While waiting...mysteries

While waiting for my new Mystery/Paranormal/UF series to debut on May 4 (STORMWALKER, as Allyson James), I'm enjoying watching mysteries.

I just now caught up with the Jesse Stone TV movies, which I think are very well done. I haven't read all the books, but I thought they captured the flavor of them well. I was saddened to hear of Robert Parker's death, but I'm pleased that two more of the movie versions will be coming out soon: No Remorse and Innocents Lost (I think in 2010).

I've also "discovered" the British series, Life on Mars (I know there was a US version, but I missed it somehow, and I usually prefer the Brit versions anyway). Premise: A DCI in 2006 gets hit by a car and time-travels back to 1973. He's now a DI, working for a completely non-PC, sexist, thinks with his fists, total jerk who drinks on the job that you can't help liking. Go figure.

Since I don't watch much TV (too busy writing), I like it when I stumble upon things, usually several years too late, but then I can Netflix the whole series without having to wait for releases.



Speaking of new releases, though, Foyle's War returns on May 2!! to PBS. (Although I keep asking whether it should be called Foyle's Post-War... )

Looking forward to more Wallander later in the year.

Forgive the TV indulgence--I'm a mystery junkie!

Updates for Jan 2010

Hi all: The good news is that my agent and I are again talking about where to take the Lacey mystery series. We're kicking around ideas. We're slow because I'm contracted at Berkley now for four more romances and three urban fantasies. A lot to write!

The Stormwalker series will lean more toward the mystery side: Think Jim Butcher or Charlaine Harris meets Tony Hillerman.

More information on that series can be found at the series page: http://www.allysonjames.com/stormwalker.html

I will be posting a first chapter there soon. The book is out in May.

I am excited by what my agent and I are discussing, and am more hopeful about the Lacey series than I have been. I'll keep you posted.

Asperger's character on Mystery!

Inspector Lewis Sunday night featured a character who had Asperger's (Episode title: And the Moonbeams Kiss the Sea). The character reminded me very much of the hero in my recent release, The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie. He never looked straight into anyone's eyes, he knew what time he arrived anywhere to the exact minute and how long he stayed, was an artist who could draw anyone rapidly after a quick glance, he knew the social things he was "supposed" to do, but didn't really understand or much care why, and he was the master of the nonsequiter. The actor who portrayed him did a wonderful job.

You can watch the show online until September 13:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/lewis/watch.html

Stormwalker

Right now I'm writing a fantasy/mystery/romance set in the Southwest U.S., a place I've lived for more than 20 years. (Stormwalker by Allyson James, Berkley, probably May 2010). The heroine is a young Navajo woman who makes her living as a photographer but also helps people in supernatural jams (locating missing persons, solving cold case murders).

I set the book in north central and northeastern Arizona, inventing a little town called Magellan, in small fictional Hopi County.

I travel frequently in this area and today was going over some of my "atmosphere" photos. I've set the fictional town of Magellan south of Winslow out in rolling desert hills. The elevation here is about 6000 feet, which means not so much cactus as scrubby juniper and cottonwoods (near water), and plenty of grasses. The rocks are mostly sandstone, and sudden washes and little canyons cut through seemingly flat land.

I was lucky enough last time I was there to drive out while storms built in the west and south. My heroine is a "Stormwalker" (which I invented), a person whose magic is tied to storms. She's very powerful when it's storming, not so much on a clear sunny day.

I like the area because at certain points, you can see miles upon miles in all directions.

Looking north and east to the painted desert and Navajo Nation.

Looking west from the same spot to the San Francisco peaks (highest point 12,000 feet), the traditional western boundary of Navajo lands and one of the four sacred mountains. The city of Flagstaff is in the foothills of this mountain range.

I'm working hard to get this book finished and thought I'd give you a taste of the landscape while I write.

Interview with RITA-nominee Suspense author Colleen Thompson

I love the RS novels of Colleen Thompson (which read more like mainstream mysteries than typical RS). She sets the books in different locations in Texas, and the settings play a large part in the stories (they become another character). Her recent RITA-nominated book, Triple Exposure is set in the south-west Texas, Big Bend area; and her latest release, Beneath Bone Lake is set in the Caddo Lake area on the border of Texas and Louisiana.

Please click over to my group blog (The Chatelaines) to read my interview with her:

http://thechatelaines.blogspot.com/2009/06/colleen-thompson-interview-and-giveaway.html

Brenda Novak's Auction to benefit Diabetes

Each year, suspense author Brenda Novak conducts an online auction, the proceeds of which benefit diabetes research. Last year the auction raised more than $250,000 (yep, that's $250K).

This year I'm donating a collection of the entire 8-book Immortals series, a multi-author series in a world I created, plus a dragon trilogy I wrote as Allyson James. (All autographed)

Click here to view

Also donated is a single signed copy of my historical (non-romance) novel, The Queen's Handmaiden.

Click here to view

There is tons more to bid on. Authors and bookstores donate books, plus editors and agents donate critiques. Plus jewelery and collectables, gift baskets, and unique items like:

Lunch with Diana Gabaldon

Lake Tahoe Weekend Getaway

Name a Character in NY Times Bestseller John Lescroart’s
2010 novel, Treasure Hunt

And dear to my miniatures-loving heart: Murder Ink, A Bookstore in Miniature

The home page of the auction is here: http://brendanovak.auctionanything.com/Home.taf

Bidding ends May 31!

Lindsey Davis

This weekend I listened to Lindsey Davis talk about her Falco mysteries and her latest book Alexandria. I snagged a copy and had it signed.

My friend who got me started on her was there as well, so we had a cozy mystery day.

If you haven't read the Falco series, start with Silver Pigs. Worth it. If you haven't heard Ms. Davis speak--find out where she's appearing and go! She is entertaining as all get out.

Time for a Levity Break!

It's been a wild, wacky, frustrating, weird past couple of weeks. Great buzz on my new release. Very weird problems with new release (not *everything* went wrong, but so many things did, and still are).

Plus this week I've turned in 1. proofreading of one book; 2. copyedits of novella; 3. submitted ms.; 4. submitted another ms. Not to mention writing blogs almost every day for my mini blog tour.

Happily I have everything turned in, my blog tour is done, and now I have two things on my immediate plate: more proofreading and starting a new ms. (due July 1).

It is far, far, far past time for a break. I'm going to return next week to reviews and interviews, but for now ... Sheep. (watch to the end; you'll be glad you did)

A writer relaxes by...

... enjoying great mysteries. I write a lot of romance, but truth to tell, my favorite genre is mystery.

I've been indulging myself with:

1. The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency on HBO. The season wrapped up last night--if you don't get HBO, watch for it to come out on DVD. Worth it. They filmed it in Botswana, so the location is beautiful, and they're following the books somewhat faithfully.

2. The Last Detective. Cozy mystery + Peter Davidson. What's not to love?

3. Cracker (the original with Robbie Coltrane). This series is a bit bleak, but they've made Cracker so interesting. And on what other show can you watch Hamish Macbeth kill Dr. Who and be investigated by Hagrid?

4. Midsomer Murders. I rent this from Netflix, so am at the mercy of the DVD releases. Faster, faster!

These shows get me through the toughest times, and I look forward to my mystery indulgence every night.

Congrats Edgar Winners!

This just in from Mystery Writers of America--the winners of the Edgar awards for best mysteries of the year:

BEST NOVEL
Blue Heaven by C.J. Box (St. Martin’s Minotaur)

BEST FIRST NOVEL BY AN AMERICAN AUTHOR
The Foreigner by Francie Lin (Picador)

BEST PAPERBACK ORIGINAL
China Lake by Meg Gardiner (New American Library – Obsidian Mysteries)

BEST FACT CRIME
American Lightning: Terror, Mystery, the Birth of Hollywood, and the Crime of the Century by Howard Blum (Crown Publishers)

BEST CRITICAL/BIOGRAPHICAL
Edgar Allan Poe: An Illustrated Companion to His Tell-Tale Stories by Dr. Harry Lee Poe (Metro Books)

BEST SHORT STORY
"Skinhead Central" - The Blue Religion by T. Jefferson Parker (Hachette Book Group – Little, Brown and Company)

BEST JUVENILE
The Postcard by Tony Abbott (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers)

BEST YOUNG ADULT
Paper Towns by John Green (Penguin Young Readers Group – Dutton Children’s Books)

BEST PLAY
The Ballad of Emmett Till by Ifa Bayeza (Goodman Theatre, Chicago, IL)

BEST TELEVISION EPISODE TELEPLAY
“Prayer of the Bone” – Wire in the Blood, Teleplay by Patrick Harbinson (BBC America)

BEST MOTION PICTURE SCREENPLAY
In Bruges, Screenplay by Martin McDonagh (Focus Features)

ROBERT L. FISH MEMORIAL AWARD
"Buckner's Error" - Queens Noir by Joseph Guglielmelli (Akashic Books)

GRAND MASTER
James Lee Burke
Sue Grafton

RAVEN AWARDS
Edgar Allan Poe Society, Baltimore, Maryland
Poe House, Baltimore, Maryland

THE SIMON & SCHUSTER - MARY HIGGINS CLARK AWARD
The Killer’s Wife by Bill Floyd (St. Martin’s Minotaur)

Congrats all!

Great Reviews for Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie

The reviews for Madness of Lord Ian are pouring in, and they're all (so far) fantastic. I'm speechless (ok, I've never been speechless in my life--let's say I'm stunned). I never expected this.

Romantic Times BookReviews 4.5 Top Pick! (You have to be a subscriber to read this one until a couple months from now). Here's a quote: "By tackling an unusual theme, à la Laura Kinsale, Ashley touches readers on many levels. Brava!"

All About Romance--Desert Isle Keeper review

The Good, The Bad, The Unread A+ review

Barbara Vey's Publisher's Weekly blog

There are others out there, and I have heard there are more to come.

A friend of mine noted that this book reminded her much of the Captain Lacey mysteries (it does feature a murder mystery and a Scotland Yard detective, who will be a recurring character--but she also means it has the same kind of tone and feeling).

In other words, if you like the Captain Lacey series, I hope you will give this one a try.

German editions

I sold German rights to the six published Lacey mysteries, and they're just now coming out in Germany. Nice covers! I think the third should be out sometime soon.




The Hanover Square Affair


















A Regimental Murder (They wanted to use another place name.)

Host of authors at Poisoned Pen

Poisoned Pen mystery bookstore has a nice list of authors coming by to sign books in the next couple of months. Even if you don't live near Phx/Scottsdale, the store generally keeps some signed stock that you can order.

The events list is here:

http://www.poisonedpen.com/event-calendar/events.html

I'm excited about the Lindsey Davis one in May--if you haven't heard her speak, she's hilarious. She will have a discussion and sign Alexandria, the newest Falco mystery. If you attend, I'll be in the audience. Laughing, I imagine.

Ashley Gardner

Number One Ladies

I'm thrilled that HBO is airing the dramatization of The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency. It's one of my favorite series, and I'm loving watching it come to life. (I'm also thrilled I was too lazy to cancel HBO between True Blood seasons.)

I think they've captured the flavor and the characters well (I always fear disaster when books become series). The character of Grace is played more broadly than I pictured, but I'm enjoying the fun they're having.

If you don't have HBO, keep an eye out for the DVD release. I think the series worth viewing. They filmed the episodes in Botswana, and the visuals are stunning.

Ashley Gardner updates

It’s been a year since my last post, and I thought it was high time I updated. I hope everyone is pleased to learn that Ashley Gardner is not dead (several people have asked me if I were).

Ashley Gardner is also Jennifer Ashley and Allyson James. See my blogs: http://www.jennifersromances.blogspot.com/ and http://www.allysonjames.blogspot.com/ for a running look at what books I’m working on. I update those twice a month at the very least.

I want to say thank you to the many, many people who have written me to inquire about the Captain Lacey series. I’m thrilled he still has a following. I’m getting more feedback on him now than when the books were in print! I have every intention of continuing the series (I want to write 10 books in all), but follow…

I have not shopped any more books in the series this year for the simple reason that I haven’t had time. In 2008 I wrote four books and two novellas (turned in the last novella on 12/12--last Friday). I’m contracted at Berkley and Dorchester for at least four more books and one novella at this point.

I seriously hope to squeeze in a proposal for a Lacey novel sometime this year. My schedule has evened out a little (with an actual week or two between turning in one book and starting the next). As I say, I’d like to do four more of Lacey's books, for 10 in all.

Please do continue to email me, as I am saving all emails to update readers when I have more news.

What I’m working on that might be of interest to mystery readers: I just signed a contract with Berkley to do a new series set in the American southwest, where I live. It will be a cross between mystery, fantasy, and romance (think Tony Hillerman meets Charlaine Harris or Patricia Briggs). The sleuth is a half-Navajo woman who investigates paranormal crime and draws her magic from the powerful lightning storms that often hit the southwest. The first book is tentatively titled Stormwalker, with a pub date of May 2010.

A novella introducing this setting and some secondary characters will be published in October 2009 in a yet-to-be-named anthology at Berkley (this is the novella I just turned in). I will be writing these books as Allyson James, and I’ll post information on my Allyson James site and blog when the time comes.

If you are a historical lover: This year Jennifer Ashley begins a new historical romance series without any paranormal elements. The setting is Victorian England and Scotland, and the series revolves around four brothers in an aristocratic Scottish family.

Because I haven’t been able to write straight mystery, each of these books will involve a mystery story of some kind. The first book The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie, will be out in May 2009 (by Jennifer Ashley). The hero has Asperger’s Syndrome, a form of autism.

More information on the series, as well as other forthcoming books can be found at: http://www.jennifersromances.com/forthcoming.html

The upshot of this post is—I’m not dead and haven’t stopped writing. But I have had to move in other directions for now.

Again, please see my other blogs: http://www.allysonjames.blogspot.com/ and http://www.jennifersromances.blogspot.com/ for more up to date commentary on what I’m writing and what’s being released.

Happy holidays!

Ashley Gardner

Time to Update

Once again I'd like to thank everyone for continually sending me emails or posts about the Captain Lacey mysteries. It's heartening that so many people like them and want them to continue.

Here's the story: I plan to write more of these, but I will no longer be publishing them through Berkley Prime Crime for various reasons (including my editor leaving the company). I think all but Covent Garden Mystery are out of print right now, unfortunately (although still available used or from libraries).

I am working now on getting the rights to the series back. It's a process that simply involves my agent writing a letter and the publisher writing a letter back, but it can take a while.

I am writing many other things--finishing up contracts that have been keeping my nose to the grindstone for the last year and a half. I hope to write Lacey book 7 before long and find a new publisher for it.

I'd love to know if people would be willing to buy these books from small press if I decided to go that way. They'd likely be hardbacks in a limited print run, and you'd have to order them from the press. That's just a possibility--I have to submit and have them accepted first!

I've also been toying with the idea of writing a novella and giving it away to fans through my website, or possibly for a couple dollars on Amazon, if they're still doing their "shorts."

Mostly I've slowed down on Lacey because of so many other committments. I've been writing four to five books a year and haven't been able to fit in the captain. I'm hoping I can slow down to a dull roar and have Lacey be one of the three-four books I want to write a year.

I wanted to let all readers know that I haven't abandoned the series, or forgotten about Lacey, or blown off my readers, or died (at least not as of this posting).

In the meantime, if you like historical novels, please take a look at my two Tudor offerings, The Queen's Handmaiden by Jennifer Ashley (published Oct. 2007), and A Lady Raised High by Laurien Gardner (originally pubbed March 2006; reprint trade edition due out April 2008). Information on these two books is here:
www.jennifersromances.com/tudorhistoricals.html

I am keeping a running tab of emails I get, even if I can't answer them all. If you want to be put on that list to be informed via newsletter of updates to the Lacey series, please email me through the www.gardnermysteries.com website.

Thanks everyone so much, and keep those emails coming!!

Ashley Gardner
www.gardnermysteries.com

Print Question

I have received many emails since Covent Garden Mystery's release regarding availability of the other books in the series. I apologize for not answering each email--I have received so many I thought I would answer all at once here.

As of right now, the first three books--Hanover Square Affair, Regimental Murder, and The Glass House--are out of print. I don't know if Berkley plans to reprint or whether I will try to find another publisher for them. It's up in the air right now.

I suggest a couple of things

1. Many libraries purchased the books, so if your library has an Interlibrary Loan service, try that.

2. There is a a yahoo group called Bookstore Junkies where you can post your "wish list" of books you are looking for and incredible people on that list track down books for you. While I'm not an advocate of buying used books when new ones are available, when they're out of print there isn't much choice. The URL is http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bookstorejunkies/ You will have to create a Yahoo id and password if you don't already have an account.

I will keep readers informed here and on my site with news of the next book(s) in the series. I'm writing many books right now (my fingers hurt), but I will let you know when Lacey's next adventure is one of them. So many things can happen to our fearless captain!

Release: Covent Garden Mystery

Tomorrow (July 5) sees the release of Book 6 in the Captain Lacey mysteries, A Covent Garden Mystery.

In this installment, Captain Lacey scours London for missing game girls, a search that turns personal when his own daughter becomes one of the missing.

The official release date is July 5, and should be in all Borders, Waldens, BAMs, B&Ns, and indie bookstores around the country.

If you have any questions about this book or the series, feel free to email me at gardnermysteries@cox.net, or visit my full website at www.gardnermysteries.com for excerpts and other information.

Have a happy and safe Fourth of July!

Award for Sudbury School

I was pleased to learn that The Sudbury School Murders won the RT Reviewer's Choice Award for Best Historical Mystery for 2005. I am thrilled, and surprised because when I turned that book in, I closed my eyes and hoped for the best. Shows you that writers are not the best judges of our own work.

I'll be heading to the RT convention in Daytona Beach to pick up the award next week. My other blog (www.jennifersromances.blogspot.com) will detail that adventure.

A Covent Garden Mystery is slated to come out in early July. I'll post more details as the date draws closer.

Happy Reading. And for mothers--Happy Mother's Day!

Ashley Gardner

email change

My email has changed to

gardnermysteries@cox.net

There was a problem with my previous email--I apologize if you never got a reply from me or from someone who wasn't me. Should be good now.

Have the cover for Covent Garden now, and will post it soon.