tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1591679994751212734.post6812055794546832553..comments2024-03-24T06:32:13.194+13:00Comments on Crime Watch: The consensus pick: THE SHANGHAI MOONKiwicraighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11687089028299093360noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1591679994751212734.post-59519748006157638032010-10-28T21:31:38.365+13:002010-10-28T21:31:38.365+13:00SF Rozan,
My apologies. I obviously confused you...SF Rozan,<br /><br />My apologies. I obviously confused your pair of P. I.s with another pair. If it's any consolation, I found Chin and Smith memorable while I have forgotten the other pair.Fredhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10233846613173866140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1591679994751212734.post-28300326663397453462010-10-23T09:53:45.520+13:002010-10-23T09:53:45.520+13:00Thanks for the comment SJ. I enjoyed the short sto...Thanks for the comment SJ. I enjoyed the short story collecton you edited recently, and am definitely going to give some of your novels a go, after all the positive recommendations I've seen (not just on this website, but elsewhere).Kiwicraighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11687089028299093360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1591679994751212734.post-91200669816244657242010-10-23T05:51:26.203+13:002010-10-23T05:51:26.203+13:00I rarely post about my own work but: first, thanks...I rarely post about my own work but: first, thanks, Craig, for the consensus congrats. I loved being nominated for them (and by now we know I won none). But more important: Fred, you're entitled not to like my books but you're remembering wrong. Bill Smith grew up with a violent father who smacked him around from time to time but he was NOT an abused child. And Lydia Chin's never been married. In fact the very idea of Lydia not leaving an abusive spouse is to laugh. She'd have clobbered the bum and taken the car. You've got someone else's books in mind and I'd hate for readers here to avoid my books because of what you said.SJ Rozanhttp://www.sjrozan.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1591679994751212734.post-87777965074762239982010-10-15T05:42:48.967+13:002010-10-15T05:42:48.967+13:00I read THE SHANGHAI MOON and all I can say about i...I read THE SHANGHAI MOON and all I can say about it is: brilliant book. It deserves whatever awards it can win. S.J. Rozan is a very much under-appreciated author, though she has won an Edgar.Yvettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08919246184376538331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1591679994751212734.post-9258630293795721042010-10-14T20:50:20.822+13:002010-10-14T20:50:20.822+13:00Thanks Craig.
I would LOVE to design covers for ...Thanks Craig. <br /><br />I would LOVE to design covers for Kiwi crime, mystery and thriller writers!<br /><br />So far I've designed for American crime, mystery and thriller authors (more to follow soon). However exciting that is (and trust me - it really is!), working for authors closer to home would be very welcome, if only for the chance to be able to meet each other in the flesh without having to first fly across the Pacific.<br /><br />So any serious Kiwi crime or thriller writer is more than welcome to get in touch. Have a look at my work on www.jeroentenberge.com<br /><br />Craig, can you email me directly? Cheers.jeroentenbergehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16222860371389969191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1591679994751212734.post-29179214053679898102010-10-14T18:35:27.129+13:002010-10-14T18:35:27.129+13:00Craig,
It's rather typical today that mysteri...Craig,<br /><br />It's rather typical today that mysteries can only be solved by delving into the past. What's really tedious is that writers can't seem to come up with anything else but an abusive childhood as the explanation for the behavior for many of the characters in the story. <br /><br />Oh well, this too shall pass.Fredhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10233846613173866140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1591679994751212734.post-11187745673918065392010-10-14T16:42:31.043+13:002010-10-14T16:42:31.043+13:00had a look at your website Jeroen. Interesting stu...had a look at your website Jeroen. Interesting stuff, and I see you have done a few crime/thriller style covers. There are a few Kiwi crime writers who might want to have a look, methinks...Kiwicraighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11687089028299093360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1591679994751212734.post-25330313905564929152010-10-14T15:06:49.347+13:002010-10-14T15:06:49.347+13:00Hi Craig,
I discovered your blog only days ago an...Hi Craig,<br /><br />I discovered your blog only days ago and I am delighted to see your devotion. I'm very much into mysteries and thrillers myself, not only as an avid reader and book collector, but also as a book cover designer (check out www.jeroentenberge.com). <br /><br />Had planned to go to Bouchercon this year but like you I have to witness it from far away. Hopefully I'll be able to make it next year in St Louis!<br /><br />Best,<br /><br />Jeroenjeroentenbergehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16222860371389969191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1591679994751212734.post-76320748286461870312010-10-14T12:14:35.392+13:002010-10-14T12:14:35.392+13:00I understand what you're saying Fred, and thin...I understand what you're saying Fred, and things can get a bit 'samey' or cliched, but I quite enjoy it when the past plays a bit of a part in the mystery, both in terms of the plot and the protagonists, although this - as you say - can be overdone. I guess it's just whether it's done well or not.Kiwicraighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11687089028299093360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1591679994751212734.post-80383810360639065772010-10-14T10:14:05.388+13:002010-10-14T10:14:05.388+13:00Craig,
No, I haven't read _The Shanghai Moon_...Craig,<br /><br />No, I haven't read _The Shanghai Moon_, but I have read one by her, _China Trade_. I thought it was a decent read, but I haven't read anything else by her. If one of the discussion groups wanted to select something by her, I wouldn't object. <br /><br />I think my lukewarm reaction may have been due to my increasing irritation at the number of detectives, victims, perps, authors, whathaveyou, who have suffered through child and are working their way through it in the novel. It's supposed to be a mystery novel, not a documentary on recovery programs.<br /><br />If I remember correctly, P.I. Bill Smith was an abused child, and P.I. Lydia Chin was an abused spouse who wouldn't break with her husband. <br /><br />Yes, I know things like this happen--I can read the headlines--but I'm getting a bit tired of having such issues pop up in every other mystery as an easy way to provide the "dark side" of existence and to appear "relevant." <br />This is probably why I prefer the historicals, mysteries from the "Golden Age," and mysteries from outside the US border. <br /> <br />[soap box rant] OFF<br /><br />That being said, it's been awhile [2004] since I read her novel, so maybe she's worked her way out of that mode and is now focusing on writing mysteries.Fredhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10233846613173866140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1591679994751212734.post-56657260670422157782010-10-14T10:13:00.945+13:002010-10-14T10:13:00.945+13:00I've read it (UK Title is Trail of Blood). It&...I've read it (UK Title is Trail of Blood). It's an absolutely charming book, very enjoyable, throwing light on an interesting period of history (Japanese invasion of China in WW2). In terms of winning an award - I suppose it depends whether it's like to give that much of a marketing edge to be the winner rather than on the shortlist - I wouldn't think it was as important for genre fiction, where afficionados would be interested in all the contenders, as for say a Booker prize winner.LauraRnoreply@blogger.com