--------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 244 MYSTERY Ref: E5K00001 Date: 05/14/97 From: ROBERT WHITE Time: 09:02am \/To: SUSAN BULLA (Read 2 times) Subj: Current reads -=> Quoting Susan Bulla to Robert White <=- SB> Me, too, but then again, I just prefer contemporary settings. I don't mind the historical setting, it adds a bit of charm and I think King carries it off well enough. SB> and RW> Hollywood all fawn on Grisham's pap, when other writers like Scott Turow SB> have RW> written much, much better tales in the same genre. SB> Like I said, suspend belief, it's popcorn! Sorry, with so much else out there that is better written, and much better plotted, why bother wasting my time with crap. Bob 8-{) --- Blue Wave/Max v2.20 * Origin: TechTalk; Calgary, Alberta. V.34+ (1:134/40) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 244 MYSTERY Ref: E5P00000 Date: 05/18/97 From: JAN MURPHY Time: 10:24am \/To: ROBERT WHITE (Read 1 times) Subj: Re: Recent reads > I've just started the latest Jenny Cain mystery by Nancy > Pickard, 'Twilight'. ... > My only > complaint so far is the PB copy that I have is printed in > very small type, > about 8 point, and is somewhat taxing to read. At least > for my 50 year-old > eyes. Maybe Pickard has a kickback deal with optometrists > or something :) > Anyway I find it hard to read for more than about 10 or > 15 minutes at a time. I apologize to the long-time readers of this echo, for whom I am sure I sound like a broken record. However: Authors have no control over things like this. They are entirely at the mercy of the publishers. Publishers in general are clueless about things like this, and don't realize that they are losing sales because the customers open a book, say "Yow!" or some equivalent, and put the book back on the shelf. It's all because some bean-counter somewhere has decided they can save X much on paper costs if they squeeze the text down by setting it smaller. Or something. But please don't blame the poor author, who suffers financially from dunderheaded decisions like this one. --- Opus-CBCS 1.73a * Origin: Sci-Fido II, World's Oldest SF BBS, Berkeley, CA (1:161/84.0) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 244 MYSTERY Ref: E5P00001 Date: 05/16/97 From: POLLY FITT-JONES Time: 11:47pm \/To: IRV KOCH (Read 1 times) Subj: Mysteries Hi Irv..... Thanks for the "cozies" definition. Prior to reading this BBS I always thought "cozies" were something you put over your tea pot to keep the tea warm! Is there a special name for the mysteries that carry on book after book with the same basic characters? I always feel "cozy" or warm and safe because I keep meeting the same people, in the same places over and over. Just like in real life...except I have never run into any murders. Regards....Polly --- Maximus 2.02 * Origin: Awakening - Lakewood WA (253)582-5579 HST16/V32b/VFC/V34 (1:138/102) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 244 MYSTERY Ref: E5P00002 Date: 05/18/97 From: IRV KOCH Time: 07:11pm \/To: POLLY FITT-JONES (Read 1 times) Subj: Mysteries PF> Is there a special name for the mysteries that carry on PF> book after book with the same basic characters? I Just "series" as far as I know. Usually, the "so and so character series" but sometimes some other descriptor such as "The Den on Iniquity series." PF> always feel "cozy" or warm and safe PF> because I keep meeting the same people, in the same PF> places over and over. Just like in real life...except I PF> have never run into any murders. This works with a lot of other genres besides murder mysteries. Most large publishers massively prefer authors who can demonstrate that they can produce a series, on schedule, over "one book" authors. --- Maximus 2.02 * Origin: Ice Fire 423-267-3789 (1:362/629) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 244 MYSTERY Ref: E5P00003 Date: 05/18/97 From: FRED RUNK Time: 11:29pm \/To: ROBERT WHITE (Read 1 times) Subj: Inspector Morse -=>While in the White Hart, Robert White explained to Fred Runk that<=- -=> Quoting Fred Runk to Polly Fitt-Jones <=- FR> one, A WAY THROUGH THE WOODS, is in production now. I'm looking FR> forward to that one. It's his most complex work so far. RW> I really like 'A Way Through the Woods', a very interesting plot. I RW> especially liked the way Morse used the newspaper postings as a foil to RW> the investigation. I'll be interested to see how the TV adaptation RW> comes off. In general I've liked the TV series, John Thaw does a good RW> job of portraying the character as Dexter depicts him in the books. Right. I thought that was one of his best novels. And, yes, Thaw does a marvelous job as Morse. When I read the novels, I now picture Morse as Thaw. Sgt. Lewis also does a very credible job. ... Einstein on Pentium: E = mc^1.99999 ___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.20 --- Maximus 2.02 * Origin: Fred's Place (1:300/6.2) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 244 MYSTERY Ref: E5P00004 Date: 05/18/97 From: FRED RUNK Time: 11:46pm \/To: POLLY FITT-JONES (Read 1 times) Subj: Inspector Morse -=>While in the White Hart, Polly Fitt-jones explained to Fred Runk that<=- PF> It is "The Silent World of Nicholas Quinn" I have that to read next. PF> We have been getting the re-runs for quite a long time PF> now...so much so that I am re-runed out! But still, the re- PF> runs are better than most of the other things on TV. Right, that's the title. Thought it was an interesting novel, and a decent adaptation for TV. I've seen a lot worse jobs done on decent books. PF> I have just started "A Way Through the Woods". I am glad I PF> will have it read before they put it on TV. It will be awhile before it shows up. PF> The sun has finally come out here...and it really feels PF> good to get out into the hammock with some ice tea and a PF> good book! I live through all the rainey months by thinking PF> how nice it will be when the sun finally comes out and I PF> can put the hammock up! PF> PF> hope you are having a nice summer....Regards, Polly A cold wave is moving through the area. It's going to drop down to the low 90s by Wednesday. ... "The ballot is stronger than the bullet." Abraham Lincoln ___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.20 --- Maximus 3.01 * Origin: My Blue Heaven BBS (520) 750-0716 (1:300/704) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 244 MYSTERY Ref: E5S00000 Date: 05/21/97 From: IRV KOCH Time: 02:43pm \/To: JAN MURPHY (Read 2 times) Subj: Re: Recent reads > eyes. Maybe Pickard has a kickback deal with optometrists > or something :) > Anyway I find it hard to read for more than about 10 or > 15 minutes at a time. JM> Authors have no control over things like this. They JM> are entirely at the mercy of the publishers. JM> Publishers in general are clueless about things like JM> this, and don't realize that they are losing sales I think she was joking. OTOH, the publishers are NOT clueless here. They have lots of clues and plenty people besides bean counters who make such decisions. They even, in a few cases, offer "Large Print Books for the vision impared." (We have a couple handfulls of those at our store. They are mostly best sellers and classics.) They do, unfortunately, make lots and lots of dumb decisions. They consider the following, and other factors, but what they actually do is often beyond belief: 1. How many (what RANGE) of books will this series/title/category sell. 2. How many copies will fit in a "pocket" on the newstand at the grocery store. 3. Will these mainly sell at stores with "pockets" or B.Dalton type shelves? (If they go on the shelves, they tend to be "spine out" rather than "face out" despite the efforts of the sales persons to get them "face out.") 4. Does this book appear to people who like "big fat books" or otherwise? 5. How many words is it anyway? 6. How much do we (the publisher) charge to make up the advance? (Tom Clancy and John Grishim, for instance, may actually be made larger via smaller print if the publisher thinks they will sell more.) Does this type buyer think they should be getting a larger book because they're paying a dollar or two extra per book. Titles by an author with a moderate but steady following, who does "average length," are most likely to be set in smaller type so the book will be smaller. They figure, correctly, that they won't lose sales, despite the complaints voiced here. /s/Book store owner whose partner spends a lot of time talking to and complaining at, publishers' sales reps. --- Maximus 2.02 * Origin: Ice Fire 423-267-3789 (1:362/629) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 244 MYSTERY Ref: E5S00001 Date: 05/21/97 From: ROBERT WHITE Time: 10:59am \/To: JAN MURPHY (Read 2 times) Subj: Small typeset -=> Quoting Jan Murphy to Robert White <=- > very small type, > about 8 point, and is somewhat taxing to read. At least > for my 50 year-old > eyes. Maybe Pickard has a kickback deal with optometrists > or something :) JM> Authors have no control over things like this. They are entirely at JM> the mercy of the publishers. Publishers in general are clueless about JM> things like this, and don't realize that they are losing sales because Hi Jan, I was only trying to be humorous about the small type, I most certainly was not blaming Nancy Pickard. I know all too well how the bean-counters make a decision to shave a few pennies without any concern or even a clue about the effects. My accountant has pointed out that I could save a few hundred dollars a year if I used a different type of setup and binding for my reports. But I spend the extra dollars because I feel it makes the reports look a LOT more impressive and more authoritative. BTW, 'Twilight' is pretty good reading. A bit different from the rest of her series, more introspective about Jenny Cain. Bob 8-{) --- Blue Wave/Max v2.20 * Origin: TechTalk; Calgary, Alberta. V.34+ (1:134/40) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 244 MYSTERY Ref: E5T00000 Date: 05/23/97 From: JAN MURPHY Time: 07:31am \/To: IRV KOCH (Read 2 times) Subj: Re: Recent reads Yes, Irv, the original poster was making a joke about the author having a kickback from optical shops. > OTOH, the publishers are NOT clueless here. They have lots > of clues and plenty people besides bean counters who make > such decisions. They even, in a few cases, offer "Large > Print Books for the vision impared." (We have a couple > handfulls of those at our store. They are mostly best sellers > and classics.) I will stand by my original statement, however. I've been selling books for a short time, it's true -- only 15 years. But in that fifteen years, I've seen some really hideous typesetting jobs. Designers have chosen, for artistic effect, typefaces which are not designed to be used for large chunks of text. Or printed the book with insufficient gutters so that you have to break the spine in order to read the book. I've seen plenty of other books where you can see at a glance that the book is practically unreadable. I don't always know exactly what is wrong with the typesetting, but it's clear that something is dreadfully wrong -- if we warn the customer to look inside before they buy, almost everyone goes 'ewwwwww'. Bad book production turns the ordinary reader into the 'vision impaired'. If people look at the open book, and the text makes their eyes swim, how likely are they to buy it? --- Opus-CBCS 1.73a * Origin: Sci-Fido II, World's Oldest SF BBS, Berkeley, CA (1:161/84.0) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 244 MYSTERY Ref: E5V00000 Date: 05/25/97 From: IRV KOCH Time: 12:26am \/To: JAN MURPHY (Read 2 times) Subj: Re: Recent reads > and classics.) JM> JM> I will stand by my original statement, however. I've JM> been selling books for a short time, it's true -- only JM> 15 years. But in that fifteen years, I've seen some That's long enough. JM> really hideous typesetting jobs. Designers have JM> chosen, for artistic effect, typefaces which are not JM> designed to be used for large chunks of text. Or I agree. My only point is that the expletive whatever publishers do so have clues, and have often used them. It makes it worse when they don't. JM> Bad book production turns the ordinary reader into the 'vision impaired'. JM> If people look at the open book, and the text makes their eyes swim, JM> how likely are they to buy it? Likely enough to not become vision impared by NOT buying the junk. They know better but do it anyway. SOME of the them do it a LOT more than others.... --- Maximus 2.02 * Origin: Ice Fire 423-267-3789 (1:362/629)