--------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 244 MYSTERY Ref: E5X00000 Date: 05/25/97 From: JOE MURRELL Time: 03:28pm \/To: JAN MURPHY (Read 1 times) Subj: Publishing, in general Hi Jan. I was just browsing and came across this Forum. I am writing my first nove. It is about 1/3 through. If I ever finish it, I have no idea where to send it to see if it is sellable. Can you make any suggestions. You have been selling books for 15 years as I read. Sounds like you have been successful. What do you write about? Hoping to hear from you sometime. Joe Murrell --- FLAME v1.1 * Origin: Pacifier Online Data Service (1:105/101) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 244 MYSTERY Ref: E5Z00000 Date: 05/29/97 From: JAN WERTZ Time: 10:15am \/To: JOE MURRELL (Read 1 times) Subj: Publishing, in general You're writing your 1st novel for publication! Great! What's it about? As for getting published, you might check with your local university. There is one man, Tom Bird, who has taught a 'How To Be' seminar several times at ours here in Memphis. He sells a booklet which is a list of agents and which genre each is willing to handle, a thumbnail of legal potential complications and the avoidance of same, and a bit on what to write to the agent. For instance, send a letter outlining the novel, a porposal sheet. If you have been published before, list that. It is a sort of cross between a resume and a book proposal. DON'T send the manuscript out the first time! Oddly enough, that is NOT what an agent wants to see! (I had always thought that was a prerequisite!) In his seminar, he also goes thru some ideas for character development, how to do a believeable type of character- a wimp is a really good one to use! Etc. In bookstores, you can get a 'Writer's Guide'. This will tell you what is selling at the moment, and which publications might be interested, and the addresses of the same. Good luck! There is also a writers' fido. Many of the posters there are also published, and may be willing to give a few hints. Good Luck!! --- Platinum Xpress/Win/Wildcat5! v2.0 * Origin: Mr Zip "Home of Aunt Gabby Echo" (1:123/17) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 244 MYSTERY Ref: EA200000 Date: 05/30/97 From: JAN MURPHY Time: 10:37pm \/To: JOE MURRELL (Read 2 times) Subj: Re: Publishing, in general > Hi Jan. I was just browsing and came across this Forum. > I am writing my first nove. It is about 1/3 through. > If I ever finish it, I have no idea where to send it to > see if it is sellable. Can you make any suggestions. You > have been selling books for 15 years as I read. Sounds > like you have been successful. What do you write about? Howdy, Joe -- I sell books; I don't write them. There are other echos in Fidonet devoted to writing; some of the other folks who read this echo also participate in the writing echos, so maybe they can steer you to the right place. Just as a general suggestion -- Writer's Digest magazine might have some tips for you, and WD also publishes a series of books on various topics which might help you. If you are writing in a specialized field (for example, a mystery) there are also magazines like Mystery Scene which you might want to take a look at. Hope this helps for a start -- maybe some of the writers here will have other suggestions. --- 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: EA300000 Date: 05/31/97 From: ROBERT WHITE Time: 05:04am \/To: ALL (Read 2 times) Subj: Recent reads I just finished a book that I enjoyed a lot. It's called 'Silent Thunder' by Peter Tasker. This is a thriller set in modern day Japan, with the plot revolving around a financial power-play. I found it interesting for the well crafted plot, and it's view on Japanese society and the character of the nation. Lots of fascinating little glimpses into daily life in Toyko, with he lack of privacy and over-crowding that permeates that city. Lots of insight into the conflict between the aspirations of individuals and the masses of drone-like 'salarymen'. Reminded me a bit of Michael Crichton's 'Rising un'. If you liked that one you'll like this one better, I think. I know there are a lot of Donald E. Westlake fans among the regular to this echo, and I'm one of them. I've loved his Dortmunder series, with the umbling characters and capers gone awry. I just finished a book that is quite different from that series in many ways, but strikingly similar in many other ways. The Book is called 'Kahawa' and is sub-titled 'The Africa Novel'. The story is set in Kenya and Uganda during Idi Amin's reign of terror. All the hallmarks of Westlake's writing are still there, the little details that flesh out the characters and the plot, believable characters and dialog. In the preface, Westlake apologizes for the 'graphic' sex; citing that it was essential to the plot. The sex angle is certainly alot more pronounced than n the Dortmunder series, but it is hardly pornographic. And it is pretty important to the development of the sub-plots. The book gives a good view of some of the levels of African's based on their race; white, black or Asian. I don't have any first-hand knowledge, but the caste system that Westlake portrays certainly rings true. In any even, a very enjoyable read. Bob 8-{) --- Blue Wave/Max v2.20 * Origin: TechTalk; Calgary, Alberta. V.34+ (1:134/40) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 244 MYSTERY Ref: EA500000 Date: 06/04/97 From: SUZZE TIERNAN Time: 12:08pm \/To: ALL (Read 2 times) Subj: Recent reads I actually found a lot of time to read the past week.... "The Diary of Mattie Spencer", not a mystery, but the next book by Sandra Dallas after "The Persian Pickle Club" which was wonderful (not a true mystery, but did involve a murder). This one is a diary of a woman who marries in the mid 1800's and with her husband travels by wagon to homestaed in the Colorado Territory. Definitely a "woman's book" as the woman's viewpoint is strong. "Dead Men Don't Dance" by Margaret Chittenden. This will be released some time this month. This is her second Charlie Plato mystery, I liked this one a lot more than the first. Charlie and friends own a Country Music bar/club, but you don't have to be a country fan (I'm not) to like the story. This one involves a local election, and the candidates are turning up dead. "Dead Body Language" by Penny Warner. Great new author! This one was special. Connor Westphal is a deaf reporter for her own small town paper. Great mystery, and a chance to see things from the point of view of someone who is deaf. "MEG" by Steve Alten. I guess this isn't a mystery either, but an action packed adventure! As a quote on the cover says "Jurassic Shark". A prehistoric giant shark has survived deep in the sea for millions of years, and makes it to the surface to wreak havok. The ending was beyond even my own suspension of belief, but the story was exciting! Will probably make a great movie. Just started "Hocus" by Jan Burke, and "Let's Get Criminal" by Lev Raphael. ... suzze@concentric.net --- Blue Wave/DOS v2.21 * Origin: The Chessplayer's Forum (1:2410/278) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 244 MYSTERY Ref: EAA00000 Date: 06/02/97 From: TOM LIU Time: 04:17pm \/To: ALL (Read 2 times) Subj: what's this can anyone tell me what this confence is. I kind of got the idea that it's some echo where people talk about mystery books or something but i'm not sure. Anyway, as much as mystery book comes along, i like teenage murder mysteries by chris pike --- Ezycom V1.48g0 01fa016c * Origin: InSync BBS (08)8258 4612 (3:800/462) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 244 MYSTERY Ref: EAB00000 Date: 06/05/97 From: ROBERT WHITE Time: 03:55pm \/To: ALL (Read 1 times) Subj: Mail problems * Crossposted from: INTL. ECHO: COOKING If anybody has been sending me replies or mail lately, we have been having mail problems in net 134. I think mail has been getting out, but it sure hasn't been getting in. So I'm not ignoring anybody, and I hope that the problem is fixed soon. Guess I'll have to try get the cooking echo via the Internet if the snag sn't ironed out soon. Bob 8-{) --- Blue Wave/Max v2.20 * Origin: TechTalk; Calgary, Alberta. V.34+ (1:134/40) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 244 MYSTERY Ref: EAB00001 Date: 06/03/97 From: RUSS JERNIGAN Time: 09:17am \/To: ALL (Read 1 times) Subj: Aunt Dimity and the Duke Hi! Just thought that some of you would like to know that Nancy Atherton's excellent book _Aunt Dimity and the Duke_ (sort of a prequel to _Aunt Dimity's Death_) is being remaindered at Barnes and Noble for $3.98. These are apparently first edition, first printings. If you haven't read this and enjoy cozies, go for it! RussJ * SLMR 2.1a * Real Men Eat Quiche . . . With Catsup! --- WILDMAIL!/WC v4.11 * Origin: Rams' Island BBS (1:104/333.0) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 244 MYSTERY Ref: EAC00000 Date: 06/07/97 From: SUZZE TIERNAN Time: 12:54pm \/To: RUSS JERNIGAN (Read 1 times) Subj: Aunt Dimity and the Duke -=> Quoting Russ Jernigan to All <=- RJ> Hi! RJ> Just thought that some of you would like to know that Nancy Atherton's RJ> excellent book _Aunt Dimity and the Duke_ (sort of a prequel to _Aunt RJ> Dimity's Death_) is being remaindered at Barnes and Noble for $3.98. RJ> These are apparently first edition, first printings. If you haven't RJ> read this and enjoy cozies, go for it! Thanks Russ! I'm going to stop by there on the way to work this morning and see if they have any! ... suzze@concentric.net --- Blue Wave/DOS v2.21 * Origin: The Chessplayer's Forum (1:2410/278) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 244 MYSTERY Ref: EAC00001 Date: 06/07/97 From: SUZZE TIERNAN Time: 12:53pm \/To: TOM LIU (Read 1 times) Subj: what's this -=> Quoting Tom Liu to All <=- TL> can anyone tell me what this confence is. I kind of got the idea that TL> it's some echo where people talk about mystery books or something but TL> i'm not sure. Anyway, as much as mystery book comes along, i like TL> teenage murder mysteries by chris pike You hit the nail on the head Tom. Christopher Pike is a very popular author! How old are you? ... suzze@concentric.net --- Blue Wave/DOS v2.21 * Origin: The Chessplayer's Forum (1:2410/278)