Saturday Miscellany – 6/10/17

I’ve been quiet over the last week, I know — I’ve discarded a couple of posts to try to get them in better shape. I have no illusions that I’m cranking out masterpieces every day or anything. Still, I want to do a decent job, especially with books/authors that I hope people will pay attention to. Hopefully I can either live up to my standards this week (or lower them).

Here are the odds ‘n ends over the week about books and reading that caught my eye. You’ve probably seen some/most/all of them, but just in case:

• How College Summer Reading Programs Are Failing Our Students – and Our Culture — I’m not endorsing the political stuff here, but the state of reading lists and how it changes the way readers are formed (in good and bad ways) will impact the way books are written (in good and bad ways)
• ‘There’s a reason women are buying more crime fiction’ — an interview with Paula Hawkins, who probably knows a thing or two about this
• The Best Ways to Support Independent Publishers — some good ideas that I need to follow
• The Data Disruption cover reveal — more Genrenauts!
• 12 Fictional Bookstores We Wish Were Real
• 21 signs You’re Addicted to READING!

This Week’s New Releases I’m Excited About and/or You’ll Probably See Here Soon:
• She Rides Shotgun by Jordan Harper — an ex-con kidnaps his daughter from school to save her life. Listen to him do a better job describing it on the last Two Crime Writers and a Microphone episode.
• Supreme Villainy A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Most (In)Famous Supervillain Memoir Never Published by King Oblivion, Matt D. Wilson — from the publisher’s site: “For eons, King Oblivion, Ph.D., was one of the most ruthless supervillains the world has ever known. As the CEO of the ISS (International Society of Supervillains) for half a century, he was personally responsible for numerous nefarious acts, including Nixon’s presidential election, stealing the country of Japan, Star Wars: Episode I–III, and Milli Vanilli, just to name a few.” This is his memoir. ‘Nuff said.
• And I mentioned this last week, because I know that’s what I read somewhere, but as I realized when I went to buy it after hitting “Publish,” it came out yesterday (and I’m sure about this date — it’s on my Kindle: Pulped by Timothy Hallinan — Tip of the Hat to Jo Perry for letting me know about this — what happens to a fictional detective when is series goes out of print and he becomes self-aware?

Lastly, I’d like to say hi and welcome to GEORGE SORIN VENETE and The Sound of One Man Laughing for following the blog this week.