The Wake-Up...The Missing Chapters

Just in...Robert Ferrigno email with news that Murder By The Book is going to produce a chapbook with the missing chapters from Robert's latest book The Wake-Up. So here is the cover...



According to David Thompson at Murder By The Book here are the details....
We're going to give it out to:

1) People who purchase THE WAKE-UP from us.
2) People who purchase $20 or more from us, similar authors (Hiaasen, Leonard,etc.), so they can give you a try.
3) Anyone who sends a self-addressed, stamped envelope (60 cents worth of stamps).
I hope you'll be happy with the end product.

Here is the contact info:

Murder By The Book
2342 Bissonet,
Houston, TX 77005
(713) 524-8597 / (888) 4-AGATHA
order@murderbooks.com
http://www.murderbooks.com/

Gary Phillips...Ivan Monk Revisited

Over on Sarah's blog there is a discussion going on about basketball being led by guest blogger Jason Starr. In the thread I posted that I would want to be on the team opposite Gary Phillips.

In talking to Dennis McMillan, he tells me that he is putting out an anthology of Ivan Monk stories written by Phillips called Monkology next week. If you haven't read Monk before, you are in for a treat. If you have never seen a McMillan publication, you don't know what you're missing. Dennis publishes the highest quality, highly collectible limited editions around.

Here are the details from Dennis's site:

MONKOLOGY features thirteen tough tales about Los Angeles private investigator Ivan Monk, including an original novelette, The King Alfred Plan, written expressly for this collection.

In these stories you'll encounter starry-eyed sinners, street corner revolutionaries, Hollywood anglers, over-heated politicians, right wing assholes, a ghost or two, cavorting cops, architects with issues, flying saucers, and a little old lady with a pop gun, all out to make their mark in the city of dreams and despair.

Decisions, Decisions....

Today is my wife Tina's birthday. I'm proud to celebrate another wonderful year with the woman who loves and thinks the world of me. The truth be told - I would be lost without her. Happy Birthday Dear.

Now the dilemma ...... not that there is any choice here really. I know that there is one thing to do, but I will pose the question anyway.

Here are the choices to celebrate Tina's birthday...
1) Take Tina to a nice place for dinner;
2) Take Tina to Santa Barbara and also visit with Kem Nunn (Tijuana Striats)
3) Take Tina to Glendale and go to the book signing at Mystery and Imagination for Anne McCaffrey?

UPDATE :
Option 1 was the ONLY viable choice! We had Chinese and made an early night of it. I guess I will just have to for Kem Nunn to write another book to visit with him. Kem just don't take 7 more years!

Wake Up!, Yeah, Wake Up!.. It's Robert Ferrigno!

My last post for today is about finally catching up with Robert Ferrigno at Mysteries To Die For. I had missed Robert earlier in the week in Orange County while I was on vacation, but had been following his thoughts while he was guest blogging for Sarah Weinman.

Robert read from his new novel, The Wake Up, and discussed how he came about writing it.


Robert also talked about his career as a journalist, interviewing Elmore Leonard and asking him to look at his book when Robert was starting out, the process of film options and the chances of making it to the big screen.


While in the question and answer mode, I prompted Robert about his experience with blogging. He went on to tell us about what happened earlier in the week in San Mateo and a certain taxi ride. According to Robert, this is the type of experience that leads to good characters for books.


At the end of the signing, it took two authors (Lee Goldberg and Terrill Lankford) and myself, to give Robert directions to the his next signing for the day. Yes, Robert did get there and on time; he called us to let us know!

More Goldberg... Yes, More!

I have to tell you that Lee was wonderful, however at this signing Lee's daughter Maddy attended and discussed her two first books. Yes, two books to Lee's one. In the process, she stole the show.



How can you beat a line like this...

Maddy: "Hey dad, what are you working on?
Lee: "I'm finishing the next chapter"
Maddy: " What's taking you so long? I'm working on the next book!"

Each of Maddy's books contained a bar code, proper first line for identifying first edition, a color photo and bio of the author and original art cover. Lee had to admit that POD publishing (via Kinko's) is a viable publishing mode, at least for Maddy!



So it is easy to see that the Goldberg household is hard at work conquering the book empire. To make a long story short, Maddy sold out of all her first edition books, of which she happily signed them, and yes, she asked each patron, 'how can I personalize this for you'.

Rain Storm in Southern California

No, I'm not talking about the much needed rain to help cool us off and fend off any forest fires, but rather Barry Eisler's third volume about John Rain.

After reading a section of the book where Rain meets up with an equally impressive body guard, Eisler discussed the development of the book. Apparently much research goes into these books and other experts now gladly forward information to Barry to put into the stories. Not one to be without first hand knowledge, Barry travels to locations discussed in the book for research.

Diagnosis : Successful

Two weeks ago I attended the Lee Goldberg signing for the next installment of the successful Diagnosis Murder series. Lee looked in fine form



and talked about his new book, his new deal (4 books in one year) which includes an insane deadlines (next book due in November) and what has been happening in La La Land.

Lee went on to talk about how he fell and broke both elbows. Even under the these conditions he still met his deadline on this book. The right elbow bears the scar and a titanium implant and many, many hours of torture of the physical therapy variety to regain proper usage. All I can say is think twice when you child demands Happy Meal!

We also learned that Lee is a big hit with the retirement sector and Germany. Apparently the store, Mysteries To Die For, receives calls asking for signed copies of Lee's books all the way from Germany. Lee also told us that on his last tour, a bus load of senior citizens bussed in to the Bay Area to see him. So on this tour, he is going to visit the retirement community. I believe the name is Rossmore ?? (Lee?).

I'm Back...Yes It's True!

Hi all! I never thought I would say this but it is actually nice to be back at work and thinking about work. It is amazing when you are the boss, how much stuff can back up and wait for my thoughts, over a 1 week period. So I have brought in 3 large circular files to help with the process of making decisions.

Almost all my colleagues and staff have stopped by or called to offer assistance this morning, further slowing down the process, but I truly appreciate all the kinds words and offers of help - you guys are the best. Thanks for allowing me to steer the ship.

Now on to what has been on the backlogs (ie desk at home)....

First up Terrill Lankford is up for an award for Earthquake Weather. The Southern California Booksellers Association has nominated his book, but you read the official announcement below:

Southern California Booksellers Association
301 E. Colorado Blvd., Suite 501
Pasadena, CA 91101
(626) 793-8435

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 17, 2004 Contact: Jennifer Bigelow
1.626.793.8435
jbigelow@scbabooks.com

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BOOKSELLERS ASSOCIATION
ANNOUNCES FINALISTS FOR 2004 BOOK AWARDS

Pasadena, CA -- The SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BOOKSELLERS ASSOCIATION has just released the finalists in four categories for its 2004 SCBA BOOK AWARDS. The author or illustrator must reside within the SCBA geographic region that extends from Morro Bay to the Mexican border. The titles should reflect a Southern California experience or culture and must have been published between July 1, 2003 and June 30, 2004. Due to the strength of the Southern California Mystery writers the SCBA has added the
fourth category of Mystery.

The finalists for the 2004 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BOOKSELLERS ASSOCIATION BOOK AWARD are as follows: Fiction – Jamesland by Michelle Huneven, Knopf; Pleasure of My Company by Steve Martin, Hyperion; King of Foxes by Raymond Feist, EOS; Life and Adventures of Lyle Clemens by John Rechy, Grove Press; and Signal Hill by Alan Rifkin, City Lights Books.

The finalists in the Mystery Category are: Last Lullaby by Denise Hamilton, Scribner; Earthquake Weather by Terrill Lee Lankford, Ballantine; Dirty Laundry by Paula Woods, One World; Birds of a
Feather by Jacqueline Winspear, SOHO; and While I Disappear: a John Ray Horn Novel by Edward
Wright, Putnam.

In the Nonfiction Category, the finalists are: The King of California: J. G. Boswell and the Making of the Secret American Empire by Mark Arax and Rick Wartzman, Public Affairs; The Huntington Library, Art Galleries and Botanical Gardens by Peggy Park Bernal, Huntington Library Press; Nudie – The Rodeo
Tailor by Jamie Lee Nude and Mary Lynn Cabrall, Gibbs Smith; Homicide Special by Miles Corwin, Henry Holt & Company; and True Notebooks by Mark Salzman, Knopf .

Children’s book finalists are: Wasteland by Francesca Lia Block, Joanna Cotler Books; Up! Up! Up! It’s Apple Picking Time by Jody Fickes Shapiro, Holiday House; The Golden Hour by Maiya Williams, Amulet Books; Escaping Tornado Season by Julie Williams, HarperTempest; and Dragon: Hound of Honor by Julie Andrews Edwards and Emma Walton Hamilton, HarperCollins.

Winners will be announced at the Annual 2004 Authors Feast & Fall Seminars held by the SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BOOKSELLERS ASSOCIATION on Saturday, November 6 at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, CA. The SCBA is a trade organization of independent booksellers and others committed to the bookselling industry, promoting cooperation throughout the Southern California region.

The mission of the SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BOOKSELLERS ASSOCIATION is to foster community amongst its core members, provide opportunities for peer interaction and learning, maintain the notion of Southern California as a viable and important part of the national bookselling landscape, and to advocate on the behalf of its core members.