Okay! I’m Good!

This email came in on the heels of the previous one.  Interesting how diverse opinions are among people:

I’m a library director where mystery and thrillers are the most popular types of reading. I stumbled on the Anna Pigeon books and found them to be very interesting, with just enough terror to keep the reader turning the pages, as did the library patrons that we introduced to this series of stories. I have just finished 131/2.   Although I missed Anna Pigeon, this book sat me down and wouldn’t let me up. It is up there, in my opinion, with Kellerman. Keep it up, I’ll be looking for the next one either Anna or something else.  Thank you for what you do, makes the job of finding good reads for our patrons easier.

Thorpunious …

$#!^ Why do YOU do this?

I’m tired.  I’m depressed.  I don’t know why.  I just woke up this way.  This is a lethal combination.   Apparently someone else feels the same:

I have collected all your books and loved everyone of them but with  13½ I am disgusted with the subject, the foul language, and the evil people.  In the past I recommended your books to my friends but will not do that any more.  PLEASE return to your national parks series or you will be losing many faithful readers.  Why did you do this???

GET OVER YOURSELF!  ENOUGH of this business of attempting to dictate to a writer.  I assume you read the synopsis on the book jacket?  If not in a gazillion places on the Internet?  In fact I read one synopsis on the Internet (a review, actually) that had the gall to give away the who dunnit / who wassit.  “13 1/2″ was over exposed in that respect.  Why read it if the subject matter offends?  My sister and I have a favorite saying regarding any plot that we’ve seen done again and again in different times, different venues, “OH, I love that story!”  And we will watch it again and again with relish.  You know what I mean: “small town boy does good;” “young girl kicks ass…”  The same goes for the plots we don’t like–never cared much for gangsters, myself, and have NEVER seen “Goodfellas.” … or was it “Good Guys?”  Who cares?

Thorpunious …

 

Nevada at the Louisiana Book Festival in Baton Rouge, Oct. 17,2009

Nevada’s Radio Interview Schedule for “13 1/2″

Radio interview schedule for “13 1/2″  is now on Nevada’s website. It covers most of the U.S.  Times are Central.  Some include promotional book give-aways though I don’t know how that works:

http://www.nevadabarr.net/schedule.htm#Interview%20Schedule

October 24th – PPWebCon – World’s First Virtual Mystery Convention

Nevada is scheduled to participate in PPWebCon, a virtual mystery convention sponsored by Poisoned Pen Bookstore!

This should really be a lot of fun!  For details check Nevada’s schedule page on her website: http://www.nevadabarr.net/schedule.htm When we know details of her participation as far as times, etc. I will post them there and here as well as Facebook.

Thorpunious …

October 17 – See Nevada at the Louisiana Book Festival

Nevada will be attending the festival as a featured writer to talk about and/or read from 13 ½ as well as her other works of visual and literary art.  Last year the one-day free book festival was attended by over 21,000 people including 150 authors and panelists. After each author’s program, there will be an organized scheduled book signing at the authors’ tent adjacent to the Barnes & Noble Festival Book Tent, giving attendees a chance to meet the authors and get their books signed.

For details go to: http://www.nevadabarr.net/schedule.htm

Thorpunious …

Octavia Book, NOLA Signing – 13 1/2

The Octavia Book signing for 13 1/2 in New Orleans on October, 6, 2009 looked like fun.

Below, photos of Nevada during the signing and her presentation:

Thorpunious …

The One I Didn’t Send

I’m holding myself back, I AM, I AM!   I actually wrote a response to the email below and had my finger hovering over the “send” button when I came to my senses.  Fortunately for Nevada, her Web Maven (if not her sister) is a relatively sane, and steady person.  Right?  Right!

The email:

You are one of my few favorite authors.   I have waited a year for the new Anna Pigeon novel, and what I got is a psychological thriller.  Anna Pigeon is one-of-a-kind.  Psychological thrillers are a dime a dozen.  It took 125 pages before there was any ray of sunshine in 13 1/2.  I am continuing to read the book just out of respect for your previous work.  Now I’ll have to wait another year.  I hope you are not launched on another experiment that will delay another Anna Pigeon for yet another year.

Perhaps, because it is a relatively recent experience for you, you will answer a question that has been bothering me for a few years.  The phenomenon is not unique to you.  Several of my favorite authors have succumbed to the urge to prove they can write books outside what made them famous and successful.  Why?  What are they trying to prove?  And to whom?  What is wrong with the tried and true?

Your previously, and I hope once again in the future, devoted reader,

The response that wasn’t sent:

Thank you for your interest in Nevada’s work.  (Okay, so I did start out on the right foot)  I feel compelled to point out that you have not “waited a year for the new Anna Pigeon.”  Perhaps you missed the release of “Borderline” in April?  Personally, I love thrillers and don’t find them to be a “dime a dozen”  any more so than mysteries.   In addition, from this point in time, it should be LESS than a year you will have to wait for the NEXT Anna Pigeon, so stay on your toes so you don’t miss that one too.  I’m assuming that you WERE able to snag “Winter Study” last year?

*Scratching  head to figure out what is wrong with succumbing to the urge to write books in genres other than those that have made an author successful.*

Thorpunious …

The World’s First Virtual Mystery Convention?!

Does this mean that the Internet has taken over?  Fascinating.   Well, I’m told that Nevada has signed up to participate and it’s scheduled for October 24th.  Don’t ask me how it going to be done!

http://www.ppwebcon.com/

Thorpunious …

Another “13 1/2″ Review

Are you all sick of this yet? LOL!  I thought I would include this one … well, let’s face it: IT’S MY JOB!  But also because it discusses the risk that Nevada is taking in coming out with a non-Anna Pigeon stand alone … AND a serial murder plot as well.  Don’t let this fool you, however.  I’ve heard many comment that they worry it might be “too dark” for them.  Not so!  Say I.  Well, how would I know?  I don’t.  But I will say that I found it LESS dark than “Hard Truth,” for example, and in some ways quite charming.  Nevada manages to get inside the head of a little boy who finds himself in a horrible situation, which is a fabulous characterization in my uninformed opinion.  I also loved The Woman in Red!  Certainly a sad character, but a priceless addition to the story.

http://thriller-fiction.suite101.com/article.cfm/nevada_barrs_13_12

Thorpunious …