News
Carey MulliganI've been blogging recently on which actors I could imagine playing Mike Bowditch and Charley Stevens in a film version of The Poacher's Son or Trespasser. Well, my new New York magazine arrived, and I have to say this picture of Carey Mulligan convinces me beyond a doubt that she'd be the right actor to play Sarah Harris. What do you think?
Over at Maine Crime Writers, Kate Flora has an interesting interview with New York Times bestselling author Julia Spencer-Fleming. The whole thing is worth reading, but I was particularly impressed with the way Julia approaches the challenge of writing a series of novels with the same protagonists:
One of my goals as a writer is, “same, only different.” In other words, when a reader picks up a book with my name on it, she can expect a certain type of read—mystery, romance, a fast-paced plot, action, social issues. But at the same time, I never want her to read the same book twice. So I play around a lot with form, chronology, and points of view. It’s endlessly fascinating to me, the way the framework of fiction effects the plot and the reading experience.
I'm just finishing up the third Mike Bowditch book, and one of the questions that's hung over my desk for the past year has been how to balance the old and the new. Offer too much that's familiar and your books will feel like clones of each other; offer too many wild departures and your fans will think you're indulging yourself at their expense. I admire the way Julia has managed to walk that tightrope over the course of her successful career.
The December issue of Down East is out, and we have a feature in it asking readers about their favorite Maine holiday memories. In my Editor's Note, I share a few of my own.
If you happen to be in southern Maine on Black Friday, I hope you'll stop by the Portland Public Library and introduce yourself. The annual Maine Writers & Publishers Alliance Holiday Book Sale is one of the better one-stop-shopping events for book lovers. With 25 Maine authors, you're bound to find something for everyone on your list.
Over at Maine Crime Writers today I have a post up about one of my least likely literary influences and her continuing impact on popular culture. Check it out.
