Michael Z. Lewin Newsletter 2
June 2003
My first newsletter promised that sequels were likely to be infrequent. I’m proving I’m a guy what keeps his promises.
As predicted in December, the “Wanted for Murder” trio will be out and about again in the US in October, despite the ceremonial disposal of props that took place in St Louis after our last show in October 02. So, with Liza Cody and Peter Lovesey, I’ll be in Indianapolis for a show on October 11th and then in Oklahoma City for October 14th. From there we go to the Bouchercon mystery convention in Las Vegas. The convention runs for four days, but we’ll be prancing around (in a slightly shortened version) on the 17th. I talk a bit about “Wanted for Murder” on the site.
A Mystery Scene article recently, by Adrian Muller, credited us with being the first on the, um, mystery scene to do scripted joint tours. Our first was in 1990 with Paula Gosling as a fourth participant. But the principle behind it all is that it’s more fun to tour with friends than to tour alone, and also that someone in the audience who came to see one of us automatically gets the “opportunity” to be introduced to the others as well.
The downside is how much work a show like this takes to put together. Shows like this don’t just happen. Happily audiences have – so far – been uniformly generous to us. Perhaps that just reflects American graciousness in the face of otherwise mature people making public spectacles of themselves. But even pity-applause is a whole lot better than booing.
I’m also making a few appearances this year without benefit of my support group. After Bouchercon, I’ll be going on to Magna cum Murder - the convention held annually in Muncie, Indiana, on the last weekend in October. This year it runs October 24-26.
But earlier, in England, I’m doing a program for the Frome Festival in Somerset. Frome – which is pronounced “froom” – is a thriving market town in one of the most beautiful areas of England. I used to live there, which is why I’ve been invited. My “Crime Writing Master Class” is on the afternoon of Saturday July 12th. It’s an audience participation program. Wanna play?
News of the Oeuvre
The Albert Samson novel I finished last year, EYE OPENER, is not yet finally scheduled for its publication. I’m eager for it to be the occasion for the re-issuing the seven previous Samson novels. Hence the delay. Sorry if any of you have been holding your breaths until copies become available.
However, rather exciting – for me – is that I am about to join the ranks of the published poets. My sonnet, “Whodunnit?” will be launched on an unsuspecting world by the July edition of Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine.
Did you know I write sonnets? I daresay you didn’t, since this is the only one I’ve ever offered to anybody for publication.
In addition to the above, I have written quite a lot words since the last newsletter. This output includes a non-genre book of very short stories, three crime stories, including one about Leroy Powder. And I’m currently on about page 200 of a project that began as a fourth short-story about ten weeks ago. Kinda looks like it’s gonna be a novel instead, doesn’t it? It’s a crime novel set in Indianapolis, but it doesn’t focus on any of my previous characters.
Otherwise
As I said last time, I now live in the small and outrageously beautiful city of Bath. It’s occurred to me that Buffy fans who visit here might be tempted to try Spike’s Fish and Chips – near the bus and train stations. Don’t sue me, but my experience of Spike’s has not been good. On the other hand, said fans might like to know that Giles – at least the actor who plays him – lives in a village nearby and he’s often seen round town.
If you want fish and chips, the best I’ve found is Rani’s in Larkhall. Like a lot of cities, Bath has expanded to swallow up what used to be nearby villages. But Larkhall is one of the few swallowees to retain a village feel. Oeuvre addicts might like to know that the Rose and Crown in FAMILY BUSINESS is in Larkhall, about 2 miles from the center (centre if you want to be fussy) and, for Bath, it’s a pretty level walk.
Well, today is Walcot Nation Day – the day each year on which Walcot Street declares its independence for twelve hours. It is, in fact, a huge street party, relevant because the Lunghis live on Walcot Street and I live overlooking it. Even as we speak a cover band called Vegas is playing “Jumping Jack Flash” on the main stage. So, gotta go…
Michael Z. Lewin
8 June 2003
