Monthly Archives: October 2009
Introducing Ms. Cain
Finally got to introduce myself to Chelsea Cain. At long last.
We have so much in common. She’s a former journalist from Portland who gave up daily print journalism and signed a multi-book deal with St. Martin’s Press. I’m a former journalist from Portland who gave up daily print journalism and signed a multi-book deal with St. Martin’s Press.
She’s fabulous and famous, vivacious and hilarious, and a New York Times best-selling author. And I’m…ah, learning a lot here.
OK, and while Herself could have been all-that and above it all, she was great. Seriously happy to hear about another Portlander taking a stab (as it were) at the thriller field. I think I just found myself a field guide whom I can turn to as this roller coaster really starts rocketing.
You can catch Chelsea’s hyper-dynamic Web page by clicking here.
Changes in publishing mysteries
Attended a very good panel today featuring editors and agents discussing the mystery genre. Kelley Ragland, executive editor for Minotaur, talked about the qualitative change in the biz. Fifteen years ago, a “pretty good” first book could get published. Today? “Books that we buy have to be spectacular,” she said.
One myth she busted is that is author has to START as a hot commodity. You have to be a New York Times best-seller right away or not at all. She pointed out that both Janet Evanovich and Michael Connelly started small. Ain’t neither of them doing too poorly these days. I should be so lucky…
dana
I’m in Indiana
It’s about 6 p.m. on a Thursday and there are some World Mystery Convention goings-on tonight but I’ve been up and running since about 4 a.m. so I just want to meet my agent and editor for a drink, then get some rest for tomorrow.
Chelsea Cain, the former Oregonian columnist turned mystery writer, speaks tomorrow at around 10:30 a.m. I think I should go introduce myself, since she’s also with St. Martin’s, and we share a Portland-area journalism background.
Cheers,
d
