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| Who done it? |
Last weekend I
attended the Mystery Writers Conference at Book Passage in Corte Madera,
California. The conference offered four days of events and sessions that totaled
more than 35 hours of lectures, Q&A’s, conversations and great food. Some
of the authors involved in the sessions were: Isabel Allende, Cara Back, Laurie
King, John Lescroart, D.P. Lyle, Anne Perry, Sheldon Siegel, Tom Rob Smith, and
Jacqueline Winspear. There were also more than a dozen other agents, writers,
authors, and booksellers that added their experiences and expertise.
Subjects included
understanding the craft of the thriller and suspense novel, opening sentences
and paragraphs, character development, maintaining suspense, plotting, and who
really is a hero and a villain. Most sessions were too. Thanks to all who gave
their time and energy to many of us attendees who more often than not hadn’t a
clue what we were doing. Some of the most enjoyable moments were the reflective
conversations by Anne Perry and Isabel Allende.
Ms. Perry is the
author of more than 80 novels—yes 80 novels. Her books are historical detective
stories set in England (amongst a dozen other locations and non-detective
stories as well). She is known for her Thomas Pitt and William Monk series. So
to sit and listen to a woman who knows her craft and art so well and is more
than willing to share most everything she knows is more than an honor, it is
revelation.
Isabel Allende is
almost the polar opposite—just five feet tall (compared to Ms. Perry’s resolute
presence), they had to gather some thick books to help her reach the
microphone. Ms. Allende talked of her life in Chile and her first books and the
experience as a writer of historical novels, family sagas, and books that
portray characters trying to find a new life or escape an old one. Two years
ago she decided to write a thriller and by all accounts she has succeeded with
her novel, Ripper.
What I enjoyed
most was talking with aspiring writers who are hoping to publish their first
novel. Some have just started, some are midway, some are waiting for their
muse. If there is one thing that the conference is short of it’s muses—the
common answer is that you have to find one your own. For most this was their first
Mystery Writers Conference and by Sunday morning exhaustion had set in. But
they hung in and I expect that many will return next year.
If there was one
aspect of the conference that is lacking is a serious discussion of the turmoil
that the publishing industry is in right now. There was a session on ebooks and
traditional publishing but my take was that they were at least a year behind
the curve about what is really happening out there. No bookstore—the sponsor
Book Passage is one of the best in the western United States—wants to
acknowledge that the paper book is under dire threat. But it is and that peril won’t
go away. The change to electronic publishing in all its forms is the future.
Convenience, cost, accessibility, and flexibility (formatting for one thing) is
driving readers to ebooks and devices such as smartphone, tablets, ipads, and
even the computer. Vilifying the product will not change the outcome. I hope
that in years to come they will offer sessions that help the new and seasoned
mystery writer learn how to become an independent publisher. Case in point:
Earlier this week it was shown that at Barnes & Noble the independent
publisher (in all its many forms) is selling more ebooks than all the five big
publishers combined. Now that is a mystery/thriller that needs to be written.
More later . . .
. . . . . .
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