Available now for preorder, Max Tudor #7 in paperback...
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Most authors have a system for their writing. They jot every idea in a special notebook, and when they have dozens of notebooks they store them in a large box in the attic. I learned from watching a biography of J.K. Rowling that this is her method, except that she probably has to keep her notebooks in a bank vault.
Some authors scribble ideas on sticky notes that they attach to their study walls. The highly organized writer will code her sticky notes, giving each character and scene its own color. Sometimes the writer will show connected thoughts by stretching a piece of string from one note to another, often using colored twine that also carries some deep significance, so that before long the walls of the writer’s study look like the squad room of a murder investigation. When the author adds images of a character—photos cut from magazines and whatnot—the illusion of a real-life investigation is enhanced. Somehow a book comes out of all this. I am tempted to tell you that my books are written in just such an orderly and colorful way, in between hourly breaks for mindfulness meditation and yoga, and that WICKED AUTUMN and the following books in the Max Tudor series grew out of such fastidious planning and plotting. But the truth is my books emerge from chaos—a million bits and pieces of ideas, character descriptions, settings, and motives, all scribbled on whatever scrap of paper is to hand and stored in no particular order, with no brightly colored strings involved—a sort of Big Bang method of novel writing. Right now the worst part of my lack of method is that when asked to write about my inspiration for the Max Tudor series, I can only say, “I don’t really know.” That and, “I don’t remember.” Like most people, I am generally inspired by a looming car payment. But a book deadline becomes my lodestar, and I aim the good ship Max Tudor in that general direction and head off. Often without supplies or compass or life preserver, to continue the metaphor. But somehow in this process a book starts to emerge. My starting point is often the setting, which I can visualize almost to the last cobblestone. Nether Monkslip was largely inspired by my love of Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple and her St. Mary Mead, that much I do know. Then along came the characters to inhabit my village: suspects and victims. Someone must die! The why and the how are trickier, and are often inspired by some real-life case in the news. From there, anything I see, hear, touch, smell, or taste in the next nine to twelve months works its way into the story. All that said, as the first in the series, WICKED AUTUMN germinated for a very long time. Its protagonist Max Tudor is an Anglican priest and former MI5 agent, and he is loosely based on a CIA analyst of my acquaintance who is an Episcopal priest. Around the same time I met the analyst I met a pathologist who was also an Anglican priest. He happened to be a friend and consultant to P.D. James. I never knew these dual existences were possible, and it got me to thinking: What if? Max Tudor actually turns his back on being a spy when he goes to Oxford to begin the process of taking holy orders, but the “life” keeps calling him back and becomes a growing theme in the books as Max is called in, time and again, to solve a murder. Once I could picture a village like St. Mary Mead with its butchers and bakers and candlestick makers, and I had my handsome spy/priest, along came my imaginary woman in charge of the Women’s Institute in Nether Monkslip. I decided that Wanda would be bossy and awful to everyone, especially the group of hapless volunteers under her command. WICKED AUTUMN was the somehow inevitable result. I hope you enjoy reading the book as much as I enjoyed being able to bring it to you. BOOK CLUB QUESTIONS:
EDUCATED, by Tara Westover. A book that lives up to the hype. It is truly heartbreaking to watch the kids in this Randy Weaver-era family try to cope with or break away their from loving but reactionary parents. Parents who unintentionally put them in danger, more than once. I would love to hear what other readers think. Leave a comment below or you can reach me through the contact link at the top of each page of this website.
Coming Soon from Mainly Murders Bookstore in Kennebunk, ME:
A sampling of May releases. Find a complete list, as well as those for future months, at www.stopyourekillingme.com. Nancy Atherton, Aunt Dimity and the Widow's Curse [Aunt Dimity #22] Ace Atkins, Robert B. Parker's Little White Lies [Spenser continuation] Rita Mae Brown, A Hiss Before Dying [Mrs. Murphy #25] Clive Cussler and Graham Brown, Nighthawk [NUMA Files #14] Elly Griffith, The Chalk Pit [Ruth Galloway #9] Steve Hamilton, Exit Strategy [Nick Mason #2] Carolyn Hart, Walking on My Grave [Death on Demand #26] Stephen Hunter, G-Man [Bob Lee Swagger #10] Lisa Jackson, You Will Pay [NS] Dennis Lehane, Since We Fell [NS] Steve Martini, The Secret Partner [Paul Madriani #15] Edith Maxwell, Much Ado About Murder [Local Foods #5] Jo Nesbo, The Thirst [Harry Hole #11] James Patterson and Maxine Paetro, 16th Seduction [Women's Murder Club #16] Leif GW Persson, The Dying Detective [NS] James Runcie, Sidney Chambers and the Persistence of Love [Sidney Chambers #6] Dana Stabenow, Less Than a Treason [Kate Shugak #21] Victoria Thompson, Murder in the Bowery [Gaslight #20] Scott Turow, Testimony [NS] Timothy Williams, The Second Day of the Renaissance [Commissario Trotti #6] THE 2017 DERRINGERS RESULTS
Recipients of the Short Mystery Fiction Society’s Derringer awards: BEST FLASH STORY (1 - 1,000 words) The 2017 Derringer for Best Flash Story is presented to Herschel Cozine for “The Phone Call” (Flash Bang Mysteries, Summer 2016) FINALISTS “Aftermath” by Craig Faustus Buck (Flash Bang Mysteries, Spring 2016) “A Just Reward” by O'Neil De Noux (Flash Bang Mysteries, Winter 2016) “The Orphan” by Billy Kring (Shotgun Honey, March 18, 2016) “An Ill Wind” by R.T. Lawton (Flash Bang Mysteries, Spring 2016) Best Short Story (1,001 - 4,000 words) The 2017 Derringer for Best Short Story is presented to Linda Barnes for “The Way They Do It in Boston” (Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, September/October 2016) FINALISTS “Beks and the Second Note” by Bruce Arthurs (Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, December 2016) “YOLO” by Libby Cudmore (BEAT to a PULP, May 2016) “The Woman in the Briefcase” by Joseph D'Agnese (Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, March/April 2016) “The Lighthouse” by Hilde Vandermeeren (Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, March/April 2016) Best Long Story (4,001- 8,000 words) The 2017 Derringer for Best Long Story is presented to Victoria Weisfeld for “Breadcrumbs” (Betty Fedora: Kickass Women In Crime Fiction, Issue 3, September 2016) FINALISTS “Swan Song” by Hilary Davidson (Unloaded: Crime Writers Writing Without Guns, ed. By Eric Beetner, Down & Out Books, April 2016) “Effect on Men” by O'Neil De Noux (The Strand magazine, Issue XLVIII, Feb-May 2016) “The Cumberland Package” by Robert Mangeot (Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, May 2016) “Murder Under the Baobab” by Meg Opperman (Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, November 2016) Best Novelette (8,000 to 20,000 words) The 2017 Derringer for Best Novelette is presented to Terrie Farley Moran for “Inquiry and Assistance” (Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, January/February 2016) FINALISTS “Coup de Grace” by Doug Allyn (Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, September/October 2016) “The Chemistry of Heroes” by Catherine Dilts (Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, May 2016) “The Educator” by Travis Richardson (44 Caliber Funk: Tales of Crime, Soul, and Payback, ed. by Gary Phillips and Robert J. Randisi, Moonstone, December 2016) “The Last Blue Glass” by B.K. Stevens (Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, April 2016) Edward D. Hoch Memorial Golden Derringer For more information about this award, see its complete description here: https://shortmystery.blogspot.com/2008/10/smfs-golden-derringer-procedure.html The 2017 Edward D. Hoch Memorial Golden Derringer is presented to Robert Randisi My thanks to Jay #Strafford of the Richmond Times-Dispatch for the lovely review of DEVIL'S BREATH. In good company with 'Almost Missed You,' 'A Simple Favor,' and 'All By Myself, Alone.' Wonderful.
More thanks due. Please see @dvaleris's thoughtful review of DEVIL'S BREATH by @GMMalliet--the 6th Max Tudor mystery: bit.ly/2p3Gjw2
Kirkus Reviews on DEVIL'S BREATH: "...it's great to see the return of Malliet's wit in a high-seas whodunit that deftly skewers the Hollywood high life."
I will be reading and signing April 20 at Murder by the Book in Houston, Texas. If you live near there, please stop by. And here is the lineup of many great authors who will also be appearing soon.
Susan Wittig Albert Sunday, April 9, 2017 @ 2:00pm Dominic Smith Tuesday, April 11, 2017 @ 6:30pm Steve Berry Wednesday, April 12, 2017 @ 6:30pm Randall Silvis Tuesday, April 18, 2017 @ 6:30pm Greg Iles Wednesday, April 19, 2017 @ 6:30pm G.M. Malliet Thursday, April 20, 2017 @ 6:30pm Megan Miranda & Jennifer McMahon Friday, April 21, 2017 @ 6:30pm Kelly Garrett and Sheryl Scarborough Saturday, April 22, 2017 @ 4:30pm Ann Cleeves Sunday, April 23, 2017 @ 2:00pm |
G.M. Malliet
.Agatha Award-winning author of the DCI St. Just mysteries and the Max Tudor series. Also the author of the standalone suspense novel WEYCOMBE. All books available everywhere and in all formats, including large print, e-Book, and audio. Archives
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