New Black and Latino mystery collections

A few months ago I noticed an interesting title Hit List: the best of Latino Mystery among the library's new fiction books. It is a collection of mystery and crime short stories. Publishers Weekly wrote (I couldn't find my library's copy) that the book claims to be a first-ever anthology of mystery short stories by Latino writers. Included are stories by Manuel Ramos, A.E. Roman, Lucha Corpi, Alicia Gaspar de Alba, Rolando Hinojos and Steve Torres. Writer Carolina García-Aguilera is the only one whom I ever remember reading (from her "Lupe Solano" private investigator mystery series).

Anyway, I'm glad to see the book in our library. Hit List was edited by Sarah Cortez and Liz Martínez and it is 191 pages.

Next, as an appropriate follow-up, I discovered the new book Black Noir: mystery, crime, and suspense stories by African-American writers in the same new fiction location. The book was edited by Otto Penzler. It features work by Walter Mosley, Edard P. Jones, Chester Himes, Charles W. Chesnutt, Elanor Taylor Bland and more. The book was edited by Otto Penzler and he writes in his introduction, "On the pages that follow, you will find stories that transcend race and genre to fulfill their primary purpose to inform and entertain."

Black Noir is 349 pages. And I'll repeat, I'm glad to see this book in the libray (and in print).

Needlecraft and Mysteries sown together...

It hasn't happened yet but my wife tells me she'd attend my book club if we'd read a Monica Ferris book. And as it turns out, she said that to me again after I'd brought her home another new Ferris book, Blackwork, from the library a few days ago. My wife knits religiously as her time allows.

Ms. Ferris is the busy author of this hobby-orientated mystery series which feature needlework shop owner and part-time sleuth Betsy Devonshire in small-town Minnosota.

The author--who writes under the pseudonym "Monica Ferris" according to her website--is at novel number 13 with the needlecraft mysteries. Ms. Ferris also loves to wear hats as you can see here courstesy of Google.

Now, will the book club ever read a book in the needlecraft series? It could happen but I have steered the club toward the more hard-edged type of mysteries (not just hardboiled) but the club votes on titles and we're not struck in the mud on types of mysteries.

The "fun" of writing young adult novels

Parade magazine in yesterday's Sunday newspaper had a timely question about adult fiction writers moving on to pen young adult titles. In the "Walter Scott's Personality Parade" section, a reader asked that question of writers Carl Hiaasen and Jane Smiley. Smiley was contacted--the article said her first young adult novel was published last month--and described the process as "fun." She added, "Since we want kids to read good books, why not try a hand at writing them?"

The same can be quickly said for some mystery writers as I wrote about Robert B. Parker two years ago with his first such book Edenton Owls. And he is continuing with his third young adult book--this time with his most popular adult character "Spenser" in a story from his childhood. Chasing the Bear: a young Spenser novel is a story of the then 14-year-old living with his father and two uncles involved in a dangerous bout of rescue and friendship.

More about the future of books and reading--

I did not listen to the entire "Charlotte Talks" program I mentioned just previously about the "digital age" and books but I don't believe the discussion reached vooks. A recent New York Times newspaper article described "vooks" as being a new innovation of the reading method with titles boosting the blending of text, video and Internet features. Click here for the entire article and related information.

This sort of hybrid book (as the Times aptly puts) may be the new panacea to draw readers as some book publishers hope. That is particularly the great expectation for younger people.

Writers, on the other hand, are mixed too. But mystery writer Walter Mosley said the practice has no appeal to him. He said, "Reading is one of the few experiences we have outside of relationships in which our cognitive abilities grow,” according to the novelist. “And our cognitive abilities actually go backwards when we’re watching television or doing stuff on computers.”

The Health of Libraries and Books--

Monday morning, our library director joined a panel of fellow administrators for a discussion about the future of libraries for our local public radio's "Charlotte Talks" program. Entitled " Libraries and Books in the Digital Age" that show asked how books are keeping up with the changing times and demands from the public with the growing preferences for download able items (books and information) and e-book devices.


Library director Charles Brown said he felt despite the interest in newer technology that print books would still keep its audience. He noted how he still sees young children fascinated with holding and using books and that there are still upcoming new book titles which draw a big adult audience (i.e., the new Dan Brown book, The Lost Symbol).


The full program is at wfae.org.

The late William Safire

Over the years, I became a fan of "On Language" the writing column in the New York Times magazine by wordsmith William Safire and I caught myself saying a woeful "awww" upon reading of his death last week.

I would find the columns interesting, timely and informative. I enjoyed that someone would take all that time to examine our use of words and their meaning--particularly words which had become significant due to some news story or other media interest (I have a googled recent photo of him here).

*I also took the time to attend a class he spoke to years ago when he make a campus visit to my former employer (then Queens College)--and he favorably impressed me as a thoughtful gent.*

Truth be told, I bet the next time I yank a dictionary off the shelf to double-check the meanings of a word, he may come to mind.