“‘People don’t want anything dark’ is the prevailing wisdom, though the “people” I know still admire James Lee Burke and Lawrence Block, wait anxiously for a new Tana French novel, get excited for what the genre can do. Those people might not be Nixon’s silent majority, but they’re out there, and I think they’re ill-served by a lot of book culture. But it’s also very hard to mobilize them.”
I’m a member of this tribe, so I feel seen here. But is it a tribe? My impression is that we’re a bunch of stubborn grumpy individualists who struggle to come together in the service of a good new crime novel of contemporary hard unstylized realism unless it’s canonical. Maybe there should be a con for us. But what would we call it?
I don't know if a convention is what's needed--maybe a venue in between the great indie zines like Shotgun Honey, Rock and a Hard Place, and Tough, and something like Ellery Queen? It's an interesting dilemma. Maybe part of it is the collapse of thrillers and mysteries together--thrillers tend to be high concept and fast paced and have little of the stuff that I gravitate to--character complexity, atmosphere, etc. But then cozies aren't really known for those things, either, are they? Tough call.
Well said, Sam! An old dinosaur like myself is considering the indie route because of time constraints. I share your belief that excellence in writing will survive, that art will prevail. Perhaps someone digging through the detritus of the internet will find gems that speak to them.
I hope I don't sound too pessimistic, Madeleine. I think it really depends what your goals are with publishing--are you trying to write something popular, or trying to market something you care about? Both are tough for different reasons.
I wish I could be at your launch, Sam. Texas is a bit far... I'm like you, I love what I'd call Classic Crime, like there's Classic Rock. I strongly believe there is room for it still. I probably would sill write the stuff I write even if there was no room for it, lol. So, yes, stubborn like Jim says. Cozies don't do it for me, but neither do the hyper-violent/light on plot variations.
Me too, though I appreciate other types which do different things. Locked room mysteries are cool for what they are without really being 'my' kind of thing.
“‘People don’t want anything dark’ is the prevailing wisdom, though the “people” I know still admire James Lee Burke and Lawrence Block, wait anxiously for a new Tana French novel, get excited for what the genre can do. Those people might not be Nixon’s silent majority, but they’re out there, and I think they’re ill-served by a lot of book culture. But it’s also very hard to mobilize them.”
I’m a member of this tribe, so I feel seen here. But is it a tribe? My impression is that we’re a bunch of stubborn grumpy individualists who struggle to come together in the service of a good new crime novel of contemporary hard unstylized realism unless it’s canonical. Maybe there should be a con for us. But what would we call it?
I don't know if a convention is what's needed--maybe a venue in between the great indie zines like Shotgun Honey, Rock and a Hard Place, and Tough, and something like Ellery Queen? It's an interesting dilemma. Maybe part of it is the collapse of thrillers and mysteries together--thrillers tend to be high concept and fast paced and have little of the stuff that I gravitate to--character complexity, atmosphere, etc. But then cozies aren't really known for those things, either, are they? Tough call.
Well said, Sam! An old dinosaur like myself is considering the indie route because of time constraints. I share your belief that excellence in writing will survive, that art will prevail. Perhaps someone digging through the detritus of the internet will find gems that speak to them.
I hope I don't sound too pessimistic, Madeleine. I think it really depends what your goals are with publishing--are you trying to write something popular, or trying to market something you care about? Both are tough for different reasons.
I agree, Sam. An artist is by nature "product driven". Writing is not a rational act.
This is the most beautiful, well written email I’ve ever received.
Thanks, Heather!
I wish I could be at your launch, Sam. Texas is a bit far... I'm like you, I love what I'd call Classic Crime, like there's Classic Rock. I strongly believe there is room for it still. I probably would sill write the stuff I write even if there was no room for it, lol. So, yes, stubborn like Jim says. Cozies don't do it for me, but neither do the hyper-violent/light on plot variations.
I prefer the gritty crime writing such as yours, the other types of writing I cannot tolerate. Onward through the fog.
Me too, though I appreciate other types which do different things. Locked room mysteries are cool for what they are without really being 'my' kind of thing.