some thoughts on reviewing

It's around 1:00 in the morning here at the Crimespree world headquarters and I'm awake. Not a surprise to anyone who knows me. I don't sleep much. I just finished some work on our March/April issue of Crimespree and thought I would stroll around the internet for a bit as I am wont to do before going to bed to read for a few hours.

I ran across something on MySpace that disturbs me. I only check our MySpace pages once a month or so, as I don't really beleive it's worth putting a ton of effort into it. I do get a strange joy of saying Yea or Nay to people requesting freindship. It was during one of the sessions that I came across a ppage for a publicity firm. They offer all sorts of packages to authors who might need help. I won't go into all of this but instead jump to the point.

They have on staff reviewers who will for a fee review any book sent to them. Different fee rates for different levels of review. The deluxe package includes tear sheet ready pdfs. This really bothers me for a number of reasons.

First, no one should pay for a review. It automatically is tainted isn't it? I won't get into ethics here really, if a reviewer excepts a gin and tonic from an author they really are not compromising themselves, and any author with any sense at all knows that a cocktail won't buy a good review. What I'm talking about is using paypal or writing a check to someone to read your book and review it. The reviews from this frim go on Barnes and Noble and other public forums. Well, anyone who reads Amazon reviews has an idea of the value of the reviews there, so "nuff said. The reviews also go up on a dedicated website and blog that the company runs.
My problem with all this is that there are writers out htere who truly wish to be successful, and they are new and don't know any better and these people seem to be preying on them. Is an agent really going to be impressed by a review from (fake name) Fred's Publicity House and Bagels? Any bookstore owners out there going to increase the order based on this? Any editors planning on scooping up this auhtor and signing them fast fast fast based on this paid for review? No. Because the people who are influenced by reviews will recognize it for what it is.

Reviews are hard to get. I understand. At Crimespree the sheer volume of books compared to what we can actually review is very skewed. Larger markets like the NY Times and Chigago Tribune are even harder to get reviews in. I understand why someone might get desperate for some reviews. But do not pay for them. Be patient. Look around. There are plenty of places to send your book that will not charge for the reviewing.


Other thoughts rolling around my brain:

My goals with reviewing have changed over the years. My main goal is to help readers find books that they might otherwise miss. I don't expect people to read one of my reviews and rush out and buy the book. But what I hope is thet someone will see it and say " That looks like something I'd enjoy" and they will look into it further.

I've read a lot of reviews over my time on this ball of mud and water and some are really great and some suck. I hate reviewers who are more interested in being clever than actually talking about the book. Some reviews are way too long. Some give away spoilers from the book. A certian reviewer on Amazon who claims to read more books a week than any one could imagine frequently give away plot points which ruin the suprise. Shame on you. I also dislike reviews that drift into talking about the author in a demeaning way. Badmouthing a book is one thing, but bad mouthing the author is just childish.

So, reviews.
Don't pay for them!

By the way, Crimespree 22 will ship this weekend. It's a little late because the binders were shut down for the holidays and it messed up their schedule a bit.

Guest Blogger

Jon and I were recently interviewed and asked our “hobbies”. I declared mine to be mystery and so it is. I passionately believe in good books. Sinking between the sheets and finding a book that makes you forget bedtime is still the most glorious feeling in the world. Everything that has come to me as a member of the mystery community comes from this most basic beginning. My “mystery” may be different than most, but no less or more enthusiastic. There is no such thing as an average fan.
This morning was a morning to remember. I worked hard this past weekend. Crimespree reviews for the upcoming issue. Bouchercon ‘08 commitments. I still had time for the Pack, barely… and I’m glad that game will be in the cold at Lambeau although I’d hoped for a Cowboys confrontation. And then I realized I’ll be in Houston.
It is a year full of commitments for “Team Jordan”, Crimespree and Ruth, a woman who drifted on-line one night and found a book club called Womans’ Mystery Wednesdays. This is a year I know will go well and smoothly because of the people in my life. There are personal bumps that I know the mystery community will help get me through, and professional bumps that the books will see me through in just one night.
The magic of this community is that people seem to know even when they don’t know specifics. Jon and I are trying to keep up with the blog, make it something special. And this January we have our first guest blogger. She’s a lady who’s given me many nights of her hard work in the form of books read nonstop from beginning to end. Her fans all enjoyed a real treat last year when she brought back a character we were all afraid we might not see again, married her with a subject she mastered in another AWARD WINNING series, and created one of my favorite reading experiences ever. And on the bookshelves now….

You’re all mystery readers, don’t you want to guess???
Up next a real intro…. but please guess first. it’s always fun.



The author in question is giving up some signed books to the first 5 people who can guess the identity of our mystery guest blogger.
The guest post goes up Friday, so you have till then to leave a comment with your guess, or email us at:
info @crimespreemag.com

Interview with Aaron

Jason Aaron Interview

Jason Aaron is the writer and creator of a wonderful graphic novel series called Scalped from Vertigo Comics. This interview ran in a recent issue of Crimespree



Jon: Jason, I know you are currently working on SCALPED for Vertigo comics right now. How would you describe the series for people who haven’t read it?


Jason: A hard-boiled crime series set on a modern day Indian reservation in South Dakota involving casino gambling, crooked tribal cops, undercover feds and Native American militants, featuring lots of hell-for-leather action and gritty character drama, plus a heaping helping of raunchy sex and murder mystery.


Jon: The character of Dash has some real issues. What's the appeal of a character that is so obviously far from perfect?


Jason: For me, the most interesting characters are always the ones who are flawed. Who can be a hero or a villain, depending on the day of the week. You're right, Dash has plenty of issues, most of them stretching back to his childhood, and we'll continue to explore those in upcoming issues.


Jon: What inspired a series based on the Reservation?


Jason: My interest in Native American culture and in particular, the situation on the Pine Ridge rez in the 1970s. Add in the current popularity of Indian gaming and the poor living conditions found on a lot of reservations, and you've got a great setting for a crime series, something that's hard-hitting and still has a socially relevant edge.


Jon: I know that Azzarello has a definite ending point set up for 100 BULLETS, how long do you envision SCALPED running?


Jason: There is a definite ending point, and definite arcs mapped out for all of these characters, but I don't have a specific issue number in mind. And even if I did, I probably wouldn't say, just because I don't want to be bound by that.


Jon: You also did THE OTHER SIDE for Vertigo, a Viet Nam story from a double perspective with a very different feel than more typical War comics. What brought you to write a Nam story?


Jason: My cousin was Gustav Hasford, the Vietnam Vet who wrote the novel that Full Metal Jacket was based on. I'd been spending years researching his life and work for a biography, so the Vietnam War had become a huge obsession for me. And as a comic fan, I was anxious to see a story about the war that looked at the conflict from both perspectives.


Jon: Is it just me or do you think Cameron Stewart went above and beyond the call of duty by traveling to Viet Nam before drawing the series?


Jason: Most definitely. I first met him at the San Diego Con that year, right before he left for Vietnam. So I felt a little like Robert McNamara back in the day, shaking hands with the troops and then seeing them off, saying "Keep your head down over there." Cameron's enthusiasm for the project was evident from day one and lasted throughout the whole process. I'm incredibly proud of the work he did on THE OTHER SIDE.


Jon: You also have a series with Top Cow called RIPCLAW coming out. Your blog calls it “A dark meditation on violence”. What do you have in mind for this series?


Jason: It's actually a one-shot that's part of Top Cow's Pilot Season program, where they're doing a handful of one-shots starring Top Cow characters, and once they're all out, fans will be able to vote on which one they'd like to see more of. With my story, I just tried to give a new direction and purpose to a character that has mostly been seen as just a copy of Wolverine. I had a blast doing it and would love to
follow up with the character.


Jon: Anything else coming soon?


Jason: I just did a dark, little stand-alone story in WOLVERINE #156 that seems to be getting a great response. And I'm already following that up with more work for Marvel.


Jon: I’m guessing that as a writer and as someone who majored in English that you enjoy reading. Outside of comics what do you like to read and who are some of your favorite authors?


Jason: Cormac McCarthy and James Ellroy are two guys who are sort of in a class by themselves, as far as I'm concerned. And even though I haven't read any of his work since college, when I devoured it all, I think I'm still heavily influenced by William Faulkner. These days, I'm mostly just reading the Hard Case Crime series of paperbacks and whatever non-fiction book I need to check out for research purposes.


Jon: How do you like to spend your free time?


Jason: Free time? What is this thing you speak of called "free time"?


Jon: What's the coolest thing about writing comics for a living?


Jason: Not having to go outside and do a real job. For real though, this has to be the greatest job ever. I get paid to make up stories, how cool is that?

ON HOLIDAYS, NEWSPAPERS, 07’S BEST OF AND THE YEAR TO COME

hi all from the Crimespree desk. I’ve taken over the ‘puter tonight and I’m “working” so naturally I have an urge to blog. I think it must be those recessive writer genes.


Happy Holidays!!


I’ll let Jon give you the blow by blow on all things Christmas but guys? Five days to go and all gifts but 2 are purchased and wrapped, decorating, baking, candy making and dipping scratched off except for Jon’s chocolate covered potato chips. We’re going into true holiday mode. Company is coming and going, we’re to-ing and fro-ing and all is well in our own little corner of mystery. As I hope it is in yours.


Newspapers……


This next bit is fairly close to what is known as B.S.P. but really it’s meant as an observation from the sidelines. I got a call from Jen4 last Saturday, my name was in a book review. I was declared “notable” in the Chicago Tribune. I have to say the warm fuzzies are staying with me (and for those of you who know Jon, yes he bought up every print copy left on the newsstand and no, I don’t scrapbook). EXPLETIVE DELETED was an ambitious project edited by my very own JEN4 and she included a story I wrote, took one look at, and knew had no publishing possibilities. That’s my own personal F@#K. I thought she was pretty darned kind to include it and worried over calls of the “N”(epotism) word. For that alone, “notable” was cool. But to see my name mentioned with the other contributors? Mind blowing. And now I know a little of the feeling writers must feel when mentioned and/or compared with others. And it’s way cool. Especially in a year where any mail I’ve gotten on things jotted down (print or net) have been on obituaries. Is this my forte? I guess we’ll all find out together.


I see best of lists beginning to appear on the internet and I confess, I’m a peeker. So I’m not sure where I’ll end up and thought I’d mention just a few books that inspired before I’m tainted by others opinions.


Ruth’s OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD…..


I can’t mention Laura Lippman who continues to be even better with every book but whom about I cannot be objective anymore. Read everything. Enjoy it all. Watch her growth. So…


First , that dreaded last week of Dec. release date made a truly great Crime Fiction book go not unheralded, but strangely unremembered last year and out of real competition this year. FIND ME by Carol O’Connell is a wonderful book. I’ve been mostly hot on the Mallory character since her inception but FIND ME brought us back to the sociopath Mallory is and took us all on a roadtrip that won’t be forgotten soon.


The long delayed American release of the GRAVE TATTOO by Val McDermid took a bit of wind out of all the hype but all the hype was well deserved and 2007 was when it came out. Outside of her Jordan/Hill series this is a book that takes place in several different locations, in several different timelines, with several different P.O.V. And yet GRAVE is an effortless read. Not many could do this but it is unsurprising that McDermid can. She is an unstoppable force.


March saw a fellow Scotsman’s book come out stateside as well. It was on my list last year and will remain on the list forever. THE NAMING OF THE DEAD by Ian Rankin is a must read in any year. EXIT MUSIC (U.K. 2007) is a great note for Rebus to go out on but every note is in play while reading NAMING.


THE WATCHMAN. Robert Crais has married his highly successful thrillers with the Elvis and Joe we all fell in love with. Combining all of his skills, this may be my favorite Crais read of all time. I suspect he’ll make me eat these words at some future point in time.


In the names I cannot understand missing files I’ll include:
Colin Cotterill(ANARCHY & OLD DOGS), Greg Rucka (PATRIOT ACTS), Michael Koryta (A WELCOME GRAVE),Mike Harrison (RUBY TUESDAY) & Vicki Hendricks(CRUEL POETRY).


THE “WOO” has legs, versatility, and depth file:


Could two books be more unalike then John Connolly’s THE UNQUIET and Charlaine Harris’s ALL TOGETHER DEAD? Not Really. Connolly’s thoughtfully drawn out story of decades of secrets and Harris’s seemingly “lite” story of a gal on an adventure may both get the woo label but THE UNQUIET is so literary in themes it cries for the author to be the next Jonathan Lethem inductee into the hallowed halls of literature that appeals to the masses and the other? Harris proves it is possible to laugh your way through a well crafted mystery until it is time to cry. Two very credible scribes writing beyond labels in very different ways.


Denis Mina’s Paddy series ( THE LAST BREATH) is still my favorite series of this decade. Several months after reading Greg Hurwitz’s THE CRIMEWRITER I can still quote passages. Declan Hughes(THE COLOR OF BLOOD) is huge in this house. Likewise fellow Irishman Ken Bruen. PRIEST is a book to break the heart. Bruen is a writer who makes that okay.


In the new kids category…. coming in early and giving “Killer Year” credibility are Sean Chercover (BIG CITY, BAD BLOOD) and Marcus Sakey (THE BLADE ITSELF). The joy of reading WHEN ONE MAN DIES by Dave White, a truly outstanding first mystery, after pub date was a highlight of my reading year. From Bleak House, two stood tall this year. Craig MacDonald’s HEAD GAMES & Bill Bryant’s KEEP IT REEL. Neither are new writers, but they are new to print and both delivered the goods. The folks at Bleak House continue to find talent. My other fav first has to be LAST RITUALS by Yrsa Siurardottir, although a translation it is my first experience with the author and I say it counts. (I didn’t read the Hart book yet).


Short Stories:


Three stand tallest for me (well four really but see the second part of this long winded blog) Hellman’s CHICAGO BLUES, Penzler’s THE BIG BOOK OF PULPS and Akashic’s WALL STREET NOIR.


Non-Fiction
okay, so the book about the serial killer guy who worked in L.A. and his home town that everyone is talking about? I threw it across the room when the author started to get clever, moving back and forth between timelines and adding too many point of view. It is a fascinating tale, but it did not sing out in execution the way two others did for me. First up is THE DAUGHTERS OF JUAREZ. The horror of it is awe inspiring. The culpability we all share when we buy a car or baby powder is horrific. Theresa Rodriguez deserves a lot of recognition for telling a story no one wants to hear. And my second selection? Published in 2006 (okay I was late finding it) THE PHILOSOPHY OF NEO NOIR is a must read for all who’ve ever taken part in the debate “what is noir?”. And for giggles, from the same press (University of Kentucky Press), I recommend THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE X-FILES (and yes the “N” (epotism) word applies here.


And with that I’ll leave you all with the words you can never go wrong with Bill James…


Ruth

CRIMESPREE for Christmas

Holiday greetings from the Crimespree team.

We're offering a special deal for the holidays. Everyone knows somebody wo loves mysteries and crime fiction.

If you buy a gift subscription for someone else, we'll extend your subscription by two issue as a thank you.

And if you don't subscribe we'll send you a book, we have a number of arcs and other extra copies to share.

Just let us know that it's going out as a gift and that you saw this post and we'll hook you up.
Subscribe to CRIMESPREE HERE
Give the gift of CRIMESPREE this season!