In The News
Angela Henry

The Harvard Crimson is reporting that author Kaavya Viswanathan, the Harvard sophmore who received a whopping $500, 000 advance for her debut novel, How Opal Mehta Got Kissed, Got Wild, and Got a Life, when she was just seventeen, has been accused of plagiarism. Seems seven passages of Viswanathan's book show similarities in style and language to Sloppy Firsts and Second Helpings, two books by author Megan McCafferty. Hmm. Should be interesting to see how this all plays out and what impact it will have on the publishing industry. I do, however, believe that things like this can happen unconsciously, which is why I keep my leisure reading at a minimum when I'm working on a book.

According to a survey of 200 published authors, done by marketing company RainToday.com, the internet is the most effective way to promote a book. Being featured in trade magazines was second while traditional book signings weren't listed high at all, surprise surprise. I do very few book store signings. Maybe I'm shooting myself in the foot but I just can't see how sitting at a table with a silly grin on my face, getting asked the way to the restroom, being asked about other authors books, and selling maybe a half a dozen books or less, is going to help me. I much prefer library events, and conventions. I do use the internet extensively when promoting my books. I'm even contemplating putting up a page at this popular site. I hear it's not just for teens looking to make new "friends". We'll see.

Hi, All,
Been absent for awhile. Personal things, like death and illness. But on a brighter note--going to do a weekend at the Malice Domestic Conference, held annually in Arlington, VA. It's my first Malice--I'd avoided it because I thought all the writers attending would be "cozy" writers, and I'd be out of place, but I've since learned all mystery writers are welcome. It's a chance to get to know other writers and their work, which I'm looking forward to. Sooo many writers, sooo many books...sometimes I feel like that drop of water in a vast ocean, and feel silly going around saying, "Look at me! Read MY books" when people have so many choices. But nonetheless, I'm going, and one focus will probably be--"Look at me! Read my books!" I guess that's what they call "promoting."
Well, it's after Easter, and I guess I'm resurrected, with new fire in my gut, for the next wave of promotion. Still struggling to finish the third novel. ( Now I understand why authors rent villas in foreign countrysides--it's not just pretentious plather why they do it--you know, the secluded writer, artiste, art dripping from his/her pen, et al. It's so hard to get away from it all--I mean, for real! I'd do it in a flash--all I need are the bucks.
I'll let you know how the conference went. I'm on a panel discussing violence, titled I Walk the Line. I guess I'll have to tread carefully--joke, ha!
Then I have to come up with some creative idea for a hat, for their hat contest. And then "tea" on Sunday. I'll let you know if it's my cup of tea... Hmm...tba

Gammy L. Singer,
author, Down and Dirty: Another Landlord's Tale