tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1591679994751212734.post1321947558793379927..comments2024-03-24T06:32:13.194+13:00Comments on Crime Watch: Crime Fiction in the news and on the 'Net: Weekly Round-upKiwicraighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11687089028299093360noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1591679994751212734.post-49908146112280901872010-09-18T16:35:48.160+12:002010-09-18T16:35:48.160+12:00Acceptance of lesbianism (and other "adult&qu...Acceptance of lesbianism (and other "adult" content) in genre fiction remains a no-no for many overseas hardcover publishers. I've lived in New Zealand since 1967 and I've written westerns for Robert Hale Ltd (London) since 1992. My twenty-fourth, and seventh in the Misfit Lil series, was rejected by Hale on the grounds it would be unsuitable for public libraries because of this. Fortunately, I have a reader following and saw fit to go ahead and publish the book myself, using Lulu. Paradoxically, in view of John Hale's views, the book has since been picked up for large-print reissue by Ulverscroft whose contract says the book, "will be mainly used by Public Libraries, Hospital Libraries, Institutions for the Blind, Welfare Authorities, Homes for the Elderly, and Charitable Organisations." I'm also not having to split payment for the large-print edition 50/50 with Hale!Chap O'Keefehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04404176810063857291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1591679994751212734.post-38810923883494004492010-09-18T12:31:20.527+12:002010-09-18T12:31:20.527+12:00Craig,
Most interesting to me were the articles a...Craig,<br /><br />Most interesting to me were the articles about Giles Blunt and the increasing interest in mysteries set in Russia.<br /><br />My favorite Christie: it would have to be _Nemesis_ with Miss Marple. <br /><br />I don't know about widespread acceptance, but I know of two good mystery series featuring lesbian detectives. Ingrid Blacks' "Saxon" series set in Dublin have a lesbian relationship between Saxon, a ex-FBI profiler, and a high-ranking police officer. <br /><br />In addition, there's Laurie R. King's "Kate Martinelli," a lesbian cop with LAPD, which I consider to be far more interesting than her Mr. and Ms. Sherlock Holmes series.Fredhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10233846613173866140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1591679994751212734.post-78173846905769976722010-09-18T09:23:36.605+12:002010-09-18T09:23:36.605+12:00The article about the Russian set fiction was fasc...The article about the Russian set fiction was fascinating and there are a number of books on that list I might have to add to my TBR Mountain.<br /><br />I really enjoyed Val McDermid's latest, Trick of the Dark, which has many lesbian characters, and I didn't think anything of it, as to me they were strong, well developed, women characters. It was them as individuals and how they interacted with each other that was important.<br /><br />I loved the Google homage to Agatha Christie's birthday. Google NZ didn't have it did they? Or did I just not Google anything that day.<br /><br />Great round up, as always, thanks.Vanda Symonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09956034768397598056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1591679994751212734.post-39834202342062071452010-09-18T00:24:01.810+12:002010-09-18T00:24:01.810+12:00Craig - Fine round-up! Thank you, as always, for f...Craig - Fine round-up! Thank you, as always, for focusing on these articles. I'm afraid, though, that I can't answer your question about which is my favourite Christie novel. I love too many of them, and couldn't pick and choose that way... I do agree, though, that many, many themes, including the lesbian theme you mention, are far more accepted in today's crime fiction than they were.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com