Bring out your read

How do you decide what to read? Word of mouth? Reviews? Browsing in bookstores? Etc. And what’s the most important factor in your decision?

by Dietrich

All of those ways work for me: word of mouth, reviews and browsing the bookstores. When I find an author’s work that engages me, then I check for a backlist. And I keep them in mind for future works. I have a growing list of favorite authors, and I always look forward to what they’ve got coming next. Authors like Don Winslow, George Pelecanos, James Ellroy and James Lee Burke top my list. And there are those authors who aren’t around anymore, and I’m still going through and catching up with their backlists, authors like Donald E. Westlake, Robert B. Parker and George V. Higgins. And there are some authors who I like to reread, like James Crumley, Charles Willeford, and Elmore Leonard.

Sometimes a friend recommends a book because they know the type of book I like. And I also like to stop in at one of my favorite indie bookstores, pick up something that catches my eye and read the first few pages. Often I can pick a winner from the first few paragraphs. If the author’s voice works for me, then that usually does the trick. We’re lucky to have some great indie bookstores in Vancouver, and the folks behind the counters often make some great recommendations too. Most libraries have a ‘librarians picks’ section, and I often browse titles that I might otherwise pass up. Best-seller lists and award winning-books can also get my attention. I also like to listen to author's read their work at events like a Noir at the Bar, book launches and writers festivals.

There are reviewers and bloggers whose opinions I respect. Col’s Criminal Library on the net is a good source. Colman Keane’s tastes run much in the same direction as my own, so when he gives a book four or five stars, I take his word for it. Of course, there are the daily newspapers that feature book reviews, and sites like Goodreads, LibraryThing, Bookish, Kirkus, Book Riot, to name a few. And there are blog sites like this one, and my fellow criminal minds often recommend (as well as write) some great books.

I can also be swayed by a blurb on the back of a book jacket, although, let’s face it, no publisher’s going to put a bad review or blurb on the back cover.

Titles and cover designs often catch my eye. And that can get me picking a book off the shelf too. Of course, from there it’s up to the opening pages.

On the horizon …

What are your new year’s resolutions? (Give us both writing and others if you have them)

by Dietrich

I’m not in the habit of making resolutions for the new year. I’m not into predictions, and once again I didn’t take part in the icy Polar Bear Swim to celebrate the new year. Nothing wrong with any of that, and I suppose if I did make resolutions, I‘d likely break them all anyway. But, I do make plans, and I do have plenty to look forward to in the coming year. 

Over the coming weeks I’ll be working with my editor and tackling final edits for my upcoming book. This one’s called Cradle of the Deep, a crime novel set on the west coast, starting in Vancouver and ending up in Alaska. It’s set in present-time and involves a couple running away from the woman’s gangster ex. It will be out in the fall. 

I’ve got another standalone project that I’m halfway through. It’s set here in Vancouver in present time as well, and involves a runaway teen, an old man, a pair of casino thieves, and one killer motor home. I’m not absolutely sure of the title yet so I won’t mention it here. This one will become my tenth and should be out the following year.

Being an avid reader, I’m excited about new books by some of my favorite authors, as well as some who I’ve been meaning to read. And there are classics by long-time favorites that I’d like to catch up on, and some others that I’d like to reread. So, the stack of books is forever growing.

Living in the Pacific Northwest, there’s always something exciting coming our way. There are plenty of concerts and shows scheduled, as well as our wine and craft beer festivals, the international film festival, a jazz festival, a folk festival, the Celebration of Light fireworks, Bard on the Beach, and lots more.

There are writer events and festivals that I’ll be attending, and for our local crime fiction fans, I’ll be organizing two Noir at the Bar events at the usual haunt, the Shebeen down in Gastown, one on May 6th, and the other on November 4th. Both promise an exciting line-up of authors reading from their latest works.

And here at Criminal Minds, I’m looking forward to answering questions along with our fine family of authors. 

And over on my blog Off the Cuff, I’ll be chatting with some prominent authors about what they’re working on. You can find it at: dietrichkalteis.blogspot.com

As I play music when I write, I’m constantly adding new albums to the collection, and there are some great ones coming out, and that’s something else I have to look forward to. 

Then there are new films being released, as well as some series that I’ve become addicted to: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Schitt’s Creek, White Gold, and Better Call Saul, all of which are getting set for new seasons. 

Aside from all that, I’m planning to do some traveling. My wife and I migrate like geese in the fall, heading to California every year. On top of that, I’m looking forward to flying to Germany later this year.

There you have it: no resolutions, but some plans and plenty to look forward to. And for everybody out there, I wish you all the very best for the coming year.

What is the air speed velocity of an unladen swallow?

What question do you wish that someone would ask about your book or your career or you, but nobody has?

by Dietrich

Any question beginning with, “So, when you won the Pulitzer …” 

Okay, so I’m not holding my breath on that one, but there are questions I like being asked, probably the same questions any author likes to be asked. 

“Can we pay you to speak at our event?” 

“What are you drinking?” 

“I’ve read all your books. When’s the next one coming out?” 

“How did you ever come up with something so clever?”

Of course, there are those questions that none of us like to be asked:

Do I look fat in this?

Sir, do you know how fast you were going?

Where were you last night?

And there are questions that no author wants to be asked: 

“How come I’ve never heard of you?”

“Were you high when you wrote this?”

“I’ve got a great story idea; would you like to hear it?” Followed by, “Would you like to help me write it?”

“You write a lot of opposite sex characters; what’s up with that?” Followed by that look.

“You just sit around making stuff up. How hard can it be?”

“Did you start writing because you couldn’t find work?”

“Readiness to answer all questions is the infallible sign of stupidity.” – Saul Bellow

I do enjoy talking to people and answering questions about my writing. It’s nice when someone is interested enough to ask about what I’m doing. And there’s nothing like getting some feedback from a reader. And if there’s a question I can answer that might help someone out with their first book or story, then I’m happy to help.

“People want to know why I do this, why I write such gross stuff. I like to tell them I have the heart of a small boy… and I keep it in a jar on my desk.” – Stephen King

When I’m doing the asking, coming up with interview questions for my blog Off the Cuff, I try to come up with questions the authors may not have been asked before. And sometimes it’s interesting to ask a typical question just to get the author’s particular perspective. 

There are interviewers I read and listen to that always have fresh and thoughtful questions. I’ve enjoyed being interviewed by Pam Stack on Authors on the Air. She’s got a casual way about her and always knows the right questions to ask. It’s more like a chat with a friend than an interview. And Eric Beetner and Steve Lauden get it right as well on Writer Types. They seem to have a lot of fun with it. As for blogs, I like Dana King’s insightful interviews and commentary on One Bite at a Time. And there’s Paul D. Brazill’s Punk Noir Magazine that offers a nice mix of interviews, reviews, news, commentary, novel excerpts, poetry, and more.