Three Bookish Women

 Kaye Wilkinson Barley who blogs at Meanderings and Muses had a marvelous idea a couple weeks ago. She and Jen Forbus (http://www.jensbookthoughts.com/) and I are all friends, although Jen's the only one who has met both of us. But, we share a mutual admiration, and a mutual love of our blogs. And, we're all mystery fans. Definitely "Three Bookish Women" with a fondness for books and each other.

Kaye suggested we hold a round robin conversation. We asked questions, and passed the questions and answers around. To see the entire conversation today, you'll have to visit all three blogs. I'd suggest you start with Kaye's. She has the first part.As Kaye says on her blog, pull up a comfortable chair, have a cup of tea, and join us. I have the second part of the conversation. And, Jen finished the conersation.

Thanks for taking time to visit with us.

Left to right - Jen Forbus and Kaye Wilkinson Barley

Lesa - what a TERRIFIC crew you have coming for your Authors @ The Teague Program!  Wow! Very impressive and I always look forward to reading your blog to hear all about it, along with seeing the pictures.


Okay.  So Jen has already finished the newest Craig Johnson book AND is about to finish the newest Alafair Burke.  Green.  I am totally green with envy.  I've pre-ordered both those (no ARCs for either of those showed up in my mailbox - boo hoo).


The books I'm most looking forward to over the next few months, besides those I've mentioned, are Louise Penny's A TRICK OF LIGHT, Laura Lippman's THE MOST DANGEROUS THING, S. J. Rozan's GHOST HERO, Laurie King's PIRATE KING, Vicki Lane's UNDER THE SKIN, and Margaret Maron's THREE DAY TOWN.  Isn't it fun knowing there's a new book coming soon from our favorite writers?!  I love that! Wish I could include Deborah Crombie and Carol O'Connell in this list too, but I "think" their next books won't be coming till next year.  dang.


From all the books and writers we're mentioning here, so far we've only touched on our favorite mystery/crime-fiction writers.  I know we're all huge fans of the genre and prefer it over all others, but do either of you have two or three faves outside the genre you might want to recommend?  I know one of Jen's favorites is also a favorite of mine.  Pat Conroy, right, Jen?  AND I have one who I've also seen Lesa recommend, although I'm not sure she'd be at the tippy top of your faves list, Lesa - Sarah Addison Allen.  I love her!  And Anne Rivers Siddons.  Hmmmm - all southern, imagine that!

FROM LESA -

Oh, I can imagine that, Kaye, that they're all southern. And, I have another favorite to add to that list. I loved Beth Hoffman's Saving CeeCee Honeycutt. Beth's working on her next book now, tentatively called Looking for Me, "about a woman who leaves her hardscrabble Kentucky farm life behind for the seductive world of antiques dealing in Charleston, SC, but is drawn home after her brother’s disappearance." The quote from an online summary, says it's scheduled for winter 2012. I can't wait. She even has some mystery in that one.

I review women's fiction for Library Journal, so I read quite a bit of that. As I said, Sandra Dallas is a big favorite. I do like Sarah Addison Allen's books. And, I've read almost all of Barbara O'Neal's books, both under that name, and Barbara Samuel. I've read almost all of Bob Greene's nonfiction books (the columnist, not Oprah's chef). Bob Greene is from Ohio, and I love his writing. And, I like urban fantasy. I'm waiting for the next book in Jim Butcher's Dresden File series since I love Harry Dresden.

What do all those books have in common? Great characters, even Bob Greene's nonfiction. I'm hooked by good characters. I don't care what the setting is. And, I'm turned off by flowery writing. Give me characters that come to life on the page.

I do read quite a bit outside the mystery genre. But, now I'm curious. I honestly don't know what Jen reads outside of crime fiction. Tell us, Jen.

FROM JEN - 

Well, as I think you both know, my life before blogging involved teaching high school English. I grew up loving to read, and in college my area of concentration was Early Brit Lit up through the 19th century. I've always loved Dickens, Austen, the Brontes. I've also always been fascinated by the Arthurian works.


It wasn't until later that I started to appreciate more American literature and fell in love with the likes of Twain, Fitzgerald, Faulkner, Hughes. While I've read a lot of these classic works, there are still quite a few on my "reading bucket list."


I don't just read dead authors, though. I also enjoy, as Kaye mentioned - Pat Conroy, Toni Morrison, Garth Stein. Sometimes a book idea just strikes me as very cool and I want to check it out. ELLA MINNOW PEA was one such book. Recently I got ATTACHMENTS. So, it isn't always an author per se so much as the books themselves that attract me when when it comes to reading outside the genre.

FROM KAYE:


ooooh - Lesa, Beth Hoffman!  I "might" have discovered CeeCee Honeycutt without your help - maybe.  But I am so thankful to you for "introducing" me to her work.  I have sent that book to a few girlfriends - all of whom love it - and have recommended it to practically everyone else on God's green earth.  And I am so glad to hear there's a new Beth Hoffman in the works - Yay!


And now, here you both go - mentioning names I'm not familiar with and I'm busily scratching them into my ever-present VERY expensive journal I carry with me everywhere to make notes in.  My Mead Composition notebook with the black & white speckled cover - remember those?  LOL!


I've only recently become aware of Barbara O'Neal and have downloaded 2 of her books to my iPad. Didn't know she also wrote under a second name.


Jen - I had no idea you were such a literature scholar (I love learning new things like this about my friends!).  I'm dying, please, to hear what you think of Gatsby.    I'm also dying to hear more about your transition from the classics to crime fiction, please!  Was there one particular author, or a
particular book, that captured your interest?  And if so - how did you hear about them/it?


not familiar with ATTACHMENTS - off to check that out . . . .   along with all these authors Lesa mentioned . . .


y'all, carry on without me for a bit . . .

FROM LESA -

So, while Kaye's off looking at books to add to her TBR pile, I'll just have to come up with something to talk about. I know it's Jen's turn to throw out a question. So, I'll just mention that I was lucky enough to get the chance to go a mystery conference this year, Left Coast Crime in Santa Fe. I'd always wanted to see that city, so it was the perfect chance to meet more mystery authors and visit Santa Fe.

So, what to do next year? Jen wants me to go to Bouchercon, which is in Cleveland, and Kaye wants me to meet her at Malice Domestic in Bethesda, Maryland. Malice is much less intimidating, and I went to grad school in Washington, D.C., and I'd love to get back. We'll see what happens.

But, I do have one more conference this year. Jen and I are both going to Book Expo America, the publishing trade show in New York City, but I don't think our time there is going to overlap. I'm going in for the two days for librarians at the beginning of the week. And, I'm on a panel called The Great Readalike, where I'm going to talk about mysteries!

So, I'm passing it on to Jen so she can ask the next question.

FROM JEN -

Yes, I'll also be attending BEA this year. This is my first experience with BEA and while I'll be in NYC all week, my panel is part of the Book Bloggers Conference that takes place on Friday. Definitely looking forward it all.


One of my favorite things about conferences has been the discovery of new authors. While I certainly don't have a shortage of authors to read, I still look for new ones - I have no one to blame for my TBR list but myself. Conferences are a great place to find new authors; recommendations from others are a great way, too.


This year I've already read quite a few "new-to-me" authors. One of the standouts is Julia Spencer-Fleming who was recommended to me by Brad Parks who I met at a conference - see, full circle! I also read Trevanian and Caleb Carr for the first time this year.


So, ladies, I'd like to know what great new-to-you authors you've discovered this year.

FROM KAYE:


It's a crying shame I don't have some very wealthy old great auntie I've never met or even knew existed who might kick the bucket and leave me millions 'cause her cat pre-deceased her  (just like in one of those wonderful old Gothic novels I'm so partial to) .  Then I too could go to BEA.  And feel a little less guilty about these books I just bought . . .  big sigh (thanks, guys).


I've never been to BEA, and it sounds like Heaven!  I can not wait to hear all about it from the two of you.


Mystery Cons.  Oh my.  Love 'em.  I love Bouchercon.  LOVE LOVE LOVE Bouchercon. And, I might be going to Cleveland next year too - I hope so!!!  I do know I'm going to Malice next year simply because that's one I've never been to.  Some of my favorite writers are there practically every year, including women I love hanging out with,  And its one that will be fairly easy for me to get to on the train.  I have grown to hate flying.  I used to work for the airlines and remember how much fun it was to fly back then.  But.  No matter.  Even though I hate it, I'm still willing to do it to get to a mystery con.  It is worth every minute of time and effort it takes to get there, and worth every penny it costs.

Lesa, if you haven't been to Bouchercon, and you decide to go next year, I promise you will love it.  You will be welcomed with arms wide open, tons of love, you will have a LOT of giggles, at least ONE (as Hank Phillippi Ryan promises) magical moment, and you will leave knowing you've just had a visit "home"


And, as Jen says - you'll discover at least one "new to you" author.


The one outstanding author that pops into mind that I discovered this year is Susan Hill.  She writes the Simon Serraillier series, along with several stand-alones (including the wonderful THE WOMAN IN BLACK).  She also wrote the delightful HOWARD'S END IS ON THE LANDING, a Year of Reading From Home.  And I discovered  Tana French after purposely avoiding her because I didn't think IN THE WOODS was a novel I would enjoy.  But.  I love it.  And now I'm hooked on Tana French and wish she had another one coming out tomorrow.  And actually, I only discovered Sarah Addison Allen this year.

FROM LESA -
 

Funny you should mention Susan Hill, Kaye.  Author Vicki Delany just recommended her Simon Serraillier series to me yesterday. I took home the first in that series, but I'm afraid it's on a library TBR pile, and I'm not sure when I'll get to it.
 

I did discover three mystery authors this year. Carol Carr had a debut historical mystery called India Black. India Black is a madam at a brothel in Victorian England, and the amateur sleuth in the book. I really liked Tina Whittle's debut, The Dangerous Edge of Things. I met her at a Poisoned Pen Press
release party. It features a woman who inherits a gunshop in Atlanta, and just after she moves there, discovers a body in a car at the end of her brother's driveway. She gets involved with a very dangerous ex-cop in order to investigate. I hadn't read Ellery Adams' Books By the Bay cozy mystery series until this year, and I liked the one I read enough to pass it on to my mother.
 

Who did I really discover this year? A number of authors who write women's fiction. Eleanor Brown's debut, The Weird Sisters, featured three sisters named after Shakespeare's heroines, who all return home. Jael McHenry's debut, The Kitchen Daughter is about an adult woman with Asperger's Syndrome. I had never read Susan Mallery's books, or Luanne Rice's or Donna Ball's, although they all have a large number of them. I picked up books by all of them for the first time this year.
 

And, then there was one more mystery author, but I'm saving that for later, with one of my other questions. Right now, I'm passing this off to Jen.

So, I really am passing this off to Jen. Check out her blog at http://www.jensbookthoughts.com to read the conclusion of our Three Bookish Women conversation. And, thanks for joining us to eavesdrop on our conversation.


Kaye Barley's blog is http://www.meanderingsandmuses.blogspot.com

Jen Forbus' website is www.jensbookthoughts.com

Death Without Company by Craig Johnson

If Jen Forbus has her way, Craig Johnson would receive the recognition he deserves.  No one is a bigger fan than she is.  I'm glad, because she introduced me to his wonderful books.  And, she's right.  He's not as well-known as he should be.  I've only read the first two books in his Walt Longmire series, but they're beautifully written mysteries, with fascinating characters.  I loved Johnson's comment in this second book, Death Without Company.  "It's a character-driven piece."  It certainly is.  If you read mysteries for the characters, as I do, you should be reading Craig Johnson's books.

Walt Longmire has been the sheriff in Absaroka County, Wyoming for almost twenty-five years.  And, his day-to-day job consists of recruiting jurors for a jury pool, handling traffic accidents in the snow, and trying to hang on to competent deputies.  But, once in a while, he gets a case that is so complicated that his entire team, along with his friends, family, and even his dog, called Dog, become involved. 

Lucian Connally was the sheriff who hired Longmire, fresh from a stint as a military cop in Vietnam.  The two men might have different styles, but Walt still respects Lucian's opinion.  So, when Lucian insists that Mari Baroja, a fellow resident at the Durant Home for Assisted Living was murdered, Longmire is willing to look into it.  But, then Lucian shocks Walt by saying he was once married to Mari, until her Basquo father and uncles annulled the marriage.  Lucian's stories of Mari and her family drag Longmire's team into an investigation that immediately turns violent, as someone tries to kill everyone who knows the past history of Mari Baroja.  However, does anyone actually know the whole truth?

In the Walt Longmire series, Craig Johnson has created a cast of characters with depth and personality, beginning with Walt and his best friend, Henry Standing Bear.  But, every one of Johnson's characters are individuals who demand attention, from those who are a permanent part of his team, such as his deputy, Vic Moretti, and Ruby, who runs the office.  The newest deputy, Santiago Saizarbitoria, immediately fits in, with an enormous personality.  Unlike so many other authors, though, Johnson pays attention close attention to minor characters, who live on his pages. 

The investigation is the most important part of the story, as it should be in a police procedural, but these books are so much more.  Johnson has a way with a phrase.  Ruby keeps messages for Longmire on Post-it notes, and turns them over when he comes into the office.  He says he, "Picked up my life in Post-it form."  There's humor in these stories, and it can be very dry, as fits people who have lived difficult lives.  Death Without Company has an intriguing, complicated storyline with surprises, wonderful characters, and beautiful writing.  These mysteries are for anyone who misses Tony Hillerman, or wants to read outstanding crime novels set in the West.  And, Death Without Company is definitely for anyone who wants to read a "Character-driven piece."

Craig Johnson's website is http://www.craigallenjohnson.com/

Death Without Company by Craig Johnson.  Penguin Group (USA), ©2006. ISBN 9780670034673 (hardcover), 288p.

*****
FTC Full Disclosure - Library Book