Nearly two thirds of every DL digest is taken up these days by the same half a dozen folks bleating about their latest whatevers. It does get tiresome and I would suspect they have lost more potential readers than they ever gained.

I had hoped to be there as well. Things are just not working out at all these days. Maybe next year. Meanwhile, I have some banks to case.....

The fact that he has not been there DOES NOT imply that he is not a passionate mystery reader. Maybe he gets his books from the library--like I do. Maybe he gets books sent to him for review purposes--like I do. (35 LAST WEEK) Maybe he buys his books online becuse he hates people, is secretly building a weapon of mass destruction and likes to run around his place naked---like I..... Anway, you seem to continue to make a lot of assumptions about this author that you don't know. It might be worth it to track him down, invite him over, and see how right you are. Kevin The Carpathian Shadows: Book Two E-Book http://www.fictionwise.com/ebooks/b77687/Carpathian-Shadows-Vol-2/Lea-Schizas/?si=0 PRINT http://www.amazon.com/

Yes, vampires have been totally ruined. And the push for that type of stuff and the paranormal in general is taking over the mystery genre. I am just hoping we get it back.

How it is being reviewed is not the author's fault. Instead of taking the opportunity to meet a local author who may have no idea that you exist, it looks to me like you are seeking ways to take offense. It just could be that the local author has been in your store and was treated shabbily and made a decision not to fool with your store. One would hope not. Simply put, you don't know what happened or why. Hope you break out of that bubble. :)))

Just finished TILT A WHIRL by Chris Grabenstein and now reading PILIKIA IS MY BUSINESS by Mark Troy. Working on the novel as well as a couple of stories and awaiting news of when THE 28 DIMENSION: TALES FROM THE TEXAS ZONE is coming out. I have a story in the book titled "Visions of Reality."

I much prefer hardbacks over any other form. Mine come from the library so they always have that plastic jacket thing which I don't care for. The biggest issue for me these days is typeface. Despite my glasses, I find that the typeface seems to be getting smaller and smaller. Since coworkers complain about the same thing and some of them are twenty years younger than me, I don't think it is just my 47 year old eyes.

Damn! Double Damn! I am really tired of the publishing gods pulling this crap. While I preferred the Aaron Tucker series (probably because I could so easily relate to the character being a parent of two special needs kids among other things) I grew to like Elliot and the gang quite a lot. The idea that the third book, which is sitting here waiting to be read and reviewed, is the last is just not right. I'm sure I will ultimately like whatever it is you do next. But, it won't be the same. kevin

Know the difference between a negative and a bad review. Learn the idea that a negative review only means that your book didn't work for that particular reviewer. That happens. Don't castigate the reviewer. A bad review, which is one where there are factual errors about your book such as names, places, weapons used, etc. should be corrected politely. Stay away from word choice issues unless you absolutely have to do so. And declaring thermo nuclear war against the reviewer, writing every single editor that has ever run the reviewer's work, building a website attacking the reviewer, sending death threats, etc. is never a good idea no matter how much you hate the review.

Just saw this in PW today and please keep this reviewer in mind. Y'all did great things at Bleak House and I expect more of the same.

New Jersey isn't explainable. Most things in the north aren't. All Sports, by definition are good. Cooking shows and collecting recipes are not. Frontal nudity is also by definition good--in most cases. Capturing the female voice is also bad because it tends to nag and cause disaster. (See any Greek Tragedy for absolute proof) Excessively praising female mystery writers leads to the problem of "what have you done lately for me syndrome." Categorized by someone writing you offlist and stating that "on average, you review 2.3 male authors for every 1 female author and are therefore gender discriminating so I have let your editor know." Making a joke about .3 being dwarfs, midgets, and trolls who have rights too will most likely not work well. I'm looking forward to the coming adventures of "Harry and His Psychic Turtle." Filling a new niche in the mystery community, Harry's turtle (yet to be named as the focus group hasn't voted yet) work to solve various crimes. Both ABC and FOX are interested in an option on the series. Kevin R. Tipple Book Reviews and more at http://kevintipplescorner.blogspot.com/ The Carpathian Shadows: Book Two E-Book http://www.booksforabuck.com/sfpages/sf_08/carpathian_shadows2.html PRINT http://www.amazon.com/

Wish I had known you were up in Denton. Sigh. That "diva" thing extends to reviewers. I have had authors gripe me out (stronger term sanatized for your protection) because their book arrived Monday and now it is Tuesday and I have not read it yet. Or, because their wife, son, daughter, four coworkers, and the village priest, all loved the book and I had the nerve to say it wasn't very good in public. I could go on, but who really wants that? In short, never argue with a reviewer. It just isn't worth it. And if you do and you do it on Amazon and really get stupid with me, I will offer to sell you my book cheap just so that you shut up. Kevin R. Tipple Book Reviews and more at http://kevintipplescorner.blogspot.com/ The Carpathian Shadows: Book Two E-Book http://www.booksforabuck.com/sfpages/sf_08/carpathian_shadows2.html PRINT http://www.amazon.com/

"ballgame or obnoxious movie" no matter what we choose it is always better than any chick flick garbage. lol

Hope your son is doing so much better now. Sounds scary! Reviewers have a few stories to tell as well. Kevin (who had a rough time weather wise as well)

It might becuase bigger books (especially bestsellers) seem to be padded with larger type, whitespace, blank facing pages at the end/start of chapters, etc. A smaller book, by appearance, would imply more story these days.