Memorial Day Weekend Smatterings

I think I'm pretty well recovered from BEA now, though as happens every year, it split my brain in several directions and will take a little while to put everything back together. But one of the highlights was talking with Lee Child, Karin Slaughter and Justin Cronin on Thursday morning, and both GalleyCat and the New York Observer took notes.

Michael Wilson visits with Partners & Crime, the West Village-based independent mystery bookstore and my "alma mater" of sorts.

Oline Cogdill reviews Declan Hughes' latest private eye novel, CITY OF LOST GIRLS, in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Hallie Ephron digs into THE FRIENDS OF EDDIE COYLE on its 40th anniversary.

The Chicago Tribune's Julia Keller talks with Lee Child about his newest #1 bestselling Jack Reacher novel, 61 HOURS.

Tom & Enid Schantz have their say on new mysteries by Kenneth Wishnia, Laurie King and Robert Barnard in the Denver Post.

Jeffery Deaver will pen the next James Bond novel, and interestingly enough, it will be released next year by Deaver's usual UK and US publishers, Hodder & Stoughton and Simon & Schuster.

Congratulations to Alan Bradley, Howard Shrier, Peter Robinson, and other winners of the Arthur Ellis Awards, handed out earlier this week.

Luc Sante praises the work of Charles Willeford - who is one of my all-time favorite crime writers - as he talks to the WSJ about I WAS LOOKING FOR A STREET, Willeford's entertaining memoir of his youth spent perpetually on the move.

I linked to the WSJ's gargantuan summer book preview package, but it's worth breaking out both Tom Nolan's mysteries & thrillers roundup and this quote from George Pelecanos on what he's reading this summer: "I'm not going to play that game. Everyone says something that sounds smart and ends up taking Michael Connelly to the beach."

Yes, Bill Clegg was a crack addict and has written a memoir about it. But the real story, to my mind, is that he's made even bigger, flashier deals for his clients since returning to agenting with William Morris Endeavor. Moral of the story: everyone loves a comeback. And that's a good thing.

John Grisham chats with the Telegraph about his first foray into children's fiction with THEODORE BOONE: KID LAWYER.

Howard Mosher reviews DIAMOND RUBY by Joe Wallace in the Washington Post, and while I wish the piece wasn't so much about plot summary (seriously?) I'm very glad to see a newspaper give this wonderful book its due!

The Guardian asks a number of writers, including John Banville, Ian Rankin and Margaret Atwood, to answer questions they've never been asked. Some of the chosen authors clearly missed the point (seriously, Barbara Trapido? No one asks you how you research your novels?) While Banville went the extra satirical mile.

And finally, how to cross the English channel with the help of helium balloons.

Comments

[iamtheangel.com]

I think Jeffery Deaver's a good choice for another Bond, and I'm glad they're going back to present day.

[kathy d.]

Segment on what questions authors were never asked is absolutely hilarious. I have to admit that I thought Sue Townsend's question, "Do you think Jesus was wrong about his father"? is one of the wittiest which still has me laughing.