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Ira Levin: an Appreciation by Robert S

Ira Levin: an Appreciation by Robert S

december

Grand Master named by Ed Gorman No one has more succinctly defined the themes of Bill Pronzini’s work than Marilyn Stasio. In her review of Bill’s novel Blue Lonesome, she wrote: ”There is a sharp sense of place in this moody crime novel, which evokes even the inner landscape of the hero's mind… For all the spareness of its style, this is a rich study of alienated people and the big open spaces where they live.” While not all of Bill’s novels are set in the wide open spaces, all of them show the impact of environment on character. In Bill’s most famous novels, The Nameless Detective books, see Nameless grow and change as his city of grows and changes. I know of no other series where we see a man actually go through so many different phases in his life. Friends die, lovers fade, jobs change, his attitude about himself and the world evolve constantly. The Nameless of 1971’s The Snatch is a far different man than the Nameless of 2007’s Savages. Another remarkable aspect of the Nameless books is that they’ve stayed true to their original blue-collar origins. Nameless may delve into the worlds of the rich and prominent from time to time, but he remains a working class man not given to glitz or glamour. He speaks for people that much of American fiction seems to have lost interest in. But Bill’s career has not been limited to series fiction. In his suspense novels, from the extraordinary Snowbound to the recent masterwork The Crimes of Jordan Wise, Bill has demonstrated that suspense can be both entertaining and thought-provoking at the same time. Then there are all the great and varied short stories. And all the non-fiction, including the legendary Gun In Cheek, which gathers together some of the worst sentences and paragraphs ever put to paper. All writers write the occasional bad sentence. Bill generally concentrates on the ones who made a career of it, though some big names do appear. Author Bill Pronzini, the creator of the Nameless Detective, has John D. MacDonald joked that he “quick-flipped to the index to make very been named MWA’s 2008 Grand Master sure I was not represented.” Bill Pronzini the man is, as you might surmise from reading his fiction, a very bright, passionate and thoroughly decent man who also happens to be Edgars® info funny as hell. He’s able to see the absurdity in what passes for life in this Bill Pronzini has been selected to receive the coveted new century. title of Grand Master, MWAs highest honor bestowed on Finally, he honors his roots. He wrote a number of pieces for Mystery Scene an individual. Kate's Mystery Books (page 7) and The magazine on the topic of Forgotten Writers, men and women who interested Center for the Book in the Library of Congress (page 6) or influenced him in some way. His piece on the late Gil Brewer is considered will each be presented with Raven Awards, bestowed by a masterpiece of biographical writing. MWA's Board of Directors for outstanding achievement Bill used these pieces to demonstrate that is a continuum, in the mystery field outside the realm of creative writing. one generation influencing the next, the new generation always extending All three recipients will be honored at the 2008 Edgar® the reach and range of the field, taking it in new directions, refining what Banquet at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, NYC, on Thurs., May came before. 1, 2008. The Edgar nominees will be announced on Fri., These are just a few of the reasons the title Grand Master so comfortably Jan. 18. For additional information on Edgar events, visit and deservedly fits Bill Pronzini, one of the most important writers of our our website. time.

Ed Gorman has written a number of crime novels, as well as six collections of short stories. A feature film based on his book The Poker Club will be released www.TheEdgars.com in 2008.

CALENDAR OF CRIME · VITAL SIGNS · FRESH BLOOD · WGA ·RAVENS The official newsletter of Mystery Writers of America ISSN #1535-9034 Published 10 times per year

MWA National Officers PRESIDENT: Nelson DeMille November: The naming of both the 2008 Grand Master and 2008 Raven Award recipients EXECUTIVE VP: Daniel J. Hale topped the agenda of Mystery Writers of America's national board meeting in November. SECRETARY: Frankie Y. Bailey Bill Pronzini (see page 1) was selected to receive the coveted title of Grand Master, TREASURER: Bob Williamson MWA's highest honor bestowed on an individual. Kate's Mystery Books (page 7) in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Center for the Book in the Library of Congress (page The Third Degree Staff 1) were named recipients of the 2008 Raven Awards, awarded for outstanding achievement TTD COMMITTEE CHAIR: Sandra Balzo in the mystery field outside the realm of creative writing. All three will be honored at the EDITOR: Beth Tindall 62nd Annual Edgar® Awards banquet on Thursday, May 1, 2008 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel ASST. EDITOR: Annie Chernow in City. EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS: In other action, the board approved the appointment of Naomi Hirahara and Sandra Parshall E-MAIL: [email protected] to the Helen McCloy Scholarship Committee. They will join Erin Hart, Margaret Coel and William Tapply on the 2008 committee. The board also approved the proposal of MWA:Reads For terms of submission please see: to allow the youth literacy committee to conduct the Joan Lowery Nixon Contest on an www.mysterywriters.org/submit annual basis. The mystery-writing contest has been held the last two years. In 2007, students wrote more than 2,000 stories in their schools, resulting in 200-plus entries. CALENDAR OF CRIME SUBMISSIONS: E-MAIL: [email protected] A motion also was passed to adopt the CORT Document (Chapter Operating Rules Template) as the standard template for consideration by chapters for their operating guidelines. VITAL SIGNS, ADDRESS CHANGES AND OTHER MEMBERSHIP ISSUES: Finally, due to space considerations, December will be the final month that paid advertising Margery Flax will run in The Third Degree. Thank you to all of our advertisers over the years, and thank Administrative Manager you, too, to Jeffrey Marks for his diligent work as advertising coordinator. Mystery Writers of America --Sandy Balzo 17 E 47th St, 6th floor New York, NY 10017 MWA supports writer’s strike TEL: 212/888-8171 Mystery Writers of America is steadfast in its support of the Writers Guild of America FAX: 212/888-8107 (WGA) strike in seeking appropriate compensation for writers when their work is E-MAIL: [email protected] distributed digitally, either via DVD or Internet downloads. MWA is a professional WEB: www.mysterywriters.org crime writers' organization; we are writers first and foremost. All writers will be © 2007, Mystery Writers of America, Inc. affected by the outcome of this strike, and MWA stands in solidarity with WGA in seeking fair compensation for its members' work. All rights reserved. The publication herein of news, advertising, seminars, classes, etc. does not imply any endorsement by or recommendation of MWA. The Edgar name and logo are registered in the US Patent and Trademark Office.

User name & password The user name and password for the Save the date: Edgar® Awards banquet -- Thursday, May 1, 2008. The Edgar nominees Members Only section of the website is will be announced on Friday, Jan. 18th, 2008. Watch our website for this and other member. Contact the National Office for Edgar information. Visit www.theedgars.com. the Active Members Only section password.

Don’t forget to check the MWA website (look under About) to make sure your author website is listed on our Members Website section. If you want your site listed, please contact us at [email protected] with the website address.

How to be listed on Vital Signs: In order for your work to qualify to be listed, it TTD by e-mail must be genre-related (, non-fiction, etc.) and the publisher/producer If you would prefer to receive your TTD must be on MWA's approved publishers list. If the work qualifies, you must send by e-mail, please let the National Office your information to the MWA National Office at least 30 days before your publication know. You must be able to receive large date. We will only include your listing during the month of publication. For example, PDFs (1-2M) as e-mail attachments. a pub date of June 15th, will only be listed in the June/July TTD and the information must be sent to the National Office by May 15th.

2 : An appreciation By Robert S. Levinson

There's one thing Ira Levin doesn't write that irks the hell out of me — More. I wrote that in the MWA Annual distributed at the 2003 dinner, where Ira was celebrated as our newest Grand Master, observing that his output over fifty years totaled only seven novels. Yeah, only seven, but no two alike except for their qualities of invention and execution, groundbreaking from the first one. His career-making A Kiss Before Dying brought Ira international acclaim and the 1954 Edgar for Best First Novel -- at the age of 23. Ira moved on to themes and genres that we might not classify as mysteries or thrillers, only as damn fine, page-turning, memorable fiction: Rosemary's Baby. . The Boys from Brazil. . Son of Rosemary. All were ahead of their time, as well as of their time, cult classics in the making; finely tuned pages of sinister, sophisticated plotting built around the ordinary trappings of everyday life; blueprints for novels that would come to be

written by others. Images Matt Peyton/Getty by Photo All, one way or another, became Ira Levin: 1929-2007 permanently camped in memory, four translated into film, and one, Play." It ran five years, becoming the longest-running thriller Stepford, became currency in our in Broadway history. everyday conversation, a dictionary Earlier this year, discovering we had both accepted invitations entry no longer exclusive to to serve on the executive committee of the International inconvenient wives, describing Mystery Writers' Festival at RiverPark Center in Owensboro, someone who marches lockstep to KY, I wrote Ira expressing delight that we'd have another the beat of a common drummer. opportunity to get together. Yet, Ira thought of himself more “Unfortunately not,” he answered. as a "playwright" than a "mystery writer," a preference dating back He wouldn't be making the trip there. He had to keep focus to a childhood ambition, formed on the new novel he was writing. while he was growing up in New A new novel? York, saw his first play, Charley's Aunt, saw the playwright's What better news than that? name on the marquee, and decided, "Oh, boy! One of these Except— days…" Ira died Monday, November 12, at his home in . He didn't lack for success on Sadly, we may have to satisfy ourselves with the seven books Broadway, beginning with his that are his legacy and will keep him alive on bookshelves adaptation of the Mac Hyman and in the memories of his millions of fans worldwide, or— bestseller, , which made a star of . Maybe not? He wrote the book for the musical Ira Levin always was one for trick endings. Drat! The Cat!, including the lyrics for a song that became a hit for Robert S. Levinson is the bestselling author of the stand-alone Barbra Streisand, "He Touched Me." novels Where the Lies Begin and Ask a Dead Man, as well as Best of all was the comic thriller the Neil Gulliver and Stevie Marriner series of mystery-thriller , a box-office triumph on novels. His next stand-alone thriller, In the Key of Death, is stage and film that brought Ira a scheduled for publication in March 2008. second Edgar in 1980, for "Best 3 Much clearer, right? Of course not. These factors, however, will determine whether your use of someone else’s material will be judged an infringement — or not. For example, say you wish to use some Rolling Stones lyrics in your novel — perhaps a verse at the beginning of each chapter. Let’s examine the factors: 1) Is the purpose commercial or nonprofit? Definitely commercial, and the commercial purpose is not in one of the specified categories Q. Can you tell me, once and for all, what exactly is “fair (e.g. a review in a newspaper). use?” 2) The nature of the copyrighted work? Song lyrics, a prime A. This is the single-most asked question of publishing lawyers. example of a work designed to be protected. Thanks to the wonderfully dense language of Congressional bill 3) The amount and substantiality of the portion? Depends on writing committees, and the courts’ interpretation of their efforts, how much of each song you use. Let’s say just one line – a small it is difficult to answer. percentage. Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Act provides that “the fair use 4) The effect of the use on the potential market? (Most important.) of a copyrighted work ... for purposes such as criticism, comment, Probably very little, since the lyrics have already been published news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom and can be found all over the Internet (on commercial sites, no use), scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright.” less). Note that fair use is confined to these specific categories. Section The result? The four factors are split. Because the use does not 107 nevertheless has been used to justify many instances of uses squarely fit within any of the Section 107 categories, however, outside the categories, and generated numerous court cases. typically a court would find that, on the whole, the four factors Adding to the confusion is the unfortunate belief of many writers weigh against a finding of fair use (and that is why your publisher that reproducing short excerpts of someone's copyrighted work will demand that you obtain permission for the lyrics). — without permission — automatically qualifies as fair use merely The Internet, of course, has brought new confusion to the issue. if attribution is given. Abuse of the fair use exception abounds, but that won’t help you Section 107 further provides four “factors” to determine whether in the event you are sued. a specific use is to be considered a “fair use.” These factors are: Until the day when either Congress or the courts clear up this · The purpose and character of the use, including whether such picture, play it safe — either don’t use even small portions of use is of commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes; another persons’s work, or obtain permission. · The nature of the copyrighted work; Daniel Steven is Chairman of the MWA Contracts and Grievances · The amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation Committee and a publishing and media attorney to the copyrighted work as a whole; and (www.publishlawyer.com). This column provides general legal · The effect of the use upon the potential market for or value information; consult an attorney for application of the law to your of the copyrighted work. specific circumstances. © 2007 Daniel Steven

A list of MWA events compiled by Annie Chernow

February 1-3 April 29-30 Love Is Murder on Dark and Stormy Nights 2008 Edgar® Symposium Rosemont Wyndham O’Hare/Rosemont, Illinois The Lighthouse/New York, New York www.loveismurder.net MWA will be holding a 2-day symposium for the first time. Contact: http://loveismurder.net/contact.html Co-sponsored by Midwest MWA. Master classes by Guests of Honor Tess May 1 Gerritsen and Lee Child. Other special guests: Carolyn Haines, Barry Eisler, Edgar® Awards Banquet and Kent Krueger. Grand Hyatt Hotel Local Guest of Honor: J.A. Konrath New York, New York www.theedgars.com February 28-March 2 Sleuthfest 2008 June 13-14 Deerfield Beach Hilton Hotel/Deerfield Beach, Florida Hardboiled Heroes and Cozy Cats www.mwa-florida.org/sleuthfest.htm Dallas, Texas Sponsored by Florida MWA. www.mwasw.org Guest of Honor: Lee Child MWASW's annual mystery writing conference. Forensic Guest of Honor: Doug Lyle, M.D. Keynote Speaker and Guest of Honor

March 6-9 August 15-17 Left Coast Crime 2008 Killer Nashville Adam's Mark Hotel/Denver, Colorado Nashville, Tennessee www.lcc2008.com www.killernashville.com (Note: Look for the MWA program track) E-mail: [email protected] Guest of Honor: Stephen White Sponsored by SEMWA Toastmaster: Fan Guest of Honor: Michael Masliah To submit an item to the Calendar of Crime, e-mail the details to Celebrity Chef: Joanne Pence [email protected]. 4 December 2007 signed a two book deal with Random House. His first novel, the legal thriller Eight in the Box (Ballantine, Summer 2008), takes place in Boston and features a cast of prosecutors and cops Florida working to bring to justice a killer with a gruesome MO. www.mwa-florida.org The chapter will hold its annual Christmas party on Dec. 8 with NOTE: All NEMWA meetings will now occur on the SECOND TUESDAY the local chapter of RWA, the first time a joint party has been of each MONTH! held. The January meeting has been moved back one week to Jan. 26 to accommodate chapter members participating in national MWA New York board orientation during the previous week. www.mwa-ny.org Reminder: Do not delay! It’s time to register and make hotel TThe first in the series of mystery-writing panels at the Mid- reservations for SleuthFest, Feb. 28 – March 2, 2008. Details at Manhattan Library, True Crime in the City, will take place on Wed., www.mwa-florida.org/sleuthfest.htm. Dec. 19. The library is att 455 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10016, (212) 340-0849. Mid-Atlantic www.mwa-ma.org Northern California www.mwanorcal.org The Mid-Atlantic Chapter sends holiday greetings to all MWA members! The NorCal MWA and Sisters in Crime annual afternoon holiday party will be held on Dec. 9 at M is For Mystery, 86 East Third Our first chapter meeting for 2008 will take place on Tues., Jan. Avenue, San Mateo. The party begins at 2 p.m. Feel free to bring 8, at the Embassy Suites in Washington, D.C. We’re delighted to finger food or holiday treats, if you're so moved. present Kathryn Johnson (aka Kathryn Jensen, and K.M. Kimball), who has had more than 40 novels published. Authors attending should let owner Ed Kaufman ([email protected]) know so that, if time permits, he can Her mentoring business, Write By You (www.Writebyyou.com), order your books for signing. serves novice to multi-published authors. She has taught writing at a variety of venues, including the Long Ridge Writers’ Group Happy Holidays and we hope to see you! and Johns Hopkins University's continuing education program. Northwest Midwest www.mwanorthwest.org www.mwamidwest.org Hope your holiday season is memorable for all the right reasons. The Midwest Chapter will be holding its annual holiday party on Look for more great speakers and a few surprise events when Dec. 9 at Centuries and Sleuths Bookstore in Forest Park, Illinois. we reconvene in January! As is usual at these parties, we’ll keep business to a minimum and fun to a maximum. We’ll be starting at 1:00 p.m. and going until Augie kicks us out. There will be food and games and good Southern California times for all. www.socalmwa.com Plus, we’ll be able to fill everyone in on the latest news about Members and their guests are invited to our SoCal MWA Holiday Love is Murder on Dark & Stormy Nights (see the article on this Party on Tues., Dec. 18, at The Jonathan Club at the Beach, 850 convention on page 9 of this issue). Palisades Beach Road Santa Monica, CA 90403. Free to members and one guest. RSVP by Wed., Dec.12. Details may be found at our website. New England www.mwane.org Join us the SECOND TUESDAY of December -- Dec. 11 at 6:30 Have a photo from an MWA meeting, party or p.m. at OUR NEW VENUE the Mt. Vernon Restaurant in Somerville MWA member booksigning? E-mail it to for Gangs, Guns, and Gruesome Murder. Acclaimed attorney Raffi [email protected], along with a Yessayan is the former chief of the Gang Unit in the Suffolk photo description and photo credit. We may County DA’s Office. He has prosecuted many violent offenders and run it in a future edition of The Third Degree. has lectured nationally on the issues of gangs, guns and crime prevention strategies. He is currently in private practice as a Original high-resolution digital images criminal defense attorney in Quincy, MA. Raffi Yessayan recently preferred, please.

5 Library of Congress’ Center for the Book receives Raven Award

By Ellen Crosby national reading and writing program, co-sponsored with For its work in the areas of literacy and reading, the Library Target. of Congress’ Center for the Book has been named a Raven MWA has been a co-host for several Books & Beyond lectures Award recipient for 2008. at the Library of Congress featuring such authors as Sara “On behalf of the Center for the Book in the Library of Paretsky, Dana Stabenow and Dr. Richard Layman, official Congress, we’re honored and thrilled to be chosen by Mystery biographer of Dashiell Hammett. Writers of America as a recipient of the 2008 Raven Award,” Since 1977, the Center has sponsored or co-sponsored the said director Dr. John Y. Cole. “We especially value MWA as publication of more than 40 books and 50 pamphlets. one of our Reading Promotion Partners because, as a community Cole, a historian in his own right, has published extensively of writers, your organization brings a unique perspective to about the history of books and libraries in society, recently a program largely comprised of organizations devoted to co-editing a 569-page encyclopedia of the Library of Congress, reading and literacy.” a ten-year project he described as “the most comprehensive The Center for the Book was created in 1977 by Librarian book ever published about the Library of Congress.” of Congress Daniel J. Boorstin to use the prestige and resources Cole is especially proud of the CFB’s Letters About Literature of the Library of Congress to promote books, reading, libraries, program. and literacy. “For more than a dozen years this program has encouraged Soon afterward, Boorstin named Dr. Cole as its founding young people to read, be inspired, and write back to an author director. Thirty years later, the Center has become one of the — past or present — who has changed their view of the Library’s most dynamic educational outreach programs. world or themselves,” he said. “This past year more than Funded mostly by tax-deductible contributions from 56,000 students from grades 4 through 12 participated.” individuals, foundations, and corporations, the Center for the Known as a tireless promoter of books and reading, Cole and Book has successfully established state centers for the book his hardworking staff of three are now looking to the CFB’s in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. future. It has also set up the Reading Promotion Partners program, In June, the Library of Congress funded a study to assess a network of approximately 80 national and international its current projects and to plan how best to use digital non-profit organizations like MWA and its children’s literacy technologies to continue its mission. MWA was one of the program, MWA: Reads, which promote reading, literacy, and organizations selected to participate in this project. A final libraries. report with recommendations is due in early 2008. Since 2001 the Center has played a major role in planning “The Center for the Book has expanded beyond what was the National Book Festival, which now attracts more than envisioned for us thirty years ago,” Cole said. “With input 120,000 visitors annually to the Mall in Washington, D.C. from the organizations we work with, we plan to realign our MWA authors are frequent guest speakers at the Festival’s state, national, and international programs so we can continue Mystery & Thrillers Pavilion, and at two pavilions devoted to to be an advocate, a catalyst, and a source of ideas on behalf children and young adult readers. of books and reading.” Other major Center for the Book initiatives include the Books Ellen Crosby is MWA's Liaison to the Library of Congress. Her & Beyond author lecture series and the Letters About Literature most recent book is The Chardonnay Charade (Scribner, 2007).

Program Specialist Anne Boni, with Dr. John Y. Cole, Director, from the Author Dana Stabenow from the Alaska Center for the Book, shown with Library of Congress’ Center for the Book, at a National Book Festival held John Cole, at a National Book Festival. on the National Mall, Washington, D.C. Photos by Patricia Fisher.

6 Kate’s Mystery Books a Raven Award recipient by Jeremiah Healy inviting the media to the salvage effort so that the helping authors got some great promotional opportunities. When most readers picture Greater Boston crime novels of Kate often kept her store open way past closing time to the last twenty-five years, I’m guessing they think of authors provide a free venue for our MWA/New England chapter’s like Robert B. Parker, (the late) George V. Higgins, and Gregory presentations and meetings. Mcdonald as the established masters; Linda Barnes, William G. She’s been a good friend to all in the mystery field over nearly Tapply, and as the middle management, three decades now, and it’s an honor to pen this brief tribute and Dennis Lehane, Hallie (“G.H.”) Ephron, and Kate Flora as to her and the bookstore she founded. the up-and-comers. However, when those writers picture the Greater Boston crime scene, there’s no doubt whom they’d be thinking of: 2008 Raven Award Recipient Kate Mattes of Kate’s Jeremiah Healy (aka “Terry Devane”) is the author of 18 crime Mystery Books in Cambridge. novels and 3 collections of short stories. Before opening her store, Kate grew up in Iowa, graduated from Beloit College in Wisconsin, and labored (clearly the right word, I think) as a social worker. When the store was taking shape inside the first floor of an old Shown at right, Victorian clapboard house, Bob Parker (yes, the bestselling author, 2008 Raven Award not the wine guy) helped build the Recipient Kate Mattes shelves. I forget now who suggested of Kate’s Mystery the tombstone on the front lawn Books. with the address etched thereon, but it adds a homey touch. I broke into mystery writing in 1984, and Kate hosted the first- Below: Hank Phillippi ever book signing for me on my Ryan (left), of MWA’s second novel. In February, during New England Chapter, a blizzard. with Kate. Yet, there was Kate at the front door, greeting the hardy souls who ventured out. When my third book was published, she also hosted a signing. As the Photo at right by L. Barry city’s fire department fought a Hetherington. raging blaze directly across the Photo below by Jonathan street. Shapiro. At least those she greeted that day had to deal only with smoke and soot, not snow and sleet. All of us who write crime novels in the Boston area schedule our first signing for each new book at Kate’s because she’s been such a staunch supporter of “regional” mysteries. Which is not to say authors from “away” (Tony Hillerman and , Elmore Leonard and a hundred more) haven’t visited and made great impressions on large audiences drawn to Kate’s warm and welcoming shop. In 1987, a transit authority bus crashed into her building. Devastating, because Kate also lived in a lovely apartment above the store. And the bus whacked the half bath on her first floor, sending toilet water (not as in “cologne”) cascading down into the basement, threatening many of her first editions. In typical Kate fashion, though, when a bunch of writers rallied to form a “bucket brigade of books” by literally passing the cartons from hand to hand up her cellar stairs, the grande dame took a “if life gives you lemons, make lemonade” approach,

7 Albert Zuckerman founded Writers House, a literary agency, in piece validated by members of a writing group, other published 1974 and has worked with fiction and nonfiction writers for more authors, anyone who is capable of offering a frank and professional than 30 years. His clients have included Ken Follett, Paul Levine opinion. and Steven Hawking. For more information: If authors are dissatisfied with the way literary agents represent http://www.publishersmarketplace.com/members/AZuckerman/ them, what do you suggest that they do? Simple. They should seek out another agent. What kind of mysteries do you acquire? Any advice for more experienced writers who are looking for a I do cozies, hard-boiled mysteries and historical mysteries; what new agent? matters is not the type of mystery, but the quality of the writing. Experienced published writers usually know editors who can Do you accept e-mail queries? advise them. Often they have fellow writers who are friends and I do not accept e-mail queries. I like to begin with a new author have had good or not-so-good experiences with agents. on a one-to-one basis. E-mails are a lot less personal. And the whole process is less fraught with apprehension. They I recommend a one-page letter which describes: 1) what's can go online and write to agents that they've heard of but don't wonderful, fresh and different about the book; 2) what it's about; know; and they can usually get appointments to meet, after and 3) what qualifications the author brings to this work. which both parties can agree or not agree to work together. Do you use a contract or letter of agreement with your clients? I do use a contract with my clients, but only after we both feel Pari Noskin Taichert is a national award-winning journalist and we have a project that is ready for submission. a two-time finalist for the Sasha Solomon mystery Is it still important to have an agent physically located in the series from the University of New Mexico Press. Her next novel, The NYC area? Socorro Blast, will be available in January ’08. It's certainly not crucial for an agent to be located in New York. There are some excellent ones in Boston, San Francisco and Washington. Al Blanchard Short Crime Fiction Contest But I believe agents have much greater opportunities to develop by Leslie Wheeler, Awards Chair closeness with editors and publishers by being close at hand. It's often at a lunch that I learn about an editor's interest in a certain Congratulations to the 2007 winner, Pat Remick, for her short type of project which I may never have considered submitting story, "Mercy 101," and to the four honorable mentions: Stephen to that editor. Liskow, Suzanne Rorhus, Steven Torres, and Michael Wiece. Winners were announced at this year's New England Crime Bake How much information do you give your clients about your on November 10. submission process? The Al Blanchard Short Crime Fiction Award contest has just re- We supply our clients with all the information they could possibly opened. The award, sponsored by the New England Crime Bake want. They receive a submission list as well as copies of rejection Committee, and given in memory of Al Blanchard, co-chair of letters, if they want them, and if the letters aren't too cruel. the first Crime Bake Conferences, NEMWA President, and member Do you have a personal time limit on how long you’ll pitch a of Sisters in Crime, consists of: particular work? · $100 cash award I'll drop certain projects after a few months if I don't believe · Publication in Level Best Books' sixth Crime Fiction anthology. strongly in them; but with some, I never give up. · Admission to the Crime Bake Conference. The first bestseller I ever had as an agent was Monty by Robert LaGuardia, a biography of Montgomery Clift and that was turned The guidelines are as follows. Entries: down by 36 publishers. · Must be a crime story by a New England author or with a New Is it true that if a manuscript is rejected by one imprint within England setting. a conglomerate, it can’t be submitted to any others within the · Must be previously unpublished (in print or electronically). same publishing group? · Must be not more than 5,000 words in length. No. Sometimes I've even made a submission to a second editor · May include the following genres: mystery, thriller, suspense, at the same imprint after someone there has turned it down. If caper, horror (no torture or killing of children or animals) you believe in a project, there's no room to be shy about it. What can new writers do to improve their odds of getting an The deadline is April 30, 2008, and there is no entry fee. For agent? instructions on how to submit, visit the Crime Bake website: What a potential client can, and should, do is to get his or her www.crimebake.org.

8 Feel The Love … Photos from Dying to Write 2 Love Is Murder on Dark & Stormy Nights Photos by Chris Freeburn

by Julie Hyzy

What could be warmer than John Gilstrap Chicago in February? Nothing, if you’re attending Love Is Murder, Feb. 1-3, 2008. This year is the Love Is Murder mystery conference’s 10th anniversary — its second year with MWA involvement — and have we got a lineup for you! Some of our favorite MWA members: Lee Child, Tess Gerritsen, William Kent Krueger, Barry Eisler, and Carolyn Haines are headlining. Also appearing, as local guest of honor, is J. A. Konrath. Readers can participate in book discussions, meet authors who are debuting first novels, and hear about what their favorite authors have planned for the future. Writers have the opportunity to network, share stories at their panels, and learn craft and technique from Tess Gerritsen and Lee Child by attending Master Classes or Todd Stone’s Novelist Boot Camp. Everyone will be interested in our martial arts demonstrations, the graphologist presentation, a scotch-tasting, presentation of our prestigious Lovey Awards, and our crime scene re-enactment by Dave Case and Michael A. Black. You want to know the real deal on homicides? Ask these guys. They invite you to participate in their murder scene and see how observant you really are. Love is Murder has something for everyone: classic, hardboiled, traditional, cozy or paranormal crime fiction. We even journey down “roads less traveled” with topics such as graphic novels, horror, and erotica. Add in an assortment of agent and editor pitching opportunities, manuscript critiquing by MWA authors, and a “Death By Chocolate” reception (sponsored by the Midwest Chapter) and you have a weekend worth braving the cold for. Last year, the first year MWA participated in Love Is Murder as an affiliate, we began a new tradition by holding our February monthly meeting in conjunction with the conference. This year we are very pleased to announce our guest speaker will be the ever-gracious Lee Child. Everyone is invited to come listen to Lee — and to find out what MWA is all about. Located conveniently near the O’Hare airport, Love Is Murder has earned the reputation for being one of the warmest conferences in the country despite the weather. Steve Kelner Visit the website www.loveismurder.net. Julie Hyzy is the Vice President of MWA’s Midwest Chapter. Her latest Speakers at the Mid-Atlantic Chapter’s Dying to Write 2 book is State of the Onion, from Berkley Prime Crime, coming in January. conference, on October 27, 2007, in Washington, DC. 9 LIEBICH, V. Beth NY Director of Communications LOVE, Don FL Hi-end Investigations/Legal Consultant LOWE, John MA Lawyer LYTLE, Elizabeth Stewart FL Retired Journalist/Educator MOORE, Karen NY Leadership Consultant MORAN, Kathryn MW Economics Editor/Web Project Manager SHAPIRO, Mark SOCAL Attorney November 2007 SLATER, Shirlie Marlene NE Retired ESL Tutor ACTIVE SOUTHWORTH, Franklin NY Professor UPCHURCH, Patricia SW ARMSTRONG, Kelley CORR Exit Strategy (Spectra, div. of Bantam WAGNER, Margaret MA Writer/Editor, Library of Congress Publishing Dell) June 2007 Office CHABON, Michael NORCAL The Yiddish Policemen’s Union (HarperCollins) May 2007 REINSTATEMENT JACKSON, Jenna SW Perfectly Executed (Pocket Star Books) August 2007 BURKE, Jan SOCAL Active MACINTYRE, Rebecca FL Cast The First Stone (Five Star) October COWDEN, Tami SOCAL Active 2007 HUGHES, Charlotte SE Active MARINICK, Richard NE In For A Pound (Justin, Charles) November KORYTA, Michael MW Active 2007 STEIN, Paula Barton MW Affiliate SOMERS, Jeffrey NY The Electric Church (Orbit Books, div. of Hachette) September 2007 Advertisement SMITH, Susan Arnout SOCAL The Timer Game (St. Martin’s) Spring 2008 VAN SANT, Peter Richard NY Perfectly Executed (Pocket Star Books) August 2007

AFFILIATE ANDREWS, Anita Sue NW BORGER, Gale MW Correctional Officer BUSH, Erin MA Online Editor CIRIGNANI, William MW Lawyer DEFALCO, Loren Anthony NY Certified Financial Planner FOLEY, Thomas FL Project Manager KASKA, Kathleen SW Teacher

10 Beverle Graves Myers, “The Bookworm’s Demise,” AHMM Cornelia Read, “Hungry Enough,” A Hell of a Woman, Busted Flush Press S.J. Rozan, “Undocumented,” A Hell of a Woman, Busted Flush Press Sandra Scoppettone, “Everybody Loves Somebody,” A Hell of a DECEMBER 2007 Woman, Busted Flush Press Zoë Sharp, “Served Cold,” A Hell of a Woman, Busted Flush Press Books Patricia Smiley, “Party’s Over,” EQMM Marilyn Todd, “Room for Improvement,” EQMM Donna Anders, Sketching Evil, Pocket Sarah Weinman, “Blooming,” A Hell of a Woman, Busted Flush Press Sandra Balzo, Grounds for Murder, Severn House Mark Coggins, Runoff, Bleak House Nancy J. Cohen, Killer Knots, Kensington See Vital Signs Submission info, page 2 of this issue. Kate Collins, A Rose from the Dead, Signet Philip R. Craig & William G. Tapply, Third Strike, Scribner Theo Gangi, Bang Bang, Kensington Chris Grabenstein, Hell for the Holidays, Carroll & Graf Sue Grafton, T is for Trespass, Putnam Photos from Crime Bake James Grippando, Last Call, HarperCollins Russ Hall, Goodbye, She Lied, Five Star Jonathan Hayes, Precious Blood, HarperCollins Ken Hodgson, The Man Who Killed Shakespeare, Five Star Roberta Isleib, Preaching to the Corpse, Berkley Prime Crime Merry Jones, The Deadly Neighbors, St. Martin’s Minotaur Elsa Klensch, Take Two, Forge Mary Logue, Maiden Rock, Bleak House John Lutz, In for the Kill, Kensington, Pinnacle Shirley Rousseau Murphy, Cat Deck the Halls, William Morrow John Maddox Roberts, Under Vesuvius, St. Martin’s Minotaur Wendy Roberts, The Remains of the Dead, Obsidian Sharon Rowse, The Silk Train Murder, Carroll & Graf Theresa Schwegel, Person of Interest, St. Martin’s Minotaur Justin Scott, Mausoleum, Poisoned Pen Press Clea Simon, Cries & Whiskers, Poisoned Pen Press Maris Soule, The Crows, Five Star Marilyn Todd, Blind Eye, Severn House Short Stories

Michael Bracken & Tom Sweeney, “Snowbird,” EQMM Lynne Heitman presenting Guest of Honor Lee Child with a Boston Red Sock at the Jon L. Breen, “A Run Through the Calendar,” EQMM 6th Annual New England Crime Bake, held in November in Dedham, MA. Ken Bruen, “Nora B.,” A Hell of a Woman, Busted Flush Press Christa Faust, “Cutman,” A Hell of a Woman, Busted Flush Press DeLoris Stanton Forbes, “The Green Flash,” AHMM Alison Gaylin, “Cherish,” A Hell of a Woman, Busted Flush Press David Handler, “The Who Couldn’t Miss,” EQMM Libby Fischer Hellmann, “High Yellow,” A Hell of a Woman, Busted Flush Press Vicki Hendricks, “The Big O,” A Hell of a Woman, Busted Flush Press Naomi Hirahara, “The Chirashi Covenant,” A Hell of a Woman, Busted Flush Press Edward D. Hoch, “Gypsy Gold,” EQMM Maria Hudgins, “Murder on the London Eye,” EQMM Charlie Huston, “Interrogation B,” A Hell of a Woman, Busted Flush Press Penelope Karageorge, “Reach Out and Touch Someone,” Mouth Full of Bullets Gay Totl Kinman, “London Spy,” Amazon Shorts R.T. Lawton, “Click, Click, Click,” AHMM R.T. Lawton, “Tracked Down,” Woman’s World, Issue #50 Annette Meyers, “It’s Too Late, Baby,” A Hell of a Woman, Busted Flush Press Co-chairs Cathy Cairns & Lynne Heitman with Guest of Honor Lee Child. Eddie Muller, “The Grand Inquisitor,” A Hell of a Woman, Busted Photos from Mo Walsh. Flush Press

11 December 2007 issue ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

In This Issue - Ira Levin (left): An appreciation - Grand Master Bill Pronzini - Meet two Raven Award recipients - Copyright and “fair use” issues - Al Blanchard short crime fiction contest - Chapter news and event photos

2008 Raven Award recipients: Library of Congress, Center for the Book Kate’s Mystery Books, Cambridge, MA Photo by L. Barry Hetherington by Photo Photo by Jeff Tindall by Photo Stories inside on pages 6,7. See page 1 for 2008 Grand Master announcement.

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