A prescription for this holiday season

By Rick Blechta

Toronto, where I live, is currently in a partial lockdown. My wife and I decided when the current lockdown began three weeks ago, that if we needed anything we were going to do our best to patronize our small local shops because they need all the help they can get.

So no fast food from the big chain restaurants, using our local hardware store instead of Homeless Despot. Sure, online providers such as Amazon are pretty damned convenient and super-fast, but at the end of all this, we want to have small shops still in business so we do our best to help.

If you’re hear on Type M, either as a reader or one of our group of excellent writers, I certain you have the warm and fuzzies for at least one independent book store and I’ll further posit that it is one that specializes in crime fiction. Perhaps it sells nothing else.

Here’s something you may not know, that bookseller — like all others — can easily order any book you might want. Sure, you might have to wait a week or two, rather than next-day service from Amazon, but you will get your book, and you’ll be helping a business that is likely having a hard go of it right now.

Here in Toronto, we crime fiction lovers are blessed with the most excellent Sleuth of Baker Street, so last week, faced with a curtailed holiday season, when my wife and I decided to make use of that down time to enjoy a bit of reading (with no guilt!), the only place to call was Sleuth. Several of our favourite authors have new books out and there are two Type M members who I’m looking forward to get into their work, so we have a big pile waiting for pick-up.

It dawned on me that with all the gift-giving coming up in three weeks, we have the opportunity right now to do some good, so I have a proposal for every one of the people reading this post to buy at least two books this holiday season.

First, you  deserve a book. Since March, you’ve put up with a lot, haven’t you? You need a reward! Could I suggest buying one from one of the Type M authors — especially if you’ve never read one of their books. We have some exceptional authors here, and I can recommend all of them without hesitation, plus we “cover the waterfront” as far as subject matter goes. The bottom line is, though, just buy a book, any book. Then put up your feet and enjoy several hours in a made up world.

Also, as many of us have mentioned in previous December posts, there is a tradition in Iceland, a very wonderful tradition, to give or exchange books on Christmas Eve. Whether you celebrate that holiday or not, why not give someone a book before year’s end? It would make them very happy I’m sure, help out a struggling business, and give you a warm and fuzzy feeling.

Heaven knows we need more of those!

So that’s Dr. Blechta’s prescription for making this month better than it might be. I’ve bought my comfort reading, and I’ve ordered books to be given as presents. I’ve managed to do something good and bring smiles to a lot of faces along the way.

End of book depression

by Rick Blechta

First, let me set you straight what I’m referring to here. This post is not about being depressed when you’ve finished writing a book, but finished reading a particularly good book.

Obviously there is some connection between the two things. One point of conjunction is the fact that you won’t be hanging around with these very interesting people any longer. If you’re a writer, of course you can begin to craft a new story for your characters and just carrying on being with them. If you’re a reader, you’re at the whim of the author (or publisher), plus if you’re reading a current series, you know there’s going to be a wait of most likely a year of more.

And that’s depressing if the novel and characters you’ve just finished enjoying is particularly good.

Fortunately, the depression doesn’t last long. In my case, it’s generally just a few hours, but it is actual depression.

I’ve been down with a particularly bad cold the past week, with the result that I’ve been staying indoors and allowing myself to just relax and focus on getting better —Christmas season being what it is for musicians (lots of gigs) and get-togethers with friends and such.

So I went over to my favourite bookstore, the excellent Sleuth of Baker Street, and bought some novels by my favourite authors who thoughtfully released books in time for the Christmas season.

I finished a Peter Robinson novel yesterday, and as always, he didn’t disappoint. It was excellent. As I lay the book down for the last time, a strong wave of sadness filled me. I couldn’t hang out with Peter’s invisible friends until the next book is published. Bummer that!

My question is this: am I weird or are there others out there who get depressed when they have just enjoyed a particularly good book?

My take on book launches

by Rick Blechta

Since a few Type M bloggers have mentioned their book launches/signings and made some interesting comments, and finding myself faced with the same situation, I thought I’d throw my thoughts out there and see what folks think.

To me, book launches have always revolved around two things: promotion of the new publication, but even mores as a celebration of a huge milestone in my writing life.

Think about it — I’ve just worked very hard and spent a lot of effort, not to mention hours of my life, all towards the end of producing a new work. In the background of this — and not having all that much to do with the actual creation of what is now enclosed between the covers — is the work of writing a proposal, coming up with a sample chapter or two, perhaps a detailed plot synopsis, etc. These are about as much fun to do as the math homework your high school teachers assigned every bloody day. We’re not even talking about the struggle of finding an author in the first place!

And now you’re actually able to hold a tome in your hands — which in my current situation is a very “generous” word to use. Still, I’ve produced something tangible. That’s a pretty incredible thing on its own.

Doesn’t something like this deserve a big celebration? And that’s how I personally view the launch of a book. This is exciting stuff (especially for me) and I want to have a big party!

In the past, some of my books have enjoyed really huge parties. For The Fallen One, I booked Toronto’s Arts & Letters Club, arranged for food and drink, invited to opera singing friends to perform (and I am still very grateful to Anna Bateman and Emilio Fina for their extreme generosity) and 100 people showed up! Anna and Emilio sang beautifully to orchestral recording of some iconic opera arias, and to wrap it up, they sang the Brindisi from the first act of La Traviata and opera which had a large place in the novel’s plot) with the audience “helping out” on the choral parts. Now that was a book launch.

This time out, I can’t afford something quite that extravagant, but my latest, Rundown, will get its due and be unleashed on an unsuspecting public on November 5th, from 2:00 until 4:00 at Toronto’s iconic mystery bookstore, Sleuth of Baker Street.

Type M’s founder (and my dear friend), Vicki Delany, is partnering with me to launch the second in her Year Round Christmas series, We Wish You a Murderous Christmas — and that’s a pretty cool thing in itself. Vicki and I have shared the stage at many a book signing, but never for a launch (and it was all her idea).

There will be food (including some seasonal goodies — considering Vicki’s book’s subject matter) and drink (bubbly, perhaps, since any good launch deserves a broadside from a Champagne bottle.

Sure, our party will help generate awareness and hopefully translate into increased sales, but for me, it will be an afternoon to celebrate a great accomplishment with friends: my eleventh book. For Vicki, it is her 23rd book. Think about that one for a minute, folks.

If you’re around, please drop by and help share in our joy at accomplishing something that’s pretty great!