R AT I N G E B 2 L 2 E C Y E A R S InSinC The Sisters in Crime Newsletter Volume XXI• Number 1 March 2008 Candid Advice from Book Reviewers Joe Hartlaub: Reviews 150 to 175 books/ example a column was fancifully about bars in By Hallie Ephron year. Books and book titles are sent to Bookre- crime fiction. I did another on serial killers. Each month, anywhere from 80 to 120 porter — guidelines are on their website. Do you review hardbacks and paper- books that publishers think I’d be interested David J. Montgomery: (www.crimefiction- backs? in reviewing for the Boston Globe arrive on my blog.com): Chicago Sun Times and other news- OC: Mostly hardbacks. A lot of small publish- doorstep. Each month, a handful of those books papers. Blog: Crime Fiction Dossier. Reviews ers don’t make the cut, but there are some really gets assigned by the books editor for individual six to seven books per month. Books are sent good small publishers (Justin Charles, Poisoned reviews and I review three more in a 900 word to his home. Pen Press, Bleak House, Akashic). “On Crime” column that runs the last Sunday Eddie Muller: <www.eddiemuller.com<: San HE: Hardbacks; books from mainstream pub- of each month. In all that’s maybe 50 titles a Francisco Chronicle. Reviews three books per lishers and small presses that distribute through year that get reviewed in the paper from a field month, mentions additional books. Books are Ingram and take returns. of well over 1,000. sent to him at the newspaper. JH: Paperbacks and hardbacks; mostly from I’m also an author of crime fiction. Even Enid Schantz: Denver Post (writes reviews mainstream publishers because they get the with — or perhaps I with her husband Tom). Reviews three books books to us. should say especially per month. Books are sent to her home. DJM: Hardbacks and a few paperback origi- with — my insider’s Sarah Weinman: <www.sarahweinman. nals; small press books. understanding of the com>: Baltimore Sun; Los Angeles Times and oth- EM: Paperbacks and hardbacks. process, I despair over ers. Blog: Confessions of an Idiosyncratic Mind. ES: Hardbacks and trade paperbacks. Almost how to get my own Reviews 10 to 15 books per month. Books are never mass market paperbacks. Books from work noticed. So I sent to her home. some small publishers if their titles are available was delighted when The Questions: from Ingram. SinC President Ro- How do you pick the books to review? SW: More hardbacks; [I try to mention] berta Isleib asked if I’d OC: Gut instinct. There are certain authors I overlooked paperback originals [and interesting] write an article that always want to read. I look at as many debuts as I trade paperbacks. Small presses, especially when sheds some light on can or an author who’s just now doing something it’s something published in translation. the book reviewing in mysteries. I am more drawn to hardboiled but Self-published books? process. I try to do the lighter ones, too. OC, HE: No. To find the answers, I interviewed seven HE: I pull aside books by local authors and JH: I wouldn’t exclude a self–published people (including myself) who regularly write then anything that looks interesting until I’ve book. crime fiction reviews for newspapers. Here’s a got a “short stack” of about 12 titles. I start DJM: No. The overall level of quality has been snapshot of their answers to these questions: reading the top book. If I’m not hooked I go on too low to justify the time. How do you pick the books to review? to the next book in the stack. I continue until EM: I reviewed one in my first column and Do you review hardbacks and paperbacks? I find three I like well enough to review or run bookstores hated it: “We can’t stock this book so Does the author’s gender, ethnicity or nation- out of time. you’re not helping us out.” Readers appreciated ality affect whether you might review a book? JH: Bookreporter sends out a list of forthcom- it. If I come across a book I think has merit, I Do you read the press releases? ing books to all reviewers. I pick out the books don’t care if it’s print on demand. Do blurbs influence you? I would like to review. If the author is new to ES: Never. Ten years ago we might have been Does the book cover influence you? me, I do a quick internet search and make the willing to give non-traditionally published What makes you stop reading/write a nega- call on whether I’d like to review it. authors a try, but [now] we have a hard enough tive review? DJM: I select books like most readers, looking time choosing from established and exception- What advice do you have for writers who want for good writing and a good story. Above all, I ally promising new authors. to be reviewed? want to be entertained. I try to combine coverage SW: Just on pure volume I can’t deal with Do you mind being approached at confer- of bestselling authors with unknowns. self-published books. ences? EM: I have to have a team of readers that I Does the author’s gender, ethnicity or If you could recommend one book written trust. [They screen books] then I get feedback nationality affect whether you might review by a woman author in 2007, what would it be? on which to read. I’m more interested in review- a book? The Reviewers ing books that might be overlooked,…in genre OC: On many levels it doesn’t matter if author is Oline Cogdill: South Florida Sun Sentinel. bending books…, non-crime fiction authors male or female or ethnicity, but it does matter on Reviews one to two books per week in print writing crime fiction or crime-fiction authors a different level because it’s a matter of balance. and additional titles on <www.sun-sentinel.com/ stretching out a bit more. Country of origin sometimes factors in. offthepage>. Books are sent to the newspaper. ES: We prefer to choose books that fall within HE: I notice, and try to maintain a balance. Hallie Ephron: <www.hallieephron.com>: the traditional mystery category and we are JH, EM: No. Boston Globe. Reviews three books per month. always looking for first-time writers. Books are sent to her home. SW: I like to write around a theme. So for Continued on Page 8 Get a Clue Sisters in Crime Newsletter Purpose: The purpose of Sisters in Crime shall be to: combat dis- crimination against women in the mystery field, educate publishers Book Reviewers’ Advice . ..1 and the general public as to the inequities in the treatment of female authors, raise the level of awareness of their contributions to the field, and promote the professional advancement of women who President’s Message . .3 write mysteries. Book Club Database . 3 Roberta Isleib, President Jim Huang, Bookstore Liaison Judy Clemens, Vice President Mary Boone, Library Liaison Marcia Talley, Secretary Margaret Coel, At Large LCC Hospitality Suite . 3 Kathryn R. Wall, Treasurer Nancy Martin, At Large Donna Andrews, Chapter Liaison Mary Saums, Monitoring Liaison Breakfast at Malice . 3 Bonnie J. Cardone, InSinC Editor Vicki Cameron, Books in Print Editor Gavin Faulkner, Newsletter Graphic Designer Peggy Moody, Web Maven Publicity Questionnaire . 3 Beth Wasson, Executive Secretary; P.O. Box 442124; Lawrence KS 66044-8933; Phone: (785) 842-1325; Fax: (785) 856-6314; E-mail: <[email protected]> Attention Sisters . 3 Presidents of Sisters in Crime 1987–88 Sara Paretsky; 1988 –89 Nancy Pickard; 1989–90 Margaret Maron; 1990–91 Susan Dunlap; 1991–92 Carolyn G. Hart; 1992–93 P.M. Carlson; 1993–94 Linda Grant; Crossword Puzzle . .4 1994–95 Barbara D’Amato; 1995–96 Elaine Raco Chase; 1996–97 Annette Meyers; 1997–98 Sue Henry; 1998–99 Medora Sale; 1999–2000 Barbara Burnett Smith; 2000–2001 Claire Carmichael McNab; 2001–2002 Eve K. Sandstrom; 2002–2003 Kate Crimespree Magazine . 5 Flora; 2003–2004 Kate Grilley; 2004–2005 Patricia Sprinkle; 2005–2006 Libby Hellmann; 2006–2007 Rochelle Krich; 2007–2008 Roberta Isleib. Authors Coalition . 6 DEADLINES AND GUIDELINES Bookstore Beat . .6 The next InSinC Newsletter will be out in Send columns, articles, ideas and praise via e- March. The deadline for all submissions is April mail. You’re Under Arrest . 6 15. Please send mailing address, phone number, and Members’ publications since the last edition of e-mail with submissions. If you have an idea for a BIP . ..7 the newsletter will be listed in The Docket. Please story, please query the editor: include publication dates when submitting. Docket material will be due April 10 and should be sent Bonnie J. Cardone Crossword Solution . 7 to: 805/938-1156 E-mail: <[email protected]> Patricia Gulley Readers’ Guides . 8 1743 N. Jantzen Avenue Portland, OR 97217-7849 Review Monitoring Project . ..9 E-mail: <[email protected]> Moving? Newsletter by E-mail . .9 Other honors, awards, and events of great “pith Change of address (postal & e-mail) and moment” should be written up as short, sepa- notifications should be sent toboth Beth rate notices. These can be as short as a paragraph. Wasson, SinC Executive Secretary, P.O. Conferences . 10 No publicity/promotion of individual members, Box 442124, Lawrence, KS 66044-8933, please. We particularly welcome reprints from SinC and to Rowan Mountain, Inc., P.O. Box New Film about CA Writers .