above, I fell sharply and was worried my throbbing quadricep would prevent me from walking back downhill. One of the tourist families had chartered an all-terrain vehicle going along the same rough path and gave me a seat, for which I was extremely grateful. For the next eight days traveling in India, my bruised thigh slowly healed.  

Fortunately, I was still mobile enough to walk short distances. In nearby Madikeri, Tony and I visited a fort dating from the early 1600s that, during British occupation of the early 1800s through 1947, was used for administration, as well as a small Anglican church. Strolling through this church, we studied a plaque engraved with names of British parishioners who’d left the paradise of Coorg to fight and ie in the World Wars. No longer used for services, the small Gothic building had become a museum of Indian history, with cases filled with local archaeological finds, many of them stone tablets and statues of Hindu and local deities. 

One of India’s most distinguished military combat officers, General Kodendera Subayya Thimayya, came from a Kodava coffee plantation-owning family. The general, who was known in his youth as Dubbu to his family, became “Timmy” to the British and the outside world. Gen. Thimayya studied at the Bishop Cotton boarding school in Bangalore, the Prince of Wales Royal Indian Military College, and finally at the Royal Military College in Sandhurst, where he was one of only six Indian cadets. During World War II, Timmy was the only Indian who commanded an Infantry brigade; after the British left, he rose in the Indian Army, becoming the 3^rd Chief of the Army Staff of the Indian Army from 1957 to 1961. He retired and then served as Commander of the United Nations Peace Keeping Force in Cyprus, where he died of heart attack while on active duty at the age of 59.  

It was delightful to talk with a retired soldier manning the visitor desk at Gen. Thimayya’s childhood home in Madikeri, which is now a museum. I enjoyed walking through and getting the sense of what a wealthy planter’s home was like. I was pleased to see a room devoted to information about the general’s wife, Nina, who was an accomplished dancer and had lived in France before their marriage, and other rooms had displays that told stories about his siblings and his children. The Thimayya house was one of the best sightseeing opportunities in Kodagu, which really doesn’t have the multiple temples, museums and shops in most Indian tourist destinations. Truly, the place is about being away from the world and in nature’s embrace.

In the center of Madikeri town, we sampled delicious cappuccino from local beans and deliberated over the varieties of coffee we would buy and share with friends as we traveled on in India.

It was sad to watch our last sunset from the balcony at the Wilderness Resort. But the long ride down from the mountains had another excitement in store: the Namdroling Monastery, a Tibetan Buddhist refuge and learning center. The monastery was built in 1963 when the Tibetans were welcomed to India after Chinese persecution. 

The initial structure for the monastery was just bamboo, and the early monks had to fend of wild animals as they built in the jungle. The community raised money and have built the monastery into a gilded, impressive complex for monks and their families. The day we visited, many monks seemed to be hastening away down the road from the monastery. When we came upon police cars closing off the exit, we learned that the Dalai Lama was visiting for a few days, and the monks were going to meet him. No such chance for us; but we considered it a brush with greatness and another example of how Kodagu might appear like a sleepy mountain hideaway, yet have a powerful impact in the larger world.  

Yearnings for books and soft serve ice cream--

Ovidia--every other Tuesday 'The best time to plan a book is while you're doing the dishes'--Agatha Christie

Though this may not have been her idea of 'doing' dishes!

Aren't they pretty though? Both Lent and Ramadan are currently being observed in Singapore, so I've been trying to dedicate my afternoon break hour to fasting and reflection.

I know that right now people elsewhere in the world are living under the constant threat of air strikes, starvation or deportation and it feels almost wrong to be living in comfort--even the writing is going well, though I'm here writing this instead of dumping today's quota of words into the Tembusu Tree.

I was reading about Beauty World, a market and food centre that was opened in 1947, the year my current WIP is set in.
It was at the junction of Upper Bukit Timah Road and Jalan Jurong Kechil, in addition to over a hundred stalls that sold everything from fresh and preserved foods to cleaning supplies, hell money, textiles and stationery, it was also a well known venue for getai performances during the Hungry Ghost Month.
Since those days and after several fires, today there's the Beauty World MRT Station, Beauty World Shopping Centre and Beauty World Plaza.
It's a side of Singapore that most tourists and visitors don't see, because it's not posh and developed enough for high end travellers and not historical/ traditional enough for those who come looking for 'authentic' Asia.
It's just an area where locals go to shop for cheap good food and supplies--or a haircut or massage.

On my last visit I found a new shop (source of the pretty bowls above)

I'm not just writing about it because I love soft serve ice cream. I also loved the owner/ manager Mark's good energy. According to him, Pompette is currently the only handcrafted soft serve ice cream outlet in Singapore. (Fastfood chains like McDonalds and Burger King use a pre-mix).
It was like a wake up nudge for me. I like soft serve ice cream, so I grumble about the lack of soft serve ice cream in Singapore.

This man likes soft serve ice cream, notes the lack of soft serve ice cream in Singapore, and starts a soft ice cream business.

It wasn't a simple matter of buying into a franchise either. He studied ice cream making and invested in these machines...

I heard these machines cost 50K--meaning I'm not likely to get one for home use any time soon. Luckily I live close by!

But the lesson I felt I was being pointed to was: when I'm unhappy about not having access to the things I want in my life (everything from the books I want to have written to the arm balances I want to have mastered) I should go out and study all there is to learn about them then plunge into the practical learning process.

Because that's the only way to produce the crafted from scratch books/ ice cream that you want--

Matcha Green Tea and Chocolate

Thai Milk Tea and Meiji Milk with Mango compote

Yes, the Thai Milk Tea was a little sludgier than it should be, but the shop is less than a year old and still working out their recipes.
And I would rather have a softer than it should be rough draft of a book than no draft at all! Especially a book that I make myself out of personally sourced fresh ingredients instead of pre-mix powder!

And another nice thing was, coming out of the shop and looking down into the atrium I saw this pop up secondhand bookshop offering--

and there were lots of people browsing not only the books on display here but the mysteries, romances and 'literary' books on the shelves underneath the floor we were on.
Yes, I went down there and found copies of three of my books.
And yes, it made me happy to see them there--because much as it would be lovely to make millions in royalties, it would also be fantastic to have something I write prompt someone to open up or write about their own ice cream dreams one day.

'Crime fiction is a mirror of society.' Martin Edwards in The Golden Age of Murder
Maybe we can change society just a little, by changing what we show in the mirrors we hold up to it.

Of Effort and Grace

Annamaria on Monday

I made a big mistake, and I am paying for it.  When I left Italy at the beginning of this month, I carefully saved the  file for my WIP, and when I arrived back in NYC, I took up the draft again, adding to it. At least that was what I thought I was doing. In the process, I discovered that I had been working on two files, and that neither of them was completely up to date.  Matters got worse when I discovered a third version on my desk top that never made the trip.  UGH!

I didn't waste a lot of time mourning my loss.  For most of my life, "Just Keep Working" has been my answer in the face of adversity.  After two long days of working toward stitching the best parts back in order, I am three quarters of the way to where I thought I was three weeks ago.  Once I have the drafted chapters in the best possible shape, actual progress will ensue.  That's the plan.  And so, for this week on MIE, I offer you the best bits of one of my very first posts when I joined MIE as regular in 2013.

My thoughts about making art/entertainment and making it look easy:  

The actor Paul Newman once described in an interview an encounter he had with Spencer Tracy.  Newman was a young actor; the director of a movie allowed him to hang around the studio set in LA while Tracy was working.  One day, Tracy approached Newman and said, “They tell me you want to be an actor.”  Newman mumbled an affirmative answer.  Tracy grasped him by the shoulder and said, “Don’t ever let anyone catch you doing it.”

You couldn’t see Tracy doing it in this courtroom scene:

And when Newman got his turn, he followed Tracy’s advice.  Here is Newman in court:

THE prime example of making art look effortless is, of course, the dancing of Fred Astaire.  In his movies, his dances are shown with only one or two cuts.  Unlike more recent films where most dance sequences have more to do with editing, Astaire’s movies show him in performance.  To achieve this, Astaire did not just show up one day and wing it.  He typically rehearsed for three months before getting  in front of the camera.   He put day upon day of effort into perfecting dances that were going to be seen only on film, where they could be edited and re-edited.  But Astaire practiced them until he could dance them this effortlessly:

 

 To me, this is the very essence of grace.  (That's Eleanor Powell with him, by the way; no slouch she!)  Enormous work has gone in.  The performers have invested such heart, such determination, that the effort disappears, and all that the world sees is the unselfconscious art.

 

My motto: Work Conquers All

Here is one of my favorite ever reviews.  Of my first novel, for me it was the ultimate compliment.  

"Alfieri effortlessly recreates 17th-century Peru in her impressive debut... The author nicely balances action and deduction in a mystery that works as a political thriller as well as a historical whodunit."
- Publishers Weekly

It's back to work for me!