Mystery Scene Magazine www.mysteryscenemag.com

At the Scene, December 2010               Solving the mystery of what to give next!
In this Issue
Greetings from MS
Alex Kava on Reading
Overheard
Gift Guide for Philanthropists
Quick Links
Current Issue
Book Reviews
Mystery Scene Blog


Follow us at...

MS Blog
MS Facebook  MS Twitter

Readers Recommends
Thrillerfest 2011
Buy Mystery Scene Back Issues!

AUTHORS
PUBLISHERS
BOOKSELLERS
January is e-book month at Mystery Scene!

Reach thousands of enthusiastic
mystery fans

Promote your new book in our newsletter, online and in print. Send an email to
Teri Duerr 
for advertising details.



MS eNews Sign Up

READ PREVIOUS
"AT THE SCENE"
E-NEWS AT OUR
ARCHIVE HERE

Intent to Sell
3rd Edition

by Jeffrey Marks
Jeffrey Marks "Intent to Sell" Ad
NOW AVAILABLE
$17.95 pb
Hilliard & Harris

ISBN 978-1591331162

Greetings!
Alex Kava on reading, incoming e-books, Gift Guide for The Philanthropist, and more

Hi everyone,

In this newsletter MS Senior Editor Teri Duerr, our favorite Christmas Elf, has come up with a list of worthy charities that promote literacy. A donation to one of these groups will give a gift that lasts a lifetime.

Brian and I have big plans for heavy reading over the holiday. Should your "To Be Read" pile look a bit scanty, you can always visit the MS Book Review Database which contains over 1,200 reviews.

In the works for January 2011 is a MS Website special feature on e-books and digital publishing. Lawrence Block will talk about his one-man backlist blitz and we'll offer a look at what the plugged-in mystery fan can look forward to in the future.

Best wishes for a wonderful holiday season and terrific 2011 from all of us here at Mystery Scene!

Sincerely,
Kate Stine
Editor-in-Chief

Read Anything Good Lately?
Email us your fave raves for the "Our Readers Recommend" feature and be entered to win a free book!

Need Help with Your Subscription?
Send us a note. Renew or subscribe at our website.

Flights of Fiction Fancy
Alex Kava on books as travel companions

"18 Seconds" by George ShumanI've always thought it sad to hear authors confess they have no time to read for pleasure, only for research. Sad because for most of us our love of reading is what inspired us to be writers. It's a bit like a chef saying he or she no longer has time to eat or a pianist not able to listen to music. I should probably confess, I used to be one of those authors. I'd feel guilty reading when I should be writing. Then I'd go on book tour.
 
I hate flying so having 15 to 20 flights in the span of two to three weeks is a challenge in itself. Reading helps take my mind off being 30,000 feet above control. I started asking bookstore owners and managers for recommendations, picking up a book for my next psychotherapy in the sky. Who better to ask. Over the last ten years I've accumulated a list of treasures I might not have stumbled upon on my own.
 
One of the first recommendations was Thomas Perry's Jane Whitefield. I devoured the entire series, not in order but picking up one then another from city to city and bookstore to bookstore. Here's a sampling of recommendations that kept me sane: Jan Burke's Bones, Keith Ablow's Psychopath, P.J. Tracy's Monkeewrench, Julia Spencer Fleming's Clare Fergusson mysteries, Jay MacLarty's The Courier, Lisa Black's Takeover, C.J. Box's Joe Pickett novels, George Shuman's 18 Seconds and Daniel Silva's Gabriel Allon thrillers.
 
Although I still hate to fly, I look forward to my next indulgence of bookstore recommendations and my annual reboot of inspiration.

Alex Kava's latest is Damaged (Knopf 2010).
www.alexkava.com

"Writers on Reading" is a special ongoing Mystery Scene series available as a first look exclusive to our newsletter subscribers. 


Mystery Scene Hangman

Overheard

Rex Stout's League of Frightened Men, 1935 first edition

"
What good is
an obscenity trial except
to popularize literature?"

  
- Nero Wolfe in
The League of Frightened Men,
by Rex Stout, 1935

MS Gift Guide: The Philanthropist
Gift ideas for those who want give more this holiday


Reading is FundamentalReading is Fundamental
Founded by a former teacher, RIF delivers free books and literacy resources to the most financially needy communities throughout the US, with special focus on children from birth to age eight.

RIF.org



UNICEF Story Book giftUNICEF Story Book
Inspire the mind of children in far-off primary schools by sending the gift of story books for as little as $30 for 8 local-language books.

Unicefusa.org Story Book



Books For LifeBooks for Life
Help a community build a library or support the literacy project of your choosing from the US to India to Kenya to Nicaragua and beyond.

BooksforLife.org


American Library Association
American Library Association
Help ALA advocate on behalf of libraries and library users, promote literacy and community outreach programs, encourage reading and continuing education in communities across America, and provide scholarships to students preparing to enter the library profession.

ALA.org


Plus our complete 2010 Mystery Scene Gift Guide in
Holiday Issue #117 out now!
Mystery Scene Magazine
331 W. 57th Street, Suite 148
New York, NY 10019
www.mysteryscenemag.com
Email: [email protected]

 
� 2010 Mystery Scene Magazine